The Right Time

Something I realized is that when Katara said it wasn’t “the right time” because they are “in the middle of a war,” she wasn’t talking about herself but Aang.

Realistically, Katara could date whoever she wanted during the war, but Aang is the one who could not. He’s the only person who can’t afford to be distracted. Katara and the rest of the gang’s job is to teach him their bending skills.

One might assume that this means Katara is waiting for the war to end to be with Aang, but many had pointed out before that she had no problem trying to start something with Jet in Book 1. Aside from that, those excuses are in every woman’s handbook of “how to let the ‘nice guys’ down gently.”

Therefore, I think this is just another example of Katara putting Aang’s needs above her own and lazy writing on Bryke’s part to extend the will they won’t they relationship. Because to me, this entire exchange- not even mentioning what follows- put the nail in the coffin of the kataang relationship.

I thought this was the writer telling the audience that kataang is not going to happen because Katara can’t ever be herself with Aang, and she always puts his needs over her own. That after the war, they are going to lead different lives. Aang has to focus on his responsibilities as the avatar, and Katara finally needs to focus on herself and her future.

Katara has a freedom Aang doesn’t have in this series, and that’s her freedom to be in a romantic relationship without the detriment of their mission. But that is never explored, and each person she seemed to form a connection with either: died (jet,) grew a pornstache (Haru,) and betrayed her personally (Zuko.)

In this exchange, she once again pushes her freedoms away for Aang’s sake. But in doing so, she acknowledges something that I thought marked the end of kataang. Katara’s omission of this fact proved she was right…

It’s not the right time- but not for her, and not for them-but for him.

Okay wait.

I’m sure this has been said. Somewhere out here. But…

I saw a bender swap between the Gaang. So Katara was a Fire bender, Aang is an Earth bender, Toph is an Air bender, and Zuko was a Water bender. It was cute.

But then I thought wait… Toph is blind.

Toph uses her Earth bending to feel where people/things are using the ground. Right?? Right.

So if Toph is still blind and an Air bender… would she use sound waves to know her way around??

Do you see what I am getting at here??