Live-Action Katara Was Good, Actually

New video out on YouTube!

Okay, so I’m not about to stan the new live action adaptation of Avatar. It had its good parts but generally I was insulted by the fact that anyone felt the need to do a direct adaptation AGAIN. There is just no need for this, and I really wish Bryke had learned from 2010 that people want more story, not just more content.

However, I do think that the live action Katara, though not my Katara, is a relatively compelling iteration. People generally hate this Katara, and it seems like that has to do with Kiawentiio (ghee-ah-wen-dee-oh) subdued performance. She doesn’t come off as fiery and passionate in the same way that the animated Katara did.

However, while this character’s personality traits have little in common with my Katara, she is in some ways a truer adaption at her core, in comparison to the other “adaptees”. If you’ve seen my video defending Katara, you may know that I think she is just about the most heroic character in the animated series. Basically, I feel that many of the criticisms she gets are sexist and often shallow.

Katara is both praised and derogated for her outspokenness, her stubbornness, and her commitment to her values. But part of what’s so remarkable about her is that those things don’t come naturally to her: they weren’t cultivated in…