Why Netflix’s Avatar Cast Means A Katara/Zuko Romance Is Actually Possible

The animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender has been given a second chance at a live-action adaptation — and with that adaptation comes the possibility of a romance between Katara and Zuko (finally). The ship, which is dubbed “Zutara,” has become one of the most popular in the Avatar fandom; thousands of fanfictions for the relationship can be found across multiple platforms, and fan art and cosplays can be found across the internet. Though the ship has never been made canon, it is getting its chance with Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action series.

In the original animated series, Katara and Zuko start out as adversaries as Zuko was determined to take down Aang, the next Avatar and Katara’s best friend. But as Zuko began his redemption arc and eventually joined Team Avatar, the pair grew closer and closer, bonding over their losses and shared experiences. Though the show hinted at possible feelings between the pair and had a few moments where romance felt likely, but they didn’t end up together. Zuko dated Mai for a time before having a daughter with an unknown woman after the events of the series. The sequel series Legend of Korra reveals that Katara began a romantic relationship with Aang, and that they eventually married and raised three children, staying together until Aang’s death. Since then, a large portion of fans have debated which ship should have been made canon — Zutara or Kataang.

Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender cast gives Zutara fans hope for the future of the ship’s canonical status. One of the greatest indicators that Zutara is a possibility lies in the characters’ ages; in the animated series, Katara was 14 years old, Zuko was 16, and Aang was only 12 (biologically, anyway). While a relationship between a 12 and a 14-year-old worked in animation, it’s unlikely the Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action would use a relationship with a 12-year-old as its core romance story. While Katara and Zuko are only a few years older than Aang, those few years make them more likely candidates for a possible romantic storyline.

There is also the possibility that Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender remake won’t focus on any romantic plotlines at all. Even the oldest members of Team Avatar — Sokka and Zuko — are still quite young at 15 and 16. Avatar: The Last Airbender has plenty of action and world-building to focus on, and doesn’t strictly need a love story added into the mix.  Alternatively, there are other romantic plotlines that the live-action version could feature, such as Zuko and Mai or Sokka and Suki — there is even the possibility that fans will be able to see Sokka’s first girlfriend turn into the moon in live-action. “Zukka,” or Zuko and Sokka, has also seen a rise in support after Sokka’s original voice actor, Jack De Sena, voiced his own support for the ship.

With this in mind, Zutara still has a solid chance to become canonical. The groundwork for the ship was laid throughout the original series, meaning their characterization and their storyline wouldn’t have to be altered much to make it happen. Katara and Zuko had a solid dynamic with great potential, and there were certainly moments that teased at a romantic connection in the original series. Adding their original dynamic to the massive fan support for the ship, there’s a good possibility that the Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action will finally make Zutara a reality.

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