One of the differences between A: TLA and LoK is, of course,
the romance factor, active vs. passive. Here are my thoughts as to how that
came to be.
One of the strengths of the A: TLA series was the relative
passiveness of the romance. Sure, team Bryke (let us call them that, shall we?)
claimed to be Kataang shippers, but there was certainly plenty of Zutara
materials to work with too (especially if you were willing to begin with). The
Crystal Catacombs incident, for example, or the final showdown of ‘team Zutara’
with Azula. Team Bryke had really sent some conflicting messages on this one,
didn’t they?
Someone else apparently thought so too, when then came “The
Promise” comic series, where Maiko and Kataang could not have become more
obvious, especially by the old A: TLA standards. Not sure why team Bryke could
not have used this approach in the original series, but they did not, and
frankly, I am glad. “The Promise” was simply insane, especially Zuko asking
Ozai for advice. Seriously. WTF? Ozai. He was the man who had scarred and
exiled you in the first place, Zuko, remember? Do you really expect him to
provide anything helpful or sane to you, Zuko? “Son, you have an Avatar
problem? Take great-grandfather Sozin’s favorite kanabo (a samurai version of a
club) and hit the Avatar until he reincarnates into someone more useful.” That
is the advice you wanted to hear, Zuko? Again, WTF?
But such issues aside it is the blatant and obvious coupling
of “The Promise” that we are interested in. LoK appears to have followed “The
Promise’s” cue and is very obvious in its’ ‘ships, especially team Makorra.
Someone has even suggested that it is team Bryke’s official parody of Zutara,
but I seriously doubt that. For all of their posturing team Bryke probably wasn’t
in any rush to alienate its’ fans with A: TLA, and besides, if they want to be
pissed at someone, try Mr. Shamalyan’s movie – now that was shoddy work; so
shoddy, that there aren’t even any rumors of a sequel!
Back to LoK. I doubt that team Bryke actually want to piss
off their fans...not to mention that some of them may be obtuse enough not to
recognize the parody unless it is told to their faces directly, so – no go. What
is left?
That overly obvious approach that already appeared in “The
Promise”. I do not know why team Bryke shifted from covert to overt approach to
the romance, but shift they did... to the detriment of LoK. It is just is not
as good as A: TLA was, period. But... it is just the first season...maybe the next
ones will be better...
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