How We Quit The Forest

[redbrunja]

So, on atla_unspoiled, there was a poster talking about how, typically, Zutara shippers ship Suki/Sokka, and Kataang shippers ship Toph/Sokka. (Which I think is true, based on my totally unscientific experiences). She then suggested that this was because of the shippers looking for 'viability.' (Which doesn't make sense to me.) I think it's more likely the that similarity in character interactions and relationship dynamics is what makes it more likely for a Zutara shipper to like Suki/Sokka, and for a Kataanger to like Toph/Sokka.

(And of course, there all the various permutations of who ships what as a primary ship, and I KNOW that there are people who like Suki/Sokka and Kataang, and Zutara shippers who like Toph/Sokka, to name just two.)

Your thoughts?

Comments

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Incidentally, as for mutated character dynamics in fanon Zutara...I'm a Katara/Zuko shipper who developed independently outside the fandom

Thank you. I really love finding control Zutara shippers. I was pimped into this show via that pairing. ("Hey Red, check out this awesome show, it has an enemies!pairing that is the most popular in the fandom! And it's HET!" and I went "Sweet jesus where is this holy land of which you speak?")

I was actually just thinking about if/how my relationship with shipping would be if I wasn't in fandom. Specifically, prior to getting into fandom, I was like 'well, my pairing isn't going to be canon, but I've liked most everything B&M have done so far,' and then with the massive pairing wars, Sozin's Comet, the horrible airing dates, the spoilers I couldn't avoid, I'm like, 'I'm going to hate the ending, aren't I? I'm going to hate it and then have to deal with the Hiroshimi-like fallout and smile for my mother the Maiko shipper, aren't I? Why god? Why have you abandoned meeeeeee???!?!?!!'

[scriva.livejournal.com]

'I'm going to hate the ending, aren't I? I'm going to hate it and then have to deal with the Hiroshimi-like fallout and smile for my mother the Maiko shipper, aren't I? Why god? Why have you abandoned meeeeeee???!?!?!!'

That would be regrettable. I hope that you can find the attitude of 'well, my pairing isn't going to be canon, but I've liked most everything B&M have done so far,', because I think that even though Zuko and Katara will not be a canon pairing, I think that they will developp a positive relationship that can still be explored in fanfics. I might not be a fan of the romantic pairing, but I'm looking forward to whatever friendship Katara and Zuko might developp and I hope it's as good as the platonic Zuko/Aang and Zuko/Sokka, we have seen so far.

(I was sold to Mai/Zuko in the Awakening and The Headband, before I even found out about the comic, so I can not help you with this one, but I still think that Katara/Zuko will be interesting to explore as an Alternative Pairing, even if the canon goes otherwise. :))

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

That would be regrettable. I hope that you can find the attitude of 'well, my pairing isn't going to be canon, but I've liked most everything B&M have done so far,',

That was my attitude before fandom got so freaking intense, and I'm doing my best to get back to that place. It helps that after getting burned too many times with spoilers (which totally did not help, I'm barely in the fandom anymmore). I mean, I always knew the Katara/Zuko wasn't going to be canon (was happier that way, frankly) but M & B have always given me subtext to work with, and I was totally happy with that.