The Failed Femininity of Netflix's Katara

They stripped my girl of her fiery spirit, her passion, her determination and will power, and her never ending love and compassion for people.

The original Avatar has some of the greatest female characters to ever be put onscreen, Katara being one of them. This is NOT Katara.

What I loved about cartoon Katara in book 1 is her wit in knowledge of her weakness. When she fought the fire benders for the first time, her aim sucked. But rather than have her master water bending suddenly in the heat of the moment she repeats her mistake and simply moves around counting on her poor aim to knock her targets out even if the water isn't moving in the direction she moves it in. She didn't suddenly become that GIRL or have a moment plot Armour saves her. She just got witty and worked with her weakness which made its mark on me.

Sexism is stupid in these kinds of worlds including the game of thrones. Both shows have extremely powerful female soldiers and leaders and rulers in the not too distant past. Both have powers and that neutralizes physical ability like witchcraft and both have the ability to train and ride monsters that can be used for war and battles. In the real world if we had female fighters that were as good or better than the likes of brock lesnar, jon jones and so it would change our way of thinking. We dont officially so we continue with our patriarch and women dont create civil wars trying to change that either so it doesnt drastically change. In these fictional worlds thats not as much the case. Women are proven and have avenues beyond just martial arts and physical power.

She’s def watered down, I think part of that is to strip the relationship w and until after the actor looks a bit less like a child.

This katara should changes her name too katana bc you know she is nothing but a weapon

When Katara said "you are looking at her" I laughed, not because it was funny, but cuz I got angry. It almost felt like they were mocking the original show. Like saying "Look, our katara is better and stronger". They could have just removed that line completely, but they decided to keep it in for NO REASON.
Anyway, hated the storytelling, loved the action and special effects.

I think it's because of how much the fandom made fun of the things that made her HER.
The people making the remake seem to want to do justice to the fans but at the same time that doesn't mean implementing their chlidish criticisms and making those bad changes.

I'm not too mad at them for this as much as I am enraged at them for hiring the actor who literally lied about being native to join the cast aka 'Sokka'

I am also upset about the subpar acting. It's either overdone or underdone or just not quite the right spirit.

One point. Having combat medics near or on the battlefield isn't a bad thing.

It's sad. They had to fix it. And stop repeating the plot

By trying to make this adaptation less sexist (which it wasn’t even at all in the first place), they somehow made it more sexist. There is no way you mess up this badly

Well said. I’m a BIG fan of the original series. In fact, I re-watched the entire series last week and just finished it yesterday morning!
I was SO looking forward to a live-action adaption of this series but when I learned the original show creators back out-I got nervous.
I still remained positive but when I finally watched the pilot I knew I was gonna be in for a shit show 🙃
The entire show feels inauthentic, everything from their terrible “theatre-kid” acting, their perfectly pleated costumes, the botched writing. It’s so SO frustrating seeing how Hollywood butchers original shows like this.
I loved this video essay on Katara and I’m gonna watch your Sokka video next. Not before I like and subscribe tho!
Well done!

They really nuked everyone's character, but they made Katara's the blandest of them all. They didnt keep a single one of her personality traits.

Netflix removed their #1 source of feedback by removing the comment section. Also, this adaption is an embarrassment. All they had to do was take what the original did well and make it work with live action.

That back and forth comparison❤️

It's hard to say if this adaptation is more in-character than the Ember Island adaptation, honestly.

I appreciate the new and unique ways you´ve found to name not!Katara in order to distinguish her from the original 10/10 XD

The way the Netflix's Avatar is going, it worries me that in the final season Katara will be who defeats the Fire Lord.

Me: Enjoys Netflix’s Avatar Last Airbender

reads comments

No … no … it will not be Star Wars all over again. I will enjoy this show.

Aang's friendship with Zuko is more believable than his friendship with Katara in this show. And he and Zuko aren't even supposed to be friends at this point. What does that tell you about how badly they screwed up Katara?

I was so concerned there for a second 😂

I've been an atla fan for a long time, and her fan specifically because of her personality, power and just overall story. When I saw that shit I was just so fucking mad, and sad and just a bunch of emotions. I truly thought "you cannot ruin her" but, they did. Then Azula was also such a fuck up.

I'm so afraid of what they'll do to toph.

Out of topic but am i the only one that thinks the live action sokka looks more like the guy that played sokka in the fire nation play than actual sokka

It broke my heart how much they ruined my childhood hero in this show!! I wanted to be Katara as a kid!

Repent and believe the gospel! Jesus died for our sins and rose 3 days later so we could be forgiven of our sins and be gifted with everlasting life! Put your faith in Jesus and follow him. Life is short, please make the right choice today.

I hated that the Netflix version have ALL women want to fight instead of heal. As if fighting is everyone's dream and the only reason women didn't happily go to wars was because of sexism. I'm a woman and I never wanted to fight in a war, although there are definitely women who do.

It was so easy to fix, too. When Katara starts learning healing she realizes there's a group of women (mainly younger ones because young people are usually the ones against the rules) being unhappy with their role (that's how she learns women aren't allowed to fight at all). They have been secretly training with the trained men who were willing to help them, their brothers, fathers, husbands, boyfriends. Just have Katara inspire them to challenge the rules together, Pakku lets them fight, the rest of the women, who are perfectly fine with their assigned role, remain healers (because doctors and nurses are invaluable in a war, hello?) and boom, fixed.

Netflix Katara is like 2020's Mulan
Completely stripped of nuance and substance before being replaced entirely with plot-issued story armour, then the writers expect people to clap when the character they deus ex machina'd to win, overcomes the superficial obstacle with Spectacle™

The Netflix adaptation is literally just the play from ember island.

Friendlyspaceninja made a video where he made a similar conclusion although he doesn't consider Katara a girlboss. Rather he thinks the stoicism has ironically made a bit docile because we don't see her fiery determination

I hope Toph doesn’t get ruined in the Live Action.

I find it terribly frustrating how mainstream tv and movies these days insult women. According to these shows and movies “if a woman isn’t already physically strong, then she is a failure. If a woman needs any kind of help, or accepts help from a man, then she is a failure. If a woman shows any kind of compassion, empathy, or kindness that isn’t related to her ability to fight, then she is a failure.”
This is an insult to women. It basically means that if you are not already perfect then you have not only failed as a woman, but you have failed at life.
Not only is this a terribly unrealistic standard that serves to discourage, rather than encourage, anyone who takes the messages in these shows and movies seriously, but it also prevents any person (male or female) from being able to relate to, or root for, these characters. No person is without flaw, and it is by watching how characters on screen overcome their flaws that we, as the audience, come to sympathize with, care about, and root for the characters on screen. No one cares if a flawless protagonist defeats the bad guy because they never had any chance of losing.
I hate that this has become the norm on screen, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why the people making these shows and movies still think this kind of “character work“ makes for a good character. If you look at these characters for more than two seconds, you realize just how unrealistic and, dare I say, sexist the intentions behind these characters’ conception were.
The original Katara was a masterfully well written character. And the sad truth is, Netflix would rather burn money than give a new Katara the flaws needed to craft an interesting character arc that actually allows people to relate to her as a person.

the best way to describe the live action versions of ATLA is the original ep of them watching a theatre show of themselves

Great review. I think all of these terrible decisions about the Katara are not mistakes but intentional decisions. Forget about realizing that they make her more shallow, they probably think they purified Katara from her disgraces.
Betrayal inherently comes from someone you trust, love, care about. Therefore, a person who is more in touch with these feelings is more likely to feel the pain of betrayal more deeply. The original show was smart enough to consistently portrey this phenomenon with Katara. She was the one who had the hardest time to forgive/accept Jet, Zuko and her father. Seeing this consistently in the original show wasn't only realistic but also beutiful in my opinion. Apperently, being emotionally sensetive seen as a shameful weakness (especially for women) in the contemporary movie industry. In my opinion, most you can say is this's a side effect of an admirable virtue.

At the northern water tribe, Aang's words "I'm not getting lessons if you don't teach Katara as well" were idiotic because, come on, you have bigger priorities than you and your friend or sexism or anything else. But it was very well written because that idiotic thing was something Aang would say at that time. Since, Aang had been escaping his responsibilities and refusing to see that he was in a situation bigger than just himself. Katara on the other hand, was aware of the situation and priorities and had such selfless and mature character that she told Aang that he should still train under the master. All of these behaviors were perfectly matched with their personalities.
Another respectable aspect of the Katara was that, even though she was unable to achieve her long-lasting dream at that moment, she still tried to develop herself in any way she was able to, and attended the healing lessons. She didn't go like, "I don't accept these gender roles, I'm not going to be a healer, I'm a warrior" or "The northern water tribe is terrible, I'm not getting anything from here" or something like that. By the way, If I remember correctly, in the original show, we've never seen her being obsessive about becoming a "warrior" unlike Sokka. She had a gift, and she just wanted to develop it and do the most she could with it.

One of the things I liked the most about the original show (and even surprised a little to see it in a western show) was its emphasis on the importance of having a master/teacher. This was done both indirectly and directly several times. Because of this, even the show's "choosen one" aspect, which I normally don't like much, didn't bother me at all. Because the Avatar wasn't someone born incredible, it was someone with an incredible potential. Aang went through a lot to activate his potential and he was the one who got the most help/training (physical, emotional and intellectual) from the most number of people. When this was the case even for the Avatar, you take this "without me, everybody is a teacher for me" concept and turn it into the exact opposite "I'm the only master I need for me" mentallity for Katara. It's not only delusive but also a terrible advise/influence for viewers.

All of these nuances gave the original characters diversity and depth, and made them more realistic. Apparently, the Netflix adaptation takes all these away. Indeed, it's such a waste.

Chat GPT's how to make ATLA more GoT
You're right, many of the themes and character arcs I suggested already exist within "Avatar: The Last Airbender." To make these elements more akin to "Game of Thrones," which is known for its intricate political intrigue, moral ambiguity, and mature themes, here are some ways to amplify those aspects:

*1. Political Intrigue:*
- Introduce more factions within the Four Nations vying for power, each with their own agendas and alliances.
- Expand on the political landscape beyond the Fire Nation's conquest, depicting power struggles within the Earth Kingdom, Water Tribe, and even among the Air Nomads before their genocide.
- Show characters engaging in espionage, sabotage, and manipulation to further their goals, creating a more intricate web of intrigue reminiscent of the political maneuvering in "Game of Thrones."

*2. Moral Ambiguity:*
- Blur the lines between good and evil even further by highlighting the morally ambiguous actions of protagonists and antagonists alike.
- Present situations where characters must make difficult choices with no clear right or wrong answer, forcing them to confront their own morality and ethics.
- Explore the consequences of these morally gray decisions in greater depth, showing how they impact not only individuals but entire societies.

*3. Violence and Consequences:*
- Portray the brutality of war and its aftermath more explicitly, with scenes depicting the horrors of battle, the devastation of villages, and the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.
- Show the long-term psychological effects of violence on characters, including PTSD, survivor's guilt, and moral disillusionment.
- Highlight the moral dilemmas faced by characters when confronted with the necessity of violence to achieve their goals, raising questions about the nature of justice and the cost of war.

*4. Betrayal and Treachery:*
- Introduce more instances of betrayal and treachery among allies, with characters betraying each other for personal gain, revenge, or ideological reasons.
- Create complex alliances and rivalries that shift over the course of the series, with characters forming temporary alliances of convenience only to betray each other when it serves their interests.
- Explore the consequences of betrayal on both a personal and political level, showing how it can shatter trust and lead to further conflict and instability.

*5. Romantic Relationships:*
- Portray romantic relationships in a more mature and realistic manner, with nuanced dynamics, conflicts, and consequences.
- Explore themes of love, lust, jealousy, and betrayal within romantic relationships, highlighting the complexities of human emotions and relationships.
- Show how romantic entanglements can both strengthen and undermine characters, influencing their decisions and allegiances in unexpected ways.

By incorporating these elements, "Avatar: The Last Airbender" could achieve a tone and depth more reminiscent of "Game of Thrones," appealing to fans of the latter while still maintaining the heart and soul of the original series.

Now that I think about it... How on earth is toph supposed to fit into this cast when her biggest opposition is supposed to be live action katara 😂

The cave of too lovers made me really angry

Katara live action .master waterbender her own😊❤

I wonder how they will destroy Toph if there’s a season 2

Katara in the new avatar was so bad, it was the main reason I couldn’t watch anymore

One thing, I think you forgot to mention about Katara's backstory, is that they kind off made the murderer less monstrous, ok let me cook and let's compare the two, in one hand in the OG show, the guy kills Katara's mom even tho she is giving herself up has a prisoner (yeah, yeah you can argue he was under orders to not make prisoners because Hamah created blood bending but my point still stands) and is completely defenseless and is surrendering to him and he just kills her , that is objectively evil. Here Katara's mother (for some reason) tries to fake water bend at the guy, and he reacts by defending himself by burning her, now you could argue that it's still fucked since he burns her alive, but IDK it doesn't feel has evil and has cowardly since the show never really implies, he had ulterior motives. So, unless in season 3 they reveal that he secretly never planned to capture her and planned to kill her instead, I'll have a bit of a hard time believing that the same dude we saw in the live action is the extremely pathetic guy from the cartoon.

This is probably gonna sound like fanfiction but I've had this idea since watching this video. In the North Pole after getting denied by Pakku, Katara could get approached by a healing teacher. She tells her to come by at night if she wants to learn. At night there is a co-ed class that gets together to share knowledge. There are girls learning how to fight and girls AND boys learning how to heal. Katara could meet a boy who doesnt want to be a soldier at all, he only wants heal people.

It would serve two purposes, one to show that its not the girls suffer under the rigid gender roles. Boys are crushed under expectations too and its just as wrong. And two, there is no right way to be a waterbender. A healer, a fighter, or both its up to the individual to decide what's right for them.

Nice analysis

this netflix show didnt even get sokka right? its not just the female characters

Why the show, feels like they only use mobile flash to film?

The difference between a serie being made with love and a serie being made for a cash grab (no hate to the actors, they did the best they could with that script)

I can admit the bending is so good if only the show was hood like the bending I kind of expected it too be good 2010 to 2024 a lot has changed fit technology unlike the limitations 2010 had

I really don’t think I can express how much I hated the live action. Bad writing, bad casting, just bad bad bad. I can’t stand how they stripped the characters of important arcs and Katara made me the most upset. Where’s her emotion? Where’s her strong will? Where’s her PRESENCE?? They made her so vapid in comparison to the powerhouse we saw in the original

Didn't watch the show. How do they justify traveling to the other side of the world if it wasn't for Aang learning how to bend?

Oops, Netflix made mistake again, with another adaptation of the animated show. They made one of the best character in Avatar the last Airbender a complete joke and Katara in the animated show spend a lot of time to mastered the water element. Nobody can be a good fighter after one fight🤔