>>123164905Only the most patrician posters would recognise that Kataang and Zutara are both bad endgame ships.
The issue with Kataang is its basically a one-sided crush for most of the series, with Katara only entertaining the idea after realising Aang could be the powerful bender from her fortune - except she learned that the fortuneteller lady was a complete bullshitter. It also stifles Aang's character since he ends up with his original crush, there's no struggle - its just the typical friendzoned until not friendzoned shite.
Zutara outright destroys the point of Zuko's character. Now if he defects from the Fire Nation, he isn't leaving his girlfriend, he's instead appeasing his girlfriend. Zuko turning to the good side would be pussy-driven, not honor-driven. Mai as boring as she is with Zuko at least fulfils this basic plot function. It could work post-series, since the Fire Lord marrying a lowly water tribe girl would be a massive deal, but for the actual story from Book 1 to 3, it has no place.
The actual best endgame ship is Aang and Toph. For starters, the "polar opposites" argument Zutarafags use actually applies to Aang and Toph, since they are opposite of one another in both element and personality. It even goes further with their upbringing, since Aang was raised as a monk and Toph was raised by the wealthiest family. Aang has every stake in the war, while Toph just wanted to be away from her parents. Both characters learning from each other would've been great, and it even fits the whole imagery of earthly attachments that Aang had to let go, since Toph is the embodiment of earthbending philosophy.
Also another neat detail - in the swamp, we're shown three visions for Katara, Sokka and Aang respectively. If Katara loved her mother most, and Sokka loved Yue most, Aang's vision of Toph would complete this set very well and serve for great foreshadowing.
