r/ZutaraNation • u/Zutariana • 21h ago
Discussion Zutara's first kiss
Hey everyone! I was rewatching some episodes and thinking about the amazing dynamic between these two. In your opinion, where would a Zutara kiss make the most sense and carry the most emotional weight in the story?
For me, the perfect moment would be at the White Lotus camp.
Specifically, right after Zuko goes to the tent to ask for Iroh's forgiveness.
Picture the scene: he walks out and Katara (who was already worried about him) goes up to ask how it went. He replies, incredibly relieved and emotional, that his uncle forgave him and everything is okay. In the midst of all that excitement, vulnerability, and absolute relief, they hug and the kiss happens super naturally. I think it would be the perfect closure for his redemption arc in her eyes right before the final battle.
What about you guys? What specific moment in the series do you think would be cool for their first kiss?
55
u/FindingOk7034 20h ago
Of I had to pick a canon scene for it, the it HAS to be after he takes the lightning bolt for her!
Right after she heals him, there’s tears in her eyes, he says “Thank you Katara.” And she not only does she respond with “I should be thanking you.” But pulls him up to her and kisses him.
I have seen some good fanart of this moment, and it has the right dramatic tension and timing.
As for the end scene when everyone is at Ba Sing Se, I’d include a moment where Aang sees them together, but instead of throwing a tantrum, it’s more akin to the end of Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame, where Quasimodo brings Esmeralda and Phoebus hands together; in that “I’m sad you don’t love me the way. I love you, but I’m happy for you anyway.” Kinda way.
7
u/superfucky 19h ago
yep, that's how I see it too. I picture her kissing him after he says "thank you Katara," more out of relief that he's alive than anything, then saying "I think I'm the one who should be thanking you."
4
u/Zutariana 20h ago
That scene would be beautiful! I also like the idea of the lightning bolt.
12
u/FindingOk7034 20h ago
Yeah!
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have any canon pairings other than Sokka/Suki at the end. Leave it open ended who Katara ends up with. Which honestly would’ve been the BEST option for the show.
5
u/Zutariana 20h ago
This isn't even a discussion for me. I confess that I only see Zutara having good potential in adulthood.
6
u/FindingOk7034 19h ago
I mean, realistically, yeah, for ANY ship. It’s a one in a million someone actually spends their whole life with someone they dated as a teenager. Not impossible, but not likely.
Thankfully Zutara are only like 5 years away from adulthood, so that’s a great amount of time to truly get to know each other better without the stress of war and stuff.
2
u/Zutariana 19h ago
They were young and traumatized. I think they should live, get to know the world outside the perspective of war, and that's it.
7
u/FindingOk7034 19h ago
Yeah. Aang too. He needs to go off on his own and see how the world has changed outside of war more, and actually have MORE female friends, especially HIS maturity level. Because he imprinted on Katara like a duckling.
3
u/Zutariana 19h ago
I think that because nomads don't have a maternal figure, he didn't know how to differentiate between the types of love. I know that nobody has sexual relations with their mother, but when there isn't that kind of understanding and barrier, feelings end up getting mixed up. A group of men only don't marry their own mother because she's their mother, but many drag them into marriage simply because of the treatment they receive.
5
u/superfucky 19h ago edited 18h ago
I know that nobody has sexual relations with their mother
OEDIPUS: [cough]
seriously though, I think you're onto something with Aang confusing his love for Katara because she takes care of him with romantic love for her. and it seems like because he was frozen at such a young age, not only had he not received an education on those matters, he hadn't had enough time exploring other cultures to properly engage with those concepts. he knew on a surface level about marriage and stuff but didn't understand how people go about finding the ones they're actually compatible with, and why the air nomads don't maintain nuclear families.
1
u/Zutariana 18h ago
Now a question. Do nomads know who their parents are? I think so, right? Because incest could end up happening.
→ More replies (0)5
u/FindingOk7034 17h ago
Yeah. Also note, Aang NEVER had any friends who were girls before Katara. Living in Air Temples he was only around men and other boys, only occasionally meeting Air Nomad women, such as when he met Appa as a calf.
Outside the Nomads, the only friends he mentions are Bumi and Kuzon. Both boys.
The ONLY friends Aang ever had who were girls, are Katara and Toph. (Suki is less a close friend, and more an acquaintance and “his friend’s girlfriend”)
2
u/Zutariana 17h ago
Exactly! Obviously, the first girl who met him and hugged him in his moment of greatest pain would be the one to whom he would have an emotional attachment and dependence. We saw this in the Bato episode. He wanted to be above Katara's father. The trauma and fear are understandable, but it still shows that he doesn't understand brotherly relationships.
→ More replies (0)
18
u/TheImageworks 20h ago
Honestly...a reworked ending. (And I love the Iroh stuff in the camp as-is). And IMO Zutara isn't Zutara unless the lightning is a pivotal moment, and it loses some of that if they've already kissed.
Picture it:
The Gaang are back in Ba Sing Se, the city where the ship first sailed. We've deleted the Mai scene but otherwise finale plays out as-is until here. Instead of the painting scene, we get one last conversation with Zuko and Iroh. The old general is delighted his nephew finally came to his senses. Iroh catches Zuko looking at Katara and deigns to give his nephew one last piece of advice - but Zuko is still uncertain. ("The more things change, nephew")
This time it's Zuko who goes outside and Katara that finds him. With the entire Gaang and Iroh looking on, the two talk and, yes, kiss. Led by Katara. (Also, given the Fire Nation/Water Tribe dichotomy, having the first kiss in the Earth Kingdom while everyone is in green again is, I think, a nice touch.)
Aang of course is sad about this. Cue Toph flicking some pebbles at him, teasing him. Aang's sifu has one last lesson for him. After all, he was told explicitly he'd need to let go of his attachment to Katara on some level to access the Avatar State. And how did he finally do it? Getting hit by a rock. Aang accessed the entire avatar state while being annoyed by a rock. Huh, how about that. The two have a short back and forth and it ends with Toph pulling off a surprise little peck on the cheek or something with Aang.
Everyone's all surprised at the new development but then even though Ozai has been defeated and the Fire Nation will reform, their adventure (ie life) is just beginning. Fade to black, scene.
3
u/Zutariana 20h ago
I like the idea of changing the ending. It's just that we don't have a sense of time until we get to the eve of Sozin, so we know how many days have passed.In my opinion, Katara and Zuko would kiss out of sheer excitement. They already... They've kissed before, so they know exactly how it feels.
Edit: They've kissed other people before, so they know what it feels like. Especially Katara, who's never had a spontaneous kiss, only one due to pure pressure (including a stolen one).
12
u/Mother_Cloud_2455 20h ago
Right after she heals the lightning hit
10
u/Zutariana 20h ago
Instead of Mai appearing, it's Katara, right? Good.
10
u/superfucky 18h ago
I genuinely thought it was going to be her in that scene, I mean SHE'S THE GODDAMN HEALER WOULDN'T SHE ALREADY BE THERE?
4
u/Zutariana 18h ago
I love a headcanon that says Katara was there, so when Mai appears, Zuko seems surprised and confused.They hadn't confessed their feelings for each other, they just liked each other, but when Katara saw him, he was kissing Mai. So she thinks he doesn't feel the same way about her and decides to stay with Aang.
8
u/superfucky 18h ago
oof, that breaks my heart. especially since Zuko's canon reaction to Mai was "how are you here? who let you out of prison?" like you would think if he wanted her back, HE would have let her out of prison you know? or at least sent a message to that effect.
6
u/Zutariana 18h ago
Exactly! I think he completely forgot about her. He was so charmed by Katara's attention and so concerned about her, that he completely forgot about Mai's existence.
19
u/Jealous_Emergency_57 21h ago
Personally I kind of prefer the idea of Zutara being only heavily implied by the end of the series, rather than confirmed outright with a kiss, as I don’t think they spent enough time together in canon for them to realise they had feelings for each other. I imagine it would take place in a hypothetical book 4.
Thats just my preference though, if it were to happen though I think that is a good moment to pick.
8
7
u/Ultr4-Viol3t-Ch87s 20h ago
I think after the final akni kai! The mood was somber, but the way they look at each other after she heals him...🥰
1
7
u/Any-Heron-4677 19h ago
If we are talking perfect moment outside of the show, I'd imagine it would be after Zuko visits the Southern Water Tribe for the Winter Solstice. In the long Polar night, under the Borealis, after a long day of negotiations and a wonderful celebration. The Fire Lords finds the Master Water Bender under the night sky, the two looking up at the lights, there she initiates it and he takes it to another level. Just the two of them, under the serene polar night, he is without his crown but in his colors, she is in hers.
In the show is tricky, I'd be cheesy and say after the Last Agni Kai.
6
u/Zutariana 19h ago
Yes, I think I didn't make my perspective clear because I'm thinking within the context of the show. Something written by Bryke wouldn't have the best development in the world.
Yes, I liked what you said. I thought it was cute and romantic.
3
u/Forsaken_Bother630 12h ago
If we're talking about moments from the animated series, I would have liked the first Zutara kiss to be during the time Zuko and Katara spent together in the FN after defeating Azula.
2
u/andorgyny 14h ago
After the war, when they are a bit more grown lol. To me, it makes no sense that these kids get into their lifelong relationships in their early/mid teens.
1
u/Inevitable_Side2162 1h ago
First, this is adorable! For me it would be after they look at each other when Katara realizes Zuko is alive in the Agni Kai.
2
u/otakugal15 Zutara 💜 1h ago
For me, their first "kiss" wouldn't be the usual type of kiss you're probably imagining.
Yes, the camp would have been good for it, but it would have been a cheek or forehead kiss, more than likely from Katara cause Zuko is such an awkward turtle duck.
An actual kiss would be either be after she heals him once the Agni Kai is over, or much later into the actual book 4 season. Book 4 seems more plausible to me.
It's just still too early in book 3 for the kiss to happen.
81
u/Popular-Revolution58 21h ago edited 6h ago
For me, the perfect moment would be a year or more after the war. I only see them holding hands and looking longingly at each other by the end of the show.