(no subject)
I believe that Katara is a hypocrite.
Of course I don't think she's a terrible person because of this! I mean, obviously I have a trend going of only playing characters that I really like so that's not the case. But she just has a habit of doing things that go against her beliefs. She wants there to be peace in the world, and for everyone to live happily with one another. But, I don't know. I think that since she wants to support Aang so much, she dislikes even the slightest thing that gets in his-- their-- way. It's like how when people lie to her (Jet, Zuko) she ends up holding grudges against them even if they "changed their ways."
Example A: The Waterbending Scroll vs The Runaway
Katara steals a scroll from pirates because it was overpriced.
Aang: I used to kinda look up to pirates, but those guys are terrible.
Katara: I know, that's why I took this!
Aang: No way.
Katara: Isn't it great?
Sokka: No wonder they were trying to hack us up. You stole their waterbending scroll.
Katara: I prefer to think of it as high-risk trading.
Aang: Haha! Good one, Katara.
Katara: Sokka, where do you think they got it? They stole it from a waterbender.
Sokka: It doesn't matter. You put all of our lives in danger just so you could learn some stupid, fancy splashes!
She puts the group in jeopardy, Zuko almost catches Aang, and they get thisclose to being lynched by pirates. In The Runaway, Katara makes it obvious that she's completely against Toph scamming people out of their money.
Katara: Where did you guys get the money to buy all this stuff?
Aang: Toph got us money. She scammed one of those guys in town who moves the shells around all sneaky-like.
Sokka: She used earthbending to win the game. Classic!
Katara: Ah, so she cheated.
Toph: Hey, I only cheated because he was cheating. I cheated a cheater. What's wrong with that?
Katara: I'm just saying, this isn't something we should make a habit of doing.
She basically does the uh. Same exact thing that Toph does. Yup.
Example B: Lake Laogai vs The Painted Lady
THIS is a more well known one. Let's take a look at the first one.
Katara: This isn’t good.
Smellerbee: You guys go find Appa. We’ll take care of Jet.
Katara: We’re not going to leave you.
Long Shot: There’s no time. Just go. We’ll take care of him. He’s our leader.
(The four heroes look at him with expressions of wonder.)
Jet: Don’t worry Katara, I’ll be fine.
(Jet smiles weakly up at her, and she closes her eyes in grief before rising to her feet. The heroes file off somberly, leaving the Freedom Fighters behind. Toph and Sokka bring up the rear.)
So they leave him and he dies.* Now to season three.
Katara: Well, what was I supposed to do?
Sokka: Leave! Do nothing!
Katara: No. I will never, ever turn my back on people who need me.
... like Jet! Anyway, after Lake Laogai Jet is never mentioned again until The Southern Raiders--
Zuko: She needs this, Aang. This is about getting closure and justice.
Aang: I don’t think so. I think it’s about getting revenge.
Katara: Fine! Maybe it is. Maybe that’s what I need. Maybe that’s what he deserves.
Aang: Katara, you sound like Jet.
Katara: It’s not the same. Jet attacked the innocent. This man, he’s a monster.
And then again, jokingly, in The Ember Island Players. So even though Jet died saving them, she still is holding that against him.
Example C: The Puppetmaster vs The Southern Raiders
Hama, a bloodbender, wants to make Katara her successor. Katara rejects the idea.
Katara: But, to reach inside someone and control them? I don't know if I want that kind of power.
Hama: The choice is not yours. The power exists and it's your duty to use the gifts you've been given to win this war. Katara, they tried to wipe us out, our entire culture--your mother!
Katara: I know.
Hama: Then you should understand what I'm talking about. We're the last Waterbenders of the Southern Tribe. We have to fight these people whenever we can. Wherever they are, with any means necessary!
Katara: It's you. You're the one who's making people disappear during the full moons.
Hama: They threw me in prison to rot, along with my brothers and sisters. They deserve the same. You must carry on my work.
Katara: I won't! I won't use bloodbending, and I won't allow you to keep terrorizing this town.
Blah blah, she ends up being forced to use it, and bursts into tears after. Fast forward to The Southern Raiders, which I already shared some of above. Katara and Zuko search for the killer of Katara's mother. They find the man that they at first think is the guy.
Captain: Who are you?
Zuko: You don’t remember her? You will soon. Trust me.
Captain: What? What’s happening to me?!
(Cut to a close up of Katara in a bloodbending stance, smiling. Camera zooms out to show Katara bringing down her arms and the Captain’s body is brought to the floor. Cut to Zuko who is shocked at Katara’s technique. Zoom out on the scene again as he narrows his eyes and looks down at the Captain.)
Hama used the technique in order to get revenge against the Fire Nation, which Katara protested against. But then! Katara uses the very same technique to get revenge for her mother.
There's probably a few more I could pull out, but those are the ones that really jump out to me. Like I said before, I don't think she's a bad person or anything because of this. You just have to point out that she's not a saint like some people think. She's still a kid who is growing up in a confusing and chaotic world so sometimes you can't help but step on some toes, even if you rather not. I guess.
* Concerning Lake Laogai though. If Katara had used her magical spirit water on Jet then (if she was even able to since lol he got his insides crushed) she couldn't offer to help Zuko with it, which would completely take away the whole I TRUSTED YOU AND THEN YOU SUCKED aspect of their relationship. And even more, she couldn't save Aang after Azula hit him with lightning. BUT. If Jet was still with them, who knows how season two would have ended in the first place? Just a few more allies might have made all the difference. But I can go on and on about that so that's a topic for another day.