I actually didn't mind some of the stuff Katara did in S1 since they all pretty much did some dumbass stuff throughout, though the stealing from pirates is ok bit was a little weird. And I liked the stuff with her and Pakku since it wasn't just about her but about Pakku holding a grudge for being jilted and hiding it behind culture. That fight got Pakku to realize what he already knew: that Katara was a fully capable bender and that his bitterness was all about his personal injury. It wasn't so much sexism in his case but projection. So I thought it was a unique twist on the usual story. And it wasn't about belittling the healers but about rejecting a conformist society that chooses who you marry and what role you take and such so Katara's frustration at being placed with the healers makes sense. This is helped by the fact that Katara is also a healer and understand the importance of that power and role. They made this very clear in the scene where Katara explains why her grandmother left the Northern Tribe, because she wanted to forge her own destiny. It's much more than simply a woman's role.
Second season, I liked her more because I got to see both her jesusy side and her ditzy side and her smart side. It made her more than just the power-girl. Katara wasn't all powerful. She could hold her own, but she wasn't invincible. Also, nice that the random dad bitterness wasn't in this season. I liked when she figured out the Kyoshi thing but let Sokka have his fun too. I liked how freaked out she was that Ty Lee could take her down and how she analyzed how it was done. The girls never thought of each other as rival girls but as equal warriors. Warriors who could still do things like flirt with boys and pretty themselves up. I wouldn't say Toph was so much a tomboy but more than she didn't want to be the socialite her family planned for her; she was rebelling against her weak status. She became tough to compensate for everyone considering her weak. This again is less of a feminist thing but more of a reaction to her being blind and small. But we also see that Toph does want to be pretty too and can gussy up when need be. The important thing with Toph is that she's fully capable of being noble but chooses not to because she just enjoys being laid-back and free. I thought the clash between her and Katara made sense, owing back to the elements, where water is more flexible and changing while earth is steadfast. This shows especially in the episode where Toph trains Aang in earthbending. I liked how Katara was willing to think of others a lot in this season, particularly when she agrees to stay behind and plan so Sokka can join their father and when she helps Jet, despite her very valid apprehensions with him. I think S2 balanced the healer and the warrior perfectly; that's why it's my favorite take on her.
Also, Ty Lee doesn't need validation from boys. She just wants to feel like an individual. That's why she acts so damn quirky, to escape being just the same as her gaggle of sisters. I liked that her backstory managed to be both hilarious shallow and yet somehow deep and relatable at the same time. I would also argue that Mai is not so much an action girl as one who can defend herself and was probably trained in her skills because of her family. Otherwise, Mai is probably the most normal of the lot.
I think the creators do a fairly good job with women (with the exception of Yue but that was a bit rushed), but I think they just love-fested too much on Katara in S3 and her character suffered for it.
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Second season, I liked her more because I got to see both her jesusy side and her ditzy side and her smart side. It made her more than just the power-girl. Katara wasn't all powerful. She could hold her own, but she wasn't invincible. Also, nice that the random dad bitterness wasn't in this season. I liked when she figured out the Kyoshi thing but let Sokka have his fun too. I liked how freaked out she was that Ty Lee could take her down and how she analyzed how it was done. The girls never thought of each other as rival girls but as equal warriors. Warriors who could still do things like flirt with boys and pretty themselves up. I wouldn't say Toph was so much a tomboy but more than she didn't want to be the socialite her family planned for her; she was rebelling against her weak status. She became tough to compensate for everyone considering her weak. This again is less of a feminist thing but more of a reaction to her being blind and small. But we also see that Toph does want to be pretty too and can gussy up when need be. The important thing with Toph is that she's fully capable of being noble but chooses not to because she just enjoys being laid-back and free. I thought the clash between her and Katara made sense, owing back to the elements, where water is more flexible and changing while earth is steadfast. This shows especially in the episode where Toph trains Aang in earthbending. I liked how Katara was willing to think of others a lot in this season, particularly when she agrees to stay behind and plan so Sokka can join their father and when she helps Jet, despite her very valid apprehensions with him. I think S2 balanced the healer and the warrior perfectly; that's why it's my favorite take on her.
Also, Ty Lee doesn't need validation from boys. She just wants to feel like an individual. That's why she acts so damn quirky, to escape being just the same as her gaggle of sisters. I liked that her backstory managed to be both hilarious shallow and yet somehow deep and relatable at the same time. I would also argue that Mai is not so much an action girl as one who can defend herself and was probably trained in her skills because of her family. Otherwise, Mai is probably the most normal of the lot.
I think the creators do a fairly good job with women (with the exception of Yue but that was a bit rushed), but I think they just love-fested too much on Katara in S3 and her character suffered for it.