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I have a few reasons as to why kataang makes no sense, and why if it happens in this season finale it won't last.

1. If Aang is 112 or just 12, either way it's just too creepy. One's less creepy, but still creepy. (Katara's fourteen)

2. Aang is an immature b*****d, a crybaby, and quite insensitive.

3. Katara's like Aang's mother so it's like dating your mom. I have one word: awkward.

4. Katara thinks Aang is just a kid.

And if thought about it there would be more. The possibility Katara and Aang would break is very high. Zuko is older, more mature, and has been through more. That's just my opinion.

Well, it's not so much that a twelve and fourteen year old dating would be creepy, it just probably wouldn't work out maturity wise. I mean, the average female matures two years faster than a male - so, in the maturity department, Aang would act like he was four years younger than Katara. But, with Zuko, he's in just the right area.

But, yeah, you're right. I can't see it lasting very long if they do get together. For one thing, they're kids, and the first person you date most likely won't be the person you spend the rest of your life with (unless, of course, it's an arranged marriage or something, but that's completely different). Which is why I like Zutara. Because, well, Zuko's already had a good amount of experience in the field of dating, after Aang Katara would too, and they would probably take some time to get to know each other before they jumped into a relationship - I mean, they have to build at least a friendship first.

It'd last a few months - maybe. Eventually, Katara would realize that this isn't what she wants and kindly break it off with Aang, who would not die of heartbreak, as some people seem to think.

Ooh, you're right - they did pretty much admit to having a mother/son relationship. =o

And, yeah, that's the only moment they continually bring up, and its anything but romantic. xD Zuko and Katara, on the other hand, bring up their past interactions a lot more often - Katara mentioning the scene from 'The Waterbending Scroll' and her trusting him in CoD, and I'm pretty sure Zuko mentions his actions from CoD at some point, too.

Then again, they're not exactly romantic, either. xP Better than burning and thinking of each other on a mother/son basis, though.

plus, after seeing the southern raiders i think zutara is more likely than kataang. i don't think aang really understands her.

I wrote an INSANELY long essay/rant over in Animerumor.

...thought I'd share. ^.^ Here goes!

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Against my better judgements, I'm going to jump into the fray here.

I ship Zutara and Tokka. Allow me some moments to explain.

I ship Tokka because it is cute. It reminds me of myself, when I was a little girl, who had a crush on an older boy, just because he was one of the first few boys I'd -ever- met at that age. It's not entirely impossible, but it's not probable either.

It's just cute. And I ship Tokka PURELY for that reason. Nothing else. Not because I've seen symbolism in the series so far to support that Toph and Sokka will get together.

I haven't seen any buildup to support that Tokka -can- happen. I see only a little girl with a crush on an older boy, who's in love with another girl nearer his own age.

Therefore, it's cute. I ship it.

But I know it's not possible.

This brings me to the Zutara vs. Kataang argument. (God, I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this.)

I came to the Avatar community a shipper. In fact, I was BROUGHT to the Avatar community -after- I saw some Zutara fan-art. I thought to myself, what a dynamic couple these two would make!

And just like that, I was hooked.

Ironically, the moment I settled into the actual gist of the series, I forgot all about shipping for a period. In fact, until I reached the Crossroads of Destiny, I had an open mind as to which ship could happen, and which couldn't. I analysed -all- the ships, plausible or not, with an open mind, and found that I simply could -not- see Kataang happening.

At that point, I wasn't exactly a big fan of Zuko just yet. In fact, my love for my main shipping was spawned at the beginning of season III. I liked the idea of Zutara from the start, but until Zuko's return to the Fire Nation, my regard for this shipping was more or less surpressed.

Which is why my mind was entirely clear, and focused when I decided that Kataang happening would be... weird.

It's obvious, somehow, in Katara's actions and words towards Aang that she treats him merely like she would a little brother. He's younger than her, mentally. Some of you may argue that he is a hundred years older than her; but tell me, honestly, whether you think that, mentally, he is as mature as, if not more mature than, Katara?

The answer is no. He's not. It is a fact universally acknowledged that women mature faster than men. Katara doesn't see Aang as a man, just yet. Not while he's more interested in 'wacky, time-wasting nonsense', than embracing his role as the Avatar.

The way I see it, Aang is ONLY the Avatar when he wants to be. He's the Avatar when people praise his good deeds. He's the Avatar when it's important for him to redeem himself.

Yet, when he needs to find a firebending teacher to learn the ultimate way of PWNING the fire-lord, he'd much rather make loops in the air, and discover the secrets of the Western Air Temple. Instead of placing the number one focus on mastering the Avatar state, and letting go of Katara, he'd much rather try to make sure that they -are- a couple. And, Katara occupies his mind so much so, that, even in his dreams, when what's most important is defeating the firelord, she conquers his thoughts!

"I'm doing it for you, Katara." --Nightmares and Daydreams

WRONG ANSWER, Aang. You should be doing it to restore balance to the world. Because it's your DUTY as the AVATAR.

It's not right. In order for Aang to REALLY deserve Katara, he needs to step up and be a man. He needs to become a FULLY REALISED avatar, and he needs to learn how to let her go to save the world. Not because it's important for him to redeem his honour, but because it's his DUTY as the AVATAR to restore balance to the world. And until he lets go of his crush on her and starts thinking more about defeating the firelord, than about kissing her, he's NOT doing his duty.

Most Kataangers believe that Katara reciprocrates Aang's sentiments, just because she gives him kisses on the cheek. Because she offers hugs as a form of comfort to him. Because she didn't push him away when he kissed her in the Day of Black Sun.

And because she gets jealous when Aang is surrounded by other girls.

I'd like to disprove this theory. This isn't because Katara is in love with Aang. If she really -were- in love with Aang, don't you think we'd have seen some REAL Kataang action in play right now?

Katara would have discussed the kiss. She would have been less of a motherly figure to him, acting, instead, in a way that perhaps Ta Min would have.

After he'd kissed her in the Day of Black Sun, she would have immediately kissed him back; proclaimed her love for him--TELL him that she loved him, to give him something to come back to.

Nothing. She did none of the above. Instead, she merely looked aside; and the expression upon her face is AMBIGUOUS. Even Mike and Bryan admit it.

Therefore, the kiss in the Day of Black Sun shows us nothing from Katara's point of view. It -does-, however, re-instate, for the millionth time, that Aang is deeply in love with her.

Many Kataangers also use Katara's jealousy in The Headband to prove that she -does- reciprocrate his sentiments. Yet, something about it is off. If Katara REALLY were jealous that Aang was out there with other girls, as opposed to her, she'd be doing something to make -him- jealous. Dance with another boy, maybe? Jump into the fray and try to steal him from his crazy fangirls?

Let's face it. Aang -is- a bit of a showoff when it comes to the ladies. Cue, the Kyoshi Warriors, and of course, in The Headband.

Katara, in general, has -always- had Aang's attention. Now, she finds herself with the short end of the stick! What's this? Is Aang lavishing attention upon -other- girls?

Of COURSE she'd get jealous! It's only natural! Kataangers may argue that she's jealous because she feels the same way for him, but it's the general truth, that, even if she DOESN'T feel anything for him, that it's possible to be jealous, too! It happens ALL the time in real life. And on the Big Screen.

My Best Friend's Wedding.

Julia Roberts wasn't -really- in love with her best friend. But she got jealous. Why? Was it because, deep down, she REALLY did love him? Did she REALLY want to be with him? If so, WHY did she only seem to feel that way for him AFTER she discovered that he was getting married? If they'd been best friends so long, why didn't she just say so in the first place?

Because her jealousy is that of a best friend's. She's jealous because she knows that, from now on, her best friend will have another person in his life. He'd lavish his attention upon his WIFE, and HER time with him would be greatly reduced.

If we compare her to Katara, we'd see that there really isn't much of a difference between their jealousy issues. I, personally, feel that Katara's jealousy stems from nothing but a strong friendship bond that is clearly only platonic.

In fact, if I may, I'd like to draw another parallel between Katara x Aang, and Hermione x Harry [From Harry Potter, for those of you who aren't in -that- fandom...].

Hermione and Harry have known each other since the beginning of the series. Yet NOTHING romantic EVER develops between them. In the course of the series, there have been certain misunderstandings regarding their status; they are mistaken as a couple several times. Yet, when it comes to the end of the novel, it becomes clearer that they share a close, platonic love; a brother and sister relationship.

Let's draw a parallel between Harry and Aang.

Harry has lost BOTH his parents, and has no other family.
Aang has lost ALL of his culture, and his people.

Harry is the hero, destined to defeat Voldemort, and to restore peace to the wizarding world.
Aang is the Avatar, destined to defeat Ozai, and to restore peace and balance to the world.

In essense, the two really aren't all that different after all. Harry has Hermione, Aang has Katara. Now, if Harry is to Hermione what Aang is to Katara, isn't it possible that Aang has, perhaps, mistaken her platonic one for a romantic one? Isn't it possible that Aang has a different destiny?

After all, -nothing- changes if Kataang happens, than if Kataang doesn't happen. Katara will stay by Aang's side no matter WHAT changes, because at the end of the day, she REALLY does care for him, as a little brother. She may not love him the way he wants her to, but she loves him the way SHE wants to; and that is beautiful enough as it is.

Think about it. Aang has lost the love of his people; a platonic love.

And the Guru said, "It is reborn in the form of a new love."

And THAT, my dears, is the PLATONIC love that Katara offers him.

Now, let's move on to Zutara. I'm not going to give a detailed analysis on WHY I think this shipping could work--the symbolisms and tension between them have said it all.

And also the Crossroads of Destiny episode. Zuko has had an effect on Katara, and she, on him. That, I believe, will be the beginning of everything we shippers hold onto.

I -will- come out and say, though, that though Zuko, at this point, is not good enough for Katara, his story of forgiveness and redemption -really- hits home. He's striving to improve himself, and at the end of the day, THAT is what's important.

Take a look at him, if you will. In Crossroads of Destiny, Zuko betrayed the gAang so badly, that Aang almost died. Since then, he's made a COMPLETE, hundred and eighty degree turn. He's GOOD now. SO good, in fact, you could see your reflection in that shiny halo above his head. =P

What I'm trying to say is that, Zuko made a complete change in... half a season. Whereas, Aang, two and a half seasons later, is STILL that goofy kid in things that matter most. Sure, he takes up the responsibility of the Avatar more readily, but we -all- remember what happens AFTER the Day of Black Sun.

He gives up. He'd rather explore the Western Air Temple, than to discuss the fate of the free world.

And if THAT's not childish, I don't know what is.

At any rate, no matter how many long-winded essays we shippers write, the ultimate decision rests with Bryke. So let's just all sit back and enjoy our finale week, mmkay? And please, rival shippers, don't attempt to flame this post. This is strictly MY opinion, which you may, or may not share, and I can get snarky, as some of you know, when people attempt to force-feed me with theories that, in my opinion, make no sense.

So let's just enjoy the finale, whichever ships win. ^.^

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Guh. Stupidly long wall of text... x_x

Only the creators can decide that

Why thank you. ^.^ Twelve more hours!

What gets me mad too is Aang just assumes Katara has to be with him. His daydream showed us that he expects Katara to be head over heels in love with him. Also Aang is shown to be arrogant during parts of the shows.