Well, there’s something to keep in mind, too, when it comes to the Katara example. Yes, she’s from the Water Tribe, and yes, having elemental powers in the World of Avatar is a common trait, but she’s a member of the Southern tribe, and the Fire Nation has killed and/or captured every single waterbender that was produced there during the Hundred Year War. Katara was the only one left by the time the series began. She had hardly any waterbending experience because there weren’t any other waterbenders to teach her, and a subplot of the first season is Katara finding a Waterbending Master from the Northern Tribe that can train her.
Maybe it can count as a downplayed example? I mean, I’m pretty new to this site so I don’t know if it would count, but could that make be a middle ground?
Edited by Pinetree9102
Hm. That's an argument to make, yes. She does have to deal with the need to get training that was denied her by her birth outside the Northern Water Tribe (where such structures exist).
I withdraw my objection.
Okay. I'd like to ask for a discussion-page consensus against the Katara example, as I keep explaining why she doesn't fit.
Bending is not strictly genetic in the Avatar-verse; it's more complicated than that. Katara is part of the Water Tribe, and thus fits the normal criteria for benders to emerge in the setting. Furthermore, she doesn't face any prejudice from other waterbenders for being from a non-bending family; she's treated like any other waterbending girl (which leads to issues with Master Pakku's sexism, but that's not this trope).
Edited by Ramidel Hide / Show Replies