What Twilight does right is it IS a romance series. What it did wrong was literately everything else. Mind you, I am confused on why Meyer who doesn't seem interesting plot decided to add one to her books. Twilight (the actual first book) is awful but you know, it's a love story with the love story (supposedly) driving the tension. The stupid out of nowhere climax is stupid but...yeah. The Mortal Insterment Series is one driven by a romance...but isn't a romance book. It's just a book with romance, which is fine, but then don't treat the romance as end all be all. Hunger Games has a strong romance sub-plot but it's kept where it's belong. Any added important is because of CHARACTER focus and flaws. (Like Gale deciding declaring his love > not having Katniss killed by the Captiol in book two). When it actually really steps into the plot in book 3 it's for CHARACTER reasons so more acceptable.
And why the less of focus in Avatar works. My main issue with Avatar writers is that their romance has two speeds, none and OMG I'm in love. Aang's feelings for Katara tend to disappear when not plot relevant and her importance to him will jump up or down to suit the plot. It's ESPECIALLY painful in Korra when Episode 2 Korra and Mako have some ship tease moments and then episode 5(I think, the shipping episode) BAM she's been in love with him since she came to the city. And hey, what do you know, Mako ALSO has feelings for her. Feelings never really shown. This is literately told to us by the voice over. We aren't shown either of them falling even into mild like and now it's bam love.
But mind you, this is complaints from a very opinionated spot. As a romance writer and lover, it bugs me when emotions jump from 0 to 100 like that but it's a perfectly logical way for a kid's show to be written. It's just the Avatar writers are more than willing to just MAKE a character desperate rather than building up desperation. They are great writers but emotional consistency has always been an issue for them (imo, I've seen people who find the character extremely emotionally consist ant.)
I do love Korra's character though. She feels tough without feeling like a "feminist" character. She really does feel like a female version of the average anime "hot blooded hero". Gender doesn't feel like a part of her character. Even in the romance, she and Bolin are remarkably similar in their romantic pursuits (aggressive but not forceful) and it shows that Korra is a PERSON and that's wonderful. She's flawed but learning, enjoyable to watch, passionate, strong and smart when she needs to be. It's wonderful to see that in kid's animation.
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Date: 2012-06-16 03:36 am (UTC)And why the less of focus in Avatar works. My main issue with Avatar writers is that their romance has two speeds, none and OMG I'm in love. Aang's feelings for Katara tend to disappear when not plot relevant and her importance to him will jump up or down to suit the plot. It's ESPECIALLY painful in Korra when Episode 2 Korra and Mako have some ship tease moments and then episode 5(I think, the shipping episode) BAM she's been in love with him since she came to the city. And hey, what do you know, Mako ALSO has feelings for her. Feelings never really shown. This is literately told to us by the voice over. We aren't shown either of them falling even into mild like and now it's bam love.
But mind you, this is complaints from a very opinionated spot. As a romance writer and lover, it bugs me when emotions jump from 0 to 100 like that but it's a perfectly logical way for a kid's show to be written. It's just the Avatar writers are more than willing to just MAKE a character desperate rather than building up desperation. They are great writers but emotional consistency has always been an issue for them (imo, I've seen people who find the character extremely emotionally consist ant.)
I do love Korra's character though. She feels tough without feeling like a "feminist" character. She really does feel like a female version of the average anime "hot blooded hero". Gender doesn't feel like a part of her character. Even in the romance, she and Bolin are remarkably similar in their romantic pursuits (aggressive but not forceful) and it shows that Korra is a PERSON and that's wonderful. She's flawed but learning, enjoyable to watch, passionate, strong and smart when she needs to be. It's wonderful to see that in kid's animation.