Zutara

Zutara
GENERAL
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Character	Zuko
Character	Katara
Canonical?	Fanon
Status of Relationship	Close Friends/Allies/Former Enemies
IN FANDOM
Type (?)	Het
Also Known As	Zukotara, Blutara, Katko, KataZuko, Fireboy and Watergirl
Tropes	• Birds of a Feather — Zuko and Katara are both willful, compassionate, and emotional individuals who lost their respective mothers at a young age and are about equal in terms of bending abilities. • Bonding Over Missing Parents — While in Ba Sing Se, Zuko and Katara tell how the Fire Nation took their mothers away from them. • Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl • Deuteragonist — Zuko and Katara share this role in Aang’s overall journey. • Enemies to Lovers • Fan-Preferred Couple — Over the years, Zutara has remained the most popular ship within the Avatar: The Last Airbender fandom. • Foe Yay Shipping — Before Zuko joins Team Avatar. • Red Oni, Blue Oni — Katara is the gentler, more optimistic waterbending blue to Zuko’s grumpier, cynical firebending red. • Reformed but Rejected — For a few episodes, Katara rejects Zuko when she remembers what happened the last time he tried to reform, back in Ba Sing Se. • Ships That Pass in the Night — During seasons one and two. • Ship Tease — Upon Zuko joining Team Avatar, and Katara finally forgiving him, they share a few moments together. • Sour Supporter — Katara is not happy to have Zuko join Team Avatar at first, despite him being accepted by Aang, Sokka and Toph. • Taking the Bullet — Or rather lightning. During Zuko and Azula’s Agni Kai, Azula changes Zuko from her target to Katara standing further behind him. Zuko runs in between Katara and the lighting strike, taking a heavy hit to his core. • Love Across Battlelines

22 78 1

Zuko – “Thank you, Katara.”

Katara – “I think I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

— Zuko and Katara thank each other for saving each other against Azula’s attacks, Sozin's Comet, Part 4.

Zutara is the het ship between Zuko and Katara from the Avatar: The Last Airbender fandom.

Canon

Living on opposite sides of the war, Zuko and Katara were initially enemies. Katara protected Aang from Zuko, who wanted to capture the Avatar to regain his honor and return to the Fire Nation from his banishment. Despite harassing Team Avatar several times, Zuko did not harbor ill feelings towards Katara nor wished to hurt her. Instead, he found Katara's missing necklace and used it against her twice, until Aang retrieved it back. The two later fought at the Northern Water Tribe after Katara received waterbending lessons, showcasing the two's equal fighting abilities.

Much later, Katara and Zuko were imprisoned together underground in Ba Sing Se. Katara took her frustration out on Zuko and expressed her grief over losing her mother to the Fire Nation. Zuko empathized with her, revealing how he also lost his mother to the same people. Seeing Zuko conflicted with himself and trusting that he wanted to change, Katara offered to heal his scar with her spirit water. Before she could however, they were interrupted by Aang and Iroh. Azula offered to let Zuko return home if he fought against Katara and Aang. He turned on them and Iroh, leaving Katara to escape with a severely injured Aang, who she used the spirit water on.

Despite finally returning home, Zuko became disillusioned with life as Fire Nation royalty. Eventually Zuko confronted his father Ozai and escaped to teach Aang firebending. Katara continued to be the most hostile towards Zuko, even as he gradually earned the trust of everyone else. Zuko later learned Katara felt personally betrayed by what happened in Ba Sing Se. Furthermore, he suspected she was projecting her anger at the Fire Nation and her mother's death onto him. Determined to get Katara's trust back, Zuko helped her find and confront her mother's killer. Katara finally forgave Zuko after he helped her get closure, and she expressed her gratitude with a hug.

Katara and Zuko were quickly on much better terms. They sat together and watched a play parodying themselves, bantering with the rest of Team Avatar. Later, when Aang went missing days before Sozin's Comet, the group, led by Zuko, sought help from Iroh. Yet Zuko hesitated to see his uncle, fearing that Iroh would never forgive him. Katara reassured him that Iroh would, just like she had.

Iroh advised that Zuko needed help defeating Azula. Zuko immediately requested for Katara, who also accepted without hesitation. During the Agni Kai, Azula shot lightning at Katara which forced Zuko to jump in the way, protecting her but injuring himself. Katara, while concerned for Zuko's life, defeated Azula and hurried to heal Zuko. The two thanked one another for saving the other. Katara later attended Zuko’s coronation as Fire Lord, smiling at Zuko and Aang's success in ending the war.

Book One: Water

First meeting; Zuko arrives to the Southern Water Tribe, looking for the Avatar.

While Aang and Katara are exploring an old and abandoned Fire Nation ship, Aang accidentally triggers a booby trap. In doing so the ship releases a flare into the sky. Aang is able to get himself and Katara out using his air bending abilities. Having spotted the flare, Zuko watches them through binoculars, seeing Katara for the first time. Zuko locates Katara’s home, the South Pole Village in his continued search for the Avatar. He rams his ship into the small village before questioning the people about Aang’s whereabouts. Aang arrives back, before willingly giving himself up to Zuko so the village will be safe. Soon after Zuko leaves and Katara and Sokka go on a rescue mission for Aang. With Aang safe, they leave Zuko defrosting his ship.

Zuko grips Katara’s necklace.

An undisclosed amount of time later, Katara and Aang help Haru, an Earth bender, free other Earth benders. During the ensuing chaos of the battle aboard a coal rig, Katara’s necklace is lost. In Zuko’s search for the Avatar, he finds Katara’s necklace, picking it up and gripping it in his fist.

Sometime later, Katara is teaching Aang a few water bending moves. Aang is a natural, leading to Katara growing frustrated at him already surpassing her in skill. Traveling to a nearby town, Katara steals a water bending scroll. Zuko and his Uncle Iroh stop in the same town, going into the same shop. Inside Zuko overhears pirates talking about Katara and the gang. Zuko is immediately interested in learning if one of them had an arrow on their head. Teaming up, Zuko and the pirates head out in search for the group.

For information on the Avatar, Zuko taunts Katara with her lost necklace.

Later that night, Katara sneaks out of camp to train using the scroll. Zuko and the pirates hear her and water slashing. Katara runs from a pirate, straight into Zuko’s arms, with Zuko claiming, “I’ll protect you from the pirates.” A ploy, as Zuko has Katara tied to a tree, where he attempts to make a deal with her: Aang for her lost necklace. Katara refuses. She and group are able to evade Zuko when Zuko and the pirates turn on each other.

Zuko and Katara battle in the Spirit Oasis.

The next time Zuko and Katara meet is at the Northern Water Tribe when Zuko sneaks into the Spirit Oasis where Aang is meditating in order to crossover into the Spirit World. As Aang can’t be disturbed, Katara takes it upon herself to protect him. As she’s telling Princess Yue this, Zuko reveals himself, telling her, “Well, aren’t you a big girl now.” The two engage in battle with Zuko commenting that Katara must have found a master to train her. Their battle comes to an end when Katara is able to freeze Zuko against an ice wall. The victory is short lived as it is now daybreak; Zuko gaining new strength with the rising sun. He frees himself from the ice block, before knocking Katara to the ground. Zuko kidnaps Aang, though due to the blizzard outside, he seeks shelter. Katara and group locate him when they see Aang return from the Spirit World back into his physical body. As Aang attempts an escape, Zuko challenges Katara to a rematch; with Katara quipping that it won’t be much of a rematch. Surrounded by ice and snow, she is able to easily defeat him in a swift movement. Aang insists on saving Zuko as he would die out there. Zuko comes to and makes an escape from the group without them knowing.

Book Two: Earth

Despite her exhaustion, Katara offers to heal Zuko’s uncle.

Hunted by the Fire Nation, Zuko is now a refugee, though still not without hunting Aang. Azula, Zuko’s sister, is also hunting the Avatar. Zuko and Katara meet again briefly in an abandoned desert village. Following a battle, Iroh is injured when Azula fakes surrender, hitting him with a blue fire blast from her two finger tips. Zuko kneels over his uncle, scared and angry. Katara offers to help him, though Zuko yells for her and the others to leave in a harsh way.

An undisclosed amount of time later, in the Earth Kingdom capital of Ba Sing Se, Katara decides to stop at a new tea shop before delivering a message to the Earth King. As she’s requesting a table, she hears Zuko reciting an order for tea to Iroh in the back of the shop and gasps in surprise before running off to warn the Earth King.

Katara offers to heal Zuko’s scar.

Zuko and Katara formally meet again inside the crystal catacombs of Ba Sing Se. Zuko is captured by Azula and the Dai Li, being pushed into the catacombs where he falls into Katara, also captured. Katara is immediately furious to see him, telling him that all he cares about is capturing the Avatar, and how spreading war and hatred is in his blood. She continues to say that he does not know the pain of the Fire Nation killing her mother. Zuko apologizes, and says that this is something they both have in common. Katara begins to soften at hearing Zuko’s apology. Katara apologizes for yelling at him, with Zuko telling her it doesn’t matter. She states how for so long whenever she would imagine the face of the enemy, it was his face. Zuko touches his scar and turns away. Katara is quick to inform him that she didn’t mean it like that. Zuko tells her that he’s realized he’s free to determine his own destiny, even if that means he’ll never be free of his mark. Katara mentions how perhaps he could be free of his scar, that she has healing abilities. Zuko is skeptical, dismissing it right way, as “scars can’t be healed”. Katara shows him the water she got from the Spirit Oasis at the North Pole, voicing it has special properties and that she’s been saving it for “something important”. Zuko closes his eyes, allowing Katara to touch him. The tender moment however is short lived as Aang and Iroh come crashing through the catacomb walls. With Aang there, he and Katara head out to help the others. As Katara is leaving, she turns back, looking at Zuko with a sorrowful expression.

Katara and Zuko battle in the catacombs.

A short time later, Katara and Aang are confronted by Azula. The two versus one has Azula silently concerned. Moments later, Zuko emerges, blasting fire and going for Aang. The battle soon switches to Zuko versus Katara. Katara is angry and sad as she had thought Zuko had changed. Zuko, in return, tells her he has. The four are joined by the Dai Li, severely turning the odds against Katara and Aang. Aang enters into the Avatar State, though before he could do anything, he is shot down by Azula. With help from Iroh, he gives Katara the chance to escape with Aang.

Book Three: Fire

During the eclipse, Zuko confronts his father, Fire Lord Ozai. He informs him of the truth, that the Avatar is alive and that he is going to join him. As the sun appears again, Ozai summons lightning at Zuko for betraying him in a brief battle, ending with Zuko escaping. A short time later, Katara and the gang are leaving the Fire Nation Capital following their failed invasion. As they fly away on Appa, Aang’s bison, Zuko follows them in a hot air balloon.

The group arrives to the Western Air Temple as temporary safe haven, with Zuko arriving as well. Not long into being there, Zuko reveals himself, explaining that he’s “good now” and that he can teach Aang fire bending. Katara is immediately on guard, proclaiming, “You can’t possibly think any of us would trust you, can you? I mean, how stupid do you think we are?” The others agree with her, listing off reasons why Zuko can’t join them. Zuko gets down on his knees, offering himself as a prisoner. Katara water bends, harshly splashing him.

After Zuko leaves, Katara and Sokka talk about it. Katara questioning why Zuko would “try to fool them like that” and admitting how she did feel sorry for him while they were imprisoned together in Ba Sing Se, now believing that’s one of his tricks.

The following day, the assassin Zuko sent after Aang prior has located him again. Before the assassin can attack, Zuko swings in, ordering him to stop. When this fails, Sokka is able to take him down with his boomerang. With the assassin down, Zuko shows himself again, apologizing for his past actions, including the burning of Toph’s feet the previous night by accident. Hearing him talk about how a fire bender needs to be more careful while using, Aang agrees to have Zuko teach him, though not without asking what Toph, Sokka and Katara think first. With Toph and Sokka approving him, it’s Katara’s turn. Zuko sweats as he waits for her answer. Katara agrees, only as it’s what Aang thinks is right.

Zuko is happy to see Katara.

Sokka walks Zuko to the room where he’d be staying. Once leaving, Katara shows up at his door. Upon seeing her, Zuko smiles, immediately standing up to greet her. Before he is able to speak, Katara threatens to take his life if he shows any sign of treachery or harming Aang. She departs, leaving a visibly disturbed Zuko alone to ponder her words.

Zuko saves Katara from falling rocks.

A few days later, the group is attacked by several Fire Nation airships, led by Azula. As bombs hit down, the air temple shakes. Zuko tackles Katara out of the path of falling rocks, landing on top of her in the process. Seeing as it’s Azula attacking them, Zuko stays back to hold her off. During their battle, both Zuko and Azula are knocked off the airship they’re on top of. Aang flies Appa to catch him, with Katara grabbing him and pulling him onto the saddle.

That night, the group is camping “like old times”. Zuko makes a lame joke that he could start chasing Aang around and try to capture him again. While everyone genuinely laughs, Katara says, without looking up, “Ha. Ha.” Sokka makes a toast to Zuko being their hero, ending with Zuko saying that “he doesn’t deserve this”. Katara agrees, before standing and walking off. Sokka questions “what’s with her,” with Zuko saying he wish he knew. As Katara walks off, Zuko stands to follow her.

Zuko intent on learning why Katara hates him so much.

Zuko finds Katara sitting alone by a cliff. As soon as she spots him, her mood drops further. Zuko questions her, asking why the others “seem to trust him now”, though Katara does not. Katara informs him that she was first person to trust him, back in Ba Sing Se, but he had turned around and betrayed her. Zuko asks what he can do in order to make it up to her. Katara tells him, “You really want to know? Maybe you could reconquer Ba Sing Se in the name of the Earth King. Or I know, you could bring my mother back!” With that, Katara pushes past him, hitting his shoulder with her own.

Zuko arrives back to camp, entering Sokka’s tent, intent on figuring out why Katara hates him. Upon Sokka asking him what’s on his mind, Zuko says, “Your sister. She hates me. And I don’t know why! But I do care what she thinks of me.” Zuko puts it together that Katara’s rage at him is connected to her mother’s death, as she’s mentioned that back in Ba Sing Se and at the cliff. Asking Sokka if he remembers anything of that day, Sokka does recall the detail of the flags that were waving on the Fire Nation ships – Sea Ravens. Zuko voices that those are the symbol of the The Southern Raiders.

Zuko having waited outside Katara’s tent all night.

The following morning, Katara emerges from her tent; finding out Zuko had sat there outside all night. He informs her that he knows who killed her mother and that he can help her find the man responsible. The two pack and ask Aang that they need to barrow Appa; Aang coyly asking if it’s Katara’s “turn to take a field trip with Zuko” now. Katara confirms yes. The four go back in forth, with Zuko taking Katara’s side, ultimately with Aang not giving his consent for them to take Appa.

Zuko and Katara on their mission to find the Southern Raiders ship.

That night, Zuko and Katara prepare to take Appa anyway. Aang catches them in the act and confronts them. He finally allows them to take Appa, believing it is a journey Katara needs to take. The two depart for the guiding outpost that serves as a coordination station for the entire Fire Navy. They infiltrate the base, discovering that the Southern Raiders are currently stationed on Whaletail Island.

Zuko tells Katara she should get some rest.

In the early morning, Zuko wakes to see Katara still awake, flying Appa. He watches her for a moment, before telling her she should get some rest, as she’ll need all her strength. Katara informs him that she has all her strength, that she’s no longer the helpless girl she once was. Eventually Katara does rest, with Zuko keeping a look out for the Southern Raiders. He spots their ship, waking Katara up. The two board the ship and eliminate anyone in their path. They come up the Commander of the ship where he questions who they are. Zuko remarks that if he doesn’t remember Katara now, he will soon. As Katara blood bends the man, she realizes he’s not the man that killed her mother. Zuko pins the Commander for information on the killer’s whereabouts, leading them to a man named Yon Rha.

Zuko and Katara stalk Yon Rha, Katara’s mother’s killer.

Zuko and Katara stalk Yon Rha, having set up a trap for him to trip on. As he falls down, Zuko ambushes him as Katara comes up from behind, demanding he recognize her face. He soon does, as Katara uses the rain to make sharp ice spears. Katara decides not to kill her mother’s killer, leaving Zuko momentarily shocked. As Katara walks away, leaving Yon Rha sobbing, Zuko follows from behind.

Katara embraces Zuko, finally forgiving him.

At sun down, Aang praises Katara for not committing to violence and that forgiveness is the first step to healing. Katara tells him that she will never forgive Yon Rha. She turns to Zuko, smiling and telling him, “…But I am ready to forgive you.” She steps forward, before throwing herself into Zuko’s arms, dissolving into a tight embrace. They part, not before smiling softly at each other as Katara walks off.

Katara and Zuko on their way to fight Azula.

An undisclosed amount of time later, Aang has gone missing as Sozin’s Comet flies through the Earth’s atmosphere. Zuko and Katara are on their journey for the Fire Nation to take on Azula, who has recently been appointed the new Fire Lord by her father, now known as the Phoenix King, ruler of the entire world. The two share their concern for Aang, though push it down.

Zuko accepts Azula’s Agni Kai, hoping Katara won’t get hurt.

A short time later, Zuko and Katara arrive to Azula’s coronation. Zuko proclaims that he’s going to be the Fire Lord, causing Azula to laugh. Azula challenges Zuko to an Agni Kai, which he accepts. Katara looks at him with concern, before questioning what he’s doing. She knows Azula can’t take them both on at the same time, meaning she’s trying to separate them. Zuko recognizes that there’s “something off” with Azula; that she’s “slipping”. Zuko accepting the duel is him hoping that Katara won’t get hurt.

Zuko takes Azula’s attack in order to save Katara.

The duel commences, with Zuko and Azula using their respective fires. Zuko comments on how she’s not using her lightning, taunting her with how she thinks he’ll defect it back at her. Azula rages, forming a lighting strike. At the last moment she changes Zuko as her target to Katara standing further behind him. Zuko sees this, and runs to take the hit, screaming, “No!!” As Zuko falls to the ground, Katara runs for him, screaming his name. Before she can reach him, Azula fires off another strike of lightning blocking her.

Katara heals Zuko.

Katara sees Zuko try to get up, before making another attempt to run for him, only to end with Azula blocking her again. As she runs from Azula, despite Zuko’s weakened state, he tries to protect her. As Katara and Azula battle, Azula comments on Zuko’s poor state of health, knowing Katara can’t get to him. Katara finds more water and chains around the area, tricking Azula to come near her. Katara is able to freeze the water, before chaining Azula in place. Using this, Katara immediately runs for Zuko, turning him over onto his back. She heals him using her water bending, with Zuko weakly thanking her. In return, Katara says she’s the one who should be thanking him.

With the 100 years long war now over and Zuko is crowned the new Fire Lord, with Katara attending his coronation. Sometime later in the liberated Ba Sing Se, Zuko is serving Katara and the group in Iroh’s tea shop.

Moments

Book One: Water

The Boy in the Iceberg

• Zuko sees Katara for the first time through binoculars.

Imprisoned

• Zuko finds Katara’s lost necklace.

The Waterbending Scroll

• Zuko ties Katara to a tree.
• Zuko attempts to reason with Katara and explain that he just wants Aang so that he can go home.
• Zuko shows Katara her lost necklace.

Bato of the Water Tribe

• June repeatedly calls Katara Zuko’s girlfriend.

The Siege of the North, Part 1

• Zuko and Katara battle.
• Zuko comments Katara must have found a master to train her.
• Katara freezes Zuko against an ice wall.
• Zuko knocks Katara to the ground.

The Siege of the North, Part 2

• Zuko challenges Katara to a rematch.
• Katara defeats Zuko in a swift movement

Book Two: Earth

The Chase

• Sokka describes Zuko as an “angry freak with a ponytail”, leading to Katara questioning what’s wrong with ponytails.
• When Iroh is injured by Azula, Katara offers to help him but he refused harshly.

The Guru

• Katara recognizes Zuko’s voice and runs from the Iroh’s tea shop.

The Crossroads of Destiny

• Zuko apologizes to Katara about how her mother was killed by the Fire Nation.
• Katara softens at hearing Zuko’s apology.
• Katara apologizes for yelling at Zuko.
• Katara offers to heal Zuko’s scar.
• Katara touches Zuko’s scar.
• As Katara leaves with Aang, she looks back to Zuko.

The Earth Kingdom Chronicles: The Tale of Katara

• Katara is embarrassed to cry in front of Zuko and attempts to stop herself.
• Katara is unsure of whether to trust Zuko and compares him to Jet, whom she regrets not trusting.
• Katara thinks she can get Zuko to join her side and that she could be his family.
• When Zuko makes the choice to side with Azula, Azula notices that he hesitates to attack Katara.

The Earth Kingdom Chronicles: The Tale of Zuko

• Zuko notices that Katara's touch on his scar is gentle.

Book Three: Fire

The Western Air Temple

• Katara hits Zuko with water.
• Katara questions why Zuko would “try to fool them like that”.
• Katara admits she did feel sorry for Zuko while imprisoned with him in Ba Sing Sa.
• Zuko sweats as he waits for Katara’s answer of him join Team Avatar.
• Zuko smiles upon seeing Katara at his room door.
• Katara threatens to take Zuko’s life.

The Firebending Masters

• Katara laughs at Zuko “losing" his firebending.

The Southern Raiders

• Zuko tackles Katara out of the path of falling rocks, landing on top of her in the process.
• Katara grabs a falling Zuko, pulling him onto Appa.
• Zuko walks after Katara after she walks off.
• Zuko asks what he can do in order to make Katara trust him again.
• Zuko asks Sokka for advice on Katara.
• Zuko sat outside Katara’s tent all night.
• Zuko supports Katara’s desire to confront the man responsible for her mother’s death.
• Zuko tells Katara she should get some rest.
• Zuko informs the Commander he’ll remember Katara.
• Zuko pins the Commander for information on Katara’s mother’s killer.
• Katara ultimately forgives Zuko.
• Katara embraces Zuko.
• Zuko and Katara smile at each other.

The Ember Island Players

• Zuko sits next to Katara.
• Zuko and Katara side-eye each other as Katara’s performer expresses her love for Zuko’s performer.

Sozin’s Comet, Part 1

• Katara invites Zuko in for group hug.
• Katara mistakes a baby picture of Fire Lord Ozai for a picture of Zuko, calling him cute.
• Zuko puts his hand on Katara's shoulder and tells her to leave Aang alone so he can sort himself out.

Sozin’s Comet, Part 2

• Zuko and Katara turn to look at each other when Toph asks where Aang is.
• Zuko and Katara both blush at June calling Katara Zuko’s girlfriend and awkwardly reject the accusation.
• Zuko and Katara sleep next to each other on Appa.
• Katara reassures Zuko that his uncle will forgive him.
• Zuko asks Katara to help him deal with Azula, which she accepts.

Sozin’s Comet, Part 3

• Katara reassures Zuko they can take on Azula.
• Katara looks at Zuko with concern.
• Zuko takes Azula’s lightning strike meant for Katara.
• Katara runs screaming Zuko’s name after he’s been struck by Azula’s lightning.
• Katara sees Zuko try to get up, before making another attempt to run for him.
• Despite Zuko’s weakened state, he tries to protect Katara from Azula again.

Sozin’s Comet, Part 4

• Katara heals Zuko’s by using her water bending.
• Zuko and Katara thank each other for saving each other against Azula’s attacks.
• Katara attends Zuko’s Fire Lord coronation.
• Zuko serves Katara tea at The Jasmine Dragon, and they smile at each other.

Sozin’s Comet: The Final Battle

• Iroh thinks Katara would make a good match for Zuko.

No Benders Allowed

• Zuko asks Katara if the clubhouse was there when they left.

Bumi vs. Toph, Round One

• Zuko and Katara rush in to stop Toph and Bumi from sparring.

Quotes

Katara – “The Fire Nation took my mother away from me.”

Zuko – “I’m sorry. That’s something we have in common.”

— Trapped together in the crystal catacombs, The Crossroads of Destiny.

---

Katara – “I’m sorry I yelled at you before.”

Zuko – “It doesn’t matter.”

Katara – “It’s just that for so long now whenever I would imagine the face of the enemy… it was your face.”

Zuko – “My face… I see.”

Katara – “No, no, that’s not what I meant.”

Zuko – “It’s okay. I used to think this scar marked me. The mark of the Banished Prince. Cursed to chase the Avatar forever. But lately, I’ve realized I’m free to determine my own destiny… even if I’ll never be free of my mark.”

Katara – “Maybe you could be free of it.”

Zuko – “What?”

Katara – “I have healing abilities.”

Zuko - "It’s a scar; it can’t be healed."

Katara – “This is water from the Spirit Oasis at the North Pole. It has special properties, so I’ve been saving it for something important. I don’t know if it would work, but…”

— Katara offers to heal Zuko’s scar, The Crossroads of Destiny.

---

“Us, having something in common? What does he mean? His own people took his mother away too? But how is that possible? She's the Fire Lord's wife. But what if he is telling the truth? What if Azula really is his enemy too? She did blast Iroh that time in the deserted city and even called Zuko a traitor. Maybe I have it all wrong, like I did with Jet. I was so hard on Jet and now I regret it. Do I want to make the same mistake all over again?”

— Katara contemplates if she can trust Zuko and compares him to Jet, The Earth Kingdom Chronicles.

---

Katara – “I thought you had changed!”

Zuko – “I have changed.”

— Zuko and Katara battle in the Crystal Catacombs, The Crossroads of Destiny.

---

Katara – “What are you doing?”

Zuko – “Keeping rocks from crushing you.”

Katara – “Okay, I’m not crushed. You can get off me now.”

— Zuko saves Katara, The Southern Raiders.

---

Sokka – “To Zuko. Who knew after all those times he tried to snuff us out, today he’d be our hero!”

Everyone – “Here, here!”

Zuko – “I’m touched. I don’t deserve this.”

Katara – “Yeah, no kidding.”

Sokka – “What’s with her?”

Zuko – “I wish I knew.”

— Zuko walks after Katara after she leaves, The Southern Raiders.

---

Zuko – “This isn’t fair. Everyone else seems to trust me now. What is it with you?”

Katara – “Oh, everyone trusts you now? I was the first person to trust you, remember? Back in Ba Sing Se! And you turned around and betrayed me! Betrayed all of us!”

Zuko – “What can I do to make it up to you?”

Katara – “You really want to know? Maybe you could reconquer Ba Sing Se in the name of the Earth King. Or I know, you could bring my mother back!”

— Zuko questions Katara, The Southern Raiders.

---

Sokka – “So what’s on your mind?”

Zuko – “Your sister. She hates me! And I don’t know why, but I do care what she thinks of me.”

— Zuko asks Sokka for advice on Katara, The Southern Raiders.

---

Katara – “I need to barrow Appa.”

Aang – “Why? Is it your turn to take a fieldtrip with Zuko?”

Katara – “Yes. It is.”

— Katara and Zuko prepare for their own fieldtrip, The Southern Raiders.

---

Commander – “Who are you?”

Zuko – “You don’t remember [Katara]? You will soon. Trust me.”

— Zuko and the commander battle briefly as Katara watches, The Southern Raiders.

---

“…But I am ready to forgive you.”

— Katara forgives Zuko, The Southern Raiders.

---

“Get over here, Zuko. Being a part of the group, means being a part of group hugs.”

— Katara invites Zuko in for a group hug, Sozin’s Comet, Part 1.

---

June – “I see you worked things out with your girlfriend”

Zuko and Katara become flustered and embarrassed, looking at each other as they speak.

Katara – “I'm not his girlfriend!”

Zuko – [Speaking at the same time.] "She's not my girlfriend!"

— June refers to Katara as Zuko's girlfriend, Sozin's Comet, Part 2.

---

Katara – “Are you okay?”

Zuko – “No, I'm not okay. My uncle hates me, I know it. He loved and supported me in every way he could, and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?”

Katara – “Zuko, you're sorry for what you did, right?”

Zuko – “More sorry than I've been about anything in my entire life.”

Katara – “Then he'll forgive you. He will.”

— Katara reassures Zuko that Iroh will forgive him, Sozin's Comet, Part 2.

---

Zuko – “Katara, how would you like to help me put Azula in her place?”

Katara – “It would be my pleasure.”

— Zuko asks Katara to help him defeat Azula, Sozin's Comet, Part 2.

---

“Her father must be proud to have such a strong daughter.... Hmm... I wonder if Katara and Zuko would make a good match? Ah, I suppose now is not the best time to ask.”

— Iroh sees Katara agree to help Zuko and wonders about a potential romance between them, Sozin's Comet: The Final Battle.

---

Zuko – “Thank you, Katara.”

Katara – “I think I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

— Zuko and Katara thank each other for saving each other against Azula’s attacks, Sozin's Comet, Part 4.

---

“Outside of the Avatar himself, young Katara always struck me as the most powerful, if undisciplined, bender of the age. She certainly was the whetstone against which you honed and sharpened your fury, at least for a time. You both shared tremendous passion but also emotional pains that fueled the fires in your bellies. More than any other member of Team Avatar, Katara forced you to grow up, pushing you to become the man I knew you could be. Sometimes I thought Katara's feisty fire burned brighter even than yours, Zuko. And hers was never so hot as when she blamed you for the death of her mother. But it was your heart, again, in its desire for forgiveness that prompted you to reach out and help seal the wound in Katara's by seeking out the ones who had committed that crime. In your pursuit of the Southern Raiders, Katara's thirst for revenge was almost her undoing. But her instincts and Aang's advice served her well, as she discovered that vengeance was not the answer. And while she was not able to forgive the pathetic excuse for a man who took her mother away, she was able to forgive you, my prince. And it was there that something beautiful grew from grief: a friendship built on the bonds of warriors united in heart and cause—the blossoming of true trust.”

— Iroh describing Zuko and Katara's relationship, Legacy of the Fire Nation.

---

“And then, your heart burned brightest when you protected Katara. The fire of that friendship—that bond—that is your strength, my prince.”

— Iroh says that Zuko's bond with Katara is his strength, Legacy of the Fire Nation.

Fanon

Zutara is one of the most popular ships within the Avatar: The Last Airbender fandom and has remained the most popular ship overall for most of the show. It is one of the most popular ships in all of animation, and one of the most iconic Fan-Preferred Couples in fandom culture. Zutara nearly lost its spot as the most popular ship in the wake of the series’ finale when Katara got together with Aang, but it has experienced a resurgence in light of new material.

An event called “Zutara Week” was created in 2008. Each day, there would be a theme and fans would draw fan art, write fan fiction, or create videos based on the prompt of the day. Zutara Week was such a hit that it stemmed many other weeks dedicated to ships, both within and outside of the Avatar fandom. It is credited as the inventor of the modern fanweek.

Some fans began to ship Zuko and Katara as early as Book One: Water but the pairing became more popular at the end of Book Two: Earth and halfway through Book Three: Fire. Many fans collected evidence of this pairing and theorized that Zutara might become the endgame ship. Many Zutara fans like to point out how the series has hints that Zuko and Katara are actually each other's ideal "type". Katara desires someone who is brave, mature, dependable, and tenacious; and Zuko desires someone who is passionate, righteous, kind, and empathetic. They even share similarities with the first love interests the other becomes involved with on-screen; Zuko sharing similarities with Jet, and Katara with Jin.

• In The Earth Kingdom Chronicles, Katara's internal monologue reveals that she was attracted to Jet because he was wise, brave, driven, older than her, and someone she could lean on rather than have to mother. Katara felt a special connection to Jet because he made her feel supported and secure, and she was heartbroken when he betrayed her trust. After Jet's death, Katara encounters Zuko in the Crystal Catacombs and directly compares Zuko to Jet in The Earth Kingdom Chronicles, wondering if she should trust Zuko as she regretted not trusting Jet after he claimed to have redeemed himself. Katara being unable to save Jet's life because she did not trust him, but coming to trust Zuko and successfully saving his life during his Agni Kai against Azula is interpreted by some Zutara shippers as Katara being able to "fix" a past mistake that had haunted her. Writer Joshua Hamilton's favorite ship is Zutara and he likes to think that Katara's type is "bad boys", such as Jet and Zuko. He points this out in the Avatar Extras and lampshades it in The Ember Island Players.
• In the animated series, Zuko is upset that he can not tell his girlfriend, Mai, about his feelings because he believes that she would never understand him and he grows frustrated by Mai's apathy towards everything. Meanwhile Iroh states in the Legacy of the Fire Nation, that Katara's friendship with Zuko is his "strength" and that Zuko's heart "burned the brightest" when he protected Katara, Iroh praises Katara for her passion and says that she "more than any other member of Team Avatar" forced Zuko to grow up so he could become the man he currently is. In The Earth Kingdom Chronicles, Zuko is worried that Song's empathy and kindness towards him would make him "soft". Later on, Iroh thinks that Jin is well suited for Zuko and encourages him to go on a date with her. Zuko is surprised to find that he actually likes Jin because of how nice and sweet she is, but he calls off the date as he does not feel worthy of her affection and have a relationship built on lies. In Sozin's Comet: The Final Battle, Iroh thinks that Zuko and Katara would make a good match, but he stops himself from asking them about this since they are about to go off to fight Azula which makes it "not the best time to ask". The Beach and The Tale of Zuko were written by Katie Mattila, she has stated that her favorite ship is Zutara, thus the negative depiction of Maiko in The Beach and the creation of the Jinko pairing for The Tale of Zuko may have been influenced by her preference for Zutara.

Many fans were heartbroken when the Legend of Korra was announced and it was revealed that Aang and Katara had children, though due to Aang's family neglect, some fans theorize that one or more of Katara’s children were fathered by Zuko as the result of an affair, particularly Kya or Bumi for having Fire Nation-like features. When it was revealed that Zuko and Katara were both still alive after Aang passed away, many fans began to hope that Zutara could happen in the Legend of Korra and began to write fan fiction about them getting together as elders.

There are many Fandom Specific Plots for the ship:

• Pairing Katara as her Painted Lady persona with Zuko as his Blue Spirit persona. The ship is known also as “Painted Blue”. There are also variations such as pairing Katara with Zuko's Blue Spirit persona, called "Blutara"; or pairing Zuko with Katara's Painted Spirit persona, called "Paintedko".
• Those who want Zuko to have a happier childhood have him living at the Southern Water Tribe, sometimes with his mother and sister by his side. In these stories he grows up as a childhood friend to Katara and the two fall in love as they get older. There is also the inverse of Katara being raised in the Fire Nation as a child.
• Arranged marriage fanfiction is common because both are on opposing sides of a war and hold high positions in government. Zuko is the Prince of the Fire Nation, and Katara is the daughter of the Southern Water Tribe Head Chieftain. The two are usually forced to wed to end the war or maintain peace.
• Zuko joining Team Avatar in the Book 2 finale (which was actually the original plan for the television series) and becoming closer to Katara over the course of Book 3 instead of betraying her and only becoming friends with her near the end of the series.
• Katara becoming the Southern Water Tribe Ambassador to Fire Lord Zuko and the two falling for each other through their close work relationship.
• The war never happened or Aang ended the war quickly by never running away a hundred years ago. Aang is either deceased or a very old man in these timelines. Zuko and Katara grow up during peacetime and skip the enemies part of their relationship development.
• Aang stays in the iceberg longer than he did in canon so he remains twelve while everybody else is significantly older than him. Zuko and Katara may already be adults and a couple in these scenarios.
• Zuko choosing to abolish the Fire Nation monarchy or abdicate the throne to marry and live with Katara in the Southern Water Tribe, or the two living most of their lives in the Fire Nation and retiring the Southern Water Tribe in their old age.
• Exploration of the political ramifications of the Fire Lord marrying a waterbender since Fire Nation royalty cultivated their lineages over multiple generations to produce the strongest firebenders in the world. Zuko and Katara producing mixed Fire Nation and Water Tribe children would make many racist, traditionalist Fire Nation people extremely angry, especially since water is the opposite element to fire and it gives rise to the possibility that their first born child and heir to the throne could be a waterbender. Some issues regarding miscegenation were featured in the sequel comics with regards to the Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom and how it affected the mixed-nation relationship between Katara and Aang. But some fans feel that Zuko and Katara's relationship dealing with such an issue would be more meaningful as it makes more thematic sense and carries far higher stakes.
• Zuko and Katara being destined to be together and how they had a connection to each other before they even met. In canon, Fire Lord Azulon ordered the deaths of Zuko and Katara as young children (Azulon ordered Ozai to kill Zuko, and Yon Rha to kill Katara), but their lives were saved by their respective mothers. The two met years later in the Crystal Catacombs and bonded over their shared trauma of losing their mothers as young children. Zuko and Katara later become friends and defeat Azula together, the very person who was named in honor of Azulon as she represented the ideal heir and inheritor of his legacy. In fanon, Zuko and Katara becoming a couple could be seen as a form of karmic retribution as the two children Azulon sought to eliminate would end up ruling over his realm together as adults. As he was also a proponent of eugenics, Azulon's spirit would be disturbed that the grandson he deemed a failure would inherit the throne to become Fire Lord and marry a Water Tribe peasant rather than a Fire Nation noble (which is the usual expectation of Fire Nation royalty). Since Katara is the daughter of the Southern Water Tribe Head Chieftain, she also holds greater status and power than the average peasant, especially in stories where the Southern Water Tribe seeks total independence from the Northern Water Tribe (which would canonically happen decades later in The Legend of Korra). Their relationship could usher in the start of a healing world, as Zuko himself says at the end of the animated series that he wanted to "begin a new era of love and peace".
• How other characters like Aang, Mai, Sokka, and Azula would react to a romance between Zuko and Katara. This is especially the case with Aang, as Katara is Aang's love interest while Zuko is Aang's best friend. Zuko and Katara may be hesitant in pursuing a relationship with each other out of loyalty to Aang. Zuko is destined to be Aang's friend as the two must mend the broken friendship between Sozin and Roku from over a hundred years ago. Guru Pathik identifies Aang's feelings for Katara as the re-manifestation of his love for his lost people. Pathik informs Aang that this is an attachment that he must let go of to become a fully realized Avatar. In Dharmic religions, attachments are harmful and a separate concept from true love, but the series itself drops this arc with no explanation and resolves the issue with a deus ex machina. In fanon, writers may actually have Aang complete his character arc by having Aang let go of his attachment to Katara after he recognizes it as unhealthy and a hindrance to achieving enlightenment.

Behind the Scenes

Co-creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino deny having ever considered Zutara a possibility. However, this has been contradicted by the Avatar Extras, which state "Zuko was originally going to be the love interest for Katara." and "The writers and creators toyed with the idea of Zuko and Katara falling in love." Janet Varney has said that many of the writers of the series wanted Zuko and Katara to be together, “Perhaps it will soothe your soul to know that even in the writer’s room, as this show [Avatar: The Last Airbender] was being written, writers were advocating for Zutara. Like, they were like ‘No! Come on!’. Like, there was like, the hardcore Zutara fans in the, you know, early aughts when the show was being written. Even if it was a show ostensibly written for kids, people were like ‘Come on! Let’s do this! It makes sense!’” Multiple staff writers of the series have gone on record to confirm that the crew debated on who Katara should end up with, and that Zutara could have become the endgame ship.

John O'Bryan has said that his favorite ship is Zutara, confirmed that there was a chance of the pairing becoming canon as it was discussed in the writer's room a lot, and he likes to imagine that they are a couple in an alternate dimension: "I would have gone Katara-Zuko... I know that we lost that fight, but... I'm sure there's some alternate dimension where they are a thing." Joshua Hamilton has also said that his favorite ship in the series is Zutara, and corroborated O'Bryan statements by saying that there was fighting in the writer's room about whether Katara should end up with Zuko or Aang. He refers to himself as an "originalist" and alludes to there being a plan in a series bible that had Zuko and Katara become a couple: "I read the bible a long time ago and it said they're supposed to get together, so I still think we did it wrong."

Many viewers interpreted the last stretch of episodes in Book 3 to be leading towards a Zutara endgame by giving Zuko and Katara ship tease while straining the relationship between Aang and Katara. Joshua Hamilton has denied that the Zutara ship teases were added in for purely fanservice reasons. Tim Hedrick added onto this by stating that the allusions to Zuko and Katara's potential romance and Katara's rejection of Aang's romantic advances in The Ember Island Players served as a plot device for the writers to keep their options open. He explained that there was no established plan for Aang and Katara to end up together in the series finale as the writers were still divided on the romantic outcomes even this late into the production: "I mean, I don't think it was really settled that Aang and Katara were going to get together at the end of the season. That's where it seemed like it was going, but it was not, you know... a foregone conclusion. Aang could have just... He could have, you know, embraced his monk lifestyle and just wandered off to get into more adventures."

These statements from the writers align with comments from M. Night Shyamalan, director of The Last Airbender film, who noted that during the production of Book Three: Fire, co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko had not yet decided how the series would conclude: "At that time they hadn't even decided where things were going to end, even like who Katara was going to end up with."

Katie Mattila, writer of The Tale of Zuko and The Beach, has also said that her favorite ship is Zutara.

Many Zutara fans viewed Katara and Aang as having a sibling or mother-son relationship, and felt uncomfortable with them as a romantic pairing due to the difference in maturity, power imbalance, and pseudo-incestuous undertones. This guardian-ward relationship was confirmed to have been intentional in the "Origins of the Avatar" special on the DVD/Blu-ray release of The Last Airbender film. Bryan Konietzko said, "We like cheesy teen romance stuff. It's always fun," and described Katara and Aang's relationship as, "that dynamic of being the young kid having a crush on the older girl, and she loves you but like a babysitter, you know, like a little brother or something. Especially a kid who feels out of place in the world, and she's the first person he has that he really feels a connection with, and it's like his new family."

Fandom

FAN FICTION

Zuko/Katara tag on AO3

Zuko/Katara (TLA)tag on FanFiction.net

Zuko/Katara (LoK) tag on FanFiction.net

Zutara stories on Wattpad

FAN ART

Zutara tag on DeviantArt

Zuko-Katara fanclub on DeviantArt

TUMBLR

Zutara posts on Tumblr

ZutaraEdit posts on Tumblr

Zuko x Katara posts on Tumblr

TWITTER

Zutara hashtag on Twitter

Fan-Videos

Zutara Evidence For Dummies - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMQTXfah08Y&list=PL49ACA22C42B0EF08&ab_channel=ZutaraEvidence

Stanning Zutara - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRxtWMODfAc

Zutara Analysis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUqJOis2gTI&list=PL0c483WTBKCi49GeDS364V4CmpvlHzk02&ab_channel=JoshuaFagan

Lists

Fandometrics

3rd	JUN 22nd 2020	JUL 6th 2020
4th	JUN 14th 2020	JUN 29th 2020
5th	JUL 20th 2020
7th	MAY 25th 2020
10th	AUG 16th 2021
13th	JAN 16th 2023
14th	FEB 22nd 2021
15th	FEB 8th 2021	MAR 1st 2021
17th	FEB 15th 2021
18th	APR 5th 2021	APR 12th 2021
19th	2020	MAR 22nd 2021
28th	2021
89th	2022

Trivia

• Dante Basco, Zuko’s voice actor, is a Zutara shipper and is often treated as the “Captain” of the ship. When he was tagged in an Uno Meme tweet regarding Zutara, he responded with “#zutara forever…”. At Nebraskacon 2013, Basco said that Zuko and Katara were “soulmates”. He also sells Zutara merchandise.
• Mae Whitman, Katara’s voice actress, has stated the she ships Zutara.
• At 2012 San Diego Comic Con's Avatar Fan Panel, both Whitman and Basco have said that they thought the series was heading in the direction of Zuko and Katara becoming a couple. Both have headcanons that the two fell in love but could not be together; with Zuko burying his feelings for Katara to put his duty first, and out of respect for Aang; and Katara not wanting hurt Aang's feelings as she realized her feelings for Zuko too late. Whitman has stated that Zuko would always be Katara's biggest "what if" in her life.
• Katara’s voice actress, Mae Whitman, voiced the love interest of Jake Long in American Dragon: Jake Long who coincidentally was voiced by Zuko’s voice actor, Dante Basco.
• Character designer Angela Song Mueller has stated she ships Zutara.
• Janet Varney, Korra's voice actress, ships Zutara.
• Series director, Giancarlo Volpe has stated that while his favorite ship is Kataang, he now thinks Zuko and Katara may have made a better couple after discussing the compatibility of the characters with his wife and viewing the series in retrospect. In anticipation for the live action 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' series, Volpe has stated, "I'd love to see just a quiet scene where Zuko and Katara [are] alone and the chemistry between them. That would be really awesome to witness."
• Yoo Jae-Myung, an animation director for the series drew art of a slightly older Zuko and Katara for a promotional event of the series in South Korea, as Zuko and Katara is the preferred couple among Korean audiences. In a 2009 conversation with primuler (the user who first uploaded Yoo's art online) at JM Animation studios, Yoo said he could not understand why Bryke (Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino) did not pair off Katara with Zuko.
• Grey DeLisle, Azula’s voice actress, ships Zutara.
• Jack De Sena, Sokka's voice actor, has said he supports Zutara.
• Greg Baldwin, Iroh's voice actor, ships Zutara.
• The artist of the Legend of Korra sequel comics, Irene Koh, is a Zutara shipper and has drawn fan art of the two together.
• Gene Luen Yang, the writer of the Avatar: The Last Airbender sequel comics has said that he ships Zutara.
• James Sie, the voice of the cabbage merchant in the animated series and actor in the live action adaptation, ships Zutara.
• Michaela Jill Murphy, Toph's voice actress, has said that her favorite ship is Jetara, but thinks that Zuko and Katara should have made out after they defeated Azula together, and never tell anyone about their kiss so it would be their secret.
• The non-canonical Avatar: Super Deformed Shorts plays up the ship tease between Zuko and Katara with Bending Battle having Katara think Zuko is cute, and School Time Shipping featuring Zuko wanting to ask Katara out to the dance. Katara rejects Haru, Jet, Zuko, and Aang in favor of going out with the Blue Spirit, who also happens to be Zuko’s alter ego.

Gallery

Main article: Zutara/Gallery

Videos

Zuko & Katara's Relationship Timeline 🔥 Full Story - Avatar- The Last Airbender

Avatar Alternate Timeline- Katara Chose Zuko Over Aang

Zutara - Avatar The Last Airbender's Almost Couple

Zuko X Katara- Explaining Avatar's Most... PASSIONATE Ship

Zutara could have happened

Variations

Jetkotara refers to the ship between Jet, Zuko and Katara

Maikotara refers to the ship between Mai, Zuko and Katara

Zutaraang refers to the ship between Aang, Zuko and Katara

Zutaroph refers to the ship between Toph, Zuko and Katara