Now that Legend of Korra has officially premiered, at least in my location, I have more Highly Important thoughts to share on shipping. It says something about just how special our fandom is when the shipping, and even the shipping wars began way back when all we had on most of these characters was a name and a picture (it’s like a dating site but more animated... See what I did there?) And really, I can understand why, I mean, our particular fandom has a reputation to maintain as the shippiest fandom this side of a navy base, but really, the half-hearted, meta joking shipping going on right now? It’s a mockery to the noble tradition of shipping!
It’s not entirely our fault, I know. Bryke and crew have been encouraging this by giving us ridiculous, thinly veiled copies of the popular ships from Avatar: the Last Airbender. It’s sad how obvious it is that Mako’s scarf/Amon’s mask is the new Zutara, and Korra/pro-bending is the new Iroh/tea. I mean, the Korra/spinning gates people are already starting to act like the Iroh/lotus tile people, and the scarf/mask people are already calling the Mako/scarf people immature canon slaves.
I suppose I should be grateful for the lull. After all, we are a passionate fandom, and already, as I described above, the rumblings of true fannish feuding are beginning to be felt. At least the lighter, joking unheated shipping is all in good fun and unites us rather than divides us. For once, we are all one fandom.
Perhaps my dissatisfaction with the way things are going is because I know what’s coming. I will see friends and siblings in fandom torn asunder. The cracks that our anticipation of Korra have only papered over will grow wider. The wounds will open up and bleed anew. The ship wars are coming my friends. Scarf will be vilified by the Mako/Korra people, and Mako will be vilified by the scarf/mask people. The Korra/pro-bending people will call the Korra/spinning gates relationship abusive, and there will be no more common ground.
But I swear to God, if Amon’s mask joins the good guys, I will quit this show. It’s just too predictable.
It’s not entirely our fault, I know. Bryke and crew have been encouraging this by giving us ridiculous, thinly veiled copies of the popular ships from Avatar: the Last Airbender. It’s sad how obvious it is that Mako’s scarf/Amon’s mask is the new Zutara, and Korra/pro-bending is the new Iroh/tea. I mean, the Korra/spinning gates people are already starting to act like the Iroh/lotus tile people, and the scarf/mask people are already calling the Mako/scarf people immature canon slaves.
I suppose I should be grateful for the lull. After all, we are a passionate fandom, and already, as I described above, the rumblings of true fannish feuding are beginning to be felt. At least the lighter, joking unheated shipping is all in good fun and unites us rather than divides us. For once, we are all one fandom.
Perhaps my dissatisfaction with the way things are going is because I know what’s coming. I will see friends and siblings in fandom torn asunder. The cracks that our anticipation of Korra have only papered over will grow wider. The wounds will open up and bleed anew. The ship wars are coming my friends. Scarf will be vilified by the Mako/Korra people, and Mako will be vilified by the scarf/mask people. The Korra/pro-bending people will call the Korra/spinning gates relationship abusive, and there will be no more common ground.
But I swear to God, if Amon’s mask joins the good guys, I will quit this show. It’s just too predictable.