Strap in folks - it's time for a thread on why #ATLA is an amazing example of how to craft character arcs and motivations.

For those watching for the first time, there will be some spoilers.

#writingcommunity

For the sake of this thread not being 100 tweets long, I'll be focusing on the following characters:

Aang
Katara
Sokka
Zuko
Toph

#ATLA #writingcommunity

Kicking off: #ATLA gives each character motivation, goals, and agency that are separate from the larger world conflicts (stopping the fire nation & helping Aang master all four elements).

#writingcommunity

For Aang, S1 is heavily focused on understanding the world he's been missing from for over 100 years, making friends again with Katara & Sokka, dealing with grief, being a 12 year old boy who while the Avatar, missed out a normal childhood.

#writingcommunity #ATLA

Aang knows he's the hope for a lot of people, but he's also younger, more naive.

Through several encounters with Zuko, the world in chaos because of the Fire Nation's reign, and learning other elements, he begins to change.

#writingcommunity #ATLA

As we move into S2 & S3, he struggles with being the Avatar, with balancing power and keeping those he loves out of trouble, with deciding if he should kill the Fire Lord like every Avatar before him says to.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

Aang's conflict, separate from ending the Fire Lord's reign is internal, even existential in some cases.

How does he change the cycle of violence?
How does he leave the world better than he found it?
When is power too much?

#ATLA #writingcommunity

Katara is a constant source of comfort to Aang during all of this, often acting as a moral compass for him and the entire group.

However, despite her wanting to end the war and help Aang, she too has her own goals/problems she's grappling with.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

Due to the death of her mother, Katara grew up quickly, helping to raise not only the Water Tribe, but especially her brother.

She's often the headstrong one, wanting to protect those she loves because she's terrified of losing them.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

A great example of this is when she reunites with her dad in S3 and she's mad at him because he left her for war, like her mother left in death.

She's tired of worrying that everyone around her will be gone.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

However, that doesn't stop Katara from being compassionate, from becoming one of the strongest water benders and ultimately using water to heal versus blood bend.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

She could choose a much darker path after learning that technique but chooses love, chooses her friendship, chooses putting her faith in the Avatar and that the world will be better.

Her separate arc from the world is continuing to believe in people.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

Sokka's arc is one of my favorites because in S1 he so blindly wants to be a warrior but needs to learn more about war, the world, and ultimately that women can be just as powerful as men. (Bless Suki for kicking his butt early on).

#ATLA #writingcommunity

This want evolves into something else: being surrounded by some of the most powerful benders in the world and not feeling good enough. Even when he gets trained by a master.

He can only use weapons. How does that compare to his sister? To the Avatar?

#ATLA #writingcommunity

But what he realizes and the show points out is Sokka is the brains and the heart. When he's training with the master, the gang has no idea how to laugh or what to do for the days he's gone.

They fall apart without Sokka.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

Sokka's separate arc is finding his place amongst a world in disarray, amongst his friends/family who bend, and pushing away all the guilt and doubt and uncertainty.

Because Sokka is a warrior and most importantly, a leader with humor & heart.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

Now onto Zuko, my main boo, the arc of all arcs: figuring out how to deal with an abusive and toxic family in the middle of a nation that prides itself on honor and victory while conquering and murdering innocent people.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

S1 Zuko is very one track minded. Capture the Avatar. Restore his honor. Return home. Have his family finally accept him.

However, we see instances of this motivation wavering. Him being The Blue Spirit is prime example #1.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

He also chooses to fight against Azula/The Fire Nation on numerous occasions because if it's not him personally that restores his honor, it will be no one who gets the Avatar.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

At the end of S2, he has a choice: save the Avatar and ultimately begin redemption, or join with his sister, betray his uncle. The latter will give him the family he's always wanted or so he thinks.

So he chooses option 2.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

But what Zuko realizes is his family is still toxic. The only person who showed him kindness and a life at peace was his uncle.

He has everything he's ever wanted, but he's still angry. He's mad because he knows he chose wrong.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

So his arc separate from war?

Leaving his toxic family. Telling them they HURT him. Proving to the Avatar & Co that he has changed and will put in the effort to prove it. Relearning how to firebend. Apologizing esp to his uncle for his mistakes.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

Last but not least, Toph. Sheltered and overprotected by her family for being blind, the Avatar showing up is her ticket to freedom and the way to give the finger to those who doubted her/her ability to earthbend.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

Her arc is becoming the best earthbender, aka how she learns to metal bend.

But she struggles to accept the world/having friends who accept her after a lifetime of neglect. Aka fighting with Katara, having a gambling subplot, breaking social norms.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

Her arc in a war?

Coping with familial neglect. Being confident in her abilities to earthbend. Learning to trust other people.

In the words of Toph "Do you think some friendships can transcend lifetimes?"

Because she wants these friendships to last.

#ATLA #writingcommunity

So how is #ATLA a brillant example of characters arcs?

In the midst of worldly stakes, every main character has their own drive and conflict separate from the war.

Viewers are able to connect and track their progress from season to season.

#writingcommunity

And this is a lesson for any storyteller as we need to see growth/change.

Characters don't have to be good or right or perfect. But we need to see how they change in response to what happens around them.

What do they learn? Where do they go from here?

#ATLA #writingcommunity

And that is only one of the things you can learn from #ATLA but it's an important lesson nonetheless.

FIN
#writingcommunity