Blur123 wrote:
I didn't really like how the writers handled relationships in LOK. ATLA did a lot better in regards in handling relationships. I didn't like makorra or Korrasami, I liked Makosami better, but Mako still treated Asami badly, I liked Borra and Bopal, but that is about it. I hated Korrasami back in 2014 when they first became a couple due to homophobic reasons and I felt like it came out of nowhere. Now I am more mature so I don't hate Korrasami because it's just an LGBT couple. I don't like Korrasami because I feel like it came out of nowhere. Now I may be wrong, because my "gaydar" is incredibly weak, because I am as straight as they come. I feel like the writers could have developed the relationship more and give more hints.
While I (and presumably others) appreciate you working on overcoming your homophobia, I want you to think about this:
From Book 3 onwards, imagine if Asami were a man.
Still saying and doing the exact same things, but a man. The pep talk after Korra's tiff with Raiko, the car ride, fighting together, eating together, taking care of her after she'd been poisoned, etc.
Notice how quickly you'd recognize that as romantic? Notice how you wouldn't say "That came out of nowhere" or "it was under-developed" and instead how you'd think, "what a nice slow-burn that was. Asano really cares for Korra."
That's called heterosexism.
I'm not (or at least trying not) to go on a wall of text here, but I thought I was a decent enough ally (voted for same-sex marriage, argued against homophobia and biphobia beforehand, consider myself friends with a butch Filipina lesbian neighbor, etc.) until I not only took Bryan K.'s words to heart, but also read/watched the queer shippers who talked about double-standards and representation that really looked eerily familiar to similar things said about race, (I'm Black and Korrasami is one of a number of normalized interracial relationships in the franchise) that I truly understood what those fans longer for and why it was so powerful/important for them that absolutely pales in comparison to which guy gets with Katara in the end.
Besides that, Korrasami happening instead of Korra remaining single, let alone getting back with Mako epitomizes everything the franchise has ever thematically stood for ever since Katara, a dark-skinned WOC, explicitly and accurately called out a guy for being sexist in 2005, (seriously, the people crying "Social Justice Warrior!" over Korrasami spent so much time focusing on shipping her that they forgot Katara was one dye-job away from being a "Tumblrina",) considering this was two people from different parts of the same world with different personalities and abilities representing different concepts yet overcame numerous obstacles to become closer than ever before.
Especially on a narrative level it still tells a solid yet unconventional story:
Book 1: Two girls fight over the same guy. One initially/secretly doesn't like the other though eventually bonds with her over an activity together and despite drama over the men in their lives, remain good friends.
Book 2: Both girls learn the hard way that the guy they desperately chased ain't worth it though still remain a team with one entrusting the other to look after her dad.
Book 3: Drama over the guy is in the past and they resolve to become closer friends, increasingly finding out how compatible they are in ways that neither was with the guy to the extent of a spark happening between them that neither's consciously aware of.
Book 4: Despite (if not because of) time apart, both realize the spark between them but a whole host of high-priority issues keep them from acting on it though are exceptionally happy to see each other again with a tension that even their mutual ex is raising an eyebrow about. Despite tragedy and near-death, one is just glad the other's alive to the point of admitting she doesn't believe she could've handled both of her loved ones dying while the other comforts her and decides for both ("just the two of us") to take a vacation wherever the other wants. All their immediate problems behind them, both are so at peace and happy together that true love naturally blossoms from strong friendship.
That's not even counting the comics, but that certainly beats the fuck out of the typical "Boy meets Girl" bisonshit the first season (and even the original) was about.