The moment Zuko and Katara share at the catocombs in Ba Sing Se it's probably the most popular Zutara moment, maybe aside the lightning one. However, Katangers and antics seem not to get it. So, I'm going to make two posts about it, the first about why it is romantic coded, the second about how it proves Zutara would be a great couple, and I am going to argument and answer the things they say to underrate this moment.


This is why the scene is romantic coded:


1 All of us, Zutarians have pointed out that Katara was the first person who touched Zuko's scar. That is something really meaningful knowing how Zuko feels about it, and the fact that he didn't let Song, who is canon one of Zuko's romantic interests in the show, touch it. 

As a response to this, I have read that it is not romantic coded because Katara only touched Zuko's scar as an act of healing while Mai touched it while kissing. 

However, it wasn't neccesary that Katara touched it, if she was going to heal it, she only needed to touch it with the water. Also, since she didn't heal it at the end, it was not neccesary that she touched it at all. If she did so, it was only because the writers specifically wanted her to do so. 

By the same logic Song is considered Zuko's love interest, because of her kindness and how she tried to touch his scar, we should considere Katara to be one as well, whom Zuko was more receptive to and even let her touch it.

About Mai, of course she has kissed him and touched his face, they are a canon couple, but that doesn't mean they are a good one, though. And whatever they were doesn't undermind Katara and Zuko's chemestry.



2 The fact that them in this scene are a perfect parallel of the two lovers. 

This is no concidence. If you remember, Toph and Sokka were locked up in a dark metal cell while they were being caugth at Ba Sing Se. 

However, Zuko and Katara got to be together in a cave ligthed by green cristals just like in the story. They also fit the story and the song. 

I have never seen an argument against this, even though most of Katangers firmly believe Zutara was never an option/thought about. So, if you are a Katanger, I beg you to give me an explanation not romantic coded about this.



3 Aang being jelous about whatever they had in the cave. When Aang enters in the cave with Iroh, Katara hugs him while he is looking at Zuko. Aang's look was a jelous one. He was not being protective against Zuko because of him being a threat to Katara for these reasons: 

a) Aang wasn't against helping Zuko, unlike Sokka. Sokka was way more distrustful about him than Aang was.

b) Katara is a master waterbender, and althought Zuko is a great figther, she has proven to be able to defend herself against him.

c) They were really close. If were that close without attacking it was because they didn't want to hurt each other, so Zuko was not a threat here. Aang is not stupid, he knows that. 

d) I have seen Kataang videos and posts where they put something like "mine" or "mine don't get close" while Aang is giving Zuko that look. So it has been admitted by Kataangers that he was jelous in that scene. Also, I find this concerning. I let it be that Aang gives Zuko that look, althougth it is a possesive actitude, because Aang didn't act further about it neither he said something to Katara, and he is a kid with feelings he doesn't know how to deal with. However, I find it concerning that people, worse, grown men find this romantic. 

They don't get it