Avatar Atla - Blog Posts

Drama with Hama - or not

In the show and overall by viewers, Hama is not considered a good character. The show insinuates, that Hama is performing revenge on innocent people of the same civilation (the firenation) just as how the soldiers of the firenation kidnapped and enslaved the waterbenders of the southern water tribe. By fans she is mostly viewed as evil and crazy, since she „cursed“ Katara with the ability to bend blood.

But is Hama actually evil?

The more i rewatched the show, the more i understood, that Hamas hatred and actions are actually pretty understandable. Of course i do not defend the kidnapping of innocent civilians but in my opinion, to not relate to Hama, is actually what i would consider barbaric.

Hama had to watch her whole civilisation, her friends, her family and most importantly her culture being slowly but surely erased, by the fire nation until she was the last one remaining and had to surrender.

When hama was arrested, she was prevented free movement, as her limbs were chained so she, nor the others would be capable of bending the water. The cages were above the ground. They were occasionally fed, from afar with little dosages of water, as if they were wild inhumane creatures. She probably was forced to watch her friends die in those cages as well. God knows, how long she was arrested in that Jail, and what else she had to go through.. Only by training on rats, to control them, via bloodbending, she managed to escape.

Of course it was wrong to perform revenge on innocent people, especially if she just could've kidnapped the soldiers of the firenation, but overall - considering what she went through, i can only sympathize with her and eye people suspiciously who can't. Because no one, who experiences the same barbaric and horrific things that hama did, would remain sane. This kind of experience really takes a toll and changes everyone. And i 100% understand Hamas frustration and act of vigilantism.

And the Bloodbending technique - she gave on to Katara - is not a curse, but more a reminder of the torture that the firenation put the water benders through and also a symbol of how powerful water benders really are; because no matter what you truly think of hama as a character, you cannot deny that she is truly a real selftought master of waterbending!

- - Hugh Jackman as Admiral Zhao - -

I will forever be mad that Hugh Jackman is not portraying Admiral Zhao in the Avatar: the last airbender.