But the show doesn’t show Republic City as a pinnacle of Futurism. In fact, Republic City gets overrun with vines and has to create a new paradigm shift within itself, living alongside spirits and nature in harmony. Likewise, there are more examples of futurism that doesn’t look like America, for example Zaofu where the buildings are literally metal lotuses. Republic City is ONE city, and it’s not even shown as a very good city. It’s rife with corruption and it lacks the connection to nature that made ATLA appealing.

I think it’s a reach calling a show without a SINGLE CANONICAL WHITE CHARACTER “inescapably white”.