Talk:Aang/@comment-5142514-20121025231839/@comment-3005995-20121025234021

I don't really think that this is the case, but there are some people who mask pain, sorrow and resentment with humor or with a laid-back attitude. Instead of turning into a depressed, morbid individual, they don't take much of anything seriously, because they're afraid that they'll lose someone if they get close to someone. That was, however, probably the case with Bolin; he used humor and childishness to deal with the struggle and suffering he went through growing up on the streets.

Aang is a pretty unrealistic character, though; I'll give you that. He acts so childish and carefree (mostly through season 1, but it can be seen in the 2nd and 3rd seasons), but he's really extremely mature and wise beyond his years. There's no way any 13 year old could go through what Aang did, with all the responsibility and stress he was under, and come out relatively unscathed. And you have to accept that a realistic character doesn't always make a good character. Aang was brilliantly done, despite being unrealistic.