Well, Suki helps a little with the Elite syndrome in ATLA. From the looks of things, she's a nobody whose backstory is so unimportant it didn't even merit a mention (we're not counting those hypothetical fanfics where she's Bumi's secret granddaughter), who attained a bit of rank through experience and ability and gets to finish the ride with the heroes and even save two of them from certain defeat and death. Although, I would argue that Sokka being the Chieftain's son is fairly inconsequential. If he and Katara were Bato's kids instead, I don't think anything would have changed for Sokka's storyline, except he would have had to meet another non-relative in Bato's place. Sokka's clearly meant to represent a kind of everyman who ascends to the status of Legendary Hero. Not quite C-3PO and R2-D2 or the corresponding bumbling sidekicks from Hidden Fortress, but I can see the nod.
The matter of those green-clad lower classes in Yu Dao are even more complex than the troubles you raise. From what we saw, everyone in Kori's little Resistance is related to someone from the Fire Nation, except for that one guy who was fighting for the sake of the Hotman who sold him tasty lunches. So, what would have happened to the people related to the people in red? Do they have Fire Nation blood, too? How much do you have to have to be deported? And what's to keep the Hotmen from putting on green when Kuei's army arrives? I can easily see the dismantling of Yu Dao going through phases that end with everyone in the city getting shipped off to the Fire Nation, and Yu Dao given to good little boys and girls from Ba Sing Se who are friends of General How and Company.
And if that sounds like I'm coloring the Earth Kingdom as the bad guys just like in the comic, consider what would happen to the full-blooded Earth Kingdomites who are now stuck in the Fire Nation, especially given that everyone there seemed completely fine with Zuko restarting the war over on foreign soil (where it always belonged, I'm sure they think). Zuko hasn't so much redeemed the Fire Nation per his original plans as shown that it's a powder keg waiting for a spark. Those evil parent-killing Firebenders in Korra might not be as unconnected as they sound. Iroh II might be an order-following soldier, who earned his rank in a one-sided battle against some Earth Kingdom ships, in one of those common naval skirmishes that pop up when Fire Nation ships try to "hire" new crew and the recruits object (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812#Impressment).
I remember when over-thinking ATLA used to be fun.
no subject
The matter of those green-clad lower classes in Yu Dao are even more complex than the troubles you raise. From what we saw, everyone in Kori's little Resistance is related to someone from the Fire Nation, except for that one guy who was fighting for the sake of the Hotman who sold him tasty lunches. So, what would have happened to the people related to the people in red? Do they have Fire Nation blood, too? How much do you have to have to be deported? And what's to keep the Hotmen from putting on green when Kuei's army arrives? I can easily see the dismantling of Yu Dao going through phases that end with everyone in the city getting shipped off to the Fire Nation, and Yu Dao given to good little boys and girls from Ba Sing Se who are friends of General How and Company.
And if that sounds like I'm coloring the Earth Kingdom as the bad guys just like in the comic, consider what would happen to the full-blooded Earth Kingdomites who are now stuck in the Fire Nation, especially given that everyone there seemed completely fine with Zuko restarting the war over on foreign soil (where it always belonged, I'm sure they think). Zuko hasn't so much redeemed the Fire Nation per his original plans as shown that it's a powder keg waiting for a spark. Those evil parent-killing Firebenders in Korra might not be as unconnected as they sound. Iroh II might be an order-following soldier, who earned his rank in a one-sided battle against some Earth Kingdom ships, in one of those common naval skirmishes that pop up when Fire Nation ships try to "hire" new crew and the recruits object (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812#Impressment).
I remember when over-thinking ATLA used to be fun.