This article is about Sokka from the original cartoon series. For The Netflix version of the character, see Sokka (Netflix).
Sokka is one of the two tritagonists (alongside Toph Beifong) of Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise.
He is the older brother of Katara, the only son of Kya and Hakoda, one of the best friends/brother-in-law of Aang, the uncle of Bumi, Kya and Tenzin and the granduncle of Jinora, Ikki, Meelo and Rohan. He and his sister were raised by their grandmother after his mother was killed in a raid by the Fire Nation.
Unlike his companions, Sokka does not have the ability to "bend" water like his sister, a trait he shares with his mother. However, he becomes a master swordsman as the series goes on
History[]
Early Life[]
Young Sokka.
Sokka was born in 83 AG to Chief Hakoda and Chiefess Kya of the Southern Water Tribe; a year later, his younger sister Kataro was born. Sokka was raised from a young age to be a warrior and possessed much knowledge of Water Tribe weapons and tactics. They were raised on the stories of the Avatar by his grandmother, Kanna but he had a closer relationship with his father. When Sokka was a young boy, he and his sister were playing with the other children when suddenly snowfall mixed in with ash started falling down. As Katara went to find her mother, Sokka stood his ground as the Fire Nation soldiers, the Southern Raiders, started invading. However the invasion only lasted a few minutes before the Raiders left Wolf Cove. In the aftermath of the raids he found out that his mother Kya was targeted and killed by one of the Southern Raiders causing him to grow hatred towards the Fire Nation.
Sokka was deeply affected by his mother's death and a day he didn't like remembering. Due to the war and the loss of Kya, Sokka and Katara were both forced to grow up so fast he often recalled his sister becoming a maternal figure for him. Although Sokka had the spirit of a warrior and the courage to stand up to any enemy, he initially lacked the skills and techniques that would make him a formidable opponent. That would not stop him from trying, though, especially if his friends needed help. He was protective of his younger sister and treasured the boomerang given to him by his father.
Sometime after Kya's death, setting it 3 years before the series, Hakoda and Bato decided to join the war against the Fire Nation. Dressed in warrior garb, with weapons and battle paint and determination, 12-year-old Sokka attempted to join the crew. However, Hakoda stopped him. Sokka tried convincing his father that he wanted to help the oncoming war, but Hakoda refused. Instead, he asked Sokka to protect Wolf Cove and watch over his sister, Katara, who was only eleven years old.
Later that night, Sokka held Katara close as they watched the ships disappear beyond the horizons and into the night. This left them under the care of his mother, Kanna, who brought them up on stories of the Avatar. Unlike his sister, Sokka joined everyone's belief that the Avatar cycle was broken since the next avatar, water, was never born. With the pressure of protecting Wolf Cove, Sokka began taking his duties of protecting his family top priority.
Avatar: The Last Airbender[]
Between the series[]
By the age of forty-three, Sokka served as the Southern Water Tribe representative on the United Republic Council as well as the Council's chairman. In his function as spokesman, Sokka sentenced Yakone, with consensus from the rest of the Council, to life in prison for his crimes. In response, Yakone bloodbent him and everyone else inside the City Hall courtroom.
In 124 AG, Sokka wrote down the story of how he "singlehandedly saved the world" during the final stages of the Hundred Year War to include in a book that Aang was assembling for his son, Tenzin, although Toph, who was present at the time of writing, reminded him to be more accurate in his recollection because it wouldn't be fair to their nephew. Ending his letter, Sokka advised his nephew not to depend solely on airbending since reflexes and strategy are equally important skills to develop.
By the time of Aang's passing, Sokka was the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe. When the new Avatar Korra was recognized, she was abducted by a group of fanatic terrorists known as the Red Lotus. Sokka, his closest friend to Lord Zuko, nephew Tenzin, The Avatar's father Tonroq rescued the young Avatar and had her moved to live in a White Lotus Stronghold to continue her Avatar training. Korra had no recollection of the attempted kidnapping by the time she turned 18.
To commemorate his legacy, a statue of him holding his boomerang aloft was erected in front of the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center.
Sokka died sometime between 158 and 170 AG.
Personality[]
Fifteen (later 16)[2] Sokka developed a sarcastic and humorous demeanor, while becoming slightly immature and sexist, believing that woman can't do a man's job. This bothered Katara, who still put up with it because he was her brother until finally snapping at him in "The Boy in the Iceberg." However, over the course of the first book, Sokka learned to appreciate other women after mating and falling in love with Suki of the Kyoshi Warriors. By the time of "The Siege of the North" where Sokka attacks Hahn for disrespecting Princess Yue. He was also initially mistrusting of Avatar Aang until the young boy saved his life from Prince Zuko and grew to love him like a brother over time.
As the oldest figure of the group before Prince Zuko joined them, Sokka took his priority of protecting his sister anti extension Aang and Toph seriously. However, Sokka could become overprotective of the group such as uncharacteristically attacking Aang after he accidentally burned Katara and making sure Suki wasn't in danger during their trip through the serpent's pass. He also initially distrusted Zuko due to him hunting down the group and trying to kidnap Aang on multiple occasions. However, unlike his sister, Sokka was more welcoming and willing to trust Zuko but he still found it awkward and weird.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Expert Battle Tactician: As the "Idea guy" of Team Avatar, Sokka was skilled when it comes to Battle plans and tactics. During Princess Azula's attempt to break through Ba Sing Se's kind of trouble wall with a gigantic drill, Toph, Aang and Katara all looked at Sokka, showing how much they all value his intelligence. One of the most notable plans of his was the invasion of the Black Sun. However, due to his fear of public speaking, Sokka started getting anxious, giving details that had nothing to do with the invasion, such as meeting Aang. Despite being disappointed at his public speaking Sokka is still encouraged by Aang after he reassures him it was a good plan.
- Boomerang Skills: Sokka's primary weapons are the Boomerang, which Sokka uses by guessing the proper angle and trajectory. When he met Zuko for the first time, Sokka easily Guess the boomerang's trajectory and its successfully hit the fire Prince over his helmet. He later performed this trick on Zuko again during the one shot comic "Swordbending." He also used the boomerang's trajectory and successfully hit Combustion Man in his tattooed eye. Sokka unintentionally blocked his chakra and the assassin killed himself on the inside, being indirectly killed by Sokka.
- Swordsmanship: Sokka became a master swordsman after training and discipline. After being trained by Piandao, who also trained Zuko, Sokka became up became a better swordsman. As a member of the White Lotus, Piandao told Sokka that sword fighting doesn't belong to just one nation but all of them. He knew Sokka was a Water Tribe member upon their first meeting but trained him anyways.
- Intuition: Sokka prides himself for his instincts and intuitive instincts. In "Jet," Sokka forced Aang and Katara into walking over taking their Sky Bison. However they came across a group of Fire Nation military soldiers and nearly got captured if it wasn't for the arrival of Jet and his Freedom Fighters. When they first meet Jet, Sokka became immediately suspicious of him especially after Jet attacked an innocent old man. He also didn't believe Jet's claims that the old man was a secret assassin because Sokka still had Jet's assault on the old man still in his mind. At first, Katara and Aang choose to trust Jet over Sokka's suspicions but they learn he was right when they saw Jet's Freedom fighter stocking up on blasting jelly and by Jet's own admittance. Therefore, Sokka's decision to travel on foot instead of flying was ultimately justified as it led them to encounter the Fire Nation soldiers and subsequently Jet. Without this chance encounter, they would not have been able to rescue the Fire Nation colony that Jet intended to submerge.
Weaknesses[]
Some of Sokka's battle plans are rather questionable, being that it doesn't make any sense, or too convoluted due to poor planning. In Season 2, Sokka thought it was a good idea to drink water from a cactus. However, he ended up suffering from hallucinations due to the water's hallucinogens. He also came up with a terrible plan of using Momo as a "ghost" so he and Aang could sneak into the Earth Kingdom Palace to seek the king. However, Aang came up with a simpler solution by disguising themselves as servants.
Sokka prides himself of following logic, but sometimes fails to realize that he lives in a world where people master elements and that there are mystical spirits in charge of the natural order of the world. He also passes off Aunt Wu's predictions and even strives to make others see reason. However, some of Aunt Wu's predictions prove to be correct as the village was not destroyed by the volcano that year due to team avatars efforts to redirect the lava away from their village. Another one that proved to be correct was Katara eventually marrying a powerful bender, referring to her future relationship, marriage, and family with Aang.
Gallery[]
Relationships[]
Trivia[]
- Before Zuko joined, Sokka was the eldest male in the original Team Avatar and attempted to be the father figure of the group. However, Zuko ultimately took that trope.
- Was the first non-bender to join Team Avatar, predecessing Suki and Asami Sato.
- Aang's glider and Sokka's boomerangs made a cameo appearance in The Dragon Prince season 4, episode 8.[3]
References[]
- ↑ Mentioned in "The King of Omashu."
- ↑ Zuko and Aang's meeting in "The Avatar Returns" took place roughly about a year before Zuko's coronation. This is confirmed in Sozin's Comet when Zuko tells Aang:“I can't believe a year ago my purpose in life was hunting you down. And now...” since he was confirmed to be 15 at the beginning of the series, Sokka is 16
- ↑ 4x08 ATLA Reference.png
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Gen I: Aang (The Last Airbender - Netflix) • Appa (Netflix) • Katara (The Last Airbender - Netflix) • Momo (Netflix) • Sokka (The Last Airbender - Netflix) • Zuko (The Last Airbender - Netflix) • Suki (Netflix) • Toph Beifong Avatars Order of the White Lotus Air Nomads Fire Nation Water Tribe Spirits Other | ||