In addition Azula always saw Sokka is a major threat. She never underestimated non benders (ty lee and mai). I think that in itself is a complement to how amazing he is.
I wish Michelangelo from the ninja turtle franchise could be treated like this. He is my favorite turtle but he gets shafted as the comic relief and in many incarnations they make that his defining trait. Sokka is a comic relief and a goofball but he has so much depth and his comic relief butt monkey aspects of his character don't define him.
Without Sokka, there wouldn't have been the escape in Boiling Rock which would mean severe less allies as strong as his father, Suki, etc in Sozin Comet
Another incarnation of this qoute: Courage is not the absence of fear, but of acting in spite of it. - "General" Doyle of the Federal Army of Chorus The coward who sacrificed himself and blew a third of Charon's army to kingdom come.
*How to be a Man:* 1. Be swift as the coursing river 2. Be forceful as a great typhoon 3. Be as strong as a raging fire 4. Be mysterious as the dark side of the Moon
If this show was written today, I have almost no doubt that there would be a “surprise” reveal that Sokka was secretly a bender the whole time. The fact that the writers stay true to Sokka’s character and develop the skills that make him unique instead of bailing him out with powers was one of the best decisions they could have made. It makes his story arc so satisfying and watching him come into his own over the course of the show is one of the best things about ATLA.
When I rewatched Avatar I was thinking "not everyone in military is bender, you can't have so many benders, can you?". But somehow you can. In ATLA you have way too many benders. I think if authors would think about bender to no bender ratio more, then Sokka would be even better written.
Sokka, faced some of the most powerful benders and warriors at times. Dude never wavered, gave it his all everytime, and played his part. There aren't many better definitions of being a man right there
at the start of the book 1 you can see that when the zukos ship arrives he stood with such courage even though the ship overwhelmed him, he even had the audacity to throw a boomerang. Brave and proud despite having no ability.
The more I get older the more I relate to Sokka and Zuko. They are direct reflections of each other through their absent father, lost mother, and powerful little sister. All of this makes them question their manhood but they eventually learn through this humility what it truely means to be a man.
Sokka has always been a role model of mine. He is the most relatable character in my opinion. He was never perfect. He always had made mistakes, got mistreated, and felt like he wasn't good enough. But he learns from his mistakes. He accepts that he can't control everything. In a world where it feels like you're insignificant, Sokka shows that you don't need any special powers to make a difference. He shows that hard work, focus, and love, are all you need to be successful.
I think Toph is the better role model. She is blind, yet doesn’t let her ability to not see stop her from experiencing the world. Think how terrifying that is, seeing nothing but either darkness or vast blurry ness to the point where nothing can be seen or understood visually. From the show avatar the last airbender, Toph will always be my favorite character and my role model. She is strongly independent and learns it’s ok to receive help from others, even if you’re powerful you don’t have to do everything on your own.
I just realized through watching this video, Toph never once scolded or rebelled against Sokkas aid. Holding his arm while in boats or flying, not throwing him off when he shielded her from debris, accepting his help in combat, all stuff she got mad about from other teammates, but not from Sokka...
@@kimallnaturelle I don't see Toph as some one who would actually settle down... But perhaps deep down also knows if that was the path in life she went down that shed choose Sokka to go down it with.
@@Left4Cake well, she must have since she had kids in LoK. The prevailing theory is that she did eventually settle down with Sokka as Sokka and Suki did eventually break up in the follow up comics.
@@howardbaxter2514 Wasn't it implied her daughters had different fathers though? I think it would've taken a while for her to settle down in that regard too.
@@BonaparteBardithion I don't remember honestly. Haven't watched LoK in years. All I know is that there is a theory that Sokka did have kids with Toph.
My favourite line of Sokka will forever be the scene where he tells Jet that *"You became the traitor when you stopped protecting innocent people"* Idk it just sums him up so well!
My favorite line of Sokka is "each of you is so amazing and so special, and I am not, I am just the guy in the group who's regular" because it's describe me so well 🙂
@@deviljho4260 There are times where because of her disability Toph is susceptible to being targeted and is unable to use her bending that is when Sokka is there to give her a helping hand, such as whenever she's not on stable ground Sokka always offers Toph his arm so she doesn't get lost or confused
Sokkas the perspective character where nothing is forced. His tactical mind built up and evolved organically.They don’t make characters as well as him these days.
Ich bin Ben. Sokka was not everyone’s favorite character. When everyone was learning through their elements Sokka was inspired by them and tried to be effective in his own way. In each season you see his strategic abilities become a thing then evolve over the course of the series. Aside from the meteor nothing felt rushed or forced in his character.
I also really like the idea that sokka mimics aang's journey of learning all the elements, but from a non bending perspective, with him learning the fighting styles and ideologies of the other nations
Have y'all seen the take that Sokka is like the Avatar of nonbending disciplines? He learns about inventing from Tao's dad (air), he practices the Kyoshi style of fighting with Suki (earth), he is a master strategist with his father (water), and he becomes a master swordsman (fire). Everywhere they go, Sokka learns the non-bending disciplines
I think the white lotus episode ( sozins comet part 2) finishes sokka's arc nicely. They meet the white lotus masters, 3 of the four elements are represented but the fourth was piandao, a non bender, standing equal to four legendary benders. I think that served to sokka that he doesnt have to be a bender to be powerful and earn respect
I don't see Sokka as arrogant. I always saw this as false confidence. When he meets the Kyoshi warriors, he humbles himself. He does this with Yui, Toph, and finally to his sword sensei. By the day of the black sun and the finale of the show. He is a proven confident man.
He did humble himself after disrespecting them and i do think that it is quite arrogant to think you are better then a entire group of warriors but the best character Development start with flaws
@@zenzen6361 It's not about arrogance. His views were pretty common in his village I think. He just needed to see some things to prove him wrong. He basically gave them up at that first occasion.
People always want to hate on confident men, usually because of jealousy (in the case of weak men) or covetousness (in the case of insecure women). What some would call Sokka's arrogance is based in his accurate feeling that he is responsible for leading his people to victory. Leadership requires some level of self assurance. If your leader second guesses himself all the time or defers to his peers for leadership, he's not really a leader, just a bossy prick. Refer to the episode where Sokka insists on abandoning Jet. This episode was made to solidify Sokka's role as a leader. He was the one who insisted on disassociating with Jet and single-handedly escaped his henchmen and saved the town despite his team's insolence. He is a protector, through his actions, and the gang on more than one occasion pay the price for not listening to him. Another example being his urging Aang not to mess with firebending before burning Katara. This "arrogant" disposition of Sokka's evolves into his role as a respected leader and shot caller. But like every character, his more impressive qualities are balanced by sometimes amusing character flaws. In Sokka's case, it's his young age, lack of combat experience and bending, and yes at times his arrogance in underestimating female peers.
He was perfect! A non bender✅ A strategist ✅ A shoulder to cry on ✅ A ladies man ✅ A protector ✅ A complainer ✅ And the funniest guy in the Gaang ✅ He was the Heart and soul of the Gaang. And my baby🤧
I love Sokka so much. And I love him and Toph together. I think she struggles with her femininity just like he struggles with his masculinity. She thinks it makes her weak, and at the same time fears she doesn't have any. I think that's why she resented Katara at first, because Katara was strong and feminine, and Toph didn't think she could be both.
I never saw Katara as feminine. To me, she just was a strong female character who didn't shy away from emotions. Masculinity is fairly straightforward but I always thought it shared traits with masculinity. Just... reflections of each other.
@@serpentinewolf7085 Katara is very feminine, if you ask other women. Whereas a lot of female movie protagonists billed as ‘strong female’ don’t actually come across as feminine, even if she is very sexy, *if you ask other women*.
@@nurainiarsad7395 I mean I just don’t put a lot of stock into “feminine” and “masculine”. Anytime I have looked up the definitions it’s demeaning what is considered feminine. It’s literally subservient and can only live for others.
One of uncle Iroh's lines of wisdom fit perfectly here: "If you look for the light, you will often find it, but if you look for the dark... that is all you will ever see."
Sokka’s the character many young boys connect to as he is surrounded by others who are more talented than him. His passion and courage allows him to keep up with the rest and have an impact on those around him.
They might've had more fighting skills and bending but to me Sokka was the smartest out of all of them and not to mention the best tactician only bested by Azula pre-the Beach
Sokka is so often the comic relief that it's sometimes easy to forget that he's pretty damn smart when he needs to be and is a dynamic character throughout the show.
Sokka’s biggest character change was when he heard the wolf crying in the distance, the pain of being left behind and separated from the pack. That was the moment when his destiny turned from reuniting with his people, to becoming a strong leader helping the group bring peace to the world. His selfless acts are what makes him a hero in my eyes.
Squidbro 66 True, but that was honestly just a delay of the Fire Nation overtaking Ba Sing Se, which they eventually did a short time later. Stopping the Fire Nation Air Fleet saved uncounted lives.
Yeah. That's what a lot of people don't seem to get. Sokka was, in some ways as important as Aang. Aang was the spiritual and symbolic savior of the world. Iroh said for instance that even if he could defeat his brother, it wouldn't make things right. It had to be the Avatar to restore balance. Sokka is the one that actually navigated, planned throughout a lot of the war. That's what makes the show so good. Every character has a deeply important role on the narrative. Zuko has to restore honor to his nation by becoming firelord. Aang has to restore balance to the elements. Sokka has to win the war. Katara saves Aang's life and reunites the southern and northern tribes. Toph, being an earth bender, is mostly the muscle of the team, but of course plays a crucial role in many battles as a combat prodigy. And of course, none of this would be possible without the assistance of many other characters.
One great thing about Sokka is that they give him enough glory moments to prevent him from being just a comic relief. Like his boomerang actually being very helpful instead of just being used for a simple joke and his plans, though sometimes a bit goofy, succeeding most of the time. He really feels like an essential part in team Avatar and in the war and feels like one of the most grown characters
I'm quite early. I absolutely love Zuko's character arch, it's brilliant and it's usually the most celebrated among the fandom. That being said, I truly wish for people to pay more attention to Sokka and his character arch. I think it's equally brilliant and unique. He grows beautifully, from an insecure boy who didn't have much perspective to a brave and humble man, fully capable of leading great causes, and through that journey, he also stays the same in his core: a determined, creative, intelligent, funny and kind-hearted boy, who did the best he could given his circumstances to assume responsibility for the wellbeing of others. He's the Gaang's heart. There is one scene that always makes me cry no matter what. It's the final (before the kiss between Aang and Katara), when he's relaxed and happy and "capturing the moment", they get a little mad for his not so brilliant art skills, and then Toph delivers one of the greatest lines ever... They are all sharing like the big and diverse family they are and it's just wonderful. He was being himself, while surrounded by love. He went through so, so much, dealing with loss and a great responsibility he wasn't ready to assume, he was just a boy. And from the very beginning of the show to that moment, and beyond, Sokka is and will always be one of my favorite characters of all time. All of them are, all of the Gaang, I cherish them with all my heart. As always, you did an amazing job. I've been anticipating this month and so far I'm so happy and proud of the content you've made. It feels so surreal since the series it's quite old, but the love we feel for it is here and stronger than ever. There's so much to add to the conversation yet. Thank you so much.
Sokka layered his vulnerability with jokes and laughs. Throughout the series you can see he changes and accepts his faults. Not perfect, but perfect to many others such as the rest of the gang, and us the viewers when we need a break from all the action they go trough. Our beloved uncle Iroh once said: "Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame" I think Sokka's character is tested all trough the series, as you said he quickly understands that yes, i'm not the best warrior, but i'll be the warrior that my friends need me to be. If that makes sense? Anyways, Thank you for making a video on Sokka. Thank you Sokka for being the comic relief that we needed!
sokka’s master has to be my favorite episode. i even stated to cry bc i related too him so much, i’ve always felt like i have been useless. at the beginning of this series i found him annoying but now he is my favorite character
Sokka's chemistry with the gaang is great. he's very level headed and focused as well. He knows that the gaang needs someone to guide them and make sure their safe. I love how by the end he becomes the leader he wanted to be and finds out what truly makes him, him.
Sokka’s overcompensating confidence comes from the insecurity that he is always trying to prove himself. He felt like always looked down upon. The only man not taken to war with the Men of the Southern Water tribe and then being only non bender in the group
@@Green_Pix-L Ya because sometimes the stary eyed idealists are idiots. But Sokka proved them wrong and later in the series we see everyone trusting Sokka a lot more with his leadership.
@@evandugas7888 Yeah; and it's really satisfying to see them stfu and listen to him. "i BeT yOu WoUlDnT bE $0 b0$$y iF yOu KiSsEd A gIrL" "yOuRe ThE lEaDeR? bUt YoUr VoIcE $TiLl CrAcK$" "wHy DoNt YoU a$k SoKkAs In$tInCt$? tHeY sEeM t0 kNoW eVeRyThInG" "sOkKaS jUsT jEaLoUs He DoEsNt HaVe An ArRoW oN hIs HeAd" "wE wErE rElYiNg On InStInCtS"
I honestly love the fact that atla made strong female characters way back before it was blown up into an issue and they didn’t make it seemed forced like Rey skywalker and captain Marvel. It was so subtle that I didn’t even realize it until you pointed out other men in this show (Aang, Zuko, iroh, and hakoda) those are like the main four which made me realize how strong all the women are in this show (katara, Toph, suki, ty lee, mai, and azula) blew my mind just now
I was just thinking about that, ehen he mentioned how Toph was the most powerful earthbender i suddenly realized how strong, capable and independent the female characters are potrayed with relatable struggles, goals and depth. ATLA did such a great job because none of it comes of as forced the way a lot of modern day television does. It was so natural, the way it should be.
I feel like if it came out today, people would find the strength and competence of the female characters forced and annoying. There'd be claims that the show is pandering to feminists and SJWs because the women can actually fight - I could see this happening for Toph and Azula but especially Suki, who has no bending and kicks the asses of much larger grown men (who'd all be mocked as "le strong womyn"). We're in a reactionary period right now and everyone reads politics into writing choices.
Despite all of the tension and angst that existed between the heroes and antagonists in ATLA, it was always nice to see Sokka lighten the mood with his hilarious antics. Although he wasn’t a bender, he was one of the most significant members of team avatar
Sokka is my favorite of the Gaang. While Aang and Zuko go through the most overall character growth, Sokka goes through the most dynamic character growth. Aang starts and ends the story as a boy, and his forced maturity, while a triumph, is also a tragedy. "Demons run, but count the cost. The battle is won, but the child is lost." We don't see Aang as an adult at the end of the series because he needs to salvage what little of his childhood he has left. Zuko, on the other hand, starts the story a man and ends it a man. At 16, he is the age of majority by Fire Nation standards, and his journey is about overcoming past abuse and letting the lessons taken from it propel him into adulthood and leadership. He learns to be compassionate, merciful and generous. He learns how to make a friend out of an enemy. Those are all lessons a man has to be just as willing to learn as a boy must be, and most adults have to learn them repeatedly. Point is, we don't see Zuko as a child. We see him as a young man. A troubled young man, but a man nonetheless. But Sokka starts the series as a boy and ends it as a man. His is the real coming-of-age story in the series. And for me, it's so interesting to watch him make that journey from boyhood to manhood. I won't go into detail, because I'll just be rehashing the video. But Sokka has the most interesting character arc imo, and I love every bit of it. "When I became a man, I did away with childish things--including the fear of childishness and the desire to appear so very grown up." -CS Lewis
You know I see a lot of parallels mostly in the betrayal and violence of the show cause boy does the Bible get violent and also the complexity of the story
Yeah and Christians hate this show cause of the mass genocide and the bending and the spirit world stuff but this pales in comparison to how shit crazy the Bible gets
There's a lot in this show that low key borrows from a number of religions. Some examples: When Aang dies in S2 before he is brought back to life, Katara is holding him in the same way as a very famous statue of Mary holding the dead body of Christ. The killing of the moon fish mirrors humans killing Absu, the husband of Tiamat, the water dragon of chaos, which is part of the Mesopotamian creation myth that later loosely inspired Genesis. The Yogi teaching Aang about chakras is pretty spot on. The Yin Yang structure is present often, even in story structures and camera angles. For example at the same time Chet is being mind controlled by the phoney ruler of Basing Se, Iroh (who should have been the rightful ruler of the Fire Nation) is trying to deprogram Sukko from his fathers negative influence. The mirrored camera framing of both pairs in the scene reinforces the concept visually. There are many many layers of interesting things happening in this show.
@@newtoatheism5968 that’s a mass generalization of all Christians, do you know every single one?. I’m a Christian, that said I was able to suspend my beliefs when watching a cartoon. Edit: btw I love Atla
I know I keep saying this but I love that people are still talking about Avatar after all this time! And I've been waiting to hear Sage's take on Sokka. Well worth the wait.
Can we just take a moment to acknowledge the fact that this amazing video is talking about what’s supposed to be an animated kid’s show? It’s incredible that such a show like this even exists, one that is so thoughtful and well-made. Incredible doesn’t even describe it, I’m just happy it even exists. Rewatching it has been an absolute joy, and I know I’ll be rewatching it many more times.
this look into sokka kind of made me cry a bit?? i'm super emotional right now regardless but you REALLY blew it out of the park. I'm amazed at the conversation you held about sokka's masculinity and i hold a lot of respect for you since not a lot of the men i know in my life would be able to articulate it nearly as well as you.
I already know Sokka is one of the most important characters in the Gaang and they wouldn't be able to function without him. I just want to listen to someone give him the praise and recognition he deserves.
Sokka might be my favorite character period, he is perfect combo of comic relief and an awesome relatable character. He is so easy to relate to, he is just a regular person in a world of benders and at times he feels like he doesnt belong and isnt enough. He starts of confinedent(maybe little too much) slowly loses that confidence and that earns it back stronger than ever, he is 100% the leader of team avatar even tho he has no special powers
"Pride is not the opposite of shame but its source." This is what i loved about Sokka as a charicter. When we first meet him, he has let his perceved passed failures define him resulting in him feeling a need to tear down others (such as his masoginistic comments in the begining of the show) to feel more "masculine" to cope with the insecurity from his perceved failure to protect his mother. During his travels with the gaang he learns how to deal with his insecurities by helping his friends with his strategic knowlege and fighting skill (even though he is not a bender). Through his experiences he learns that to be a man, to be a leader, is not to tear other down but to build them up; to help those who need you with whatever tools or skills are at you're disposal, and to keep up the fight inspite of your failures. "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." ....... (Yes, i know this quote is only vaguly atributed to Wiston Churchill and that he probably didnt say it like this but I still love it and think it is very approprite for Sokka's charicter.)
The thing about Sokka is that he's not afraid. That includes not being afraid to admit his own mistakes and failings. This makes him very open to learning and improving himself, something that Piandao recognised in him very quickly as a trait of a good student.
When you said that sokka is like the water tribe is true he show to adapt in battle like bender, chi blocker and even normal soldiers also he’s reasonable to other even of how he show his masculinity
What Sokka is the embodiment of Xander from “Buffy”. He’s the one who sees. Surrounded by powerful people with extraordinary abilities, he is the one that sees what the others are unable to see because of their having abilities. He’s the heart.
This show took on toxic masculinity, war, character growth, disability, elitism, genocide, and so many other issues...and it still gets called a kid's show.
A good story is a good story regardless of the medium and kids are smarter than people give them credit for. The perception that animated shows are “for kids” along with the perception that kids can’t handle more mature topics are ideas that needs to fizzle out already. Those kids are gonna be adults someday
@@marisafaith9975 being an asshole because you're insecure about your manliness is where the term comes from though i.e., "I'm not wearing a mask because it's gay"
Umbuko DaJuko don’t be so obtuse. Clearly the correlation between those two things being compared is that it’s sexist and it doesn’t reflect greatly on gender and character. Telling a man to be a man doesn’t make him a man and telling a girl to subject herself to traditional gender roles doesn’t make her a woman.
@Umbuko DaJuko The thing you are missing is the only time people use the expression that someone needs to "man-up" people are suggesting the man in question should stop acting or displaying emotion, stop showing some type of vulnerability, or do something physical/aggressive. It is reductionist in the role that men can serve as well as how they can display themselves or act in larger society. It is similar to telling a woman to go to a kitchen because it is reducing a person down to a role based on gender in a toxic way. You don't hear someone tell a guy to "man-up" with the intention that the guy cry's over his loved one's death. You hear people tell the guy in question to "man-up" because he has been crying too much in their eyes. It isn't saying a direct action, but it is implying the actions you should or not take.
@@haruhirogrimgar6047 The context, environment, or situation also play a role. In some instances, it would be inappropriate to use that phrase. I could hardly imagine anyone callous enough to tell a person, man or woman, to get over the loss of a loved one. Sometimes, the phrase is used acceptably, and is understood in the context of the scenario. I'm thinking maybe there's a guy with an irrational fear of spiders that prevents normal daily life. (By irrational, I mean unfounded, like he hasn't been bitten, he hasn't eaten spiders, people haven't thrown spiders at him, etc. He has no reason to be afraid. Also includes stuff like mental health issues, etc.) That there is a problem, a weakness unbecoming of anyone, man or woman. While the phrase "grow up" might be better than "man up," the second gets the point across a lot better. I don't see anything wrong with the phrase here. It can also be interpreted as a call to shoulder responsibility and grow into the world, rather than a call to toughen up. Both are fine, again context based, but I just didn't think it was fair to say "the only time people use the expression..." (see full sentence in your post)
@@RR-xz6bv this is literally not what happened. The fact that korra was bi was made in season 4. sokkas death has already been confirmed in season 1 and they only wanted to make one season at first. But sure blame all your issuse on gay people🤦🏻♀️
this is something i found on the internet but if you notice sokka learns from all 4 elements like iroh told zuke - water style he already learned - earth style he learned from the kyoshi warriors - air style from the mechanics at the air temples - fire style from piandao and the sword
I also noticed how Sokka goes on an avatar journey of his own. Mastering the none bender fighting styles of each nation. He is already a master on the use of the boomerang and club of the water nation, he learn the Kyoshi fan style, he mastered the fire's nation swordmanship and he learns to dodge and use of terrain from Ang. He mastered all elements, as a non bender.
Sokka's Master will always be my favorite episode. The growth he shows in his own way along with Piandoa's patience just comes together to become a perfect episode in my opinion. He's given the spotlight and flourishes in it the whole episode.
Sokka is truly one of the most underrated characters in the show. As a person I struggle with a lack of courage and wish that i could be half as brave as Sokka.
I mean, I just finished watching it for the first time, and I absolutely LOVE IT! Even tho it was my first time watching, am j still a super fan? Lots of comments on tik tok day I’m not a super fan because I’m only watching it this year...
As an auditonee for Netflix's live-action take on Team Avatar, I can realize that not many you tubers have even talked about Sokka. He literally looks like me in a way. And I'm just glad someone like Sage can explain his character for me to understand and portray well. Sokka is one of those character you just can't enough of, and it's sad that characters like Ty Lee, Mai and even Katara are getting more spotlight on yt than him. Don't get me wrong, Katara is a good character but whenever i see or ask ppl about her, she's really not part of their personal favorite on the team.
Good luck with the audition! Hopefully the cast is made up of people like us who watch these kinds of videos and it would be even cooler if everyone on the cast was a fan of Sage's Rain.
I never like katara and how she ended up with aang i always thought she should have ended up with zuko, Toph with sokka and aang with someone else. katara is my least favourite of team avatar, i felt like they gave the female characters strong bending to compensate for their lack of strength and ability.
Honestly I can see why sokka was a bit sexist He was raised at one point by only women he was the only hunter and warrior his village has so it was just accidentally like this
@@amongus-ef5wo North and South were most likely similar. Just South lost war and Fire Nation killed/hostaged every water bender (killed Soka mother, because she lied she is the last one). And remember that in more dire situation society tends to be way more sexist (returning to logic of stone age and before, where you prottect woman at all cost, because only ONE man is enough to rebuild population - when you have a lot of living woman)
@@ladrok97 The Northern Tribe was far more bound to tradition than the Southern Tribe even before the war. Katara and Sokka's grandmother left the North and moved to the South BECAUSE the Northern Tribe was even more sexist than the Southern Tribe. In the scenes we see of Southern Waterbenders fighting off the Fire Nation raids, from when they had a lot of benders to when Hama was captured, there were female waterbenders fighting alongside the male waterbenders, long before Katara came around. Whereas the Northern Tribe did not allow female waterbenders to learn to fight until Katara stood up to Pakku. It's obvious the Northern Tribe loosened their restrictions after Katara learned from them, because in Legend of Korra Chief Unalaq's daughter Eska is an adept fighter with her waterbending.
You always manage to help me think about some things differently than I have before. As a woman, I have often focused on Avatar's treatment of women. But you are absolutely right that there is wonderful variety and commentary about what it means to be a man as well! Not enough good diverse examples of the many ways to be a good man in this world! So thank you for highlighting this. (And Sokka is a hero. I love him!)
Made me tearbend to 😭 finally someone talking bout sokka. Seriously man, your videos are more help for some people. Keep it up. And keep doing the best ATLA videos 😭 thank you dude
I remember reading a tumblr comment that said: "If sokka had any type of bending the series would be called The legend of sokka and his good friend avatar" and honestly, yeah
I am loving Avatar month so far! And this is the first video I got to watch earlier that normal on your Patreon :) Watching again because it's just that good. Thanks for the awesome Avatar content
This show, was too good for this world. A literal masterpiece and definitely a cultural reset for those who've watched it and been indoctrinated into toxic masculinity growing up, this isn't the 1950's anymore - masculinity isn't something society should push on a man, the same way femininity shouldn't be pushed on a woman, it is something you define within yourself. Everybody is unique, nobody deserves to feel like they're less-than for not fitting in a box that others push on you - and Sokka's journey truly is him realizing this.
toxic masculinity is a politicized buzzword and far too divisive a concept to be worth accepting as fact IMO. That said I think everyone can agree that yes, ATLA did a very good job showing healthy character traits for both genders
@Umbuko DaJuko in a way, yes but men are far more expected to be and act a certain way. Anything outside of being "strong" and unemotional is looked at sideways. Women have more room to be themselves in that regard however some women do look down upon other women for being "overly masculine" or not "lady like". But That's not really that common and that's more of a late 1900s mentality.
Omg at 3:17 sokka run and covers toph to protect her that's so cute omg I never saw that before 🥰 (I dont ship them just thought that was a cute moment)
This video is actually so eye-opening! I didn’t put as much thought into it before, but now I see the subtleties you described, such as the immediate love and bond he makes with toph or zuko. That never really occurred to me before!
This was so beautiful. Sokka has always been one of my favorite characters of all time, right up there with Zuko. The analysis of masculinity was put together so well, I’m just blown away. Also, I was interested in knowing why Sage didn’t include Ozai into the discussion of masculinity? Thank you for making such an awesome video
I'll never get over the scene of Sokka revealing himself to his dad in the prison and his dad gets teary-eyed. In that moment, we saw his hope rekindled and relief take over and a little pride because not pnly is his son okay but he somehow managed to break into a maximum security prison lol
I never even thought about how Sokka embodies the values and beliefs of Water/the Water Tribe, despite not being a bender. That was a really good point and made me emotional! Katara and Sokka can seem like opposites at first, but both share the spiritual nature of water in their own ways.
Sokka has been my favorite character ever since his first scene. I know most of us see ourselves as him. He is a perfect reflection of how we all want to live.
This is video number two of Avatar Month. Enjoy
Loving it so far
Why do I always end up crying during your videos?
Good
Killin the game
In addition Azula always saw Sokka is a major threat. She never underestimated non benders (ty lee and mai). I think that in itself is a complement to how amazing he is.
Sokka is the perfect example of a comic relief character done right. The butt of many jokes, but not a joke, himself.
Unlike bolin
Bruno Rabago Bolin is just fuckin annoying & childish
I wish Michelangelo from the ninja turtle franchise could be treated like this. He is my favorite turtle but he gets shafted as the comic relief and in many incarnations they make that his defining trait. Sokka is a comic relief and a goofball but he has so much depth and his comic relief butt monkey aspects of his character don't define him.
@@mrpringle9479 bolin dope as fuck what you mean
I think the fourth season showed Bolin's growth, he was never a leader and that's okay. He took direction well and was more a brute force character.
It's Respect Sokka hours, my dudes.
Yesssirsky
All hours are Respect Sokka hours
Hahah yesss 😂
Without Sokka, there wouldn't have been the escape in Boiling Rock which would mean severe less allies as strong as his father, Suki, etc in Sozin Comet
Nathi without apps..
*“Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something else Is more important than fear"*
this quote, 'it's ... perfect'
Did somebody say the lancer quest arc from FF14
Beautiful words for the bride
Another incarnation of this qoute:
Courage is not the absence of fear, but of acting in spite of it.
- "General" Doyle of the Federal Army of Chorus
The coward who sacrificed himself and blew a third of Charon's army to kingdom come.
My first thought was the princess diaries..
*How to be a Man:*
1. Be swift as the coursing river
2. Be forceful as a great typhoon
3. Be as strong as a raging fire
4. Be mysterious as the dark side of the Moon
*LETS GET DOWN TO BUISNESS*
5. Get down to business
Pretty sure Soka was on a path to discover the “dark side” of the moon at one point.
7. Don’t send them daughters if they ask for sons
8. Don’t be the saddest bunch he’s ever met
If this show was written today, I have almost no doubt that there would be a “surprise” reveal that Sokka was secretly a bender the whole time. The fact that the writers stay true to Sokka’s character and develop the skills that make him unique instead of bailing him out with powers was one of the best decisions they could have made. It makes his story arc so satisfying and watching him come into his own over the course of the show is one of the best things about ATLA.
When I rewatched Avatar I was thinking "not everyone in military is bender, you can't have so many benders, can you?". But somehow you can. In ATLA you have way too many benders. I think if authors would think about bender to no bender ratio more, then Sokka would be even better written.
Lmao throwing shade at that one dude from LOK
What if Sokka was still alive in Legend of Korra, and during the 3rd Book, he might have become an Air Bender 😅
Lets be honest even if the show did make him a bender, he’d prolly use it very little, especially with like, how much better his sister is.
Tf do you mean? He IS a bender. A Sokkabender to be specific
Sokka, faced some of the most powerful benders and warriors at times. Dude never wavered, gave it his all everytime, and played his part. There aren't many better definitions of being a man right there
couldn't of said it better myself
He did/invent boomerang bending
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts"
at the start of the book 1 you can see that when the zukos ship arrives he stood with such courage even though the ship overwhelmed him, he even had the audacity to throw a boomerang. Brave and proud despite having no ability.
Yes!
The more I get older the more I relate to Sokka and Zuko. They are direct reflections of each other through their absent father, lost mother, and powerful little sister. All of this makes them question their manhood but they eventually learn through this humility what it truely means to be a man.
zuku
Appar I read the whole thing and didn’t notice
@@smoodwoofer good lookin out.
......zuzu.
Oh sh**
Sokka has always been a role model of mine. He is the most relatable character in my opinion. He was never perfect. He always had made mistakes, got mistreated, and felt like he wasn't good enough. But he learns from his mistakes. He accepts that he can't control everything. In a world where it feels like you're insignificant, Sokka shows that you don't need any special powers to make a difference. He shows that hard work, focus, and love, are all you need to be successful.
How did you comment 3 days ago when the video came out 13 minutes ago? Patreon?
@@cedricjean-felix1252 Yeah patreon
and he’s absolutely hilarious ♥️
I think Toph is the better role model. She is blind, yet doesn’t let her ability to not see stop her from experiencing the world. Think how terrifying that is, seeing nothing but either darkness or vast blurry ness to the point where nothing can be seen or understood visually. From the show avatar the last airbender, Toph will always be my favorite character and my role model. She is strongly independent and learns it’s ok to receive help from others, even if you’re powerful you don’t have to do everything on your own.
Wouldn’t have said it any other way
I just realized through watching this video, Toph never once scolded or rebelled against Sokkas aid. Holding his arm while in boats or flying, not throwing him off when he shielded her from debris, accepting his help in combat, all stuff she got mad about from other teammates, but not from Sokka...
I believe Toph grew to really like Sokka in a romantic sense. I wish the story continued on so we could see that develop further.
@@kimallnaturelle I don't see Toph as some one who would actually settle down... But perhaps deep down also knows if that was the path in life she went down that shed choose Sokka to go down it with.
@@Left4Cake well, she must have since she had kids in LoK. The prevailing theory is that she did eventually settle down with Sokka as Sokka and Suki did eventually break up in the follow up comics.
@@howardbaxter2514
Wasn't it implied her daughters had different fathers though? I think it would've taken a while for her to settle down in that regard too.
@@BonaparteBardithion I don't remember honestly. Haven't watched LoK in years. All I know is that there is a theory that Sokka did have kids with Toph.
My favourite line of Sokka will forever be the scene where he tells Jet that *"You became the traitor when you stopped protecting innocent people"*
Idk it just sums him up so well!
Great line. Honorable mention to 'The best meat of all: the meat of friendship and fatherhood.'
Awesome line but the best is "that's rough buddy"
@@buck7352 But that's Zukos line
@@mssarahmr I know but I just love"that is rough buddy" most iconic line in ATLA
My favorite line of Sokka is "each of you is so amazing and so special, and I am not, I am just the guy in the group who's regular" because it's describe me so well 🙂
I never noticed how much Sokka took care and protected Toph so much
DeVante Christopher why would the most powerful earth bender need protection from sokka lmao
@@deviljho4260 Toph doesn't 'need' protection. Sokka gives anyway, Toph appreciates having her back watched.
0 Have you even watched Avatar?? Sokka is the only one who has protected Toph when she was vulnerable to damage.
0 Sokka saves her life in the final battle
@@deviljho4260 There are times where because of her disability Toph is susceptible to being targeted and is unable to use her bending that is when Sokka is there to give her a helping hand, such as whenever she's not on stable ground Sokka always offers Toph his arm so she doesn't get lost or confused
Sokkas the perspective character where nothing is forced. His tactical mind built up and evolved organically.They don’t make characters as well as him these days.
Hi there. Would you like some crumpets and tea mate
"These days"? Sorry, but you sound like a boomer. Who is "they" and why do you think there are no organically developed characters anymore?
Ich bin Ben. Bro shut up
@@somethinglame5472 Oh, we a bit touchy today?
Ich bin Ben. Sokka was not everyone’s favorite character. When everyone was learning through their elements Sokka was inspired by them and tried to be effective in his own way. In each season you see his strategic abilities become a thing then evolve over the course of the series. Aside from the meteor nothing felt rushed or forced in his character.
My first girlfriend turned into the moon.
That’s rough, buddy.
Still remember that moment
Zuko just has no clue how to respond to Sokka.
Neither would I.
Artisan Noteworthy yeap I think I would have had the exact same response as Zuko 😂
I would probably say: well at least you can almost always see her
Hello zuko here
I also really like the idea that sokka mimics aang's journey of learning all the elements, but from a non bending perspective, with him learning the fighting styles and ideologies of the other nations
Also zuko's journey and his final fight showing aspects of all the elements shows how all of them learned the elements together
@@isakohman5105good connection
Have y'all seen the take that Sokka is like the Avatar of nonbending disciplines? He learns about inventing from Tao's dad (air), he practices the Kyoshi style of fighting with Suki (earth), he is a master strategist with his father (water), and he becomes a master swordsman (fire). Everywhere they go, Sokka learns the non-bending disciplines
Omg ! You're RIGHT ! OMG ! Seriously, I've never realized that before ! 🤯🤯🤯
that is an awesome take!
Amazing.
Awesome observation.
Yeah lol it's called Sokkabending
I think the white lotus episode ( sozins comet part 2) finishes sokka's arc nicely. They meet the white lotus masters, 3 of the four elements are represented but the fourth was piandao, a non bender, standing equal to four legendary benders. I think that served to sokka that he doesnt have to be a bender to be powerful and earn respect
Literally my thoughts after watching it.
Katara = Paku
Sokka = Piando
Toph = Bumi
Zuko = Iroh
One of the best reveals of the series, all old people know each other & play pi sho leads into the most dramatic reclamation possible
I never thought about that. That's a great point.
Reading this made me tear up.
I don't see Sokka as arrogant. I always saw this as false confidence. When he meets the Kyoshi warriors, he humbles himself. He does this with Yui, Toph, and finally to his sword sensei. By the day of the black sun and the finale of the show. He is a proven confident man.
He did humble himself after disrespecting them and i do think that it is quite arrogant to think you are better then a entire group of warriors but the best character Development start with flaws
100
@@zenzen6361 It's not about arrogance. His views were pretty common in his village I think. He just needed to see some things to prove him wrong. He basically gave them up at that first occasion.
Exactly
People always want to hate on confident men, usually because of jealousy (in the case of weak men) or covetousness (in the case of insecure women). What some would call Sokka's arrogance is based in his accurate feeling that he is responsible for leading his people to victory. Leadership requires some level of self assurance. If your leader second guesses himself all the time or defers to his peers for leadership, he's not really a leader, just a bossy prick. Refer to the episode where Sokka insists on abandoning Jet. This episode was made to solidify Sokka's role as a leader. He was the one who insisted on disassociating with Jet and single-handedly escaped his henchmen and saved the town despite his team's insolence. He is a protector, through his actions, and the gang on more than one occasion pay the price for not listening to him. Another example being his urging Aang not to mess with firebending before burning Katara. This "arrogant" disposition of Sokka's evolves into his role as a respected leader and shot caller. But like every character, his more impressive qualities are balanced by sometimes amusing character flaws. In Sokka's case, it's his young age, lack of combat experience and bending, and yes at times his arrogance in underestimating female peers.
He was perfect!
A non bender✅
A strategist ✅
A shoulder to cry on ✅
A ladies man ✅
A protector ✅
A complainer ✅
And the funniest guy in the Gaang ✅
He was the Heart and soul of the Gaang. And my baby🤧
Can you explain what you mean about "my baby"!?
Suki Kyoshi Warrior sokka is attractive is what she means
@@deviljho4260 Read her name, she's jealous
Suki Kyoshi Warrior share that lad with us as well
Okay okay... Just don't fall into exaggeration. 😅
I love Sokka so much. And I love him and Toph together. I think she struggles with her femininity just like he struggles with his masculinity. She thinks it makes her weak, and at the same time fears she doesn't have any. I think that's why she resented Katara at first, because Katara was strong and feminine, and Toph didn't think she could be both.
Interesting
I never saw Katara as feminine. To me, she just was a strong female character who didn't shy away from emotions. Masculinity is fairly straightforward but I always thought it shared traits with masculinity. Just... reflections of each other.
Sokka, Toph, and Iroh always 💕☝🏼
@@serpentinewolf7085 Katara is very feminine, if you ask other women. Whereas a lot of female movie protagonists billed as ‘strong female’ don’t actually come across as feminine, even if she is very sexy, *if you ask other women*.
@@nurainiarsad7395
I mean I just don’t put a lot of stock into “feminine” and “masculine”. Anytime I have looked up the definitions it’s demeaning what is considered feminine. It’s literally subservient and can only live for others.
It's insane that Sokka, Iroh, Zuko, and Azula all exist in the same show, each could carry a show on their own
Tbh every character in Avatar is so good that they could be the main character
@@psicopato2460 At least every main cast member (i.e. main protagonists and antagonists), though I would like to see a cabbage guy series.
@@phantomJ67I feel life foaming mouth guy might do better as a protagonist tbh
"Quick Sokka! Say something funny!"
"Funny how?"
***Cue GAang's laughter and mine as well***
Somebody please explain this joke to me I'm the big dumb who doesn't get it
Aschious Phaise The gang was starved of jokes while Sokka was away. Sokka saying “Funny How” made them all laugh like it was his punchline
Honestly I expected him to say "something funny", as it's exactly the kind of sarcastic remark he would come up with.
One of uncle Iroh's lines of wisdom fit perfectly here:
"If you look for the light, you will often find it, but if you look for the dark... that is all you will ever see."
Facts
Sokka’s the character many young boys connect to as he is surrounded by others who are more talented than him. His passion and courage allows him to keep up with the rest and have an impact on those around him.
Justin you out here spitting fax on us bro, you cant deny he's incredibly brave and passionate
True!
They might've had more fighting skills and bending but to me Sokka was the smartest out of all of them and not to mention the best tactician only bested by Azula pre-the Beach
@@Nathi98 Didn't he come up with hot air balloons, which eventually developed into the fire nation blimps? I could be just remembering wrong
@@SkittlesInYourHand yea he also invented the submarine. He's for sure the smartest
Who's combustion man, on a different note remember when Sokka beat Sparky Sparky Boom Man?
Ah yes, Sparky Sparky Boom Man. The man that wanted to take out Team BoomerAang with his third eye.
Best comment
@@colinknoester6607 every comment here is the best comment
@sparklink YT this made me actually laugh instead of just blowing air from my nose.
What’s a combustion man?? Sparky sparky boom man was fire tho ngl
Sokka is so often the comic relief that it's sometimes easy to forget that he's pretty damn smart when he needs to be and is a dynamic character throughout the show.
Sokka’s biggest character change was when he heard the wolf crying in the distance, the pain of being left behind and separated from the pack. That was the moment when his destiny turned from reuniting with his people, to becoming a strong leader helping the group bring peace to the world. His selfless acts are what makes him a hero in my eyes.
Sokka is the greatest joke character in a series
Uhh when did that happen
What episode was this?
Alexis Knight Bato of the water tribe in season 1
What episode was that,
Sokka literally prevented the genocide of the Earth Kingdom. You don’t get to be much of a bigger deal than that. 👏🏼 💪🏼 ❤️
Kevin Dowling wdym?
Airship slice!
That and his plan of stopping the drill by breaking it from the inside.
Squidbro 66 True, but that was honestly just a delay of the Fire Nation overtaking Ba Sing Se, which they eventually did a short time later. Stopping the Fire Nation Air Fleet saved uncounted lives.
Yeah. That's what a lot of people don't seem to get. Sokka was, in some ways as important as Aang. Aang was the spiritual and symbolic savior of the world. Iroh said for instance that even if he could defeat his brother, it wouldn't make things right. It had to be the Avatar to restore balance. Sokka is the one that actually navigated, planned throughout a lot of the war. That's what makes the show so good. Every character has a deeply important role on the narrative. Zuko has to restore honor to his nation by becoming firelord. Aang has to restore balance to the elements. Sokka has to win the war. Katara saves Aang's life and reunites the southern and northern tribes. Toph, being an earth bender, is mostly the muscle of the team, but of course plays a crucial role in many battles as a combat prodigy. And of course, none of this would be possible without the assistance of many other characters.
I wanna hear sage say " looks like its boiled in oil"
I want to hear that too
Sage's Rain next video maybe?
sky army For life “community service!!”
One great thing about Sokka is that they give him enough glory moments to prevent him from being just a comic relief. Like his boomerang actually being very helpful instead of just being used for a simple joke and his plans, though sometimes a bit goofy, succeeding most of the time. He really feels like an essential part in team Avatar and in the war and feels like one of the most grown characters
"Sokka shows his importance through his intellect..."
As the screen shows him sending a message bird to Katara supposedly from a blind girl
I know this is from you guys toph doesn't know how to write (cuz she's blind).
I'm quite early.
I absolutely love Zuko's character arch, it's brilliant and it's usually the most celebrated among the fandom. That being said, I truly wish for people to pay more attention to Sokka and his character arch. I think it's equally brilliant and unique. He grows beautifully, from an insecure boy who didn't have much perspective to a brave and humble man, fully capable of leading great causes, and through that journey, he also stays the same in his core: a determined, creative, intelligent, funny and kind-hearted boy, who did the best he could given his circumstances to assume responsibility for the wellbeing of others. He's the Gaang's heart.
There is one scene that always makes me cry no matter what. It's the final (before the kiss between Aang and Katara), when he's relaxed and happy and "capturing the moment", they get a little mad for his not so brilliant art skills, and then Toph delivers one of the greatest lines ever... They are all sharing like the big and diverse family they are and it's just wonderful. He was being himself, while surrounded by love. He went through so, so much, dealing with loss and a great responsibility he wasn't ready to assume, he was just a boy. And from the very beginning of the show to that moment, and beyond, Sokka is and will always be one of my favorite characters of all time. All of them are, all of the Gaang, I cherish them with all my heart.
As always, you did an amazing job. I've been anticipating this month and so far I'm so happy and proud of the content you've made. It feels so surreal since the series it's quite old, but the love we feel for it is here and stronger than ever. There's so much to add to the conversation yet.
Thank you so much.
you’re making me tear-bend 😢
Hey...its just me 😉 thanks for the love
Sokka layered his vulnerability with jokes and laughs. Throughout the series you can see he changes and accepts his faults. Not perfect, but perfect to many others such as the rest of the gang, and us the viewers when we need a break from all the action they go trough. Our beloved uncle Iroh once said: "Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame" I think Sokka's character is tested all trough the series, as you said he quickly understands that yes, i'm not the best warrior, but i'll be the warrior that my friends need me to be. If that makes sense? Anyways, Thank you for making a video on Sokka. Thank you Sokka for being the comic relief that we needed!
Dude that's deep
@@gardeniac.3782 :D
Wow I’ve never thought of it like that amazing
sokka’s master has to be my favorite episode. i even stated to cry bc i related too him so much, i’ve always felt like i have been useless. at the beginning of this series i found him annoying but now he is my favorite character
I also find it to be my favorite episode as well. It reinforces the importance of Sokka, of which the show needed.
Sokka's chemistry with the gaang is great. he's very level headed and focused as well. He knows that the gaang needs someone to guide them and make sure their safe. I love how by the end he becomes the leader he wanted to be and finds out what truly makes him, him.
“Part of being a man is knowing where you’re needed most” - Hakota
when a comic relief character gets more development than most characters in other series you know they are doing something right
You know the content creator is good when you like the video before it even starts.
Kyle Griffin same
Oh yes.
I’m soo fricken glad that this masterpiece of a show isn’t forgotten, I don’t think it’ll ever be forgotten.
Sokka’s overcompensating confidence comes from the insecurity that he is always trying to prove himself.
He felt like always looked down upon. The only man not taken to war with the Men of the Southern Water tribe and then being only non bender in the group
Just rewatched the episode "Jet" and Aang and Katara were so MEAN to Sokka. I was shocked.
Well Katara was blinded by love and aang is still a child. Sometimes we get blinded by our emotions and say things we shouldnt. Its human
But Katara regrets not believing Sokka later on.
That's what I hated the most about that episode. They were such pr_cks to him.
@@Green_Pix-L Ya because sometimes the stary eyed idealists are idiots. But Sokka proved them wrong and later in the series we see everyone trusting Sokka a lot more with his leadership.
@@evandugas7888 Yeah; and it's really satisfying to see them stfu and listen to him.
"i BeT yOu WoUlDnT bE $0 b0$$y iF yOu KiSsEd A gIrL"
"yOuRe ThE lEaDeR? bUt YoUr VoIcE $TiLl CrAcK$"
"wHy DoNt YoU a$k SoKkAs In$tInCt$? tHeY sEeM t0 kNoW eVeRyThInG"
"sOkKaS jUsT jEaLoUs He DoEsNt HaVe An ArRoW oN hIs HeAd"
"wE wErE rElYiNg On InStInCtS"
I honestly love the fact that atla made strong female characters way back before it was blown up into an issue and they didn’t make it seemed forced like Rey skywalker and captain Marvel. It was so subtle that I didn’t even realize it until you pointed out other men in this show (Aang, Zuko, iroh, and hakoda) those are like the main four which made me realize how strong all the women are in this show (katara, Toph, suki, ty lee, mai, and azula) blew my mind just now
I was just thinking about that, ehen he mentioned how Toph was the most powerful earthbender i suddenly realized how strong, capable and independent the female characters are potrayed with relatable struggles, goals and depth.
ATLA did such a great job because none of it comes of as forced the way a lot of modern day television does. It was so natural, the way it should be.
Rey is a Palpatine, not a Skywalker
KoolDudeGamer absolutely correct, but I’m using the skywalker name to show how forced they want the female roles today to be “important”
Portside Dyldo & it’s doesn’t boost the females by tearing down the male characters
I feel like if it came out today, people would find the strength and competence of the female characters forced and annoying. There'd be claims that the show is pandering to feminists and SJWs because the women can actually fight - I could see this happening for Toph and Azula but especially Suki, who has no bending and kicks the asses of much larger grown men (who'd all be mocked as "le strong womyn"). We're in a reactionary period right now and everyone reads politics into writing choices.
Despite all of the tension and angst that existed between the heroes and antagonists in ATLA, it was always nice to see Sokka lighten the mood with his hilarious antics. Although he wasn’t a bender, he was one of the most significant members of team avatar
Sokka is my favorite of the Gaang. While Aang and Zuko go through the most overall character growth, Sokka goes through the most dynamic character growth. Aang starts and ends the story as a boy, and his forced maturity, while a triumph, is also a tragedy. "Demons run, but count the cost. The battle is won, but the child is lost." We don't see Aang as an adult at the end of the series because he needs to salvage what little of his childhood he has left.
Zuko, on the other hand, starts the story a man and ends it a man. At 16, he is the age of majority by Fire Nation standards, and his journey is about overcoming past abuse and letting the lessons taken from it propel him into adulthood and leadership. He learns to be compassionate, merciful and generous. He learns how to make a friend out of an enemy. Those are all lessons a man has to be just as willing to learn as a boy must be, and most adults have to learn them repeatedly. Point is, we don't see Zuko as a child. We see him as a young man. A troubled young man, but a man nonetheless.
But Sokka starts the series as a boy and ends it as a man. His is the real coming-of-age story in the series. And for me, it's so interesting to watch him make that journey from boyhood to manhood. I won't go into detail, because I'll just be rehashing the video. But Sokka has the most interesting character arc imo, and I love every bit of it.
"When I became a man, I did away with childish things--including the fear of childishness and the desire to appear so very grown up."
-CS Lewis
Creators: make avatar
Fans: is this the bible?
Yes. Yes it is.
You know I see a lot of parallels mostly in the betrayal and violence of the show cause boy does the Bible get violent and also the complexity of the story
Yeah and Christians hate this show cause of the mass genocide and the bending and the spirit world stuff but this pales in comparison to how shit crazy the Bible gets
There's a lot in this show that low key borrows from a number of religions. Some examples:
When Aang dies in S2 before he is brought back to life, Katara is holding him in the same way as a very famous statue of Mary holding the dead body of Christ.
The killing of the moon fish mirrors humans killing Absu, the husband of Tiamat, the water dragon of chaos, which is part of the Mesopotamian creation myth that later loosely inspired Genesis.
The Yogi teaching Aang about chakras is pretty spot on.
The Yin Yang structure is present often, even in story structures and camera angles. For example at the same time Chet is being mind controlled by the phoney ruler of Basing Se, Iroh (who should have been the rightful ruler of the Fire Nation) is trying to deprogram Sukko from his fathers negative influence. The mirrored camera framing of both pairs in the scene reinforces the concept visually.
There are many many layers of interesting things happening in this show.
@@newtoatheism5968 that’s a mass generalization of all Christians, do you know every single one?.
I’m a Christian, that said I was able to suspend my beliefs when watching a cartoon.
Edit: btw I love Atla
His arc is so underrated, especially without any powers
I know I keep saying this but I love that people are still talking about Avatar after all this time!
And I've been waiting to hear Sage's take on Sokka. Well worth the wait.
Hopefully the younger generation will continue to watch avatar it would be sad if they didnt
@@elvis4868 I bet they'll be too busy liking Korra
It’s so interesting that I’ve seen this show over 15 times but this video still made me appreciate sokka much more.
The show is just that good that just talking about it is entertaining.
Can we just take a moment to acknowledge the fact that this amazing video is talking about what’s supposed to be an animated kid’s show? It’s incredible that such a show like this even exists, one that is so thoughtful and well-made. Incredible doesn’t even describe it, I’m just happy it even exists. Rewatching it has been an absolute joy, and I know I’ll be rewatching it many more times.
this look into sokka kind of made me cry a bit?? i'm super emotional right now regardless but you REALLY blew it out of the park. I'm amazed at the conversation you held about sokka's masculinity and i hold a lot of respect for you since not a lot of the men i know in my life would be able to articulate it nearly as well as you.
I had a huge crush on him as a kid lol
So did Toph
@@Max25670 so did literally every girl in the series.
I still do lol
I had a crush on all of them ^^
sam Even Azula?
I already know Sokka is one of the most important characters in the Gaang and they wouldn't be able to function without him. I just want to listen to someone give him the praise and recognition he deserves.
Sokka might be my favorite character period, he is perfect combo of comic relief and an awesome relatable character. He is so easy to relate to, he is just a regular person in a world of benders and at times he feels like he doesnt belong and isnt enough. He starts of confinedent(maybe little too much) slowly loses that confidence and that earns it back stronger than ever, he is 100% the leader of team avatar even tho he has no special powers
"Pride is not the opposite of shame but its source."
This is what i loved about Sokka as a charicter. When we first meet him, he has let his perceved passed failures define him resulting in him feeling a need to tear down others (such as his masoginistic comments in the begining of the show) to feel more "masculine" to cope with the insecurity from his perceved failure to protect his mother. During his travels with the gaang he learns how to deal with his insecurities by helping his friends with his strategic knowlege and fighting skill (even though he is not a bender). Through his experiences he learns that to be a man, to be a leader, is not to tear other down but to build them up; to help those who need you with whatever tools or skills are at you're disposal, and to keep up the fight inspite of your failures.
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
.......
(Yes, i know this quote is only vaguly atributed to Wiston Churchill and that he probably didnt say it like this but I still love it and think it is very approprite for Sokka's charicter.)
The thing about Sokka is that he's not afraid. That includes not being afraid to admit his own mistakes and failings. This makes him very open to learning and improving himself, something that Piandao recognised in him very quickly as a trait of a good student.
Your content literally elevates whatever source materiel you’re talking about. Thank you!
When you said that sokka is like the water tribe is true he show to adapt in battle like bender, chi blocker and even normal soldiers also he’s reasonable to other even of how he show his masculinity
Why did I read the title as “the importance of the last sokka avatar and the icecream”
That is a great video idea.
What Sokka is the embodiment of Xander from “Buffy”. He’s the one who sees. Surrounded by powerful people with extraordinary abilities, he is the one that sees what the others are unable to see because of their having abilities. He’s the heart.
"That's called Sokka style! Learn it!" My favorite quote from him
This shouldn’t have made me emotional but here we are
Besides Zuko Sokka has the best charecter development in the show
The whole show is just a fucking masterpiece as a whole. Nuff said.
This show took on toxic masculinity, war, character growth, disability, elitism, genocide, and so many other issues...and it still gets called a kid's show.
A good story is a good story regardless of the medium and kids are smarter than people give them credit for. The perception that animated shows are “for kids” along with the perception that kids can’t handle more mature topics are ideas that needs to fizzle out already. Those kids are gonna be adults someday
no such thing as toxic maculinity
@@zoniannitrate2905 just insecure people
@@marisafaith9975 being an asshole because you're insecure about your manliness is where the term comes from though
i.e., "I'm not wearing a mask because it's gay"
@@zoniannitrate2905 of course it is
Sokka is like Robin from Teen Titans. They both don't have special powers but are vital to the team.
Sokka is important because he is the last back bender.
😂😂😂
*“Telling a man to man-up is the equivalent of telling a woman to go to the kitchen”*
@Umbuko DaJuko
Why should the woman be asked to fix a sandwich? Is the person asking not able to serve themself?
@Lord Grim
Is there anything wrong with either of the two? Also, society neither constrains men to weakness nor women to filial labor.
Umbuko DaJuko don’t be so obtuse. Clearly the correlation between those two things being compared is that it’s sexist and it doesn’t reflect greatly on gender and character. Telling a man to be a man doesn’t make him a man and telling a girl to subject herself to traditional gender roles doesn’t make her a woman.
@Umbuko DaJuko The thing you are missing is the only time people use the expression that someone needs to "man-up" people are suggesting the man in question should stop acting or displaying emotion, stop showing some type of vulnerability, or do something physical/aggressive. It is reductionist in the role that men can serve as well as how they can display themselves or act in larger society. It is similar to telling a woman to go to a kitchen because it is reducing a person down to a role based on gender in a toxic way.
You don't hear someone tell a guy to "man-up" with the intention that the guy cry's over his loved one's death. You hear people tell the guy in question to "man-up" because he has been crying too much in their eyes. It isn't saying a direct action, but it is implying the actions you should or not take.
@@haruhirogrimgar6047
The context, environment, or situation also play a role. In some instances, it would be inappropriate to use that phrase. I could hardly imagine anyone callous enough to tell a person, man or woman, to get over the loss of a loved one.
Sometimes, the phrase is used acceptably, and is understood in the context of the scenario. I'm thinking maybe there's a guy with an irrational fear of spiders that prevents normal daily life. (By irrational, I mean unfounded, like he hasn't been bitten, he hasn't eaten spiders, people haven't thrown spiders at him, etc. He has no reason to be afraid. Also includes stuff like mental health issues, etc.) That there is a problem, a weakness unbecoming of anyone, man or woman. While the phrase "grow up" might be better than "man up," the second gets the point across a lot better. I don't see anything wrong with the phrase here.
It can also be interpreted as a call to shoulder responsibility and grow into the world, rather than a call to toughen up. Both are fine, again context based, but I just didn't think it was fair to say "the only time people use the expression..." (see full sentence in your post)
Without sokka,who Toph would roast?
Your profile picture is ummm
“Nice”
Tophs little crush on Sokka is adorable.
Aang 😂
Toph roasted everyone what are you talking a out
We can agree that Sokka and Suki got shafted in Legend of Korra despite being in team Avatar.
They all got chucked that show was hot trash
Omar Zioui exactly i don’t get why Powell worship that show so much
Chuk look I heard they made him die because korra was meant to be a short series but it was expanded and they couldn’t redact what they’ve already did
Binch Eating they made him die to make the show super lgbt progressive they didn’t have room for masculinity issues
@@RR-xz6bv this is literally not what happened. The fact that korra was bi was made in season 4. sokkas death has already been confirmed in season 1 and they only wanted to make one season at first. But sure blame all your issuse on gay people🤦🏻♀️
this is something i found on the internet but if you notice sokka learns from all 4 elements like iroh told zuke
- water style he already learned
- earth style he learned from the kyoshi warriors
- air style from the mechanics at the air temples
- fire style from piandao and the sword
I also noticed how Sokka goes on an avatar journey of his own. Mastering the none bender fighting styles of each nation. He is already a master on the use of the boomerang and club of the water nation, he learn the Kyoshi fan style, he mastered the fire's nation swordmanship and he learns to dodge and use of terrain from Ang. He mastered all elements, as a non bender.
He's the grounding force and a natural leader to the gaang. Aang and the others wouldn't be their best selves without his support.
Sokka's Master will always be my favorite episode. The growth he shows in his own way along with Piandoa's patience just comes together to become a perfect episode in my opinion. He's given the spotlight and flourishes in it the whole episode.
Secondly who out here didn't give my boy sokka his respect?
Sokka is a true soldier. Brave on the battlefield and in the minds in his comrades
Sokka is truly one of the most underrated characters in the show. As a person I struggle with a lack of courage and wish that i could be half as brave as Sokka.
Sokka deserves respect, he was screwed over in Legend Of Korra
What happened? I never finished Legend of Korra.
@@FlyByFrancis its cause he died before the show and so he was never shown in the show
@@FlyByFrancis they never fully explain where he is
I don't think that was such a bad thing. Have you seen LOK? (It's not terrible, but nowhere near the masterpiece that is ATLA)
@@Delta_Aves that makes me sad. I think it's on par but they're two very different shows and beautiful in their own right
Who else rewatching avatar on Netflix
not me
john_smith cringe
Rewatched a few highlight episodes. actually going through Korra on RUclips right now.
i rewatched it in two days
I mean, I just finished watching it for the first time, and I absolutely LOVE IT! Even tho it was my first time watching, am j still a super fan? Lots of comments on tik tok day I’m not a super fan because I’m only watching it this year...
As an auditonee for Netflix's live-action take on Team Avatar, I can realize that not many you tubers have even talked about Sokka. He literally looks like me in a way. And I'm just glad someone like Sage can explain his character for me to understand and portray well. Sokka is one of those character you just can't enough of, and it's sad that characters like Ty Lee, Mai and even Katara are getting more spotlight on yt than him. Don't get me wrong, Katara is a good character but whenever i see or ask ppl about her, she's really not part of their personal favorite on the team.
Good luck with the audition! Hopefully the cast is made up of people like us who watch these kinds of videos and it would be even cooler if everyone on the cast was a fan of Sage's Rain.
Can you update us on how the audition process goes, wish ya luck!
thats actually cool as hell that you auditioned
good luck dude
how do you audition? i would also like to audition for the role of katara, but i don’t live in america. can someone please give me tips?
I never like katara and how she ended up with aang i always thought she should have ended up with zuko, Toph with sokka and aang with someone else. katara is my least favourite of team avatar, i felt like they gave the female characters strong bending to compensate for their lack of strength and ability.
The character growth in that show is ASTRONOMICAL
Honestly I can see why sokka was a bit sexist
He was raised at one point by only women he was the only hunter and warrior his village has so it was just accidentally like this
Also remember the culture of the North Pole, pushing the women to be healers leading to Kataras conflict with pakku
Rocatex
but they were in the south
@@amongus-ef5wo a south that was ransacked and but a shadow of it's former self and where sokka was left as the oldest male in the village.
@@amongus-ef5wo North and South were most likely similar. Just South lost war and Fire Nation killed/hostaged every water bender (killed Soka mother, because she lied she is the last one). And remember that in more dire situation society tends to be way more sexist (returning to logic of stone age and before, where you prottect woman at all cost, because only ONE man is enough to rebuild population - when you have a lot of living woman)
@@ladrok97 The Northern Tribe was far more bound to tradition than the Southern Tribe even before the war. Katara and Sokka's grandmother left the North and moved to the South BECAUSE the Northern Tribe was even more sexist than the Southern Tribe. In the scenes we see of Southern Waterbenders fighting off the Fire Nation raids, from when they had a lot of benders to when Hama was captured, there were female waterbenders fighting alongside the male waterbenders, long before Katara came around. Whereas the Northern Tribe did not allow female waterbenders to learn to fight until Katara stood up to Pakku. It's obvious the Northern Tribe loosened their restrictions after Katara learned from them, because in Legend of Korra Chief Unalaq's daughter Eska is an adept fighter with her waterbending.
Every week, I find another channel which talks about Avatar. This show has so many things to discuss.
You always manage to help me think about some things differently than I have before. As a woman, I have often focused on Avatar's treatment of women. But you are absolutely right that there is wonderful variety and commentary about what it means to be a man as well! Not enough good diverse examples of the many ways to be a good man in this world! So thank you for highlighting this.
(And Sokka is a hero. I love him!)
Made me tearbend to 😭 finally someone talking bout sokka. Seriously man, your videos are more help for some people. Keep it up. And keep doing the best ATLA videos 😭 thank you dude
sokka has literally one of the biggest character arcs in ATLA
They had to nerf him otherwise bro with bending he would be too powerful
FIRE LORD OP PLZ NERF
Aang: ok
I remember reading a tumblr comment that said: "If sokka had any type of bending the series would be called The legend of sokka and his good friend avatar" and honestly, yeah
We need a “Importance of Sages Rain in the ATLA Community” video. Awesome job!
I am loving Avatar month so far! And this is the first video I got to watch earlier that normal on your Patreon :) Watching again because it's just that good. Thanks for the awesome Avatar content
Thank you so much!!
This show, was too good for this world. A literal masterpiece and definitely a cultural reset for those who've watched it and been indoctrinated into toxic masculinity growing up, this isn't the 1950's anymore - masculinity isn't something society should push on a man, the same way femininity shouldn't be pushed on a woman, it is something you define within yourself. Everybody is unique, nobody deserves to feel like they're less-than for not fitting in a box that others push on you - and Sokka's journey truly is him realizing this.
@Umbuko DaJuko yet water intoxication exists...
@Umbuko DaJuko toxic masculinity is different from masculinity. but i get what your point is.
toxic masculinity is a politicized buzzword and far too divisive a concept to be worth accepting as fact IMO. That said I think everyone can agree that yes, ATLA did a very good job showing healthy character traits for both genders
@@Luey_Luey agreed. this show did so many things right and it never felt forced.
@Umbuko DaJuko in a way, yes but men are far more expected to be and act a certain way. Anything outside of being "strong" and unemotional is looked at sideways. Women have more room to be themselves in that regard however some women do look down upon other women for being "overly masculine" or not "lady like". But That's not really that common and that's more of a late 1900s mentality.
Omg at 3:17 sokka run and covers toph to protect her that's so cute omg I never saw that before 🥰 (I dont ship them just thought that was a cute moment)
When the comic relief character gets this much development and depth, you can really see how awesome the show is
My favorite Sokka moment is when he's guiding Toph across the Fire Nation Airships, and sacrifices his sword in the process
This video is actually so eye-opening! I didn’t put as much thought into it before, but now I see the subtleties you described, such as the immediate love and bond he makes with toph or zuko. That never really occurred to me before!
This was so beautiful. Sokka has always been one of my favorite characters of all time, right up there with Zuko. The analysis of masculinity was put together so well, I’m just blown away. Also, I was interested in knowing why Sage didn’t include Ozai into the discussion of masculinity? Thank you for making such an awesome video
I'll never get over the scene of Sokka revealing himself to his dad in the prison and his dad gets teary-eyed.
In that moment, we saw his hope rekindled and relief take over and a little pride because not pnly is his son okay but he somehow managed to break into a maximum security prison lol
I never even thought about how Sokka embodies the values and beliefs of Water/the Water Tribe, despite not being a bender. That was a really good point and made me emotional! Katara and Sokka can seem like opposites at first, but both share the spiritual nature of water in their own ways.
I love sokka as a kid cause he had no bending but he was able to bet powerful benders
As I’m rewatching avatar as this video dropped I’m on episode 4
I remember liking him when I watched as a kid, but when I rewatched as an adult I absolutely fell in love with his character 🥺❤️
he's relatable when it comes to his worth and what person he wants to be. I love his character in so many ways.
Sokka has been my favorite character ever since his first scene. I know most of us see ourselves as him. He is a perfect reflection of how we all want to live.