Avatar: The Last Airbender Sokka actor pushes back on fan backlash over story changes

The actor who plays Sokka in the new live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series confirms the show will have some feminist themes.

Almost 20 years after it first premiered on Nickelodeon, the hit animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender is getting another live-action remake as Netflix is preparing to drop its first eight episode series.

While some fans are hyped about the upcoming show, some are more wary as it was announced that some major character plot points and story arcs would be left out of this adaptation.

One of the biggest concerns of fans has to do with Sokka, Katara’s older brother, and his views on women as he starts the series with a ton of sexiest views, but ultimately learns to overcome them. However, though Netflix did say that part of his character wouldn’t be highlighted much, Sokka actor Ian Ousley has confirmed that the show will still hold some of its feminist themes.

Ousley promises fans that Sokka’s arc is still intact

When Avatar: The Last Airbender first began, Sokka was a major misogynist. His story arc on how he overcame the outdated views to become a more mature, well-rounded person is one of his biggest and most important. So, it was understandable that some fans were disappointed when they read that the Netflix series would be toning back from that storyline.

However, while speaking to Metro.co.uk, Ousley reassured fans that the show will still contain some feminist themes around Sokka, even if its not as in depth as the animated series went.

“I think that the essence of the character that Sokka is, is 100% the character that is portrayed in the live-action version of the show,” Ousley explained, “I think the fans are a little worried that there’s going to be changes in who Sokka is, and I don’t really think that’s been the case at all in our show.”

Ousley continued stating, “I think that we’ve turned those in different directions in the way that… we can’t fit every single arc of every single thing from the animated show. But the essence of him is still there.”

“He’s an overprotective older brother, and that’s kind of shown in the way that he doesn’t really trust Katara maybe at the beginning, feeling like he’s the in-charge guy of Southern Water Tribe. He definitely still gets humbled in ways and learns that women can be powerful. I’m just excited for people to watch it and get their own take on that particular thing that I know that people are worried about.”

Kiawentiio, who plays Katara, seemed to agree with the decision to erase some of Sokka’s sexism as she stated, “I feel like there were a lot of moments in the original show that were iffy.”

Whether or not the idea to take away some of Sokka’s biggest personal growth moments was a good decision or not can be seen when Avatar: The Last Airbender premieres on Netflix on February 22.