Piandao, the Master Swordsman and prominent member of the White Lotus, said of Sokka that he had a heart as strong as a lion turtle, and twice as big. Avatar: The Last Airbender fans of Sokka already knew that, but there are a lot of things about this famous Water Tribe warrior that you might not know.
Some of these are obvious, while others are more obscure, perhaps even spiritual. Don’t tell that to Sokka, as he isn’t a big believer in the Spirit Realm. Here are ten things that every fan needs to know about their favorite non-bender, Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe.
Sokka Was Originally A Minor Character
At first, writers Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko intended that Sokka be a minor character. They were so impressed by the voice talents of Jack DeSena, however, that they decided to give him a much bigger part. When Hakoda left the Southern Water Tribe, he left Sokka in charge. He was too young to join his father’s resistance forces, but he was the only warrior left with the tribe.
Sokka takes after his father as both a prankster and tactician, but we also see a lot of his mother a protector and warrior. Sokka’s character also goes on a compelling character arc throughout the series, and we can thank Jack DeSena for almost all of it.
He Constantly Gets Covered In Goop
It’s not a coincidence that most of the sight gags Sokka falls victim to involve him getting doused in some sticky goo, like that spray of bison snot that covers him only minutes into the very first episode, “The Boy in the Iceberg.” This is a running joke that repeats throughout the series, and what makes these scenes even better is that they often involve Appa, another fan-favorite.
During a moment of comic relief in the otherwise ominous episode in Book 3, “Sozin’s Comet, Part 1 - The Pheonix King,” Sokka crawls into Appa’s mouth looking for the missing Momo. As Katara, Toph, Suki, and Zuko seriously discuss their next move in the foreground, Appa slowly spits Sokka out in the street behind them.
The Meaning Of His Name
In Book 2, Chapter 15, “Tales of Ba Sing Sae,” we finally see Sokka’s name in print. It’s the combination of characters suo (索) and ka (卡). The way it’s written, “suo” means to search or ask, and “ka” means to block.
We can see that mix in Sokka, as his high intelligence makes him both funny and intently curious, while his warrior nature leans more toward protection than aggression. It’s also an expression of his leadership qualities, as he was left as the only warrior to protect the Southern Water Tribe and takes on a leadership role in Team Avatar.
Sokka Appears in Other Avatar Mediums
There’s very little information available about Sokka after the first series ends, but luckily he appears in other media beyond the small screen so we can get more insight into his life and times. Video games, most of the comic books, and many kinds of merchandise, like clothing and accessories, carry Sokka’s likeness.
He appears in several video games including Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Burning Earth, and Avatar: The Last Airbender – Into the Inferno. This is one way we can learn about his adventures outside the serialized cartoons.
He’s Ambidextrous
He calls himself Captain Boomerang, but Sokka is proficient with an impressive number of weapons. Throughout the series, he picks up several different weapons, including a machete, clubs, and even a spear.
Despite Master Piandao’s teasing, he might start in a clumsy way but he learns very quickly and is quite versatile in battle. This might be because he can use both hands with equal proficiency. In a few episodes, “The Library,” “Lake Laogai,” and “Sozin’s Comet Part 4 - Avatar Aang,” we see him drawing with his left hand but writing with his right hand.
He’s Friends With The White Lotus
After Sokka trained with Master Piandao, he was not only on his way to becoming an accomplished warrior, but he was also given a precious White Lotus tile. We had seen these before in the hands of Uncle Iroh.
This isn’t only a sign that he can call on them for help, but that he can gain access to any of their hideouts. Neither Sokka nor his companions understand the tile’s significance yet, but it’s worth noting that the butler’s instructions were to give it Sokka under the pretext of a souvenir to remember his master.
All The Girls Crush On Him
In Zulu, the name Sokka means “Loverboy.” Whether or not this was intentional remains a mystery, but it’s clear that women like Sokka. That might have something to do with how funny and smart he is, but Katara gets a lot of attention as well, so it’s not just the inside that makes him a hottie. Ty Lee is particularly aggressive with her feelings, openly teasing him about it.
This is interesting considering that, of all the guys that were pursuing Ty Lee, Sokka was the only one she ever flirted with this seriously. In Book Three, Chapter Five, “The Beach,” she’s surrounded by guys trying to get her attention, but she clearly doesn’t care about them half as much as Sokka. He also charms a whole poetry class with his talent for haikus in “Tales of Ba Sing Sae.”
He’s Smart & Funny
Like, extremely smart. This marks an interesting character arc from his initial presentation as a cynical oaf. When measuring intelligence, it’s a question of curiosity, the capacity to learn, and humor. Sokka is usually the one who notices small details and asks a lot of questions. He’s the one who reads the maps and provides team Avatar (and the audience) with the crucial element of comic relief.
You can’t be funny unless you’re smart. There’s definitely some brains and bravery that run in this family, with Hakoda being a brilliant tactician and Kya with the resolute and loyal personality.
Sokka Versus Aang
These two get along so well, mostly because they’re the complete opposite of one another. Sokka was set up to be in this position from the start, juxtaposing his own worldview and personality with that of Aang. Sokka is carnivorous, openly identifying himself as the “sarcasm and meat guy” in the episode “Bitter Work.” On the other hand, Aang is a vegetarian.
Sokka is often rash, coming up with good ideas that might not be practical. Aang is calm and methodical, avoiding confrontation when he can. Sokka scoffs at spiritual energy and superstition, like when he argues with the superstitious villagers in Book 1, Chapter 14, “The Fortuneteller.” Aang has a very strong connection with his spiritual side.
His Storyline Was Left Hanging
Fans of Sokka and The Last Airbender series already know this, and it’s both disappointing and confusing. If you’ve only seen the animated TV series, including The Legend of Korra, all we know about Sokka is that he eventually became the representative of the Southern Water Tribe on the United Republic Council during the time of Avatar Aang.
He helped criminalize blood-bending and was present to keep the Red Lotus from abducting Korra when she was a small child. Our knowledge of Sokka ends there. Considering how near and dear Sokka is to all of our hearts, it’s a let-down that we don’t know much more about his later life.
