1 Great Avatar: The Last Airbender Episode Proves Legend Of Korra Badly Failed Sokka

The Legend of Korra reveals what becomes of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender characters, but Sokka deserves a bigger legacy in the sequel series — and one great ATLA episode proves it. While characters like Katara and Zuko appear in The Legend of Korra, Sokka is dead by the time Nickelodeon’s follow-up opens. Of course, so is Aang, but Aang’s legacy is understandably bigger. Given his impact on the world at large and Korra’s journey, Aang gets plenty of recognition and screen time. Even Toph’s impact is felt through flashbacks and the presence of her daughter.

By contrast, Sokka’s legacy feels much smaller in The Legend of Korra, even if he appears in a few flashbacks. The series reveals that he became a leader of the Southern Water Tribe, and there’s a statue to commemorate him there. However, Sokka seemingly has no children after The Legend of Korra, and it doesn’t appear that his greater impact extends beyond the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender. This is a shame, as there’s an obvious way the sequel series could have honored him — especially after Book 3’s “Day of Black Sun.”

Avatar: The Last Airbender’s “Day Of Black Sun” Showcases Sokka’s Innovation

Sokka Helps Design The Submarines Used To Invade The Fire Nation

Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 3’s “Day of Black Sun” is great for a lot of reasons, and one is that the episode gives Sokka the chance to shine. This installment teases his eventual rise to power in the Southern Water Tribe, but it also showcases his technological innovation. As Team Avatar and their allies are invading the Fire Nation, Sokka mentions that he designed the submarines they use to get past the enemy’s defenses. While the mechanist brings his ideas to life, Sokka plays a major role in creating these vessels.

This isn’t the first time Sokka suggests he’s got a mind for innovation, either, as he helps the mechanist design the war balloon they use to fight off Fire Nation soldiers in Book 1. Sokka’s interactions with the man suggest he’s got more going for him than his ability to use a sword and inspire the Southern Water Tribe. It’s a shame The Legend of Korra doesn’t capitalize on these moments to give Sokka a bigger legacy.

This ATLA Episode Proves Sokka Should Have Had A Bigger Legacy In Legend Of Korra

He Could Have Helped Build The World Seen In The Last Airbender Sequel Series

“The Day of Black Sun” makes sense of Sokka’s role after Avatar: The Last Airbender, but it also proves that The Legend of Korra failed his character. It’s clear the sequel show could have given Sokka a greater legacy on the heels of ATLA, and that wouldn’t have taken away from his work within the Southern Water Tribe. Sokka could have contributed to creating the Nickelodeon show’s world while simultaneously serving as a leader for his people. In fact, with the Water Tribe looking so different in The Legend of Korra, the series could easily have attributed this to Sokka and his designs.

Although it makes sense that Sokka goes home and rebuilds the Southern Water Tribe after The Last Airbender, it’s also reasonable to assume the members of Team Avatar would play a prominent role in restoring the world at large. All the main characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender should be well-known names by the time The Legend of Korra begins, and their legacies should extend across the four nations. Obviously, the characters would be remembered more fondly by their own people. But The Legend of Korra offers the perfect way to make Sokka’s presence felt all the way to Republic City and beyond it — and it doesn’t use it.

How The Legend Of Korra Could Have Honored Sokka’s Character

The Legend of Korra is far more technologically advanced than Avatar: The Last Airbender, and this offered the perfect opportunity to honor Sokka’s character in a bigger way. With Sokka showing his knack for creating things in the original series, it would have made sense for The Legend of Korra to credit him for some of its advancements. The sequel series features all kinds of inventions, from automobiles to radios. If Sokka is able to design war balloons and submarines in The Last Airbender, moving on to such creations feels like an obvious next step for him.

The sequel series could even have nodded to Sokka’s habit of giving everything around him a silly name. The Last Airbender highlights this with monikers like Sparky Sparky Boom Man, and it’s easy to imagine Sokka inventing some of TLOK‘s advancements and giving them names like the Sokkamobile. Such inclusions would have emphasized Sokka’s impact on The Legend of Korra‘s world and served as funny references to the original show. Unfortunately, Sokka’s legacy is downplayed and many questions about his life after ATLA are left unanswered.