In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, Ian Ousley, the actor starring as Sokka in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender,’ addressed the growing concerns among fans over alterations to his character from the Nickelodeon cartoon. Despite the controversy, Ousley assured fans that the essence of Sokka remains untouched.
During the conversation, Ousley clarified his stance that the core of the animated show’s spirit is well-preserved in the live-action adaptation. He explained:
“The animated show really is the heart and soul of what our live-action show is. We were not trying to take out anything.”
He added that although some aspects of Sokka’s character were modified, notably his approach to gender dynamics, the changes were made with the intention of adapting the character for a modern audience:
“Obviously, we took out that element, but he still has that attitude. It’s not a sexist attitude, but it’s morphed into more of – in Sokka and Katara’s relationship – ‘I’m the leader and you’re the follower’ situation. Stuff like that. He’s still the Sokka we know and love from the cartoon. I don’t even think fans would notice some of those things, honestly, [when] watching our show… He definitely still has his arcs and his lessons in the show.”
So, the actor remained confident that fans would still recognize the Sokka they have grown to admire.
What Was the Cause of the Controversy?
Since the adaptation was first announced, it has been met with both anticipation and skepticism, particularly regarding how it would translate the animated series into a live-action format. The controversy reached its peak following Kiawentiio’s comments in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, where she hinted at toning down some of Sokka’s original characteristics:
“I feel like we also took out the element of how sexist [Sokka] was. I feel like there were a lot of moments in the original show that were iffy.”
As Sokka’s sexist approach is a core element in the show, which evolves throughout the narrative, this received backlash from the fans.
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender‘ live-action adaptation made its debut on Netflix on February 22, 2024. The series, which consists of eight episodes for its first season, has received mixed reactions from critics.
