Thinking Deeply About The Sokka/suki Of It All In “the Serpent’s Pass,” How Sokka Spends The Whole

what don’t people get about the fact that “sokka raised katara” and “katara raised sokka” are not contradictory statements! they raised each other! sokka relies on katara’s support as equally as katara relies on sokka’s support. they both have a mentality of “ugh I have to do everything around here” born of frustration with the fact that they are kids with too many responsibilities, but in truth, they share responsibility, supporting each other both physically and emotionally. sokka raised katara, and katara raised sokka, because that’s what loving siblings who had to grow up without parents do.

sokka + art

bonus:

I really like Denki but I don’t really enjoy the vision the fandom has of him. I mean yeah, the dumb jokes are kinda funny but when they’re all you see it gets old real quick, he’s not even dumb, he’s just not good at studying as many others in class 1A but they don’t call Mina dumb even tho she failed her exams and needed tutoring just like him. He’s not clueless, everybody jokes about him beig short circuit from his quirk but all I can think about is how scary it must be to loss control of your own body while trying to save people, he pushes his limits all the time to get closer to his goals

So I had this idea of motorcyclists Shinsou bc a motorcycle is just a step up from a bike and he likes cycling! Also bc motorcyclists who save kittens and put them in their leather jackets r just

<33333333333 rlly great

Also shinsou’s hair was not meant for a helmet lol

varrick definitely isn’t sokka’s son because sokka’s genes could never produce such a vile offspring, but varrick definitely did have a poster of sokka in his room growing up, and a picture of sokka he carries around in a locket that he kisses for good luck (even though he knows sokka would look down on him for it because he famously loathes superstition—which is so cool of him actually), and every meeting varrick’s ever had with chief katara about how his innovations could improve the southern water tribe end with at least half an hour of him grilling her with questions about her brother. so it comes as no surprise that when katara receives an invitation to varrick’s wedding in republic city, she politely declines on the basis that she needs to wash her hair that day.

self-care with mina and denki! :’)  this is one of the comics i did for @recoveryzine! leftover sales will be opening on august 14th @ 6pm pdt! 

Very good post 10/10

So my brother and I were just talking on the phone and we realized: Aang might have mastered all four elements but Sokka mastered the non-bending styles from all four nations!

He already knew how to fight with Water Tribe weapons/regalia:

Then, in what’s likely the first Earth Kingdom village he’s ever visited, he learned how to fight with the Warriors of Kyoshi:

When he reached the Northern Air Temple, he was able to tap into the philosophy of the airbenders and realize that the best way to win a battle is to avoid face-to-face confrontation by instead using creative means (and the sky) to take down your opponent:

And finally, when he reached the Fire Nation, Piandao taught him how to forge a unique weapon and hone his swordsmanship:

Sokka learned all four non-bending styles!

Really puts Iroh’s quote into a different context:

“Understanding the other nations will help you become whole.”

weird kid

1. a) sokka crying because he his father is going to war and he cannot join him b) hakoda crying because his son rescued him from being a prisoner of war

2. a) sokka crying because he could not rescue suki from being captured.  b) suki crying because sokka came to rescue her

3. a) yue crying because she cannot protect sokka  b) sokka crying because he could not protect yue

i find it very interesting that unlike the other prominent characters in the series, we rarely see sokka cry. there are plenty of moments in which crying would be appropriate, and in that same circumstance, aang and katara would shed tears without hesitation. even toph and zuko, who feel the need to conform to an invulnerable ideal and “show no weakness” cry more readily than sokka does, who only cries once in a moment that is neither a flashback (to before the men left the tribe) nor played to comedic effect. it is why that moment in “the day of black sun” when azula is baiting him is all the more impactful. 

sokka is someone who refuses to show weakness or rely on others, and it is likely that he has internalized the notion that any display of emotion is a weakness. while he is very expressive, he does not wear his heart on his sleeve like katara does. he cares deeply, and is overtly loyal, but he is also hyper-rational and thinks any display of vulnerability on his part is a fault.  

even though toph is more detached and logical than katara and aang, she is also in tune enough with her emotions that she cries freely when she is upset. and though it is clear that ozai held zuko to a very similar standard of masculinity that sokka holds himself to, in which crying is a weakness, zuko still cries quite a bit throughout the show. 

after hakoda left when sokka was 13, sokka made it his mission to take responsibility for the tribe, for katara, and for anyone he comes to care about over the course of the show. whenever someone he loves gets hurt, he considers it a personal failure, that he could not protect them. it is his greatest weakness, and azula is able to exploit it by reminding him that he was unable to protect suki. in a way that is usually unlike him, he lets his emotions get the better of him despite knowing full-well that it’s a trap. since he became the quote unquote “man of the tribe” when he was 13, he has successfully remained composed – and thus, not “weak” – but it is the reminder that he failed to protect someone that undoes him. 

sokka’s immense guilt over not being able to save suki or his father wracks him, and he willingly – irrationally – puts his life on the line to save them both at the boiling rock. he will do anything he can to save those he loves. though sokka prides himself on his logic, he will always put his loyalty and devotion first, above reason, above rational detachment. 

sokka cried exactly three times in atla, each time because he was unable to protect someone he cared about. and they all cried over him too.