r/ATLA • u/JustAPerson_YesOrNo "Hello, it's Zuko here" • May 25 '25

Question What ATLA take make you like this?

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Posting here bc mods are (not) mean

588 Upvotes

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825

u/dick_hallorans_ghost May 25 '25

There was an article from one of those hack pop culture article mills claiming that the show had aged poorly because Sokka is kinda sexist in one of the early episodes. I just assumed that they stopped watching after the first commercial break.

211

u/MobsterDragon275 May 26 '25

That's definitely the big one. People that focus on him being sexist didn't make it through more than 5 episodes

132

u/sourpatch1708 May 26 '25

Im a massive feminist, and sokka is one of my favorites because he changes so much after experiencing the world.

41

u/blyyyyat May 26 '25

A character going from a sexist narcissistic boss who demands respect and obedience to a humble and intelligent leader that plans ahead and uses his team’s strengths? Well he was sexist in the past before being surrounded by probably the greatest cast of strong women, so just throw him in the trash.

2

u/_twisia_ May 29 '25

Well, he did have the sexism beaten out of him throughout season 1😆 By the team he meets Toph he’s learned not to underestimate women

215

u/Patneu May 25 '25

I just assumed that they stopped watching after the first commercial break.

And then went on to create the Netflix show.

44

u/Suitable_Dimension33 May 26 '25

It’s shi like that why they took that angle away from sokka for the live action smh 🤦🏾‍♂️

35

u/liquor_ibrlyknoher May 26 '25

If you watched the show 'used to be a little sexist' is the least interesting thing about Sokka and it's weird so many people got upset about that.

51

u/Suitable_Dimension33 May 26 '25

It apart of his character development. If you watch the show it’s an important moment and lesson for him to learn. It was literally a part of his storyline of an entire episode like come on 🤦🏾‍♂️ like him losing his sexist nature is how he builds his bond with suki

25

u/sourpatch1708 May 26 '25

Exactly this take! If Sokka isn't initially sexist (because of ignorance not because of incel shit) then he has no reason to bond with Yue or Suki. His whole arc with Yue even is hinging on him changing his mind about his own traditional values and upbringing. Then, if he didnt talk all that smack about "fighting like a girl" he has no reason to have feelings or like Suki either bc thats why they got close and he respected her too.

I literally couldn't stand that they did that in the live action. Its like saying "we didnt want zuko to be a nepotism baby dick so we made him nicer... THATS THE WHOLE POINT! 😆

2

u/Silverveilv2 May 26 '25

Isn't a large part of Yue and Sokka's relationship that Sokka actually cares for Yue as her own person and treats her accordingly, unlike her fiancee (I can't be bothered to remember his name).

Sexism as a whole is an important thing throughout many of the episodes in season 1. (The Kyoshi warriors episodes and the siege of the northern water tribe)

1

u/sourpatch1708 May 26 '25

It is. But I think a huge part of him treating her like a person is letting go and challenging a lot of traditional values too. I think if he hadnt been able to challange those things in season 1, then by the time they make it to the water tribe, it wouldnt have played out the same. (Its obviously something thats pretty subjective. Not everyone has to have the same perception. And 2 things can be true). This is just my own perception of the relationship.

1

u/Silverveilv2 May 26 '25

That's what I was trying to say yeah

6

u/nervouspurvis02 May 27 '25

Ironically, by getting rid of Sokka's sexism, they ended up having a much more sexist depiction of Suki. Because now, instead of being a strong female character that destroys Sokka's misogynistic world view and kicks his ass in the process, now she just exists to be in love with Sokka, and stare at him when he's shirtless (even though they're supposed to be like 15-16, wtf Netflix.) Because they kept the romance between them, but got rid of the inciting force that allowed that romance to blossom naturally over the course of the OG show.

1

u/Mr-BananaHead May 28 '25

16 is exactly the age I would expect someone to go googley-eyes over a shirtless guy

1

u/nervouspurvis02 May 28 '25

I more meant it's fvcking weird for a show to be sexualising a character that's meant to be a minor.

1

u/NNewt84 May 29 '25

Okay... but like, aren't the feminists the ones who complain about female characters being there just to be the love interest? And I thought we wanted more female characters who were just normal human beings instead of being all "strong and kickass"? Isn't that why people gravitate towards characters like Daria and Punky Brewster, for example?

1

u/Taurion_Bruni May 29 '25

Bro got quickly humbled and did a complete 180 on his whole personality

And it's not like he was sexist because he's a dick. He literally didnt know any better. The fire nation took away basically any strong woman in his life

1

u/Hell2CheapTrick May 28 '25

It’s not that removing Sokka’s early sexism is ruining the show single-handedly. There’s just no good reason to remove it. It only affects the early story and adds a nice bit of characterization to Sokka when he learns more about the world and drops it.

The only real reason I can see to drop it is fear that a sexist main character might get people to stop watching before the redemption (in episode 2 of NATLA, not like you have to wait long really).

And if that’s the reason for smoothing this out, then my question is just why bother making the show? If you’re gonna smooth out any bits of complexity that made people love the original because you’re afraid that people now won’t understand it, why even make NATLA? I mean, to make money of course, but that’s not a convincing argument on why people should like it.

1

u/ArchiveDragon May 28 '25

It’s not that seeing him be sexist is important, it’s seeing how he grows past those views that’s important. Him not only realizing that his sexist views are wrong but that he can change and become a better person is SO IMPORTANT.

1

u/KronosRingsSuckAss May 28 '25

"this character has a flawed opinion due to his upbringing in an environment and culture in which women were a protected asset, due to the lack of superpowers in the small, low population of said environment. Which resulted in men being the primary hunters and protective warriors of the tribe. Causing him to have a flawed perspective on women, which he outgrows by traveling and seeing proof to the contrary."

"Nah he just sexist. Cancel Sokka, the whole show too. Writers were bigoted scum who HATE women"

Blog post writers when the character flaw that is outgrown isn't something that can be easily romanticized or excused:

1

u/NNewt84 May 29 '25

Okay, but doesn't that put the episode on the level of those blog post writers, because it's complaining about sexism? Like... I thought people's main issue with the Northern Water Tribe episode was that, instead of just showing a well written female character do what she does (Katara), they preach on about "muh sexism bad"?

1

u/NNewt84 May 29 '25

You just know if that episode were made today, the antiwokes would be the ones complaining about how it paints men in a bad light.

Also, how come people like that episode but not the other one with that sexist prick from the Northern Water Tribe? That's what really confuses the frick out of me.

1

u/Taurion_Bruni May 29 '25

Characters with actual flaws!? My protagonists better all be paragons of heroism

And don't get me started about redemption arcs and character growth, they are so played out