Amid growing anticipation for the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix, one of the key actors in the cast, Ian Ousley , who plays Sokka, has come out in defense of the changes made to his character. After speculation and controversy among fans over the removal of Sokka's "sexism" from the series, Ousley has assured that the core essence of the beloved animated show remains intact in the new version.
Since talk began about the elimination of "sexism" in Sokka's narrative, many fans expressed their concern, arguing that this aspect was fundamental to the development of the character and his evolution throughout the original animated series. However, in a recent interview with Metro.co.uk , Ian Ousley directly addressed these concerns, stating that fans shouldn't be worried about drastic changes to Sokka's essence.
The 21-year-old actor explained that while some elements of the story have been adjusted to fit the live-action format, the essence of Sokka's character remains faithful to the animated original. Ousley emphasized that Sokka is still the same overprotective older brother and brave leader of the Southern Water Tribe, but with some modifications necessary for the new format.
"I think the essence of the character that Sokka is is 100% the character that is portrayed in the live-action version of the show," Ousley stated. "It's obviously different from an animated show to a live-action show in those aspects, but the heart and soul of the animated show is the breath that we're all participating in."
However, maintaining the essence does not imply that they have been 100% faithful. The actor acknowledged that certain aspects of his developmental arc may have been directed in different directions to adapt to the new medium: “We can't fit every arc of every element of the animated show. But its essence is still there.”