Episode Summaries

In this section, I will summarize the episodes that are important to the relationship between Sokka and Suki.

Book 1, Episode 4: "The Warriors of Kyoshi"

In this episode, Aang, Katara and Sokka make a stop on Kyoshi island so that Aang can ride on the backs of some giant Coy Fish. Before they have a chance to leave, they are ambushed and apprehended by a group of female warriors that mistook them for Fire Nation spies. The matter is quickly settled when Aang reveals his identity as the Avatar, but Sokka's pride is badly damaged by the fact that “a bunch of girls” were able to defeat him so quickly.

Later he goes to the place where the warriors are training and snidely refers to their fighting style as “dance practice”. The leader of the group, Suki, suggests that he demonstrates his technique for them, since he is such a strong guy, and the result is that he ends up on the floor with his belt tied around him like a cow at a rodeo.

Thoroughly spanked by this incident, Sokka eventually lets go of his masculine pride and asks Suki to train him in the Kyoshi art form. At first Suki is reluctant to help him, but after he acknowledges his mistake and apologizes for insulting them, she consents to train him, but only if he agrees to wear the group's distinct uniform which includes pink war paint and a dress top. At first, his form remains poor, but Suki explains that their technique is about using an opponent's strength against him or her and he is able to knock Suki on the ground. Before they can train for more than a couple days, Prince Zuko attacks the village and Sokka must leave. Before leaving, he again apologizes for his rudeness, explaining that he should have acknowledged her as a warrior and not a girl. Suki replies that while she is a warrior, she is also a girl and gives him a kiss before he goes—his first kiss from a girl.

Book 2, Episode 12: “The Serpent's Pass”

While trying to get into the Earth Kingdom city of BaSingSe, the team meets a group of refugees that have lost their papers and will not be allowed to board the boat to take them to the city. To help them, Aang and the others agree to walk with them through the Serpent's Pass. Before they go, they are accosted by a rude security guard who demands to see their papers and starts mildly mocking Sokka. Sokka does not recognize the girl until she kisses him, after which he realizes that this is Suki without her warrior make up. Her and the other warriors left the island in order to help in the fight against the Fire Nation, so now they aid refugees trying to get into the city. She decides to go with them through the Serpent's Pass to help them get their safely.

In the end of the previous season, Sokka fell in love with a Water Tribe Princess, but she died and became the new Moon Spirit after the original Moon Spirit was murdered. As a result, he starts becoming over protective of Suki, which annoys her greatly since she is a warrior and can take care of herself. She calls him on his strange behavior, like freaking out when he thinks he sees a snake that is not there, and, without going into detail, he explains that he lost some one recently the experience has made him scared for her. She confesses that she has feelings for him and missed him after he left, but he pulls away when she tries to kiss him, possibly because the moon is hanging over them and he feels guilty for having feelings for Suki so soon after the death of his other girl friend.

The next day, the group encounters big trouble when the pass's titular serpent shows up. Toph ends up in the water and before Sokka can do anything to help, Suki dives in the water to save her. The group escapes, but the woman refugee who was pregnant goes into labor so Suki helps Katara deliver the baby. After this, the group continues on to the outer wall of BaSingSa, but Suki must return to her post. She apologizes for trying to kiss Sokka the night before, but this time he kisses her. The two more or less become a couple at this point, even though they have to go their separate ways for the moment.

Book 2, Chapter 16 "Appa’s Lost Days"

During an earlier episode, Appa was stolen from Aang and the others by a group of Sandbenders who sold him to some other people. This episode chronicles the events that happened to Appa once he was stolen, including an encounter with Suki and her band of warriors. The scene is brief, but it highlights Suki’s compassion as well as sets up an event which will be very important in future episodes.

Appa is sold to a circus where he is tormented by fire in order to get him to perform, which results in Appa becoming terrified of fire. He manages to escape, but the horrible way he was treated at the circus, as well as subsequent events, leaves him afraid, hurt, hungry, and generally unfriendly. He finds shelter in a cave one night and falls asleep.

The next day, the Kyoshi warriors are out collecting berries when they find large clumps of Appa’s fur. Suki, who knew from her time with Aang, Sokka, and the others that Appa was missing, recognizes the fur and begins looking for the sky bison. She manages to find him in the cave but she sees that he is badly hurt and in need of aid. She offers him some berries and goes to find the other warriors. They later return and Suki manages to sooth Appa enough so that he allows her and her companions to approach him. They manage to clean him up a bit and remove the chains that had been placed on him at the circus.

The Kyoshi warriors plan to take him and find Aang, but they are surprised when Azula and her two friends show up, thinking that they have found the Avatar. Although Aang is not there, Azula decides to attack Appa anyway, so the Kyoshi warriors try to protect him. Clearly outmatched by Azula and the others, Suki instructs Appa to fly away and find Aang. She personally engages Azula and the scene ends with them fighting as Appa hesitantly flies away.

Book 2, Chapter 18 "The Earth King"

This episode does not feature Suki, but she is mentioned and it is pretty important in terms of the story. Sokka and the others have been trying to see the Earth King in order to give him some very important new regarding the war with the Fire Nation. The Fire Lord plans to harness the power of a comet in order to finish off the remaining nations and take over the world (of course!). The problem is that the Earth Kingdom is actually controlled by a man named Long Feng, who, in order to maintain the status quo, keeps both the Earth King and most of the citizens ignorant of the war outside the walls.

In this episode, due in part to Prince Zuko’s intervention, Aang and the others are reunited with Appa, who was Long Feng’s prisoner. They finally manage to see the Earth King and convince him that Long Feng has been abusing his power, which results in the King placing him in prison. It turns out that he had been intercepting Aang and everyone else’s mail, which included a letter to Toph from her mom, a note for Aang to meet a guru who could help him master the Avatar State, and a letter giving the location of Sokka’s father. In order to address everyone’s needs, the group decides to split up, but before they leave, the Earth King comes to see them and a guard informs the king that a group has from Kyoshi Island has requested to see him. Upon hearing the name, Sokka falls off of Appa in his apparent excitement and explains that the Kyoshi Warriors are talented and trustworthy allies, so the king declares that they will be welcomed as honored guests.

As he and Aang fly away from the city, he observes that a positive attitude has served him well—not only will he get to see his father, but when he gets back, Suki will be waiting for him. The good news turns sour when the scene cuts to the Earth King welcoming the Kyoshi Warriors and it turns out that they are in fact Azula and her friends in disguise.

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