One fascinating theory states that Sokka may have been killed by Zaheer in between the events of The Legend of Korra and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Details about the adult lives of the beloved original Team Avatar from Avatar: The Last Airbender were kept mostly vague in The Legend of Korra with only small hints revealed throughout the series. While some characters like Katara, Toph, and Zuko returned and took part in the events of The Legend of Korra, Sokka was one of the few legacy characters who was revealed to have passed away before the sequel series and the cause of his death was also never revealed.

Due to the lack of information, there are a lot of fan theories about Sokka and the other members of the original Team Avatar during their adult lives. As more issues of the Avatar: The Last Airbender comics come out, more and more facts are confirmed about what happened to these legacy characters, but it will be a long time until audiences know for sure what caused Sokka’s death. However, there is a theory that The Legend of Korra season 3 secretly revealed how Sokka died – and if it’s accurate, it would be a tragic but perfect ending for the iconic character.

Sokka May Have Been Killed By Zaheer While Protecting Korra

Sokka was likely killed by Zaheer before the events of The Legend of Korra. In season 3 of The Legend of Korra, Korra is being chased by a team of unconventional benders from the Red Lotus, led by Zaheer. Tenzin reveals to Korra in the episode “In Harm’s Way” that when she was a child, the Red Lotus tried to kidnap Korra from the Southern Water Tribe. He says that he, Korra’s father Tonraq, Zuko, and Sokka fought the Red Lotus and won. When looking at the abilities of the Red Lotus, it makes sense that Sokka, a non-bender, would fight the only other non-bender, Zaheer, while the benders battled each other.

Zaheer is a formidable fighter and is not above killing his enemies. This battle is also the closest to the beginning of The Legend of Korra when Sokka is mentioned alive. Even the scar on Zaheer’s head when shaved looks like it could have been made by Sokka’s boomerang. Tonraq being confirmed as the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe in The Legend of Korra – a position previously held by Sokka after Avatar: The Last Airbender – is another hint at Sokka’s fate. For Tonraq to be the esteemed Chief he is portrayed as in The Legend of Korra, it makes sense that Sokka died during the Red Lotus attack when Korra was around four or five years old.

Legend Of Korra May Not Have Been Allowed To Confirm How Sokka Died

The biggest argument against this Sokka and Zaheer theory is that The Legend of Korra would have confirmed that Zaheer killed Sokka in the show. Sokka was one of the original characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender and was a fan-favorite, so his fate should have been verbally confirmed. Also, since Tenzin is Sokka’s nephew, it would make sense for him to emphasize how Zaheer killed a member of his family, cementing how dangerous a foe this villain is. While these are valid points, there is one big reason why Sokka’s death at the hands of Zaheer may not have been officially said in the show.

The Avatar: The Last Airbender spinoff aired on a children’s network, and so the death of characters couldn’t be confirmed verbally. When Zaheer murders the Earth Queen, she is never described as being killed, only “taken out,” and when the Red Lotus member P’Li is killed in battle she is described as having sacrificed herself. Even with threats against Korra and the new Airbenders, the word kill is never used. The only time it is used is when Korra thinks Zaheer killed her father, which the audience knows isn’t true. With this in mind, it is extremely likely that the show didn’t confirm Sokka’s death because they simply couldn’t.

Sokka Being Killed By Zaheer Makes His Story Tragic But Better

If this was the true fate of Sokka, it would be a devastating ending. Sokka was always a light-hearted and humorous character, so for him to be murdered in battle would be quite upsetting for both the audience and the characters. Sokka’s murder would be a tragedy for Katara, his younger sister, especially so soon after Aang’s death, which would have been only a few years earlier. Audiences would also have been absolutely gutted at hearing that one of the best characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender was murdered, as opposed to dying peacefully surrounded by his loved ones. However, this would also be a fitting end for his character.

Sokka was a trained warrior who dedicated his life to fighting for those who couldn’t fight for themselves. For him to have died in battle protecting an innocent child would be an in-character way for Sokka to have died. He was also very close friends with Avatar Aang in Avatar: The Last Airbender and would later go on to become his brother-in-law when Aang married Katara. If Sokka’s final battle truly was the battle with the Red Lotus, it proves that his close bond with Aang would have transcended lifetimes, as Korra is Aang’s reincarnation.

While Legend of Korra was unable to confirm whether Sokka was killed by Zaheer or died in some other manner, there is a way to find out. New animated films that take place in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender are set to be released in the next few years. If one of these takes place closer to The Legend of Korra, perhaps the Red Lotus battle will be depicted, and Sokka’s fate will be one of the many questions to get answers in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender films.