Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Reckoning of Roku by Randy Ribay.
Summary
A newAvatar: The Last Airbenderbook is expanding Roku’s backstory, andThe Reckoning of Rokureveals another layer of Sozin’s season 3 betrayal. The novel adds more depth toone ofAvatar: The Last Airbender’s best episodes, further exploring the dynamic between Avatar Roku and Fire Lord Sozin. As we know from the Nickelodeon series, the two are as close as brothers growing up. However, Sozin changes during their time apart, eventually choosing to begin the Hundred Year War despite Roku’s protests.
The Last Airbenderseason 3 doesn’t have time to delve too deeply into Sozin’s motivesfor beginning the Fire Nation’s conquest. However, “The Avatar and the Fire Lord” paints an image of a leader bent on obtaining more power.The Reckoning of Rokuadds another intriguing layer to Sozin’s betrayal of Roku. It doesn’t justify his actions, but it explains why he grows so distant from his friend — and why he insists on leaving his mark on the world, even if it does more harm than good.
There’s 1 Avatar: The Last Airbender Prequel Story I’m Dying To See Paramount Adapt
There are plenty of Avatar: The Last Airbender spinoffs Paramount can dig into, but I’m dying for Avatar Studios to focus on one prequel story.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Adds Another Layer To Sozin’s Betrayal In The Reckoning Of Roku
The Novel Reveals That Sozin Wants To Be The Avatar
Sozin and Roku are both disappointed upon learning that Roku is the Avatar, butThe Last Airbendermakes it seem like their concerns stem from being separated. Roku must leave the Fire Nation behind while he trains for his new role, so grief is to be expected. However,The Reckoning of Rokuby Randy Ribayreveals another reason Sozin is upset by the news: he wants to be the Avatar. That’s right, the new novel adds another layer of complexity toATLA’s most intriguing friendship, suggesting that Sozin is envious of Roku’s new role.
The new novel adds another layer of complexity toATLA’s most intriguing friendship, suggesting that Sozin is envious of Roku’s new role.
With the Fire Nation expecting the next Avatar to emerge, likely from its own nobility, Sozin believes he could be the one chosen. His disappointment at learningRoku is the Avatarisn’t just about losing his best friend. It’s also wrapped up in the fear that his friend will surpass him, all while he remains criticized and mediocre in the eyes of his father. Sozin strives to be recognized, and that’s why he wishes to be the Avatar.The Reckoning of Rokumakes sense of Sozin’s actions inThe Last Airbenderby adding this element to his backstory.
Sozin’s Additional Motive Makes Sense Of His Behavior In Avatar: The Last Airbender
He Still Wants To Prove Himself & Make An Impact
By giving readersSozin’s backstory from his own perspective,The Reckoning of Rokumakes sense of his behavior inAvatar: The Last Airbender.Knowing how ambitious Sozin is, it’s easy to see how he becomes a Fire Lord willing to burn down the world to impress his people. Sozin wants to make an impact on the world, andhe wants to be recognized and remembered by the Fire Nation. He also wants to impress his father, and that need to prove himself likely continues beyond the former Fire Lord’s death.
If he can’t chase such ambitions as the Avatar, Sozin seems willing enough to do so as the Fire Lord — even if he leaves a path of destruction in his wake.It’s also possible that Sozin wants to make Roku’s job harder, as he’s still bitter about his friend becoming the Avatar over him. Sozin’s actions make it more difficult to maintain the balance ofThe Last Airbender’s world. This may be an intentional side effect of Sozin’s conquest, though his behavior proves he could never handle Roku’s role.
Sozin’s Story In Reckoning Of Roku Proves He Could Never Have Been The Avatar
Sozin Is Too Self-Interested & Couldn’t Cut His Ties To The Fire Nation
Although Sozin desires Roku’s role inThe Reckoning of Roku,his actions in the novel — andAvatar: The Last Airbender— provehe could never be the Avatar. For one, being the Avatar means letting go of one’s personal attachments. Even Roku struggles to separate his identity as a member of the Fire Nation from his identity as the Avatar, a challengeThe Reckoning of Rokuexplores in depth. Knowing how wrapped up Sozin is in his family’s wishes, it’s safe to assume he wouldn’t be able to release his connection to the Fire Nation. This would make him a poor Avatar.
Knowing how wrapped up Sozin is in his family’s wishes, it’s safe to assume he wouldn’t be able to release his connection to the Fire Nation.
There’s also the fact that Sozin is self-interested, and that aspect of his personality leads him to destroy the balance ofThe Last Airbender’s world. Knowing how capable of destruction he is, it’s hard to imagine him as an Avatar seeking peace and balance. Sozin’s values simply don’t align with this critical role, so it’s for the best that Roku becomes Aang’s predecessor ahead ofAvatar: The Last Airbender.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Cast
Avatar: The Last Airbender, released in 2005, follows a young boy in a war-torn world of elemental magic as he reawakens to embark on a challenging mystical quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar and restore peace to the world.
