Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender continues, and this season we’re taking a trip to the Earth Kingdom.

The Earth Kingdom, which is one of the largest and most populous nations in the Avatar universe, is home to many of fan-favorite characters. Aang (Gordon Cormier) and his allies travel to the Earth Kingdom in search of a earthbending master.

If you watched the original series, then you may know that earthbending was one of the hardest elements for Aang to learn, as an Air Nomad. However, Season 2 takes viewers on a journey into Ba Sing Se, where we get to know new members of the Earth Kingdom, including blind earthbending master Toph (Miya Cech), who teaches Aang the ways of earthbending.

But Toph isn’t the only member of Aang’s group who’s from the Earth Kingdom, and Season 2 takes the opportunity to expand on fan-favorite character Suki, and the relationship she has with a certain water tribe member.

Who is Suki on Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Suki is the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors. While she does not possess any bending abilities, she is great at hand-to-hand combat. In Season 1, Episode 2 of the series, Suki initially captures Aang and his friends under the suspicion they were spies for the fire nation, but she eventually convinces her mother, Yukari (Tamlyn Tomita), to let them stay when that was proven untrue. During their stay she bonds with Sokka (Ian Ousley), a fellow non-bender from the Southern Water Tribe. Their relationship in the live-action adaptation is sped up, and that change from the original series has gotten mixed reviews.

In Season 2, Suki takes on a more prominent role as their relationship continues to expand as she joins the group on their journey. She steps out beyond her secluded village, and gets to experience the rest of the Earth Kingdom. She and the other Kyoshi warriors help protect villages from the Fire Nation and refugees across the Earth Kingdom.

Who plays Suki on Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Suki is played by Polish-born Chinese actress Maria Zhang. According a 2022 interview with Mixed Asian Media, Zhang first started acting by doing community theater, after her grandma found a newspaper clipping asking for young actors. The now-26-year-old has a B.A. in acting from The University of Southern California. She has starred in short films, and has been featured in shows like ABC’s The Rookie and Netflix’s A Man on the Inside.

Playing Suki is Zhang’s first major television role, and she’s doing great. We can’t wait to see more of her and her character in the next season.