Is Jae Gay In 'Avatar: Seven Havens'? His Relationship With Datu, Explained
The Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise is expanding with the latest sequel series, Avatar: Seven Havens (2026). Set 225 years after The Legend of Korra (2012), the series introduces two new Avatars: twins Pavi (Saheli Khan) and Nisha (Aishu Devan). The nine-year-old twins are quite the phenomenon, considering they are the first known twins to seemingly both possess the Avatar spirit.
Naturally, everyone wants to know more about the precocious Avatar twins with the mysterious pasts. However, a few other characters also stand out in the series, including Jae (Major Curda), who is already following in Sokka and Bolin’s footsteps as the franchise’s comic relief and heart. Jae also has his own intriguing subplot as he bonds with the twins and joins the White Lotus. Viewers may also have noticed that he seems to share a special bond with Datu (Topher Ngo), though it’s subtle enough that they may question whether it’s romantic.
Are Jae and Datu Together in 'Avatar: Seven Havens'?
In Avatar: Seven Havens, both Jae and Datu serve in the platoon. From early on, they share a friendly, affectionate dynamic. However, Jae’s discovery of Pavi and induction into the White Lotus keeps him distant from Datu, especially when Datu expresses animosity toward the idea of the Avatar returning. Even so, it’s easy to see from their earliest interactions that they share a special connection. Datu brings food to Jae’s platoon squad as they repair the wall, and the two speak with a softness and tenderness that seem reserved just for each other. At another time, when Datu sees Jae, he runs to him and embraces him warmly.
If viewers still doubted whether the pair were a couple, Avatar: Seven Havens Season 1, Episode 3, “The Order,” will settle it. Toward the end of the episode, Jae runs into Datu while escorting Pavi and Nisha to the Bending Complex. Still wary of Datu’s reaction to the Avatar, Jae lies and says the girls are his relatives. Before hustling the girls off, Jae stops and gives Datu a quick peck on the cheek. The scene confirms that Jae and Datu are, indeed, boyfriends.
Jae and Datu Mark an Important Milestone in 'Avatar's Queer Representation
Jae and Datu are not the first canonically queer couple in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe. However, they stand out as the first openly gay couple depicted on screen. Their kiss in “The Order” is the franchise’s first on-screen gay kiss. Jae and Datu’s open relationship differs significantly from how The Legend of Korra depicted Korra’s (Janet Varney) relationship with Asami (Seychelle Gabriel). In the show, Korra and Asami have strong chemistry but don’t openly engage in a romantic relationship. It was subtle enough that viewers debated whether they were together before the creators confirmed, after the show’s conclusion, that they were a couple.
Fortunately, the franchise continued developing Korra and Asami’s relationship in the graphic novels. Canon graphic novels like The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars and The Legend of Korra: Ruins of the Empire feature Korra and Asami’s first on-page kiss and even explore their struggles as an openly lesbian couple amid the more stringent tribes. They struggle with whether to go public with their relationship, as Korra’s father warns them about some of the Water Tribe’s more traditional values. The graphic novels poignantly explore relatable themes of discrimination and the fear that can come with being out. Still, it is nice to see the representation officially go from the page to the screen in Avatar: Seven Havens.
Jae’s voice actor, Major Curda, has also expressed his excitement at Avatar: Seven Havens’ queer representation. At New York City Comic-Con (via Avatar Legends), he explained, “I mean, there has been some wonderful queer representation… but really it’s so exciting because of how it is — it’s not a huge deal… It’s very, just like, ah, yes, here is Jae, this new character, and here’s also this new character, Datu. And, yeah, they’re boyfriend and boyfriend and, like… that’s it.”
Curda perfectly summarizes Jae and Datu’s relationship in Avatar: Seven Havens. The show depicts their relationship just like any other. There’s no ambiguity or overt subtlety that makes viewers search for and debate every look or interaction for hidden meaning. However, it also doesn’t try to blow the relationship out of proportion or make a grand deal of their first kiss. It’s the kind of representation we don’t see often enough on TV, where the characters just get to be wholly, completely themselves.
