While fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender love the series for its well-rounded characters and exciting fantasy setting, they also enjoyed seeing the different relationships on the show. Some of these relationships were friendships or familial, but there were also many romantic pairings that the audience enjoyed and rooted for. While some couples were more popular than others, Suki and Sokka might have been one of the top favorites.

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Fans love both of these characters individually, and Sokka in particular is a fan favorite given that he’s one of the main characters on the show. But another reason why so many fans rooted for this couple is that they were relatable and their story felt realistic.

They Didn't Like Each Other Right Away

Suki grabs Sokka for his sexist remarks

Often in television shows, romantic relationships seem to happen out of nowhere. Two characters meet and instantly have chemistry or are assumed to be dating, but Airbender didn’t do this with Sokka and Suki. In fact, the characters didn’t like each other much at first. Sokka was rather sexist, and Suki wasn’t impressed. While they weren’t fans of each other, Sokka realized he was wrong and asked Suki to train him, which won Suki over.

They Challenge Each Other To Grow

Sokka and Suki Training on Kyoshi Island, Avatar

Suki is especially a good match for Sokka because she helps him see where he’s wrong. Sokka hadn’t seen much of the world and was rather narrow-minded when he went to Kyoshi Island, but Suki showed him that many girls could beat him in a fight. She really challenged him to grow as a person, and while Sokka didn’t do that so much for her at first, he was able to be there for her more in the future.

Their Personalities Are Compatible

Sokka and Suki from the last airbender

There are many reasons why a couple might make sense together, but having a level of compatibility is important. Sometimes in television shows and movies, this is thrown out and people with really different personalities are thrown together. But in the case of Sokka and Suki, they have some similarities as well as complementary differences. They are both loyal and fierce, but Sokka is more of a jokester while Suki is a bit more level-headed.

Their Other Relationships Were Important, Too

Sokka Suki And Zuko In Avatar The Last Airbender

One common pitfall in pop culture romance is that relationships are often shown to be the only kind of important relationship. However, The Last Airbender also focuses on other kinds of relationships, such as friendships and familial ones. While Sokka and Suki are important to each other, they both have other relationships they value, too.

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This is especially true for Sokka as he’s one of the main characters, so we see his friendships and family. But Suki also has close relationships with the rest of the Kyoshi warriors.

They Didn't Just Make Suki A Love Interest

While Suki might be Sokka’s love interest and a more secondary character, she’s not just reduced to being his girlfriend. She comes in and out of the story at various times, and she has other things going on besides just waiting for him. Suki lived an interesting, full life before she met Sokka, and she continues to have one when he’s not around. Her motivations and actions don’t solely revolve around Sokka.

Sometimes They Go Their Separate Ways

Suki and Sokka talking about Yue

While fans really love Sokka and Suki together, they have a lot of other things in their lives. Just like with how the series didn’t make Suki into a reductive love interest, they also didn’t center every moment of each character around romance. It’s true in real life that couples often have to split up for various reasons, and even when they are dating, sometimes life circumstances like family duties or jobs can make people spend time apart. This made their relationship feel more realistic.

They Weren't Presented As Each Other's Only Soulmate

Sokka and Yue in Avatar the Last Airbender

While they might be a fan-favorite couple, Sokka and Suki weren’t together the entire time. While the series set up Katara and Aang to be together for most of their lives, they went a different route with Sokka and Suki. When they first meet, they go their separate ways, and Sokka falls for someone else. This is very realistic, especially given their age, and goes against the trope of teenagers finding their one and only soulmate right away.

They Joke Around A Lot

Sokka Kissing Suki on the Beach, Avatar

While some couples on popular series don’t make a lot of sense because they don’t seem to get along, Sokka and Suki have fun together. Sokka is a bit of a dork who loves to joke around and can get riled up while Suki often laughs at his jokes or sometimes teases him right back.

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They genuinely seem to like to spend time together, and while fans don’t get a ton of scenes of them together, they seem just right. The fact that they can joke around and tease feels it's like a real relationship.

They Might Not Have Lasted Forever

Sokka and Suki Talking in Avatar

One of the biggest mysteries still left from The Last Airbender is whether or not Sokka and Suki stay together. While Aang and Katara's story is shown in The Legend of Korra, Sokka only is shown briefly, and Suki isn't mentioned at all. Fans still don't know if they remained together into adulthood or for how long they lasted. And if they didn't have a forever relationship, this would also be realistic as this is how many real romantic relationships go. It doesn't even mean they weren't good together, but not all relationships last.

They Look Out For And Protect Each Other

avatar tla season 3 fights sokka, toph, suki vs air fleet Cropped

Another great thing about the relationship between Sokka and Suki is that they always have one another's backs. They are both equals in many ways in regards, like their ability to fight. Suki is no damsel in distress and is even a mentor to Sokka. They look out for each other in battle, and Sokka is even there to help bust Suki out of prison after she's captured during the failed invasion of the Fire Nation. They are able to trust each other.

Their Romance Is Just One Part Of Their Lives

Suki and Sokka Meet up in the Comics in Cranefish Town, Avatar

Seeing as how the series isn't all about romance and is more of a fantasy epic, none of their romantic relationships are the main focus of the show. In many ways, this is refreshing, especially because the main characters are teens and pre-teens. Suki's main focus in life is leading the Kyoshi warriors and helping to fight against the Fire Nation and defend her people while Sokka's path is helping Aang in his quest to defeat the Firelord. Their relationship is secondary to these more important goals.

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