Sokka "left Suki behind to rot in prison" the same way Zuko "left Mai behind in prison", but the fandom doesn't ever talk about that… Let's.
In all my years in the atla fandom, this is a double standard that just crossed my mind that I don't believe many people have recognized (myself included until now) because of the overall love of Sukk/a.
So, in many discussions critiquing the maik/o pairing, it's often brought up that Zuko isn't a good partner towards Mai because of how he "left her and didn't even think about her until the finale". I always found this critique sort of… lacking? And, it's not because I'm trying to glaze Zuko here. I think a lot of how he behaves in The Beach is wildly out of line and he's not being a good partner in that episode (nor is Mai).
But my main issue with that critique is that, to me, it seemed very obviously more of a writing flaw than something we are actually, as viewers, supposed to be interpreting about Zuko's character. I know you could rebuke this by saying that you could claim that about any moment in a show, book, or film, but I think that there are stark differences. Sometimes intention doesn't matter, I agree. The message conveyed can be more powerful than intent in storytelling and audiences can shape that, yes.
However, I think that works more when there's something active happening, rather than something being missing that you'd expect, or that seems obvious in hindsight because of later actions. Which, is where I think the "Zuko forgetting Mai in prison" situation comes in. And, I think the same can be said for Sokka, who also leaves Suki to rot in prison and never thinks of her again, but no one ever brings that up to say Sokka is a bad partner to Suki.
I straight up think that in both of these instances, the writers were being complete forgetful dumbasses. I don't think we, the audience, are supposed to interpret either scenario as Zuko or Sokka neglecting their girlfriends, not caring about them, or "leaving them to rot" in jail. I deadass think they forgot. Book 3 has extreme pacing problems. They were trying to cram a lot in there while dragging their feet on main plot points and ignoring things they later decided to explore.
They wanted to have an "endgame" Zuko ship at the end of the series, so they shoved Mai in the finale coronation scene to confirm they were together. There was absolutely no time to depict Zuko going back to the Boiling Rock, risking the mission with Sozin's Comet, and rescuing Mai from prison. Sure, he could have mentioned her, but again, there was SO much going on — from The Southern Raiders, a parody episode, and then it was time for the literal finale, that they just forgot to write that.
The show was not meaning to depict Zuko as callous and uncaring about Mai or her sacrifice or condition. They were writing poorly and sloppily about it. It also does not at all align with Zuko's character, who's constantly busting his ass and doing ridiculous things to risk himself and his own safety for literal strangers, and his own enemies, to not go back for Mai or even think about her being locked up. He saved his crew at his own expense, random civilians, children, Katara, Aang, Iroh, Appa, even Zhao, all at his own detriment, and lamented over their suffering. Of course, he would Mai too, but they just FORGOT to write it.
Similarly, which is NEVER talked about by anyone (because Sukka is almost universally liked) Sokka never brought up Suki once since she was presumed captured in Day of the Black Sun. He doesn't lament where she is, we don't hear from him worrying or trying to get her, and worse yet — he doesn't ask Zuko where Suki might be being held the way he does about his father. He could have easily worried that Suki was in the same place as Hakoda and asked Zuko about that, but he doesn't.
Similarly to Zuko's reaction before his coronation, Sokka has that when Suki just happens to be at The Boiling Rock. It's crazy that they did this, but it goes back to forgetfulness, busy scripts, and bad pacing not leaving time. It would have been so easy to shove Suki's name into things to show Sokka cared about Suki and was worrying about her, but they wanted it to be a surprise that she was at The Boiling Rock. It's a writing thing, not meant to depict that Sokka actually doesn't care or consider Suki.
Of course, it makes no sense to not see Sokka of all people talk about and worry over Suki. He's fiercely protective and loyal to those he loves and would risk anything to protect them, going against his own logic and best judgment as he does constantly for Katara. He would never abandon someone he loves. That's not who Sokka is. We aren't supposed to be gathering that from his lack of discussion or effort to rescue Suki.
Likewise, we aren't supposed to be doing so for Zuko either and I think this is used lazily to knock on Mai/ko because it's not a well liked pairing and the writing flaw is pretty glaring by the end of the series. However, that doesn't mean it's an actual flaw in the character or the relationship itself because there was no intent at all behind it. It's not supposed to be telling us anything about these characters or these relationships because they deadass just forgot.
And, you could argue that plays into misogyny too and not considering the characters important enough, but that is a separate meta!
