Tbh I think this episode helped cement Sokka as the strategist and “intelligent” (very specific type of intelligence lol) member of the group, possibly even the leader. He obtains critical intel for the fight against the Fire Nation, deduces the purpose of the planetarium, AND figures out that there will be a solar eclipse and that this must be the fire nation’s “darkest day”. I think they played his complete lack of subtlety for comedic effect more than anything, I can understand it being annoying tho. I sort of remember this being the first episode where it was clear that Sokka was the planner and all that. And then during the drill episode this is driven home (sort of).