Toph Beifong: Beauty in Simplicity | Avatar the Last Airbender

Avatar the Last Airbender is one of the greatest cartoons of all time. Following the cast of Aang, Zuko, Sokka, Katara, and Toph, the show presents mature themes and emotionally evoking writing. On top of that, the world of bending gives a rich sense of unique fantasy unable to be found outside of the Avatar universe.
Hoodie has analyzed the arcs of nearly all major characters from Avatar the Last Airbender, including Zuko, Sokka, Katara, and even Azula. But one character has remain untouched. Toph Beifong: The Blind Bandit. Toph is a character with little to no character arc, yet remains as one of the fan favorites of the entire show. Here to explain the beauty in Toph's character is Hoodie.
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[@happymemories_videography]

What I would give to see more of Melon Lord!

[@Human_traain]

Your life...do you offer your life

[@cadewendell2176]

Yes! Anything to see more of Melon Lord!!

[@joh4005]

the most hilarious thing about toph's arc is that she went from being surrounded by people who'd always remind her that she's blind to people who ALWAYS forgot she's blind

[@_aiko020]

HAHA factss

[@devonmarauder1388]

Yes hahaha

[@IjusVindrBjorr]

Lmaooo so true

[@maxhydekyle2425]

That's the dream for most with a disability

[@margarethmichelina5146]

She is so badaas, everyone forgets of her disability

[@Swango42]

Toph doesn't have an arc, she has layers

[@randomsquidproductions4061]

Like an onion

[@AeroLMS]

"Onions have layers!" (Shrek, 2001)

[@randomsquidproductions4061]

@@AeroLMS ...Cakes! Cakes have layers.

[@frenchsoldier8485]

@@randomsquidproductions4061 The cake is a lie

[@hepthegreat4005]

Parfaits are delicious!

[@jackrutledgegoembel5896]

Her character is stubborn and unchanging. Like a rock.

[@f1r3hunt3rz5]

I'm rock hard right now

[@Mara-yf1se]

*The Boulder* approves

[@dineshsivakumar7424]

except very slowly, bit by bit by erosion (water), hence katara… this show is amazing

[@Dean.AlAmriki]

Jack Rutledge Goembel bending is an extension of oneself after all :)

[@user-N20]

Literally what I was thinking during the whole video

[@seekerundue]

Azula: "since you're blind, I must let you know that I'm rolling my eyes at you." Toph: "I'll roll your WHOLE *HEAD!!!"*

[@djaberbendif8214]

🤣🤣

[@piperlee4213]

I can hear this

[@ewwmorons]

I read this with Azula's voice in my head

[@ThatIsDopeBro]

I read this with goku's voice

[@Wanireadss]

😹😹

[@patriceelizablythe1496]

She is beauty, she is grace, she will punch you in the face. -an accurate description of Toph

[@kagxr]

she is beauty, she is grace, she will throw a rock right at your face

[@rubyy.7374]

She is beauty, she is grace, she will put you in your place.

[@depressoespresso3542]

Rip seen this joke multiple times-

[@Moonstriker2514]

@@depressoespresso3542 she is wicked, she is devious, SHE IS MELON LORD!!!!!!!!! I don't care that it doesn't rhyme I wanted to make a Melon Lord post MWAHAHAHAHAHA

[@ssatyrnn8024]

omgg

[@aidenoliver1681]

Toph has such an issue with authority that she became authority😂😂😂😂

[@ThePuppyTurtle]

tankies_irl

[@joegerkrep7727]

@@ThePuppyTurtle was thinking about that lmao

[@tombullard123]

Campy Stuff i think because she felt stifled and controlled instead of genuinely protected she decided she’d lead a force that would be much better than what shes used to

[@Xakslied]

ThePuppyTurtle lmao truuue

[@Vanlifecrisis]

Yeah that didnt make sense, her becoming a cop was way out of character. "Lets break some rules!" chick becomes the rule enforcer?

[@WOLF7356]

"Toph doesn't go from something as extreme as disliking authority to liking authority." Very true, she doesn't end up liking authority... she BECOMES the authority!

[@zyaicob]

"I'm the greatest earthbender in the world, and don't you two dunderheads forget it!"

[@Lycanthromancer1]

@@zyaicob "Respect mah authoritah!" **Whacks with rock**

[@dancinglightsamv466]

PERFECT

[@levesteM]

"I AM THE LAW!" - Toph, probably

[@seanberdo5380]

@lar ljd of course it is, just deal with it. You could try to see the good things about it

[@ChaosTheGizoid]

"These two characters had a rocky relationship" Did you just...

[@HxH2011DRA]

LMFAO!!

[@wb40t3]

yeah, the video is full of puns. he also calls toph "the rock of the group". I like that they're there for you to notice but he doesn't waste a bunch of time pointing them out like someone like matpat would do.

[@HxH2011DRA]

@@wb40t3 damn you right! This is good stuff, more rewatchable that way

[@brokenankh698]

I always have to think of fake-Sokka when I hear that sentence

[@zyaicob]

Ember Island did it first

[@ted0swag]

She did have a character arc though, just not as strong or as blatant as the other characters, which fits into her being an earth bender. I think her arc was more about learning to trust others and becoming more flexible, which led to her going out to sea, getting on airships and learning how to metal bend.

[@PhulaTrox]

that was dealt with pretty quickly tho, in her second episode

[@adriananinoartigas5880]

PhulaTrox no...? See: the episode where they scam people in season 3

[@gracelandtoo6240]

Not having an arc in the traditional way also was kind of the point: her parents didn't allow her to be herself, so she just leaves and is herself, she doesn't have to change to prove anything. She's the blind girl who behaves tomyboyish and everyone wanted her to be different, so to not change who is she (while getting more considerate about the risky stuff she pulled, like the scams) *is* her arc.

[@catstrawford]

It's also especially hard for Toph to learn to be accepting of other people and influences. Earth is stable, unchanging, and set in its ways. Toph has learned a lot, especially in the cooperation department.

[@confderatechocolate4645]

Came here to say this.

[@s6v9n93]

It's because she didn't go on a life changing field trip with Zuko

[@keppycs]

Maybe she will in season 4 (if it hopefully one day will come out)

[@bre4kd0wn1]

Well, she did meet Iroh and drank some tea with him. In essence, Toph was one of the strongest Earth benders in Avatar Universe, and Iroh was one of the strongest Fire benders in Avatar Universe. And instead of fighting fiercely, these powerful benders were talking about life, peacefully. I forgot, but if Toph really did change, I believe it was after her meeting Iroh and drinking tea with him.

[@waterbender19]

i was sad about that

[@waterbender19]

Nizamuddin Arriyadhi yeah:)

[@niki7411]

@@keppycs there won't be season 4, but they're making life action now

[@egnato1165]

"How does Toph manage to grab the eyes of viewers..." No you just *didn't*

[@rizwandiawalludien4048]

Toph would approve that joke.

[@horsenuggets1018]

@@rizwandiawalludien4048 if she sees it

[@ManLikeEddy]

she would grab his neck if he made that joke in front of her

[@oscarchavezavellan2738]

@@ManLikeEddy Nop, actually she really likes making fun of her blindness.

[@NerdyGamerReacts]

Season 3 episode 17 proves that Toph is all about making fun of herself, while being strong and independent in her own way. 🙂

[@MrTrueFury]

So basically, Toph was so damn good to begin with that she didn't actually need to change

[@IzzySarru]

Exactly as it should be.

[@danmiy12]

she basically already went through her arc, you hear of it when she talks about when toph was a useless blind girl who had to be taught by the badger moles when she couldnt even do anything. She already finished that part of her arc and they only briefly go over it. So ya other then her learning metal bending she was already done with most of her char arc by the time aang and the gang recuit her to the party. though it would be interesting to see what she was like before she learned bending though i dont think its needed she already finished that arc long before she became the blind bandit.

[@WritingGeekNL]

MrTrueFury Read the comics, or at least watch summaries of it. Her arc finishes in The Rift volume, The Runaway is more of a mid-point for her arc. Basically, she comes into contact with her father...I won't tell more, because it is amazing and you have to see it for yourselves.

[@thehoodlen]

MrTrueFury “I didn’t learn anything, I was right all along!”

[@kaleidoslug7777]

Its only fitting

[@shippu8590]

The amount of Rock puns in this video made it pretty toph to watch

[@davinwilliams3130]

The boulder takes issue with that comment

[@chill4322]

Philipp I. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@serenityroseart]

You had to didn't you......

[@djpizza2934]

did-you just...

[@rafisanders]

HA goteem

[@namirtmort9277]

The worst part in the whole series? Toph didn’t get to go on a life changing field trip with Zuko.

[@charlottemcfadden4105]

FINALY! Someone who understands!

[@TwentySeventhLetter]

That's the real reason she didn't develop as a character. She talked her heart out about her relationship with her parents but her field trip was cut comedically short and she locked her chakras, preventing her from entering the Avatar state and defeating the Melon Lord

[@lunani4251]

Maybe it happened off-screen

[@cxpectations]

she had one with iroh

[@cabbagemann]

Yeahhh

[@deda9829]

Other important arcs about Toph: 1. One thing to note about Toph is that Katara joined Aang initially to help him with waterbending in addition to mastering it herself. Sokka joined to protect his sister and Aang. But Toph had no major reason to join Team Avatar other than to teach Aang. She was essentially already a master earthbender, one that could go toe-to-toe with Bumi since he himself prophecized and advised Aang towards her. 2. Toph kind of already had her character development...it was just before we met her. She became a rambunctious rebel through her upbringing and it's probably what helped her form her rock-like exterior, avoiding opening up and being emotional. 3. Her stubbornness is a good representation of each character's personality coinciding with their element. This is exemplified in the episode Bitter Work where Aang, Katara, and Toph all have starkly different modes of instruction: Aang is open-minded and thoughtful, Katara is nurturing and flexible, while Toph is blunt and brutish. 4. Lastly, Toph admits that she can take her attitude a bit too far at times. We see how much she rejects her elite upbringing in The Tales of Ba Sing Se where we see Toph and Katara get a makeover together. Although the fact that Toph is blind does take a part in her not caring about her appearance, it's also the fact that she doesn't care what people think of her and values skills over looks.

[@idkhh8656]

toph joined aang cause he invited her to go on a journey with them and she wanted freedom soo

[@bumblingbeezy]

Sean Lobo but she could’ve left on her own. What would stop her from leaving? She could of easily left home when she was alone by herself, we see how easy it was for her since she held an earth bending championship title before she ever knew Aang (by sneaking out). The reason I think she left when she did was because even though her family was no longer ignorant to her abilities, they still refused to let her be her own person. In short Toph could’ve done whatever she had wanted, she wanted the love of her family, but all she received was lockdown protection. That’s why she left, she knew Aang wasn’t going to suffocate her, he wanted her to teach him and gave her the type of attention she longed for.

[@abisheka355]

Actually we can compare with the zodiac signs and the elements relevant to it

[@nikitamalikov6683]

It's confirmed in the Lost Stories (I think that's what it's called?) that Bumi and Toph go relentlessly equally toe-to-toe.

[@ewuj8741]

5. She didn’t have a life changing field trip with Zuko

[@bcn1gh7h4wk]

blind shorty girl, who not only is not vulnerable or dependable, she kicks major ass, she laughs at her own disability and she trolls people by using that disability whenever possible. AND, is literally named Toph ( _Toff_ > Tough) how can anyone NOT like such a character?

[@lowgunfire2671]

Eh, an Optimus Prime / Luke Skywalker archetype is better. And THAT is saying something given how boring those kinds of characters can be when in the hands of mediocre writers.

[@spaghetti5914]

@@lowgunfire2671 DID YOU JUST CALL TOPH MEDIOCRE

[@LuckyOwI777]

@@spaghetti5914 Not even just Toph. He just called all the characters boring. He clearly hasn't watched the show or doesn't understand character writing at all.

[@hibiki9380]

@@LuckyOwI777 He's 10 i think

[@TenzinDorjee]

LuckyOwl777 Challenge him to an agnikai. Roast him

[@jesseclark7105]

She is not Toph. She is Melon Lord.

[@simonnachreiner8380]

Slow.Clap.

[@hoiitemmie7457]

@SleepyWolf Average speed clap

[@alzhanvoid]

@@hoiitemmie7457 0:25× Clap

[@ArtificialTrill]

just clap in general.

[@whymustyoudisagree9158]

Bum cheeks clap

[@sirgaz8699]

Aangs character growth is mostly reactive, something acts on him and it moves him, like the wind. Kkatara has the best arc IMO it's back and forth, something happens and she pushes back or she pulls and the reaction pushes her, like water. Zukos arc is fully self driven. Everything that happens to him and his changes are driven by his choices and drive, like fire. Toph's a rock, she has a flat arc and ends how she begins . . . rock.

[@ca-ke9493]

And Sokka has an arc like a boomerang. He takes the situation and flips it on its head

[@Gabriel64263]

Momos arc is like... oh wait

[@kirbyfazendoummoonwalk9214]

@@Gabriel64263 he arc is Like........Momo

[@Cecil...]

Azula's arc is abrupt and violent as her sanity crashes into the ground. Lightning.

[@kirbyfazendoummoonwalk9214]

@@Cecil... great

[@lauc6673]

When I 1st saw the series, I had recently lost my eye and all the doctors in my country said I would end up blind (I was 6), so watching a blind girl being independent and cool gave me a lot of hope. I watched the series again and came to love her even more now. Had to come to the u.s and while I still see from my other eye, I'm losing my vision and will eventually go blind + other medical conditions that makes me sound fragile. Because of all the things I've gone through, my mother has become so overprotective to the point I cant even go downstairs on my own sometimes, and have been denied of doing many things. Seeing toph again showing me I didnt have to be defenseless small blind girl who cant do anything on her own gave me hope again that I can one day be free and happy. 😊

[@juicebox9465]

I'm sorry to hear that and I am glad you have found hope in toph!

[@hellbound7719]

I so happy that this amazing character has helped you with your struggles. I have hope that you can be just as carefree and independent as our Blind Bandit, if not more. Best of luck to you❤

[@SakanaKuKuRu]

that's rough buddy and I hope you can see this.

[@brianabarlow2886]

That’s awesome! You got this!

[@eateroftoast4665]

@@SakanaKuKuRu fu*$ you got it in before me

[@seraphinasullivan4849]

I also really love that when she presents as herself, the self she wants people to see, she has her hair covering her eyes. It's not just because Toph is scruffy, it's a cue to others that she can't see. It gets that fact directly in others' minds and gets it out of the way. Her parents keep her hair out of her face, just like they would for a seeing child, and though on the surface it's treating her like everyone else, they're actually just pointing out to what few people who see her that she's blind and not like them. It makes for an awkward situation where you're not sure you're allowed to bring up the blindness. Toph is wholly herself, not just herself despite the fact she cannot see. It's kinda like how when Zuko grows his hair out, it doesn't really make his scar less noticeable, but it does make it less jarring. He'll never be able to hide that about 25% of his face is scar tissue, but it looks a lot more like it's naturally a part of him when it's around dark hair and not just pale skin.

[@hermioneweasley2002]

"Katara's mom" LMAO everyone always forgets she was Sokka's mom as well.

[@aximaysosa8885]

@joel prince I also think that maybe his mom's death didn't have as much impact for Sokka as it did for Katara because after she died, Katara took over the motherly role for Sokka. There's even an episode where Sokka is talking to Toph (?) about his mother and how whenever he tries to picture his mom's face, Katara's is what he sees. Sokka had Katara as a pseudo mom but Katara didn't.

[@Cernumospete]

I even bet she had a name. Once. But then the fire nation attacked.

[@gamercore5216]

@@Cernumospete she does it's Kya

[@bibbobella]

@joel prince No I think that showed his maturity and how much better he was at handeling her death. Unlike Katara Sokka never build hate towards a single person/the whole nation like Katara did. (That then changed into singular people) Sokka might have been a goofball and sarcastic all the time but he was also one of the most emotional mature people in the whole show. He did let his emotions show more than a few times but he never let them take control of him (Like Katara did). The only time we ever truely see Sokka let his emotions get the better of him is when he goes to the boiling island to save his dad despite not even being certain he is there and when fighting Azula doing the invasion. And every single time it lead to some bad decisions and him questioning himself. That is the reason he reacted like he did. He knew that Katara was just laching out in anger and the only thing that truely hurt him was not Katara's words but just how much pain she was in at that moment. That is why he sounds so sad when he says "Katara.."

[@sea_yung]

i mean like what would you call her then? "Katara and Sokka's mom"?

[@Brutalyte616]

For me, the appeal of Toph's character has always been how simple and blunt she is, as it's an embodiment of the kind of personality needed for a long-running Earthbender character, and makes her a strong foil to Katara and a great teacher to Aang; her immaturity counters Katara's motherly attitude, while her straight-forwardness and eagerness to fight clashes with the evasiveness and pacifistic tendencies Aang developed as an Air Nomad. It also divorces her from the idea of Bumi, as where Bumi inadvertently firmly establishes the trend of Earthbenders being brutes that rely on the raw power of their bending despite his obvious intellect, Toph offers a more subtle and methodical approach that demonstrates both the strengths and weaknesses of Earthbending, namely by acting as a natural counter to other Earthbenders and demonstrating how much she can accomplish with as little effort as possible.

[@HxH2011DRA]

Damn, good points

[@SirBlackReeds]

Not mention she bent metal.

[@Brutalyte616]

@@SirBlackReeds Honestly, metal bending was one of those things a lot of us expected but weren't sure would happen, like blood bending or using air bending to suffocate somebody; it's a logical application of the ability, but the narrative left us questioning if it would ever be addressed because we didn't know if anyone in the series had the capacity to actually do it. Now bending lightning? THAT threw a lot of us for a loop because, while it makes sense in hindsight as both fire and lightning are forms of plasma, nobody ever really thought about it until Azula came along because there's such a cognitive dissonance between the two.

[@nar3494]

or ur a lolicon

[@Tethloach1]

Earth bending is my favorite followed by fire bending. avatar last air bender was a great show, it was well written and very enjoyable.I watched it when I was a teenager and when I was 18-20

[@dojee8993]

'Indiana Jones is a character with no notable arc.' Aw come on man, he almost had it.

[@basilofgoodwishes4138]

No chance, he was almost irrelevant to all of his stories and they could have very well progressed without him.

[@PandaJerk007]

Kato must not have seen Indiana Jones and the Treasure of the Peacock's Eye (released in 1995) because in that movie alone Indiana Jones has a major realization/character arc!

[@charlottefierro7919]

You could say that he has a lost arc, heeeeeehh ?

[@zackgravity7284]

I'm disappointed no one in the comments got the joke

[@tristanneal9552]

Well at least he made sure the other characters didn’t get it either!

[@dustingleason5925]

I never thought about the fact she is the only character with a last name

[@air-headedaviator1805]

Sokka and Katara have last names. Its “of the Water Tribe”.

[@LunAR-ic7uj]

Wait...no...now I can’t stop thinking of this

[@duxtorm]

@@air-headedaviator1805 I know this is a joke, but I literally can't defy this.. everything works! Dr. Of the Water Tribe Gran Gran Of the Water Tribe

[@josiahklein70]

Not even Zuko or Ozai or Azula or any other royalty we meet...how did I miss this?

[@spetsnatzlegion3366]

I realised that the fire dynasty doesn’t have a last name but didn’t realise Toph was the only character in the series with a last name.

[@phrax6767]

*Toph Beifong: Beauty* FBI: woah you know that’s illega- *Toph Beifong: Beauty In Simplicity* FBI: ok carry on

[@MarloSoBalJr]

KZbin: DEMONITIZED!!

[@darthrevan454]

Calling a little girl beautiful isn't something pedo like. Now if you say "hot" or "sexy" thennnnn we got a problem.

[@lichking654]

FBI:hold up how old is she Random guy:legal enough FBI: alright but I got my I on you

[@brendanswords4659]

@@darthrevan454 she hella sexy

[@mingliyi9511]

Phrax she’s cute asf

[@jonahrizada5424]

"I AM MELON LORD MWUUHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA"

[@Fofo-sr2xu]

@fuckoff FUCKING FURRIES!

[@michaelverdugo3968]

@@Fofo-sr2xu that's what you care about? Not the fucking of toph???

[@clem2526]

She had a kid?

[@Fofo-sr2xu]

@@michaelverdugo3968 t'is a joke.

[@jonahrizada5424]

@@clem2526 Yes

[@Teel217]

Best girl since 2006. Fight me.

[@lugbzurg8987]

I will fight alongside you. Toph is truly Best Girl.

[@nicorobin8761]

She was always my favorite character. Strong willed, great leadership skills, and a certain tenderness in heart if you get to know her.

[@lugbzurg8987]

But she still shows affection by punching you.

[@QuesaritoBoy]

But... Komugi...

[@TimoKanal]

Not going to.

[@brunohirschmann]

Toph may not have had a complex narrative, but she sure did have a character ark. She changed just as much as the characters around her (except for zuko and the bald kid). Yeah she finished the show as a rebel similar to the start of the series, but she learned a big deal of human connection and empathy, becoming much more connected to her friends than in the start of season 2, when she only cared aboit herself

[@RyanStorey1231]

Did you just refer to Aang, the main character, as "the bald kid"?

[@emorymarigold7912]

but she didn't learn that through one huge situation where she comes to realize her flaws, but rather we see her change subtly over time-- so slowly that one may not even really think that these are "changes" she's undergoing, but rather who she was all this time, but never had the chance to come out. And she never only ever cared about herself; she cared for her parents too, but what they were doing to her (because they were too stubborn to see her for who she really was) was hurting her, and she needed to leave. And although she wasn't close with any of her teammates to begin with (I would imagine she originally viewed it as a mutually beneficial relationship to begin with, perhaps with little emotional ties), she grew closer and began to care more deeply for them as the story progressed.

[@pyromasterau]

@@emorymarigold7912 we call that character growth

[@jaylenharris2866]

@@emorymarigold7912 The Earth also changes so slowly that we sometimes believed that some mountains or islands have simply been there all this time.

[@archerelms]

“the bald kid”

[@Menhtrol]

There is one major reason why Toph never changed... She never had her life changing journey with Zuko Edit: Just fixed a misspelling as was pointed out by AceTrainer :D

[@Celrrose]

I know right! I was so waiting for tophs chance with zuko but he had to be stubborn about it.

[@dedsoft2368]

Well toph loved zuko

[@juniorjunior5884]

Zuko is a buff, if Toph went on a journey with him she'd become too powerful.

[@Kaiju_la]

Is no one gonna talk about that the amount of likes 666

[@Jesus-wp7dg]

@Toph Beifong Nobody is because the amount of likes changes all the time.

[@mingmingsaiki3086]

I named my amazing female blind kitten after her. Toph. Just like the character, she is incredibly funny, happy, playful, brave and full of magic. She is my Guru in disguise.

[@btslolita3859]

I'm naming my future kitten in honour of Toph, thank you!!

[@elocinaqui24]

My bf cat has one eye, hiss name is Zuko

[@PACKERMAN2077]

@@elocinaqui24 I saw that you did there... Toph didn't but I did 😎

[@toastedmarshmallowanimatio7725]

Yessss cats are good

[@12s0ph]

PAKTRA PRODUCTIONS Lmaooo woww

[@sleepyburr]

Something that I've recently come to realise about Toph (after rewatching this masterpiece for the third time) is how powerful her more emotional moments are, and also *why* they come across that way. Her whole "thing" is that she's the tough one. She grew up in a home that both cut her off from the world and offered very little in the way of confidence or faith. To her parents, she was always the poor little blind girl who could never amount to anything (also a powerful commentary on how people perceive disability, but that's another discussion). Not only was she lonely and left out, but she was the sole source of her own confidence. She *had* to be tough to get by in life, to preserve her own confidence and to stand up to anyone talking shit, and that's generally how she presents herself. Rough, tough, sarcastic, speaks her mind, takes no bullshit, gives no fucks. But of course, all that toughness is built on loneliness, insecurity, and a fear of failing herself (if no-one else) and no-one can hold all that back forever. For the most part, she's learnt to do a good job with it; to keep it all hidden under that shell. But once in a while, something happens that manages to crack even that thick defensive wall she's put up around herself. It makes those rare little moments when she actually lets her guard down, cries, shows fear, hints at her inner feelings, or otherwise dares to show her softer side so much more impactful. When even *she* can't hold back anymore, you *know* it's big.

[@micahlee2191]

Well Said!

[@lukeskywalkerthe2nd773]

The fact that even the most simple things in the show are so impactful and great really goes to show how great ATLA is. And one of the most prime examples is Toph imo. This video explained why perfectly!!! :)

[@justincarawan-carawanco.pu1639]

The show was too good for Nickelodeon, and M. Night Shyamalan should be executed for that excuse of a joke he calls an adaptation! (The twist: It was all one very expensive April Fools prank. One that no fan of the show is laughing at!)

[@SirBlackReeds]

@@justincarawan-carawanco.pu1639 Don't be an asshole. M. Night Shyamalan tried his damnedest to make The Last Airbender a good movie. Nick's bureaucracy and nepotism ended up fundamentally altering the movie, but even then he tried to make the best movie he could. Sadly, in the end, the two forces just ended up breaking him to the point where he must have decided to just collect his paycheck and call it a day. In conclusion, Nick ruined The Last Airbender, not MNS. Seriously, there was a bunch of location scouting done. The movie was originally going to be shot mostly in Greenland, but then Nick allocated the budget in such a way that it couldn't happen.

[@justincarawan-carawanco.pu1639]

@@SirBlackReeds Due to the seasons of Power Rangers that Nickelodeon hosted, I can almost believe that. Except... "Avatar: The Last Airbender", the ground breaking cartoon (No pun intended), was a thing. And that was Nickelodeon's.

[@_bearlyaverage]

"Incredible FEETS of power" I see what you did there..

[@supersaiyancommenter]

No, I don’t think... I don’t think so.

[@phamdunk3345]

“how does Toph grabs the eyes of the viewers?” *I guide others to a treasure i cannot posess*

[@fralion0714]

F.B.I you should capture Aang because he desired a random little girl!

[@LifeIsAHighwayIAmACarCrash]

Is.... Is this a blind joke?

[@TheSylvirr]

Also important is that Toph, unlike everybody else, already knows who she is. She's grounded, steady, unwavering, unyielding. She's already come to terms with her flaws, and with the things that make her different. But she embraces them as a part of herself, fully admitting to them. While she hasn't figured out yet that accepting her flaws is only PART of growing up, she's already gotten farther than Katara in that sense.

[@smallfrost5502]

If you think about it each character arch matches their element. Water, air, and fire all change. They are known for change. The change in tide, the change in wind, the ,change in intensity and how their surroundings change because if it. What happens after a fire ravages a forest? New life. Just as zuko found a new life and purpose after the Lake Lougai incident. Water Is ever changing and healing. Just like how Katara changed and grew as she healed from the death if her mother. The change in Wind, like how Aang was scared, and ran from his responsibility he turns it around and acceots what needs to be done but he finds a way to still do it hiw he wants it done, contrary to how everyone tells him it should be done. But Toph. Toph is the element of Earth. A hard and sturdy rock. Ever the same, a strong hold of trust and reliability . Something for everyone else to ground themselves to. She doesnt need ,hange because its not what Earth stands for. Shes the stone to lean on.

[@ez_company9325]

i feel like their maybe a better way to word this, especially the wind part. With that said the general theory is solid, and has the sense of the possible ideology the writers used for creating these characters. I havent looked but the joke will be on me if this turns out to be on every wiki page about the creation of the series i guess..

[@IceQueen975]

I'd say more, Toph did change but in terms of *refinement* . She learned better whom to trust as well as challenged her own skills and invented metalbending. I'd say more like how you can slowly chip into a cave and find the gems or carve marble into monuments and art, Toph's arc was to refine and mold herself into who she wanted to be now that she had the freedom to do so.

[@mustardyboi4187]

The Earth is always changing, especially due to the other three elements. Earth is meant to be refined through hard pressure, something that Toph experienced at a very young age.

[@sofialaya596]

yea! you can see this so clearly when aang had to learn earthbending with her, it was a way of thinking so different from all the other elements

[@Letgoit2]

i really like ur explanation! GJ son

[@_spooky_mars_]

"the rock of the group" please never stop making these puns also this entire comment section is either deep analysis' of the show or just more jokes

[@tessareea]

Video Idea: A:tLO characters as personifications of their elements. Toph doesn't change much as a character because she's the personification of Earth. Zuko and Katara change a lot because their elements are mercurial. Aang keeps his same characteristics and values, but grows as a person because air fits any space you put it in, but it doesn't stop being air.

[@justnick8193]

I was so confused looking at the comments when minute 1:28 started playing. I was like "did I click to go to an age of ultron video?"

[@ashtonb7931]

Avatar is THE greatest cartoon of all time. *PERIODT.*

[@remiremsar5946]

And a mediocre anime at best, lol, that's sad.

[@Moonstriker2514]

@@remiremsar5946 bzzzzz not anime cartoon and get back under the bridge troll.

[@andrewpenn1145]

@@remiremsar5946 I and other people consider Avatar an anime, but in either classification it's *DAMN* good. Please put away your purist ideology. Anime can be bad too.

[@andrewpenn1145]

@wanka wanka I know, but I consider it to be one, because of the art style.

[@Valiguss]

Remi Remsar most anime I have seen is just ridiculous and not entertaining except full metal alchemist I really like that one, but it’s not on the same level of perfection as avatar

[@HxH2011DRA]

Toph is so incredibly cool!~

[@citycrusher9308]

Too bad they ruin her in Legend of Korrah

[@HxH2011DRA]

@@citycrusher9308 it's true

[@hhhhhmmmmmm]

@ Trevor Cormier No they changed her character. If you live for roughly 60-70 more years...do you think you'll still be the same as you were as a kid? Yeah I don't think so. She lived a long life. She's done a lot for the world and she just wants to be left alone. Although you could also be referring to how she wasn't the mother of the year. She explain that to them. She gave them all the freedom in the world because her parents gave her none. Old Toph makes sense.

[@citycrusher9308]

@Joshua Jones. No, they didn't change her character at all. Which made her come off as a nasty, spoiled child. What was endearing at 10 is embarrassing at 70. That conversation that Toph had with her daughter over her daughter not knowing who her father was, - that is a conversation for people 20 to 30 years younger.

[@HxH2011DRA]

@@typhoonzebra Just earth and firebenders

[@Asdayasman]

"The swamp shows them what they want most... Aang sees a little girl." AANG NO

[@Vlek]

to be fair it would be way weirder if it was an older woman, wouldnt it?

[@user-oe2ip3xm4u]

@@Vlek i think what aang wanted the most was a master earth bender to teach him, but the master happened to be a little girl which he had no control over.

[@nobody2021]

But aang is a little boy. What's the problem

[@alexp.7068]

@@nobody2021 technically 112 years old

[@romeodesabella5876]

Lmao

[@factsabouturmum9250]

Toph is earth. unmoving, stoic, solid. Kitara is water. Flowing, soothing, yet forceful Aang is air, swift and creative. Zuko is Fire. Energetic and unpreductable.

[@kirbyfazendoummoonwalk9214]

Sokka is boomerang.

[@SteveSmith-ty8ko]

Just A Potato *grunt and fall over as boomerang hits back of head*

[@Cecil...]

Cabbage is cabbage

[@zacharywilliams2]

Hotel? Trivago.

[@liv-uu1fi]

Sokka? Trivago.

[@tommygeno92]

“Meh, you’ve seen nothing once, you’ve seen it a thousand times.“

[@barbarasupremacy4488]

*Everyone puts stuff in front of Toph and asks her what it is* Toph: why do you guys always do this

[@okuyasuniijimura]

The fact that I still get goosebumps when just hearing the avatar theme, should make it obvious how big of an impact the show had on me

[@AnimeMidnightMe]

I think toph Does change though not necessary through a deep arc. She starts off very independent, uncooperative with others and feeling the need to prove herself by only taking care of herself. She grows to learn its okay to rely on others and often ends up being the one dolling out advice to the group being a "rock" if you might say that was at first adversarial and is then a source of stability.

[@lowgunfire2671]

She also learned to serve others and not just herself.

[@lowgunfire2671]

@Peach Cob Overrated, annoying, bratty, immature, childish, insulting, selfish and unhelpful character. That perfectly describes Toph when she first showed up.

[@lowgunfire2671]

@Peach Cob And you don't understand good character writing.

[@lowgunfire2671]

@Peach Cob I see you've degraded to petty insults like Toph, so now I know why she's your favorite.

[@shadenox8164]

@Peach Cob Toph was not at an adult level of maturity or emotional development. She was more advanced than most at her age but she certainly had a lot of childish traits which got smoothed out as time went on. Frankly if you think Toph at that stage was adult levels of maturity it sounds like you still have some growing to do.

[@Fehorder]

And yet, she became the authority of republic city

[@sporeham1674]

Who else could do that?! She’s so no shit, and straightforward. Only she could enforce laws!

[@WritingGeekNL]

Jay, King of the Dorks While having no authority over her childeren. And acknowleding that she was a bad parent for doing that. Besides, the arc with her parents gets resolved in the comic book The Rift. ATLA just didn't have the timespan to complete her arc, which is absolutely fine.

[@ArnoModelstate]

And she became a badass metal bender :) That's the earth veriant to blood bending for water or lightning for fire.

[@chronovac]

but isn't that the ultimate fuck you to authority?

[@Jeods]

We don't talk about that mistake of a story

[@dojee8993]

Did you seriously edit swooping sounds in that sound like earthbending? Man, talk about commitment.

[@dominoh1732]

“She didnt go from disliking authority to liking authority” i liked this video but this line caught me off guard as she,,,,, became a cop

[@swimmyswim417]

She liked to *be* the authority.

[@brogrammerplus7683]

madgirlmuahaha AH! That makes more sense.

[@ellisa8487]

No her daughter, Lin, did

[@dominoh1732]

@@ellisa8487 Lin did become a cop, partially because she wanted approval from her mother, who basically started the police force in republic city.

[@ellisa8487]

@@dominoh1732 oh oops sorry

[@rosadanae6569]

katara saw her mom, she acted like toph's mom. sokka saw his moon girlfriend that die, toph had a crush on him. aang saw toph, and ran into katara his teacher that taught him.... so like all of them saw their dynamics/relationships with toph before even meeting her. and was basically foreshadow for the watchers..... man that is something i wasn't expecting. haha. ........... i'm not sure if anyone else noticed that.

[@trickshot_katebishop7612]

My mind has been blown 🤯👏

[@ZBoy-rc8zf]

I think toph had one of the best intro episodes out there

[@banana_]

She made a badass intro of herself

[@trequor]

The Boulder is the best side character

[@sophiam4980]

trequor idk, I think the cabbage guy tops him

[@XiahouDun1225]

>Toph >Beauty *DAI LEE OPEN UP!*

[@AdamSmith-jb2lf]

XiahouDun1225 THERE ARE NO LOLIS IN BA SING SE

[@clover3821]

@@AdamSmith-jb2lf xD AHAHHAHAH

[@SaidBKD95]

@@AdamSmith-jb2lf IT'S THE FIRE NATION OPEN UP! !

[@theblackbasketball]

XiahouDun1225 *Dai Li

[@niccolosantana7957]

@@theblackbasketball don't be a jackass

[@tamerafarly7666]

I liked Toph's character. I actually thought that she was going to be Aang's new love interest because Katara and Sokka saw people they loved. Toph didn't coddle Aang as Katara did, taught him to face his problems head on, had a similar carefree attitude as him, and they were the same age. But I'm pretty satisfied with how things turned out. (Kataang was my 3rd favorite ship on the show) I would have liked to there to be a Sequel series that would take place after a few year time skip (Like Naruto Shippuden instead of LoK) that would focus on the Gaang adjusting to life after the war. (I haven't read the comics) That's where I figured Toph would get her chance to have her character arc.

[@TimoKanal]

You should really read the comics. You're already gonna love the first comic (The Promise part 1-3).

[@xander1052]

@@TimoKanal where abouts can I find the comics these days?

[@RyanStorey1231]

I love Aang and Katara as a couple and I rooted for them from the very beginning, but there is a part of me that thinks that Aang and Toph would have been a cute couple.

[@borjankosarac3645]

A lot of the reasoning for this, is that Toph was originally conceived as a male character; always intended to be blind to my knowledge, but originally HE would have been a teen around Sokka's age (if not a little older) and later, was made a bit younger. Heck, Toph would have been both the "jock" to Sokka's "nerd" and also have been Katara's romantic interest for a bit, which would have apparently seen Aang and Sokka (both disliking him) to try and get rid of him... Frankly, I'm glad that Aaron Ehasz convinced them to reimagine the character as a young girl, since it not only tickles that part of my funny bone that enjoys a small female beating up older, larger males, in the context of the show itself it makes Toph Beifong far more unique than she would have otherwise been; a jock vs. nerd dynamic with Sokka AND being a romantic rival for Aang, while not undoable isn't particularly creative, neither today OR back when they made the show. Also, even though they used aspects of Toph's original design for multiple characters (the Boulder, Roku's earthbending teacher Sud, and even Bolin), Bryan Konietzko has admitted that despite being opposed to the change to start with Toph in her final form became one of his favourite characters. Further on the romantic element, insofar as Bryke were concerned they personally WANTED Kataang to be canon and thus, it was; I'm unsure if Ehasz, or anyone else thought they should rejigger towards Toph after the change was made (and whether or not that influenced her introductory episodes or even her being Aang's age), although I've heard from someone who KNEW Ehasz that he had some... different ideas on where to take the series. Firstly, he influenced a lot of defining elements such as Iroh being a benevolent father-figure to Zuko (when he was originally going to be evil and on Ozai's side), the aforementioned Toph change, and others I can't think of right now. Secondly, he actually considered Kataang to be a fundamentally-flawed dynamic in terms of romanticism, and believed that Aang was substituting Katara to fill the void left by the extinction of the Air Nomads; if Aaron had his way, Book 3 (and a potential Book 4) would have deconstructed the romance in two ways: * Aang having to "let go" of his attachment to Katara would have been about symbolically letting go of her as a romantic prospect, as the Guru Pathik (was that the right spelling) had implied. Presumably, he would have been able to see it a bit more objectively as a result rather than purely based on gut emotional response. * If Book 4 had been made, there would have been differences in how Book 3 ended; Aang would have decided to search for other surviving Air Nomads in the less-known parts of the world, and would have found them in an isolated part of the Earth continent (presumably the south-eastern mountains). He would need to re-evaluate his feelings for Katara as a result, since she was no longer "needed" to fill that void. It's worth noting, of course, that Aaron Ehasz did think Zutara should have been canon, based on these claims, so if true it shows there wasn't complete agreement within the ATLA creative team; Bryke had a particular vision, and while they were willing to give ground where Ehasz's ideas complemented their world they didn't want to bend over for him (the sequences with Pathik can work either way, really). On the "Book 4" that was never created, I think part of the problem was Nickelodeon themselves - they never did hold ATLA in the same esteem as say, their golden goose "SpongeBob SquarePants", and were partly responsible for Book 3 being split in half; I think they also preferred dedicating some of the potential funds on making "The Last Airbender" when M. Night Shyamalan pitched the live-action adaptation to them, which also contributed to the show's ending when it did and as it did. I'm not saying I think Ehasz is the TRUE magic behind ATLA and that being why TLOK "failed" - it was still Bryke's brainchild - but I do think as a team they all balanced each other out (I've yet to see "The Dragon Prince" of course, so I can't judge Ehasz as a showrunner personally). It's kind of a shame, though; would have been interesting to see the premise where Energybending, while coming from a good place in Aang's heart, would have caused Ozai to perish in prison from an internal spiritual imbalance (showing that it's not strictly a safe technique, at least not for one inexperienced in it, and leaving Aang with some guilt in how he handled the Fire Lord). Or actually getting Zuko finding Ursa in the show itself, which might have played out as a different narrative (as the justifications in the comics partly came about as a matter of the structure); heck, an entire book/season actually showing the post-war, while more low-key after the end of the war, would still have been an intriguing prospect if nothing else. Maybe there's another universe where that did happen, and the future of the setting was different, but for better or worse that's not this universe...

[@TimoKanal]

​@@xander1052 You can buy every single comic on Amazon and other online stores, and probably also in comic book stores. There is also a library edition of all 5 3-parters (One big book for The Promise part 1-3, one for The Search part 1-3, etc.) which you can also buy on Amazon and probably in the library too (since it's called library edition).

[@Dani-ej1zl]

I think it's especially refreshing because here "arc" as minor as it may seem in comparison, is a relatable one that many people go through. The arc speaks especially to those in the disabled, neurodivergent(autism/ADHD), and LGBT communities. I love Toph. After finding that I had ADHD, she's the kind of character that tells me it's okay to be who I am, I am more than my disorder's negative traits, and it's okay to need a parent or just someone to help- That is a strength too.

[@kagxr]

ikr! i'm deaf and toph's disability was the reason why i took a closer look at her character well, i love her a lot since then, even though i watched avatar for the first time six years ago

[@deansbian5607]

how does toph speak to LGBT audiences? her story is one of disability. i am gay but i’m also disabled. Toph has always been my favorite and I really related to her, bc i am visually impaired among other things. Her arc never spoke to me from a lgbt lens

[@J221.]

​@@deansbian5607I think the LGBT lens is kind of a stretch but It can also be boiled down the overall idea that "its OK to be you, even if u r different, sexuality doesn't define who u r" in a sense

[@can_hh1376]

7:37 ROCKY RELATIONSHIP -sokka

[@Moonstriker2514]

*Cough Cough*

[@ZeldaWolf2000]

I never thought of Toph this way. Thanks! She's my favorite character. The only thing I think you got a bit wrong, sort of, was the fact that she didn't have a problem with being taken care of. She didn't buy the point of The Runway, but at first she did. Her conversation with Iroh helps her understand that being taken care of didn't mean the person thought you were helpless, but that they just want to take care of you because they ove you, or at least that's what it should be. However, before that conversation, she thought that being taken care of meant that the person didn't think you were capable. That conversation actually help me when I was a kid. I am blind too,, and this show helped me. Thanks Avatar!

[@Crimson_Cheetah]

ZeldaWolf2000 I’m blind too. Toph is one of my favourite characters ever, not only because of her seemingly inherent awesomeness, but also because she’s one of the few blind characters I know of. And even if I knew of more, Toph would probably still be one of the best. She makes me want to see more disabled characters in fantasy.

[@ZeldaWolf2000]

Crimson Cheetah I love the following things about Toph 1. Although you COULD see her like this, she is not a supercrip to me. 2. Her blindness, although a larger part of her, isn't her only or central trait. Just like us. We're (although I don't say it this way and parenthesis people who are blind, not blind people. 3. All the fucking blind jokes! I love this! I always have people worried that they're going to offend me, so I love the fact that it breaks the ice for a lot of people. I'm Louise the person to make the first blind jokes in all of my classes, because it tells people I am OK with blind jokes. I do it all the time. 4. Her attitude. She reminds people that we don't want to be fucking coddled! Her parents piss me off so much. I also love how fiercely independent she is, although, as mentioned in my last comment, she did teach me about excepting help when it's not being belittling, or when I actually need it. Sighted people need help too, and I need to remind myself of that sometimes. However, she also reminds us that, when we don't need help, and people are pissing us off, to stand up for ourselves. Just like sighted people, sometimes we need help, and sometimes we don't, and cited people have to fucking deal with that.

[@Crimson_Cheetah]

ZeldaWolf2000 I completely agree.

[@Crimson_Cheetah]

Sternia Hoenheim If you are referring to watching videos, I don’t. I listen to them. But for me, listening and watching our the same thing. If you are referring to how I read and type comments, it is a feature called Voiceover. Basically, I touch the screen, and my phone will read what is under my finger. Then I double tap the screen to activate an app, type a letter, or open a video or link. Also, as an alternative to typing manually, which usually takes me longer than a sighted person, I can dictate what I want to type to my phone. It’s basically speech to text. I hope this was helpful.

[@boniesejoyla1343]

@Crimson Cheetah kzbin.info/www/bejne/qH2biX2KfLGYhaM

[@k6g.ok.gorman339]

I feel like toph was an empty avatar shell... That when aang disappeared, a created a rift where several other Avatars were born but without the ancients inside them.

[@bigsmoke6805]

That's one hell of a theory actually.

[@Valiguss]

Interesting, maybe the universe of avatar births multiple potential prodigies every generation and raava actively picks which one in that generation is particularly best suited to be the avatar.

[@Valiguss]

Becaus there seems to be exactly one prodigy master from each element each generation

[@whimsyxox]

oh my god yes

[@Banana_Bruh910]

That doesn’t make any sense if you take into account the avatar cycle

[@simunijima3327]

*YES* avatar is the best animated series of all time! *PERIOD*

[@harmonicarchipelgo9351]

Bold claim. FMA Brotherhood; Clannad:After story; Fate Zero; Attack on Titan; One Punch Man; Your Lie in April; Kingdom; Hunter X Hunter, RWBY etc. are all strong contenders as well. I wonder how many of these you have seen. That being said, ATLA is an incredible show and definitely ranks in the top tier.

[@ISetYourFaceOnFire]

@@harmonicarchipelgo9351 I tried watching a lot of those and I got bored honestly. Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood is the only one I got through and it was very good. But the rest didn't grip me like Avatar did and Brotherhood did. I also didn't watch Avatar as a kid and only watched it for the first time not even a month ago, and have re-watched it twice since. But I'm going to make an even bolder claim. Avatar IS, the best animated series of all time in my OPINION :)

[@justadogo4609]

thats not a fact thats an opinion

[@borjankosarac3645]

@@justadogo4609here's also: "Cowboy Bebop", "Trigun", the original "Gunham", "The Vision of Escaflowne", "Berserk", "Claymore" (even though it ends in an earlier, different way to the manga...), "Death Note", "Monster", "Neon Genesis Evangelion", "A Place Further Than The Universe"... the list goes on. Some of those are down to personal appeal, mind you, as I can recognise "Death Note" as a masterwork yet not enjoy it as much PERSONALLY, and my love for "Escaflowne" isn't necessarily an objective measure of its quality. Seriously, though... "Trigun" is bloody incredible. Not the MOST underrated anime ever, but I can't help feeling it never quite earns the love it deserves; with one of the most endearing protagonists of any medium in Vash the Stampede, and some thoughtful yet heartfelt questions about the human condition and morality, I don't think I can give it ENOUGH praise.

[@imbugsbunnysoblowme9811]

Unpopular opinion I'm not too fond of avatar...like at all. That being said, I would say fate unlimited blade works trumps all those previous shows you guys mention

[@robertminnie782]

Wow. Toph was actually pretty deep. I love her even more now! I'd also like to add that her largely unchanging character actually makes her better as this is a core trait of the earth element. Earth is solid, strong, stubborn, hard, resilient and unchanging. These are characteristics of both the Earth Kingdom and its people - Toph included. Wow. Avatar never ceases to amaze me, not only with its awesomeness but with its incredible depth! Time to rewatch... maybe check out the comics too.

[@drew1132]

Fine KZbin, I'll watch it This video has been in my recommended for 5 days now

[@ckmeh9974]

Runaway to chief of the police force. That's some sort of character development right

[@KatoBeyond]

I suppose if this analysis were to include LoK. But the love developed for Toph has very little, if anything, to do with that. So I kept it AtLA exclusive. -Hoodie

[@AhsimNreiziev]

+[I. Th.] I'd say it would be specifically when she opened up her Metalbending school.

[@Von_D]

I had the biggest crush on Toph when I was ten. Don’t kill me!

[@kagxr]

well i'm fourteen now and have a crush on toph w e l l

[@cheesytea772]

agnes-heree but zuko tho 😳 that buzzcut lookin hairstyle was wild

[@Moocow2003]

@@cheesytea772 FINALLY someone else who agrees that buzzcut zuko is the finest

[@bshippee7504]

agnes-heree SAME

[@topic260]

Well 13 and still... Toph is freaking cute

[@Delta_Aves]

Book 2: Earth as a whole was a subversion of expectations. At first, it seems like it'll follow the same formula as Book 1; the gang journeying throughout the Earth Kingdom to find an earthbending master, and ending when they find one. But instead that arc concludes halfway through, and it then becomes about the gang finding a way to defeat the Fire Nation, since Aang just mastering the elements and confronting the FireLord won't be enough to win the war, leading to discovering the upcoming eclipse that'll put the Fire Nation at a disadvantage. The episode "Avatar Day" at first seems similar to the "Warriors of Kyoshi" episode, where Aang will be celebrated, let the attention go to his head, and get hit with a reality bomb when the Fire Nation attacks. But instead it's the opposite, the day depicting the Avatar in a negative light, the search for answers and a less-than-fair trial, and the Fire Nation attacking was actually a good thing, as it allowed Aang to do something good for the people who hated him, and get out of being boiled alive, and the people now see the infamous Avatar Day in a new positive light. Ba Sing Se, which had previously been built up as the great Earth Kingdom haven city for refugees and the only place the Fire Nation couldn't conquer, also subverted our expectations by showing it as beautiful on the outside, but sinister on the inside, and the totalitarian way the government controls the citizens and information, making the city no more safe then the rest of the world. And the fact that the Fire Nation manages to conquer the city by the end pretty much shatters the image of it being a perfect safe haven. The Book 2 finale had the biggest expectation subversion; Zuko siding with Azula in the final battle despite his character development throughout the season. It goes to show how much we underestimated him, as well as his turmoil. In hindsight, it was rather obvious, but no less surprising, cause Zuko turned against his uncle, who supported him when no one else did, which puts their relationship in a very questionable spot, leading one to question how they're going to come back from this, if at all. Aang getting shot by lightning while in the Avatar State wasn't so much a subversion, but rather a Chekov's gun scenario, as Roku had told him the ultimate danger of being in Avatar State, which was more or less just a reason to why Aang couldn't solely rely on the power alone to fight the FireLord, but it didn't have much weight to it cause Aang is nearly untouchable in his most powerful state. Only by showing it happen to him does the risk become more tangible, and thus, raise the stakes. The scene was also brought up in the "Previously on Avatar" segment before the episode, which kind of gave away what was going to happen.

[@theomnomberry837]

Toph will always be my number 1 favorite in the series. No one can ever knock her down from that spot.

[@wafflingmean4477]

Toph doesn't change that much, but she is very distinctive, and you slowly learn and understand more about her because she keeps significant parts of herself hidden, such as hiding her strength from her parents and later on when she tries to hide how emotionally vulnerable she really is, despite physically being damn near unstoppable, such as not wanting to be taken care of by Katara or admitting she misses her parents.

[@crazyinvaderfangirl1]

You got it backwards. Katara was Aang’s primary water bending teacher, he barely learned anything from Paku. Paku was Katara’s Sifu, then she taught Aang later while mastering it herself. (or perhaps she already mastered it by the time she left the north pole, it’s been a while since I’ve seen it. In either case she still got better at it.) I just didn’t want you to diminish Katara’s is important role in teaching Aang to master water bending and his acknowledgment of her as his Sifu.

[@SydCar]

Yep. Katara wasn’t threatened by Toph because by the time she left the North Pole she was already acknowledged as a master water bender by arguably one of the strongest water benders in the series. Katara was far too mature at that point to let a 2 year difference affect her behavior. And honestly she was the far better teacher and had to give Toph advice on how to get Aang to actually earthbend. The only reason the two clashed was because at that point Katara was the mom of the group and Toph associated all forms of authority with control freaks trying to suppress her and Katara is still just a 14 year old, so she’s not above playing chicken with Toph and establishing a pecking order when things get tense. It’s what made this show so good. Characters are well developed, but not flawless.

[@wynnieization]

@@SydCar Yeah, I agreed with the video analysis except at the part he claims Katara is insecure about her authority over Toph who is 2 years younger. Not only was Katara the mom of the group but she had been the motherly figure even in Sokka's whole life. She's used to taking care of people and stepping up to be a mother figure. Their clash is rooted from how their background greatly affected their personality and way of life; Katara being the mother figure to compensate the fact that they lost their mother, and Toph believing she can and should only take care of herself and not let other people help her because of her whole upbringing with her family. The show made that premise very clear so i'm surprised that Toph being younger and a teacher to Aang compared to Katara was made a reason why they can clash. Katara, as you said, is already far mature but the show still reminds us that she is also just a kid when she ends up in a banter with Sokka and Toph from time to time who continues to grow and learn.

[@luke6612]

@@wynnieization And as mentioned, the part about her not being Aang's teacher. In that entire segment, the only thing we see Aang actually learn is to make himself into a snowman. It wasn't about Aang finding a master waterbender, it was about Katara *becoming* that master waterbender.

[@lunayen]

Uh, no. Katara only taught Aang the basics. He mostly trained for a few weeks under master paku and then continued his training under Katara, who also trained under paku. Katara became Aang's teacher because they had to move on and she learned faster after studying with a _real_ master.

[@notnotagoodguy9600]

Indiana Jones doesn’t have an ark because the nazis stole it

[@swampfox1007]

and then locked away.

[@ginnrollins211]

Top....men.

[@別府美彩]

This was my favorite show when I came to American to visit my grandparents. Toph is #1 in my book

[@dimitrisboulios]

When you played the tsungi horn background song at 3:04 my whole body got goosebumps

[@AndyStarzs1]

They showed her growth through her bending. From not being able to sandbend and bend other elements m. In the span of months. She conquered her weakness and mastered it all. We even see she blamed herself a bit for Appa running away. But that was diminished by her actions of holding the library and others in the group defending her. Which was also true. So, she may not have grown as an overall character. We see her growing to trust her friends. She didn’t exactly trust any of them when she joined. But down the line, she did learn to. A lot of her growth also came from the episode where she was talking with Iroh. And this just shows a lot more of her character. Strong, unyielding, and willing to persevere to cover any of her faults. Also. Btw. Adult Zuko. Holy crap. He’s hot. And now. I want to see Adult Aang and the group. Gods. That would be amazing.

[@SageDarkwind]

Appa didn't run away, though. He was captured by bandits.

[@archevenault]

Adult Aang was shown in LoK i think.

[@iangonzalvo4716]

A PJO fan, I see

[@dx.feelgood5825]

Yes! And fuck yeah, adult Zuko is hot [Pun intended, but seriously, he is]

[@AndyStarzs1]

error_707_Cannot_ delete_ YEA HE IS!! WHO BECAME HIS FIRE EMPRESS OMG!! I would like to say. Me.

[@KirbySonicTeam]

This is a great video man! I’ve always wanted someone to put into words how I’ve felt about Toph. Honestly I think she’s overly praised, but maybe it’s because I always thought they were praising her for the wrong reasons. Thanks for helping me to understand and help me to enjoy Toph even more, because at the end of the day I do love her as a character.

[@spyjonsachurin2101]

KirbySonicTeam Toph is my favorite because she’s the perfect amount of hilarious, badass, and insecurities. Actually she’s a great balance to Aang, who’s very non-confrontational and more in touch with his feminine side and Toph is very stubborn and more in touch with her masculine side, as seen in the Ember Island players,

[@klutchboi3266]

"Hey Toph would you say you and Aang have a rocky relationship?"

[@ajrod2005]

Partially by Katara? Boy, Katara was the one that continued to teach him after he left the water tribe and did MOST of his training

[@tombullard123]

Alejandro Rodriguez master paku

[@caesarhuh11]

He needed a real master

[@ajrod2005]

@@tombullard123 Master Paku was Kataras master not Aangs. She mastered what he taught her and then taught Aang. His mastery was 95% Katara's doing

[@ajrod2005]

@@caesarhuh11 it may have seemed like not a lot of time but Katara mastered everything master Paku had to teach her thus pronouncing her a master. She taught him everything he knows

[@myneoangel4299]

I have to agree. After all, Paku even SAID Aang should be calling her Master Katara. His skills were compared to Katara’s after they had the same amount of training with Paku, and it was made pretty clear that Aang had not mastered water yet in that demonstration starting season 2. All of Aang’s true bending teachers were kids (Katara, Toph, Zuko), and I feel like that was very intentional since it was “made for kids.”

[@radu0011]

man you make some of the best avatar analysis and discussion videos out there !

[@kiggerst]

Mannn Toph is OP af. She trully is the perfect master for aang. As it explain in the series earthbending is the most difficult bending style for aang as it has a different nature from aang's own airbend. But that was just the a misperception of the whole population that earthbend equal raw strenght or to put it simply you gotta have muscle to lift huge bolders and throw it around. We can see the example in Bumi's style as how raw his bending is and those huge chunk of muscle he got. But Toph never learn that kind of perception as she is taught by the original earthbender itself, the mole. She learn the basic and true nature of earthbending and develope her own more elegant approach on earthbending. That's what aang see in her and that kind of style suit him most. Plus let's admit it she is a natural genius more than Azula in firebending. Katara reach the highest point of her waterbend after being taught by that old bloodbend lady, Aang and Zuko learn the essence of firebend through dragon dance from those elder who still loyal to the avatar, and Toph oh Toph learn metalbending by her own without any emotion or historical drive but only with her own deep understanding of the earthbend. That's why she is beloved by the fans. Her guts is something that people look up to regarding her attitude.

[@TheWavePixie]

Your ATLA video's are always so on point!

[@wangfire4549]

it's 2019 and Avatar the last airbender is still relevant! I miss this show so much, wish i could watch it for the first time again

[@Ratstail91]

hmm... It's interesting that she starts off hating authority, but ends up BEING authority as the chief of police.

[@zaikohaitsugi]

That's called "growing up". Ever heard of?

[@GraveRobbertt]

Zaiko Haitsugi Oh god fuck off, they just made an observation.

[@LuckyOwI777]

But then she goes back to living on her own in a swamp, lol

[@aliak530i]

I think it also stems from her element which is rock. Unwavering,Solid and stubborn. the opposite of water, and all encompassing, Gentle and flowing.Why katara acts the way she does is because her past trauma, losing her mother make her more understandably mother like in order to cope with that. But her element also connects with that idea of being all around something. What toph is is that she is a manifastation of those elements. in fact every character adhere to their own element. Aang= Air = Carefree, Wistful, unshackle Katara = water = Encompassing, Gentle and flowing toph = earth = Unwavering,Solid and stubborn Zuko =Fire = Passions, compulsion, zeal

[@coachmcguirk6297]

Toph goes from disliking authority to becoming it in the next show.

[@6h42am]

She lived long enough to see herself become the villain

[@ls200076]

@@6h42am She understands her mistake.

[@6h42am]

@@ls200076 except it's not a mistake cause toph is best girl and everything she does is amazing 😍🥰🧚‍♀️🌟💫💕💞

[@FramedSabotage]

I thought her betrayal of the group to become the villainous Melon Lord was a notable arc. She almost kills Sokka.

[@moreaverage4813]

I *SEE* what you mean

[@davinwilliams3130]

Well I don't see like you do

[@kana_emiya]

I see your previous beliefs have been disARMed

[@f1r3hunt3rz5]

@@kana_emiya i *SEE* she could use a *HAND*

[@monkeymouse]

First ATLA episode I ever saw was "The Drill". I've known a number of people with disabilities, and a lot of those in the community use humor to cope with the rest of us. So when I heard: SOKKA: It's so dark down here; I can't see a thing. TOPH: Oh no, what a nightmare. It totally won me over!

[@juanchery6950]

Does not listen to authorities becomes a police officer

[@Chiphunk]

No no, the law became Toph, not the other way around.

[@aitsamanwithnoabsolutequal5438]

Didnt she become corrupt? Cuz she ripped her daughter's warrant of arrest

[@lenap4956]

"How many puns do you want?" "Yes"

[@ironfan24]

Toph’s arc comes to a perfect conclusion when she learns the power to enter the Melon Lord state.

[@zonico5826]

"Toph and Katara had a 'rocky' relationship" God I love you

[@NerdyBlue]

Coming to think of it about what you said in the video about "Toph" is the only one having a last name lol I didn't notice

[@evyatarbaranga5624]

Toph is just bad ass And she invented mettal bending

[@loading.....4242]

So basically all you're saying is..... *TOPH IS BADASS*

[@gewinner5379]

I feel that Toph should have gotten more badass fight scenes. Especially in the fianals of the seasons

[@ultrapixelsdk8303]

"Had a *rocky* relationship" nice

[@kidtrunkz14]

The best character in the history of cartoons I'll argue she's the best thing ever #beifongacademy

[@sarahpyro]

One thing I loved about Toph was that she knew who she was and never tried or wanted to change that. She stuck to herself and stayed true to herself

[@inikocruz1263]

I guess you could say, she's set in stone.

[@Drigger95]

Toph does change as a character though. It's maybe not as in-your-face. She goes from being an arrogant loner to a person that trusts her friends to help her. Sokka literally carries her around when she burned her feet and also drags her along by her hand during the last episode. Old Toph would never have accepted that. "I carry my OWN weight.". I think that's her arc.

[@wellsmartineau185]

I find it interesting that every member is a representation of their respective elements... Both them as characters and in their arcs

[@mylespope6203]

"While Toph doesn't necessarily go from something as extreme as disliking authority to liking authority" *Literally goes on to develop her own metal bending police force that she's the chief of*