Avatar The Last Airbender is known for having incredibly fleshed out and unique characters which fans hope translate to Netflixs live action adaptation. Not only do Aang Zach Tyler Eisen Katara Mae Whitman and Sokka Jack De Sena encounter numerous interesting characters during their journeys but Team Avatar also expands to have masters of each bending style. With Kataras waterbending Zukos Dante Basco firebending and Tophs Michaela Jill Murphy earthbending Aang masters all four techniques and Team Avatar defeats Fire Lord Ozai Mark Hamill.
The journey was long, usually taking an entire season for Aang to master a new element and add a member to the team. After spending the first season learning waterbending from Katara Aang meets Toph a blind earthbender during their adventure in the Earth Kingdom in Season 2. Tophs wealthy parents are extremely overbearing not giving her the slightest room to breathe but she does not let her visual impairment stop her from becoming one of the strongest benders of her time. She masters earthbending and creates her own unique style by using the vibrations in the ground.
Through everything Tophs personality never shifts. She is incredibly independent direct and sarcastic bringing an entirely new disposition to Team Avatar. Its hard to imagine Toph being any other way but creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko originally planned for the character to look much different.
On Reddit fans voiced their appreciation for the change. One since deleted user wrote I am so glad Toph is the Toph we have now instead of... this. He creeps me out. Others like u/pappypapaya pointed out how different the rest of the story would have been. Ah Korra would have been such a different series if it were not for this remarkably fortuitous change. No Lin no Su no Books 3 and 4 like we know them they said.
The creative team included a nod to Tophs original design later on in the series. In Season 3 Episode 17, The Ember Island Players Team Avatar watches a stage play recapping Aangs story. While most of them can not stand their portrayals Toph absolutely adores hers a massively muscular man. During an interview with Toon Zone News Bryan Konietzko revealed that Toph is portrayed in the play this way as a joke referencing the characters.
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