This is one thing I loved about A:TLA. Toph was indeed blind. But she ain’t some helpless kid who can’t do anything for herself. She’s badass. A metalbender, a ringfighter, and very, very clever [She learned to “see” by copying badgermoles, who are also blind. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t know where to start]. She stood up to her parents who were suffocatingly protective, and ran away to have her freedom. She then used her abilities as a metal bender become a Chief of Police.
Toph gets all the awards. All of them. I wish more disabled people in the media were like her.
I agree; I wish ablebodied/NT writers and producers in the media would create/promote/allow through more characters like her.
I ENJOY THIS CHARACTER MYSELF; I WOULD FEEL PROUD TO DO BATTLE BESIDE HER!
Okay, so… I think everyone needs to try and face what might very well be true: Lin may not be a bender anymore. I know, I know… it’s terrible. She’s so awesome, I understand that it’s tragic… but, you can’t fool yourself! Everyone is trying to come up with theories that will give her her bending back, but, let’s face it… it might really be gone :(
Am I the only person in the fandom who thinks that Lin’s bending being permanently lost might not necessarily be the worst thing ever? I mean, I hope for her sake that she gets it back, but if she doesn’t, well…
Bending is an inherent ability, something you’re born able to do or not. An ability you train, certainly, but once you have you use it almost without thinking when it’s applicable. And then the ability gets lost, and you realise that you have to re-learn the world and how you respond to it.
Lin’s mother was the character Bryke used to prove beyond any doubt that a PWD who was born with their disability wasn’t any less of a badass. Now perhaps Bryke will use another Bei Fong to teach us that becoming disabled through being attacked or in an accident isn’t any less either.
This week’s Legend of Korra was awesome, both the present AND the past. But it brought up some things about one character in particular that I’ve spent a great deal thinking about, talking about, and writing about over the past…well, almost two years. In my time exploring the fandom, I’ve seen…
This is one of the best analyses I’ve seen of Toph’s character. Ever.
This is my guess as well (not to sure about the year tho).
In episode 4, Tarrlok mentioned Aang taking down Yakone, who was a previous threat to the city about 40 years ago, during the city council meeting. My prediction is that Yakone killed Toph. Lin never forgave Aang for failing to save Toph and she lost her trust in the Avatars (that explains why Lin wasn’t too enthusiastic about Korra being in the Republic City)
There’s this popular theory that Yakone is a waterbender/bloodbender because Yakone means ‘red aurora’ or ‘red on the snow’ in Inuit. So, my guess rn is that Toph might have died because of bloodbending.
why would you post something like that
ow my heart.
My heart…. it’s broken. Lin! Let me give you a hug!
oh, SHIT. and the republic city game let on that bloodbending would come back, too. fuuuuck.
um
no
NO
NO NO NO NO
FUCKING NO
NO ONE CAN KILL MY BABY
Nobody kills my Toph!
Omg the adult.. prob middle aged version of Sokka, Toph, and Aang.
Toph looks weird but it’s prob just the angle..
Finally, someone talking about the bit in episode 4 that didn’t involve shipping. MAH BBS ARE ALL GROWED UP *weeps*
Toph’s Pointing Out That She Is Blind Photoset | Requested by puzzlegirlsandpoprocks
Toph is the best.
asjdfl;kasjdfs
Toph’s blindness was one of the most excellently handled aspects of AtLA because it wasn’t treated like a disability. So often in shows (and especially children’s animation) disabled characters are limited to apperances in “very special episodes” where the main characters have to learn a lesson that these people are capable “in spite of” their handicaps, like that episode of Kim Possible wherein Kim constantly stumbles over herself around Felix. This approach is often just as insulting as making them the butt of jokes, because it’s patronizing and it limits the amount of roles disabled characters are allowed to have.
Avatar challenged that stereotype with Teo, and then sent a giant middle finger its way by introducing Toph. She’s turned what would otherwise be a disability into an advantage, and she’s not afraid to crack jokes about it. She functions well enough that the other characters often forget that she is blind, but at the same time it’s an integral part of her bending and allows her to be the greatest earthbender ever. It sends a powerful message that having a physical disability does not make you less of a person, and often affords you a unique perspective that the so-called “normal” people never get to experience.
One of the many reasons I love this show.
As a PWD, all I have to say is:
