Summary

• Original Toph voice actor Michaela Jill Murphy reflects on her Avatar: The Last Airbender character.
• Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender is never given a romantic storyline.
• Murphy points out that while other characters have romantic moments, Toph is left out completely.

Original Avatar: The Last Airbender voice actor Michaela Jill Murphy speaks on one important storyline that she wishes was explored further in the original series. Murphy lended her vocal talents to Toph Beifong, a character who comes in for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 in the original Nickelodeon series. Toph is an earthbender who is also a blind person, and after she unites with Aang and the rest of the team, she becomes a critical character on the series who stays with the show until its ending.

Speaking with Elko, Murphy discusses one Toph storyline that she wishes could have been included in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Murphy laments that Toph is "never really viewed romantically by anyone." Check out the full quote from Murphy below:

“She's never really viewed romantically by anyone. That's a little bit of a bummer, because everyone wants to be desired, everyone wants to be liked, even in just an iration way. Everyone respects her, but does anyone desire her? We don't see that at all. Everybody else has a little bit of a flirty moment somewhere, and she doesn't really get any of that given back.”

How Will Toph Be Adapted In The Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action Series?

Toph Has Not Yet Been Cast

Murphy does make a good point about the differences between Toph and the rest of the characters. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Toph is shown to have a crush on Sokka in the series, but this love is not reciprocated. While she was feeling butterflies, Sokka was in love with Suki, who he ultimately dates. As such, Murphy is right that Toph, even when she exudes some flirtatious energy, "doesn't really get any of that given back." This could be because Toph is the youngest in the group, but either way, the character gets no romantic arc.

Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 is on its way, so audiences will get a chance to see another rendition of Toph. The live-action show has yet to cast her, though fans of the original show are watching closely, as the character is among the most beloved from the entire cast. In theory, Netflix version could also add a romance for Toph. The show has been willing to change the original story as it gets adapted into live-action, so this would be an opportunity to address Murphy's concerns.

In practice, though this would probably have to come in the form of a character who is not in the original animated series. Suki was already introduced in Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1, seeding her and Sokka's relationship, and Aang and Katara's flirtatious nature is considered essential canon to many fans. Creating a brand-new character who would become so prominent would likely come with some controversy. So, while Murphy's Toph dreams still could come true, they seem unlikely for any telling of the Avatar: The Last Airbender story.

Source: Elko