One of the best “Avatar” characters has finally arrived.

Meet Toph: How Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender updates the fan-favorite earthbender for live action

One of the best "Avatar" characters has finally arrived.

By Rachel LaBonte

June 25, 2026 1:00 p.m. ET

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Miyako as Toph on 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'. Credit:

Katie Yu/Netflix

- Miyako joins the cast of Netflix's *Avatar: The Last Airbender* as Toph Beifong, an important character from the original animated series.

- Toph is a master earthbender who joins the team as Aang's (Gordon Cormier) teacher.

- Though the core of her story remains the same, the Netflix show makes some changes, particularly when it comes to her family.

There’s a new bending master in town.

Netflix’s live-action *Avatar: The Last Airbender* is back for season 2, jumping right back into Aang’s (Gordon Cormier) quest to learn all four elements so he can restore peace to his war-torn world. Following the battle for the Northern Water Tribe at the end of season 1, Aang and his friends now turn their attention to the sprawling Earth Kingdom.

This pivot means the introduction of a major fan-favorite character from the original animated series: Toph Beifong, a.k.a. the Blind Bandit. Though a later addition to Aang’s core group of allies, Toph is just as important as Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley), and plays a key role in the larger *Avatar* universe.

Rising actress Miyako plays Toph on Netflix’s show, and she makes quite a splash in the new episodes. Fans of the original Nickelodeon series have been awaiting her arrival since the live-action adaptation was first announced, but newcomers may be wondering why this particular character has generated so much excitement.

With season 2 now streaming on Netflix, it’s time to talk all things Toph.

Who is Toph?

Miyako as Toph on 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.

Katie Yu/Netflix

Introduced in episode 2, “A Fight, Once Begun,” Toph arrives at exactly the right moment for Aang. Now that the young Avatar is becoming adept at waterbending, he needs to progress to the next element: earth. His primary goal at the start of season 2 is to find a suitable earthbending teacher, and a pitstop at a small Earth Kingdom town directs him to the perfect person.

Aang, Katara, and Sokka first spot Toph in an underground fighting ring, where she goes by the name the Blind Bandit. It’s more than just a clever stage persona; Toph is blind, and she sees the world through her feet via earthbending, sensing vibrations through the ground. This makes her an incredibly skilled bender, one who is often severely underestimated because of her smaller stature. Nevertheless, Aang only has to watch her fight once to know she’s the teacher he needs.

There’s more to Toph’s background, however. She’s the only daughter of the Beifong family, a respected, wealthy clan within the Earth Kingdom. Her parents are eager to keep her sheltered within the walls of their home — safe to say they don’t know *anything* about the Blind Bandit — leading to a not-so-great first meeting between Toph and the Gaang. They want to recruit her, but she’s not keen on exposing her secret.

It doesn't take long for that to change, though, and by the end of episode 2, Aang's got a new instructor.

How does Netflix’s Toph compare to the animated show?

Toph on Nickelodeon's animated 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'; Miyako as the live-action Toph.

Nickelodeon; Katie Yu/Netflix

Like any adaptation, this version of *Avatar: The Last Airbender* makes some sizable changes to the source material. When it comes to Toph, the core of her story remains very much the same — but longtime fans will still find a few surprises.

Toph's relationship with her parents gets more room to breathe in the live-action series, particularly when it comes to their business dealings. In the original show, Toph largely loses contact with her parents after setting out with the Gaang, though post-series comics and other franchise media have revealed more details about the Beifong family.

The Netflix series also makes some adjustments to her first meeting with Aang — sadly, they don't get to face each other during the Earth Rumble match — and places greater emphasis on her status as the only daughter of a wealthy Earth Kingdom family. Also, due to the more streamlined story, there isn't much room for her more colorful habits, like picking her toes or burping.

At her core, though, this Toph feels very much in line with her animated counterpart. She’s a masterful earthbender capable of outwitting any foe, her confidence is sky-high, and she’s quick with a sarcastic comeback.

In other words: Yes, she still calls Aang “Twinkletoes.”

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What has Miyako said about her version of Toph?

Miya Cech as Toph on 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.

Katie Yu/Netflix

Miyako, whose full name is Miya Cech, previously starred in projects like the Nickelodeon series *The Astronauts*, Apple TV’s *Surfside Girls*, and Netflix's *You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah* (2023). Playing Toph marks her highest-profile role yet, and it wasn’t something she took on lightly, especially as a fan of the animated series.

“I feel like my iteration of Toph is a little bit more — cerebral is the wrong word,” she told ** ahead of season 2, “but I feel like we get to see her tackle some very big themes and change her mindset in such severe ways that I don't think we really get to focus on in the animated series.”

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Miyako further hinted at Toph’s storyline with her parents, explaining that her character “tackles more realistic world issues that I don't think would have been happening in the animated series.”

The actress was guided by a specific idea: “Toph knows what she’s doing.” Few would disagree there.

What’s next for Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, Gordan Cormier as Aang, and Miyako as Toph on 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.

Katie Yu/Netflix

Work on season 3 was already underway as season 2 was being filmed, thanks to Netflix gifting the series a double renewal. Like the animated show, it will be the last, depicting the events of “Book Three: Fire.”

This will be a relief for fans, seeing as season 2 ends on a major cliffhanger. Netflix confirmed filming on season 3 wrapped in November 2025, which makes an early 2027 premiere very likely.

Based on how Toph and the rest of the Gaang close out the show’s second chapter, expect *a lot* of action when they return.

Where can I watch Avatar: The Last Airbender?

All seven episodes of *Avatar: The Last Airbender* season 2 are now streaming on Netflix.

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Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Sci-Fi”