Toph Beifong was arguably one of the most gifted benders of her time, not only managing to master her element at an early age (so much so that she gave grown men a run for their money) but also inventing a whole new bending style. However, Toph’s greatest achievement, at least in her eyes, is not related to bending or fighting, but in the bonds that she made.
After being isolated and being treated like she was made of glass her whole life, Aang and his friends not only made Toph feel like an equal, but they forged a friendship with her that assuaged the exact fears and anxieties that Toph had.
Toph wondered if friendships last for more than a lifetime, and they did for her
The reason why Toph’s presence in Avatar: The Legend of Korra does not feel tacked on or fan service-y is because The Last Airbender is a brilliant study in characterization. While it was likely not planned out as far back as then, Toph asking Aang if friendships last more than a lifetime made her greeting Korra as Twinkle Toes all the more emotional and earned.
In the end, it must be noted that Toph never had a meaningful relationship in her life. Her parents looked down on her, and the only sense of community that she had was the underground Earthbending matches that she participated in as the Blind Bandit. However, with Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, and Suki, Toph was able to find friends who would be with her for an entire lifetime and then some.
In some way, such allyship and camaraderie are at the core of the themes that are explored by Avatar: The Last Airbender and, to some extent, The Legend of Korra. Every Avatar was tasked with the same thing, but had a slew of friends who helped them carry out their duties. Avatars that explicitly failed to do this, like Kuruk, would be overwhelmed by the problems of their time, and leave them unattended before they passed.
Seven Havens could depict the next generation of characters like The Legend of Korra did for The Last Airbender
A lot of the cast of The Legend of Korra were descendants and families of the original cast of characters in The Last Airbender. While some played a smaller role in the world, such as Iroh II, characters like Tenzin and Lin were important parts of the story. So, it remains to be seen if we will see characters like Meelo, Kiki, Jinorah, Rohan, Mako, Opal, and Bolin return, or if their descendants will be part of the story.
Further, it must be noted that the Avatar’s image has been overhauled to such an extent that they are seen as a threat to humanity. Now, like Kyoshi, it is completely possible that Korra could have led an incredibly long life, leaving her friends and her family behind. However, if this is not the case, then Avatar: Seven Havens just features more of the Beifong clan, along with the families of Aang, Zuko, and also newer charaters like Mako, Bolin and Asami (who may or may not share a family with Korra.
Avatar: The Legend of Korra and The Last Airbender can be streamed on Paramount+
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