This screenshot motivational poster is dedicated to all of my Zuko and Toph-loving friends, fellow artists, fans, and brethren. Sit back, relax, and revel in Zuko’s and Toph’s intrinsically beautiful and harmonious sibling dynamic where Zuko is the responsible, compassionate yet occasionally surly older brother to Toph’s mischievous, feisty, street smart younger sister.
For my whole life being a devout fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I have always looked back at one of the penultimate episodes where Toph wanted a life-changing field trip with Zuko with much nostalgia, charm, and a huge smile on my face not only because of how adorable it was, but because I knew for certain that they could compliment each other in a sibling-like dynamic full stop. You are also looking at someone who has also been a huge Zuko x Katara and Aang x Toph shipper for the longest time, even though my journey supporting these two ships as my OTPs for life was quite turbulent, but I managed to get back to them and embraced them with all that I have all while keeping my undying love for Sokka x Suki surprisingly consistent. All pairing tastes aside, Zuko and Toph do have that warm sibling dynamic that I wish were explored a whole lot more and why I firmly believe these two would make much better siblings towards each other than their own families have brought them up to be.
It is often said that family does not have to be related by blood, especially when the boy and girl pairings are platonic. Examples such as Cyborg and Starfire as well as Robin and Terra from Teen Titans are what come to mind when the boy is an older brother figure to the girl’s little sister. Zuko and Toph are certainly not an exception to the rule, given how both of them have come from broken families complete with certain parental figures who are not completely supportive of their overall growth. However, what makes Zuko different from Toph is that he does have Ursa his mother and Iroh his uncle/surrogate father but also has his ruthless younger sister in the form of Azula, who the latter has contributed in making Zuko’s life a living Hell. Moreover, Toph has experienced repression and oppression from her parents who ended up instilling and imposing their will on their only daughter just for her to run away from them to cut her own path.
Speaking of cutting their own paths, both of them have used it as a way to not only cope with the pains of the past, but also to ensure that they do not end up hurting anyone else along their way. They even have different coping mechanisms with Zuko handling his problems with passion and an upfront attitude and Toph applying sarcasm and deflection. Through these coping mechanisms and bearing different ways of cutting their own paths in life, they can discover that they do bear a lot more in common than they think in an extremely platonic sense. Ergo, they form this deep familial bond akin to a protective older brother being there for his mouthy yet well-meaning little sister to the point where they can even give the likes of Seita and Setsuko from Grave of The Fireflies a run for the run for their money.
I state that Zuko and Toph are quite comparable to Seita and Setsuko in terms of sibling dynamic because they both know exactly what it feels like to have constant strife from the powers that be in fate and war as well as deal with the unfair vitriol occurring within their separate households. The parental figures who are supposed to be there for their children, in this case Ozai for Zuko and Toph’s parents, cannot really provide their children with the emotional support they truly need to come into their own. Zuko may have his mother and his uncle/surrogate father, but he also has to deal with his guilt, frustration, and self-loathing to attain self-actualization. Toph may have the support from her friends by courtesy of Sokka, Katara, and Aang, but she stubbornly believes that she can do these challenging tasks alone, even when push comes to shove. Ultimately, they would have to be there for one another, especially in times of cruel, relentless strife.
In terms of the notable physical features the both of them bear, Zuko has his scar and Toph has her blindness as evidenced in her iris-less eyes. Zuko’s scar was an unjust and cruel mark given to him when Ozai burnt half of his face due to him speaking up at a council session and he had to battle his own father, even though he was begging for forgiveness, and he was only thirteen years old! Toph was born blind, but her parents treat her disability as a mark that she cannot do anything for herself, even though she has proved time and time again that she is truly capable. In spite of the outward flaws they have, they have used it as their strengths with Zuko using his scar as a symbol that he was not only lucky to be born, but also survived a most cruel ordeal from the man who was supposed to be his first male role model only for the honor of being a role model going to his uncle Iroh and Toph using her blindness as a means to put her other senses to great use such as her senses of hearing, smell, taste, and even feeling, especially when it comes to the vibrations in the ground and through the heartbeats of living beings. Therefore, they display with flying colors that no extrinsic adversity will ever get them down whatsoever.
In spite of all the heavy moments both of them have been through, their presence together would also give them time for them to have the sibling bond they truly desire complete with positivity, fun, and laughter. Since Zuko’s biological younger sister Azula has made his life a living Hell but is also just as lacking in affection from Ozai and especially from Ursa and Toph is an only child, it would make sense in the grand scheme of things for them to create their own family with Zuko being the responsible older he intended to be all these years and Toph being the mouthy, feisty yet loving younger sister who can bask in Zuko’s brand of fraternal love. Zuko and Toph would not go at this alone whatsoever. After all, they have Iroh as the father and mentor both Zuko and Toph need in their lives, Katara who does complete Zuko’s life in a profound and meaningful way as his significant other, Aang who is completely all right with Toph wearing the pants in his loving relationship with her, Sokka and Suki whose unconditional love for each other can inspire both Zuko and Toph to be better and more open people, and even Appa and Momo to complete this unified and loving family picture. Sure, Iroh is the only one of Zuko’s who is related to him by blood and had an interesting conversation with Toph in Season 2, but he will make sure that both Zuko and Toph will grow up to be wiser, more emphatic, and more understanding people.
In terms of the fun and laughter aspect of Zuko’s and Toph’s sibling relationship, these two will be able to pull them off with ease and oodles of positivity. Being the older brother Zuko is, he would engage in a lot of playful chasing, tickling, and giving loads of noggins to Toph which she would absolutely enjoy to her heart’s content as well as Zuko being the wingman to ensure that Aang has a lot of wonderful dates with “darling little sister Toph” and that they have fun in what they are about to get themselves into. Being the little sister Toph is, she would engage in piggyback rides on Zuko, getting in on the latest scoop in terms of Zuko’s love life with Katara, tickling matches, friendly sparring matches, and sessions of playfully tackling each other. With these amusing physical activities, they are, therefore, liberated from any type of pretentious, arbitrary, and overly restricting rules and regulations of the upper society, can live life as two siblings being there for each other no matter what happens, and can bring a lot of joy and laughter in each others’ lives.
Together, both Zuko and Toph are in the zone when it comes to establishing a healthy, firm, supportive sibling dynamic with each other, while having Iroh, Sokka, Suki, Katara, Aang, Momo, and Appa fully on board with completing the blessed family picture.
In conclusion, Zuko’s and Toph’s sibling dynamic should never ever be ignored in the slightest iota. Zuko as the responsible older brother to Toph’s feisty younger sister is a definitely well-equated formula for true familial love and appreciation to the point of breaking each others’ barriers down and cultivating the seeds of a healthy relationship between siblings.
I hope you all enjoyed this and I will see you in the next submission. Take care and stay safe, everybody.
Zuko and Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender belong to Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino and Nickelodeon.
