Mark Watches ‘Avatar’: So2E06 – The Blind Bandit

In the sixth episode of the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, OH MY GOD TOPH AND OH MY GOD WRESTLING HOMAGES AND OH MY GOD BADASS BATTLE SCENES AND OH MY GOD HOW DID I NEVER WATCH THIS SHOW. If you’re intrigued, then it’s time for Mark to watch Avatar.

SERIOUSLY, HOW DID I GO SO LONG WITHOUT WATCHING AVATAR.

My god, in light of the previous episode, I think my brain may have exploded from the sheer awesomeness of “The Blind Bandit.” And while there are so many things this episode does beautifully, I think I was most in awe of the fact that it payed one giant homage to professional wrestling.

I believe that this is largely an American social phenomenon, and it’s one I grew away from as I got older, but I can recall many an easy weekend afternoon plopped on the couch while wrestling was on the television. I wasn’t as into it as my brother and my father, but it was a constant in my household. It was entertaining on such a base level that, until I got it into my head that it wasn’t cool to like wrestling, that it never bothered me that I had to watch it so much. It was such a casual experience for me, and I enjoyed the absurdity of it, the spectacle of the performance.

I went through a weird “rebellious” period where I tried to tell my parents that watching wrestling was sexist and I LEARNED THAT WORD IN SCHOOL TODAY, AND THEY ARE NEVER WRONG AT SCHOOL. But it took me a while to realize that most of my life, I lived in this vacuum-like bubble and wrestling was far more popular than I ever though it was. At heart, it’s not all that different from what many of us find entertaining: these wrestlers play a role, there’s drama, there are twists and turns, and throw in a dash (okay, to be fair, it’s more like a few gallons) of violence, and it’s really not that far from a lot of dramas and sitcoms people watch.

But anyway, it was this weird, constant institution in my life, and I imagine that for a lot of people, they may not realize how present professional wrestling was in their lives as an American. In that sense, “The Blind Bandit” reminded me just how fun the concept was, and, like the nomads in “The Cave of Two Lovers,” these characters are all written with a bit of love in the intent of the writers. Which is actually pretty rad, considering that the bulk of the wrestlers are kind of assholes in the story.

I did not expect for us to have Aang’s vision from “The Swamp” answered rather completely just two episodes later. Team Avatar is still searching for an earth bending master for Aang when they come up a possible teacher at an “academy” run by Master Yu in some unnamed village. I put “academy” in quotes like that because it’s not really quite what the name entails, as Aang’s free lesson introduces him to a master who’s a bit too flashy than what he’s looking for. (Plus, his “lesson” involves him getting a rock thrown into his stomach, which I cannot imagine feeling good on any universe ever.)

The group thinks they’ve gotten a lead on a possible earth bending master when they overhear two young men discussing Earth Rumble VI. (No, seriously, even the name is very pro wrestling. Bless this show.) We’ll talk about Katara’s spectacular badassery later, because I really, really need to gush about what happens next.

I truly believed that we were seeing yet another one-off episode with only hints to the larger story at hand, but I was thoroughly enjoying myself this time. The design of the arena was my first indication that this was something special, as the spacious, angular design reminded me of the arenas I’d seen on TV, though at the time, I wasn’t aware yet that this was going to be a reference to pro-wrestling. That became obvious when the first two competitors were brought out, The Boulder and The Hippo, and I knew their names and their performances were these loving references towards something that was a part of my childhood. (My god, The Boulder’s character in the ring is MAGICAL. I love that he speaks about himself in third person. SO SPOT ON.) Sokka only adds to the realism here, and I adore that he becomes the Boulder’s biggest fan in just one match.

As The Boulder effortlessly moves through each of the challengers, Aang is confident that this dude is not the one who needs to teach him, as he is not one who “listens to the earth,” as Bumi recommended to him.

That’s when The Boulder has progressed to the final round and is set to fight The Blind Bandit, the previous Earth Rumble champion. And out steps a small little girl. Who is blind. Who has no qualms about insulting a sighted man who is certainly five times larger than her. And then she laughs when she calls her opponent The Pebble. And then HOLY FUCK WHAT THE SHIT IT IS THE GIRL FROM AANG’S VISION IN “THE SWAMP”

Oh my god it is so perfect and so fitting and I just sat on my couch and giggled to myself for like ten seconds straight. THIS IS AMAZING. AMAZING.

Having already done an episode with a disabled kid in “The Northern Air Temple,” and doing it quite well, I wasn’t worried that they would tokenize or fuck up The Blind Bandit’s life, and yet I still wasn’t prepared for the incredible message this episode tells other kids: You are not a lesser human being if you are disabled.

I’m sorry in advance if I just turn into a gushing, dripping mess, but this entire scene where we are introduced to Toph is just…supreme. Fantastical. Magical. Amazing. Unbelievable. The animation gives me chills, as the colors rush from the world and bright waves of sound reverberate through the earth and Toph is able to listen to the earth, to wait patiently for the right moment to strike, and strike she does, forcing the Boulder into the splits and then smoothly knocking him right out of the arena.

I just…I can’t. I WAS SO UNPREPARED.

OH GOD IT JUST GETS BETTER. Because then, Xin Fu, the show’s host, offers a bag of gold to anyone who can defeat The Blind Bandit, and Aang is the only one to speak up. I find it hilarious that he chose a ring of fighting to try and talk to The Blind Bandit. Aang has a unique advantage over her, too: because he can air bend, he can float above the earth, making it incredibly difficult for Toph to hear him. When he accidentally wins the match (no, seriously, it totally looked like an accident!), she is incensed by the loss and leaves the arena in a huff, preventing Aang from talking to her.

Of course, my brain was running at a million miles an hour this point. TOPH HAS TO BE AANG’S MASTER, RIGHT? OH GOD HOW AWESOME WOULD THAT BE. CLEARLY THIS MUST HAPPEN. And I think the writer’s were totally aware that people would react this way, and they did something FUCKING AMAZING with this expectation: They showed us how unfair this line of thinking is.

I think Aang expected Toph to uproot her life to teach him, and Team Avatar all anticipated that, thinking that just by mention that Aang was the Avatar would mean they’d get what they wanted. While Aang is a tad excited by the prospect, I imagine the whole trio was a bit flabbergasted after visiting Toph at the Bei Fong estate and listening to her harshly reject the opportunity to teach Aang. Why wouldn’t she want to teach the Avatar? they were probably thinking.

Well, the writers then promptly show us why: Because she is not simply a tool to be used to advance their cause. She has an entire life and entire experiences that they know nothing about and she certainly does not have the privilege to just up and leave her family.

The way that Toph’s family treats her is simply horrifying, probably the most depressing thing this show has ever given us. We learn that all of the fantastic earth bending she does is all one giant secret, that her family does not want Master Yu to teach her anything “dangerous,” and that she should stay at the basic level. In short, her family not only doubts that she is talented, but they want to restrict her from trying to be so, believing she is too “fragile” and “weak” all because she is blind.

Excuse me while I curl up and sob myself to sleep.

This gives the entire dinner sequence a completely new subtext. While the passive-aggressive war is slightly funny, I couldn’t help but feel that this was Toph’s way of violently telling Aang that he needs to knock it the fuck off and stop pretending like he has any right to invite himself into her house like he does and try to ruin the system she’s built to cope with her parents. Granted, she does explain this to him in person that night, long after dinner, but at the time, it was a very clear message to Aang: Her life is not a strategy or a teacher. It’s hers and hers alone, and he needs to respect that. That’s not to say that Toph doesn’t want to run away with Team Avatar, as she makes it clear that she is also envious of the freedom that Aang has. It’s just that this situation is not at all as simple as Aang imagined.

The wrestlers from earlier in the story then make everything even more interesting, as Xin Fu is convinced that Aang and Toph purposely threw the fight to split the winning gold. After kidnapping the two of them and asking for the gold back, Sokka, Katara, Master Yu, and Toph’s father all show up at the wresting arena to get their friends/daughter back, which Xin Fu obliges. However, he states that he is not going to give the Avatar back, as the Fire Nation will pay him nicely if he turns Aang over. (Side thought: REALLY. Ok, I guess this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this, but I was slightly shocked that these earth benders were totally fine turning over the one dude who could stop the Fire Nation.)

Few things I have ever seen on television have made me leap up in joy and thrust my fist in the air as if I was watching a game-winning shot in basketball quite like the moment that Toph rejects her father’s definition of her abilities. I mean, I already wanted to reach through the screen and…well, I’m not a violent person so….scold him loudly? Shake my finger at him? That sort of thing. But he outright tells Katara that Toph is weak and helpless and fragile and she cannot assist Aang’s fight against the earth benders and he does this all while she is standing next to him.

Seriously. I cheered. Such a huge moment, and THIS IS FOR A SIDE CHARACTER, TOO. Bless you, writers, for giving this much attention to someone who is not even on the main cast. Oh, and for making her the greatest earth bender ever. How unbelievably rad is her technique??? Watching her decimate each and every one of Xin Fu’s minions/fighters is cathartic.

Oh, but this episode is not done with me. Not at all. As Toph confronts her parents, apologizing for lying to them, I honestly believed we’d see this huge redemptive moment where Toph’s father apologizes for all the awful things he’s done to her.

NOPE. NOT AT ALL. He instead declares that he doesn’t feel any different about her, that he loves her just the same, so he’s going to make sure that she is confined within the house and guarded at all times.

Heartbreaking until the end of time. As Toph’s father tells Team Avatar to leave the house, we see tears flow down Toph’s face and we know that her father just took away the last bit of agency from her. Her fighting in the Earth Rumble was her only bit of independence, and now it’s been taken away from her.

Just when I was prepared to never heal again, upset at the very thought that this mega-rad girl was introduced and that she would not be traveling with Team Avatar, the writers metaphorically punch me in the face. Because guess who comes running up to Appa, claiming her parents have changed their minds about her? Oh, Toph, I tried to resist comparing myself to you, but after living in an absurdly strict, abusive household where my parents berated me to my face, I finally had to run away, too.

Seriously, there’s no doubt in my mind that Toph will become one of my favorite characters on this whole show, possibly even #1.

Nah, just kidding. UNCLE IROH FOREVER.

THOUGHTS

  • I LOVE KATARA. The fact that a girl’s “ways” are freezing silly boys to a wall is the greatest statement of our modern era.
  • “It’s on the island of Nun’ya…Nun’ya Business!” Sorry, I laughed almost as hard as Sokka.
  • Could Sokka’s bag stay around this whole episode. That thing is fierce.
  • UGH. FIRE NATION MAN. THE OBVIOUS VILLAIN IN A WRESTLING MATCH. My god, the trope is wonderful.
  • “I don’t really want to fight you. I want to talk to you.” “BOOO! NO TALKING!” Bless, Sokka.
  • “The Boulder knows how to put the hurt in the dirt!”
  • MICK. FOLEY. WAS. THE. BOULDER. my god seriously this episode is so amazing.

 

About Mark Oshiro

Perpetually unprepared since '09.
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397 Responses to Mark Watches ‘Avatar’: So2E06 – The Blind Bandit

  1. Minish says:

    Pity no one seems to care much for Toph…

  2. ldwy says:

    Your gif. It's the best gif ever.

  3. Violets are Blue says:

    For some reason this episode makes me think of this:

    Silly Old Spice Manliness…

    Then again, I've been watching these for two days…

  4. linguisticisms says:

    Hands up if you've been counting down until Mark got to this episode.

  5. PattyMo says:

    This is possibly my favorite episode of the entire series. Or one of them. Toph is possibly the most badass character in anything EVARRRRRR. And originally she was going to be a buff adult man as seen in the intro… that would've so turned out horribly. Toph being a 12 year old blind girl opens up a lot of brilliant character development and story possibilities.

    • PattyMo says:

      Ok my bad I just read the post from the person who does the artbook scans. He was still gonna be a teenager. But the guy in the intro was definitely a prototype of him and he looked old and very muscley. And the character was always going to be blind. Damn I want that artbook thing that person has…

      • @Ahavah22 says:

        I sometimes wonder what Toph would have been like as a boy. I assume the character would have had the same name, been older, and maybe not have had such a great sense of humor…

        But her sense of humor ROCKS! (get it?) I love how it jives with Sokka's, in that it's snarky and sarcastic.

        And talking about Sokka, wouldn't it have been weird if Toph were a teenaged boy around his age? I imagine rivalry more than friendship….

        such a strange AU. Wonder if there's a fic out there about it.

        PS–Glad Toph is a girl!

  6. StarshipRanger says:

    Wellll. Toph is awesome. And before I forget, I need to post a picture of an amazing bag I made last year! (with bonus turtleduck I made)!

    <img src="http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g43/elvyralani/roflbag.jpg"&gt;

  7. Candy says:

    :D:D:D I was so excited for the review of this episode. TOPH BEI FONG FUCK YEAH.

  8. beeftony says:

    My favorite moment of this episode:

    "Poor Toph… She must be so scared…"

    *cut to Toph*

    "YOU THINK YOU'RE SO TOUGH?! Why don't you come up here so I can smack that grin off your face?!"

    I read through five pages of comments, and nobody mentioned that yet.

  9. Doodle says:

    I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED WHO THE EARTHBENDER IN THE BEGINNING IS!!!

    thanks for clearing it up =]

  10. Inner Voice says:

    I love Toph, and one of the (many) reasons I desperately wanted Mark Watches Avatar to happen was "Mark Meets Toph Bei Fong". 😀

    Everyone else has said what there is to be said about Toph's awesome badassness, so now for something completely different: am I the only one who finds Xin Fu disturbingly sexy, despite the fact that he turns out to be a slimy, greedy kind of guy? I think it's the long hair… and the craggy face… and he looks really good Earthbending, dammit!

    <img src="http://i.imgur.com/IVk4Pl.jpg"&gt;

    <img src="http://i.imgur.com/MCA2vl.jpg"&gt;

    <img src="http://i.imgur.com/CmgeKl.jpg"&gt;

  11. Ellie says:

    ASFDL;KJVAJANAIRHN ;AFJLKJVRKLACVAKLRGNKJRGEFK YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG I WAITED FOR YOU TO GET TO THIS POINT. I LITERALLY READ THAT YOU WERE REVIEWING ATtLA AND BEGAN THINKING 'OH MY GOSH I CANNOT WAIT FOR MARK TO MEET TOPH.'

    AND NOW YOUR LIVE HAS TRULY BEGUN BECAUSE TOPH IS THE BEST CHARACTER TO EVER EXIST IN THE HISTORY OF EVER.

  12. @Siesiegirl says:

    So, modly beings, now that Mark has met Toph, can we show him… I'm hesitant to even say the title for fear of spoilers. But, that one short film with chibis? The one based on "The Swamp" that was only still a spoiler because it showed her onscreen for like two seconds? Or is he going to watch those and we should therefore preserve his innocence?

  13. kchano says:

    klsdfgjk;fkgj I have been bursting at the seams for you to get to Toph so I can openly freak out about how much I love her XD

  14. tearbender says:

    I felt the need to watch this episode for the second time in 24 hours, it's that rich, lol. Even though it took me quite a few episodes to really like Toph, I do feel more connected and invested in her right now than Mai and Ty Lee, who have interesting abilities, outfits and personalities, but haven't impacted me on an emotional level.

    But Toph…Toph could have said practically anything to her parents, I've never been here, I've never done, this, etc., but instead she snared me with "I've never had a real friend before" ;(

    Plus I love the ending. I think she'll be good for the team…the Gaang are still trusting enough not to doubt her father's extremely quick change of heart. So far it seems like she's the only good liar on the team, lol.

    So I'd still put Fire Lord Ozai as the worst parent in this universe, with Toph's parents running a close second, though maybe they should be plunked in Earth Rumble VII to the determine the winner…

  15. thefireandthehearth says:

    Hey, I know I'm just some random person on the internet, but this really struck a chord with me. I have played the game of I Have It Worse Off Than You, and it sucks. Seriously, just because Toph's situation isn't as back as say, Aang's, that didn't make her problems any less valid. As someone who also internalized a lot of problems because I didn't think I had any right to talk about them, I say you are exactly spot on. And I'm really glad to hear you're working things out.

    <img src="http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo187/gamegeek2589/Gif/tumblr_lgxrpfpy151qcn249o1_250.gif"&gt;

    I'll go back to being less creepy on the internet now.

    • rainbowsinside says:

      Sorry for the late reply, I just wanted to say thanks! Your comment made me smile. (And cat gifs are always appreciated!) I wish you the best in whatever may be troubling you as well.

    • @Ahavah22 says:

      @Rickard, @rainbowside, & @Thefireandthehearth: Mark wrote:

      "The way that Toph’s family treats her is simply horrifying, probably the most depressing thing this show has ever given us."

      This is what drove me to make the statement that Toph doesn't have the worst situation in Team Avatar. I think Mark can be a bit melodramatic at times, and this absolute statement of "the most depressing thing this show has ever given us" is just…well, it's not a contest!

      I'm not going to argue that Toph's situation is awful. Her family is too protective of her, but they might be ashamed of her as well. It doesn't make a difference, because EVERY CHILD HAS A RIGHT TO SOCIALIZE WITH THEIR PEERS, AND EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO GO TO SCHOOL!!! Whether or not her parents had any good intentions in keeping her a secret, it's still an awful thing to do. In fact it's downright abusive and I have very, very strong opinions about child abuse and those who commit it.

      EVERY PERSON ON EARTH has challenges, hardships, trauma and pain. Most people also have had some great things in their life as well, reasons to be thankful. They don't cancel each other out, and life isn't a competition to decide about who has it the worst and who has it the best. I was wrong to imply that, and I am sorry.

      I would request that Mark be less dramatic in his proclamations, otherwise he'll make such absolute statements in every episode, and it's just not fair in the entire context of the complex Avatar world.

      For example, Yue wasn't even touched by the war, her parents loved her, and she had the respect and admiration of her entire tribe. But even before she died, did she have an easy, pain-free life? The obligation to marry someone she didn't love for the greater good of her tribe weighed heavily upon her. She was loved and respected, but she wasn't free. She had many good things going for her, and her situation was not as "bad" as the Gaang's. But her pain was real.

      So I'd just appreciate if Mark doesn't proclaim who has the most depressing story, because that is very subjective, and different viewers resonate with certain characters for a variety of reasons. Many situations are depressing; and the writer's do a good job of showing us how every character's struggles and hardships are significant.

      The "Who's got it worse?" debates in fandom are just as bad, (if not as prevalent) as shipping debates. AND WE ALL HATE NONSTOP SHIPPING FLAMEWARS, Right? 😛

  16. ArrogantSage says:

    Toph = GREATEST CHARACTER EVER.
    That's all I have to say. Back to my regularly scheduled reading and keeping my mouth shut.

  17. celestineangel1 says:

    I remember growing up, my grandma used to watch her soap operas, and in between them was her morning wrestling and her afternoon wrestling. Which, considering we're about as country as it gets, really was her morning and afternoon "wrasslin."

    My grandma was weird and awesome.

  18. bookgal12 says:

    Wow, there are so many posts about this episode, no small wonder BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOREVER FOR THIS EPISODE! *ahem* I think Toph is an amazing character who will only continue to show how badass she is throughout the show. I loved the fact that she trash talked everyone and even better followed up on it with the best display of earth bending I have seen thus far. Plus, we get another strong female character added to the vast amount of others in the show which makes me incredibly happy! I also love toph's outfit, it's very earth tone because of earth kingdom but the headband makes me think its a symbol of her nobility. Overall, I praise this show because of how they handle disability. I know a lot of people have said this, but it needs to be said anyway. Like in the "Northern Air Temple" it shows that kids who are disabled can be just as awesome and badass as any other kids and in Toph's case Better then any kids or adults. I can't wait for more avatar!

    <img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4K9QarOb2KdUY9Q4yQ0Arb4mTDTZdTdm7sjVAJMsqBIRDOFOW"&gt;

  19. Avatar_fan_mom says:

    YAY for TOPH!

    I just adore what the writers did with this character…a small girl being the most amazing earthbender in this town…and she's blind. On the surface, it could look like one of those annoying after-school specials from the 80s that has the token disabled kid who everyone learns is just like them, but it is NOT that AT ALL. She is not an amazing earthbender despite being blind, I believe that being blind helps make her an amazing earth-bender. Because she doesn't have the ability to use her sense of sight, she is more in tune with her other senses…feeling and hearing the slightest vibrations and using that to her advantage. Being blind an advantage instead of a handicap…BRILLIANT!

  20. Socks says:

    Meaning she can only see Iroh?

  21. @Ahavah22 says:

    That Zuko's body might have had the ability to protect his eyes is a good point, but that wound still looks so incredibly painful to me. I'm not sure whether the creators or writers ever stated the extent of Zuko's eye damage. Can he create normal tears and moisture? Is his vision limited from that eye? In any case, it's as if his face was burned in the most vulnerable area with the only consequence being physical disfigurement. Ask any Ophthalmologist about what a burn even *near* an eye can do…

    As for Toph, yeah. I don't think this episode makes her seem "magically disabled" to any extreme or offensive point, but it's implying that. The whole idea that she can "see with her feet", well, it's not *that* crazy in the context of the world around her. SPOILERS, ETC. LOL!

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  23. Will says:

    Great review, but the surprise ending might be important to mention, don’t ya think??

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  26. misterbernie says:

    So this wrestling thing, is it something people in the Americas are into?
    Any time wrestling is mentioned in a US production, I am so completely stumped because I basically only ever got to know parodies of it, and then I learnt that the parodies aren't that far off and then I was confused. (Also general!wrestling dudes are way hotter /shallow and really shallow).

    Apart from that oh my fucking god TOPH KICKS ARSE WOO GO TOPH

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  44. Tulipparty says:

    Just so you know, Toph isn't blind. She just uncapable of seeing anything less awesome than she is.

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