History Recap / AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheBlindBandit

** She's on the receiving end of one from Aang. Since he uses airbending to float above the ground, she isn't able to sense his movements, leaving her powerless to stop him from blowing her out of the ring.

* CurbStompBattle: Toph versus ''anyone'' in this episode. She's not even seriously threatened when it's six on one. Although special mention does have to be made of her opening fight with the Boulder, which ends in her victory literally before the guy can even make two steps.

* AllStarCast: guest voice actors include Creator/CamClarke as Toph's dad, Creator/ScottMenville as one of the kids Katara intimidates, and, of course, Wrestling/MickFoley as The Boulder.

* OverprotectiveDad: Lao Beifong. He's so concerned for his daughter's safety that she's not even allowed to walk around the grounds of the family house without escort, and the rest of the world doesn't even know she exists. Even after seeing her defend herself, he instead believe he had given her "too much freedom" and becomes ''even more'' restrictive of her life, forcing her to finally run off and join Aang. He later sees this as a kidnapping, and hires two men to bring her back.

* SlapstickKnowsNoGender: At the end of the episode Sokka throws the champion's belt back at Toph forgetting she's blind, it hits her at the top of the head.

''[[caption-width-right:333:"The Blind Bandit" holding up the Champion's belt.]]''

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Katara is generally nice. However, when a pair of rude boys insults Aang, she follows after them and freezes them. The next they meet, she glares at the boys and they recoil in fear.

** A moment earlier, when the Gaang are climbing over the wall into Toph's home, Aang lands gracefully on his feet. Katara jumps down and is helped by Sokka and Aang. In between these two, Sokka just crashes to the ground.

* CurbStompCushion: Unlike the other Earthbenders, Xin Fu is actually able to put up a fight against Toph. He puts her on the defensive for awhile, but we know he's screwed the minute Toph senses where he lands after he dodges her attack.

--> '''Xin Fu''': I’m not smiling.

* EveryoneHasStandards: The Boulder expresses concerns over fighting a blind girl. Subverted as he quickly changes his mind once Toph mocks him by saying he’s scared.

** "Toff" is a British slang for someone with aristocratic background which in fact Toph descended from.

* PrimpOfContempt: Contrasting Sokka’s utter glee for Earth Rumble VI is the unimpressed Katara, who checks her nails while bemoaning the TestosteronePoisoning she’s about to witness.

* SomebodyElsesProblem: Toph initially declines the request to train Aang, saying that it's not her problem if the Avatar fails to save the world. She goes back on it after her father not only lays down more strict rules, but kicks the Gaang - possibly the only kids around her age she's ever even ''met'' - out of his house.

** Also [[InvokedTrope invoked]] by Sokka:

* AbsenteeActor: Zuko and Iroh do not appear.

* SlapstickKnowsNoGender: At the end of the episode Sokka throws the chapion's belt back at Toph forgetting she's blind, it hits her at the top of the head.

* PrimpOfContempt: Contrasting Sokka’s utter glee for Earth Rumble VI is the unimpressed Katara, who checks her nails while bemoaning the TestosteronePoisoning she’s about to witness.

** The Hippo is clearly King Hippo from VideoGame/PunchOut

* {{Jerkass}}: Lao Beifong, considering his IgnoredEpiphany above. [[UngratefulBastard He doesn't care that Aang sacrificed himself to get Toph away from her kidnappers as long as Toph is safe, never mind the fact he's the Avatar, the world's hope.]]. He deludes himself that Toph should still be confined and bans the Gaang from his home. When Toph obviously runs away, her father hires two guys to get her back, deluding himself that Aang "kidnapped" her.

* LittleMissBadass: Toph immediately cements her status as one.

* OverprotectiveDad: Lao Beifong. He's so concerned for his daughter's safety that she's not even allowed to walk around the grounds of the family house without escort, and the rest of the world doesn't even know she exists. Even after seeing her defend herself, he instead believe he had given her "too much freedom" and becomes ''even more'' restrictive of her life, forcing her to finally run off and join Aang.

* ButtMonkey: As is par for the course, Sokka is the target in thia episode. ''Twice''.

* OverprotectiveDad: Lao Beifong. He's so concerned for his daughter's safety that she's not even allowed to walk around the grounds of the family house without escort, and the rest of the world doesn't even know she exists.

* CurbStompBattle: Toph veraus ''anyone'' in this episode. She's not even seriously threatened when it's six on one. Although special mention does have to be made of her opening fight with the Boulder, which ends in her victory literally before the guy can even make two steps.

* DeadpanSnarker: Toph, displaying one of her prumary character traits.

* AerithAndBob: Poppy Beifong's name stands out compared to her husband and daughter's Chinese names.

** A moment earlier, when the Gaang are climbing over the wall into Toph's home, Aang lands gracefully on his feet. Katara jumps down and is helped by Sokka and Aang. Sokka just crashes to the ground.

* ForeignWrestlingHeel: Parodied with Fire Nation Man in the Earth Rumble. [[Wrestling/NikolaiVolkoff He has a Russian accent and wears red]].

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Several Professional Wrestlers, most obviously "The Boulder". Bonus points is that the person who voices "The Boulder" is Mick Foley who wrestled with The Rock on occasion (even winning the Tag Team Championships together)

* BulletTime: During Toph's short, short fight with The Boulder.
* ButtMonkey: When Toph sends the Gaang flying, Katara and Aang land on bushes. Sokka lands on the ground.

* CaptainErsatz: [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Boulder]].

* CurbStompBattle: Toph versus the Earth Rumble fighters. Whether the fight's serious or not.
** Especially when the fight's serious: she doesn't break a sweat!
** Toph's solo fight with the Boulder ended in her victory literally before the guy could even make two steps.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: Aang jumps into the wrestling ring to talk with Toph and ask for her to become his earthbending teacher. She thinks he's another opponent trying to trash-talk her, and gets humiliated when he defeats her by accident. This leaves a bad impression on her and she refuses to teach Aang until te end of the episode.
* DisabilitySuperpower: Toph can't see. Her heightened sense of touch and bending abilities, however, allows her to sense vibrations in stone and pretty much see everything in 360 degrees.

* IgnoredEpiphany: Lao Beifong realizes just how strong and capable his daughter really is. His response? To double-down on being overprotective.

* {{Jerkass}}: Lao Beifong considering his IgnoredEpiphany above. [[UngratefulBastard He doesn't care that Aang sacrificed himself to get Toph away from her kidnappers as long as Toph is safe, never mind the fact he's the Avatar, the world's hope.]]. He deludes himself that Toph should still be confined and banned the Gaang from his home. When Toph obviously runs away, her father hires two guys to get her back, deluding himself that Aang "kidnapped" her.

* LogicalWeakness: Toph's ability to sense vibrations only works if she is in physical contact with the ground (specifically it has to be made from rock-but later it extends to metal too). She cannot sense earth and metal in the air, which is how Aang sent her flying in one blast.
* MeaningfulName: 'Toph' means 'Fragile Lotus', which accurately describes her parents' attitude towards her.

* PajamaCladHero: Toph spends the second half of the episode in her night clothes.

* ShoutOut: Fire Nation Man is also a clear reference to Wrestling/NikolaiVolkoff with the use of his Fire Nation flag and his obnoxious national pride.

*** The Hippo is clearly King Hippo from VideoGame/PunchOut
* SomebodyElsesProblem: Toph initially declines the request to train Aang, saying that it's not her problem if the Avatar fails to save the world. She goes back on it when the Gaang and her parents come to rescue her and the Avatar, and Aang speaks highly of her bending abilities.

* TheWorfEffect: The Boulder is clearly a skilled Earthbender and somewhat easily defeats the other wrestlers. Toph comes along and defeats him even more easily.

* SomebodyElsesProblem: Toph initially declines the request to train Avatar, saying that it's not her problem if the Avatar fails to save the world.

* ProWrestlingEpisode

* {{Jerkass}}: Lao Beifong considering the above trope. [[UngratefulBastard He doesn't care that Aang sacrificed himself to get Toph away from her kidnappers as long as Toph is safe, never mind the fact he's the Avatar, the world's hope.]]. He deludes himself that Toph should still be confined and banned the Gaang from his home. When Toph obviously runs away, her father hires two guys to get her back, deluding himself that Aang "kidnapped" her.