Why Toph’s Husband could be The Duke

One of the major plot points not answered in the season finale of The Legend of Korra: Book 1 was the identity of Lin Bei Fong’s father or Toph’s husband. We knew how Aang and Katara got together and we assumed that Sokka and Suki got together, but what about poor Toph? Surely she must have at least had some sort of relationship, right?

Well she did, and we have reason to believe that her (lone?) relationship was with The Duke. Before I get into that whole thing called “evidence”, I wanted to provide just a tad bit of background information on The Duke in case you may have forgotten about him.

The Duke is of Earth Kingdom nationality and he joined the Freedom Fighters when he was caught stealing food from them. According to Jet, The Duke never had a home so it is assumed that he is an orphan. So how does an Earth Kingdom Orphan end up with a wealthy, Earth Bending prodigy? I’ll show you.

Most of the evidence we have is simply a few pictures of Toph and The Duke together, but you just have to see them to believe in the shipping (they’re fairly convincing).

If that doesn’t convince you, check out the glaring similarities we found between Lin Bei Fong and her potential father, The Duke, as a child.

Convinced yet? If not, think about it this way: Who else could it possibly be? There are only a few possibilities unless Mike and Bryan decided to pair Toph up with some un-introduced character.

But of course this is all speculation. Nothing is official, however I am a strong believer in this outcome.

Update: I’ve recently noticed that a lot of fans seem to believe that Sokka is the husband of Toph. The reality is that this is impossible unless Mike and Bryan decided to break the laws of morality.

Let’s play out the scenario: Aang and Katara have Tenzin; Sokka and Toph have Lin. Tenzin and Lin, who are now technically cousins, date each other. Two cousins cannot date each other unless they choose to be immoral. And I doubt Mike and Bryan would include such in inappropriate theme in a Nickelodeon show.

Please carry on the discussion.

68 Responses

  1. Who are you trying to convince the readers or yourself?

    Seriously you are the very deffinition of those horrible shippers Zutara had more evidence then what you just shown me…there is no similarity between lin and the duke its just two pics put next to eachother i could make naga be the daughter of momo and appa if i was in such denial as you!! give it up already! Tophs husband was not named and most likely somebody she met later in life.

    • No need to be so hostile about it. It’s speculation, and if you can’t stand someone taking a guess at an unknown fact, you can kindly leave the blog. It’s seriously all opinion. I don’t need you telling me what I can and cannot do on my personal fan blog that others read. Bye bye.

      • I agree one hundred percent! I think that his guess is as good as gold and the best one I’ve seen since the series ended! Leave him alone! He has the best ideas I’ve seen so far!

    • true, but it’s obviously Sokka

  2. I read the “The Promise” books and Zuko and Mai broke-up and started dating Suki, Suki and Sokka broke-up and Sokka started dating Suki. So, no offense but there is nooooooooooooo wayyyyyyyyyyyy that The Duke is Lin Bei Fong’s father or related in any way, shape or form

    • How does Sokka break up with Sukki and start dating Sukki! O.o

      But I think I see what you are trying to say. Thanks for the info, but this is just speculation. Nothing official here, but thanks for your input!

    • I think you may need to read the Promise again. Zuko and Suki did not start dating in the comic. If you think the line “I’m really worried about you Zuko” means that they got together, then you’re reading into things “wayyyyyyyyy” too much.

  3. To all of you who believe Sokka is Toph’s husband, I have updated the post with evidence to squash that theory. Please read the update.

  4. A comment to your cousins thing… Cousins married in earlier eras all.. the… freakin’… time. In some cases, they still do! Some states in the USA even allow first-cousin marriage. It’s only immoral by the view of some people, and even joked upon about incest. The idea that cousins might marry in the world of Avatar is not out of the question.

    • You made a plausible point but I still don’t think Mike and Bryan would advertise something that can be perceived as incest in a children’s show.

      There’s no question that it’s certainly possible. But if you look at it in the perspective of the creators, what would be the point of including something perceived to be so inappropriate in a children’s TV show?

  5. This is a really interesting theory! Its probably the best theory to who Toph’s husband is I’ve heard so far, assuming that its not some character we’ve never met. Bravo 🙂

  6. very interesting theory….but it could be Ohev he was in the comic book “love potion 8” and toph had a crush on him

  7. I cant even think right now! It’s so confusing. I mean I think it’s Sokka, but then I think to myself (noway!) and then I think of The Duke, and i’m like no way as well! Confusing, and good job on the thinking!!

  8. i think it is zuko cause lin acts alot like zuko and zuko and toph had lots in common like there stubornish and there parent issues

    • That could be true, if Zuko doesn’t stay with Mai.

      • I’m not trying to get into a shipping war here or anything but I just want to star my opinion. What if all that happened at the end of part four Avatar Aang was canon as far as who all was together. Most relationships have their ups and downs, which means people often break up and then get Back together every few months before they really work it all out. People who think Suki and Zuko are falling for each other, I promise I have absoutly nothing against you but I just think that when Zuko helped Suki up and they said they were worried for each other etc. I really just think that those were friend like gestures. I mean just think about it: they were forced to be in contact with each other for so long before Sozin’s Comet and apparently some time afterwards. They have to be resale close friend are just naturally worried if their is something wrong with their friends and that’s all there is to it. However, on the other hand, Lin and Zuko are alike but to be honest this Toph married The Duke thing is really as good as gold and the best theory weve got until who knows when. My compliments to the author on this post and regards also from my friends who have found all posts from you quite interesting.

      • Thank you, I appreciate it. And yes, relationships do change and go through ups and downs. It’ll be interesting to possibly learn more about them in Flash Backs as LoK continues.

  9. but why does lin have the surname of toph??

    • Because Lin is Toph’s daughter.

      • i mean she should have the surname of her father, that means toph don’t have a husband when lin was born right?

      • I think you’re right. Maybe Toph had Lin when she was never married? It’s just another part of the mystery.

    • Because Toph is one of the few people in ATLA with a last name, besides shes nobility. If Toph married (or at least had children with) the Duke, he would assume her last name as would her children.

    • Because either her husband is someone without a last name, or Lin chose to keep the last name because her mom was so well known. If her mom founded the Bei Fong academy for metal bending, wouldn’t it make sense for Lin to keep the last name to be identified?

  10. Question:
    As soon as an animated trailer comes out for season two will you tell us please?

  11. When do you think Korra season two will air?

    • I’m thinking either January or February. It’ll definitely air close to or on 2013 just because Nickelodian won’t want to stack their profits in one year (LOK brings in a lot of money). That being said, I wouldn’t expect Book 2 to be delayed much once the new year hits since, by then, it would have been over 7 months since Book 1 finished. So look for it to air sometime this winter. Book 2 airing in December is also possible since that would also quickly overlap into the new year.

  12. I have a feeling that Lin never knew her dad, because he wasn’t there when she was born. As in, Toph meets someone later in life, and he leaves her when he finds out she’s pregnant. I’m only saying because Lin has the Bei Fong last name

  13. I think that sokka definatly marries sukki, I mean sokka was sooo much in love with her and she was also verry much in love with him so I can’t see why toph would marry sokka, because he is already hooked up? 🙂

  14. I think it might be Zuko because the eyes and the face with the scar
    Lin Beifong has similarities with Zuko

  15. yeah, it would be interesting to know how she got the scar. A Zuko sort of flash back kind of deal? But i think that Sokka and Toph remained friends and stand behind the Sokka and Suki romance. I don’t think Lin’s dad is Zuko because I’ve read articles about Zuko’s daughter being fire lord?? But maybe Lin’s father will be addressed in Season 2 LoK.

  16. I think this is an excellent theory and if you watch Sozin’s Comet: Avatar Aang in the end right before Zuko’s speech Toph hugs The Duke *hint* *hint* but I’ll admit I don’t have enough solid proof (I mean Sokka hugged Toph before and he obviously got married to Suki) But this theory is a very good one but until The LoK season two comes out we won’t know. It comes out in January or Febraury 2013 right oh I hope, I hope, I hope!!!! 😀

  17. I think this is an amazing theory. I can back it up too. In the end of Sozin’s Comet:Avatar Aang when everyone is cheering and celebrating Toph and The Duke hug. *hint* *hint* But this isn’t very solid proof, I mean Sokka hugged Toph before right? And he obivously married Suki. Well hopefully we’ll have an identity of Lin’s father in season two of LoK. Also has anybody ever noticed in the ATLA movie they call Aang Oong and a lot of people miss pronouce his name. And I have one more thing to say. Has anyone ever noticed that Katara is older than both Aang and Toph yet she lived longer? Weird huh? Anyway in the next season of LoK Lin may reveal that she does not in fact know who yer father is and may go on a quest to find out who he is – like Zuko wanted to find his mother Ursa – but that’s just my theory. 🙂

  18. Oops I put that twice sorry!! :p

  19. Well…First I thought that Zuko and Toph would become a couple…But that’s not possible,I think :s

  20. From all the clues I am seeing, what if Toph never married anyone and was a single mother? For one, Lin’s last name is Beifong, her mother’s last name, which is an indication that Lin may not have been “legitimate”. Plus, Toph is shown to have kept her last name, which, presumably, she would not have done had she gotten married. Also, Lin is SO much like her mother – independent, tough, and not prone to showing her feelings, much like Toph, without any seeming influence from a father figure. Obviously it’s complete speculation, but it would be interesting to see!

    • I just saw others had made this comment as well! Whoops! I am also digging the theory that Zuko and Toph had a fling, resulting in Lin, but Zuko couldn’t marry Toph or Toph didn’t want to get married because Zuko had responsibilities as the Fire Lord, so they went their separate ways and Toph was a single mother. Til Zuko resigned and became an ambassador but by then it was too late to tell Lin the truth! Guh, so excited for Book 2 to premiere.

    • I’m not sure about taking names. Toph is one of the few ATLA characters with a last name, and I can’t imagine her taking someone else’s. But single motherhood is very plausible.

    • I don’t think Nick would have any of their characters have kids without getting married. (Much as us older Avatar fans refuse to believe it, Avatar at least was for younger kids. Can you imagine kids going, “Mommy? How did Toph get pregnant without getting married?”

      Anyway…

      I do see it being possible that Toph’s husband died when Lin was very young. It probably would have helped toughen her up into the person she is today.

  21. I really like this… I did believe Sokka would be her husband but didn’t have that much of a good theory. However really like yours :)- It’s a possibility but guess we won’t know for sure unless they reveal more in the next season :)- Nice job!

  22. My theory is that Toph and Sokka had an illegitimate child, then Lin and Tenzin broke up when they found out they were cousins. 🙂 I know this wouldn’t actually be true because it’s a nikelodeon show, but this is how I wish it happened. I’m a huge Tokka fan lol

  23. But toph doesn’t seem like she would marry a non-bender. I’m sure it’s someone we don’t know. If this is true I’d just die because they don’t seem to fit but then again toph is a hard one to match up with someone(I ship toko but it’s still hard for me to see her married). I hope she married someone as awesome as her but the duke doesn’t really fit.

  24. Okay people lets get this straight, Toph’s husband is NOT Zuko or Sokka, google has great information and so does Wikipedia, sokka and suki did in fact get married, they never broke up to begin with and whatsoever there was nothing that she felt for zuko. In season one in one of the episodes it shows a scene where a fire bender is on board of a fire nation ship, that boy is the fire nations prince, and also the son of Mai and Zuko. From what I have read was that not only did Zuko and Mai have a kid but so did sokka and suki. As for Toph, yes her daughters father is unknown but if Toph never got into a relationship she would never have had her only kid Lin Bei Fong. If you don’t believe anything that I have told you then you can look up the facts yourself. Have a nice day :3

    • I think it’s pretty commonly accepted that Zuko had a daughter, not a son, who is fire lord. I’m not sure what episode you’re talking about and how you know what the boy was fire lord.

  25. Seriously, people. Everything’s obvious when it comes to pairings.
    Sokka+Suki (IN ANIME, coz they actually kiss)
    Aang + Katara (Coz 1) Aang fantasizes about Katara before the war, and they kiss at the last episode)
    Zuko + Mai (They actually kissed, and the record for The Legend of Korra said that Zuko proposes to Mai during the “timeskip” between)
    …And Sokka + Yue (They kissed.)
    I don’t know about the others…I think the Duke is possible. Very possible… Good thinking!

  26. I see this argument is really convincing, and i ship the Doph too. But I also ship Teoph(Teo x Toph), Tohev(Toph x Ohev) and lets not forget my OTP Tokka(Toph x Sokka). I am to the point where im ready for the dad to be anyone, with or without any evidence. Thats why i also strongly belive that the father could have been Sokka. I mean, everyone’s argument that Tokka cant happen is that Linzin would be incest, but seriously, its a kids show. No one is arguing about the fact that Pema is 12 years younger than Tenzin, now are they? I also have evidence to support that Sokka is the father here: http://nihaoimsenna.tumblr.com/post/42072037104/tokka-and-equalist-theory (along with evidence to support how the Equalists were created ^^
    I also have evidence that Ohev(not introduced in the show, but in a ready to read book) here: http://aangxkatara.livejournal.com/172263.html

  27. Maybe, there is nothing wrong with dating your cousin? jk, but I doubt there is in the Avatar world, so why not Sokka?

  28. As much as I would LOVE for Sokka to be Lin’s blood father, it can’t happen without crossing lines an American kid’s cartoon wouldn’t cross. Nick isn’t touching incest with Cartoon Network’s pole.

    I think Duke is her dad and Toph’s husband, and I’m OK with that :o)

  29. The Duke!! Yes Very plausible.. definitely not Zuko or Sokka. Well see book II

  30. Actually marrying a first cousin is still legal in 20 states in the U.S. and is even common practice in other parts of the world to keep family names and property. Also it was extremely popular for those same reasons throughout history. Where the series takes place (although fictitiously) in the past, Toph marrying Sokka, and then Lin dating Tenzin, would not be a big deal.

    • Smoking weed is legal in a few states too, but that doesn’t mean its appropriate to publicly advertise it.

      • Your missing my point, it’s a historic fictitious show. Smoking Marijuana wasn’t illegal until 1970, just like marrying your cousin wasn’t and still isn’t in some places. In fact, Hemp (Another term for marijuana) was a huge cash crop that was grown to be consumed, and used to make things like paper and rope. It wouldn’t surprise me if some of the rope and paper they use in the show is made out of Marijuana. After all, the show did have “Cactus Juice” (It’s the quenchiest) a mind altering drink similar to alcohol. All I’m trying to say is that different cultures and different times have different values, and marrying/dating a cousin is only recently seen as “breaking the laws of morality” and then only in the Western World. In fact, marrying cousins make up 10% of marriages worldwide and over half of marriages in some middle east countries.

  31. Cousin marriage is a common thing around the world, so, I doubt there’s any problem with that.. Other than that, I do believe Sokka married Suki…I mean, I doubt Bryke would mess up the pairs that were made in AtLA. And there are chances that Toph married Ohev..from the comics (but, I don’t believe in that much..)
    Argh! Cannot wait to find out who Lin’s father is! X-/

  32. And if there’s a problem with cousin marriage and saying that Toph didn’t marry Sokka because Tenzin and Lin were a couple for sometime, then the same goes for Toph and The Duke. The Duke was four years younger than Toph. He’s eight and Toph’s twelve…

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