In this episode of Avatar State Radio, Kev and Mike tackle The Great Divide, widely regarded as the lowest-rated episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender. With Sokka and Katara suddenly at odds in an immature sibling squabble, and even Appa and Momo fighting, the episode starts on a strange note. But Kev argues it all serves to highlight Aang’s growth as a leader and problem-solver.

The Gaang encounters two Earth Kingdom tribes—the Gan Jin and the Zhang—locked in a 100-year feud. Aang takes charge, helping the tribes cross the treacherous canyon while resolving their conflicts along the way. Kev and Mike delve into Aang’s leadership moments, including his clever (if questionable) story about the origins of the feud and his ability to unite the tribes. Was he lying, or just doing what needed to be done to bring peace?

Despite the episode’s reputation, Kev found joy in the lore-building additions like the Canyon Crawlers, hilariously labeling them as “just hangry.” The duo debates the tribes’ baffling decision to bring food when they had just eaten, and how Aang’s reaction mirrored that of an exasperated parent. They also discuss the episode’s biggest missed opportunity: leaving the tribes’ history unresolved, which could have provided a more satisfying conclusion.

Kev appreciates the episode for what it is—a filler that gives Aang a chance to lead—but agrees it’s the “worst” episode so far. Mike, who remembered disliking it much more, admits it wasn’t as bad as he feared. In true Avatar State Radio fashion, the conversation takes a turn with Mike asking, “Do you think you’ll hate this episode or the M. Night Shyamalan movie more?”

Join Kev and Mike for a spirited discussion about The Great Divide, its place in the series, and why it’s still worth watching, even if it’s at the bottom of the rankings.

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ThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | Get 'Em Next Year | @ThatNerdyKev on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Twitch

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Our intro music is The Voyage by Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

In this episode of Avatar State Radio, Kev and Mike dive into Jet, an action-packed chapter that blurs the line between hero and villain. The episode opens with some fun banter, including Momo’s hilarious misadventures and Sokka blaming Appa for leading the Fire Nation to them. As the story unfolds, Sokka’s instincts become a central theme, leaving the hosts questioning whether he’s right this time—or just lucky.

Enter Jet and the Freedom Fighters, a charismatic yet morally ambiguous group fighting for survival. Kev and Mike debate the need for a Jet spinoff while exploring his darker side. Would Jet have killed that elderly man? He was certainly willing to destroy the entire village, Earth Kingdom citizens included, in his quest to take down the Fire Nation. It’s a chilling realization that Jet is less of a hero and more of a villain willing to sacrifice anyone to achieve his goals.

Katara’s turn to fall for someone brings emotional stakes, while Aang enjoys some carefree ziplining moments. Meanwhile, Jet’s charm hides his manipulative nature, and the Freedom Fighters seem to follow his lead out of desperation and impressionability. Sokka, often underestimated, gets his time to shine when he ultimately saves the day.

Kev and Mike discuss the bittersweet ending, in which, from one perspective, the good guys failed to stop Jet’s plan. Kev notes that there should have been a longer moment to dwell on that sadness before revealing Sokka’s heroic actions. The episode leaves plenty to unpack about trust, instincts, and the cost of doing what’s right.

Join Kev and Mike for another engaging discussion about this pivotal episode, Jet’s moral ambiguity, and why Sokka continues to surprise us.

Find Mike

Tellest.com | Twitter @tellest | Facebook @tellestbooks | Twitch @ThatTellestGuy | Etsy | Patreon

Find Kev

ThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | We'll Get 'Em Next Year | @ThatNerdyKev on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Twitch

Find Avatar State Radio

AvatarStateRadio.com | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Amazon

Our intro music is The Voyage by Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

In this episode of Avatar State Radio, Kev and Mike discuss The Waterbending Scroll, an action-packed and character-driven adventure that introduces pirates, jealousy, and—of course—more bending! But first, the hosts share some behind-the-scenes details about Avatar State Radio and briefly discuss how Fan Expo 2024 took it out of them. They also talk about the latest Fortnite crossover featuring ATLA bending scrolls, proving that Avatar’s influence is everywhere.

The story kicks off with Aang’s timeless balance of responsibility and childlike wonder. Despite knowing there’s a ticking clock to master all four elements, he still finds time to be a kid. Katara’s attempts to teach Aang waterbending take a turn when he picks it up effortlessly, sparking her jealousy and self-doubt. Kev and Mike explore whether Aang’s rapid progress is due to his years of airbending experience and/or his status as the Avatar.

The Gaang’s journey takes a hit when they lose their supplies and money. Aang’s impulsive spending on a Sky Bison whistle is a life-saving decision later in the episode. Meanwhile, Cabbage Cart Man returns triumphantly—only to have his cart destroyed again, sowing the seeds of the Cabbagebender origin story.

The hosts delve into the episode’s supporting characters, including pirates who are talented fighters despite not being benders. Zuko and Iroh appear briefly but make their moments count, reminding us of their presence and complexity.

As the tension builds, Aang and Katara work together to recover the stolen waterbending scroll. The episode features plenty of action, from Momo fighting pirates to a thrilling battle at sea. Kev and Mike also highlight the tai-chi influence on waterbending, noting the 24-part form depicted on the scroll and Katara’s use of the single whip technique.

Join Kev and Mike as they discuss this pivotal episode, which is filled with humor, drama, and bending brilliance!

Find Mike

Tellest.com | Twitter @tellest | Facebook @tellestbooks | Twitch @ThatTellestGuy | Etsy | Patreon

Find Kev

ThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | @ThatNerdyKev on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Twitch

Find Avatar State Radio

AvatarStateRadio.com | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Amazon

Our intro music is The Voyage by Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/