In this episode of Avatar State Radio, Kev and Mike dive into The Storm, an emotional and revealing episode that explores the pasts of both Aang and Zuko. But first—MARK HAMILL, BABY! Mike takes a moment to celebrate every version of Fire Lord we’ve had, from Mark Hamill’s legendary voice acting to Cliff Curtis and Daniel Dae Kim’s live-action performances.

The episode’s intensity kicks off with Aang’s haunting dream, which starts with everyone flying in a whimsical way before turning into a nightmare about his past. Kev and Mike break down how the weight of Aang’s decision to leave the Air Nomads has been haunting him for 100 years. Meanwhile, Kev loves the episode’s flashbacks, as they provide crucial context for why Zuko is the way he is. The biggest takeaway? Zuko is not his father. When it comes down to it, he’s willing to save his people, not sacrifice them.

Parallels between Aang and Zuko’s pasts become clear, with Aang’s discovery of his Avatar status quickly leading to his fateful freezing in the storm. At the same time, Zuko’s story unfolds, revealing the tragic consequences of his defiance. Kev and Mike debate what’s worse: the way the grumpy fisherman talks to his wife or adults literally hitting children.

Katara reassures Aang that he gives people hope, while Iroh reminds the crew that, in his own way, the Avatar also gives Zuko hope. And speaking of Iroh—this episode delivers an incredible moment as he redirects lightning for the first time, proving just how powerful he is as a firebender.

For the first time in a while, we see Aang enter the Avatar State, heightening the emotional weight of the episode. Though Kev initially feels this is one of the weaker episodes, talking it through with Mike helps him appreciate it more. Mike, however, notes that for many fans, The Storm is a top-tier episode of Season 1, leading to some fun debate. They also touch on the fascinating way the Air Nomads determine the next Avatar, which mirrors how the Dalai Lama is chosen.

And finally, Kev completely loses his ability to pronounce “Zuko,” proving that even in an intense episode, there’s always room for some laughs.

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

Find Avatar State Radio

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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 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.

Find Mike

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

Find Kev

ThatNerdyKev.com | Starbird Media, LLC | Everything is Awesome | 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 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/