Episodes
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Listen in as Yani, Carolina, Taryn, Zach, and Rachael delve into one of the most important father figures in animated history, Iroh.
Time stamps for the discussion:
tea check 00:00
introductions 1:32
first impressions 3:07
best moments 6:16
why was azula beyond hope in iroh's eyes? 13:06
iroh standing up for the moon spirit: what’s worth fighting for 18:01
if azula can’t be redeemed, why can iroh? 27:33
also, zuko is not built for politics 35:50
worst moments, leave june alone! 46:19
what are the roots of iroh’s spiritual and philosophical journey? 51:58
when did iroh study the waterbenders? 59:52
oh how we fear the live action 1:16:24
closing thoughts 1:33:07
The Ember Island Critics is a casual podcast with a rotating cast of college students coming together to discuss one of the most beloved works of our childhood and what we've grown to question over the years. Sit tight for theories, headcanons, and hot takes galore!tbt
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A little late, but catch our episode on Iroh this Sunday August 15th at 1 pm est!
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Episodes manquant?
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Listen in as Yani, Carolina, Taryn, and Rachael start on the most complex and varied character of the series, Zuko.
Time stamps for the discussion:
00:00 intro
01:11 very first impressions
08:58 season 2 first impressions
22:07 season 3 first impressions
24:25 zuko hiring combustion man was out of character
33:43 zuko shouldn't have ascended to the throne so soon
35:21 zuko and iroh II in tlok
43:29 zuko v. jet: tea shop edition
47:11 zuko, value, and sacrifice
53:52 zuko and iroh make up
56:55 okay so aang...
1:04:50 a good redemption arc needs planning: kylo ren
1:07:44 toph deserves her field trip w zuko and other worst moments
1:14:51 zuko and azula childhood relationship hcs
1:19:13 the tale of zuko and other zuko relaitonships
1:33:26 no self preservation, just vibes
1:39:50 blue spirit appreciation hours
1:48:35 closing thoughts
The Ember Island Critics is a casual podcast with a rotating cast of college students coming together to discuss one of the most beloved works of our childhood and what we've grown to question over the years. Sit tight for theories, headcanons, and hot takes galore!
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Zuko pt. 1 premiering Sunday July 25th, please give it a listen and tell your friends!!
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Listen in as Yani, Carolina, Roxy, and Rachael continue the discussion of Katara's character and some of the ways it was hindered.
Time stamps for the discussion:
00:00 Intros + chaos but it's just me this time
1:47 katara's gained responsibilities
12:36 katara as a prodigy
23:19 kataang confusion and incompatibilty
43:55 thoughts on the finale
47:53 live action thoughts and updates
53:08 an intervention for katara
1:03:30 "zuko would have taken the lightning for anyone"
1:15:06 katara's empathy
1:22:07 the squandering of the last airbender and waterbender parallels
1:29:50 the fear element of aang's unresolved anger
1:34:33 katara being reduced to a trophy
1:39:49 katara's growth being stunted by aang
1:47:18 katara in the puppetmaster
1:53:57 how opposite extremes are handled in the avatarverse
1:56:26 give katara credit AND a statue
2:01:13 katara in tlok
Sources for things mentioned:
A breakdown of every time Kya is mentioned
https://tuiyla.tumblr.com/post/621124692494909440/every-time-katara-mentions-her-mother
Get in losers we’re shipping zutara
https://youtu.be/eRxtWMODfAc
A post talking about the John O'Bryan quote
https://magiccatprincess.tumblr.com/post/156591311341/even-tho-bryke-didnt-want-2-really-show-katara
https://thosepurplebitches.tumblr.com/post/631888966316081152/whattheheehaw-starry-nights12
Avatar spirits documentary with the John O'Bryan quote
https://youtu.be/CVFtfhBs8pcThe Ember Island Critics is a casual podcast with a rotating cast of college students coming together to discuss one of the most beloved works of our childhood and what we've grown to question over the years. Sit tight for theories, headcanons, and hot takes galore!
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a couple of highlights from our follow up conversation about Katara dropping Sinday Jully 11th @ 1pm EST. Hope you tune in!
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Listen in as Yani, Carolina, Roxy, Taryn, and Ren discuss, question, and debate all things Yue and Jet as individuals and what their deaths represent.
Time stamps for the discussion:
intros 00:00
yue's unhappiness going unaddressed 02:04
jet first impression 06:07
best jet moment 14:35
did jet need to die? 19:35
the tragedy of the two 26:15
what happened to the freedom fighters? 28:50
worst moments 32:03
thoughts on jet's death 36:01
jet lives crack-headcanons 41:27
i wanna know more of if and how arnook respects yue 50:20
where are the northern water tribe women? 53:06
fire nation succession is sus 56:51
iroh's ethics 1:05:11
jet becoming what he was fighting against 1:09:18
jet's relationship w katara 1:12:51
jetko 1:18:45
jet and azula, can they heal? 1:24:31
if jet could face the rough rhinos 1:35:52
suprise jue 1:38:09
The Ember Island Critics is a casual podcast with a rotating cast of college students coming together to discuss one of the most beloved works of our childhood and what we've grown to question over the years. Sit tight for theories, headcanons, and hot takes galore!
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Listen in as Yani, Carolina, Roxy, Taryn, and Zach discuss, question, and debate all things Katara from the phenomenal power she grows into over the series, to certain disagreements about the conclusion of her arc.
Time stamps for the discussion:
off to a very strong start 00:00
Introductions + disclaimer 00:34
first impressions 2:09
best moments
katara pakku fight 8:51
katara and healing 10:32
katara's sense of responisibility 16:55
a moment for zuko 19:52
katara in the desert 21:43
katara comforting aang 26:24
the final agni kai 28:34
the southern raiders 30:10
the headband 35:20
kataang shooting itself in the foot 38:02
the penguin sledding scene 46:24
what if aang died in the iceberg 52:54
worst moments
getting mad at hakoda 54:59
comics katara agreeing to kill zuko 57:02
a word from zach's brother 58:43
the ending kiss 1:00:38
the fortune teller 1:06:04
can count worst moments on one hand 1:10:50
ideal au futures for katara 1:13:09
katara deserves to hang out w girls her age! 1:17:58
most valuable relationships 1:22:58
katara and azula dynamics 1:24:32
slurs, for flavor 1:25:50
zutara hours are open 1:27:49
why did kanna and pakku get married 1:31:07
ykw? the romance is just very unnecessary 1:33:31
more tsr feels 1:35:01
they're friends! you can't deny that! 1:43:37
closing thoughts 1:52:10
The Ember Island Critics is a casual podcast with a rotating cast of college students coming together to discuss one of the most beloved works of our childhood and what we've grown to question over the years. Sit tight for theories, headcanons, and hot takes galore!
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Time:
introductions! 0:09
an attempt was made 1:46
favorite moment from the existing movie 5:53
plot? in the middle of a panorama? 10:51
Bryke's input on the live action 15:07
hopes for Netflix 15:55
aging up *just* katara 23:50
avatar studios thoughts 28:38
how will netflix format the story anew? 29:54
will it be the disney plus route? 32:12
dante basco cabbage man!! 34:42
more on the sokka katara age swap 35:11
i mean if you MUST include ANY white people... 38:17
6 10 episode seasons? 39:58
new plotlines we'd want 41:50
did jet care about katara? 50:13
aang needs to grow to be more emotionally independent 52:48
what can we expect from a younger sokka? 54:41
more about air nomad culture!! 58:16
koh the face stealer 1:01:41
dante basco ozai? 1:04:52
hama deserves more respect 1:06:21
the show can be darker without being hypersexualized, plz for the love of god don't sexualize it 1:10:19
ty lee rights!! 1:12:45
prioritizing acting and martial arts 1:15:35
atla deserves a good adaptation if there will be one at all 1:22:30
Here are the articles and other content referenced through the conversation:
Katara and Sokka age swap
https://screenrant.com/avatar-last-airbender-live-action-katara-sokka-ages-change/
Brye interview post live action 2010
https://youtu.be/7P1bbfeZqms
https://archive.nerdist.com/nerdist-writers-panel-154-legend-of-korraavatar-the-last-airbender/
Show updates so far
https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/avatar-the-last-airbender-netflix-series-everything-we-know-so-far-03-2021/
Listen in as Yani, Carolina, Ren, and Taryn discuss, question, and debate The horrors of the first attempt at a live action, and our most optimistic takes for the future.
The Ember Island Critics is a casual podcast with a rotating cast of college students coming together to discuss one of the most beloved works of our childhood and what we've grown to question over the years. Sit tight for theories, headcanons, and hot takes galore!
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Time stamps:
1:14 - first impressions
6:06 - loving the egotistical
9:18 - how does Azula respond to failure
12:43 - how Ozai treats Azula vs Zuko
14:23 - power Dynamic with Mai and Ty Lee
18:24 - Azula's jealousy and insecurity
21:03 - what is going on in Azula's head?
30:32 - how does Azula fear Ozai and what has that taught her?
36:04 - best Azula moments
52:19 - who else lies...
57:33 - fire nation succession headcanon
1:01:57 - what would the gaang's star signs be?
1:03:40 - stop calling Ty Lee stupid!!
1:11:41 - Azula after the series
1:21:09 - how much of Azula's pain is Ursa's fault
1:21:41 - Ursa Joo Dee headcanon
1:26:04 - worst Azula moments
1:33:32 - did Ursa leave for selfish reasons?
1:44:47 - character relationships that deserved more time
1:50:17 - closing thoughts
Listen in as Yani, Carolina, Roxy, Alie, Lilly, and Zach discuss, question, and debate Azula's highs and lows.
The Ember Island Critics is a casual podcast with a rotating cast of college students coming together to discuss one of the most beloved works of our childhood and what we've grown to question over the years. Sit tight for theories, headcanons, and hot takes galore!
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Listen in as Yani, Carolina, Roxy, and Zach discuss, question, and debate the wonderful duo, Mai and Ty Lee.
The Ember Island Critics is a casual podcast with a rotating cast of college students coming together to discuss one of the most beloved works of our childhood and what we've grown to question over the years. Sit tight for theories, headcanons, and hot takes galore!
Time stamps:
Introductions 00:49
First Impressions 1:42
Best Moments 8:07
Worst Moments 13:39
Character Dynamics 30:12
Airbender Ty Lee Theory and the Totality of the Airbender Genocide 46:35
Where did Ty Lee Learn to Chi Block 52:29
Were Mai and Ty Lee Used to their Greatest Potential 1:07:21
Mailee 1:19:47
Closing Thoughts 1:24:35
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Listen in as Yani, Alie, Lilly, Carolina, and Zach discuss, question, and debate the wonderful worldbuilding of the Avatar world.
The Ember Island Critics is a casual podcast with a rotating cast of college students coming together to discuss one of the most beloved works of our childhood and what we've grown to question over the years. Sit tight for theories, headcanons, and hot takes galore!
Time stamps of the discussion:
Introductions 00:51
What excites you most about the world of avatar 2:06
Background art appreciation 10:59
Intuition of where each nation is 12:04
The Water Tribes do not need to exist as a monolith 13:12
Bloodbending and the duality of water 17:27
Who was the last waterbender they were looking for? 20:23
The funky inheritance of bending 22:28
Hama being handed back over to the Fire Nation 25:51
Katara criminalizing bloodbending 27:03
On to earthbending! 31:04
Lightning bending: royal to industrial 32:00
Is the bender non-bender conflict backward? 34:23
How solid the magic system is 39:07
Brilliant problem solving skills until... 40:55
Live action tangent 48:53
Tales of Ba Sing Se slaps 51:26
The value of life and death 54:01
Geology 1:03:46
Fire nation flat earthers 1:05:55
Favorite nation and/or location 1:13:12
Culture exploration of each nation 1:19:48
Soft magic spirits 1:22:52
The literal black and white morality of Ravaa and Vaatu 1:27:25
Writing credits by episode 1:39:24
What made atla feel so alive 1:40:20
Why Korra wb falls so flat 1:41:38
Why is there such immediate disrespect for Korra to contest 1:44:21
closing thoughts 1:58:16
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Listen in as Yani, Kailee, Rachael, Zach, Roxy, and Carolina discuss, question, and debate all things Sokka.
The Ember Island Critics is a casual podcast with a rotating cast of college students coming together to discuss one of the most beloved works of our childhood and what we've grown to question over the years. Sit tight for theories, headcanons, and hot takes galore!
Time stamps of the discussion:
First impressions of Sokka 2:05
Where does Sokka's sexism come from? 6:22
Best Sokka moments 11:01
Why to protagonists of this story had to be kids 29:24
Worst Sokka moments 31:16
The Great Divide sucks, this is not news 47:14
Sokka's character arcs 48:50
Parentage theories 58:08
Back to Sokka's character arcs 1:03:01
Absurdities and extremes of stan culture 1:21:17
Trigger warning - Skip from 1:22:08 to 1:23:36 to avoid SA mention
Most controversial ship in the fandom 1:25:13
Sokka's relationships - most valuable and curious to know more 1:29:25
AtLA high school au tangent 1:58:22
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Listen in as Yani, Kailee, Rachael, Zach, Roxy, and Alie discuss, question, and debate all things Toph.
From headcanons about her as a possible avatar or her first earth rumble match, to debate around her behavior in The Desert and her legacy in The Legend of Korra, I hope you come away with something new to consider.
The Ember Island Critics is a casual podcast with a rotating cast of college students coming together to discuss one of the most beloved works of our childhood and what we've grown to question over the years. Sit tight for theories, headcanons, and hot takes galore!
Time stamps of the discussion:
Introductions! 00:48
First impressions 2:00
Best moments 8:28
Worst moments 16:20
Was Toph's response to Aang in The Desert ooc? 22:32
The pettier elements of Katara an Toph's conlficts 29:23
Toph's relationship with her parents 35:22
Toph in The Legend of Korra 42:56
Toph's skillset 52:25
What kind of benders do we want to be? 57:15
Can there be an evil Avatar? 1:03:52
Aang's grief 1:06:30
Kataang tangent 1:07:35
Toph as the Avatar 1:08:30
Toph character relationships 1:12:07
Toph's first earth rumble match theory 1:23:55
Closing thoughts 1:31:40
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Listen in as Yani, Kailee, Ren, Zach, Carolina, Roxy, and Alie discuss and question all things Suki.
Join us in wondering what more could have come of her character, speculations about how Kyoshi Island operates, and more!
The Ember Island Critics is a casual podcast with a rotating cast of college students coming together to discuss one of the most beloved works of our childhood and what we've grown to question over the years. Sit tight for theories, headcanons and hot takes galore!
