"Secret Tunnel," Bumi, Cabbages - the whimsy is back!Riki Hayashi and Paul Hoppe join host Matthew Fox to talk about episodes 3-4 of Netflix's live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.Topics we discuss include:
- The show is starting to capture more of the original's whimsy and charm while still being a bit darker and more "grimdark."
- Zuko's characterization and his relationship with Iroh.
- The writers cram a lot of story arcs from multiple episodes into just two.
- Side characters like Teo are given strong representation and well-acted emotional moments.
- Is this portrayal of Jet more or less sympathetic than the original?
- Introducing Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai this early undercuts tension and menace later on.
- The challenges of adapting animation to live-action and child actors growing up over a long production.
- Possibilities for extending the story past the original three seasons.
We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!
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