July 15, 2025

Episode 287 - The Karate Kid

3 hours 15 minutes

“Wax on, wax off.” Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian, Liam, and the triumphant return of Megs (Kev’s still away… last seen jogging up a hill in a grey tracksuit muttering “No mercy”) – as we crane kick our way into our 287th episode, tackling the inspirational, emotional, and occasionally questionable The Karate Kid (1984). We’re trading crystal fortresses for dojo face-offs and dusty training montages as we discuss:

Does Daniel LaRusso bring most of his problems onto himself? We break down whether he’s the underdog—or the instigator.

What is the difference between a cute girl and a hot girl? And where does Elizabeth Shue’s Alli fall on the spectrum of '80s love interests?

Does Ralph Macchio wear one of the all-time worst Halloween costumes in movie history? (Spoiler: Yes. Yes, he does.)

Can you really learn black belt-level karate in just a few weeks? Or did Daniel unlock cheat codes under Mr. Miyagi’s tutelage?

Ian goes to war with the score—and one particular song that just doesn’t belong.

The film suggests America was batty about soccer in the '80s. Was that true… or just wishful screenwriting?

Why the studio was reluctant to cast Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi—and how he proved them all spectacularly wrong.

Ian finds a way to shave 10 minutes off the runtime—Miyagi would approve of the efficiency.

Why does Daniel’s mother uproot their entire life for a job that seems… deeply underwhelming?

Does Daniel deserve Alli in the end—or was she just too good for this drama-prone karate kid?

We wax (lyrically) on and off about themes, nostalgia, and tournament ethics.

And finally, whether The Karate Kid is the Best Film Ever.

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Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM

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Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of Mistake by Luckydog. Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor, at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor.

Also, massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song. You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/.

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