Review:

Adventures in Odyssey has many things that other series lack, but one of the most important is character.  AIO has characters to which listeners get attached and really care about.  For that reason, when some episodes are not incredibly spectacular in the plot department, if the characters are well-played then the episode can still be very enjoyable.  Such is the case for many of the episodes in this album.   Most are good episodes, made all the better because we know the characters involved so well.

The album begins with its weakest episodes.  Moses: The Passover does not live up to most other AIO Bible stories and seems rather derived from The Ten Commandments (the movie) with the pharoh blathering "So let it be done!" and other such quotes.   The most troubling aspect, however, is Whit's refusal to let George Barclay see his son.  Doesn't Whit have a policy to never contradict parents?

The best episode in album is the wonderfully told Midnight Ride.  It's told with excitement and interest.  My favorite parts include the pieces of history we didn't know before (the petticoats on the oars, the dog supposedly running back to Revere's house) and Revere's reaction to the "shot heard round the world" ("dear heaven").

All other episodes in this album are good and the main reason is that we know the characters.  Peacemaker, Father's Day, and Feud for Thought succeed mainly because the characters are so familiar.  Sixties-Something confronts an issue and gives it proper resolution. A Tongue of Fire and A License to Drive cover a short arc about Eugene's driving and handle it very well.  The first episode is well done technically and timing-wise.  The second episode is even better, with its humor and the final hilarious while still dramatic incident ("Take some deep breaths").

Timmy's Cabin and Treasure Hunt confront more serious issues and reintroduce former AIO characters.  They are good episodes and especially Treasure Hunt got me thinking.   I'll admit I've mellowed a bit and I have to say that Harlow Doyle, Private Eye makes me laugh now.  He is a bit refreshing after a long day.  However, he is still only good in certain places and only in comical episodes.

Rating: 3 stars

Favorite Episode: The Midnight Ride

Read the Soda Fountain Review

Notes:

Order:

Order from FOTF
Order from CBD
Order from Tommy Nelson