Consensus: Thumbs Up (19/20 positive reviews)

Reaction to "Inside the Studio" has been positive, if subdued so far. The episode is a sequel of sorts to "500" (with actor interviews and behind-the-scenes tidbits) and many are enjoying the new interviews and fun information. Most wished the show was longer, but liked the Hal Smith/Will Ryan sing-along.

Review by Asher Anthes, age 15
Rating:

Excellent show! I really liked the conversation with Bart and Tom.

Review by Patrick, age 12
Rating:

I really enjoyed the behind-the-scences look at how it is all made. It also gave the feeling that you were actually in the studio. Great job on 15 years!

Review by Ebby Dunlap, age 17
Rating:

It was great! It gets a 10! ADVENTURES IN ODYSSEY FOREVER!

Review by Eiram, age 15
Rating:

I absolutly loved it. Keep up the good work AIO!

Review by Tianlet, age 16
Rating:

Great stuff, AIO!!! Will Ryan was obviously missing. :-( Otherwise, I really enjoyed it. I wish there were more questions for the actors. I was SO surprised to find that Corey Burton was Crock on "Hidden in my Heart." The "singalong" was so sweet and I was breaking up by the time they had finished reminiscing about Hal Smith. I loved it!

Review by Stephen, age 17
Rating:

Awesome!!! Loved the conversation between Bart and Tom! One of my favorite episodes!

Review by Anakin, age 12
Rating:

Cool, well done and organized!

Review by Linda, age 46
Rating:

It touched my heart to hear about Hal Smith and the background to "The Mortal Coil." Very well done.

Review by Amanda Harris, age 14
Rating:

I think Adventures in Odyssey is the coolest radio show that there ever was. My only question is when can I start working there? Thanks for teaching kids about God!

Review by Gandalf, age 18
Rating:

I loved it! It's basically a great episode. Everything behind scenes that wasn't in "500"! The only thing I still didn't like was the that Will Ryan was missing. I really wished he could have been in it. Over all, it's a great episode that will leave a smile on any AIO fan.

Review by Julia, age 15
Rating:

It was so cool. I felt like I was really there.

Review by AIOfan, age 14
Rating:

I think it was great. I actually liked it a lot better than the Odyssey 500th. I can't wait till next week's "Live at the 25"!!!

Review by Michael P, age 19
Rating:

A very good episode, although some of it has been heard before in the Complete Guide to AIO. Still, it doesn't take away from the episode. Very good job, AIO team!! Keep it up :)

Review by Paul B
Rating:

I like the Will Ryan song at the end. Great stuff...it reminded me of "New Year's Eve Live." I hope this episode gets its own CD like the 500 episode did. I can't get enough of a look behind the show. What a great idea! I hope everyone at Focus makes another show sometime. I would have like the questions and answer part to be longer. Great show.

Review by Chris, age 14
Rating:

Great episode! It's been a while since we've heard a "brand-new" show. I especially liked hearing the actor's thoughts and feelings toward AIO, as well as Walker's short comedy: Tom vs. Bart. I can't wait for "Live at the 25"!!

Review by Fletcher
Rating:

"Inside the Studio" is a pretty good episode. It gives you interesting tibits about what happens behind the scenes of AIO, and even better actor interviews than "500". However, It would have been much better if it was a two parter. The Odyssey Team covered a lot of the production process in "500" and this episode, but I would still liked more personal cast stories. The talk about Hal Smith is probably one of the best scenes in the episode. Overall, good episode, and lets hope "Live at 25" is even better!

Review by Alyson, age 13
Rating:

It was really cool!! The stories were great and it is about time they mentioned Mitch's name!

Review by JoyElectric
Rating:

Wow! This was really fun! Sure, it's not a "real" episode, but it certainly is welcome after near 6 months of waiting. This is kind of like a 2nd part of "500," which in and of itself is a good thing. I like hearing from the actors go on about their characters and joking with themselves. You get the feel, as they've said more than once, that these guys are family. My personal favorite points where when they asked when Connie was going to get married, and the ending with Will Ryan and Hal Smith doing some old-time banjo ditties, which sounds like it should have been on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou" soundtrack. Only complaint? It's too short!!

Review by Jared Walczak (Mole Board)

The intro voices over the theme is basically... a bunch of laughing that sounds obviously fake...I liked the Hal Smith tribute and some of the goofs were funny, but I still am waiting, waiting, endlessly waiting, for a new actual episode.

Review by Sapphira (Mole Board)

I liked it! I love it when they do the behind the scenes/ outtakes/ inteviews/ etc. My only regret is that it wasn't long enough. But I must put my selfishness aside, if all they did was behind the scenes shows, there wouldn't be room or time for new shows!

Review by Oxanna (Mole Board)

I liked the info about Hal, and the little things that they mention like Townsend Coleman's being discovered as the voice of the 7-UP dot (whatever that is). But they are never long enough!! What I'd like to hear one time is an entire episode filled with all of those bloopers and the impromptu "ad libs." Surely they often get carried away and say humorous little things that never get inserted into the episodes, right? I'd like to hear one with some good behind-the-scenes stuff like that, when they get carried away.

Consensus: Thumbs Up (11/15 positive reviews)

"Live at the 25" is the third live episode in Odysssey and it's getting decidedly mixed reviews. Some enjoyed the live feel and different perspectives, but others were disappointed. Connie's conversation about being the same age forever and the Rathbone TV commercial drew accolades, while some of the interviews and the lack of more characters were called disappointments. The main sketch of the story was a re-done version of the Western skit from "Over the Airwaves." Some enjoyed hearing the re-telling while others wondered why a skit was re-used in place of new material.

Review by Tracy, age 36
Rating:

Very imaginative! And lot of fun to listen to. I would have liked to hear from more characters, and I think it could have been done if they hadn't rehashed old material. Still, I loved it.

Review by Bradford, age 12
Rating:

This episode was maybe not my favorite. But it is one I would like to own. I liked the part where the cast sees what it my be like years from now. Can't wait to hear more of Adventures In Odyssey. Cool new theme song too.

Review by a listener, age 13
Rating:

This episode was very...strange. I didn't like it as much as many of the other ones. It wasn't bad, but it definitely wasn't the best.

Review by Ian Chai, age 36
Rating:

I guess I agree with most of the others. I loved the "Connie's still 16" skit, especially the part about Donna Barclay being a mother with kids now and Connie's still 16, then Tom's retort about Dennis the Menace. Connie's unaging-ness has always been a cartoon-like anomaly in the otherwise almost-realistic universe of Odyssey. The "Connie's still 16" skit gets a 4 out of 4, but the rest of the episode dragged down my rating.

Review by Amanda, age 14
Rating:

It was great! but, how does Towsend sound so young?

Review by AIOFan, age 14
Rating:

I thought it was ok...one thing I was disappointed in was that I thought someone was going to write a whole new show...and it turned out to be just an old one redone with different actors and some parts taken out. I liked last week's one better; where it had them all talking at the 25th.

Review by James, age 14
Rating:

Wow! I really enjoyed this episode! What a funny spoof of "Over the Airwaves"... my only disappointment is that Will Ryan is still absent from these past episodes, including this one.

Review by SoccerLOTR
Rating:

It was a great episode! I do wish that more characters were there, though! I loved it!

Review by JoyElectric, age 25
Rating:

Certainly one for the fans. The opening part about trying to figure out how old everything and everyone is was great, and it sounded like a few conversations at the Town Hall. I never was one for the original "Over the Ariwaves" sketch, although the people did a great job on it. The Rathbone's ad was wonderful, mostly added by the booing of the audience. The "in 25 years" thing was funny, especally since it still had Connie as 16 and Whit and Tom even older than now. It runs the "Connie never ages" joke in way we've all expected. It was a little sappy (everyone "awwww"s and claps when Mandy's kid says she's a Christian) but was still fun. Tom's paranoia of the Imagination Station is still alive. Overall, this is one for the fans, but would probably go over the heads of less-then-devout fans. But, as the live shows go, it was great!

Review by Anakin Skywalker, age 12
Rating:

Good!

Review by Michael P, age 19
Rating:

This was a good episode, although some of it was rather silly. There were plenty of memorable lines in this episode. I just felt that it didn't feel any different than a regular episode. I'm glad to get a new episode, though. Too bad we have to wait now for a little over a month.

Review by Tianlet, age 16
Rating:

If this was a regular show, I would not be impressed, but things are different when a show is live. The audience seemed to love everything and I really enjoyed it. Congrats, FOF, on 25 years. It's just like Bart to invent an anniversary to promote the Electric Palace.

Review by Paul B
Rating:

The new live show was great. The western part was okay, but I like the rest. Bart's going to get in trouble for that line about "even women can use this equipment." LOL. I like how they make fun of Connie's age and Donna getting married and being older than her. Great stuff!

Review by Kit, age 21
Rating:

This makes for the third (and last) "special" AIO episode for... well, quite a while. The first gave an exciting review of 500 episodes, the second shared wonderful memories and this third one.... didn't do much. It was set up in a "Candid Coversations with Connie" format in front of a live audience at FOTF's headquarters and while I'm sure it was wonderful for those in attendence, it wasn't too exciting for those of us on the listening end. While many (myself included) had hoped that sometime during the three special episodes we'd get to hear from old voices like Lucy and the Barclays, it wasn't to be. Instead, Connie, Whit, Jason, and Tom/Bart (or, rather, their respective actors) were the only voices clearly heard. The whole format was a bit questionable. Though it was supposed to take place "inside" of Odyssey with Connie doing a broadcast on KIDS radio, the live audience and the whole "feel" made it hard to believe. It sounded much more like Katie Leigh than Connie and the entire premise was quite implausible.

Connie's inteviews with Whit and Jason about Whit's End opening fell short of what they might have been and the two skits inside the story were disappointing. I was really excited when they started telling the story from "Over the Airwaves" of the parable of the tenants. When I first heard it all those years ago (quite a few!!) I nearly cried, it affected me so much. This telling of it was decidedly lacking. It seemed rushed, the sound effects were a tad "off" (likely due to it being live) and it just had the feel of four or five actors sitting on stage in front of a live audience speaking into microphones. I failed to see the purpose of it. The audience must have loved watching it, but they're the only ones to get anything from it.

The second scetch was concerning what Whit's End would be like in another 25 years. It had potential but really only made me laugh once, when Connie complained about meeting Donna Barclay's who's married with four children and here she (Connie) is, still 16. Wasn't there a forum post about that? That was the highlight of the entire episode. Then the skit ended with Mandy (actually, Mandy's daughter) coming in and trying to make some point about how much Connie meant to her mother, but it just didn't work.

Overall it was a fairly disappointing episode. Had it been made between many "real" AIO episodes then it would have been fun, but it's just been overload on these specials. I loved the other two, but this one simply added nothing when it could have done so much (like two previous eps!). Perhaps some interviews from around FOTF about what they think of AIO or even a cameo by Dobson. But, instead, we have a rather lame "just pretend it's a real episode only it's not" episode. Quite disappointing.

Review by Ferder (Town Hall)

Why did they do a re-recording of an old skit? I don't want to hear redone old material; I want a new episode. Some things just aren't that funny the second time around. The second skit was kinda humorous though.

Review by AOG (Town Hall)

I thought the skit was well done for the second time around. They did cut parts of it short. I missed the Fish-face Francine line.

Consensus: Thumbs Up (24/30 positive reviews)

The season opener of Odyssey (and the first "regular" show in over six months) is drawing positive, if not overly enthusiastic reviews. Most enjoyed the episode and had praise for the writing, acting, and music. Everyone seemed to like Bernard's part in the show (his first in nearly two years). A much-debated part of the episode was Whit's lesson to Connie. Some thought it was cruel and un-like Whit, while others felt it was convicting and appropriate. Finally, the Connie/Mitch "mushy stuff" drew a few complaints and some questioned whether Connie had learned the "getting too busy for God" thing too many times.

Review by DaveinChrist, age 22
Rating:

Thought the episode was really well done and reminded me of what Odyssey is meant to be like. With a lot of good feeling and points toward our lives with God and each other. I enjoyed it.

Review by E. Sheldon Burnside
Rating:

The slice-of-life show is back!

After six months of silence, not to mention glorified reruns, from our Friends In Odyssey, we finally find out that everything has been going okay there all this time. Connie and Mitch are still together and very much in love, Jason hasn’t gone back to the mission field yet, and Bernard has finally returned, having been MIA since the end of “BTV: Obedience”…and I suddenly realized how much I’ve especially missed him.

Between You and Me opened perfectly. The Bible / Christian book study left over from the very end of the late great Novacom Saga is still underway — and one can’t help but wish this studying had been this “deep” in the previous Odysseyian turmoil, where it would have been needed even more.

On to the rest: I loved this episode. Connie and Mitch interacted just perfectly, and Bernard was there for some laugh-out-loud feedback, and there were Whit and Jason, as well as other unheard characters, somewhere in the background, but still referenced (Wooton, Jana, Jack and Joanne).

I could really appreciate the theme, too. Although the Connie/Mitch storyline is too “adult-sy” for the real target audience, Odyssey’s never done it this way before, and I don’t think the message can ever be overdone: the importance of staying in the Bible. Too often other things just seem to get in the way; even if they’re good, they get out of balance.

Overall, yes, everything was just normal until Mitch’s Big FBI Revelation. And I don’t mean like I am expecting things “to finally get back to normal”—an over-used Odysseyian cliché probably conceived at the end of “Eugene’s Dilemma.” This is Odyssey. This is normal. And I am insulted that a jubilant post-episode Chris seems to think I am stupid by not realizing this.

But anyway, Mitch’s “they want me to come work at the FBI” sounded too much like Soaplessly Devoted’s Derrick proclaiming that he’s going to Bolivia for three to three and a half years. Connie will have to take care of Mitch’s dog, then.

In summation: whoopee, school begins anew, but so does the Odyssey season, so the former isn’t as bad, is it? We will keeeeep lissstening, we will tell our friends the new shows are back, of course we’ll post our reviews, and we’ll try not to whine about Eugene and Katrina too much…

Review by Josh, age 17
Rating:

I thought that this show was okay, and I think AIO producers should take a clear look at where their show is heading. I've been a listener for MANY years and it seems most new episodes just don't have the production quality of older shows. In "Between You and Me," Bernard's lines were kind of funny but were lacking the genuine acting by him that was so prevalent in the older shows, the relationship between Mitch and Connie is TOO PERFECT (which is NOT very believable), we still haven't heard from Eugene, and the acting from many characters, not to mention the scripts, is not top notch. I used to enjoy listening to AIO and am confident that if the AIO writers invest a little more time in developing their shows, I am sure that the episodes will contain the level of quality that Adventures In Odyssey was known for.

Review by boni, age 14
Rating:

A very good episode. Very important. I liked it a lot. It's one of those episodes where teenagers and adults can relate to, as well as children. It's great.

Review by Tianlet, age 16
Rating:

I don't know if anyone else had trouble at oneplace, but we only managed (after 7 tries) to get half of the show, but since I can't seem to get the rest to work, I'll do my review on the first fifteen minutes.

#1 I don't like mushy stuff. I realize that it happens to some people, but I would rather not hear about it. Mitch is a sweetheart and Connie is--well... Connie, and I'm sure they make a wonderful couple, but it's not worth destroying their faith over.

#2 I'm SO glad to see (hear) Whit giving Biblical advice again! When he asked Connie about her devotions I was inwardly cheering.

#3 As a (almost) life long resident of Virginia, I can tell Mitch that if he takes the job, he'll be staying in (arguably) the most beautiful state in the US, but that his utility bill will NOT be low since we have recently had a drought and the water bills have doubled! :-)

#4 I'm so disappointed to hear that Odyssey is not in my home state! I believe Jacob Isom has a list of the states where Odyssey isn't and I will hate to see him mark up Virginia on it.

Except for the mushy stuff, this was a good episode. It wasn't fantastic, but I did like the "normal" music and the good acting. I especially liked the proprietor of the diner and his "hometown" way of talking!

PS It is true that Connie hurts Mitch! Remember the tennis lesson? :-D

Review by Paul B
Rating:

The new shows are finally here. Is Mmitch going to leave again? To work with Agent Bourland full time? Again we find Connie hurting Mitch with different activites. Will he never learn?.This new show has a great lesson. Don't put someone or something ahead of God.

Review by Julie, age 15
Rating:

Great Show!!!!! Mitch and Connie need to get married. ( seriously) :)

Review by JR, age 13
Rating:

Very well written, and, for the most part, well acted. I believe we saw almost this identical thing back in "First Love," where Connie spends all her time with Jeff and stops spending time with God. The only differance was, Jeff wasn't a Christian, and Mitch is.

Once again, we clearly see how attached Connie and Mitch are to each other, but are shown how that's not always a good thing. Emotional Connie gets frustrated again when Mitch considers joining the FBI, and Whit ignores her to show how God must feel while she's been ignoring Him.

Bernard Walton is his typical, cynical self, and adds humor to the story, providing a wonderful combination of christian values and funny moments.

Each character is shown in their regular light...Whit is out to teach a lesson, Connie is doing something wrong, but doesn't seem to think that there's anything wrong with it (becoming emotional in the process), Mitch is still deeply attached to Connie, and constantly getting "abused" by her, and Bernard adds little sarcastic remarks here and there.

Although fairly boring at several moments, it is a nicely written story with a good lesson.

Review by JR, age 13
Rating:

Very well

Review by Allissa, age 11
Rating:

I loved it!!

Review by JoyElectric
Rating:

Adjusting to a somewhat normal life in Odyssey hasn't been as easy for some as others. Jason's hanging out in town for a little while it seems, and Bernard is back (yay!!), as is Mitch. Mitch and Connie are doing EVERYTHING together, including making Bernard a little queasy when he's around. When they forget important things like time alone with God, or time together with God (a Bible Study) people get a little worried. Add to this that Whit seems to be absent when Connie needs her, and Mitch might be moving, and Connie feels like her world is crashing around her.

Novacom's over, so everythings back to life as usual...more or less. Having Bernard back makes up for lost time, as we hear some of his timely grumbling...which is perfect to offset some of Connie and Mitch's fawning over each other (which is a little like good ice cream—great at first, but makes you a little sick after awhile). Then Mitch gets a standing offer to work with the FBI. Connie starts putting time with God on the back burner, and Whit doesn't quite like it.

Having Bernard back was perfect—he's allowed to be comic relief when we needed it. I guess the only things that bothered me were the times when Whit more or less decided to give Connie a "taste of her own medicine." This isn't really like Whit, even if Connie got the point. Also, out of the blue Mitch is offered a job with the FBI. I mean, he helped them out by playing dead, but we've seen little else of his abilities, other than PR for Novacom and a decent amount of hacking. It seemed a little far fetched for me. Also, the romance between Connie and Mitch is almost a little too sugary-sweet for us. I'm a guy, so maybe that's part of it, but it helps us see that Connie is still a little green in the world of relationships. Even Whit had to admit that she wasn't always responsible. But the end, where she asks Whit to meet her a few minutes later (so she wouldn't technically be late) was a nice touch, showing her taking a little more responsibility.

But, Odyssey is back once again. I liked the new theme, as well as the new recording of Whit's intro at the beginning. Overall, a good show and I'm ready for the new season!

Review by Alyson, age 13
Rating:

It was very good and I can't believe that Mitch may go to the FBI! I'm happy that Connie and Mitch are still dating. I thought that they would break up. Mitch and Connie better get married!

Review by Fletcher
Rating:

Finally after six months of waiting a new episode! "Between You and Me" does a good job of keeping the Connie and Mitch relationship storyline, but doesn't continue it very much. My one complaint about this episode is that the character of Connie was distorted, a bit like in "Secrets." What decision will Mitch make about working for the FBI? It does seem like he will stay in Odyssey, but he did seem a bit unsure. Can't wait for next week and "Aubrey's Bathrobe!" And this episode is a good start to a new season!

Review by Lissa, age 15
Rating:

Good ep!

Review by E87M2 (Town Hall)

Speaking as a AIO fan, how does everyone like Saturday's latest episode: Between You and Me? I am very grateful that AIO has decided to go on with Mitch/Connie! I have waited for this day when they would continue where they have left off.

When I finished listening to this episode EARLY this morning, I crawled back into bed and started praying. This was a convicting episode which made me wonder if I had been "putting God on the back burner" and letting my relationships and activites take over. What are all your thoughts on this? I think AIO did it again...another wonderful and heartwarming episode!

...already glued to the radio for next week!

Review by Bennett Charles (Town Hall & Submitted)
Rating:

This episode was good...but it would've been bad if Bernard hadn't been there. He lit some light on the episode. He was awesome. His character was improved and his boredom was more exciting. They also showed his faith at the beginning. I can't wait to hear more about him.

Review by The Top Crusader (Town Hall)

Really good opening. Not terribly exciting, so to speak, but really good. And like ya'll have said, it definitely left some conviction, which is a good thing.

I rate it... 7.5/10. Would have been higher if Dr. Blackgaard was in it...

Review by Odysseygrl1234 (Town Hall)

I thought this episode was really good. I'm a little mad at myself because I woke up around 10:40 am, so I missed the first ten minutes of "Between You and Me." The rest of the episode that I heard seemed a more improved slice of life episode compared to some of the pre-Novacom episodes. I was glad to see they're finally factoring in Connie and Mitch's relationship with Christ into their relationship. Very glad indeed. That's what Odyssey should ultimately be all about, Jesus .

Review by Gandalf (Town Hall)

Not to put a damper on anybody's party or to start another big discussion but I really think it was kind of dumb.

First, Jason and Whit were both way out of character. Jason cooking in the kitchen? Come on, he's always been the spy/inventor type person! Second, it just seemed very un-Whit like to abandon Connie like that. It was just cruel and rude, I don't care what the point he was trying to make. Also, and this really bugs me because it may be a big story point in the future, but the FBI would NOT ask Mitch to come work for them. Mainly because he showed his total lack of responsibility by leaving the whole Novacom climax to hang out with his girlfriend, even if it did work out in the end. He also showed his lack of obediance when he contacted Connie... TWICE! Not a guy I would want protecting my national security!

This episode was a great way of showing the negative consequenses of dating. I'm not sure I really understand the point though, we're supposed to just put a cap on our emotions? Like that's even possible... I've learned in my personal situations and watching the situations of those around me that it may be possible for less than 1 in ten couples to just decide not to go anywhere with their relationship but to be honest, most couples turn out like Eugene and Katrina in "The Turning Point," they either have to move forward or cut the relationship off completely.

My personal opinion is that the whole episode was just plain wierd. Unrealistic. Sci-Fi. Etc.

I rate it at about 2 stars out of 5 simply because Bernard was just great in it. And it didn't have Wooton in it, which is always a plus! I also really liked the "main character" Bible Study. It's a wonderful thing they could use just to have the characters talk. Just wish they had had more than five of them... but then that might have been too much. Anyway, thumbs up to whoever came up with that idea!

Review by Dave
Rating:

This episode seems so normal compared to the Novacom episodes. This episode didn't really captivate me and was a little short.

Review by Mark
Rating:

Nice to hear from Bernard Walton after nearly two years without him, and nice to hear life in Odyssey back to normal.

Connie and Mitch spend all their time together, doing everything together. Whit tries to tell Connie that she's not spending enough time with God, but she refuses to listen. Then Mitch informs her that Agent Bourland wishes for him to join the FBI, and he'd have to go to Virgina. And suddenly Whit starts ignoring her, not even giving her a passing glance.

Just when she thought life was so good, it suddenly hits rock bottom. Although it is still unknown whether or not Mitch will accept Bourland's offer, we are shown why Whit was ignoring her (even though it was obvious) and she accepts his correction. It is a good lesson, and a nicely done episode.

This episode is a flashback of two similar episodes, "First Love", and "The Decision". In "First Love," Connie spends so much time with her boyfriend (Jeff/Mitch) that she doesn't make time to spend with God. In "The Decision," someone she dearly loves (Whit/Mitch) has just come back after being gone for a long time, and just when she thinks she has him back, he might be leaving her again.

In "First Love," she finally accepted what she was doing wrong, just like in "Between You and Me." And in "The Decision," Whit ends up not accepting the offer from the Missions Board, and stays in Odyssey. One of these things have already happend (Connie accepting her wrongs), but what about the second thing? Will Mitch stay or will he go? And will that affect their relationship? The last time Connie corrected her wrong when she was spending too much time with someone, their relationship was broken up. That was under a differant circumstance, as Jeff wasn't a Christian, and Mitch is. But it may result in the same way: who knows?

I give it a good review for good acting, good lesson, and funny lines in the script. I do not give it four stars because some of the mushy stuff is kind of dumb, and although the acting is good throughout most of it, there are several cheap parts.

Review by DrBlackgaard, age 16
Rating:

This was a pretty good episode...It reminded me a lot of "First Love" where Connie has a similar problem with her boy/girl relationship getting in the way of her relationship with God. It was great to see Bernard back with his quarky sense of humor and sarcasm - the story of how he met his wife was very funny, and definitely in character. All in all, a well writen episode...everyone was in character, and there was plenty of references to older epiosodes. The mention of the posibility that Mitch might join the FBI was great! I hope he joins, that could open up a lot of new storylines. Hopefully we'll hear more about it in the near future. Also, that would get him away from Connie..meaning the wedding would be delayed, which I am in favor of. (Maybe they should get married..but it shouldn't come on too quick, they just met!) All in all, it was pretty good, if not slightly too generic and boring.

Review by Michael P, age 19
Rating:

I DO NOT like the way that AIO is headed....if this episode is any indication of the future. Bernard sounded like he was tired of his character. Whit just acted cranky...and the whole Connie/Mitch duo is just syrupy sweetness..... DO NOT become a soap opera, AIO. Mitch is like a yo-yo....he's gone, he comes back. And now he migt be gone again. I hope next week's episode improves because this episode was just dull and it had little meaning to me. I'm optimistic, though, that the future episodes of the season will be great.

Review by Andy G Harvey (Town Hall)

It was ok...like the normal "first eps" of seasons it was mild, lacked some storyline, etc. But it was ok...that is my ruling.

Review by Heather (Town Hall)

I thought it was good. I was hoping Mitch would ask Connie to marry him. But he didn't. Oh well. I think the Bernard parts were the best.

Review by Ferder (Town Hall)

Most of the episode was just Connie going "goo-goo" over Mitch. That was all right back in "Green Eyes & Yellow Tulips" but I'm getting tired of it.

Review by Felicity Carden (Town Hall)

It was pretty good! But Connie needs to cool her heels and see if this is what God wants her to do! Sometimes life deals us cards we don't want to play! *laughs* Well, for the new season, it was a pretty smooth ice breaker to me!

Review by Xhan (Town Hall)

It was an all right episode. But if you've been with the show for a while you can understand this: Connie has learned every life lesson there is, but approaches every crisis in exactly the same way - every time. Find that strange?

Review by Kathy M (Town Hall)

Yesterday's show was different from what we normally hear. It wasn't the best show, but it wasn't the worst either. Whit wouldn't have gone that far to ignore Connie, though (even if it was to teach her a point). The one thing I loved about the show was Bernard. He was soooooo funny.

Review by Robyn J, age 14
Rating:

I didn't really like this show at all, besides for the hilarious lines of Bernard at Whits End while cleaning up ("Connie! I love how your kidneys work!...") But other than that, I didn't like this show.

Review by Michael, age 21
Rating:

This episode was okay, but definitely not a classic. I have to agree with others that Connie and Mitch were way too sweet with each other. Connie seems to act more like a immature teenager than a young mature adult she's supposed to be. And Mitch being called to work for the FBI doesn't sound all that realistic. Bernard's presence was okay but he seemed to be more of a hindrance than a help. Likewise with Jason. The only reason I give this episode a 2 1/2 is because the writer makes a clear point about right priorities.

Consensus: Somewhat Thumbs Up (14/24 positive reviews)

Reviews of the second show of the AIO season are leaning toward the positive, though there are also many negative ones. Many liked the episode (some thought it was better than last weeks) and cited the good Connie moments, a fun new character, and a good message as strong points. Others disliked the episode and pointed to their dislike of Aubrey, the annoying little sister, or similarities to other episodes as downsides. Specifically mentioned in a number of reviews was the similarity to the "fleece scene" in "Where There's a Will."

Review by Bradford Goodridge, age 12
Rating:

It was nice to hear how Aubrey searched for the right thing to be, now that she is a Christian. And Connie...it's been a while since we heard her have an attitude.

Review by Tina, age 20
Rating:

It seems like Aubrey has lost the joy of her conversion...and she doesn't seem that sincere...although I understand she maybe still learning...like some others said it didn't really tell us much about Aubrey's growth as a Christian. But it was a bit better then "Between You and Me."

I don't like to put the writers down, because i usually really like what they write! So keep it up,and please don't lose the good old times of Odyssey.

Review by Dave
Rating:

It had quite a few funny bits (I love the part with Connie misunderstanding Aubrey) and so on, but it didn't have the same feel as "Between You and Me." It sounded like the end of Aubery's storyline, but who knows? We heard nothing about Mitch (even though Connie was in the episode) and they could have left out the mother. It was okay.

Review by boni, age 14
Rating:

It was okay. It wasn't the greatest episode. It has a good message, but it's just not one of those 'really good' episodes. But a funny part is when Connie says, "Yo, kids, ministry time." Ha ha.

Review by Julie, age 15
Rating:

Aubrey really annoys me. It's like the writers just keep doing the same thing over and over. I wish the writers of AIO would go back and do more stories with all the other kids in Odyssey.

Review by Lissa, age 15
Rating:

Very nice ep. I enjoyed it a lot.

Review by Fletcher
Rating:

"Aubrey's Bathrobe" is all in all a very good episode. Everyone in this show is very much in character, not to mention Aubrey is much more likeble. I'm glad the Bethany's back, she seemed to disappear during "Under the Influence." Considering this is Bob Hoose's first solo writing project on AIO, I think he did very well. I look forward to seeing more eps from him in the future. Can't wait for next week and "The Toy Man!"

Review by Robyn, age 14
Rating:

I thought it was okay, but very uninformative. We didn't really learn anything more about Aubrey, except that she's okay at plumbing.

Review by Judah Ben Hur, age 14
Rating:

This was rather boring. Not that much happened, and the scene where Aubrey was asking God what to do about her bathrobe was unrealistic. Did we know that Aubrey had a little sister? Bethany was annoying, and got in the way. This episode was okay, but it definitely wasn't the best. I've heard better. Connie jumped to conclusions when Aubrey asked her about people with their heads in the clouds, and I thought that Connie was more mature than that now. I couldn't care less how well Aubrey can spit. Odyssey can do better; I know, because I've heard.

Review by Tianlet, age 16
Rating:

Although I appreciated that the Biblical message was loud and clear, unrealism pervaded this show. I don't think that Bethany is cute! She is annoying and juvenile. Aubrey's episode with the bathrobe seemed hauntingly familiar as I recalled George Barclay's hunt for a job; and her little speech to God was (for lack of a better word) tacky. The bad singing? I won't even comment. Connie's leap into the realm of conclusions was such a Connie thing to do, but I though she had already learned that lesson!

What I want to know is: who is this family, and will we be hearing more from them? I am leary of them because we all know what happened last time one of Aubrey's old friends moved to Odyssey. (Why ARE so many of Aubrey's old friends moving to Odyssey?)

Review by JWG, age 13
Rating:

This ep was not the best that I have heard in a blue moon. Most of the parts were unrealistic and it felt like pretty much the WHOLE THING was cut-and-paste. For one thing, where did Bethany come from? Were they expecting us to know that Aubrey had a little sister?

Seth was pretty funny, but his "universal evangelism" stuff was preeeetty scary. PLEASE do not become new age, AIO. The part with Connie jumping to conclusions was pretty funny and didn't feel like it was slapped together at the last minute. The bathrobe part was terrible, and boy was it DEJA VU!!!! BIG time!! It was just like Jiimy Barclay.

This ep was overall NOT GOOD.

Review by Mark, age 13
Rating:

It sounds somewhat like "What Are You Gonna Do With Your Life?", only with a more Christian theme. Aubrey visits an old friend of hers who just moved to town, and finds out that he tells people about Christ by "speaking their language". He talks to people in the manner that they live, such as his mystical mother or a grouchy old lady who loves botany. That gets her thinking: How can SHE make a differance?

She asks Connie, who is reading a fashion magazine, about it. She tries to tell Connie how she feels, without giving away that she's talking about herself. Connie thinks that she is talking about HER, and handles it Connie style—chucks the magazine and goes off to tell a group of kids about God rather forcefully.

So Aubrey sets out doing odd things here and there to try to make a differance, such as singing to elders at a nursing home and teaching children at church. This is yet another time we see Aubrey working around town, such as in "Long Way Home".

Finally, she turns where she should hve started in the first place: Asking God. When she doesn't get a positive answer, she turns to the second place she should have started: her own father. She finally finds the answer between her dad and her sister, Bethany.

Although I feel this epsisode sounds a lot like "What Are You Gonna Do With Your Life?", it makes a good point. Sometimes God has plans for us right where we are, without being President or something like that. It's good to hear Aubrey's family appreciating and enjoying each other's company. Most families nowadays push each other aside as if they're no lower than dirt.

However, I feel these first two episodes of the new season have been much too identical to previous episodes. AIO had better come up with some new ideas, or the audience might as well listen to all the old episodes.

Review by Emily Witt, age 13
Rating:

This is episode was funny... But I was disappointed that we didn't hear from Mitch. The bathrobe scene seemed like a flashback from the episode where Jimmy puts his jacket on the front lawn to test the same concept. While I can totally relate to this episode, being a Christian kid, with "searching for religion" parents. So, while this episode hit home, it wasn't quite what I expected.

Review by Paul B
Rating:

This new Aubrey episode explores her faith. And an old friend from camp moves to town. Connie flips out over a fashion magazine. Aubrey wants to make a difference and find her places.

Review by Simon, age 13
Rating:

Great episode! I love the scene with Connie and Aubrey in Whit's End, with the "catalog!" Seth is also great, doing the flower scene with that Mrs. Westra. The scene when Aubrey prays (the thunderstorm) is all great. Overall, another really good episode, and good humor!

Review by Michael P, age 19
Rating:

WOW! I really like how they finally showed a person who was so far from Christianity (the mother into New Age). The timing in this episode was perfect, and it is a very timely message. Keep up the excellent work, Odyssey!...I'm psyched now!!!

Review by AIOfan, age 14
Rating:

"Aubrey's Bathrobe" wasn't all that great, I mean, what did we learn? Not much, except that her sister hasn't grown up very much even though she sounds older.

Review by Jeremy (Town Hall)

I thought this was a very good episode. A lot better than "Between You and Me!" I want to hear more of Seth, but NOT his mother! That was enough of that!

Review by Gandalf (Town Hall)

I really don't understand why they didn't open with this one. It's a pretty "normal" slice-of-life episode. Only problem I really had with it is that Bethany has lost her "cute" voice. She's doesn't sound like a six year old anymore... *sighs* Other than that it was really good. Nice introduction to a new kid, good lesson learned, good acting, pretty much everything is good. I give it a 3.5 stars out of 5.

Review by Bennett Charles (Town Hall)

[Bethany] has lost her cute voice. It seems like she's trying hard to act cute. Aubrey also sounds a bit different. Seth sounds a bit too much like Nathaniel. Odyssey already has a smart acting kid.

Review by E87M2 (Town Hall)

It was a pretty good one. I'm glad we could hear more about Aubrey. I want to hear more about Seth, too. He sounds like a good new character in Odyssey.

Review by Jared Walczak (Town Hall)

Seth was okay, the episode was decent... it raised questions, but they were kind of confusing questions, weren't they? I don't know... I'm overly picky, I guess. It wasn't the Aubrey episode of old that makes me cringe, but neither does it make me shout for joy. Still, that's progress, right?

Review by Ferder (Town Hall)

It was more interesting then better then "Between You and Me," but both episodes didn't really go anywhere. I'm looking foward to some stories not just a few scenes from the life of the characters. I can see why Seth was only at the begining of the ep (being a one dimensional character). His mom sound like she could've come straight from the area where we live (our community is in a time warp and is stuck in the 60s. Organic apple juice anyone?) The episode had some funny bits (the Sunday School and the Nursing home), but as I said, since it didn't have much of a story I'd rate it 4 out of 10.

Review by Hawkeye (Town Hall)

I liked it. It showed how we should serve God. It was better than "Between You and Me" as in it was more interesting, but the lessons both taught were equally important.

Consensus: Thumbs Up (19/21 positive reviews)

"The Toy Man" is recieving very positive reviews, both for the episode and for the new Odyssey family. In fact, it's getting the most positive reviews this season. High marks are given to the family development and especially the conversations between Ed and Xavier. (Some hoped to hear a bit more from the two younger kids, however.) Reviewers are generally happy with what's happening to Whit's End Connellsville, but are divided about whether we should actually hearmore episodes there. The only character to really draw criticism in the show was Colby, who was first introduced in "The Popsicle Kid."

Review by Katie, age 18
Rating:

I like it. I really like how AIO is talking about deeper spiritual attributes, like finding God's will and growing as a Christian (like in the adventure Aubrey's Bathrobe).

Review by Robyn, age 14
Rating:

I thought this one was okay, but the producers would have done better to have dropped the character of Colby and used the actor elsewhere, since he sounded so much older, and not even like Colby. Xavier sounded a bit too much like Nick Mulligan. Is Mr. Washington going to be the only one working at Whits End Connellsville? I think Mr. Washington's plans for the new Whits End were good, and I hope we hear more of 'Steven'...whoever he is. Are we ever going to hear more from the Mulligans, and Tony and Brianna? What about the older Odyssey kids, such as Mandy, Sarah, Alex, etc.? Is Cal ever coming back, or has his character been dissolved? What about Jared and his family? Where did Nathaniel go? Even though the Novacom saga is *over*, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I can't wait until next week's show! We haven't heard from Liz for a long time, and Wooton should be...interesting...in the Harlequin Theatre...to say the least.

Review by Mark, age 13
Rating:

Yet again, AIO has produced an episode that is almost identical to a previous one. Listening to this reminded me of "A Prayer for George Barclay," although different in some ways.

In this episode, Ed Washington has a great job with a toy company when he starts feeling bad about how the company thinks of toys as a "baby-sitter," rather than a tool that can bring families together. This was a good addition to the episode, but it wasn't very good everywhere else, as Whit offers him a job as manager at the Whit's End Connellsville, but Ed gets a promotion soon after, rising his pay check up 20 percent.

So he asks the advice of his family and from God to figure out what he should do. His nephew, Xavier, has his own heavy doubts about it.

As I said earlier, it sounds like "A Prayer for George Barclay," where George gets an offer from his old job, and would give him a great job. But he turns it down, and does what he thinks God is calling him to do: the ministry. Although in this episode, Mr. Barclay is looking for a job after not having one, and Mr. Washington has a great job. Now I know that there are going to be episodes where they sound like previous ones, because there are only so many differant ideas you can come up with. But come on, there are TONS of differant ways you can present it. From what I've heard from these first three episodes of the new season, I'm not sure Adventures in Odyssey has realized that.

However, despite being similar to older episode(s), this one had a good lesson with some interesting new characters.

Review by Lissa, age 15
Rating:

Nice ep!

Review by Alex, age 16
Rating:

I think it's great that Odyssey finally has a black family in their cast. The Toy Man is is funny and would be a great replacement if Whit ever retired.

Review by Paul B
Rating:

The new Odyssey family is here. Ed is a popular toy maker turned ice cream manager. Whit hires Ed as the new manager of Whit's End Connellsville. He has a lot of new ideas to add to the shop. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. The free ice cream mess up might have thrown him off at first but we will have to wait and see. Good show!

Review by Dave
Rating:

This episode is a little different than usual from Marshal Younger, with a new family. This is second best of the new season, with "Between You and Me" beating it. Why have the Washingtons been living there for six years and we've never heard of them? Strange if you ask me. I don't think Ed's children were even called by name and Xaiver was more like his son than nephew. Not a very Marshal episode, but okay.

Review by Alyson, age 13
Rating:

Ed sounds like the new Whit to me!

Review by Michael P, age 19
Rating:

I really liked this episode. Finally a more diverse version of Odyssey. The only problem I see with this family is how they are going to be able to use them on a regular basis. Very good episode on following God's will. Keep up the good work, AIO!! :D

Review by Fletcher
Rating:

"The Toy Man" is a very good episode. I like the Washingtons, seeming much better than the Mulligans, and closer to the Barclays. Ed is a very interesting character. I'm glad the AIO writers aren't leaving Whit's End Connellsville in the lurch, and I hope we here more from it in the future. Perhaps in a couple of years, it can be a main part of a saga where the chairman from Andromeda returns to Odyssey? I hope we here more from Mary in the future as well, although she's not one of my favorite characters. Great episode, and I can't wait for next week and "For Trying Out Loud!"

Review by Emily, age 13
Rating:

I really didn't like this episode. I like the new characters, but it seems as if we're on a "new character streak" and not giving each new character time to develop. Older characters seem to be getting left in the dust as Odyssey is invaded by "dinosaurs." The only reedeming factor of this episode was the fact that it looks as if Whit can return to his old position behind the counter... where he belongs.

Review by Peter Pan, age 23
Rating:

Too bad it didn't have any familiar kid characters, interesting and good plot development. My nephews would like to say that they enjoyed it very much but would want more episodes involving familiar kids like Mandy, Alex,...etc.

Review by Sam Gamgee
Rating:

It was good to see family back in Odyssey again!

Review by Digger "Digger" Digwillow, age 21
Rating:

Great episode. There were three things in particular I liked about this episode. 1) the focus on God's will for our lives, 2) introducing a new family to Odyssey (or Connellsville). Hopefully they can provide somewhat similar excitment as what the Barkley's brought us. And 3) I like the fact that Whit's End Connellsville was used in this episode to sort of open up a whole new storyline...much like the introduction of Jack Allen did for the Whit's End in Odyssey. I hope to see a lot more this family in future episodes.

This episode is really good example of what has made AIO famous, imo. Keep up the good work!!

Review by Judah Ben Hur, age 14
Rating:

This was a good episode. I like Mr. Washington very much, and thought that he was a great guy. The storyline was rather predictable (except when Mr. Washington got promoted), but this was a good episode (as I have already mentioned).

I laughed so hard when Mr. Washington accidentally gave away free ice cream. I thought that was a great part of the show. I think Mr. Washington will do well at Whit's End.

This was a good episode.

Review by Tianlet, age 16
Rating:

So we've finally met the Washington's, and I have to say that I genuinely liked them and that this was the first really good episode since "Expect the Worst." I was annoyed at all the hype that we were going to get a new "African-American" family in Odyssey, but now that their actually here, I don't really mind.

Actually, since they obviously don't live in Odyssey, since Whit has known them for years and we haven't, it sounds like we won't be hearing much more from them.

I'm so glad they were "normal." As Ed said, "My life is not a political statement." He seems to be a normal guy, and he also seems more in tune with the will of God than anyone that's been around for a while.

This episode also tells us what is going to happen to Whit's End, Connellsville, and I hope it drops completely out of the picture. I'm not interested in Whit's End anywhere but Odyssey. I just wish the decision had been made to close it down entirely. One of the special things about Odyssey and especially Whit's End is that it is special--it's unique. I'm afraid we are losing that uniqueness in Odyssey.

Congratulations, Marshal Younger, you've taken a disputed topic and turned it into one of the best episodes I've heard in a VERY long time!

I'm excited to hear what else the producers of AIO have up their sleeves. :-)

Review by Bennett Charles (Town Hall)

"The Toy Man" was a great episode. The lesson, where a family tries to follow God's will, was already done before and explored. But this episode pened a bit more windows about this topic. It was different.
Ed Whashigton's voice was cool. I want to hear more of him. Though, I hope he deosn't turn into a silly crazy man. Odyssey has never had a mature 47 year old man. But he also needs to be good with the kids.

Next, is his family—I couldn't tell how many kids they had. I think it was three. The two younger kids didn't talk too much so I couldn't really coment them too well. But Xavier...he's cool. I think he should work at Whit's End in Odyssey. His character is a good one. And he has great potential. He sounds a mix between Jimmy and Nick...

Next—the kids....Colby? Was it Colby at the beggining? I couldn't tell if he said Colby or not. His voice was better than before though. Steven is a jerk. He should marry Liz and have a bunch of whiney kids.

Whit's End—It sounds that Whit's End Connellsville might be more popular than the one in Odyssey. Whit has a bit of competition against himself.

All in all, it was a good episode. I'd give it 7.5/ 10...

Review by JoyElectric (Town Hall)

Just heard it! Here are a few comments (no big spoilers, at least I don't think so):

A) Colby's back, and older. The voice doesn't quite fit
B) The is the second (third if you count the "Between You and Me" episode, which had somewhat same theme) episode in a row about God's will in one's life. Not a bad theme!
C) I like the Washington family. The parents sound great. The only minor caveat is that after listening to the show I can't remember any of the kid's names, except the nephew. I hope that we hear more specifics about the kids, and they don't have a mini-zoo in their backyard
D) Whit's known the guy for 6 years. I think this is kind of neat that Whit knows someone outside the world of Whit's End and what we hear on AIO. It gives him more of a life than we know about.
E) The family is of African decent, but they made it clear that he wasn't presented "to make a political statement." I thought this was kind of neat.
F) Of the newest episodes, this is my favorite so far.

Review by E87M2 (Town Hall)

I really liked this one better than the other two. It sorta had a flavor of Odyssey which I haven't heard in awhile. Ed Washington sounds like a character that we might hear alot from. I dont think he acted immature at all. He almost has two sides: 1. He loves kids and toys and will play with them freely but 2. He has the maturity to make a decision based on God's perfect will which is best for his family. I guess he could become a good role model. Like Mr. Green said, not many parents WANT to play with their kids. It was refreshing to hear that some parents (mainly Washington) actually took an interest in the lives of kids instead of making Whit's End a babysitting service. He even helps kids who don't have a dad to play with them. Now I call that a good character. Well, you have my two cents worth.

Review by Ferder (Town Hall)

This is the best ep this season. It was interesting and lest us know what abouy Whits End Connellsville and what is going to happen in future episodes. There was a lot of "deja vu" in the epidsode. Ed's conversation with his wife was a lot like the one Whit had with Tom Riley in "The W.E." Ed is like a grown-up, mature, and less silly Wooton. The part about him working a Whits End reminded me of "Welcoming Wooton" expect the ending was different. Xavier was like Eric in "Forgive us as we Forgive" when he didn't want his father working at Whit's End when he could continue with a better job. That part also reminded me of the Barclays. I like the Washingtons and look forward to hearing about them.

Review by Jared Walczak, age 16
Rating:

What is it with Adventures in Odyssey and toy-loving adults? First—taking the baby-step towards a virtual infestation of toys in the show—there was Whit, who revealed to Jared DeWhite and Dwayne Oswald his fascination with comic strip characters. Worse, it bordered on obsession, as we found out when he showed the two his complete collection of Captain Electric spy equipment. The man who once told kids that Whit's End would not contain comic books because it was a place only for those things which expanded the mind or taught a lesson (biblical or moral), admitted that he was himself a huge fan of the superhero adventures.

Then, in a rather dramatic step forward in the pro-toy movement in Odyssey, the beloved by some, abhorred by others character of Wooton Bassett appeared on the scene, dispensing toy-related thoughts at ease and becoming the only adult (and that's a word I hesitate to use in the Wooton context) in Odyssey to have a complete obsession with a kids thing. Of course, Adventures in Odyssey has always stressed imagination and things spanning the bounds of childhood and adulthood (Whit did make George Barclay enter the Imagination Station with Jimmy, after all), but the introduction of a person whose entire life would seem to revolve around toys seemed a stretch even by Odyssey standards. Some liked the naïve qualities of the man called Wooton, while others cringed at his fascination with a local fast food restaurant’s kids’ toys.

And now we have a new man, one Ed Washington, who has a high-level job in a major toy manufacturer and himself is a toy aficionado. What’s next, the whole truth about Tom Riley’s stuffed animal collection? The Odyssey writers have introduced an inordinate amount of toy-related episodes, it would seem.

But if after reading the first three paragraphs of this review, you concluded that I despised “The Toy Man,” you would be wrong. Actually, I enjoyed it and at this (rather early) point of the season, I can say that it’s the only episode that I’ve heard so far that doesn’t merit significant debate. I imagine that the vast majority of fans will have enjoyed it – and most will want to hear from the Washingtons again in the near future. But I always have some gripes, so let me get those out of the way before I talk about the new family.

For one thing, in a repeat of the Wooton situation, these people have been around for years. Six, to be exact, and I would assume them to be a rather popular family. The dad, Ed Washington, who apparently frequents Whit’s End to allow the kids to try out toys in order to gauge customer opinion, would certainly be a well-liked guy. And yet, though Whit mentions the fact that they’ve been in Odyssey for six years, we’ve never heard of them before. To confuse matters more, it would seem obvious from comments Mr. Washington made that he’s been making occasional trips to Whit’s End with “his” toys for quite some time, yet the kids still don’t quite understand and wonder why he’s “giving away” toys.

That ice cream Whit dispenses to these unsuspecting youth must affect the mind in addition to the stomach. If this keeps up, Odyssey will have 200 pound 12-year-olds just learning to recite the alphabet in the near future. But I suppose I’m being overly harsh on a very minor – although oddly amusing, to me at least – issue.

Then there’s the issue of Cody and on this I believe I speak for most fans in requesting to not have to hear him again. His character is weak, the voice not all that great and his lines border on being abysmal - or at least quite bad. I would assert that Odyssey needs a more developed minor character. The prime example is of course Oscar, the perennial minor character who never had his own episode but was always fun to listen to and enhanced just about any episode he was in. I’m not calling for an exact duplicate of Oscar; I’m simply suggesting that Odyssey needs to get some new minor characters and develop them a little better.

In “The Toy Man,” we’re introduced to Ed Washington and his family. Unfortunately, not all of the family members are particularly memorable. Ed, a father who definitely enjoys spending time with kids—especially his own—is an enjoyable, if somewhat abnormal, character. Then again, nothing says that Odyssey characters have to be based on statistical analysis of the average American family as recorded by Pew Research or Gallup Polling! His nephew, Xavier, was equally interesting, albeit the “nephew coming to stay for a while or live with his uncle” theme sounded a little used (Len with the Barclays, Nick with the Mulligans). Still, the nephew is an interesting character, providing a good (but incorrect) critique to Mr. Washington and adding someone who would seem to differ on some issues with the rest of the family. Maybe it was just me, but I sort of imagined Xavier as being the son of Ed’s more liberal brother. (Assuming in fact that he’s Ed’s brother’s son… I’m speaking generally here, as it is of course quite possible that Xavier is Ed’s sister’s son. If this was mentioned in the show, I missed it.)

Ed’s own kids, though, eluded opinion. I must admit that I don’t remember their names or remember much about them. While Xavier said thought-provoking things, the daughter played with the robot. That’s all. It’s not that I have a problem with the kids; it’s just that they weren’t really developed. His wife, while not nearly as interesting a character as Ed himself, seemed pretty good. Overall, I was happy with the new family.

But then there’s the plotline, and once again, it’s very reminiscent of old episodes. Here’s the exact wording of the episode’s theme according to the whitsend.org website: “Sacrifice; making tough choices.” Sound familiar? Think Barclays consider move to Washington, D.C. and weigh the sacrifices involved or Barclays consider possibility of George going into the ministry and sacrifices involved or even Barclays consider move to Pokenberry Falls and sacrifices involved! You know, it’s entirely feasible that the Washington’s are the newest attempt to create a family to replace the Barclays, and at first glance, I’d give them far better chances of succeeding in that role—if indeed that’s their role—than I gave the “Mystifying...uh, ‘magnificent’...Mulligans” or the Shepards.

In Ed Washington, we have a man who hasn’t quite grown out of toys, but he doesn’t come with the level of insanity that plagues Wooton Bassett. Instead he comes across as a friendly man, a dad who is incredulous that some families would just push their kids off to daycare, school and even Whit’s End simply as a method of babysitting. His enthusiasm for toys really stems from his love of kids. He wants to influence them for the better and he sees toys as a good way of “breaking the ice” or keeping his level of involvement with them high. Yes, he plays with the toys to test them, but as he admits, it’s not fun without the kids. His true joy comes from playing with children, not toys. While I do think he’s a little, well, strange, his basic motive is good and he’s definitely a likable person.

His work for a local toy company was as an executive, but his position enabled him to go out in the field ant test the products, something he obviously relished. In the reverse of what happened a long time ago to George Barclay, Mr. Washington went to his boss’s office expecting to get fired—and got promoted.

But then came the difficult decision: he felt God leading him towards working at Whit’s End in Connellsville instead of accepting the promotion. His family responded admirably, but there was obviously a little bit of incredulity. After all, he was turning down a vice presidency and 20 percent raise to dish out ice cream. He could hardly be accused of employing a shrewd business sense in his decision, but he relied on something far more important: the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Now, it’s certainly not the mission of every person to serve kids dessert, but Whit’s End obviously does far more than that—and God needs people in many places. Could Ed have been used at his company? Probably. But judging from what he concluded God wanted him to do, there’s a greater opportunity for him at Whit’s End. When Mr. Washington proposed the idea to his family, I liked the brief exchange where Xavier complained that he was giving up something that few blacks have—management positions. Ed’s reply was great: he’s not here to make a political statement. After all, the catechism of one major denomination doesn’t say that the chief end of man is to attain high status but instead declares it to be to glorify God. It’s something Mr. Washington understands and I thought his answer to his nephew was very good.

His decision, while life changing for him and his family, was not much of a surprise for listeners. After all, do you ever expect a friend of Whit’s on Adventures in Odyssey to conclude that a major decision is the will of God and proceed to ignore it? Not at all likely, I would say!

The most interesting thing to me about this episode is the potential it gives to Whit’s End Connellsville, which no longer seems destined to be a boring clone of the shop in Odyssey. Having one Odyssey Whit’s End is good, but a duplicate would hardly aid in the show’s storylines. With Ed managing the shop, though, we’re sure to see (or hear) a very different place than what we’re used to, and that’s good! Sometimes fans will love the decisions, sometimes they’ll almost surely disapprove, but having the shop managed by someone who can be a little unpredictable is nice. After all, it worked so well for Jack and Jason while Whit was away!

From what was said at the end of “The Toy Man,” the shops will be dramatically different, and I must admit that the Connellsville shop sounds more interesting, actually. The new shop would seemingly violate that unwritten rule that seemed in effect for a while that every activity in Whit’s End (excluding the consumption of immense amounts of fattening products) had to directly tie into God or the Bible. Of course, that is goal number one, but for quite a while, absolutely nothing was introduced into Whit’s End if it didn’t tell a Bible story or a biblical principle. The Connellsville shop does not appear to be molded in the same fashion, as it will feature a climbing wall, toys and games in addition to the traditional Whit’s End fare. Of course, some of the new items will tie into Bible, but not all of them. It would be a great stretch to equate a climbing wall with a Biblical lesson, unless of course the new Whit’s End will use “one of those new translations” of the Bible that reveals that Joshua and his men actually scaled the climbing wall of Jericho, not marched around it. This can presumably be found not far from the reiteration of that famous command “Thou shalt not grab jackets.” (By the way, I’m referring to the episode “Hidden in my Heart,” which I mention lest someone is under the impression that this is actually found in some translation out there. You never know with these fans…)

But before fans complain that Ed is changing Whit’s End, fans should be aware that Whit has changed the shop numerous times himself. Consider this: Whit’s end originally had a library, which it presumably still contains but is never mentioned. And not every book had a Christian theme! And there was a long-since-forgotten train set, which, as far as I can figure, taught no Christian values. I also would question whether that occasionally-deserving-a-casual-mention inventor’s corner, which surely teaches some good qualities to kids, ever gives them a salvation message. I am equally confused at how baseball broadcasts on KYDS expounded on Levitical law or any other such thing.

Whit’s End has always been a place where Christianity is taught, where morals are instilled and where anyone can ask a question and expect to get a good answer, but fans shouldn’t be worried about seeing items be placed in the new Whit’s End that aren’t explicitly Christian. That climbing wall is not going to have a negative effect on anyone’s faith, unless some kid lets go near the top and tumbles to the ground, which I suppose you could term as “backsliding.” Listeners should welcome the additions to the new Whit’s End as what they are: good ways of reaching the fictional kids of Connellsville and keep them out of doing less wholesome activities, all while drawing them into a shop where they can learn about God. And, of course, put on a lot of extra weight.

While I do have to wonder why someone got the shop twenty-two minutes after being introduced to us, I think Ed Washington and his family make good additions to Adventures in Odyssey and are a very bright spot for this season thus far. I look forward to his changes to the new Whit’s End because, after all, Whit’s End is, most of all, “a place where kids can just be kids.”

John Avery Whittaker should be proud to hand Ed Washington the keys to the shop.

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