Consensus: Thumbs Up (23/29 positive reviews)

Reviews for "For the Fun of It" are decidedly mixed, though the majority leans heavily to the "positive" side. Once again on a Wooton episode, listeners are divided on whether they enjoyed his character. Some liked him and pointed to this as a better Wooton show. Others still didn't like him. Talia, Wooton's niece, was another point of contention as some disliked her (calling her stuck up and snobby) while others were intrigued by her character's change of heart.

Review by JoyElectric
Rating:

Wooton will always score high in my book! His's brother's butler and daughter were a blast, and I think it's grat to hear that Whit can still have fun. We learned more about Wooton, and why he maybe doesn't need the postal job he's got.

Review by Pharra, age 13
Rating:

I really enjoyed this episode. It was good to hear about Wooton's family and his past. The acting in this episode was very good. I hope that we hear more from Talia and her dad.

Review by Lissa, age 15
Rating:

I loved it. Keep up the good work.

Review by Osgiliath, age 13
Rating:

Adventures in Odyssey is not a sitcom. However "For the Fun of It" seemed to me as it should have been a 60's televisions show. I'm all for character development, but so very, very fast? And what exactly is the point? I am sure I am not the only devoted Odyssey fan who can remember lots of other "kids should be kids" episodes. I expect better. (And AIO is usually better) Though it's proboably Wooton who left the bad taste in my mouth. How that guys pays his taxes is beyond me.

Review by Emily Witt, age 13
Rating:

I give this episode a BIG thumbs up! I would call "For the Fun of It" the best episode of the season. Keep up the good work, Odyssey Team!

Review by Algre, age 15
Rating:

Wooton rocks! More episodes about him would be great!

Review by Eiram (Town Hall)

I love "For the Fun of It." I liked getting to hear more about Wooton and his family. Keep up the good work.

Review by Paul
Rating:

Sounds like there is another Wooton. Wooton's twin brother sends him his niece for a visit who is kind of stuck-up. Time spent with Wooton, changes her for the better. I think this is one of the best Wooton episodes ever. Talia finds her uncle Wooton to be a little strange, but who wouldn't? He gives her a big pineapple ice cream... uh...mess to eat and pulls a suprise game on her to have fun. It sounds like we will be hearing from Talia again. Oh yes...Bradford, watch out for the the can of silly string Wooton gave Talia.

Review by Bradford Goodridge, age 12
Rating:

This episode reveals some of the things that we didn't know yet about Wooton. The butler and me have the same name too. :-) And I kinda like how Mr. Whittaker still has a fun side to him. And Wooton sure eats the strangest things. Very funny episode. Good job AIO!!!

Review by Kathy M (Town Hall)

I liked "For the Fun of It." It was really great. In some ways I felt sorry for Talia, for having such an overbearing parent. If my parents told me I couldn't read at the table, I don't know what I would do (except I don't do it if we have company). I didn't like Wooton at first, but I do now (part of that is because I happen to love practical jokes!). I think "For the Fun of It" was the best show so far this season.

Review by Carolita (Town Hall)

I really liked this episode. It was nice to have an episode that you could laugh at all the way through, instead of being held in suspense. But then, I like all episodes with Wooton in them; I think he is a great character and I don't quite see why some people don't like him.

Review by Dave (Town Hall)

I disliked this episode because of Wooton. He was just as bad as usual, almost every scene had him in it. I thought Talia was good and I enjoyed the somewhat creepy voice of her father, though he sounded a bit confused at times. Whit was so funny in the "chase" scene at the end, wonderful acting there. As always, I loved the part at the beginning before the theme. One of the best parts in the episode.

Acting: Enjoyable!
Music: I didn't listen to the music much. I love the new theme and the end title's music.
Script: It was passable. It had a few laughs, so it wasn't quite the worst of the season.

Review by E87M2 (Town Hall)

This episode has been getting a lot of good reviews lately...and mine won't be any different!!! I absolutely loved this episode especially with Wooton in it. I am so glad we could hear about his family. Talia did sound like somebody who needed to loosen up a little. Whit even played a part in this! Wooton's culinary skills could use work—corn chip casserole with marshmallows and watermelon jelly beans? Hmmm, I don't blame Talia for turning it down. It was funny. This "For the Fun of It" episode was actually one that I laughed through. Good job, AIO!

Review by Hawkeye (Town Hall)

I thought this was a very well put together episode! I liked the theme, and the acting was very good. I enjoyed the usual childish playfullness of Wooton, and thought it was cool how eventually by being his God-created-self, a heart was softened to "childish ways!" Telia will definitely be a better mother when the time comes.... Ok, waaay too far forward looking....

But honestly, little kids love people like Wooton (even if big kids like those around here don't always). I know from personal experience! Wooton is certainly a great role model for people to at least consider, even if we don't end up a clone of him.

But back to the review, ....

Ok, that's all I can think of, other than great ep!

Review by Kit, age 21
Rating:

I managed to wince my way through this episode simply because of my long-standing loyalty to AIO. Wooton does well as a side character ("For Trying Out Loud" and "Plan B: Resistance"), but as a main character he seriously annoys me. He pulls AIO out of the wonderful genre it has long inhabited and makes it more of a farce that would be shown on Cartoon Network. Talia was unrealistic in every way. Every emotion and thought she had was overblown and tiresome. We've had this lesson of "don't grow up too quickly" done before and done better with "Wonderworld" and "A Model Child." I don't mind repeats of lessons as long as the new spins are good ones. This one was just pitiful. I'm still rather confused on how this episode really related to growing up. Perhaps that's a Wooton thing, though. When he takes the spotlight, morals and lessons seem to take second place.

Review by ExecutorQ
Rating:

Wooton isn't all that bad.

Review by JWG, age 13
Rating:

This was NOT a good ep. At first when I heard Talia talking to her dad at the beginning, I thought it was an advertisement. Anyways, I thought that the acting could use a little boost, and what was Whit doing at the obstacle course? I mean, not why was he there, but why was he chasing them?

Wooton writes Powerboy? Oh, brother. The part where Talia (what a name!) e-mails her dad the pictures was funny. Sort of. I can imagine Wooton putting bubble gum in the scanner.

What was Mrs. Randolph's glasses doing in the fishtank? Odyssey seems to be getting a bit unrealistic lately. Overall, this was NOT a good show.

Review by Alyson, age 13
Rating:

I cant believe that Wooton is an uncle and that he's a twin! I thought that one Wooton was too much to handle!

Review by Kelsey, age 11
Rating:

If I could, I would give it 5 stars. It was so good! I'm going to order it. They keep on adding new people, though.

Review by Gandalf the Gray
Rating:

Cool episode. Well done, AIO team!

Review by Tianlet, age 16
Rating:

So Wooton writes PowerBoy! I do hope we won't, uh, be seeing Talia for a while. My brain is still swimming.

The change from aristocratic snob to another Wooton was a bit dramatic and seemed to cover an awful lot of ground in one week, making the premise for the show unbelieveable.

Since it was about Wooton, I don't expect it to make sense, and it sure didn't. To say that Wooton is whimsical would be to give him unmerited praise; his eccentricities are nerve-wracking and the fundamental foundation for such a character is shaky at best. I don't like Wooton shows.

Let's get back to real kids like Alex, Sarah, and even Mandy.

Review by Judah Ben-Hur, age 14
Rating:

This was weird! But several things I wanted to mention in particular.

1) When Talia and her father were talking at the beginning, I thought that someone was watching a TV program, or was dreaming, or this was just some kind of fake show or something. Boy, was I wrong!

2) Talia is...uh, how would you put Talia into words? At first, she didn't seem like a real person, but as you got to know her, I guess that she got better. I'm glad that she could have fun (although I wonder how much fun I would have, being scared half to death and jumping into a pool of water, if I were a rich, rather snobby, person).

3) Wooton really annoys me. His little "snort" when he is laughing or just talking, reminds me a little bit of Marvin's "oink." They both come from the same animal, right? Anyway, Wooton's breakfast and ice cream are really disgusting, and I don't blame Talia one bit for not wanting to try them. I do agree with Wooton on one point, though—I don't like coffee, either!

3) I can't imagine Wooton and Talia's dad as twins. Brothers, I can't imagine, but twins?! It doesn't seem possible. How could Talia's father turn out the way he did, and Wooton turn out the way he did?

4) So, is Wooton writing PowerBoy comics, or something? From what I hear about them, PowerBoy comics don't sound exciting. Maybe I'm just being negative about Wooton because I just don't like him. Maybe I should let up on the poor guy, but I think he is too strange to be an adult.

All in all, this was one weird episode! It sounded all fake, and not like a real episode at all.

Review by Fletcher (Town Hall)

"For The Fun of It" was a very good slice of life show. Talia was definitely a brat at first, but I warmed up to her after a while. Wooton's character was improved because, for once, some one metions how odd he is and finds it weird and not just funny but friendly.

I think this show is a bit of a lead into "Do or Diet." Wooton doesn't seem to have trouble with the obstacle course, but Whit does. Talia's father is an interesting character. Is he played by the same actor who does Wooton? They're supposed to be twins. [Editor's Note: No.]

Overall "For the Fun of It" was a very good episode, and I can't wait for next week's.

Review by Gandalf (Town Hall)

I was very pleasantly surprised by this episode. To be honest, I never have liked Torry Martin's episodes, but this one defied that rule. The moral was good, the writing was good, the story was good, the acting was good, and Wooton actually did not annoy me this time around. Maybe it was because he was spending time trying to actually do something important instead of just being weird and sounding mentally unstable. Anyway, if Wooton keeps this style up, I just might change my mind about that bus hitting him. Just kidding!

I have always liked high-class characters and storylines so I hope they continue with Talia's family. It's a great starting point for some future episodes.

I give it a 4 out of 5 stars only because it was just a simple slice-of-life episode and those, as a general rule, never get 5 from me.

Good job Torry, keep up the good work!

Review by Arem852003 (Town Hall)

I thought it was good to see some of Wootons family! i liked it!!!

Review by Bennett Charles (Town Hall)

Anyways, I thought it was an okay episode. Though, I was a bit dissapointed when she said the name "Wooton" when she meant him as her uncle. Wooton got a bit weirder this episode. Talia had an okay voice, though, I thought it was a little similar to Aubrey's voice.

This episode reminded me of the episode 'Wonderworld.' which was an episode to tell kids not to try to grow up too fast. Actually, these two episodes had many similarities.

My favorite part was when Whit got involved in the fun. He's been a bit too serious lately and he needed to loosen up. It was good to show that our favorite grandfatherly man is having fun. I really enjoyed the ending.

But now, they shouldn't show Wooton as much, he's been around enough and they need to push him away a bit more. He might become like the other Odyssey characters that are only there to make us laugh and become boring.

Overall, I'd rate this...hmm...I'm not sure, it's a hard decision...I know I shouldn't enjoy this episode, but...I do!

Review by Ferder (Town Hall)

The title of the ep says it all. This is an episode just for the fun of it. I really liked it. Music was great. The guy who plays Wooton is such a good actor. The "horse" bit was a bit to predicable but, all in all, it was a nice little adventure with Wooton.

I'd rate this one 6 and a half out of 10.

Review by Cyberacer(Town Hall)

I really liked this episode. It was well written and funny. I also liked how we got to hear more about Wooton and his past. We also now know that Wooton is twin and that he is rich!

Review by AndyGHarvey (Town Hall)

I thought it was very good...Telia had a very good accent, and Wooton was the man!

Consensus: Thumbs Up (22/23 positive reviews)

Reviews for the first part of "The Pact" are positive. Most enjoyed hearing from Agnes and Tom again and many are posting their theories at the Town Hall about the next week's conclusion of the story. Further kudos are given to the acting, music, and plot points. One often-mentioned detraction of the show is it's short length. Many wished it would be longer. However, some also enjoyed hearing the filler at the end of the show that featured the never-before-heard story of how Agnes and Tom met.

Review by NaweLegin, age 11
Rating:

Great Show! I wish the second part was coming out sooner!

Review by Anna, age 16
Rating:

GREAT JOB! This episode was really great, I can't wait to hear part 2! :-)

Review by Gandalf (Town Hall)

I'm saving my full review for part 2 but I just had to post and say WONDERFUL job! The best Odyssey mystery in a long time. Oh wait, we really haven't had an Odyssey mystery for awhile. Seriously, it was great. I wish part 1 had been longer, but I enjoyed hearing that lost scene.

Review by Michael P, age 19
Rating:

This episode is excellent. [I liked] how it brought rarely used characters and added new dimension to them. This episode is no exception. Great ending, although like others have said, it is a little short. Great so far. Keep up the good work AIO!

Review by Eiram (Town Hall)

I loved the ep. I thought it was neat getting to know a bit more about Agnes. I like how Mandy fits in a lot. I thought the ep was done really well. I can't wait for this Saturday's ep.

Review by ExecutorQ
Rating:

Good. It was especially nice to hear the story of how Tom met Agnes.

Review by Tianlet, age 16
Rating:

Stupendous! Excellent! Tremendous! What a great show.

The "preview" bits at the beginning of the latest shows are good; I enjoy them. Was that the old music I heard at the beginning of the show?

The acting was good. I thought that Mandy carried off some awkward lines easily and with a realistic touch. Tom was believable and understandably bewildered, and Whit was back to his usual helpful self, although prayer would have been a good suggestion. Even so, the doctor seemed a little out of it, and just sort of talked over the other character's heads.

The search for the journals was the high point of the episode, I think. It was believable, and the searchers were smart enough to figure out clues that weren't exactly clear cut. The fact that all the books looked alike was a tad farfetched, but led smoothly into the next scene at Tom's house. I especially like the way Mandy figured out that the journals were in the closet.

I really enjoyed the clips about Agnes at the end, although they never mentioned that she had been experimented on during the Novacom crisis. Still, the story of her meeting with Tom was a nice touch.

All in all, I think this was a great episode and I can't wait to hear next week's episode.

Review by Judah Ben Hur, age 14
Rating:

This was a fantastic show! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! Well, not entire time, but almost.

1) I still think that the little previews at the beginning of the episode are really cool. It gives you a little insight about what the program is about, and I think that's neat.

2) The acting was really good! Whit, Tom, Agnes, and Mandy did really well in their characters. It was nice to hear from Mandy again, although she wasn't one of my favorite Odyssey kids.

3) This guys are really good at being the detectives! Mandy was smart to think of looking in the closet for the journals, and Tom was brilliant in thinking for looking for the journals in the first place!

4) I didn't listen to the music as much as I could have, since I was so busy listening to the show! :-) But what I did listen to, I liked. The music is getting better all the time, I think.

All in all, this was a really good episode. I can't wait to hear the The Pact II! I'm so excited! :-)

Review by Sarah, age 15
Rating:

It was very exciting, and I loved the twisting mystery!

Review by Paul B
Rating:

I like this episode. Mandy volunteers at Hillingdale and meets Tom's wife.While she's there, she comes across a mystery—Agnes has a name or somthing circled on her calandar...JO. Shortly thereafter, she paints a lot of paintings of different things like trains. A great first parter! At the end of the show, there's a short story of how Tom and Agnes met. It sounds like part 2 will be about a friend Agnes had when she was little and she's trying to find that person. Looking forward to hearing the next part.

Review by DrBlackgaard, age 16
Rating:

Excellent episode! Wonderful contrast to last week's! Excellent plotline, writing, acting, directing, and music! I haven't enjoyed an epiosde so much since "Plan B," and it's on the top of my top ten list. This episode kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and almost made me fall off when Chris said we'd have to wait till next week. A real cliffhanger. I'm happy to see Agnes back. I've been waiting for another episode where Tom plays a major roll. Agnes is a wonderful character for a weird mystery like this. I give it highest marks. It may make my top ten list. KEEP IT UP!

Review by Bradford Goodridge, age 12
Rating:

At last a mystery episode that won't take a year or two to find out the entire story (Novacom Saga). I feel like I already know what the story is about Agnes and Jo,but I won't say my theory. I hope nothing bad happens to Agnes now that she's snagged a ride to Loon Lake. Tom really shows his love for Agnes in this episode. And Whit and Mandy show what good friends they are.

Review by Alpha Raveen, age 12
Rating:

What happened to the effects the Novabox had on Agnes? It sounded as if she had never had the "wave therapy." If you recall, Agnes talked about like she did in this episode before the Novabox. And where is the good old AIO mystery in this episode? Have the mystery writers lost their touch? This just wasn't a good episode.

Review by Alpha Raveen, age 12
Rating:

It's TOTALLY far out. (Can't wait till next Saturday.)

Review by Kathy M (Town Hall)

I definetly agree. This was/is a GREAT show.

Excerpted Review by Jared Walczak (Town Hall)
Click here for full post.
Jared will be writing a full review soon.

OBSERVATION: Tom seemed to fit the role better this time than in the last few episodes that he appeared in. While I have no problem with the concept of the Timothy Center, I always think of Tom as the out in the country guy who works on his car a lot, fixes tractors and, when he could get away from the horses, was on the city council and later was mayor. Becoming mayor was a major jump for his character, but it worked. I still have reservations about the Timothy Center after all this time. But in "The Pact," there were no extras. He didn't race home and run into Ben, who was having some trouble with the vents in cabin number two. He just went home. To a regular house. As a regular guy -- except for the fact that his mentally-ill wife had just run away because of "JO."

OBSERVATION: The episode moved along well. Mandy fit the role nicely, Whit helped out an old friend for the first time in a while, the Agnes storyline continues. Overall, nice.

OBSERVATION: Nineteen. That's how many minutes, with the short commercial break in between on the oneplace.com version, the episode took. It was nice to hear that never-aired scene, but I would have preferred five more minutes of episode. Or at least three or four more, as the 24 minute mark has only been reached a few times (I think "Amazing Grace" made it there and possibly one of the "Patrick: Heart of Fire" eps).

OBSERVATION: Agnes... hitchhiking? It doesn't quite fit the character... but, there's nothing at all wrong with that in this case. Desperate times lead to desperate measures and Mrs. Riley sure seems desperate.

OBSERVATION: Kind of strange that Agnes remembered about "JO" even though she obviously couldn't have found what she was looking for in the Hillingdale Haven library. (Unless they keep replicas of her diaries in there or something...) So, she remembered by herself. That sounds like some progress for her, doesn't it?

OBSERVATION: Everyone seems to think that this was a quite good episode... and I'm no exception! Good job!

Review by Ferder (Town Hall)

I thought it was VERY well done. It has me wondering what's going on and waiting with excitement for next week. It's nice to hear some good acting after the last few episodes. You can very much tell that it is for us fans (the little mention of Jack, the inclusion of never-before-heard material, etc). Keep up the good work, Nathan!

Review by paschott (Town Hall)

Overall, a good episode. Looking forward to part 2. Only complaint—it was short. When the main part of the episode finished playing only 20 minutes had elapsed (that included the built-in FotF commercials).

... One question came to mind - if Agnes and Tom met one year after Timmy's death and Agnes was new to town, why would she have set a place for him during the whole Novacom saga? She would never have had a chance to set a place for Timmy, let alone actually meet him.

Review by Bennett Charles (Town Hall)

I loved this episode. There was nothing I didn't like about it. It brought back the classic Odyssey mysteries. Congradulations!

Excellent episode. If anyone complains about this one then I'll wack them. That's just becoming too picky.

Review by Fletcher (Town Hall)

I very much liked this show! The mystery was well built up, and AIO's continuity was kept up. Agnes was kept in character. I can't wait for Part 2!

Review by JoyElectric (Town Hall)

Yes! Good show!

... Oh, and hearing the extra of the "Thank You, God" show was a wonderful suprise

Review by hawkeye (Town Hall)

I liked it! Good suspense, an interesting mystery, and good acting.

Review by OdysseyFan (Town Hall)

Wow! A Totally Cool Mystery!

Consensus: Thumbs Up (24/25 positive reviews)

Reviews for the second part of "The Pact" are even more positive than Part 1. Listeners enjoyed the music, acting, and increased emotions of the show. Many are discussing whether or not they expected the twist toward the end of the episode. Others liked hearing the backstory of several longterm Odyssey characters. One complaint/question has been whether Agnes and Joanne are really 73 years old as the math in the episode portrayed them to be. Another concern was that Agnes's voice sounded similar for many years of her life, not showing her progressive aging.

Review by Ian, age 36
Rating:

I live in Malaysia and so listen to Adventures in Odyssey online. As a result, I only listened to The Pact just now. What a great story! It really touched me. I was virtually bawling by that scene by the lake when Joanne showed up.Keep up the good work!

Review by Michael P, age 19
Rating:

I loved this episode. It was a major highlight of the season. Although it was a small mystery in the grand scheme of AIO mysteries, it was still very good, and the message was clear. Great job!

Review by Raina, age 14
Rating:

I really like this one. It was so cool how Joanne was Jo and that Rose was Agnes. Joanne was such a great friend for not stopping her meetings with Rose and to keep her word. I just really liked it. My sister Lindsay said that this was her favorite so far!

Review by drumgirl, age 16
Rating:

This was a very good ep. One of my favorites this season, I would have never imagined that Joanne Allen was Jo. It was well written, and touching. Good work!

Review by Tianlet, age 16
Rating:

Splendid! Marvellous! Superb! This was a powerful conclusion to last week's episode and I totally enjoyed it!

I liked the way the reminisces were sometimes from the journal and sometimes from Agnes herself, and the past was mixed with the present. That made things interesting and helped the story progress through the "data dump."

The southern accent is STILL too heavy. Every southern accent Odyssey has ever done sounds like the mountains of West Virginia or D-E-E-P Georgia! (Did Jo sound a little like Katrina when she was young?)

Agnes did sound old even when she was supposed to be in her twenties, which threw me off a little there. A different actor may have been a good idea there.

I thought that Tom seemed pretty brilliant to figure out that Agnes had painted Loon Lake! That sounds like something Cal would figure out, not Tom. When they were looking at the painting and you could hear the things they were talking about I was thinking, "Wow, this is kind of neat." It really added to that scene.

Jo is Joanne Allen! Wow! That is so amazing! I can't believe I didn't figure that one out! That is SO cool, I love it!

Agnes sounded awfully lucid during this episode. Is she getting better? Are all the invalids injured by Novacom going to have to drop their lawsuits because their injuries will reverse and they will get better? Are we going to hear a lot from Agnes now? I don't think she will make a very good major character. She's ok for a few side roles and a show or two, but not as a major character.

I liked how almost everyone stayed in their character pretty well. Mandy had to go home, she couldn't just run all over the place at all hours. Whit was supportive, although he STILL never once mentioned that they should pray for Agnes's safety. Prayer is a powerful tool! Tom was confused! Isn't he always? :-)

I was starting to get a little peeved that all of Odyssey's missionaries (except Dan Isidro, whom I would like to hear from again) travel from mission field to mission field, even though most missionaries don't do that, and then I found out it was Joanne. That was wonderful!

I loved this show! It's definitely a favorite.

Review by Arthur Dent (Town Hall)

I missed the first part... so about Mandy looking like Jo I didn't (and still don't) get...

But the second part (at least) was very, very well done.

Review by Dave (Town Hall)

I was pleasantly surprised at Jo being Joanne. I knew that Mandy and "Jo" would look the same.

Acting: Very good. I felt like crying at the end.

Music: Very nice! Not too Radio Theater, not too Jungle Jam material. The music is the thing which shapes the episode.

If you want an well-written, heart-warming episode, do not go any further than this! 4/4 stars, 5/5 stars, or 10/10 stars. If I could, it'll be more!

Review by Alyson, age 13
Rating:

I can't believe this about Joanne and Agnes and how they were friends all this time, and the thing with Mandy! It was very cool!

Review by Bradford G, age 12
Rating:

Wow. Amazing. Touching. Outstanding episode. I quess my theory about Agnes, I mean, Rose and Jo, needed a little work. Who knew that Jo was Joanne Allen...the clues were right there. I also glad that Agnes is doing a little (15%) better with her medical problem. I do have one question: In the episode "Expect The Worst," Whit told Jack that Tom took Agnes back to medical center. Jack must of told Joanne, so wouldn't she know that Agnes was Rose? Unless Rose is the only name she knew Agnes by.

Review by Sarah Foltz, age 14
Rating:

This was an awesome show. I really liked how it ended. It was so cool. I really like these episodes. :-)

Review by JoyElectric
Rating:

Perfect. Tom and Agnes are the sweetest couple in Odyssey, and they've got the scars to prove it. I'm somewhat suprised that Jo and Agnes didn't know they lived so close. But that's really nitpicking -- Good job!

Review by Elin, age 13
Rating:

Wow!

Review by Digger Digger Digwillow, age 21
Rating:

Another great episode! Great job all around. It was well-written, it had great drama and mystery, and at the end it tied it all back in to a lesson about sharing the Gospel...no matter if we see the results now or not. I think 4 stars should be reserved for the best of the best episodes, and this gets a 4. Great job!!

Review by Ben, age 21
Rating:

I had several problems with this episode on both technical and vocal talent perspectives.

First off it was a very interesting story—a good, heartwarming mystery, and a feel good sorta thing. But I had several problems with it. Firstly I'm not sure if I agree with the hitchhiking scenes being put in as just a great thing working out. It seems sorta dangerous to plant those seeds in children's minds. But that's really a minor issue. What I really felt the episode had problems with were in the vocal talent. Agnes Riley's voice sounded the same throughout the whole "progression" of meetings. Basically from the time she was 18 til current times, she always sounded like an old/older woman in the meetings. I think that they should have used a vocal talent that was a little more noticeably younger for her.

The other issue I had, was with Whit. Whit semeed to be just thrown in the episode tagging along. He always felt like he was half off-camera and not really doing much. In essence it didn't seem like there would be much difference if he had or hadn't been included in the episode.

And finally the whole chain of events seemed a little far-fetched, but still an interesting ending. Perhaps we'll find out later that Mandy is distantly related to Joanne?

Review by Robyn J, age 14
Rating:

I really liked these episodes; because we heard more of the "background" of Agnes Riley and Joanne Allen, which was neat.

Mandy—is she somehow related to Joanne? What a coincidence, if not!

There's one problem with this...if the last time Agnes saw Joanne was when she was 33, and it's been 40 years, then that means she's 73! She (and Tom) sound more like they're in their 50's.

All in all, I enjoyed this show, and am looking forward to "Do or Diet." :-)

Review by Paul B
Rating:

Agnes's old friend turns out to be Jack's wife. Wow! What a great ending to "The Pact." And Mandy looks like Joanne—that's why Agnes liked Mandy so much. What a great story!

Review by LOTRfan, age 12
Rating:

It's a great story about affecting someone's life, and not even knowing it! Also, what a great surprise ending. :-)

Review by Sean Quinn, age 10
Rating:

This was the first "live" episode of AIO I have ever seen. A friend of mine has a tape from Chick-Fil-A (episode 415: Gloobers!) and a set of tapes he received as a gift. I was interested and received the time and radio station for the new episode and listened. It was very touching but confusing at parts if you did not see Part 1.

For all those who did not see it, Tom, Whit, and Mandy figured out that Jo and Agnes had went to camp together and made a pact to meet at their secret tree every year. This did not work out so they agreed on every ten years. Jo became a missionary and traveled everywhere spreading the word of God, while Agnes was married. Agnes met with Jo and discussed both of those things. (They were both in their early 30s at this time.) Jo missed the meeting before that because she was overseas. Agnes missed the next three meetings because her husband was diagnosed with cancer, and her husband died. Agnes then was going to send a letter to Jo but then she gave it to Whit, Tom, and Mandy so they could find out what was bothering her (in Part 1). The letter stated that Agnes had become a Christian with the help of either Tom or Whit and the inspiration of Jo. They met at the tree (now in early 70s) which was around a shopping center. Jo found out that Tom was Agnes's new husband and that she was Agnes's inspiration to become a Christian.

Great show! I clocked it in at about 28/29 minutes including when Chris was talking. I read people said last episode was only about 20 minutes so part 2 makes up for the lost time of part 1.

Review by OdysseyFan (Town Hall)

What an amazing episode!

Review by Bennett Charles (Town Hall)

Okay, that was just crazy! I can't believe it was Joanne that was JO! It makes sense! She was a misionary! Man, I feel so stupid. I thought there had to be more about the story since it was talked about as such a good mystery. How could it be a mystery if she had just ran away and we tried to discover the camp. We were actually supposed to know who JO was! I was thinking, what a bad mystery—we have to try to figure out who JO is and we never even met her. But we have!

Okay, but overall, it was a nice old classic adventures in Odyssey. The music was good too and the acting also. Am I the only one that felt like crying after this episode. [well, I didn't really...but...] It really moved me.

Congradulations! Job well done. Best show of the season!

Review by Carolita (Town Hall)

I thought it was a great episode!! But there is one thing I can't believe: Joanne Allen is 63?! They were 23 when they last met and then didn't see each other for 40 years, which (according to my calculations) would make Agnus and Joanne 63 years old! I never, ever thought Joanne was that old!

Review by Eiram (Town Hall)

I loved the ep. I liked being able to see more of Tom and Agnes's life beforehand. I was supriesed that Jo was Joanne. It just never clicked at all that could be a possiblity of some sort. I thought it was neat how Mandy and Joanne looked the same. I also didn't realize Mandy was only 10. I thought she was more like 12 or 13 by now. Overall I loved the ep. Great Job! Keep up the good work.

Review by alwaysHis324 (Town Hall)

This episode goes onto my list of absolute favorite AIO episodes. :-D

The story was so amazing. To think that after all those years Jo and Rose were able to meet up again... and to find out that they live in the same town! Amazing.

There is a verse in the Bible, I can't remember the address at the moment, but it says "What God has joined together let no man seperate." This episode made me think of that verse. While it is often used at weddings, to describe the union of man and wife, I think this verse can apply to good solid friendships, especially friendships that are in God's will. Jo kept praying for Rose through all those years, and they were able to once again find each other. It is just a story that shows how awesome out God really is.

Maybe my love for this episode comes from the fact that now that I am in college I have lost touch with many of my childhood friends. Some those friends and I have kept in touch with, and I know I can have peace in the fact that with God in our lives we will always be connected.

Ok, so I'm a bit ramblie... the this episode was AWESOME! Just in case you missed when I said that earlier.

Keep up the good work and give everyone on the AIO team a pat on the back. :-)

Review by Jared Walczak (Town Hall)

Well, a few here were speculating that Jo was Joanne... and, they were right! :-)

Overall, a very nice episode. But I really feel sorry for that lady in the car who picked up Agnes. Imagine it: she's picked up a 73-year old lady who is rambling on about wanting to go to camp and climb trees!

On a more serious note, it seemed that once Agnes remembered where she had to go, she regained most, if not all, of her mental ability! She remembered things from long ago, carried out detailed conversations, found the exact location even though it was no longer a camp, etc. Temporary? Or is she getting better?

Also, Loon Lake provides an interesting clue... the only Loon Lake I know of is in Michigan (although a search online also revealed one to be in Washington state, but I think we can rule it out). So... just across the state line? More proof of Odyssey's Ohio location!

Review by Gandalf (Town Hall)

OH MY GOODNESS! I just listened to the show on the net. I'm speechless. It was soooo emotional and wonderful. I can't believe how great an episode it was. My heart just lept into my throat when I heard Joanne's voice at the reunion (even though I did think it was going to be Joanne). This definately goes to the top of the list for favorites of album 39 (yes, even better than BTV: Obedience!) and also list of favorites ever.

I was going to give this episode 4 out of 5 stars even if we were all right about Joanne, but after hearing that wonderful scene... I just have to give it 10 stars.

Keep up the WONDERFUL work.

Consensus: Thumbs Up (26/32 positive reviews)

Reviews for "Do or Diet" are positive, with most saying that the show was very funny (some saying "hilarious"). Most enjoyed seeing the three Odyssey guys on a diet with special kudos given to some of Bernard lines and the brownie scene. Some wondered why Connie is still trying to figure out what she'll do with her life after previous attempts to find her place. Many enjoyed the twist at the end of the show, but some wished that more were done with it. Some have applauded it as writer Kathy Wierenga's best episode.

Review by Ian, age 36
Rating:

I guess people either love Wooton or dislike him... I tend to fall in the dislike category. I find his character detracts from the generally believable characters of AIO—as does Harlow Doyle, for that matter.

I am not surprised by Whit being the one to let Connie down—after all, he didn't do it intentionally, and it was explained by the statement in the show that some people often plateau after some weight loss.

Review by Talia Bianco, age 12
Rating:

I think it was very good and funny.

Review by Katie
Rating:

I really liked this show, particularly the scenes with Bernard and Wooton. Ricky was bit too much for me to handle.

Review by Aubrey Sheperd, age 11
Rating:

I liked it. It had a surprise ending.

Review by JoyElectric
Rating:

The much awaited weight episode. It turned out good! I'll be brief: Greg was ultra-annoying, which was perfect. I think every "weight trainer" is like that. Bernard got the best line in the show—if not the entire run (about Maude's comments). Wooton was great as usual, and it's nice to see him and Bernard scheming. Thanks for a good show!!!

Review by Alex Jefferson
Rating:

This was by far the best ep of the season...well, actually, "The Pact" was better but it was very, very funny! Really I never thought of Wooten being fat, though. I agree the brownie scens was hilarious—my favorite part being: Connie: "Bernard! You've got brownies! (pause) Give those to me. Thank you. And remember don't be late for dinner, healthy suprises await!" Connie sounded like she was talking to a little kid there, not an adult! Also what was the inspiration for Ricky? He sounded like one of the Happy Smilers from last season, but he was still funny. This is one of Kathy's best eps. Also Bernard's wittiness was back! Yay! I kinda missed it in "Between You and Me." Overall a VERY good show!

Review by Michael P, age 19
Rating:

This episode was great. I think it has been Kathy Wierenga's best episode to date. Even Wooton was good in this episode and I don't like him that much. I didn't think this episode was going to be very good when it was earlier announced but I believe it and "The Pact" are two very strong episodes. Several people including Bernard had some great memorable lines in it. My parents listened and they laughed at many of this episode's jokes. I'll always remember Bernard's line after walking two miles: "I'd have to get better to die..." :-)

Review by Judah Ben Hur, age 14
Rating:

This was one weird episode. I don't like Wooton, and I don't like Ricky. Wooton is too impressionable. He shouldn't hang around people like Ricky. He starts to pick up bad habits. What happened to Whit? He was doing so well! Oh well, I didn't want Connie to get that scholarship in the first place.

This wasn't too, too bad, I mean, I love Bernard and his little side-comments; "fresh fruit for dessert" and all that, but it wasn't as good as last week's episode.

Review by Viv, age 12
Rating:

It was ok. I didn't like how crazy they were about eating the brownie. Or the "Hoot Holler Hoot" part. But it was nice to finally see Whit geting on a diet. :-) I think it would have been better if Wooton wasn't in it. But it was a fun episode.

Review by rose (Town Hall)

[Ricky is] a really funny character! I absolutely LOVE that ep, and it wouldn't be good if he wasn't in it.

Review by Dave (Town Hall)

Good episode! Nice Episode. Funny Episode.

Review by Gandalf (Town Hall)

"Do or Diet" is one of Kathy's best episodes ever. The only thing I disliked about it was having Wooton appear in so many of this season's episode. His character is okay every now and again but over half of the season? Come on! Any character would start to get boring (Besides Whit, Tom, Eugene, and Connie). As an episode completely set apart from the rest of the season, it was pretty good though. Bernard and Wooton were really great together. It does seem to me that they have introduced Wooton to replace Eugene and Harlow, I don't like that aspect of him at all. The dialogue was well written and not overly stupid. One minor complaint is Wooton being fat. It's hard enough liking him but when I visualize him being wider than he is tall.... ugh. I hope it was just a joke.

Anyway, I think this episode was remencient of the "good old days" back in albums 29-32. Nice job Kathy! 3 out of 5 stars

Review by Ferder (Town Hall)

Not bad at all. I agree about the whole "what is Connie going to do with here life thing." I think that it would be interesting for Connie to at last find something that she really can get into. I know she works at the Timothy Center, but that story line hasn't been all that interesting.

Most of the humour in this episode was great. There was one thing that I couldn't stand though and that was Ricky. It is all right to have a character that annoys everybody for comedy's sake, but if the character annoys the listener then he isn't very funny. Unfortunately I found myself wishing for his lines to be over as soon as he started talking.

Anyway, despite Ricky, It was a pretty good episode with some good laughs. I don't quite understand why Whit didn't do as well as the others though. Was it because he didn't go on the Great Brownie Chase?

Review by Bradford G, age 12
Rating:

I was surprised Whit only lost 9 pounds. I mean he's a respectable person. And Wooton...I can believe he thought to have certian organs removed, and ear wax, and blowing your nose, and eyebrows, and nails. Bernard sure didn't get to a good start but did very good when it was over. Good job Whit, Wooton, and Bernard.

Review by Dumdell
Rating:

This one was great! Oh, yeah. This one is the best I have heard this season.

Review by Simon, age 12
Rating:

Great, funny, comical episode! I think Bernard was excellent, and Ricky was just hilarious! (Although a bit silly for an adult, I think. Do they all spell every second sentence?) Overall, a great episode. I love the part about the brownies, Wooton was really good! That's all I have to really say, but another great episode odyssey! Now all we need are some Eugene episodes and episodes that deal with the rest of all that suspense in Exit! Please come back, Eugene!

Review by Danielle, age 13
Rating:

It was ok. Wooten was funny. But kinda weird.

Review by Anna, age 16
Rating:

At first, I wasn't really sure what I would think of an episode with Whit and Bernard on a diet! Just sounded a little strange to me! But I enjoyed listening to this funny episode! Good job, Kathy!

Review by Paul B
Rating:

Connie becomes a personal trainer for Whit, Wooton, and Bernard. Wooton goes to great lengths shaving his eyebrows, shaving his legs, and cleaning out his ear wax. Just to name a few strange things to loose weight. The brownie part with Wooton and Bernard was great. Connie is still trying to find her place in life. Does that sound like another show to you? It dose me.

Review by Tianlet, age 16
Rating:

Connie, look out. Be careful when choosing a career, so many things look tempting when you're in the market. Of course, when the representative of the job you are looking at is a total dolt, the decision is pretty clear. Ricky? Yuck! Connie-roni, please!

Connie knows how to get her way. That speech that laid the guilt factor on Whit, Bernard, and Wooton was obviously calculated and a little cruel. On the other hand, from what people have said about Connie's culinary skills, all she would have to do is confine them to her cooking and they would lose weight right away!

Whit visited the doctor--why didn't we loyal fans, who are so interested in every aspect of his public and personal life, hear about this? :-) I loved Bernard's witticisms. I didn't realize until I heard this show how much I have missed them (calling Whit "trainer's pet").

I noticed that Bernard mentioned Maude. We have heard from Jenny (The Triangle) and Agnes (Novacom, and The Pact) is it time to hear from Maude now? As far as I know we really haven't seen her much.

My biggest complaint of the show is the fact that we have heard from Wooton too many times! There are other characters in Odyssey. Why don't we hear from the Mulligans (can I really be saying this?) the Shepards, Tony and Briana, or someone else?

Review by Rip Van Winkle
Rating:

I especially enjoyed the diet part.

Review by Alyson, age 13
Rating:

It was VERY FUNNY, especially the brownie scene! Have they forgotten about Mitch or something?

Review by Juli, age 15
Rating:

Great show! Thought that guy Ricky is really FREAKY. I hope that's not his real voice (cause I would feel sorry for him). Keep the good shows comin'!

Review by Peter Pan, age 12
Rating:

Awesome episode. I noticed no kids at Whit's End; where are they? Good episode, though. I thought whit would support Connie more on the idea of losing weight at the beginning.

Review by Lena DeLucia, age 13
Rating:

Pretty funny! Connie really can never find a good job. Any one have any ideas of what she'll turn out to be?

Review by Jared, age 12
Rating:

It was an ok episode. It was funny but in a dumb way. Like the brownie part. Why would they do all that just for a brownie? And Whit didn't seem too sad about Connie not geting what she wanted. But it was kind of nice to have a silly episode after the Novacom thing.

Review by E87M2 (Town Hall)

Overall, it was an okay episode—sometimes a little strange. The brownie thing was pretty fun (Bernard dishonest? hmmm...I noticed that several times).

Ricky—Is he played by Steve Burns, the guy who plays Mitch/Rodney? Maybe not...it just sounds a little like him (err, more like Rodney's voice). His character sounds like Wooton had a mental brain crash with a spell checker.

Wooton—Well, I always like Wooton, so he was pretty good. It was just like him to begin pulling apart the "useless" parts of his body that *might* make him weigh less (i.e. eyebrows, nails)

Bernard—Of course, Bernard was funny! Isn't he always? "Exercise? I get enough exercise! Climbing up and down ladders... squeegees left and right."

Whit—He suprised me a little in this ep. I don't know, maybe it was just the thought of WHIT on a diet.

Connie: "You did it, Bernard! You ran two miles! How are you doing?" Bernard: "I'd have to get better to die."

Review by Fletcher (Town Hall)

I thought "Do or Diet" was funny and a good concept, but I was a little disappointed. We have Connie again trying to figure out what to do with her life. That's what she was trying to figure out in "What Are You Gonna Do With Your Life?" and "Malachi's Message". In this episode not only does she act as if she hasn't been through those two experiences, but she doesn't even follow the gift she has—teaching. Almost nothing is said about God's call at all. And is it just me or is Connie in this episode acting very much like she did in "A...Is for Attitude"?

The episode wasn't bad though. Bernard was hilarious, and Wooton was a kind of funny. Whit seemed a bit off in the scene where he partially lied to get out of dieting. I mean that seemed way out of character for him.
Overall this was an okay episode and I give it 3 stars out of 5. I'm hoping "Room Enough For Two" will be better.

Review by Bennett Charles (Town Hall)

Man, I was sorta surprised about the outcome of this episode. I thought it would be really dumb, but it was really funny. I liked how they kept Whit's character. I liked how Bernard and Wooton teamed up. (BTW, they will probrobly be teaming up again in the next BTV.) And I also liked how Bernard became so dishonest.

One thing that I thought was weird was when Connie said: "You three are the people I know most." It really got to me how they accepted Wooton so fast as one of their best friends. Now, I hope he doesn't team up with Bernard so soon, and I don't want him to appear as much because I want them to keep his character fresh.
I didn't really like Ricky. I wished he would've been some big low voice macho man.

So, congradulations Kathy! It was a great episode! Probrobly the best you've written. It was a nice twist to the series...

Review by Cash Cow (Town Hall)

I hate to say this, but I was a little disappointed. I was really looking forward to hearing the "Whit Diet Episode" that Kathy W. said she has always wanted to do. But the ep was just kinda ho-hum. Not a bad episode by any means, but just nothing outstanding. The plot went along just like you'd predict (except for a little bit at the end). It had some funny lines and funny moments and thats about it. I guess thats better than some.

The plot was pretty predictable until the end. I wasn't expecting Whit not to make it. That was a great twist and when I heard it I just went, "Wow, this might make up for the predictability of the rest of the episode!", but unfortunately, nothing was done with it. It was just thrown aside with a little "Oh, its all right Whit." I thought it was a great idea. Something should have been done with it. I don't know what but something. Not just "oh, it's alright."

Like I said, it was pretty good...just predictable. It was great to hear more Bernard. Don't hear much of him anymore. So can't complain about that. And "The Pact" was great so I can handle a lesser episode after an episode like that.

I guess as always it was just nice to have another Adventure in Odyssey.

Review by Steev75 (Town Hall)

Kathy W. has a knack for writing polished, amusing dialogue, and there's plenty in this episode. Interestingly, with two way-over-the-top characters featured prominently (Wooton and the endorphin-addicted Ricky), it's Bernard that steals the scene each time. Pound for pound, as a character, Bernard really pulls his weight.

Strangely enough, Connie is back to square one as far as her life's purpose is concerned. Again? C'mon, now. But for Wooton (and an offhand reference to the Connellsville Whit's End), this episode could have taken place, say, five years ago. Connie's line "I need to go to the Timothy Center—we have a group coming in this afternoon" seemed thrown in as an afterthought. And hearing her admit "I'm not really good at anything," is unconvincing. Didn't the Malachi episodes establish her calling to be a teacher? Why would she suddenly consider herself personal trainer material? Why would Whit buy into that idea? Why would any of them buy into brussels sprout souffle?

Anyway, I give this episode 3 donuts out of 4.

Review by Mandy Straussberg (Town Hall)

I wasn't really looking forward to this episode, so wasn't disappointed. It's better than some (I'd listen to it over BTV or some of the history episodes any day) and some of the dialogue was really cute, but I didn't enjoy it much.

As a whole, I've been disappointed in most of this season. For one thing, I'd like to say waaay more of Mitch and/or Jason. To be honest, Connie kind of annoyed me in this episode...

Review by DrBlackgaard (Town Hall)

It was a fairly decent episode. Quite a bit of humor without the cheap, absent-mindedness. Definetly one of Kathy W.'s better episodes. I wish Wooton could have been replaced with Harlow, but I guess that was impossible. Other than that, it wasn't half bad. One of the better slice of life shows. I'll give it 2 out of 4 stars (which, since it's half means an average good show, the way I rate them.)

Consensus: Thumbs Up (26/28 positive reviews)

"Room Enough for Two" is getting positive reviews and kudos for first-time writer April Higgins. One of the most universal comments is the timeliness of the episode, dealing with an older sibling going off to war in the Middle East. Others liked how Liz was less annoying than some previous episodes and even seemed to show a human side. Reaction was mixed to Liz and Natalie's joke on Whit and his perhaps grumpy-sounding reaction to it. Most liked the emotions and the "slice of life" feel to the show.

Review by Connie, age 10
Rating:

I didn't like how Whit reacted to the joke. Also I think it would have been better if Natalie and Liz had burst out in laughter not just giggled. Also what was up with the kissing? Is Odyssey trying to tell everyone to kiss before being married? True, Connie, Eugene and Katrina all have kissed before marriage, but it seems that we didn't know Mark and Natalie before this episode. It just seemed kinda awkward. Overall it was okay,

Review by Racheal, age 17
Rating:

I enjoyed hearing from Liz again. It is nice that they are including something about war in their episodes. I just hope they don't go over board with Liz. She is one that shouldn't be over used.

Review by Valerie, age 13
Rating:

This was an OK ep. Did someone else play Liz besides the one who normaly does? Or is she just growing up and her voice is changing? [Editor's Note: The latter.] Besides the voice diference it was ok. I didn't like the how Liz said "Or better yet... I see ya Mr. Whittaker." She sounded weird. Also they have done many shows like that where you KNOW that in the end they will like each other and be friends. To make it a better story they should have made it a two part. Overall, it was OK.

Review by Joey Carr, age 13
Rating:

I loved this episode.

Review by Nany, age 16
Rating:

This episode was interesting because it was different to the normal. It was interesting to hear about Liz again and to be introduced to her brother.

Review by Judah Ben Hur

I have only one question. Where in the world is Rakistan? =) This was a pretty good show.

Liz seems to learn that her brother will always be her best friend, but I don't think that that is necessarily true. He'll marry Natalie, and then he will start his own family, and Liz won't be the only person in his life. He has to have a job, and probably won't always be there for Liz. So, I think that Liz wasn't exactly right in not liking Natalie, but I can understand why she wouldn't like her.

Review by JojoMutz, age 12
Rating:

This episode is a good example of rivalry and jealousy. It has a little bit of each—joyfulness, sadness, happiness, and funniness. It teaches the lesson well. Good for kids who have a new sibling. Listen and have fun!

Review by Rip Van Winkle
Rating:

I hope they make a "Room Enough for Three!"

Review by Suzanna Levesque, age 10
Rating:

Awsome! Great story and lesson I think it was a relly good episode can't wait for it to comme out on tape.

Review by Ian, age 36
Rating:

I generally liked this episode, though of course it wasn't up to the high standard set by "The Pact".

I found myself wondering at first if it was a Mulligan episode—with Lisa and Mike, rather than Liz and Mark. I rather miss the Mulligans, and wish they'd return—they're fighting the Barclays for top spot as my favourite Odyssey family.

Several people wondered about Rakistan—it's simple: iRAQ + afghanISTAN. It's an oblique reference to two countries that the USA has waged war in in this new millennium. (Editor's Note: Actually, this was the same fictional country used in "A Name, Not a Number," an episode that first aired in 1994. The episode was written in the summer of 2002, long before the war in Iraq and all seeming references to that conflict are purely unintentional.)

Review by Arem852003, age 17
Rating:

I thought it was a really good episode. The only thing I didn't like was how Whit was trying to make everything better. It was like he was trying too hard.

Review by danika marquis, age 11
Rating:

I like the Adventure today; it was interesting.

Review by Alyson, age 13
Rating:

Liz has a brother named Mark and his in the Army!! Mark is enngaged to Natalie! I cant believe it! and Mark sounds like Ricky!

Review by Fletcher
Rating:

"Room Enough For Two" was probably the best slice-of-life episode this season. Liz is back to her old whiny self, but I didn't mind that so much. For a slice-of-life episode it really kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering if Mark was alive or not.

Did anyone notice that Whit was really clueless in the scene where he's first talking to Liz about Natalie. He seemed a bit too clueless to me, though I loved that reference to Janna.

I really liked "Room Enough For Two". Good job April Higgins!

Review by Bradford G, age 12
Rating:

Liz showed a side that shows she really cares about her family. We've heard her bully people around, but for once she shoes her loving side. I'm still trying to figure out if Rakistan really exists. Mark and Natalie seem like a cute couple, I hope there is an episode where we get to hear them get married. I'm sure glad that Mark is all right, and that everything worked out for Liz's family.

Review by Anna, age 16
Rating:

I liked this episode a lot! I think that Liz's character has improved a lot! I used to dislike her alot, she always seemed spoiled and selfish, but I like her alot better now. It also had a good lesson. Good job, April! It would be great to hear another episode featuring Mark and Natalie's wedding! :-)

Review by Raina, age 14
Rating:

I liked it, but it wasn't the best they've done. I really liked the part were they played that trick on Whit!

Review by a listener
Rating:

It really tuges at the heart strings. It made me want to cry. :-)

Review by Tianlet, age 16
Rating:

Maybe I'm just prejudiced because I don't really like new writers in general. Perhaps I was annoyed because I don't like Liz, or because I've heard a million "boy + girl + little sister/brother" stories before, but I didn't particularly like today's broadcast.

Liz wasn't bad, and I really liked Mark. Still, Natalie did seem like a pain, and if my older brother got married to a girl like her (impossible, I don't have an older brother) I would be mad, too.

My main complaints are the storyline, but I noticed some finer points as well. The whole "bamboozle Mr. Whitaker" scene was SO awkward. Great acting talent smoothed it over a little bit, but it was scripted, and the point was very obvious. Natalie and Liz were being thrown together in an awkward situation, and it didn't come off very well.

I'm also a little annoyed with the way Odyssey handled Mark and Natalie's relationship. I realize that many people don't see kissing, hugging, touching, etc. before marriage as wrong, but I don't like it. Also, what was Mark thinking to get affianced before his parents even met his girlfriend?

The end was very predictable and a bit stilted. Mark disappears for several days and the whole family goes wild. The waiting for news takes its toll on his fiancée and sister, and they become friends. Mark calls home and the sister says that they should include Natalie in their quality time. Liz should be treasuring time alone with her brother. She won't get any in a couple of months!

Rakistan? Never heard of it. :-) I am pleased to hear Odyssey paying tribute to our troops!

Review by JoyElectric
Rating:

Wow. This really, really turned out good. It reminded me a little of "Letting Go," which is one of my favorite shows. While I think the show was a little more contrived than usual, that's forgivable for a first-time writer. On the other hand, I really like Whit's talking about Janna being born...it's Whit at his best. The mock-fight with Natlie and Liz was a bit odd, as was Whit's reaction (I thought he'd have more fun with it). It helped break the ice. Liz has turned out to be much, much more likable than in previous years, which helped this show move along. She's got a lot more character to her now, so I hope she sticks around longer.

Again, a good show!

Review by Dave

It left me in stunned shock! It was actually pretty good. Though it didn't sound like a fans sort of episode, it came across well.

Acting: Liz was a little annoying at first, but finally seemed a little human at the end. Her bro, Mark, had a different and interesting voice, perfect for him. (Was the actor who played him been a character before in Odyssey?) His fiance was actually very well-developed for a one-timer person. It was funny when she commented on Liz's socks.

Script/ Writer: Hehe...funny about that Rakistan thing. Odyssey seem to be in this day and age for once. Very good writing, April. If it was three days later April would have had her episode aired in April! Seriously though, she took a somewhat-bad character and gave her a bit more personalilty. She actually made it seem a little sad, for some very weird reason. Maybe Liz is being changed!

Music/ Sound Design: Music added to this episode—it couldn't of been done nearly as well without it. The sound design was pretty good, and I think everything everyone said was clear.

Here is the fourth example of why to buy "Friends, Family, and Countrymen" (along with "Do Or Diet," and "The Pact"). The inclusion of "For Trying Out Loud" is a very good thing.

Review by Jacob Isom (Town Hall)

I thought it was good, however I am wondering something. Is "Rakistan" a real place?

Review by Ferder (Town Hall)

Talk about timing! When was this episode written? Rakistan! LOL! I like this ep myself. It was faily interesting and entertaining. Liz was done well. Still up to her old tricks! Mr. Whittaker got a bit anoying. I like the waffle reference from "The Eternal Birthday." I think Mrs. Higgins will make a good addition to the Odyssey team.

Review by Bennett Charles (Town Hall)

Well, I seem to remember the writers talking about how they were going to have a new couple in the show. I guess that this is a couple. And, I liked them. I knew it was Jared that was the guy playing the character from the teaser. His voice sounded a little forced. But it was cool.

Actually, I wished they could've used someone we knew from the past as Mark. I was hoping maybe they could've used someone like Oscar or something. We never knew his last name after all, and it would've been cool to have someone from the past connect with someone to the present.

Anyways, about the actual episode, It was good. It was original. It had a good message. It was good to involve the war in the fictional world of Odyssey. The story was well-built. And it rebrought the old days of Odyssey. The prank on Whit was good, but I thought it was funny how Whit was trying to make the two be interested in each other. I guess Whit isn't good at everything.

Overall, a good episode. Great Job.

Review by Steev75 (Town Hall)

A well-written, well-acted episode. Listeners can relate to a variety of emotions and experiences—jealousy, worry, dealing with change, feeling like you don't fit in. All are woven together in a believable story paced slow enough to engage our emotions, yet quick enough to resolve a volatile Mideast conflict in record time. Oh, that life could imitate art!

Liz behaves true to character even as she continues to mature emotionally, albeit a step at a time. She and the other characters, several of whom are new, interact believably. The actress playing Natalie gives an especially natural sounding performance. By the way, she and Mark complement each other nicely. Maybe theirs was intended as a one-time appearance, but I think they're interesting enough characters to bring back sometime. (For what, I don't know. I suppose they could simply serve as Odyssey's newest perpetually engaged couple.)

Like every other Odyssey resident, Liz is fortunate indeed to have Whit's shoulder to whine on. His counsel in such matters is sound. I can't imagine, however, that he would be caught off guard by Liz and Natalie's little joke. He even seemed a tad cranky about it. Then again, reducing diets affect some people that way. (What, you don't think he fell off the wagon after only a week, do you?)

I rank this as one of AIOs better episodes.

Review by Mandy Straussberg (Town Hall)

I liked the episode overall, but Natalie struck me as somewhat of a...ditz. She reminded me of the princess in "Hidden in My Heart." She sounded like a "dumb blonde." (Not to stereotype blondes. I have friends who are brunette who say they should have been blondes...and I have several very smart blonde friends, so I'm not saying all blondes are dumb, please don't take it that way.) Her character annoyed me, but I liked Mark. And the story was pretty good.

Review by DrBlackgaard (Town Hall)
Rating:

I think it was a fairly decent episode. It's a topic that hasn't been covered very much before in Odyssey. I mean, the lesson (learning that someone you're close to actually can have room in his heart for two) has been covered before, but not with a sibling getting married.

For the most part, I liked the new characters. Mark sounds like a nice addition to the show. His voice was a little annoying, but other than that I like him. I hope we see them more. I think it would be nice to have a young, just married couple on the show. It's something Odyssey hasn't really had before, and I think it would be pretty nice. After all, there probably is a substantial number of young couples that tune in ocasionally.

I think Liz is developing a little, and it's great to see. She obviously still needs some work, but she wasn't near as annoying as sometimes.

Whit seemed a little...wierd, and gullible...and almost too annoyed when they played the prank on him. It seems to me like he should have laughed along with them. Well, I wouldn't have. But it seems like Mr. Whittaker might have. Oh, and his attempt at reconciling Liz and Natalie was rather weak. And not much like Mr. Whittaker. Maybe he's showing his age.

All in all, one of the better slice-of-life shows. Playability is fairly low. It was nice to meet another family, and I hope we hear from them again in the near future. It was pretty good. Especially for a begining writer.

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