Review by JoyElectric
Rating:

I've been putting off writing a review for this, simply because I didn't know where to go with it. The first episode back, and there are highs and lows.

I'll get the whining out of the way first: the show seemed to go a little too fast for me. Last time we heard Connie, she was putting off going home, and now she's okay. God dealt with her, yet we never get much in the way of specifics. In addition, the show felt like it needed a "B" story, since everything revolved around Connie and Jared trying to help Connie. Jared's "intervention" scene felt too long and silly, even if some of his earlier attempts to make her crack were much more funny.

Enough of that: it was great hearing Whit and Connie back again in the same room. While I'm still wondering where Nick and Aubrey are (or Wooton for that matter), it was good hearing Connie back to serving ice cream to kids. June was exceptionally great, from picking Connie up to bawling at the movie at the end. It's great to hear her again.

Otherwise, it was a good show, and love how it ended (it sound like Whit's unpredictable attitude from years past has resurfaced again!). I'm glad Whit doesn't get into the Chick Flicks as much. Still...the show just seemed to dwell on Jared trying to figure Connie out without the scenes going anywhere...

Review by Priceless, age 11
Rating:

Great show! Well written and has a great plot. I don't agree with some things in the show, but anyway, a very good show with romantic comedy!

Review by Ming, age 13
Rating:

Trent and Jared were the best!

Review by Robert, age 11
Rating:

It was all right, but who really thinks Connie wants to cry? She practically already flooded all of the Eastern side of the United States. Not that it's wrong; it just seems kind of heartless. But hey, that didn't ruin the ep, mostly it was just that... uh... Eugene's not back yet. Yeah. That's it.

Review by Jesse
Rating:

Awesome show! Trent and Jared were great. The paper mache scene was great!

Review by Natalie, age 13
Rating:

This episode was pretty good. It wasn't amazingly great or anything but did have a lot of funny parts. I enjoyed hearing the "old" Jared again and I loved the movie Connie was watching!

Review by Gandalf (Town Hall)
Rating: (out of five)

I really liked this episode. It was a nice ending to the Connie's roadtrip story arc (which lasted 9 episodes). Also, I hope this is the last we have to hear about Mitch. I don't mind him being mentioned anymore, but I really hope Connie is pretty much over him. On the other hand, some interesting stories could come out of his absence.

Unlike most people, I liked both Jared and Trent. Both were really well done, I thought. Jared does sound a bit older than possibly he should, but I really like Trent's character. It's great to hear June Kendall back for the third time in the last year or so. This means that a character that took an 12 album hiatus will be in three albums (40-42) in a row! I think that's great. I like her a lot in this episode (more than "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?") and I think it's great that the writers realize what a divorced mother must feel like when her only child's daughter has been hurt similar to the way she was.

Now the biggest compliment in the episode: Whit. He was great in this episode! Not only did it feel like he honestly cared about Connie, he showed some emotion that we haven't heard since Clara. But he also had some comic relief lines, especially during the 'group therapy' scene and the last scene. A barrel of laughs. In addition, it's great to hear him talk about Jana and his relationship with her. We haven't heard about that since "The Mortal Coil," and I think it's good when the series remembers it has a past.

Overall, the show was an excellent addition, a nice follow up to album 41. The title was a bit puzzling, but when you have almost 600 episodes, then the titles don't come as easily as they used to.

Review by Carolita (Town Hall)

I really thought Whit did an excellent job in this episode. I must say, the soap operas were so stupid they were hilarious. I loved Whit's comment at the end.

Now for the rest...hm....well, Trent and Jared were pretty good, but I think it's about time Jared grew up a tad "mentally." After all, he's not 12 anymore. I think he went entirely too far on the psychology thing... Trent's acting was pretty good. Poor guy, he was so nervous.

Ms. June was...lol...interesting. Especially with the soap operas. And I actually like Connie in this story 'cause she wasn't so "Mitch minded."

Review by E87M2 (Town Hall)
Rating: (out of five)

Maybe it's just me, but it seemed like we've haven't had a continuation of the Mitch/Connie stuff for awhile. "Something Blue" seems a long time ago. I, for one, didn't mind hearing about M/C again—if for no other reason than to hear Connie speaking sense again. The Eggshells title fit, as you could almost feel the tension and the sensitivity of the subject.

Even though Jared probably doesn't act his age, I wouldn't have him any other way. He adds the humor that we need which includes taking things way out of proportion to make a point. Trent was okay, and fills the "little brother" role perfectly (although he usually acts more sensibly than his older brother!).

This was a rare time when Whit was "in the wrong" and Connie was "right" for a change. It brought things home to the listeners when Whit gives his heart-to-heart conversations, even when he's wrong.

It seemed to me that Ms. Kendall wasn't quite the supportive mother that I would have thought to be comforting. She seemed to try to force Connie to cry, rather than being happy that she was okay with the circumstances. However, I guess I can't blame her, after going through similar times with her own life. I am glad that she cares about her daughter's life, and that Connie still has a good relationship with her mother!

Overall, the ep was good, and I'm glad Connie is moving on.

Review by Captain Jack (Town Hall)

I liked it a lot it was a good ep...........

Review by Flutem (Town Hall)
Rating: (out of five)

I thought this was a pretty good episode, although not top of the line. I did find Trent a little annoying. I feel Jared's make-believe imagination has grown up a little, from spy to psycho-analyst. He was pretty funny. I was really glad to see June Kendall back. That soap was so funny, and the end was the best. I thought that part was great! We got to see some different sides of Whit. I like the part after the "meeting" when he talked to Connie. It was like she had really come home to him again. Now that I think about it, I might give it 4 stars, maybe 3 1/2.

I think that sometime in the long future, I would like to see Mitch back, maybe after Connie has grown more sensible. She did improve and wasn't so blind as her last trip progressed.

Review by Kanimoto, age 14
Rating:

The Good Parts:
What can I say? This episode was rather funny. The movie Connie and June were watching cracked me up. Whit actually had flaws like a HUMAN BEING!! I loved his lines.

The Bad Parts:
Trent was cute, but he acted too mature for his age again (even though he's DEFINITELY no genius). This episode seemed kinda like "Naturally, I Assumed." I miss Novacom and Cal Jordan so much...

Review by Kristen, age 14
Rating:

It was/is ok. Not the best, but just ok... :o)

Review by Stacy, age 11
Rating:

I really like the episodes with Trent. I want to know more about the actor that plays him, Corey Padnos.

Review by Heather, age 12
Rating:

Great episode. I really felt sorry for Connie and I understand why Trent was feeling really awkward around her. I've felt awkward like that before when I didn't know what to say. Trent was so funny. He helped me laugh at myself for when I feel that way.

Review by Paul B
Rating:

Whit's joke about the movie they were watching was funny. He was looking for somthing hard to hit his head on to erase the last few hours of his life from watching the movie. Jared and Trent try to help Connie get over Mitch in their own way. Good show!

Review by Bradford G, age 13
Rating:

Well, this epsiode about Connie's return to Odyssey, was sure differnt then Eugene's return back in 1994. When Connie returned we saw how she had already learned to move on now without Mitch. Since the Novacom Saga began Connie has showed us how God always gets us through the good & bad times, and thats always good news. Great important, funny epsiode. Thanks to the DeWhite brothers, Whit, and Connie and her mom. :-)

Review by Justine, age 13
Rating:

Eggshells was a weird name, but it was a great episode. Jared got a bit annoying, but Trent was hilarious with his word slip-ups. Connie and her mom were great! The last scene with Whit and the movie was great and very funny! The thing about the paper mache Mitch was so funny! Just bop him one Connie!

Review by JoyUnspeakable, age 13
Rating:

This is a ok ep. There are worse and there are better!

Review by Pete Fernbaugh, age 22
Rating:

One of the wonderful aspects of the second half of the 2003-2004 AIO season is the "classic Odyssey" feel that has permeated each episode. The first half was very ambitious as Connie and Joanne embarked on a lengthy road trip that did not have a happy ending (for fans, anyway), while the second half has featured shows that have a small-town, almost "Mayberry-like" feel to them just like the pre-Novacom days of Odyssey. "Eggshells" continued this "at home" theme with Connie's return to Odyssey after a long vacation in Washington, D.C.

While the scenes with Jared and Trent were amusing, I found the best scenes to be at the end, especially the scene between Whit and Connie, where he explains why he was so uncertain of how to act around her. Whit showed true humanity, and the father-daughter nature of their relationship was emphasized in a way that was reminiscent of the final scenes in "The One About Trust." His reference to his daughter, Jana, and his expression of grief over Connie's situation and desire to cry with her and help her through it was touching and wonderful.

So often, Whit can come off as a plastic character. In this episode, both he and June Kendall brought much-needed dimension to their characters. (I hope that Whit's character is developed even further in the two final episodes of the season.) Speaking of June, I've enjoyed her presence in Odyssey lately. I've always liked her character and missed her in recent years. Please continue to use the wonderful Maggie Malloy in future episodes.

Finally, the moral of the story was a good, old-fashioned Odyssey lesson, as well. The fact that your parents love and care about you and want to cry with you during life's toughest hurdles is a message that speaks to all ages.
In many ways, the conclusion to the Connie-Mitch soap opera has spoken to me in many personal ways. Even though I'm 22, these episodes—"Something Blue," "Living in the Gray," and "Eggshells"—helped me in a way that they wouldn't have had if they had been aired even one year ago. Everything Connie went through paralleled a similar personal experience that I've been dealing with over the past several months. I could sympathize with Connie and genuinely learn from her situation in a way that I doubt a 15-year-old could. Odyssey's ability to speak to all ages continues to amaze me. And its continued pursuit of excellence in storytelling and originality is refreshing in an entertainment era that is all too plastic and superficial. May God continue to bless this program.

Review by Ruthie, age 11
Rating:

Great! Jared is the same Jared he always is! :-)

Review by Bennett Charles (Town Hall)

Eggshells. Hmm. I don't really understand how the writers come up with the titles of these shows. "Alright guys, let's cut out every single word that makes up the script and throw it into Bob Hoose's hat. The picked word wins the title!"

Besides the fact that the show was somewhat ridiculous, I thought it was pretty good. But I also remember that this episode is supposed to be a comedy—and people often forget the type of show it's supposed to be, and then judges the ep based on that.

Their are several things that I liked in this episode. One thing that I thought was different was the fact that this was a "Feel Good" episode. It wasn't something with a big plot and complicated twists. Episodes like that are harder to portray/develop a certain character. This time, it was people who would randomly appear here and there, such as Jared and Trent.

Jared and Trent once again got my vote as the dynamic duo (whatever that means). Jared's character took a surprising turn from the ridiculous theories to the misinterpreted facts of the world of psychology. Big difference? Not really. One often leads to the other.

Most of my attention was on Trent. Like me, do some of you really dislike a kid in a show that tries to be funny by messing up on a word. Often times, those kid actors stink at doing it. But Trent did not stink. Often times, the word that he'd accidently would say in his sentence sounded almost too real. And I was certainly impressed, compared to other times.

Another point comes to mind. This is probably the first time since "I Slap Floor" that I laughed at something Whit did/said. You have to admit, Whit was funny in a few scenes in today's ep. It makes me think that we lost that amusing side of Whit that left when Hal Smith left. And yes, I hate it when people compare Paul Herlinger to Hal Smith, but I made an exception.

I also liked the fact that Connie had a "Welcome Home" episode. It has happened in a past that episodes don't follow through or refer to past events that had recently happened to the character. And that ticks me off. This episode couldv'e been easily dropped, and simply have Connie working back behind the counter in "Stubborn Streaks", and she might refer back to her trip just once.

In the end, good episode.

One more thing: Did Nick and Aubrey get thrown out of Whit's End? They seem to have "One day a month" working-time shifts.

Review by Mellow Boy (Town Hall)

I thought this ep sunk like the Titanic. It was really boring and not a good story. I think Trent is the worst actor. I think the writers should think of some good ideas for the next season.

Review by Laurie (Town Hall)

I know I have said that I am tired of the Connie/Mitch story, but I really enjoyed this episode. For once Connie was more mature than Whit and her mom. Jared and Trent were very funny.

Review by alwaysHis324 (Town Hall)

I think the title refers to the fact that everyone was "walking on eggshells" (to borrow the colloquialism) around Connie, trying not to upset her.

I found the episode interesting, and a bit humorous.

Review by Erin (Town Hall)

I liked it! I thought Trent was very annoying but the acting was very well done. Jared was ok. Trent could have been taken out and not missed (to me) but I think I would have felt something was missing if they had taken Jared out. Jared is still immature but there are people like that. (like... me!) I loved hearing from June. We have heard a lot from her lately, but I think it would be terrible if she wasn't there. I loved the ending when June and Connie were all crying over the movie and Whit thought it was the most terible thing he had ever saw! That was very classic. It really made you smile while Chris was rolling the credits. A well done ep. Not cheap, but I don't think it will win for the best in the album. Just a good episode to add to your collection.

Review by happysmiler (Town Hall)
Rating: (out of five)

I really liked this one. I thought it was good how they dealt with Connie's problem (or not problem). I thought that Jared and Trent were so funny! And I also liked that Whit wasn't shown as being "perfect." I thought the last scene was kinda silly. But, otherwise it was great! (4/5 Stars)

Review by Me (Town Hall)
Rating: (out of five)

The ep was pretty good. The weirdest part was that Connie was right about something while Whit and her mom were wrong. That doesn't happen too often. It was good to hear her back in old form and get frustrated with someone besides Mitch.

On the other hand, Whit complaining about the movie didn't sound very Whit-like. More of a Bernard line. Also something random about the sound of the door of Whit's End. It closes a lot faster than it did back in say, 1998. I don't like it. It makes the episode sound more rushed.

Overall though, it was a good episode, and I can definitely see how Jared would get that stuff from a health class.

Review at Shadowpaw (The Soda Fountain)
Rating: (out of five)

I assume there's plenty of Adventures in Odyssey fans out there who are just as sick and tired of the Mitch/Connie storyline as I am. Unlike Eugene and Katrina, who have wonderful chemistry and who's relationship has set the stage for some amazing episodes, Mitch and Connie's relationship can be summed up in one word: Nauseating. Eugene and Katrina took eight years to finally tie the knot... EIGHT! Can you imagine listening to Connie and Mitch spit out 'romantic' (and I use the term lightly) dialogue for nearly a decade? Connie Kendall was a wonderfully charming and lovable character for much of the show's first fourteen years. Now that she's growing up, her character's development and reputation has been severely tarnished by a gag-inducing story arc. I'm sick of her acting like a baby when Mitch is around, I'm tired of her whining, and I'm fed up with the dialogue we've been forced to stomach for the past two years. It's not Connie (the way she acted in "First Love" proves this... she was far more mature), and it's not good for Odyssey.

Or, at least it wasn't. "Something Blue II" signaled the end of a forgettable era: Connie and Mitch decided to part ways. And with that, fans of the show opposed to their relationship can breath a collective sigh of relief. Oh sure, there's lot of girls out there who are in love with the idea of Connie being in love, and even a few boys, but their relationship could only have been a detriment to the series. Perhaps one day Connie should find the right guy and settle down... but not yet. However, I'm getting wildly off topic here. The point of my rambling? "Eggshells" is hopefully the last episode featuring the poison the Mitch residue has left on the series. Thankfully, the episode was about Connie's ability to get over him... thank God most of that happened off-air.

The episode itself is your average show, with the folks in town trying to get Connie to cry on their shoulders. Thankfully, she would have none of it and surprisingly doesn't turn into a basket-case by the show's end. The issue certainly needed to be dealt with as Connie can't just move on and forget this emotional and critical moment in her life. Much to my relief it was done as quickly and efficiently as possible. This season so far has been very strong in my mind, and I firmly believe a large part of that is related to limited Connie use. With Eugene missing in action, Connie's been forced to carry the show on her shoulders for the past few years... and unfortunately, it's worked against her. Katie Leigh is a terrific actress, but the character of Connie has been overused. In one episode, the writers need her to be the strong mature one, and the next they need her to be the damsel in distress. This see-saw roller coaster we've been on with Connie has been frustrating. Personally, I'd like to see her behind the counter at Whit's End dishing out ice cream and arguing with Eugene. But in the absence of Eugene, I'll be happy just to have her dish out that ice cream. Maybe one day she'll even be ready for a real job! But until then...

It was great to hear from Jared and his younger brother, who was further developed in this episode. There were moments where I was reminded why I spoke of his "robotic acting" in my review for "My Girl Hallie", as sometimes his dialogue sounded too perfect, but he's still a great kid. Perhaps the deWhite's are the family we've been waiting for since the Barclay's moved to Pokenberry Falls. And all this time the writers introduced the Washington family as a decoy! To be honest, I'm more invested in the characters of Trent and Jared, than I have been for any other kid characters (save perhaps Alex Jefferson), since the Barclays moved. Throw in a funny father and caring mother, and we could have ourselves another family to love and cherish.

Speaking of family dynamics, June and Connie were great together. Considering June took a seven year leave of absence, it's still amazing how good these two sound together. And the movie they were watching was hilarious... Marshal Younger has yet another soap opera scene to chalk up on his Odyssey resume, all of which have been classic.

Whit was great too. Paul Herlinger had a superb performance in "Something Blue II" and was great again here. The scene he had with Connie one-on-one near the end was nice, especially the mention of Jana and her divorce. It gives us a bit more perspective on Whit's relationship with the Whittaker-Dowds, who have seemingly dropped off the face of the planet. And for a brief moment, I was expecting Whit to be crying while they were watching the movie... but not here. Fittingly, Whit asks for a bucket.

With the way the Connie and Mitch storyline has been treated, there's no question what he wants it for. But rest easy Whit... things are looking up!

543: Nothing But the Half Truth

Episode Information

Consensus: Thumbs Up (23/23 positive reviews)

"Good enjoyable episode...but not great." That pretty much sums up the reviews for the latest Odyssey show, with most ratings falling in the three star range. Fans are showering the show with good, nice compliments, but not too many overwhelming praises. Universally liked was (surprisingly) Wooton. People liked his humor and his continued maturity in these shows.

Marvin's part of the show got mixed reviews, with some enjoying his story and others giving it (and his character) a thumbs-down. Most didn't especially like the "Chicken Dance" that ended the show, but universally disliked was any mention of Whit's whites.

Review by JoyElectric
Rating:

This was a really fun episode! While I do think the premise was a little silly, I was rather happy with how the story turned out. Whit watching Marvin for the weekend reminded me of years past, giving Whit a chance to teach kids lessons. While some of it was over the top (The Chicken Dance?), it was worth it to hear Wooton and his brother again.

Oh, and I love Wooton. Give the guy his own storyline. He needs an episode or two where he's paired with Connie or Whit.

Review by Amber, age 13
Rating:

Great episode! I always love episodes with Wooton in them. He's so funny!

Review by Bradford G, age 13
Rating:

Great episode. In this epsiode you can see how lies come in all kinds of ways. And how only telling part of the truth is the same as not telling the truth. Thanks for helping us figure that out Whit and Wooton!!

Review by Stacy, age 11
Rating:

This episode was really cool. It had three stories about half-truths—the fan, the contract and going paintballing. My favorite story was with Marvin and Trent. Marvin learned his lesson and Trent seemed like a really good friend, wanting Marvin to do the right thing. I really like Trent.

Review by Catspaw, age 18
Rating:

I really enjoyed listening to this episode, at least the parts with Wooton. He was hilarious! At the end, with Wellington and the Chicken Dance, I found myself laughing while following the instructions on how to do the chicken dance. I haven't had that much fun since I had my corns removed. (I guess I've been missing Bernard lately). Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the Marvin storyline as much. It was okay, but not nearly as enjoyable as the Wooton/Wellington angle. Overall, a fun episode.

Review by Emily, age 11
Rating:

It's GREAT!!!

Review by Paul B
Rating:

Wooton's brother asked him to be him for a day for a meeting which backfires on him. The man that Wooton meets endings up liking him. When Wooton won't be his brother anymore, he tells his brother no more. Then his brother has to be Wooton and do the Chicken Dance, which was funny. This new twin story was funny.

Review by Elin, age 14
Rating:

Great ep! I love Wooton episodes!

Review by Justine, age 13
Rating:

This episode was very disapointing because I got up at 7:00a.m. to listen to it! Marvin Washington's acting was pretty bad. They should have had Trent be the one in trouble and Marvin the friend who did not want to help. The Marvin thing was boring too. I will give this episoade a 3. Wooten's situation was very silly. The chicken dance thing was just wrong.

Review by happysmiler
Rating: (out of five)

I really liked this one. Wooton is one of my favorite characters, so I always enjoy an ep with him! He was very funny, as always! I loved the part where he drinks the root beer! Trent and Marvin are also great characters. This episode also had a very good lesson. Really good!

Review by Boa
Rating: (out of five)

I really like Wooton, but this was a 3 starrer for me. I don't care for the episodes involving Wooton's family—they just annoy me especially Wellington. Wooton was funny as usual and I'm always crossing my fingers when he meets another character that they like his personality. Can't get too much of Wooton!

Review by Captain Jack

I really liked Wooton in this ep......I thought it was really good

Review by edelweiss
Rating: (out of five)

It was fine, not stunning, but not down-right terrible. The lesson was good, at least it wasn't just trying to develop Odyssey characters and we had to wait until Chris told us what the lesson was supposed to be.

Review by James M
Rating: (out of five)

It was good. I liked Wooton. I figured out what the lesson was based on all that happened. It was cool Wooton confessed to truth.

Review by Erin
Rating: (out of five)

I don't really like Wooton, but this one was the best that I have ever heard! I'm not real big on these almost split episodes (the charactors have their own story while the another has their story and they meet up for a minute). I think it would have been better if the story had been JUST about Wooton. Well done. Wooton had me smiling for a while there. Good job, AIO!

Review by Bennett Charles
Rating: (out of five)

Every time that I hear a Wooton episode, I feel like I shouldn't like the episode, just because it isn't the Odyssey style in the past. It's different.

But these episodes are brought together by so much creativity by Tory Martin. His jokes are original, the actor is funny and talented, and in the midst of an goofy episode; the theme stays strong. The half-truth: It's a lie that so many of us (especially many kids) use probably every day. We sidestep the truth, but we fail to accept it as a lie. Whit did a good job explaining that theme to Marvin.

Speaking of which, Marvin is becoming better as a character. I think I've gotten out of the stage of "somewhat getting annoyed at him." By the way, it seemed like his voice was a bit different this time. Anyone else noticed it? Trent was pretty good as usual.

I liked the story, and as I mentioned before, I felt it was a type of style Odyssey did well. I prefer the more realistic stories with Wooton. (Well, technically that never really happened. But the closest that they got to it was "Bassett Hounds") I mean, seriously, The Chicken Dance? What's up with that? Everything was pretty good up until that part. (Well, I didn't really hate it. But it was maybe a bit too weird for my taste.)

I have to hand it to Torry Martin and Jess Harnell. They're like Peanut Butter and Jelly: They just taste good together.

Sidenote: This season has been pretty good. There hasn't been one large complaint about an episode up to date this year. Hopefully, the next few weeks will keep up the pace, and we can have one highly successful season.

Review by Flutem
Rating: (out of five)

I liked this episode. Wooten was really funny, and, as has been said, it has a good moral.

Review by Rosie
Rating: (out of five)

I really liked this episode... But the ending made me cringe. I guess it's for the younger kids to get a laugh from.

Review by Gandalf
Rating: (out of five)

If you know me, or you've read any of my past reviews, you probably know that I despise Wooton. His immaturity, annoying voice, and weird hobbies are one thing, but I really have a big problem with his total lack of responsibility. And this is held up as some sort of a good thing (ex: "Welcoming Wooton"). I for one think that responsibility should be something that is taught and encouraged on AIO. Wooton doesn't do this very often. So when I first heard that this episode was going to be a Wooton episode, I "groaned in my spirit." But I was in for a pleasant surprise.

For the most part, I was shocked to find that I enjoyed this episode! Torry Martin's writing is improving (a lot) and so is the character of Wooton. In this episode, the character is faced with the problem of doing the right thing. Instead of having Wooton do the right thing right off the bat, or do the wrong thing (or immature thing) and get away with it (as usually happens with Wooton), Wooton does the wrong thing and then regrets it. I was surprised to find he had a conscience. I thought life was just one big joy ride for Wooton and if he thought it would be fun to impersonate his brother, it was perfectly fine. But it wasn't. Kudos to Mr. Martin for a job well done on this episode. If Wooton continues to develop like he did in this episode and "Bassett Hounds," I might actually find myself liking him...

The Marvin side of the episode was a little weak, but the secondary part of these episodes usually are. I don't mind it so much...it's to be expected. Though as other reviewers have pointed out, I was disturbed by the mention of Whit's "whites.". And I do believe Marvin's voice is changing... I'm interested to see what the AIO writers will do with the Washingtons. Will they drop off the face of AIO, like Curt, Oscar, Cal, and so many others? Will we see them through this time, like the Barclays? Or will we simply not hear from Marvin for awhile until his voice is fully changed, like Jared and Jack Davis? Only time will tell. I have issues with the Washingtons (which I won't go into now), so I'm a little curious to see what'll happen. Oh, I did appreciate the mysterious absense of the word "oink."

The music, acting, etc. were all okay but not great. Overall, it's a fairly average episode, not one of the greatest but a very good one anyway.

Review by Me
Rating: (out of five)

Pretty good ep. Glad they did it with two storylines like they used to (haven't been too many of them lately). I agree w/Gandalf; good not to hear "oink." I always found it to be random and pointless. About 3 and 7/8 stars.

Didn't the business man play someone else with the same voice? He sounded familiar.

Review by Lindsay
Rating: (out of five)

I think this ep was ok... I like Wooten but Trent's voice grates on every nerve! I also concur with what's been said, this ep had a very good lesson to be learned!

Review by Arwen

I really liked it. 'Specially Wooten.

Review at Shadowpaw (The Soda Fountain)
Rating: (out of five)

Love him or hate him, it would appear that Wooton Bassett is here to stay. Those who oppose him find him annoying... or at the very least an unwelcome replacement for Eugene. Those who like him think he's hilarious... and well, that's about all the reasons they have. I would be the latter.

So needless to say, I enjoyed the episode. It won't ever creep into my top ten list, nor will I give it a rating that it doesn't deserve... but it was a funny show. Wooton was at the top of his game and it was a great premise for him to be involved in. It also develops the relationship between Wooton and his twin brother Wellington even further. Every scene Wooton appeared in was a highlight, and his interactions with both Fox and his brother were well done. It's also hard to narrow down any particular quote that was 'funny', because just about everything coming out of his mouth is pure comedic gold. My only real wish for the character would have been that he kept the fake accent he used when he first met Fox Fletcher. It was a very funny accent, and his awkwardness about the whole thing was wonderful. The Bassett's sure are an interesting family and I imagine there's a ton of more storyline to be gleaned from the Bassett family line.

The Marvin storyline on the other hand wasn't as interesting. He's just not a character that I find myself really caring much about. The actor who plays him isn't very good, and he's better used as a supporting character (such as the way he was used in "Called on In Class"). I would have preferred the roles to have been switched, with Trent in the lead role and Marvin the friend who doesn't want to help him. I can understand the writers wanting to integrate members of the Washington family into the show, but you need strong actors to carry that burden. Marvin Washington isn't one of those people... and they have yet to explain that whole "Oink" business which was mysteriously (yet happily) dropped.

The music was terrific as usual (it seems a moot point to even bring it up anymore), and I especially liked the tinkering with the Odyssey theme song during the scene where Marvin confesses to Whit. What would Adventures in Odyssey be without John Campbell? A lot worse... that I can guarantee.

I also had mixed reactions about the ending. On first listening, I was a bit disappointed and thought it was kind of cheesy. But after listening to it again, I thought it was quite funny... especially Wellington's dry remark of how much fun he's having. A fitting punishment for a man who thinks so little of his twin brother's uniqueness. One other thing that bugged me was the visuals dancing across my mind of Mr. Whittaker and his pink underwear. The mere mention of his under garments is rather... unpleasant... especially that it's pink and Marvin and Whit are discussing it between the two of them! Our minds do crazy (and disturbing) things, when forced to fill in the blanks with our imagination. :o) Please never do this again.

544: Split Ends

Episode Information

Consensus: Thumbs Up (22/23 positive reviews)

Fans are cheering the latest episode in the Mandy and Liz "feud" story arc. Most liked how the show turned out and the twists and turns that accompanied the end of the story. Many noted how it was great that the Mandy/Liz arc went for several episodes, making it seem more realistic. Jared and Connie also got many positive notes, both of them acting more mature than recently and being good friends.

The commercial itself got a few negative notes (because it was annoying), but the modeling plot garnered some "thumbs up" reviews.