Review
by Elizabeth, age 16
Rating:
I realize this
review is a bit late, but I thought I'd throw in my two cents anyhow.
"Lost By a Nose," was,
in my opinion, one of the best episodes this season. It was a wonderful story,
and, regardless of the characters involved, there was an excellent moral at
the end: It doesn't matter
what others think about how we look, or who we are...it matters what God,
the one who created us, thinks about us. We need to look at life "beyond
the window."
Thank you, John, the episode was
perfect, and poem was absolutely beautiful.
Review
by Bill
Does anyone remember
the television show, Facts Of Life? Gwen, the girl that Liz felt sorry
for, in this episode, sounded alot like the girl (Natalie) from Facts Of
Life. I am glad to see that Mandy and Liz have strengthened their friendship.
In fact, Mandy spent almost the entire episode, trying to hold Liz accountable:
something that is difficult, and puts alot of strain on a friendship. Not
long ago, Mandy and Liz would have fought over this type of thing. I have
to give Mandy and Liz credit, though. In this episode, Liz was giggly over
a football player. Mandy was the voice of reason, and Liz did not get upset
at her for being the voice of reason. I think the best part of the episode
was the whole zit thing. I have to admit I laughed several times, at some
of Liz's lines about her zits.
Review
by Paul B
Liz goes undercover
in a pagent. To do an article for the Owl only to learn a valuable lesson.
What is the lesson? Tune in to find out. It was funny to hear someone order
Raspberry Ripple again after all these years.
Review
by Elsa, age 16
Rating:
I really liked
this episode because it talked about looks and stuff. So yeah...it's a show
you can relate to, you know what I mean?
Review
by JM91 (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
Man, that was
not what I expected. It wasn't very good at all, IMO.
Review
by Arwen (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
It was OK. Not
terribly exciting, but not the worst episode ever.
Review
by happysmiler (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
I agree, it wasn't
the best ep ever aired. I mean, it wasn't bad, but after the last few eps,
which I really enjoyed, it just wasn't good enough.
Review
by bmuntz (Town Hall)
It was okay, but
not stunning. How did Liz make it based of personality? Her personality is
like a pit bull.
Review
by James M (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
I thought it was
interesting that Liz talked about what people remember you for. I am like
Shadowpaw...I cannot forget how mean Liz was to Connie that one episode, and
how mean and bratty she used to be. Mandy was cool. I liked Gwen. Liz was
cool. I was hoping Gwen would win.
Review
by Bennett Charles (Town Hall)
"...Interupting
Cow...Oh, now I get it."
I didn't find myself enjoying this
episode too greatly, or with high enthousiasm. But the story was interesting
enough, and it was nice to hear from Mandy and Liz together, and Nick.
Speaking of which; everyone knows
that I am a big fan of the character Nick Mulligan. (I am now going off from
my review...) However, I find that his character style changes in almost every
episode. Is it the writer? I just don't know. I enjoyed him when Kathy included
him, and when Marshall included him, as well. The show that Nathan did with
him was all right, although he sounded slightly different. That's the thing;
he's the type of character which isn't as expendable as the others. If you
write for Connie, then she can pretty much adapt to anything you toss her
way. She can be immature, wise, annoying...anything...
With Nick on the otherhand; the
"mysterious, clever-lined packed, New Yorker bad boy, and slick-man"
character is for him. When he dishes out ice cream to a kid, I wince. It doesn't
fit. Having a New Yorker say in a pleasent way, "Here you go" doesn't
work. He has to have his own style of speech...
There were both big differences
in how he spoke in "Sounds like a Mystery" and in this episode,
compared to how he'd act in others. So I went on a quest to find out why he'd
act so uncharacteristic in one, and so terrific in another. I suspected it
was simply the actor who was losing his touch. But that's impossible, since
he was nearly perfect in "A Lamb's Tale"..."That kid's gonna
get himself killed...I like him."
So, was it the writing? John Fornof
did both episodes of "Sounds like a Mystery" and "Lost by a
Nose," and in the former, their were no words said by Nick indicating
that he was the "Slick New Yorker." You could've replaced his character
by having Connie, Wooton or Marvin Washington act in his place and it wouldn't
have sounded at all different.
Am I not making sence? Has anyone
else actually noticed differences in how Nick would act in one in the then
different in the other?
Luckily, Nick Mulligan was hosting
a girl's beauty contest. That's so him. On the other hand, I don't think his
knock-knock jokes are very him at all...I mean, admit it...that joke was terrible.
(back to my review)
The ending to this episode was
where the similarities between "Lost by a Nose" and "A Model
Child" really clicked in my head. Luckily, it was a character that we
already new a bit who was doing the crying. Brenda Fraser, in my mind, does
a pretty good job at being the popular girl. She isn't stuck up, or snobby,
or anything...she just isn't the stereotypical popular girl. Afterall, you
don't necessarily have to be stuck-up to be popular.
I wasn't a huge fan of Gwen. It's
not to say that I didn't like her, but I'd rather see her not returning to
the series. If their was anyone who I'd enjoy hearing from again who appeared
recently in an episode would be Grady. And having a Gwen and a Grady on the
show at the same time would sound, well, a bit bizarre. Both names are both
similar and uncommon.
Overall, it was a good enough show.
I don't enjoy giving ratings, but I will this time; 7.5/10. Not bad, not great,
but just good enough.
Review
by Jonathan (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
I'm really mixed
in this review. Two things stuck out.
1. The poem was excellent.
2. Liz's [change from being
a bad girl] has always
bothered me. I know people complained, and if the AIO team wants to change
her character as a result, they absolutely have to give a reason. It was extremely
odd to hear her attempt to be "sensitive" with her words. And besides,
I thought she acted the "bad girl" part wonderfully. Without an
explanation, the believability and continuity is hurt.
Review
by Kanimoto (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
Maybe it was because
I had high expectations from reading and writing speculations about today's
ep...but I just didn't like it.
On its own, the ep
was nice. Nice storyline, nice lesson, nice ending. But compared with all
the other recent eps, this one was so average, IMO. I guess I'm getting
tired of these "basic" episodes.
Review
by Mandy Straussberg (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
I didn't like
it much, but it wasn't awful. Even though I didn't like the Mandy/Trent thing,
the last episode was really good. This hardly compared.
Review
by alwaysHis324 (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
I really really
really liked this episode. It had all the key elements that make a good show:
memorable characters, intelligent dialogue, an important message delivered
well, and enough humor to put a smile on my face.
Mandy and Liz are a great team.
I really liked Gwen and would love if she became regular character. I liked
the fact that the moral wasn't glossed over or tacked onto the end like an
afterthought, but woven throughout the story.
It was in a sence, predictable,
but not in annoying way. I mean it was easy to guess what would happen to
Liz when she found out she made the finalists, but the strength of the performance
and message outweighed predictablilty in my part.
So far this season has been great,
two episodes that I love, one I really liked and one that was "uhhhhh".
I hope they continue to deliver the rest of the season.
Review
by Me (Town Hall)
It was ok. There
were a number of problems with it, however, like the fact that Bart didn't
even try to get a part in it. I have also found the thing with Nick disturbing.
Overall though, it was not too bad.
Review
by Screech (Town Hall)
I thought Nick
was hillarious!
Review
by EugeneFan (Eugene Forever)
Rating:
(out of five)
"Lost By
a Nose" did not turn out how I expected it would. After reading comments
on the Town Hall and listening to the first scene of the episode, I assumed
that "Lost By a Nose" would follow nearly the exact same storyline
as "A Model Child". While there were a few similarities, I was pleased
that this episode was very different from "A Model Child". I found
it to be a "so-so" slice-of-life show.
This show deals with a "Young
Miss Odyssey" Contest that judges personality, talent, and academics.
Liz feels that the competition is really centered around outward beauty, so
she joins the contest to get an inside perspective. She ends up being chosen
as one of the finalists, and she forgets about her original intentions and
hopes to win the contest. Liz is horrified to discover that just before the
contest a zit appears on her nose. Because of this, Liz withdraws from the
competition. She learns from a girl named Gwen, who only joined the contest
to have fun, that outward beauty is unimportant.
Speaking of Gwen, I was pleased
with her being in this show. I wouldn't be surprised if we never heard from
her again, but I was happy with the way she behaved in this show. Despite
the fact that Liz discouraged her from entering the contest, she entered anyway,
and she handled herself very well. Gwen entered the contest for the right
reasons, and she was much more mature than any of the other girls in the contest.
I was also pleased with the poem that she wrote.
I knew from the start that this
episode would be about the importance of inward beauty rather than outward
appearances. I suppose this is a relevant topic to cover, because our society
seems to be much too focused on outward beauty, as Liz said in the episode.
This was the biggest similarity I found to "A Model Child."
I didn't have a problem with any
of the music that was chosen for this show. However, I was slightly distracted
by the music in certain points of the show. This was because some of the music
pieces were the same pieces used in the AIO video games. The music was only
distracting because it gave my mind a reason to wander toward the video games
rather than the story. I suppose AIO likes to recycle music, which is something
they have been doing a lot recently (and I know that other fans have noted
the distraction of recycled music in recent shows). I guess shouldn't be so
picky about such things.
As I said earlier, this episode
was only a "so-so" slice-of-life" episode. The plot wasn't
the most dramatic or exciting in the world, and the story was slightly predictable.
However, it is good for AIO to include some everyday slice-of-life shows.
My rating is a 3 out of 5 stars.
Excerpted
Review by Frank (Frank's Breakfast Inn)
This was the nice
and cheerful episode (after last weeks high-action drama) It had it's funny
moments, like all of Liz's references to the Himalayas and stuff.
Hmmm. AIO, the suspense and drama and excitement was all tossed around by
a pimple? What? It's not usual for AIO to base the all of their show on a
usually not-discussed-in-public bodily dysfunction.
Second AIO modeling contest. Good thing Liz didn't get some sort of eating
disorder. Good thing it wasn't sponsored by Bart Rathbone.
Mandy and Liz have makeup. Bad! AIO does not endorse makeup in the young with
God-given beauty! Bad AIO! Number one - Mandy was allowed to use makeup, number
two - she knew how to apply it and thirdly, Liz agreed to wear it, with no
reference to the Biblical reason why you shouldn't wear it. Hmmph. I say no
makeup until you're 18! Unfortunately most people don't agree with me...
... Liz, the best thing to remember is that if you win the beauty show, big
deal. No one will remember you in two years. But if you are a good friend,
then your name will go down in history. That's sweet.
It seems that AIO is still snorkeling. Their faith episodes are good for new
Christians and the very young, but they never get any deeper. Maybe AIO is
trying for outreach, but I wish that they at least mentioned the Bible once
or twice. (Because you can get these same sort of morals from most cartoons...although
in a slightly rougher form.) Maybe I'm being overly critical, but I liked
the days when Whit would gather the kids around him and tell them what they
were doing wrong and what the Bible says to do about it. Nick isn't very qualified
for this sort of thing. (Not being a Christian himself...although he's getting
more towards a decision...)
All of the humor was well placed and very funny...I'll give them credit for
that.
I've said a lot of not nice things about AIO...and I apologize. This is a
nice slice-of-life and I'll listen to it many times in the future.
Consensus:
Thumbs Up (24/26 positive reviews)
"The Last I
Do" is getting the most positive reviews of the season so far. Many
are praising the arrival of another history show and the interesting parallel
between this show and the current marriage debate in the U.S. and other
countries.
Also Specifically
praised is new Odyssey writer Leilani Wells. Some mentioned concern over
a "newbie" writer, but reviewers liked her first Odyssey effort.
Also praised was the acting, music, and production of the show. A stand-out
scene was the running wedding.
A few quibbles also
popped up. Most notably, some wondered about casting choices (Should they
use Pete Reneday for every historical episode? Should Connie have a part?)
and the pace (should it have been two parts?). Finally, a few felt that
they had heard the Valentine history story several times before.
Review
by Rachel, age 14
Rating:
I thought it
was really well written, and compared to other historical episodes that
take two parts to finish, it really packed a lot of information into one
episode. I really liked it's representation of Valentine and the rest of
the charactors. My only critique would be that most of the voices used do
not play permanent charactors in Odyssey, which makes it difficult to be
a Kids Radio production. Over all, it was excellent!
Review
by Gonkz
Rating:
I must say that
I enjoyed this episode for its historical value. Ever since "Patrick:
A Heart Afire," I have been wondering weather or not Odyssey would
do an episode on Valentine since little is known about the history of both
St. Patrick's Day and Valentine's Day. Nice show overall. I'm glad they
are still doing historical episodes.
Review
by Elizabeth
Rating:
I thought that
this ep was well done, but I didn't find it very interesting. Actually,
I think that the subject was a little too mature for younger kids. I think
if you are going to do and ep about standing up for what is right, it can
be done in a much more meaningful way that kids could relate to. Such as
a problem at school where one of the characters has to decide if they will
do what they know is right even if it means they won't be popular, or something
like that. Something that I have appreciated about AIO is that they do stories
that people can relate to. I know that it's close to Valentine's Day, but
I think that AIO should have waited and used a different subject for standing
up for what is right. Don't get me wrong, I think that this was a great
ep! My only problem is that there are a lot of young kids listening. This
sort of subject is okay for older teenagers and above, but not for young
children. Anyway, I've said my piece. I did think that this was a well done
ep.
Review
by Nate, age 16
Rating:
Odyssey is back!
An episode that's funny, touching...Not ridiculous. It actually sounds like
a Kids' Radio adventure and it's fun. The best episode since the last BTV.
The blind girl, the marriage ceremony on the run...All so unique and beautifully
executed. I haven't been thrilled with Odyssey's quality lately, but this
is grand!
Review
by Arianne, age 29
Rating:
I never heard
this story been told to me this way before. You added humor, kindness, love,
and joy into the voices you used on the show. My dad and I enjoyed your show.
Thank you.
Review
by Bradford G, age 14
Rating:
Best Episode of
2005 so far! Perfect in every way. My favorite part was the marriage chase
scene. Love this episode and story—especially since I have never really
heard it before.
Review
by Ruthie, age 12.9
Rating:
It was pretty
good! (The new writer did better than I thought!) I enjoyed the "chase
wedding." AIO always makes history fun!
Review
by Elsa, age 16
Rating:
Nice episode!
Gave me history on Valentine's Day and now I know where it came from!
Review
by Loretta, age 37
Rating:
Hi, my three kids
and I have been listening for the last few years (for the most part) on KFAX
1100AM in San Francisco. We tape the weekly program and listen later at bedtime.
I have been wondering for a few years what the Valentine story is, and was
happily surprised to find out that is what this week's program is about. Just
wanted to say that it was very moving and beautiful. Thank you so much. I
appreciate that you do cover a lot of world/church history since I did not
get much education in that and I desire my children to learn some of the basics
of church history. Thank you for great programs. My kids talk about them and
beg for more. I wish I could rent or borrow the tapes. Love, Loretta in San
Mateo, CA
Review
by Sheri, age 14
Rating:
It was ok, It
was the best episode I have heard since "Sunday Morning Scramble."
I'd rather hear more Episodes about the people in Odyssey though.
Review
by Mandy Straussberg (Town Hall)
I didn't like
it much, but that's not based on the merit of the episode as much as it is
on my background. I've known the story of Valentine for years and years. I
even wrote a play about him once. Thus, this episode bored me greatly.
Review
by Christian Cowgirl (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
It was a little
boring, I've heard Valentine's story too many times I guess..
Review
by Neo3DGfx (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
Would have been
3 stars, but because of the funny scene before Valentine is captured, and
the good over-all sound of the episode, I have to go with a 4 on this one.
Also, I have to give points to FotF for making an episode that parallels what
is going on in the US recently.
Review
by Laurie (Town Hall)
I enjoyed this
episode for two reasons. The first and most imoportant being that my local
station aired it on the day it was supposed to air and did not repeat their
mistake of last week. The second reason is that I did not know the story behind
Valentine's Day. I had never heard the story until AIO.
Review
by JM91 (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
Wow, this was
about the best show I've heard all season. I've never heard the story of Valentine
before so it was really interesting. An all around good episode.
Review
by Bmuntz (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
I enjoyed it very
much. It had a good lesson and was interesting. Not the best in the season,
but it was really good.
Review
by Simbelmyne34 (Town Hall)
I thought it was
pretty good. I loved the scene before he got captured, and thats a lot for
me because I HATE mushy love stuff! (This one was funny though.)
Review
by AIO PSYCHE (Town Hall)
This just might
be the best ep this season. A wondeful episode. It felt like AIO. It felt
like a classic ep. It was nice to hear Connie. (I'm trying to get all the
Connie I can before this "big event.") A great story. I teared up
a few times. I didn't know how Valentine's day got its name! Over all a fantastic
episode.
Excerpted
Review by Gandalf (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
Before
I start my review, I have to tell you very openly that I am very biased...
I had completely oulined
and written out over half of a script for an AIO episode of St. Valentine!
...
I do think AIO should have made
this story at least two episodes long. A story as beautiful and epic as this
one deserves it, I hope there was a substantial amount that will be added
for the album version. One major problem was that the episode provided very
little emotion. It was basically a "here's the story, guess you learned
something new, ha ha" presentation. A story like this could have been
one that makes even the toughest guys need to borrow some Kleenex.
The acting was superb. I'm not
sure who played who, but most of the voice talent was perfect for their roles.
One role I disliked though, though, was Katie Leigh as Pauline. I personally
think AIO overuses Katie and should stick with her as Connie and maybe, every
once in a great while, have her play a minor character. It was just too hard
sitting there thinking 'that's Connie!' when Pauline was saying stuff like
how much she loved Titus.
Lastly, the music was average.
It didn't feel original or inspired for this episode, which, as I keep saying,
is a pity because it could have been such an epic and intriguing story. I
should have liked The Last I Do to contain music on par with, or superior
than, Patrick: A Heart Afire, which I believe is one of the greatest works
of John Cambell in the whole AIO cannon.
Overall, this episode was a good
one. It told the story of Valentine, one that many people aren't familiar
with, in a good way. We learned facts, even if we didn't "feel"
the episode. I commend Leilani Wells for a job well done, this was a good
"first episode" and I hope she writes more episodes in the future.
I also loved the way they put the whole marriage protection thing into this
episode in a way we, in American and Canada, could relate to.
It is hard to judge this episode
on what it is, rather than what I think it could have been. It is very wonderful
to hear an epic history show from AIO, and I think if I hadn't already been
working on this idea, I would have probably given it at least a four, which
I shall do as I am convinced it deserves.
Sorry for the long review, contratulations
if you made it all the way through!
Excerpted
Review by Bennett Charles (Town Hall)
Time and time
again, Odyssey has presented us with stories which go beyond the developement
of any Odyssey characters. For this reason, these episodes are oftentimes
the least anticipated of the season; but Odyssey wouldn't be the same without
them. Most of us know these stories, and so it's no big surprise as to what
the plot is, and what to expect. However, it is definitely a nice way to refresh
us once we're in the right time to think about it (ex: Saint Patrick's Day,
Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc.) Overall, it's a nice new way to look at
the story.
As I said; Most of us know the
stories...however, to be quite honest, I didn't know beans about the story
of Saint Valentine. And so, after the episode, I decided to do some research
about the man.
I often worry about these episodes
that re-tell the story of a historic man not listed in the Bible. Why? Because,
most of story told sometimes can be legend. You see, with the Bible, we, as
Christians, believe that it's the absolute truth. If theirs a plot twist in
a Bible-story, then that's what really happened. We should give credit to
God for pulling such a miraculous stunt off (are you with me so far...?) For
the stories of Telemachus, Saint Patrick, and Saint Valentine, I've done research
about the character after I hear them in the episode. I'm saddened to say
that much of the details are muffled, and are accused to be legend. Afterall,
legend has it that Saint Valentine left her a note. It's not fact... It's
giving credit to God for doing things that he might not have nessecarily done.
Is that wrong? I don't honestly know.
Aside from that, I was glad to
finally know the story of Saint Valentine. (I honestly always thought it was
a girl.)
Feel free to call me a romantic,
but I enjoy hearing a nice romance once in a while. They're often just "feel
good" movies and episodes. But oftentimes, it gets dull after a while.
The plot gets predictable. The characters are jerks. You don't really care
for any of them. This episode beats those overwhelmingly bad romance-factors.
I enjoyed the characters. I enjoyed the prison guard's daughter. She was sweet
and had a very nice and unique voice. It was one of those voices where the
picture of the character is emmediatly painted inside your head. Valentine
had a good voice as well. As a matter of fact, practically all of the voices
was a refreshing break from the usual ones. That's why episodes like these
distinguish themselves from the rest of the series.
However, and I'm referring to something
Shadowpaw commented on in his review: Pete Reneday appears way too much. Don't
get me wrong, his voice is terrific. It has that real "history"
sound to it. But, they may want to slow down in how much he's used during
historic shows
Speaking of Shadowpaw's review,
I had banged my head on the table trying to figure out who Felix's voice reminded
me of. Thenardier, of course! Him, along with Julia, and Valentine, were cast
perfectly for each of their roles. I wasn't a big fan of Connie taking on
a role, however...but that didn't bother me too much. I had assumed when I
first heard her that she would be the main character of the story.
The music was a nice change. Enough
said there.
I enjoyed Valentine's deffinition
of marriage. Considering the state of the world these days, it's a nice way
to pound into kid's heads that marriage and families are important.
In conclusion, I was a little hesitant
in enjoying this episode from an unknown writer. I felt she knew exactly what
she was doing. However, each and every scene seemed shorter then usual. I
almost felt like it could've been a two part episode. The exchange of converstation
would've had a greater effect if they were more drawn-out. Right after an
event happened or a point had been said, it was immediately followed by another
one. No time was waisted; however, because of that, I felt just a little rushed
through it. On the plus side, much was accomplished this way.
Overall, great episode. I'm glad
it made it to the series.
Review
by Arwen (Town Hall)
I
really liked the episode today. I really did not know anything about Valentine's
Day, other than the fact that it was named after St. Valentine.
Review
by OrigamiKid (Town Hall)
Being from Massachusetts,
this ep really hit home for me with the whole marriage issue. I will continue
praying for the future of marriage in the US, Canada, and around the world.
I will also do more to let those representing me know how they can best represent
me. Please do the same!
I also thought this was a classic.
Review
by happysmiler (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
I really liked
this ep. As has already been said, it's been a while since we had a history
type show, and I really liked that. I also love Valentine's Day, and I had
just done some research on the subject, so it was cool to hear it again! The
characters were also good.
Review
by Me (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
Looking at the
episode in general, it was excellent. The acting was fair, the story was good.
However, my enjoyment ended there. For one thing, I am sick of hearing the
story of Valentine. Every time I hear it it seems to be a different version.
Even this wouldn't be so bad if I actually cared about him. The fact remains
that the holiday has become a "Hallmark Holliday," but that is outside
the scope of this review.
As a writer, I think Ms. Wells
has great promise in the Odyssey universe as long as she stays away from the
historical episodes. There is one primary reason for this. To wit, the dialogue
was not of the proper antiquity/vintage. Many of the phrases employed jarred
the senses as being entirely too modern. Not exactly what one wants in a historical
episode.
Aside from these quibbles, the
episode was excellent. However, the latter problem was so pronounced that
I must rate it at three out of five stars. Were it not for these shortcomings,
I would have given this episode a five, which only two other historical episodes
have merited in my point of view.
Review
by Jonathan (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
I have been properly
put in my place and owe my greatest apologies to Ms. Wells. I also retract
anything I said about her writing before I heard this episode.
I loved it. Excellent. The music,
acting, sounds, flow, history, story, it was excellent. This was the first
episode in a long long time since 1997 that I've felt like I was listening
to an old episode. This had the classic AIO feel all over it.
And so, with my foot appropriately
in my mouth, I give it 5/5 stars.
Review
by Shadowpaw (The Soda Fountain)
Rating:
(out of five)
Growing up, the
only exposure I ever had to the story behind Valentine's Day was Adventures
in Odyssey. Back when the show was still called Odyssey USA, there was an
episode called "Bobby's Valentine" that was later remade into "The
Trouble with Girls". As part of Chris' wrap, she briefly laid out a tale
about a man who was put in prison for refusing to worship different gods.
The children in this man's life loved him so much that they went to the prison
and passed cards to him through the bars. That concept later evolved into
our present day exchange of cards and flowers on Valentine's Day. You can
listen to the story here. Amazingly, even though it's been 17 years, that
brief blurb by Chris was the only interpretation I had ever heard for the
origin of the day. As a result, I was able to approach this episode without
any pre-conceived notions of what to expect, aside from those few small details,
and was able to enjoy it from a fresh perspective.
Which is personally of great value
to me as historical and biblical shows are not my favorite Adventures in Odyssey
genres. The shows themselves aren't bad, but they are often simple re-tellings
of stories I have heard many times before. And despite the fact the plots
are generally approached from a unique angle, the episodes don't involve any
of the main characters and as such, don't lend a hand to character progression.
So while some might be enjoyable, they rarely get the privilege of sitting
in my tape player. However, Valentine and his adventures were new to me and
I was actually invested in the character and what he would do next.
And it is an interesting and romantic
story. Despite the fact Leilani Wells, the writer of the episode, is not a
member of the Odyssey staff, it still felt like an Odyssey episode and she's
obviously comfortable with the format. And contrary to what many people may
think, it's often harder to write a story based on material that already exists
than it is to create a story from scratch because you're limited in what you
can do. Thankfully the episode adapted the story successfully without feeling
bogged down with unnecessary back story or prologue and there was also plenty
of action. It takes some creative thinking to turn a typical exchange of dialogue
into an exciting moment for radio and it always felt like the characters had
something to do... which is not an easy feat. A perfect example is the marriage
between Paulina and Titus. It might be nice to hear these two characters get
married, but does it make for exciting radio? No, especially if we don't know
the characters very well. But have their wedding take place while they are
running through the woods from Roman guards... now you've got a scene on your
hands! It was a fun way to do it and the music elevated that scene to a new
level. In fact, the music throughout the show was terrific and made for a
very cinematic experience. Another scene with great music was where Valentine
is discussing the different colors of flowers and the music changes to reflect
the color of the flower being described... small details like this are essential
to a quality show.
Though it does bug me that it seems
Pete Reneday must take part in historical/biblical shows on a regular basis
for AIO. The short list of his AIO credits include Blackbeard, Paul/Saul,
John the Baptist, St. Patrick, and now Claudius. I'm all for actors playing
multiple roles, but not when every single time the voice is identical to the
previous character. It's just frustrating to think that in a place as big
as California, there aren't any actors who can perform the role with even
a slightly different take on a historical figure. On the other hand, I thought
Julia was terrific and the character of Felix reminded me a lot of Thenardier
from Les Miserables.
In the end, the show succeeded
in what it set out to accomplish. Those who have already heard the story of
Valentine might discover that no new ground has been broken, but for others
like myself, they should be able to enjoy it for both it's plot and it's message.
A tragic story, yes, but one that we have not yet forgotten.
Consensus:
Thumbs Up (28/29 positive reviews)
Once again, another
episode has taken the title of "Best Reviewed" episode this
season. Taking the torch from "The Last I Do," which took the
torch from "The Present Long Ago," which took from "The
Coolest Dogs," the latest Odyssey episode is getting mostly estatic
reviews. Fans seem to agree that the season is getting better and better.
Praise is heaped
on both Wooton and Grady, for their characters, their great voice acting,
and the writing behind them. All reviewers hoped that these two would
stay around for a long time. Specifically, many noted that Wooton continues
to find a way into people's hearts and Seth is a terrific voice actor
for one his age.
Two smaller roles
also join the category of great charactes with Mr. Blaylock (the bus driver)
and Mrs. Drummond (the thrift store worker) turning into memorable performances.
Comments
by Torry Martin (Writer of this episode)
I know that I'm
probably not supposed to review my own episodes but the door was open and
I thought I smelled fresh licorice so I decided to come on in and do it
anyway. Besides I'm really doing a review of the reviews so it should be
okay.
First of all, I've got to say
to the fans that you make my day every time I hear from one of you. Coming
in and reading the reviews is sometimes scary for me because not everyone
is a fan of Wooton and it's hard for me to distance myself from taking it
personal. It kind of feels like when you bake a white cake with lemon filling
and then add chocolate frosting sprinkled with dried banana chips for a
friend and then the friend says they don't like white cake with lemon filling,
chocolate frosting and banana chips. I mean as crazy as it seems for someone
not to like that ya still can't help but get your feelings a little hurt
on accounta it's your favorite which is why ya made it for them in the first
place. I'm an emotional eater too by the way so just by my sharing how that
feels to have bad reviews sometimes, it's already making me crave a white
cake with lemon filling, chocolate icing and dried bananas. Gotta cook.
I'll be back in an hour and a half to finish this.
(Ten minutes later)
I didn't have all of the ingredients
to make my cake so I just rolled a corn muffin in cream cheese and sprinkled
it with raisins. I learned an important lesson though. A corn muffin isn't
cake, cream cheese isn't frosting and raisins…well, raisins are okay
no matter what so I picked them off and ate them but left the corn muffin
and cream cheese.
Anyway, the reason I am writing
in here is because your reviews were so wonderful that I had to set some
things straight. As much as I appreciate the compliments, I really don't
deserve them all to myself. This particular episode was written by Marshal
Younger AND myself. I don't know why they listed the credits the other way
around but the truth is that Marshal Younger does far more with my episodes
than I do. He puts the polish on everything I do and he adds so much brilliance
to my shows that it takes what was originally just on "okay" script
and turns it into…hmm…what's good? Oh I know! He turns it into
a WHITE CAKE WITH LEMON FILLING, CHOCOLATE ICING AND BANANA CHIPS SCRIPT!
Yeah, that's what he does. He makes my stories sweeter and easier to swallow.
I aspire to be able to write like him. Let me tell you just some of what
he did in this episode alone.
The entire Miss Drummond scene
was written by him, the bookstore scene, the treehouse scene and the entire
montage of Tuesdays at the end were also all written by Marshal. (The bookstore
scene was my favorite by the way and I also loved Miss Drummond.) The bus
driver though- THAT was mine and if Marshal tries to take credit for it
I'll hunt him down.
Marshal Younger.
He writing is full of heart and humor. Just like Marshal is as a person.
I don't know what I'd do without him. I'll tell ya this, though—I wouldn't
be writing and I love the guy.
Nathan Hoobler.
That "Pseudo Max" line in this episode? He wrote that. He sent
me an outline where he had written that in it and I used it because it was
so funny. He also did the "I used to belong to that troop when it was
still 408" line which also cracked me up. By the way, Nathan is probably
the nicest person I have ever met and I think of him as a little brother
who got all the brains for the entire Martin lineage. He's just THAT smart.
Kathy Buchanan and John Fornof—well,
they didn't have anything to do with this episode but they're okay as people
so whatever.
(Heh-heh- just having some fun) They are WONDERFUL people both of whom I
am honored to have as friends but still they didn't have anything to do
with this particular script that I'm aware of so I'll rave about them at
a later point. OR they can just do what Marshal does and come in here, rewrite
what I've written about them and make it look REALLY great! (I love you
two, though, and you both know it!)
Anyway folks, I mainly wanted
to say thank you for the compliments for this episode from ALL of us. We
each have different abilities and approaches to our writing but the one
thing we have in common is our love for Odyssey and for the listeners.
You're the best. Thank you.
PS- If there is someone out there
though who posts something later here and says that they absolutely HATED
this episode...well, then the ENTIRE thing was written by Kathy Buchanan
and neither Marshal nor myself had anything to do with it. Heh-heh.
Review
by JoyElectric
Rating:
I wanted to get
this in before the new runs of shows, but "Tuesdays with Wooton" is a gem.
Thank you to everyone involved!
Review
by Josiah, age 12
Rating:
Wow, I really
liked this episode. Not only did it teach about honesty but also to be nice
to people even if they did something bad toward you. It also has its fair
share of humor...Wooton happens to be my favorite character).
Review
by Tyana Fitzpatrick, age 13
Rating:
"Tuesdays
with Wooton" is an exciting adventure that will help you understand
that being kind is always right and that God can and will work in mysterious
ways.
Review
by Jack, age 14
Rating:
I thought this
ep was pretty good, but I did think it was going to be a lot funnier because
of the name. But it was still a good ep...just not as funny as you might
first think.
Review
by Deidre, age 13
Rating:
I thought it
was really funny! I liked the part where Wooton was calling Grady all different
names because he didn't know his real name. :-)
Review
by Bill, age 35
Rating:
I liked this
episode. Wooton, as usual, had some terrific lines. I found it interesting
that the writers were showing the reverse side of Seth's evangelism ferver.
His zeal is great, but it can turn people off. Not everyone responds right
away to a person's attempts at witnessing. This episode had a strong moral
lesson and it had the feel of a traditional Odyssey episode, from the early
days.
Review
by Gonkz
Rating:
NICE EPISODE!!
Loved it. Not perfect, but a very nice season-ender. I like the use of Wooton
here. He's really working in that type good-friend role. Next to "Sunday
Morning Scramble" and "A Lamb's Tale" this is the best episode
of the 2004-2005 season. And depending on what the "Something Big"
is this maybe the last slice-of-life episode for a while.
Review
by Debbie, age 19
Rating:
I love this
episode. It was the best one so far.
Review
by Ruthie, age 12.9
Rating:
I liked it!
But Seth was pretty bad! Taking Grady and his sister to church just to get
Sunday School point! Is impersonating a Boy Scout a federal offense?
Review
by Sarah, age 18
Rating:
I loved it!
I thought it was the best episode this season! I can't wait 'til someone
figures out that Wooton is the artist for Powerboy. Grady was good...it
was nice to find out more about him. I also liked the thrift store worker
and the ending clip in Chris's talk. All in all, a very enjoyable episode.
Review
by Chloe, age 14
Rating:
This was a really
good ep. I definitely like Wooton a lot. I hope to hear more eps like this.
I was pretty happy that Marvin and Trent weren't in this ep at all. The
saleslady at the thrift store was hilarious. Wooton did a terrific job talking
to Mrs. Hampton at the grocery store. I was glad to hear from Grady again,
I like his character. Anyway, I really liked this ep. Good job AIO!
Review
by Paul B
Rating:
Wooton's new
friend isn't who he said he is. Wooton finds out his new friend is also
stealing mail—Power Boy comics. The mystery of Wooton's new friend
was a good store. Wonder if he will find out that wooton not only pulls
strings to get him Power Boy comics, but I believe Wooton owns and draws
Power Boy comics.
Review
by DrWhit73, age 32
Rating:
I really liked
this episode. In fact I like every episode with Wooton. I think the continuation
of the Power Boy irony is great where the listeners know about Wooton's
Power Boy connection but the characters do not. Great episode.
Review
by Jonathan (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
Yay! The upper
midwest exists in the AIO world. I'm tickled they mentioned Duluth, one
of my favorite cities in my home state. Now to the review...
With every episode I grow more
appreciation for Wooton. "I'm thinking Cougar? Or maybe Puma?"
I'm still laughing about those lines.
This was a good episode. I wouldn't
call it classic or anything, but nice. Which is probably good b/c we all
know the next episode won't be slice-of-life, which this one is.
Seth is a puzzlement to me. It
seems like he's gone farther down the road of stupidity. I think he's ok
for the show, and could make for some good stories, but here he's annoying.
I'm also wondering if Grady will figure it out. This also could make for
some good stories.
Have I mentioned I'm really liking
Wooton. I didn't when he was first introduced, but he just keeps getting
better and better. And better. He's quickly becoming one of my favorite
characters. He's got a big heart. He shows wisdom, campassion, he cares
for his friends, and goes out of the way for people. This episode also proves
that Wooton can carry an episode where he is the center.
Review
by happysmiler (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
This is a great
ep! I love the fact that is has Wooton in it! He's awesome! I also thought
that the part with the lady at the thrift shop was too funny! LOL! The lesson
in this ep was also very good. It is so much better to witness to someone
when they have gotten to know and trust you. Very important!
Review
by GusDeHaan (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
What about the
fact that the Bible is Gods word, and what you say is the truth , and regardless
of your relationship to a person, the truth still either is accepted because
the peson has been given the Holy Spirit, or, rejected because they are
not given the Holy Spirit.
Review
by AIO PSYCHE (Town Hall)
One of the best
Wooten episodes! I loved it! After all, they had to end on a positive note
since the next new is gonna be depressing, gloomy, and soemthing bad happening...
Review
by Christian Cowgirl (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
That was really
good! Wooton is now my favorite! I liked the way he didn't push church on
Grady. Anyway Wooton just wanted to be his friend and share the love of
Power Boy with hopes of bringing in his faith later on. Great ep.
Review
by Eugene Blackgaard (Town Hall)
INCREDIBLE!
Odyssey produced a character with a small-town feel while being totally
realistic at the same time and not a trace of cheesiness was to be found!
I'm only 01:41 into the show,
but I must say the Bus Driver in the beginning was such a great character!
He was so realistic. He had the manner of the kind of guy I'd find in my
church. Just the average guy. Wow. What an incredible character. We haven't
had anyone normally cool on Oddsey for...a long time.
Review
by Jeremy (Town Hall)
Yes, I thought
the bus driver was great, too! Very realistic, as you said—great scene.
Review
by JM91 (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
This episode
still has me laughing at some of the lines in it. Wooton was super (he always
is) and Grady made it more interesting also. The part at the end where Wooton
was talking to the woman at church was so funny!
Review
by JM91 (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
"Another
Day, Another Dog Bite"
I loved it!
But Seth does need to get a life! Taking Grady and his Sister to church
and then just leaving them there! All for Sunday School points? A very bad
first impression of "Church Goers." The bus driver was really
funny, my dad does that sort of stuff to me when I'm in a hurry!
I also enjoyed the lady at the
Thrift store. She knew everything except the important stuff!
Wooton is ALWAYS funny. Listen
closely to the things he says and you'll crack up with laughter!
Review
by Bennett Charles (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
Torry
Martin.
The writer seems to separate
himself from the rest of the gang. Why? Well, I’m not saying he’s
the best writer; but when it comes to diologue, well, he should get an award
or something. When I listen
to Odyssey, I expect to be held onto an episode by the storyline. Storyline
is always the key for me…which is why "The Coolest Dog" was
a downright disappointed. There was nothing captivating about it. Now, I’m
not saying that this episode was a "terrific storyline." Though,
I’m not saying it wasn’t either. It was a nice cute story which
made you want to hear what happens in the end. But, if that was the core
of it, it would've been an average episode. However, it wasn’t.
Torry Martin.
He gives each and every one of
his episodes that extra kick. His writing is superb. It’s original.
It’s brilliant. It isn’t corny, whatsoever.
You know those television shows
where you can always guess the punchline and assume what’s coming next
before the actor says it? Odyssey can sometimes follow that example once
in a while. Torry Martin
episodes rarely do.
This isn’t to say that this
was the best Wooton episode out there—it wasn’t. My heart still
lies with the hilarious antics in, "Nothing but the Half Truth."
And "Do or Diet" and "Bassett Hounds" take second place.
However this one takes the bronze medal, slipping into 3rd place.
It goes without saying that everyone
enjoys Wooton more and more each time we hear him appear. I can see it everywhere
now; little Tommy turns on the radio, and hears the voice of Wooton joking
around on the airwaves. He then excitedly calls his brother Joe, “Hey!
It’s a Wooton episode! Common, you’re missing it!”
He’s the real classic character.
This episode showed a newer side
of Wooton we haven’t seen. He has a big heart. He’ll work hard
to be liked by anyone else; no matter what age or size you are. He doesn’t
treat a kid any stupider as he treats an adult. He may not be the most clever
character in the series, but he’s a role model for kid’s everywhere.
Hearing Wooton in his 16th episode, I look back and think at what I’ve
learned from him. I’ve learned be kind, be myself no matter what, to
be honest, to be a good friend, be compassionate, and to never look down
at someone just because he/she is younger.
Its definitely something Harlow
never had. I don’t know about everyone else, but Wooton sounded an
awful lot like the mentally-challenged detective at the beginning when he
was looking at the clues in all the wrong angles. This is a big difference
between the two characters. (Many people think they resemble quite a bit.)
I don’t think that way anymore, to be honest. Afterall, if they had
stuck Harlow in there, there was no way the conclusion to the episode would’ve
turned out the way it did.
I’m a little disappointed
that this Wooton-episode didn’t have any new music. I usually look
forward to a new high-energized tune in these eps. All the music was re-used
from the past.
Anyways, turning away from Torry
Martin and Wooton…
As much as I dislike new characters,
I feel like Grady should stay. He’s a nice, young, fresh, and interesting
kid-character. He’s young enough that we can enjoy him quite a bit
in the years ahead. However I now feel like we have too many kids. I sure
hope no one gets bumped out anytime soon.
Although, I’m a little concerned
with the fact that Grady has both a sister and a brother. Does this mean
we’ll have to be introduced with them as well? Hmm…I sure hope
not. I mean, I can get to like one kid, but to learn how to love three at
once isn’t much fun. Look at the episodes in "Signed, Sealed and
Commited." Now that’s an example of a lot of characters where
we had to like…and which none stuck around.
As for the rest of the characters;
Connie was nice and normal (for once), the Thrift-Shop Clerk was perfect
for the role and performed it quite nicely, and the bus driver was a nice
addition as well.
Seth always seems to be everyone’s
hated character. I don’t mind him that much, to be honest, but I only
wished they could flat out tell us what he’s doing is wrong. Unless
maybe they feel they don’t need to. Afterall, Seth has been wrong in
every episode he’s appeared in (almost).
Still, I felt like Wooton could've
gone over to Seth in the last few minutes of the episode and talk to him.
There was this time near the end where I was sure that he was going to.
It would've wrapped up two storylines into one, which, I felt, would've
worked well.
The story itself could’ve
been only slightly better. The ending could've been just a little more climactic
if it wanted to be. I mentioned it earlier that I was expecting a "Father
Figure" type of episode (Just South of Normal)…with a serious
episode involving a serious episode.
To be honest, I’m still
waiting for Wooton to deal with a serious issue. I think we’d like
him all the more. Look at sitcoms…the best episodes are the ones where
the actors deal with something sad, or serious. It’s a well know fact
that mixing humour with grief creates tension. Want a good example of this?
Just go rent "Life is Beautiful" and you’ll see what I mean.
By the way, did anyone else notice
that this episode took place over nearly a month’s time? There were
at least three Tuesdays…(if I remember correctly)
Overall: Nice episode. Everything
was just about perfect. It’s a good way to end these "slice of
life" episodes, and get on to the action-packed ones.
Review
by Bmuntz (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
Let's start
first with the bus driver. He was great. It was the type of thing you would
find in a smaller town where everybody knows each other. That's the type
of thing that makes small towns better then big cities and Odyssey has reminded
us of that.
I liked Grady's personality and
he does have reactions that a kid might have around that age to that experience
and that was good. But I dislike his voice. His voice is too perfect and
poilshed for any kid that age. But especially coming from his low income
home, I think his voice is off the part he is playing. His voice level dosen't
change much no matter what feeling he is trying to get over to us. While
on the other hand Wooton does a great job with his voice.
Wooton was great in every way.
He was his funny self well at the same time helping Grady. He didn't drive
Grady to give him infomation about himself insted just went along with it
until he could be trusted by Grady. He also had the Thrift shop lady to
help him make two very funny scenes.
Review
by Kanimoto (Town Hall)
Rating:
(out of five)
I was surprised
and immensely pleased by this ep. I knew that most Wooton episodes were
great, but this one was through the roof!
When I listened to the opening
scene, I was ecstatic to hear from Grady. Jordan Orr's pretty good for a
young actor. Grady's a good character, in my opinion, because he doesn't
come across as the typical Odyssey kid (two-parent home, comfortable life,
wild imagination). He's different from the way most of them were at his
age (which I'm guessing to be between eight and ten years). He seems intent
and focused—a man on a mission who keeps his word. Sure, he lied and
stole, but I admire how smart he is. Hopefully, he'll become a consistent
Odyssey character (along with his family!).
The only problem with that is
that some of the older Odyssey kids may disappear. I hope that is not the
case this time...
Wooton was awesome, as always.
With the help of Torry Martin's great writing, Jess Harnell has this knack
of making his character flow from one scene to the next! I especially loved
the scene where Wooton got Grady to admit that he was "pseudo-Max."
Wooton had so many outstanding funny lines I can't pick my favorite one!
The lesson was great, too, and
one that I can easily apply. Now, I will try to reach out more to those
I don't know, especially newcomers to the groups I'm in.
The only low part I found in
this ep was the reappearance of Seth. He annoys me to no end, mostly because
of his over-emphasis on evangelism. I think Odyssey should make him grow
up, realize the error of his ways, and make him friends with Jared. After
all, the number of older boys in Odyssey seems to be dwindling, so why mess
up one of the few remaining?
By the way, the fact that Wooton
actually solved a mystery proves that he's smarter than Officer Harley/Detective
Harlow.
Review
by Me (Town Hall)
I loved this
ep. The only problems were that at first Wooton seemed unfamiliar with thrift
stores even though he frequents them ("For the Fun of It"), and
that it ended too soon. This was a good ep that will become a classic in
time. I'm currently listening to it for the third time.
Review
by John L
Rating:
(out of five)
What does the
popular term "classic Odyssey" mean to you? Does it bring about
images of kids living normal life in the hamlet of Odyssey (or as normal
as life is there!)? That's one thing I think of when I hear that phrase.
Many people associate "classic Odyssey" with Whit being at the
center of the show giving advice to both kids and adults, but I personally
don't think a great episode needs to have Whit as the main character. Just
look at all the episodes produced after Hal Smith's death, and you'll see
what I mean. This episode (Tuesdays with Wooton) is a terrific example.
Instead of Whit, we have Wooton giving advice to a troubled kid.
Before I get on to the main portion
of the review, let me just voice my opinion about Wooton. I love his character.
Call me crazy if you want, but Odyssey just wouldn't be the same without
him. In fact, when I first heard "Welcoming Wooton," I knew there
was something about him that was really likeable, but I just couldn't put
my finger on it. Was it his jovial attitude? That was part of it, but what
made me enjoy his personality was his love for people. As I thought about
it more, I realized that Wooton and I share a lot in common. (Okay, hopefully
that doesn't scare some people. :-))
All right, on to the episode.
The main thing I enjoyed (besides Wooton) was the character development
of Grady. When I first heard him in A Lamb's Tale, I thought he would disappear
and never appear in another episode. (Hey, it did happen with Austin in
another Christmas show - The Popsicle Kid!) But it is great to hear Grady
again, and I think the actor's voice is so much more clear and believable
than it was in A Lamb's Tale. The only time it seemed forced was in the
second scene with Seth. It may be just me, but it almost sounded like Grady
was performing his "angry voice" ("No...you DON'T!").
A minor problem that doesn't really take away from the episode.
Wooton, like always, is fantastic.
It's amazing to hear him interact with such a wide variety of people, including
a little boy, Connie, Max's mom, and some woman at the thrift store. All
of his scenes contain excellent dialogue ("That's it! I deliver oil
change coupons then! HE CHANGES HIS OIL ON TUESDAYS!!" or "I'm
thinking...cougar? No, maybe leopard.") that makes the show all the
more memorable. One of my favorite parts of the show was the running gag
of Wooton calling Grady by different names. Hey, maybe this is why Grady
finally gave his name away at the end! :-) Anyway, I always enjoy hearing
humor like this from Wooton. Jess Harnell is a very versatile actor, as
we have seen with his Wooton, Bennett Charles, and Arnold Schwartzenbanger,
and it's remarkable how he can breathe life into such a charming character.
My least favorite part of this episode was the "Powerboy Fan Club meeting."
I wish we could have heard some interaction between Grady and Marvin (although
a conversation about Powerboy without Wooton probably would have sounded
pretty boring :-)). It's kind of sad to not hear Grady talking with other
kids, except for Seth, unfortunately. I don't particularly care for Seth
and his personality, and I think it's rather appropriate for the writers
to portray him as doing wrong. :-)
The music in this show was okay,
but I don't enjoy it as much when most—if not all—of the music
cues are recycled from old episodes (in this case, Do or Diet) . First it
was And That's the Truth, then A Glass Darkly, and now this? Don't get me
wrong, I think it's good to reuse library music sometimes, but it's been
kind of going overboard lately.
But, imperfections put aside,
this is definitely what I consider to be "classic Odyssey." The
storyline may not seem like much, but it's enjoyable because of its lesson
and the fact that we somehow already knew these characters. Somewhere, there's
a Grady in our lives. A Mr. Blaylock. Or maybe even a Ms. Drummond. :-)
Review
by Shadowpaw (The Soda Fountain)
Rating:
(out of five)
During the opening
scene, my mind get stuck on the name of the bus driver: Blaylock. It ran
through my head over and over as I tried to recall where I had heard the
name before and I soon realized it was the name of Walter's missionary friend
in "Sheep's Clothing". He asks if Monica Stone (as Paula Jarvis)
knew his buddy Kenny Blaylock, but she informs him that she had never heard
of him. You might think it's incredibly odd that I bring it up, but it's
noteworthy for being unique and it's appeared twice now. Could it possibly
be the name of a friend or relative of an Odyssey staff member? Marshal
Younger has slipped Robert Skeed's name into several episodes, so why not
this mysterious Blaylock? Maybe it will be an AIO trivia question of the
future. Time will tell...
Torry Martin's latest episode
was another terrific slice of life show, containing that Wooton charm we've
come to love and those laugh out loud moments we've come to expect. I'm
not sure if more credit should go to Torry or Jess, but this character is
quite possibly one of AIO's most lovable characters ever created. The former
crafted an interesting and complex back story (not all of which we've heard)
as well as writes some fantastic jokes, while the latter takes those jokes
off the page and still makes Wooton feel like a real character. It would
have been easy for him to become another Harlow Doyle - a bumbling buffoon
who lacks intelligence and heart - but Wooton possesses both attributes
in spades.
And recall in the review I posted
for "True Calling" that I mentioned the guidance counselor was
a great secondary character because he wasn't just window dressing... it
seemed like his story might as interesting as any of the major characters.
And both Mr. Blaylock (the bus driver) and Ms. Drummon (the thrift shop
employee) are two more examples of well developed sidebars that elevate
the show to a more memorable platform. The interactions between Wooton and
Ms. Drummon were particularly delightful and reminded me of long lost people
like Mr. Watson (the "bad joke buzzer" guy from "Heatwave")
and the annoying teller from "Feud for Thought", who refuses to
help Eugene and Bernard except at the correct "window". Interesting
characters like these are solid additions to AIO's rich library of characters
and subtlety make any given episode that much funnier.
I'm also very pleased to hear
from Seth. Actually, no, I'm not pleased to hear from Seth but rather I'm
pleased that he was accused of doing something cruel to Grady and his sister,
and was not cleared of wrong doing by the end. I don't like his character
and I never will... in fact, I would be more than happy if Seth and Liz
got married and the two moved out of town. They're perfect for each other!
Having a church going character in Odyssey who isn't a good role model is
actually quite interesting and different for the series. Normally this is
where I would say "let's hope we hear more of it", but sadly,
if Seth is the one we must suffer to listen to, I would gladly bypass this
plot line.
There were also some weird things
in the episode. When Grady and Wooton were working on his tree house and
Grady mentioned that there were "all these people" working with
them, I just didn't buy it. Maybe it will sound different on a CD, but the
area around Wooton and Grady sounded deathly quiet for most of the scene.
Where was the ambient voices of the "twenty people" playing and
laughing while they worked? So from a technical standpoint, that irked me.
And then from a plot standpoint, wouldn't Max have found it incredibly strange
that he stopped receiving his weekly Power Boy comic? If I went a week or
two without receiving something I had paid good money for, I would be calling
to complain. But here it seemed Max was completely ignorant of the fact
he was no longer getting them in the mail. There was never really an attempt
to explain that.
However, there were too many
good points to overshadow the bad. From the acting of Grady to the running
gag of Wooton calling him by different names, the episode was a great slice
of life show to lead into the groundbreaking episodes to come.
