Pretty self-explanatory. We're ready for Saturday! Are you?
If you haven't listened to the pilot yet or want more info on Candid KOnversations with Josh and Ally, check out the page now!
Hey y'all!
Things are getting crazy up in here. Ally has tennis non-stop, and I'm doing college apps and clubs and extracurricular activities and...well, you get the picture. But in the midst of it all, we're trying to find time to edit Episode 2, or the season premiere, of Candid KOnversations and start recording Episode 3! I'm getting a slight idea of what it must have been like for Phil Lollar and Steve Harris back in '87. And to the circus we go, along with the one-episode triumphant return of Matthew Parker!
UPDATE 10/26: Marc Evan Jackson, otherwise known as David Parker, guest starred on my favorite show, Parks and Recreation, and he was hilarious. But anyways, reviews of Life Expectancy and The Pilot should be released soon, but note that all Album 57 reviews will be subject to change since they're based on the radio version, not the album version. After hearing of some potentially important scenes, we might have to wait a little longer so I can listen to the album version!
LISTEN ALONG WITH ME HERE
THE ODYSSEY TIMES (Facts, notes, and quotes about Odyssey from this ep):
- Finally, a title of a mystery that is actually the title that Emily selects.
- Oh no! Zach's voice is beginning to hit that time of life!
- "Welcome to the circus!"
- Well, look at you, Emily and Matthew, Mr. and Mrs. Sherlock Einstein.
- I thought clowns didn't talk to people that weren't in the CCC... (Like Father, Like Wooton, Album 47: Into the Light)
- Dual identities!
- "Don't let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Bind them around your neck. Write them around the tablet of your heart." - Proverbs 3:3
REVIEW:
Jones and Parker Detective Agency mysteries have been a curious phonomenon in the new era of Adventures in Odyssey. The excitement of what could have been was run over the appearance of Game for a Mystery (Album 51: Take It From the Top), and expectations were lowered. Emily was a know-it-all who was a little insufferable, although smart. Although there was potential for this annoying character to have somewhat of a human side, we never saw it throughout Albums 51 - 52 (Take It From the Top, Cause and Effect). 53 - 54 (The Green Ring Conspiracy, Clanging Cymbals) began to open her up and break her character down and really deconstruct the once smug, all-knowing personality we associated her with. 56 (The Grand Design). Emily has slowly evolved into a character who is definitely extremely smart and observant, and while she has many unlikable qualities, still remains to gain an amount of respect from at least this listener. The most recent albums have given us both characterization and development for Ms. Jones and the other characters, moving plots further (Something Old...), giving us more insight (Great Expectations), helping other characters grow (the very good Repent After Me), and more mysteries.
That brings us to Big Trouble, which seems like it might be trouble but manages to dig itself out. It feels like a shadow of the earlier Jones/Parker mysteries, but Matthew definitely has the stronger presence that he's been having throughout the show. He was mostly used for comic relief and circus trivia throughout the show, which, pun intended, seemed rather trivial for his character. I'm wondering if the writers are wondering what to do with Matthew at a point where his voice is beginning to change, but he's not involved in any heavy storylines. This is his only appearance in this album, a shocking change from the last six, and it unfortunately barely registers due to the story.
Emily's deductive reasoning (and yes, a little Matthew) led to the culprit being uncovered. Of course, for many listeners, the mystery was never really in doubt. The culprit's motives were relayed very unsubtly toward the first five or so minutes of the episode. The real question was whether the episode could hold the audience's attention. After Game for a Mystery, many listeners were disappointed that it was more whiny Barrett and less Encyclopedia Brown. They got it with this one. Unfortunately, it was way too predictable of a mystery.
However, on the attention front, Wynn and Hoose fired on all cylinders. The circus atmosphere is a lot of fun and brings a lot of great moments and characterizations from the staff. I was a huge fan of the voices, and I know it sounds strange, but I got a big Madagascar: Europe's Most Wanted vibe. Zara, Esteban, and Pockets were great characters that were fun to listen to.
One major element of the plot was the idea of a class system in the circus family. They used it to tie up a theme about treating others well and with respect. I thought that that was a squandered opportunity that could've been used to open up a discussion about the way we see people, but that's a minor complaint. Music and sound design were on point and very well-done and slightly over the top to match the writing.
Overall, Big Trouble Under the Big Top manages not to find itself in that much trouble. It's an enjoyable Jones and Parker Detective Agency that's very predictable, but it's a lot of fun, with a quirky sound design and score. I give this episode a 87/100, or a
B
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
AVERY WATCH:
Best Sound Design - Jonathan Crowe
Best Score - John Campbell
Best Actor - Eduardo Antonio Garcia (Esteban), Gregg Bissonette (Pockets the Clown)
Best Actress - Hahni Critch [?] (Zara)
The Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC) has drawn some very strong, mostly negative responses after its official announcement at this past week's webcast. Basically, listeners would pay $180 a year, or $15 a month, for streaming of all AIO episodes and 12 exclusive episodes that fit into the canon of the show. Here's my thoughts, originally posted on Facebook (I know, I know, classy).
Have you thought about using a tier system? Maybe split it into "basic" and "premium"? Basic just gives you the exclusive episodes and Premium would give you the episodes, streaming all the epiosdes and exclusive content. Just a thought. But the way you have it structured now, it WILL fail. Yes, some will pay that price but so many more won't and eventually they will stop listening all together. - another commenter
Dear Focus,
I think the "basic" and "premium" thing is a great idea. Looking at it from an outsider's perspective, I would be very confused if I was a new listener and half of the new episodes released per year were only on a certain platform and half were on the radio/online/digital download. I understand the motives for the move, and the idea of an online streaming service is intriguing and interesting. But to the long-time loyal fans who have no need or interest in the service (note that I'm interested), it disrupts the Odyssey experience (and the Odyssey brand) for many listeners, especially the listeners who simply can't afford a service such as the OAC. And just looking at streaming costs, while I love Odyssey, 700 episodes streaming for $15 a month when millions of hours of streaming are available on similar services for the same cost, if not less money, makes the price absurd.
ASIDE: If Focus needs a bigger profit margin for Odyssey, what's another avenue to make that happen that a majority of listeners can easily buy into?
On a more traditional route, as another commenter suggested, the radio audience needs to be taken into consideration. While I understand that there's a smaller audience and market there, they introduce a lot of new listeners to the show and have publicized it for the past 25 years. I can't think of a solution to reconcile the radio audience with the new ambitions of the OAC, but something needs to be done. The difficult thing is that Odyssey is often compared to TV shows, where audiences are able to watch each episode for free at least when it airs, and shows recoup their costs through ad money. Since that isn't the case for Odyssey, it makes it difficult to justify airing the episodes, besides listener satisfaction.
How about story? Characters and important moral lessons have guided the show since its inception twenty six years ago. But with episodes split on different platforms, can continuity still be a thing? I understand that costs need to be made up, but the integrity of the story and the product needs to be taken into account. Think more Wooton in Wooing Wooton than Winston.
There's a lot of important factors and variables to consider when moving forward on this new venture. I don't know what the solution is going to be, but I thank you for your continued efforts to serve the family all over the world and to keep Odyssey going in our homes, whether that's on the radio, online, on our mobile devices, and soon through streaming.
Dear Every Other Odyssey Fan Besides Me,
Hey. Hey. I'm guessing you're probably upset if you're not one of the really excited fans in the comments section of the latest Official Adventures in Odyssey podcast. OAC sounds like a threat to your Odyssey fandom existence, especially if a lot of your friends won't subscribe because they don't want to or can't afford it or you won't be able to join yourself.
I don't know if I'll be able to join. But I do know this: as fans, our greatest job is to be Odyssey's biggest critics and supporters. We can criticize their decisions and petition for Mitch to return and Emily to disappear, but in the end, we all love the show. I don't know what's going on with Focus (the non-profit organization who produces Adventures in Odyssey) and their finances, but from what I've been hearing, there's a lot of stress happening on that front. I'm not sure if the club is a response to those issues or a new avenue and direction for the show. I don't know if Focus will change their minds and allow everyone to hear the exclusive episodes or not. I do know that if we do feel strongly about the OAC, we do need to let them know. We need to speak with grace and a kind manner and tell 'em our grievances - online, on the phone, in the mail, whatever. But I think that as Odyssey fans, we can do better. When Whit noticed that kids weren't as excited about the Bible, he didn't just whine and complain about the problem. He did something about it, and singlehandedly created the Bible Room, which has spawned the scene for many an Odyssey episode. We can complain and voice our opinions all we want, but I think we can do more. Let's learn more about the situation - the pros/cons of the OAC, the motivations for why Focus created it, and the state of Odyssey and Focus. Then let's rise up together from our fan sites and the ToO and Campbell County and The Soda Shop and figure out a solution together. Is it gonna be hard to figure out something to please every party involved? Yeah. But is it like creating an invention that allows multiple people to travel through doors and go on adventures throughout the Bible and history in their imaginations with other people? Nah.
Think of it as A Call to Something More.
Please post your thoughts and comments below!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
The Odyssey Adventure Club website
