732: Repent After Me

Happy Monday! Just kidding. Silly, those don't exist. 

If you haven't already, listen along with me and read The Odyssey Times below as you listen to Repent After Me for my quick takes and thoughts (aired originally September 14).

LISTEN HERE

THE ODYSSEY TIMES (Facts, notes, and quotes about Odyssey from this ep):
- Priscilla hit academic probation a couple years ago.
- Katrina's been installing a new physics lab at Odyssey Middle School.
- Hoo hoo hoo! Whit's impressed laugh sounds quite Owl-ish.
- Eavesdropping Emily's at it again!
- The Jones and Jones Detective Agency are on the case!
- Twist: the locker belongs to no one!
- "Or she - villains can be female, you know!" - Emily, making the cause for villain equality
- Mr. Redekop - hmm, that name sounds familiar. (:
- "Repentance is more than feeling badly for what you did and trying to fix it. Those are important things, to be sure, but another key is confession. Admitting what you did to God and the person you harmed and asking for your forgiveness." - Whit
- Oh snap, Emily's not the only detective on the block, and Matthew's not the only Parker who could be in a detective agency.
- Bren McFarland, you're a cheater! 
- There was only one real suspect this whole time.
- "They were a public service for disadvantaged students who needed a helping hand with, you know, the rigors of a tough school schedule." - Jay thinking fast
- "The last step of repentance. What's that? Accept forgiveness." - Olivia and Barrett

Courtesy AIO Wiki

REVIEW:
For me, the most exciting thing about this episode after I had heard it for the first time was that I had figured out who the culprit was long ago. The exciting fact was that I was riveted still the entire time. That's due to another great script by Marshal Younger (another winner after last week's More Than a Feeling) and the always talented Nathan Hoobler. While the opening scene had a lot of exposition at the beginning, we started moving briskly along.

The entire episode was an intriguing case study on repentance and how God uses other emotions, such as guilt, and people, such as Olivia, to guide us back to Him. Or as I like to call it ('cause I'm feeling rhymy tonight), an interesting meditation on motivation. With all due respect, this blew most of the typical "mystery" cases we've heard lately out of the water because the suspense was so character-driven and not so gimmick-based. I loved the mystery-solving teamwork element between Emily and her brother - it made the mystery so much more interesting hearing a dynamic we don't get to hear often enough.

ASIDE: In this new era of Odyssey shows, family time is a very precious thing. The last time the Parkers were all together was...An Agreeable Nanny? Three years ago? The Jones last convened in Emily the Genius - two years ago. The emphasis now seems to be on the "gang" of kids - being Matthew, Olivia, Emily, Barrett, and Jay; with Priscilla and Camilla recurring. END ASIDE.

My favorite part of this episode was the relationship between Barrett and Olivia. This season, we've been able to see them interact in both humorous, partnering, and dramatic situations, and the character development has been huge. Major props to Kelly Stables for one of her best, if not her best, performance as Olivia, handling some really dramatic and sleuthin' scenes really well. Some commenters have wondered if this is the beginning of a triangle with Priscilla - frankly, I don't care. Whatever the writers decide to do with B/O is fine as long as the development continues, because the growth is a huge positive for the show.

My final comment is on the placement of this show in the season (SPOILER ALERT). With the knowledge that Jay had, of course, once again concocted a plot to get Barrett in trouble, I thought that this would've been a great lead-in to The Friend Formula, which showed Jay attempting revenge and intel on Mr. Jones. With the order of the shows, it appeared Jay had learned nothing from Friend Formula, which he may have well have, and grasped no new developments after the friendship with Riley. I would've preferred to have them swapped, but who knows, maybe the writers are building toward some ultimate Jay-Barrett showdown in the near future. 

A script that dabbles in mystery and delights in character development is not only a joy to listen to, but a joy to learn from about repentance, and that's what Marshal Younger and Nathan Hoobler do here. With great performances from Christina Puccelli and Kelly Stables and a good starring turn by Andy Pessoa, solid score and sound design, this is one episode to repeat after me. I give Repent After Me a 96/100, or an

A

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Catch up on Josh's summer by reading his blog from the past several months here

Buy this episode and 11 others on Album 57: A Call to Something More via CBD
Talk about this episode and a bunch of other Odyssey stuff over at Campbell County

AVERY WATCH:
Best Episode
Best Script - Marshal Younger and Nathan Hoobler
Best Sound Design - Rob Jorgensen
Best Actress - Kelly Stables (Olivia)
Best Scene - Barrett and Olivia wrapping up the episode

730: The Friend Formula

Happy SonDay! Hope everyone's enjoying their weekend. Be sure to let me know what you thought about the episode!

If you haven't already, listen along with me and read The Odyssey Times below as you listen to The Friend Formula for my quick takes and thoughts.

LISTEN HERE

Dulcimer image courtesy of MetaTalk

THE ODYSSEY TIMES (Facts, notes, and quotes about Odyssey from this ep):
- Mr. Whittaker returns to the opening theme.
- Cherry italian sodas? Are those new to the Whit's End menu?
- Barrett and Olivia are starting a band! Olivia plays guitar, Barrett plays trombone, and Priscilla sings? Is La Perros Frescos 2.0 available for a band name?
- I must admit I'm also wondering why Riley is carrying around a dulcimer around with him. Does he expect to play it somewhere? Is he looking for a band to join? Perhaps stumble across a music rehearsal somewhere or someplace?
- "So, Riley, old boy, what's your story? You look like a cheerleader for a funeral." - Jay
- Kemosabe! Perhaps this was written back when there were people excited for The Lone Ranger remake.
- Jay's super excited for Clambake (the soundtrack album from Elvis's last film for United Artists Pictures in 1967).
- The four "i-ngs": Spying, crying, plying, and lying. Jay's definitely one for wordplay.
- "So, how'd it go, kid? I left right around the time when you two were taking my name in vain." - Jay
- "Talk to her? But she's a girl!" Aw, Riley. You can do it! If Jimmy can confront Jessie, Miss Romantic, about her love for him, you can utter four phrases over and over when talking to Olivia. (The Trouble with Girls, The Lost Episodes).
- "Never trust your feelings, kid." - Jay, and a possible reference to next week's More Than a Feeling?
- Riley's turning the tables and recognizing Jay's "I-ngs!" Good for him.
- The Biblical response to the "I-ngs" - listening, sharing, caring, and trusting.

REVIEW:
I'm not sure how to feel about this episode. There's a lot of good things happening here, but the not-so-great ones are frustrating, after the positive direction from the past two episodes. It's definitely overall a good episode, but some uneven things kept it from being something better. 

I loved the concept of the show. The "I-ngs" idea is something that many of us have unknowingly implanted in ourselves in a belief that we'll come across as a "cooler person" when we portray ourselves to be that way (I actually wrote a post about that this summer, which you can read here), and the moral of true friendship is something relatable for all ages. 

Gage Davenport, who plays Riley, did, for the most part, a very by-the-numbers performance. I didn't think it was incredible, but he did an admirable job. I'm not quite sure if Riley caught my attention enough to warrant him coming back, in my mind, but I will be curious if they do. I felt that Cindy, introduced in Unbecoming Jay, was a more interesting foil for Jay, who, while had a similar personality to Riley, also had a bit of a conniving side similar to her cousin, which made for an incredible and fun to listen to dynamic. However, Whit Hertford continues to bring an incredible false gravitas and great levity to playing Jay. I would love to hear Jay in some kind of dramedy-type episode, because I feel that Hertford could definitely pull off multiple dimensions and really explore some new characterizations for Jay. Not that the scheming Jay isn't tiresome, it's just that it'd be great to explore new territory with the character since he's played by a great actor. 

I also had a concern about the placement of this show in the season, but that's to be discussed later. The score was done by someone other than John Campbell, named Detrich Terry, and it sounds like that old-fashioned sound that unfortunately usually happens whenever Campbell doesn't do the score (a la Tim Hosman). The sound design wasn't a major factor in this episode. I liked how Whit and Riley could turn around the "I-ngs" into something more positive, but the band subplot never got out of its sour note funk for me. Olivia bounced back from her over-the-top-ish good personality last week, but I don't quite understand what the point of it was, unless it factors into a later episode. It seemed a little drawn-out, although the Riley-Olivia prying conversation was hilarious. Some of the dialogue was so-so, but overall, the script zipped along, thanks to Bob Hoose. 

I've noticed that Odyssey is beginning to move back to a more all-ages format, which is good news for older fans like me. As the show went into a new era three years ago, it seemed to have lost its footing when attempting to cater more to a selected age bracket of 8-12. It worked so hard at that that the writing took a hit. Since Album 55, the stories have been on a general upswing, which is definitely a good thing. 

The Friend Formula has a formula that translates to success, although some elements needed a bit more mixing. The story was interesting and the moral was important, but some scripting, acting, and score issues hampered the final product. However, Jay continues to shine and the Barrett/Olivia duo go two for two after last week's Chemistry. Riley has potential, but it's still too soon to tell. I give this episode a 86/100, or a 

B

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Catch up on Josh's summer by reading his blog from the past several months here

Buy this episode and 11 others on Album 57: A Call to Something More via CBD
Talk about this episode and a bunch of other Odyssey stuff over at Campbell County

AVERY WATCH:
Best Line of Dialogue - "So, Riley, old boy, what's your story? You look like a cheerleader for a funeral." - Jay

Sunday Morning Scramble School - Christianity Fact or Fiction

NOTE: Elements of today's SMSS are taken from Pastor Peter Wang's sermon at CBM Camp on Tuesday, July 31, entitled "In the Flesh," and covering Philippians 3:2-11.

Well, if you've read our Camp What-a-nut Experience post, you'll know that we have a lot of SMSS to cover. So today, we'll be talking about...wrong beliefs about Christianity! Don't worry, there's nothing controversial...I think. xD

WB#1: Legalism - the belief that you can earn your way to heaven by doing good deeds; or that the better you obey the rules, the better Christian you are!

ODYSSEY APPLICATIONS: Lucy in Have You No Selpurcs? (Album 9: Just in Time), Saul in the Saint Paul series (Album 23: Twists and Turns, Album 26: Back on the Air) 

• Lucy is the goodie two-shoes in Odyssey Generation One. Whether it's complaining about missing the church clean-up day (Return to the Bible Room, Album 2: The Wildest Summer Ever) or being a good campaign manager to Curt's very true-to-life campaign thinking (By Any Other Name, Album 8: Beyond Expectations), Lucy always tries to do what's right. But occasionally, she'll congratulate herself...in Have You No Selpurcs?, Lucy felt proud of herself for always making the right decision in the game and looking down at Curt for making the wrong choice.

WB#2: Intellectualism - the belief that you're a great Christian if you know a lot about the Bible

ODYSSEY APPLICATION: Olivia in Wooton Knows Best (Album 54: Clanging Cymbals)

• Olivia tried to gain Wooton's approval by memorizing 1 Corinthians 13...and when he didn't choose her to be his assistant, she went all unbrotherly love on Matthew. Mr. Parker gently reminds her that "as proud as your mother and I are of you memorizing Scripture, it means more to us that you apply it." Man...that should totally have won Best Scene at the Averys.
• SIDENOTE: There are tons of professors who know the Bible in ten different languages and memorized multiple chapters, yet aren't Christians. Memorizing Scripture doesn't mean anything unless you use it. You use or you lose.

WB#3: Cultural Christian - the belief that you're a great Christian if you do Christian things like going to church

ODYSSEY APPLICATION: Mandy in Only By His Grace (Album 48: Moment of Truth)

• Mandy is the goodie two-shoes in Odyssey Generation Two. But when her parents seperate, Mandy thinks that if she does all these good things, like feeding the hungry and helping Whit teach Sunday School, God will make her parents get back together...but it's by grace that God blesses and tests us!

Now, let's look at some right beliefs from Philippians 3:8-10 (HCSB)!

Philippians 3: 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ

In The Toy Man (Album 39: Friends, Family, and Countrymen) and The Chosen One (Album 47: Into the Light), the Washingtons give up a life of "comfort and ease" to gain Christ by operating Whit's End Connellsville and bringing Kelly into their home to share God's love.

3:9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ-the righteousness from God based on faith.

This verse compares the self-righteous attitudes that Lucy, Saul, Mandy, Olivia, and Joshua Meanie have all had to the righteousness we can have from God if we have faith in Him!

3:10 My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to his death

Here are the signs of knowing Christ: knowing the power of HIs resurrection, sharing in suffering with Christ, and becoming like him (not trying to be him, like Connie did in Let This Mind Be in You, Album 4: FUNdamentals). A Christian is a person who is grateful because they are transformed by the grace of God (A Christian is much more, I'm just sharing one aspect of it)! As we look after the conversions of Whit (Thank You, God, Album 3: Heroes), Connie, Eugene, Katrina, the Sellars, June, Aubrey, Leonard, Grady, and Kelly; we see how God's love takes over and transforms them. And hopefully, like our friends in Odyssey, we can continue to grow in knowing and loving Christ. 

NOTE: I think we have a pattern here! We'll alternate on reviewing and SMSSing and throw  in Odyssey in the real world articles every once in a while. Please comment and let us know what you liked and what you want changed! And enjoy the new logo, created by the wonderful Wooton Bassett over at the Unofficial AIO Blog (see the links on the right). You can also become a follower of the blog by joining on the right column; it'd be great if you did to get a better idea of who's reading and adjusting for the right demographic and other technological mumbo jumbo. School begins Monday; so pray for me and Ally - for rest and to have time to post! 

ANOTHER NOTE: We're working hard to bring you two new features to the blog...and they'll hopefully be out by the end of the year! Get excited!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Albums 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 23, 26, 39, 47, 48, and 54 are all available for purchase at CBD by clicking here. Simply type in the name of the album in the search box.

For more information on these albums, visit AIO Wiki by clicking here and typing in the name of the album in the search box.

Read our first Sunday Morning Scramble School on Idolatry, featuring more Odyssey and McKalister Park references.