Review: Something Old, Something New

Probably the funniest thing about "Something Old, Something New" isn't the episode itself, but reading fan comments. On the AIO's Facebook page, Elijah Hall writes, "Why must Mitch get married to someone other than Connie?"; Mamie Carlstrom writes, "This is such a sad episode for Mitch fans everywhere"; and Timothy Reynolds writes: "AIO, you'll probably have a riot on your hands unless you change that relationship!" No other episode has elicited such a powerful response from fans in years. And those were just the comments that were made after the first part aired...

"Something Old, Something New" symbolizes what this past season has been about: disappointment. Ever since Eugene and Katrina got married, fans have been asking, "When are they going to have kids?" The writers gave their answer in "To Mend And Repair": never! And, ever since Mitch appeared in "Green Eyes and Yellow Tulips", fans have been asking, "When are Connie and Mitch going to get married"? We now have the answer to that one, too: never! Obviously, these are not the answers we wanted, or even expected, and I can't help but feel just a tad bit disappointed.

Although I hadn't desperately awaited Mitch's return, I didn't believe Mitch was completely out of the picture, despite the fact Kathy Buchanan gave fans an ultimatum: go out and kill every species of feline (or else wait until their extinction). Having killed 192 cats myself, I truly believed that there was still a chance Connie and Mitch could still end up together.* Mitch shouldn't be introduced, get killed, come back to life, get kidnapped, move away, propose, move further away, come back to Odyssey and announce he's engaged to someone else, just to finally be taken away altogether. Should he?

Interestingly, the first lesson Connie Kendall learned in Adventures in Odyssey was "contentment". In "Connie Comes to Town", little Bobby Novak wanted desperately to leave Odyssey and move to California, but Connie convinced both Bobby and herself that Odyssey was a very nice place to be. Almost 25 years later, Connie seems to be paying the price for that decision; we quickly realize that she may be stuck behind that counter forever, single and depressed.

Whit mentions in today's show, "I'm glad God has you here, Connie. Not in Budapest, or California, or all the other places we have in the world". The thing is, having Connie behind the counter week after week is a little, well, boring. I'm less disappointed with the fact that Mitch and Connie will never end up together as I'm with the fact Connie has barely moved an inch in 25 years. Mitch's introduction was a good opportunity for her to do something. In other words, I'd much rather see Connie have a male counterpart than simply be part of the counter.

However, the episode redeems itself by having a poignant and relatable theme--"regret". By the ending of the episode, I could easily sympathize with Connie because I felt totally surprised by Mitch's announcement. The reveal hurt the audience in the same way, and as easily, as it hurt Connie. And there's no better way to communicate a theme than to make the audience really feel it.

You see, because of our romance novels and television shows, many have grown up to believe that people who love each other, and seem like a good fit together, eventually end up together, regardless of the many bumps along the way. Many falsely believe first-time relationships start smoothly and end in lifelong happiness. Connie's experience of loving someone deeply, and for a long time, and wondering "what if?" afterwards, is totally relatable to those who have loved and lost.

As for negative criticisms, I found the episode's story's set-up awfully chaotic. There were just one too many coincidences and unbelievable plot points. Even Penny, at one point, shouts out "I'm having trouble keeping up with these plot twists!" Let's summarize: Connie just happens to be taking wedding pictures with Wooton, and those pictures just happen to get sent out to everyone because of a well-timed computer virus, and they also just happen to reach Mitch at the exact same time he's in Odyssey, and Mitch just happens to be investigating the very same store Penny Wise works at, and, meanwhile, Matthew and Emily just happened to be investigating Mitch and his fiancée. I don't mind a bit of preposterousness, but couldn't the set-up of the episode have been a little more believable?

Additional annoyances include 1) the computer virus, which disappears after serving its short purpose; 2) Steve Burns, who, during his first face-to-face meeting with Connie, sounded like he was being recorded in a totally different room; and 3) Mr. I-want-to-party John Avery Whittaker, who unhelpfully says, "A party might by fun Connie, everyone is excited by the idea of celebrating". Really Whit? Connie is legitimately stressing out and you're rallying behind Wooton's party idea?

"Something Old, Something New" has several fun moments. It features an impressively large cast with a mish-mash of old and new characters. You could tell the actors were all having a blast in the recording room. By the end, however, the episode ends up being more of a downer than a lighthearted comedy. We're left, ironically, learning an important lesson about "regret" even though thousands of fans are now staring longingly at their Mitch posters and wondering "what if"...

*No cats were harmed in the writing of this joke. 

 RATING: 

Review: Child's Play

It seems weird for Eugene to doubt, and then discover, he's good with kids after 1) he's been working at Whit's End all this time, and 2) mere episodes after he discovers he and Katrina can't have kids whatsoever. In the wrap-up, Chris talks about how Eugene learned he could make a difference in the lives of two children. That's great, I guess. Though wouldn't such a conclusion make the audience feel more sad about their current predicament?

If anything, the episode serves as a treat for fans who may never get to hear their favourite characters do motherly and fatherly things like play catch and soothe a kid's tummy ache. "Child's Play" provides a peek into an alternate reality, of sorts; a series in which Eugene and Katrina have a family...and they're all quite happy. By the end of the episode, we are struck with the realization that we are never going to see Eugene awkwardly disciplining his child, or fabricating a technologically advanced diaper, or teaching a mini-Eugene the formula for velocity. This realization makes "Child's Play" a little bittersweet, really.

Ultimately, "Child's Play" is significant because it delves a little more into Eugene and Katrina's married life, and these sorts of stories are always more worth telling than stories about children or characters we may never hear from in 5 years. It also included scenes that highlighted the beauty of marriage; there's something very nice about listening in as they sit in their bedroom, getting ready for bed, discussing their concerns and fears with one another. That's the point where Eugene and Katrina feel, not only interesting, but real.

Months after listening to it, I had forgotten that Wooton was in this episode. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. This episode, like many others, could have easily made the character overbearing and holier-than-thou; however, the writers wisely highlight Wooton and Connie's imperfections. And they're logical imperfections, too. Of course hanging out with Wooton all day will give you a tummy ache, and of course self-centred Connie only has only so much time to hang out with you before calling it quits. It's easy to show kids a good time when you don't have the responsibility of taking care of them on a full-time basis. Deviating from Eugene and Katrina to focus on Wooton and Connie was a smart move, switching things up, and keeping the episode from become too repetitive. For a while, I thought Eugene was going to play catch with Kyle for the entire episode.

And, of course, it goes without saying that the coolest part of the episode was hearing the Cal Jordan reference. I like references that don't take us away from the story. This one added new information about Cal Jordan without having to bring the actor in. The only downer is that we found out Cal held a Whit's End record only minutes before his own record was broken. So much for new information!

Overall, "Child's Play" is a fine episode. There's nothing that quite bothered me about it, and I felt engaged in its gentle, unrushed storytelling. Though, right now, I really have no idea where Eugene and Katrina's story can go from here. Where else can it go? There have been rumours of adoption; specifically, there have been rumours of Buck becoming a member of the Meltsner family. However, considering he's been absent for two albums, I doubt this'll happen. Will Kyle and Joy continue to hang out at the Meltsner manor? Is this a story that can lead, and grow, to somewhere interesting...or is "Child's Play" a dead end?

I suspect the latter.

RATING: 

Review: Sgt. York

Part One: We first meet Alvin York as a rebellious young man sunken deep in the ways of society. After his conversion, we discover a man who wants nothing to do with the happenings of the world around him. Then, York sees he cannot simply remove himself; rather, he sees it is his duty--a "terrible necessity"--to become involved. Part of being a Christian, I think, means struggling to find that balance between being separate from the world while being an active member of it.

So is it OK for a Christian to participate in a war? This question has been widely debated among Christians ever since, well, Jesus told us to "turn the other cheek". After listening to "Sgt. York", Adventures in Odyssey's position seems to be...

"Force can be a valid expression of Christian charity. It is not a contradiction of Jesus' purported love ethic, as some would vigorously maintain; rather, it is consistent with love's demands". (J. Daryl Charles, Between Pacifism and Jihad)

I'll admit "Sgt. York" argues this point well. Though, we shouldn't be surprised that Adventures in Odyssey is choosing to tackle this idea at all. They've talked about the issue of "just-war" plenty of times. For instance, Isaac Morton in "Isaac the Chivalrous" says:

"It was because of the Holy scriptures that I couldn't fight. Sir William, Jesus said to turn the other cheek, and to love our enemies and pray for them [...] There may be a time when I'll have to fight [Rodney], like to defend someone he's hurting. But to do it now would have violated what I believe in [...] It may not be chivalrous, but it's something more important: it's Christian." 

This same idea is repeated in "Telemachus". Telemachus wanted a "contemplative life" and, at one point, didn't feel right about fighting robbers. He is told by his friend that...

"...when Jesus is master of a man's life, prayer becomes action and action becomes prayer. The garment has no seam [...] Can you love your neighbour as yourself and stand by as thieves cut his throat? [...] Remember this: Jesus often withdrew from the crowds to pray, but only to return to them again. If we flee from the world, it is for the world's sake. If we are contemplatives, we are contemplatives in the world".

And, yet again, in "Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Freedom", Dietrich says to his friend...

"If, as a pastor, I saw a drunken driver get behind a wheel of a car knowing that he would soon race at a very high speed down the hallway, is it enough for me to bury the victims he might hit along the way or comfort the surviving relatives? No. It is more important for me to [grab] the wheel out of the hands of drunken...by whatever means possible". 

Re-emphasized throughout many Adventures in Odyssey episodes is the idea that if you're in a position to protect someone, and you choose to do nothing, you are essentially aiding and abetting the evildoers. This was, perhaps, even the point the writers made with "Memories of Jerry"; perhaps Adventures in Odyssey wasn't criticizing Plato's stance on the Vietnam war, but was criticizing his refusal to do nothing.

What I wish the episode had made clear is the fact that every war is different. We cannot understand whether a war is justifiable until we can properly understand the motivations behind it. Since World War 1, North America has had to make important decisions regarding World War 2, Vietnam, The Cold War, Rwanda, and, most recently, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Was the right decision made regarding those wars? Would Alvin York have fought in any of them? We certainly don't want children growing up thinking every war their country gets involved with is the right one to personally get involved with, right? As J. Daryl Charles, author of the book "Between Pacifism and Jihad", writes:

"Christians should particularly resist the theocratic tendency and not make the mistake of Islam or of God-and-country nationalism. The political order and the religious order are to be kept distinct. The teaching of the New Testament is that the sword must justify itself. Caesar and God are not the same" 

Because "Sgt. York" fails to properly distinguish between serving God and country, this episode could be construed by some as being, well, propaganda. It's easy to think Focus on the Family is "pro-war" when it has produced episodes such " Memories of Jerry", "The American Revelation", "The Price of Freedom", "Rescue from Manatugo Point". Undoubtedly, the writers would respond to such a claim like those responsible for the 1941 Gary Cooper film. Harry Warner (of Warner Brothers) claimed their film was "a factual portrait of the life of one of the great heroes of the last war. [...] if that is propaganda, we plead guilty".

Thankfully, what ultimately keeps "Sgt. York" from being considered overly pro-nationalistic or pro-war is that it noticeably doesn't imply that York's own choice was necessarily the right one, or that his earlier choice of not fighting was the wrong one. Why? In the wrap up, Chris says:

"Alvin York knew that the Bible was against murder, but he also knew that sometimes fighting was necessary. How did Alvin make his decision? He read and studied his Bible, he prayed in his quiet place on the mountain, he talked to fellow Christians like Pastor Pial. Those are good ways to learn what God wants us to do when we reach those difficult choices. Then, once we know God's will for us, it's time to take action and obey. Like we saw with Sergeant York, when we follow God's will, there's no limit to how he can use us". 

Notice that she isn't validating his final decision, but is praising the way he made his decision; he "prayed and talked to other Christians". Some issues, like the "just-war" one, aren't clearly talked about in the Bible. Through prayer, Christians have formed their own individual opinions on the issue. And, regardless of what people's conclusions are, I admire the show for taking a stab at this difficult topic and offering an honest and well-rounded take on it.

Part Two: "Sgt. York" may have been one of the most difficult reviews to write this season. For one thing, I don't know much about the real Sergeant York. They could have called the episode "Sgt. York" but told the story of Moby Dick and I might not have noticed. Did you expect me to rummage through history books to see how accurately they portrayed these events? I can only trust that Dave Arnold tried to be as accurate as possible.

First, contrary to what other listeners have said, Red Hollard and Eugene Meltsner made a good pair. Red, as Bernard and Wooton often did, juxtaposed Eugene's high-brow mannerisms with his quaint and quirk personality, creating colourful chemistry between the two. 

And using the Kids' Radio to tell Alvin York's story was a good idea. Although, Eugene caught me off guard when he said "Welcome to the premier of 'Famous Men and Women of History'". Really? Is this really the first time Kid's Radio had done a historical episode? Apparently historical episodes such as Telemachus, St. Patrick, Lincoln, The Jubilee Singers used some other storytelling method. The exception, "Hymn Writers", used a Kid's Radio show called "A Moment in Time". I wonder whether Dave Arnold considered using that old title here. Maybe Alvin York's story was considered too long to be considered "a moment"...

At first I thought it was strange to have so many different types of narrations. Although the story was told by Eugene and Red through Kids' Radio, we also had 1st person recordings from secondary characters and Alvin York's own narration. On the one hand, this mishmash of perspectives was a little unconventional and a little disorienting; on the other, it offered a fuller, well-rounded view of the events. Dave Arnold seemed to use each sort of narration for a different purpose; for instance, selections from journal entries highlighted (I'm guessing) the more historically accurate moments, while Red's narration--as he admits himself at one point--embellished, or filled in certain historical gaps.

Did it need to be so long? Hard to say. Compare Adventures in Odyssey's take on the John Newton story (told in approx. 22 minutes) and the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre one (told in approx. 80 minutes). Both are well told, but Adventure in Odyssey's "Amazing Grace" went straight to the meat of the story instead of spending so much time on Newton's sinful lifestyle. I think, if the Odyssey team really tried, they could have told this story as a 2-parter, focusing on his decision to go to war instead of on his conversion and romance.

However, while the story of York could have been told in less time, cutting from Dave Arnold's script might not have necessarily made for a better episode. He manages to depict so many interesting moments, people, and places, that, much like a good biography, we remain captivated with every chapter of Alvin's life story. By the end, we feel like we know him intimately.

Long or short, the totality of Sgt. York's life is inspiring and deserves the time it takes to tell it. This adaptation is a seamless and sweeping journey about York's physical and spiritual struggles. Regardless of your stance on war, Dave Arnold has taken his subject seriously, writing and directing an episode that is not only entertaining and informational but thought-provoking, and certainly worthy of the man it reflects.

RATING: