"Odyssey isn't like it used to be." "I don't listen to the new shows anymore."
Those
phrases
seem
to
come
up
fairly
often
in
discussions
in
the
Adventures
in
Odyssey
fan
community
recently.
It
appears
that
there
are
fans
who
stopped
listening
to
AIO
after
Album
50:
The
Best
Small
Town.
The
hiatus
seems
to
have
lost
several
longtime
listeners.
Why
is
that?
In
my
opinion,
it's
because
people
don't
realize
that
throughout
AIO's
history,
there
have
always
been
changes.
New
writers,
actors,
stories,
and
music.
The
episodes
from
the
time
period
we
grew
up
listening
to
are
always
going
to
seem
better
than
the
ones
airing
now.
That
doesn't
mean
that
past
shows
are
better
than
the
recent
ones
and
vice
versa.
It
is
my
opinion
that
the
modern
episodes
are
worth
everyone's
time
and
appreciation.
However,
many
longtime
fans
use
different
arguments
and
statements
against
the
new
stuff
that
simply
aren't
true
or
factual.
Let's
take
a
look
at
them.
Argument:
The
show
isn't
as
it
used
to
be.
When
people
use
the
argument,
"AIO
just
isn't
the
same,"
they
are
absolutely
right
and
absolutely
wrong.
Let's
start
with
where
they
are
right.
In
the
early
years,
all
the
production
was
used
on
reel
to
reel
tapes.
Sound
effects
and
music
were
somewhat
limited
because
of
the
technology
available
at
the
time.
However,
the
team
pushed
themselves
to
make
the
best
possible
sound
for
the
episodes.
Although
it
was
quite
a
step
up
from
the
sound
effects
from
the
Golden
Age
of
Radio,
by
today's
standards,
it
is
"old
and
outdated."
The
sound
designers
say
that
the
two-part
episode,
The
Imagination
Station,
was
a
real
breakthrough
or
the
biggest
undertaking
of
sound
design
for
AIO
at
that
time.
Re-listen
to
those
episodes
and
then
follow
up
with
The
Imagination
Station,
Revisited,
and
you'll
hear
the
difference.
Today,
the
internet,
faster
computers,
and
multi-track
recording
and
editing
software
make
the
show
sound
better
and
more
real
than
it
ever
has.
In
this
case,
the
critics
are
right.
AIO
doesn't
sound
the
same;
it
sounds
better
and
draws
you
into
the
story
more
effectively.
Argument:
The
new
characters
aren't
as
good
as
the
old
characters.
"The old characters aren't on the show anymore" and "There are always new characters showing up" are additional arguments. That's totally correct. Ever since the creation of the series, new characters have appeared and old ones have left. When Adventures in Odyssey started, characters were constantly being introduced. Kid actors like David Griffin and Sage Bolte played numerous roles until they were given just one singular character to play. Kid characters are never in a lot of episodes before they leave because the actors who voice them sound older than their characters. A couple of exceptions are Jimmy Barclay and Lucy Cunningham-Schultz. Some characters stayed for years, and some stayed for just a few episodes. This is how it has always been.
Remember when Hal Smith died and the character of Whit left Odyssey? We got some great new characters out of that situation in the form of Jack Allen and Jason Whittaker. The show was fine without Whit for a while. Eugene Meltsner was missing for several years, too.
When Adventures in Odyssey returned from its first hiatus, many of the old families and kid characters were gone. Characters like Lucy Schultz, Sam Johnson, and the Barclay family were exchanged for Julie Zeeke, Jared DeWhite, and the Mulligan family. After the second hiatus, the Parker family, Jay Smouse, and Emily Jones were introduced while the Washington family, Mandy Straussberg, and Grady McKay were absent.
Like
the
writers
say,
"Adventures
in
Odyssey
is
bigger
than
any
one
character."
Whit
has
always
been
the
central
character,
but
there
are
many
other
people
who
live
in
the
town
of
Odyssey.
We
just
haven't
been
introduced
to
them
all.
Argument:
The
new
episodes
are
stupid.
"The stories aren't as good as the old ones." This statement is wrong in many ways. Since the beginning, there have always been great episodes, average episodes, and poor episodes. People seem to forget that even though we got some great episodes early on like Connie and The Case of the Secret Room, duds like The Day After Christmas and Promises, Promises stand out. Let's not forget the split episodes. Those were certainly not AIO's best episodes, but from that era, we got one of the best story arcs in the show's history: Novacom. Not every episode is going to be good, but the team on Adventures in Odyssey has a track record of making more good (and great) episodes than bad ones. That's one of the many reasons we love the series.
When
AIO
returned
from
its
second
hiatus,
many
of
the
episodes
from
Album
51,
Take
It
from
the
Top,
were
criticized
as
being
"dumbed-down"
and
just
"fluff"
in
terms
of
stories
and
lessons.
However,
the
majority
of
people
believe
that
the
three-part
episode,
The
Jubilee
Singers,
is
the
best
of
the
bunch
and,
quite
possibly,
a
new
classic.
The
Green
Ring
Conspiracy
saga
was
introduced
shortly
afterwards.
Although
not
as
highly
praised
as
Novacom,
it
brought
some
missing
fans
back
to
hear
what
the
fuss
was
about.
Episodes
like
Sergeant
York
and
Life
Expectancy
show
that
the
team
is
still
able
to
find
new
material
and
create
engaging
stories
that
rival
early
episodes.
Since
the
mid-2000s,
the
writers
have
focused
on
more
complex
storylines
that
may
be
all
in
one
album
(i.e.
The
Green
Ring
Conspiracy)
or
scattered
throughout
several
seasons
(i.e.
Albums
44-49).
The
stories
of
Mandy
dealing
with
her
parents'
separation,
Eugene's
search
for
his
father,
Wooton
and
Penny's
relationship,
and
others
have
all
been
spread
out
through
multiple
episodes,
creating
better-planned
stories
that
help
characters
grow
and
find
new
purpose
on
the
program.
Argument:
The
lessons
in
today's
episodes
are
watered
down.
"The lessons and themes are not as strong and meaningful as the early episodes." Wrong! If anything, Focus on the Family has increased its efforts to put more spiritual and teaching elements in the new shows. Of course, not every episode from the past ten years has dealt with deep messages, but certainly more than were ever discussed in the early years of Odyssey.
In the mid-to-late 2000's, issues such as divorce, abortion, adoption, and foster families became part of major storylines. The special album, The Truth Chronicles, digs deeper into the theological meaning of Christian worldview and principles. Recently, The Ties That Bind, a 14-part story arc, tackles the issues of "modern marriages" and dives into the meaning of what a real family is supposed to be. After that, Wooton and Penny learn what marriage is and what makes one work.
They say that hindsight gives you 20/20 vision. Nostalgia sometimes causes us to forget the bad things that happened or change the views we used to have. We have special memories attached to certain episodes and time periods. Fans that grew up in the 90s will certainly have a different view of the new episodes than the kids listening right now. For example, I, myself, prefer Paul Herlinger as Whit because that's who played him during my growing up years. He is the one I heard more than Hal Smith, so Paul was Whit to me. Who knows? Young fans now may say Andre Stojka is their favorite actor for Whit when they are adults.
Conclusion of the Argument
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Adventures in Odyssey is many things to many people. However, when you do not actually take the time to listen to more than just a few episodes or albums from recent years, you won't have a well-informed opinion. Just hearing reviews from other people about them will not be enough. Everyone has different tastes and, more than likely, they are different from your own. If you constantly compare the old episodes to the new ones, you'll never appreciate the wonderful elements that today's shows provide. Give the new episodes a chance. I'm sure you'll be surprised at the increased quality in sound design and storytelling found in modern AIO. Tomorrow's classic may be today's so-so episode. All series have their ups and downs, but I believe that Odyssey is at an 'up' point right now. Of course, Whit would tell you "The best is yet to come" and to find that out, you'd have to take Chris's advice and "Keep listening!"
