Wow, this episode was something else.
I feel like a good amount of this episode contained stuff that only older listeners would understand and appreciate. This whole episode in its plot and dialogue had a different feel to it, I think. “Legally Wooton” is the first episode by a new writer: Jesse Kellum IV. I can say I liked it! Very unique episode!
Yeah, the opening scene was a bit crazy. Very chaotic with that naughty kid Marsha running around, spiking a volleyball, jumping through hula hoop on the ceiling, and breaking down the door with a table as a battering ram. It seems as though there have been quite a few birthdays being hosted at Whit’s End lately. In “Much Ado About Jealousy”, “Judge Me Tender” and then this one we have large birthdays going on with Connie in charge. I would be interested in hearing an episode about a birthday party at Whit’s End. The stuff going on in the beginning could’ve been an episode in itself. Very naughty kids.
Actually, something just occurred to me! What if the opening scene with the crazy, chaotic kids was meant to serve as reflection of the negative impact Happy Porpoise was having on the kids? Hear me out: Wooton is hesitant to confront Terry. But then Wooton and Penny look through the comic book and see that Happy Porpoise is not being very nice: she’s robbing from the rich, being “exclusionary” (interesting word choice…), and not sharing. Immediately after, Marsha and the kids start breaking down the door and Connie rushes over to intervene. Penny asks, “Well, Wooton?” expectantly and Wooton agrees to meet with Terry. Could it have been that the kids in the birthday party were acting the way they were
because of Wooton’s Jolly Dolphin being changed into the unkind Happy Porpoise? The kids like Happy Porpoise, and Marsha was even wearing a Happy Porpoise costume. When Wooton talks to Terry he says that that Terry has turned his character into something bad, and he can’t let a creation of his negatively influence kids. Could the negative influence be referring to the rowdy kids in the opening scene?? I don’t know why, but somehow, when listening through that scene again, this thought occurred to me. However, this is probably too much of a stretch. I’m probably overanalyzing this. If the point of that scene was to portray the negative impact the character was having on the kids, then I think it would’ve been shown more clearly. The party opening was likely meant to be a comedic scene, I think. A most unique one at that!
I had thought that the old friend of Wooton would be someone we knew, but it turned out to be an entirely new character: Terry Blaze. His character was most interesting: a 30-something year old still living with his mother who listens to motivation speeches to build his confidence. I liked his character and would be interested in learning more about him if he made appearances in future episodes.
We also hear the name of another character which Wooton created which we have not heard before: Horace the Flying Sponge, who Terry mentions. Was this another comic series that Wooton did? It obviously didn’t become as well-known as Captain Absolutely and Sleuth Family Robinson, but I’d still be interested in knowing who exactly this flying sponge named Horace is.
It was good to hear Simon Jones again! His line about not minding taking a long time because he’s being paid by the hour made me laugh. A very true statement reflective of lots of businesses today.
If I was studying law, I’m sure I would probably have a lot more to examine and break down about the legal aspects of this episode: the arbitration, copyright verses trademarking and their processes, the arguments used, and the technicality of the legality of the actions of the parties involved in this
Wooton v. Terry case. However, since this is not my area, I will leave that to others.
I did find it interesting how after Wooton says that the Bible says to turn the other cheek and show mercy when someone does something bad to you, Penny says that this situation is different because what Terry is doing is
morally wrong. I could also overanalyze this, but I think Penny’s point is valid and that there is A Time For Action and to step in if someone is doing something that goes too far and that others who do wrong will impact others. So, I think the theme of mercy and how Wooton, even after arbitration, was merciful to Terry was all very well done.
The way Simon had Wooton and Terry draw the character was good. I laughed when Simon said that Terry’s drawing looked like a cockroach.
It was a most interesting episode. Like I said, I feel like the things in this episode (lines about filibustering, Canada, copyright, the whole thing of arbitration, even Chris' wrap-up) were mostly aimed at older listeners.
So, overall, I liked this episode! The
latest episode of the Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast features an interview with the writer Jesse Kellum IV, so I recommend checking it out. I look forward to hearing more of the writing Jesse Kellum IV in the future.
