Moses: The Passover Parts 1 & 2

[MeltsnerGirl91]

I just heard part one of this episode for the first time today, and I was pleasantly surprised by a few things that you don't normally hear in an episode.

1. Whit "argued" with a parent. He openly disagreed with George Barclay's idea of not going into the Imagination Station. He backed out on his promise, and Whit didn't approve. He wouldn't get Jimmy out of the invention when George asked him and told George to "get him yourself." I am surprised Whit was so obstinate. Whit was completely right, but I'm surprised he didn't honor the parents wishes. I would never imagine Whit doing that nowadays.

2. A parent actually went into an invention!

3. The first scene with Jimmy and George in Goshen was quite violent and chaotic. There was yelling, fighting, and whippings. It was realistic (which made it powerful), but it was also a little scary.

So, does anybody think Whit was out of line? Should Whit fight for what is right more, even if it means going out of line? Do you want to see parents go in one of Whit's inventions again? Was anybody scared or impressed with that scene I mentioned above?

[Odysseygirl101]

I thought Whit was a little out of line here and also in the green Ring when he told Detecteive Polehaus "no promises."Before going in to look for the Stilletto. Doesn't that seem a little uncharecteristic?..

[ArnoldtheRubberDucky]

I just listened to this episode for the first time, like you Meltsnergirl, a couple days ago. I'm afraid that when I was a little kid, I thought history episodes were 'boring', so I hardly ever listened to them. I still actually haven't listened to every history and Bible episode, but I've really enjoyed the ones I've heard. Against popular opinion, I liked this episode. I think it was daring for Whit to oppose a parent, but I think in the situation, it was the best course of action, though he may have regretted it later. This episode also had many unique things about it, such as someone getting hurt in the station and a parent coming in. I was also pleasantly surprised that Jimmy became friends with the Pharaoh's son. We often don't think of the people who died in the Bible as real people, we just think, Oh, he wasn't that important anyway. But they were real people. Pharaoh undoubtedly deserved to be punished for his actions, but I like that AIO made it a spooky, bittersweet moment when Pharaoh's son died. Even my blood curdled when I heard the scream. And while I think the parting of the Red Sea sequence could've been done better, it was still a great IS episode that I will definitely listen to again soon.

[Pound Foolish]

Great topic, MeltsnerGirl.
Whit wasn't out of line. It was his machine, on his property.
This was an excellent scene. Whit seems a bit too spineless sometimes when it comes to other adults. And one can get tired of his Father knows best, always, always, allllllllllwaaaaaaays knows best philosophy. Yes, normally, parents are right. On the other hand, that doesn't mean a kid should let him/herself be completely controlled and have no real say in anything.
In his review of an episode where the teacher acts like a brat, yet is supposedly an authority figure not to be contradicted, Alex complained of the teacher's poor example, saying the moral of always obeying adults didn't work as well with lousy teacher.
However, he was a lot like many real teachers. Sometimes, in fact, a teacher is passionless, or inept. And, often, in public schools, math is taught ridiculously poorly. Whit conveniently ignores this. The result is a weak, cutesy, overly Christian idea that shows up in all too may AIO episodes: if an adult thinks differently than you, why then, by golly, you must definitely be wrong!
A good message? Uh-uh.
Today, a lot of fans say Whit is more stay-behind-the-counter-and-see-what-happens prone than ever. I'd say Whit is still pretty busy, creating the Inspiration Station, still giving and advice, and helping Penny, but the fact remains, we never ever see him do anything like that today. In fact, almost never, in any era of AIO.
Oh, and, yes, Meltsner. The idea of an adult going into the IS is just wonderful. One can't help wishing it would happen more often. And the pain was odd. Just what does the IS do to the imagination? And why does Whit let the effect be so strong? And why are people always okay with it? Is it imagining pain? One would assume. But would Whit really program the machine to hurt people? One notices it only hurts Jimmy's dad. One would guess children are exempt from more extreme pain. All the same, it's an oddity. Perhaps the only answer here is suspension of belief.

[ArnoldtheRubberDucky]

Nice little review of sorts, PF. I don't think Whit was out of line either, and I enjoyed your insights on that. I think AIO should do the Moses story again, except next time, they could show the previous plagues, not just the darkness and the passover.

[MeltsnerGirl91]

I just listened to this episode for the first time, like you Meltsnergirl, a couple days ago. I'm afraid that when I was a little kid, I thought history episodes were 'boring', so I hardly ever listened to them. I still actually haven't listened to every history and Bible episode, but I've really enjoyed the ones I've heard. Against popular opinion, I liked this episode. I think it was daring for Whit to oppose a parent, but I think in the situation, it was the best course of action, though he may have regretted it later. This episode also had many unique things about it, such as someone getting hurt in the station and a parent coming in. I was also pleasantly surprised that Jimmy became friends with the Pharaoh's son. We often don't think of the people who died in the Bible as real people, we just think, Oh, he wasn't that important anyway. But they were real people. Pharaoh undoubtedly deserved to be punished for his actions, but I like that AIO made it a spooky, bittersweet moment when Pharaoh's son died. Even my blood curdled when I heard the scream. And while I think the parting of the Red Sea sequence could've been done better, it was still a great IS episode that I will definitely listen to again soon.

I had the same feeling about some of the history episodes. I skipped over them sometimes, but now that I am older, they are even more enjoyable. I think Whit did the right thing too. He must have known that the adventure would have changed George's mind. I like that daring, almost angry Whit. It reminds us that even the great Mr. Whitaker has flaws, and sometimes he has good reason to be upset.

Very true, it did make Pharaoh's son become relatable to us. He wasn't just a name. I agree with the Red Sea scene. It is a great episode.

-- Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:04 pm --

Great topic, MeltsnerGirl.
Whit wasn't out of line. It was his machine, on his property.
This was an excellent scene. Whit seems a bit too spineless sometimes when it comes to other adults. And one can get tired of his Father knows best, always, always, allllllllllwaaaaaaays knows best philosophy. Yes, normally, parents are right. On the other hand, that doesn't mean a kid should let him/herself be completely controlled and have no real say in anything.
In his review of an episode where the teacher acts like a brat, yet is supposedly an authority figure not to be contradicted, Alex complained of the teacher's poor example, saying the moral of always obeying adults didn't work as well with lousy teacher.
However, he was a lot like many real teachers. Sometimes, in fact, a teacher is passionless, or inept. And, often, in public schools, math is taught ridiculously poorly. Whit conveniently ignores this. The result is a weak, cutesy, overly Christian idea that shows up in all too may AIO episodes: if an adult thinks differently than you, why then, by golly, you must definitely be wrong!
A good message? Uh-uh.
Today, a lot of fans say Whit is more stay-behind-the-counter-and-see-what-happens prone than ever. I'd say Whit is still pretty busy, creating the Inspiration Station, still giving and advice, and helping Penny, but the fact remains, we never ever see him do anything like that today. In fact, almost never, in any era of AIO.
Oh, and, yes, Meltsner. The idea of an adult going into the IS is just wonderful. One can't help wishing it would happen more often. And the pain was odd. Just what does the IS do to the imagination? And why does Whit let the effect be so strong? And why are people always okay with it? Is it imagining pain? One would assume. But would Whit really program the machine to hurt people? One notices it only hurts Jimmy's dad. One would guess children are exempt from more extreme pain. All the same, it's an oddity. Perhaps the only answer here is suspension of belief.

Odyssey writers probably write like that because they don't want to upset parents by teaching kids "rebellion or disrespect to elders." Their target age group wouldn't be able to distinguish when it is okay to politely disagree with someone who is wrong.

Yeah, I agree. Whit is definitely more a like "background" character at the moment. I'm hoping that will change in the next album.

I think the more you use your imagination, the more real the adventure seems to you. I interpret the scene that George felt the pain as real, but it was really only in his mind. Whit doesn't create the pain; it's the passenger that does that. Whit just invented the means to get it (if that makes sense).

CreativeThinker, I would enjoy an episode about that.

[Pound Foolish]

The only reason anyone expects that of AIO is because that's the way they've always been. Almost no other modern children's entertainment is that way. I'm just saying AIO has taken the things to far too great an extreme. Fact is, children are sometimes right when older people are wrong.
Been known to happen.

[MeltsnerGirl91]

*nods head* I agree with you there.

[GabrielleFandomGirl]

I might listen to it tonight