Episode Reviewed:
The
Case of the Disappearing Hortons (518)
Writer: Bob
Hoose
Director: Bob
Hoose
Production
Engineer: Bob
Luttrell
Music
Composer: John Campbell
Original
Airdate: 5/24/03
Rating
(Out of 5 cones): 
|
The
Case of the Disappearing Hortons
[Episode
Info]
Episode
Summary: When
Liz's entire family abruptly goes missing, it's up to the kids of
Odyssey (and a few of their friends) to solve the case.
Theme:
Accepting
help from others (Galatians 6:2)
|
“You
know old guys. They just sit around all day watching people. They’ll be
perfect witnesses.”
[Solly Mendelson]
The
Review
I
love mystery episodes. They’re so mysterious in nature, and when they’re
over you feel a keen sense of relief, closure, and a feeling of “What’s
gonna happen next?” It’s the little mysteries in life that help to show
our more mysterious sides. The
Case of the Disappearing Hortons may not
have been the best (nor most creative) mystery show, it did have its
positive points.
I can dig that. I
really liked the introduction of Jasmine, although she probably won’t be
back ever again. It’s always fun to hear how the flower children from the
sixties talk, and it’s sometimes fun to hear them on drama. I was
surprised at how many people we were introduced to in this episode. Solly
Mendelson and Irving Greenfarb were also interesting additions to the show.
I must complain about them… Solly and Irving really weren’t played by
old male actors. If you’re going to introduce old characters, why not just
go out and get some? I hate listening to people in their forties try to
imitate an old person. I’m fine with Chris
Anthony’s acting as an old woman (IE: Mrs. Randolf in Welcoming
Wooton and For the Fun of It),
but any others I’ve heard just don’t have the art. I could tell that Paul
Herlinger played one of the old men, and the other was played by
Alex’s dad. Yucky… and yes, I still use the word “yucky.” Only when
things are yucky.
It’s just too bad
that the writers run out of ideas once they get to 500 episodes in the
making. The
Case of the Disappearing Hortons really paralleled A
Game of Compassion quite a bit in that the characters were ashamed of
what happened and were too afraid to ask for help. The stories were
different, the message the same. So go out and ask for help. People will
help you.
I believe it was Solly
who constantly said, “What’s happened to the youth of America?” I like
that a lot because it is so true in our day and age. Just look around. Over
the years each generation has really been going downhill, and that steady
course isn’t leveling out yet. It’s only getting steeper. (Note: Solly
wasn’t referring to the downgrade of American morals. He was referring to
something else.)
Aside
from Liz’s constant, unrealistic, everyone-feel-sorry-for-me diary
entries, I can’t complain about this episode that much. The title isn’t
the best of choices, but as long as the content is able to make up for the
name. What’s in a name, anyway?
The
Rating
It’s
definitely an interesting episode, quite a mystery that isn’t meant to be
really mysterious. This type of mystery show should actually go in a
category with Heatwave. I give The
Case of the Disappearing Hortons
3 out of 5 cones.
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