Episode
Reviewed: The Malted
Milkball Falcon
(677)
Writers: Kirby Atkins, Dave Arnold
Director: Dave Arnold
Sound Designer:
Christopher Diehl
Music:
John Campbell
Scripture: Psalm 139:1-3
Theme: Honesty
Original
Airdate: 12/11/10
Review Written by:
Ben Warren, Staff Writer
Rating (out of 5):
Episode
Summary
A piñata filled with delicious chocolate goes
missing from Whit's End. Only a few people were in the room at
the scene of the crime, leading Emily Jones to investigate
"whodunit!"
The Review
They should rename the show "Mysteries in Odyssey".
Boring. Uneventful. Ridiculous. These are the words I would have used to
describe last week's episode, "A Disagreeable Nanny", but not this one.
The Malted
Milkball Falcon is, as Jacob Isom described it,
"unique". Kirby Atkins finds his groove and concocts a mystery which not only
avoids several weaknesses plaguing
Game for a Mystery or
Stage Fright, but one that is
significantly more intriguing than the majority of episodes this past season.
Before I begin, let me make something clear. It's hard to write objectively
about a well written episode when half the voices in it either aggravate me or
cause me to think about something else. Odyssey has a long history of memorable
brag-worthy cast of characters. It's been the escapades of those such as
Bernard, Tom, Bart, Jack, Edwin, Nick, the Barclays which made me tune in each
week. But which characters make the older generation tune in now? I watch what's
happening at the fan forums, and I read comments submitted by fans at the
official site. There is an uprising...fans are frustrated. And their frustration
is spreading like wildfire. It's difficult to know whether these are simply
newer fans unprepared and uncomfortable with change, or whether the show is
truly being a tad shaky nowadays. Trust me, I've witnessed a lot of change in
this show. I've been listening to this show for so long that I have absolutely
no memory of ever not listening to it. I have grown to like some characters,
while there are others I hold no delusions that they were ever any good. I've
spent 10 years outside the target audience, seeing kids come and go. I doubt my
inability to warm up to these characters is a sign that I'm simply too old to be
listening. I doubt I'm outgrowing this stuff now. The facts are plain;
a lot these newer folks just don't cut it. They don't adhere to the standard
placed by characters of the past--which makes perfect sense if you think about
it. It took a few years for the show to get Bernard, and much longer to get
Jason and Jack. It will take a while again, with trial and error, for the show
to get more memorable/classic characters. Thankfully, of those who are now
decent, there is great potential for them to become better. This episode
explores that potential a bit more.
As for specific criticisms of each character, I'll keep them short and sweet.
Jay sounds like Daffy Duck without the lisp; I preferred the sullen and humbled
Emily Jones I heard in Square One;
Stojka continues to impress as the show goes on; Priscilla spoke and I thought
someone was blowing a whistle in my ear; Matthew Parker was the show's most
relatable character since we both seemed bored to tears following Emily around;
Barrett's voice is changing for the better but his presence goes unnoticed in
scenes; Nelson's distinct voice and likable personality makes him the show's
newest treasure.
Should you care that the outcome of
Broken Window
is similar to this one? Personally, I don't, despite the fact
Broken Window has one the greatest Adventures in
Odyssey endings and, for that reason, is a personal favorite of mine. After
all, what was more surprising than finding out Whit was the "culprit" when all
he normally does is give wise counsel and sage advise? That said, this episode
could have been substantially better if
Broken Window
never aired. As a result, while this week's episode's "reveal" did end up
fooling me, it didn't surprise me. The result is an episode which merely
entertained but didn't impress.
I'm also slightly (very slightly) concerned that Whit was tad more deceptive
here than he was in
Broken Window.
Maybe it's just me, but in that one, he lets the events play out instead
of interfering. In
The Malted Milkball Falcon, Whit seems
to be encouraging suspicions a little more. Aside from that sense of slight
uneasiness, I will say that Atkins handled Whit's role well enough, making sure
Whit never overstepped his boundaries. Still, while re-listening to the episode,
I kept wondering how manipulative was too manipulative for Mr. Whittaker. In
Broken Window,
he let things play out a little more without interfering or purposefully
shifting suspicions, merely asking "So you think you know who broke the
window..." A Whit's End commenter said: "[Whit] has a tendency for doing stuff
like that. [Re]member the broken window episode?" Glad to know that Whit is
getting a reputation for being a sneaky, deceptive man.
I'm noticing more and more fans quibbling about the "message" in episodes. Many
are arguing that episodes are becoming less spiritual and would do better to
mention the name of Jesus more often. That said, I certainly like it when
Adventures in Odyssey covers all the bases with certain themes (I myself
will be quick to point out that
Fast As I Can failed in this area; its desire to entertain, rather than
teach, was its downfall). When it came to
The Malted
Milkball Falcon, however, I'm surprised by how some
criticized its message. I'm not quite sure what type of show would make
some of these fans happy. Adventures in Odyssey has never
been solely about preaching, but about entertaining as well. I thought
this episode was the perfect example of a show which knew how to slowly and
carefully unveil the message as time went by; the theme of the show became as
much of a mystery as the thief of the malted milk-ball falcon was.
Recently, I've began reading the weekly devotionals at the official website. If
you haven't already, then I'd suggest you check them out. They reinforce the
lessons in the show and encourage listeners to apply those lessons to their own
lives. The theme of today's show, I think, speaks volumes. Why do we do what we
do in the name of God? Do we go to church to meet our friends or to praise God?
Do we help the poor in order to feel good about ourselves or because we love
Him? In a time where "hipster faith" is growing, where following God can be
"cool" in social circles, one must wonder how much of what we do "for Christ" is
really for Christ. In other words, our motivation matters.
For the first time, I enjoyed this Kirby Atkins episode. He wrote a script with
more layers, with more twists and turns, than the average episode has. This is
how a proper mystery is done; it not only made me question "whodunit" but "howdunit"
too. I think those qualities are strong enough reasons to rate this episode on
the positive side, despite its flaws.
Rating
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