621: A New Era Part III

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:52 pm

Wow. Saturday night, and no topic yet

So post your reviews people! We're behind on time $\:D/$

Elrohir · Post by **Elrohir** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:28 am

2/5. Everything seemed so forced, rushed, overly dramatic, and unrealistic. It reminded me of when I watched King Kong how it kept trying to make the audience cry.

Taq · Post by **Taq** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 1:05 pm

Though the ending seemed abrupt a la The Top Floor, I loved the solution of Leonard and Evan going to serve the Ashantis as a team. As I mentioned last week, I liked hearing Eugene and Katrina struggle with the decision whether or not to go. They reasoned, prayed, and sought godly counsel (Whit), and God resolved their question.

Could the unthinkable happen? Could Everett appear 0 times this season? A New Era was in a short time frame (Not more than a couple days I'd assume. Remember, Part II basically equaled the kidney transfer), so I don't have a problem with the omission of Everett in this set. I can't, however, imagine not hearing from him again before he goes back to Africa!

I enjoyed the juxtaposition of Leonard's two reactions when learning of a baby on the way. It showed how he changed and enriched the comparative extent of Eugene's ostracism.

About Eugene explaining why he forgave Leonard: The dialogue made it sound like the forgiveness was contingent on Leonard regretting his past actions. I don't know if that's what Eugene meant, but I'd like to think Eugene would still have forgiven his father even if his father didn't regret his sins against Eugene. I never expected Leonard to find and believe Christ so quickly. But hey, he went through more trauma and saw a changed Eugene. With God all things are possible.

The Joanne-Thelma connection added another perspective, another opportunity for Leonard to soul-search. Good ear for those of you who caught the inkling that this connection might have been! It worked, but don't let these old connections get too numerous (Connie and Eugene in The Champ of the Camp, Joanne and Agnes in The Pact).

Since Eugene and Katrina are called to further Hand Up's ministry in Odyssey, I would expect to hear more about that in the future. I would also maybe expect a future Africa snapshot or trip.

So I liked Parts I and II better than Part III, but then again this episode was constrained by having to wrap up the story. Nonetheless, the resolution was satisfying and I enjoyed A New Era.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 6:00 pm

Itaque wrote:The Joanne-Thelma connection added another perspective, another opportunity for Leonard to soul-search. Good ear for those of you who caught the inkling that this connection might have been!

Kudos should go to Janet Waldo for the incredible acting. I shouldn't have accused her of possibly just over-acting.

That was a hint that was totally dependent on the acting--and she did an amazing job, especially for an 89-year-old actor!

Jeremy

Applesauce · Post by **Applesauce** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:38 pm

Woah, 89?! I was just wondering while listening to this episode how old she really was. That's impressive. She's probably one of the oldest actors on the show.

Anyway, I thought the episode was good but not great. My prediction about the outcome of the third part was correct, but it wasn't quite as satisfying as I expected. Somehow the whole thing felt a little rushed, and the salvation scene wasn't very moving. It felt like Leonard Meltsner's conversion was a "necessary obstacle" in order to wrap up the story arc. I would have liked it if more attention had been giving to Leonard's decision throughout the three episodes, rather than kinda springing it on us in that scene, and then only half-addressing it in the final scenes. I just felt it was missing the heart of episodes like Under the Influence and The Time Has Come and Connie.

However, I did think that, all in all, it was an appropriate way to wrap up the story arc. And the flashbacks were great once again! I'm rating this one (and all three parts as a whole) a 3.

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 11:03 pm

Applesauce wrote:Woah, 89?! I was just wondering while listening to this episode how old she really was. That's impressive. She's probably one of the oldest actors on the show.

Unless I'm forgetting someone, she's the oldest actor of the main adult character actors currently on the show. The next closest is Alan Young, who will be 88 in November.

Samwise · Post by **Samwise** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:49 am

The two oldest actors for Odyssey are Jack and Joanne; I wonder what the future of the Antique shop looks like...

Nasri · Post by **Nasri** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 11:04 am

Eugene funny when his Father ask to be a Christan. 4/5.

Dakota Bud · Post by **Dakota Bud** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:44 pm

Voted

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 7:20 pm

Actually, Jack Allen/Alan Young is no longer on the show. It's been 3 years since he appeared in an episode, while Joanne has appeared multiple times since then. And in a recent interview, Alan Young put his work with AIO in the past tense.

I do wonder why he is no longer on the show.

Jeremy

connies#1fan · Post by **connies#1fan** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 7:48 pm

Jeremy, I wonder too, why he is gone, or done

V-lady · Post by **V-lady** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:18 am

I'm actually glad, I don't like Jack that much.

Samitude · Post by **Samitude** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:26 pm

I love Jack! It's terrible that he's not on the show anymore. We need a bring back Jack petition!

Chandler · Post by **Chandler** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:02 pm

Jeremy wrote:Actually, Jack Allen/Alan Young is no longer on the show. It's been 3 years since he appeared in an episode, while Joanne has appeared multiple times since then. And in a recent interview, Alan Young put his work with AIO in the past tense.

Could you point us to the interview?

Odesa · Post by **Odesa** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:43 am

Samitude wrote:I love Jack! It's terrible that he's not on the show anymore. We need a bring back Jack petition!

I'm with you

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 2:17 pm

Chandler wrote:
Jeremy wrote:Actually, Jack Allen/Alan Young is no longer on the show. It's been 3 years since he appeared in an episode, while Joanne has appeared multiple times since then. And in a recent interview, Alan Young put his work with AIO in the past tense.
Could you point us to the interview?

Here's the link to the thread about it: http://www.thetoo.com/viewtopic.php?t=9767

And at the following link you can hear what he said about AIO at about the 31 minute mark: http://joecookprogram.com/podcasts/TJCP080907.mp3

Jeremy

Chandler · Post by **Chandler** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 3:57 pm

Thanks!

H Tide · Post by **H Tide** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:21 am

Back to the review…

The conclusion was a satisfying end to this three-parter. The message of forgiveness was simple yet profound, and I was glad Leonard finally became a Christian and decided to go stay with the Ashantis (though I predicted that would happen in part two). I only wished the scene with Leonard’s conversion was a bit longer and a little less rush. Also, as others have stated, it would’ve been nice to hear from Everett before sending him off to Africa. But overall, this was a very well-written episode and an enjoyable ending to the Leonard Meltsner storyarc.

Nathan Hoobler · Post by **Nathan Hoobler** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:34 pm

I'm not sure why Alan referred to his time on Odyssey in the past tense. Maybe because he wasn't on for quite awhile.

However, let me assure you that Alan's (and Jack's!) time on Odyssey is not over. He will be in at least three episodes this spring.

Nathan

H Tide · Post by **H Tide** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:36 pm

Nathan Hoobler wrote:I'm not sure why Alan referred to his time on Odyssey in the past tense. Maybe because he wasn't on for quite awhile.

However, let me assure you that Alan's (and Jack's!) time on Odyssey is not over. He will be in at least three episodes this spring.

Nathan

Yay! $\:D/$ In the interview when he talked about Odyssey, it sounded to me like he didn't know exactly what was going on or why he wasn't in recent episodes.

The Town of Odyssey

621: A New Era Part III

How will you rate this ep?

621: A New Era Part III