628: The Highest Stakes - Part 1

H Tide · Post by **H Tide** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:49 am

What did you think of this episode? Discuss and review! $\:D/$

I'll post my thoughts later.

querida · Post by **querida** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:46 am

Over all, a great episode. I loved Wooton and Sam at the end...that was too funny. Grady's dad seems like an ok guy....I just hope the end of the next episode isn't as unrealistic as Mandy's story arch was.

The Top Crusader · Post by **The Top Crusader** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:12 am

It was really good except Wooten was in it, and Wooten is obviously evil.

I liked it apart from that, though.

Samitude · Post by **Samitude** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:15 am

"Quit Wooten' around!" - Wooten Basset

I love this! I'm going to use that phrase on some children I know!

Arla · Post by **Arla** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 2:46 pm

I think it has potenial. I have a thoery about what is going to happen, but who knows.?

connies#1fan · Post by **connies#1fan** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 5:19 pm

I really loved this episode. As soon as I heard the introduction, I was like, this is Grady's dad. I was so happy when I found out that I was right.

Taq · Post by **Taq** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 7:26 pm

Wow, I never expected the return of Grady's father or the gambling issue to come up, but I like what I've heard. Part I was a great adventurous start, so let's hope part II will provide a satisfying, teachable finish.

V-lady · Post by **V-lady** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 8:40 pm

I wasn't sure I would like this one when I first read about it, since they just had the Mandy thing, but I was pleasantly surprised! Great episode! I loved the whole quit Wooten' around thing too!

LizzieG · Post by **LizzieG** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 12:40 am

When I listened to the beginning of this episode, I thought for an instant that I heard Richard Maxwell (:anxious:)!

I, too, was very surprised to hear from Grady's dad. When it was announced that all these story arcs would be concluded this season, I was sure it would be the season of happy endings. So far, I've been right. I do like happy endings, but having so many at the same time seems very unrealistic. Much as I was glad that Mandy's storyline ended happily, I hope this one isn't quite so perfect. And, I think a bittersweet ending is quite possible (and would be my choice).

I really liked this episode, though. It was very interesting, since I just recently listened to "Three O'Clock Call," and was sure that his dad was out of the picture for good. Looking forward to next week!

Lucy Pevensie · Post by **Lucy Pevensie** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:22 am

I wouldn't call the Mandy episodes unrealistic. And I do hope that the McKay parents will work things out . . . I think this episode was pretty cool, although the next episode seems really uncertain (and makes me rather nervous

).

Taq · Post by **Taq** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:19 am

LizzieG wrote:When I listened to the beginning of this episode, I thought for an instant that I heard Richard Maxwell (:anxious:)!

Same here, and I still think Carson sounds Maxwellian.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:26 am

Hehe, I thought for sure Carson was Jess Harnell!

BTW, either Wilson or Carson was played by Patrick Labyorteaux, who played Andy Garvey on Little House on the Prairie. $\:D/$

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Labyorteaux

Jeremy

Trent DeWhite · Post by **Trent DeWhite** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:25 pm

Taq wrote:
LizzieG wrote:When I listened to the beginning of this episode, I thought for an instant that I heard Richard Maxwell (:anxious:)!
Same here, and I still think Carson sounds Maxwellian.

Jeremy wrote:Hehe, I thought for sure Carson was Jess Harnell!

Wow. I basically thought Carson was a blend between Nathan Carlson and Jess Harnell.

I talk a little bit about Lizzie's commentary on happy endings this season here.

ComputerGeek · Post by **ComputerGeek** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:37 pm

I liked the episode and I can't wait to hear part 2

LizzieG · Post by **LizzieG** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:15 pm

After reading Trent’s blog and thinking about this throughout the day, I feel I need to explain myself better. Here’s an even longer commentary for you all to enjoy

First off, by “unrealistic” I was talking about the choice to end these three arcs (Grady, Mandy, and Leonard) at virtually the same time. I do not think that the ending to the Mandy storyline was unrealistic. I’ve loved the arcs (and the endings) in themselves, and found them to be real and relatable, but the writer in me doesn't like all these semi-similar endings coming at the same time…I also think that Leonard’s salvation arc moved a little too fast, but that’s another story. This issue is sort of a nitpicky thing, and I can understand why some inferred that I was talking about the endings themselves, as opposed to their timing and pacing.

Now that I’ve clarified that (or so I hope), here are my not-so-technical thoughts on the endings:

As Trent pointed out, “kids…need to be taught is that marriages can be saved... through prayer and through the power of Christ.” Very true. However, Carson and Christie McKay are not Christians, at least at this point. If the ending to “The Highest Stakes” is as final as the endings to the Leonard and Mandy arcs, I expect the salvation issue to come up in the second part.

One reason I don’t want a “perfect” ending is because I don’t think one 25-minute episode could do justice to the issues of salvation and reconciliation in such a complex situation. There’s a middle ground between Carson abandoning his family again and a complete resolution. Mandy’s storyline lasted for several seasons; Grady’s dad has just returned, and the McKay family arguably has more to work through than the Straussbergs. I’ve been looking at this two-parter as the conclusion to Grady’s journey towards faith, and even though I think that reconciliation is the most likely scenario, I believe that the writers could still be true to their purpose of “sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ” if the story went the other way.

If a child becomes a Christian, it doesn’t necessarily follow that his estranged parents will get back together and accept Christ as well. It doesn’t always work that way. Even those operating under a Biblical worldview can only control their own decisions and actions, not those of others. Learning to depend more heavily on God, to trust Him even when circumstances are less than ideal, and an understanding that not all prayers are answered right away are all lessons that could coincide with such a scenario.

hubcap · Post by **hubcap** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 6:06 pm

I really liked this episode, though...unlike the popular verdict, not as much as Life in the Third Person. See, my parents are divorced, and I know why they are and it is a good thing. More or less, my mother should NOT have married my father. The only good things out of it meant that my brother and I were born. That was it. So, my heart went out to Mandy... and to Grady, I guess. yeah....this episode was really good. And I don't know if I want it to work out right away...I don't know if that would work with the story.

Smaug the Dragon · Post by **Smaug the Dragon** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:39 am

I'd much prefere this story arc to end happily then any other. Even the Mandy arc. Sorry.

Yeah I thought it sounded like Richard Maxwell too.

That clip at the end makes me think... never mind!

I love this episode. 5/5

Laura Ingalls · Post by **Laura Ingalls** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:19 am

Jeremy wrote:Hehe, I thought for sure Carson was Jess Harnell!

BTW, either Wilson or Carson was played by Patrick Labyorteaux, who played Andy Garvey on Little House on the Prairie. $\:D/$

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Labyorteaux

Jeremy

Haha, how neat! $\:D/$

I too, think that Carson sounds like Jess Harnell...do we know for sure who the actor is?

The Town of Odyssey

628: The Highest Stakes - Part 1

How many stars do you rate this episode?

628: The Highest Stakes - Part 1