Chris Reviews AnswerThat!

Digital Praise's latest release of Answer That! Adventures in Odyssey Edition invites fans of all ages to test their knowledge of the show with questions ranging from easy to difficult. Modeled after the popular "Scene It" DVD trivia series, Answer That! challenges players to answer questions from the video series, audio clips, and trivia cards. Although it has a limited appeal to the hardcore Odyssey fan, Answer That! offers a good deal of entertainment for the average fan or those new to the show.



Presentation

I was pleasantly surprised with the board game design. The ability to play on four different paths was an added bonus that many will appreciate. Answer That! included four plastic player pieces which I thought were rather flimsy, but I did like the stickers you could affix onto the pieces. Whit, Eugene, and Connie made sense... and Tamika? She's not exactly one of the most popular characters, but at least she's one of the current characters. Someone like Tom, Bernard, or Katrina might have made more sense, since fans are more familiar with what they look like.

Gameplay

The game board consists of seven different types of spaces:

Eugenius tests your knowledge of Odyssey history and characters
Connie's Character Quotes dares you to finish quotes
Whit's Wisdom challenges you to answer Bible trivia
Room of Consequence sends you to a different spot on the board
My Play is an on-screen question for the rolling player
All Play is an on-screen question for all players
You Choose gives you the choice to select any of the above six options

As mentioned earlier, there are four different paths you can choose: two short paths, one medium path, and one long path. However, playing the short or medium paths will present some noticeable problems for players who have a good knowledge of Odyssey. Because the game allows players to take unlimited turns provided they answer each question correctly, a player could theoretically win the game in only a few moves. One of the problems I found with the Room of Consequence (ROC) was the ambiguity in the instructions. The rules seemed to indicate players could answer the question from the space to which they were directed from the ROC cards, but never provided specific details on when the player's turn ended. In my opinion, ROC cards should force players to end their turn after they've moved (either forward, backwards, or swap positions).

My biggest concern from the start was whether or not the trivia questions would be difficult enough. Digital Praise, thankfully, got it right when they chose to create double-sided trivia cards. One side lists Easy questions, while the opposite side shows Difficult questions. Those who have listened to most of the episodes will probably not see much difference, although there are definitely a handful of harder questions included on some of the cards.

Just as there are an assortment of questions in the trivia cards ranging from easy to (somewhat) difficult, so too do the on-screen questions offer a variety of challenges. Many of the DVD questions were in the Picture This category, which involves the identification of a particular location, episode, or character. Occasionally, the picture displayed would be from album artwork, but I found that too many of the images were from the video or book series. On the other hand, I particularly enjoyed the Chrono-Logic (placing four events in order) and Guess Who (guessing who is being described) categories. Of the seven categories offered in the DVD, those two offered the highest level of difficulty for episode-related questions.

A similarly fun category was In Your Ear, in which the question would be based off an audio clip from the radio series. It really made me want to listen to the episodes again, especially when they played clips from old or favorite shows. The only disappointment was that most of the audio clips gave you the answer in the actual clip. So instead of testing your Odyssey knowledge, it would simply test your listening capability. Admittedly, it would have been nice also if they had included more of the radio series clips, since the audio drama comprises such a large portion of Adventures in Odyssey!

Lasting Appeal

Answer That! boasts over 1000 trivia questions, half of which are on the trivia cards while the other half are on-screen questions. Unfortunately, the DVD does not offer the individual game feature which some Scene It and Trivial Pursuit DVD games include. As a result, don't be surprised if you get the same question more than once. In fact, on a few occasions, we received the exact same question in a row and during the same game! To the designers' credit, you can press the return button on your DVD remote to bypass repeat questions and automatically get a new one. For younger fans and those relatively new to Adventures in Odyssey, Answer That! will be a game which they can continue to enjoy for a long time. Older and long-time fans of the show, however, may quickly tire of the game and its lack of difficulty.

Conclusion

AnswerThat! is a fun and innovative game... and it's all about Adventures in Odyssey! In the end, determining the overall value of the game is highly dependent upon your knowledge of the radio series. If you are a casual fan and haven't listened to all the episodes, then you'll probably enjoy this game the most. If you are a die-hard fan and have listened to nearly every episode, however, then you may be disappointed. While Digitial Praise catered to the non-Odyssey fan by including many questions that could be answered by the casual or non-listener, perhaps they could have spent more time developing more difficult questions.

I found it very interesting that they included the following in their summer press release: "However, even if players haven't had any exposure to Adventures in Odyssey, they'll be able to answer many questions thanks to on-screen audio and video 'hints' -- a key to the game's multi-generational appeal." It doesn't seem like players who haven't had any exposure to Adventures would be interested in the game in the first place. Although it made sense from a marketing standpoint to widen the target range of their prospective customers, I don't know if it was the smartest move to make the game so easy considering most of the people purchasing Answer That! would have to be pretty big Odyssey fans to make the $40-$50 investment. Nevertheless, in spite of its flaws, Answer That! remains in my eyes a fun family DVD trivia game!

Pros:
- Ability to choose length of play: short, medium, or long
- Lightning Play version on DVD
- New fans to Odyssey can participate
- Audio clips from the radio series, movie scenes from the video series

Cons:
- Playing pieces are easily breakable
- Lack of separate games on the DVD (different questions per game)
- Many of the trivia card and on-screen questions are too easy
- Not enough clips from the radio series

Presentation: 4/5
Gameplay: 3/5
Lasting Appeal: 3/5
Overall Rating (not an average): 3.5/5

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 28

It's been nearly three weeks since we spoke with Lauren Schaffel, but now we finally get to release the full interview! Due to some technical issues, we unfortunately ended up losing some sound quality during the recording. As a result, Sarah and I are not nearly as crystal clear as I would've preferred.

And yes, I do realize Lauren started with Adventures in Odyssey nine years ago and not eleven like I said on the podcast. Pretty poor mathematics on my part... but hey, blunders and mishaps aside, it was still a thrill having Lauren on the show! Hopefully, ya'll will enjoy the interview as much as we had recording it!

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Running Time: 41:18

Sarah's Answer That! Review!

Hey everyone!

Well, you finally get a blog post by Sarah - yay! I really am a person outside the voice! :D

I was so excited to get this game, and I played it as soon as I got home from college. I'm planning on having a small party to play it with some family friends this Friday, but sadly, I needed to post my review before then. I've played it several times through already, but if anything changes after Friday, I'll be sure to post something - though I doubt it would. ;)

Alright, I played the game twice through with my parents and each time played all he way around the board making sure to get plenty of both card and dvd related questions. My parents aren't really Adventure's in Odyssey fans, so that made it a little more interesting. I really enjoyed the game alot, and had fun with the questions. A lot of them seemed rather easy for me - but then, when you know the answer it's always easy, right? ;)

However, there were several questions that stumped me - some fairly, others not. I have never played the video games, and kept getting questions about them on the dvd, but I was able to figure a few out. The fair stumps were questions asking which episode a line came from or who said it, and some of those were kinda tricky!

The second round we played, we decided to try one of the presorted questions on the dvd - the one for those who didn't know Odyssey very well. I was under the impression that those would be non-AIO related, and I was apparently mistaken in that. They were still Odyssey related, but were really simple - and most of them had the answers in the question. That was a bit of a bummer, because ot made it feel rather dumbed down. Perhaps there are other sets that are just history/Bible related, but we were unable to find them. (If we locate them this weekend, I'll update this)

I also played the lightning round and had fun with it too.

Overall, I enjoyed this game a lot. The board and pieces were fun (though I thought that Tamika was a rather random choice for the only kid character...) and the questions on the cards were enjoyable as well. The dvd portion was also interesting (the theme gets a bit old after a while, however) and I really enjoyed getting to hear clips from episodes as well.

My final rating is probably a 4/5., and I recommend this game to any Odyssey fan out there. :D

God bless, and Merry Christmas Everyone! I hope some of you are blessed to get this under your tree this year. ;)

Sarah

Countdown to the Spring Season Premiere!

Well, we have the names of the episodes for the next couple months. They've posted all the titles over at WhitsEnd.org, and it looks like we'll be hearing some of the greatest Bernard shows of all-time.

December 22: Suspicious Minds
December 29: Room Mates
January 5: The Conscientious Cross-Guard
January 12: Feud for Thought
January 19: My Fair Bernard
January 26: First-Hand Experience
February 2: Third Degree
February 9: Blind Justice
February 16: Poor Loser
February 23: Bassett Hounds

...which, of course, leads us to the spring season premiere which airs on March 1: A Capsule Comes to Town. In honor of this momentous episode, I've added a countdown to the right-hand column. Only 75 more days, folks!

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 27

Wow, it seems like forever since we've done a podcast! I guess that's what happens when exams hit... and hit hard! In this podcast, we review The Highest Stakes and Chip Off the Shoulder. As we mentioned in our blog, we'll be posting our review of Answer That! Adventures in Odyssey Edition sometime next week. Also, stay tuned for our interview with Lauren Schaffel, voice of Liz Horton!



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Running Time: 44:39

"Chip Off the Shoulder" Now Available!

So you might have noticed that we didn't release a podcast over the weekend. Considering final exams and studying have really eaten up a large portion of our time lately, we decided to postpone our podcast until later this week. That way, we can review The Highest Stakes in addition to this week's episode. Speaking of which, I might as well let ya'll know that Chip Off the Shoulder is now available! Click here to listen!

Updated Album 44 Cover Art

If you haven't already gotten the chance to hear The Highest Stakes II, I strongly encourage you to do so. What an incredible ending! I don't think a better resolution could have been scripted. Is it just me, or have the writers at Focus have really done a spectacular job with this past season of Adventures in Odyssey? During our interview, Nathan and Marshal promised they'd be wrapping up some storylines this season and boy have they ever! Let's hope next season, during which time the episodes from the 50th album will be airing, is as exciting as this one!

In other news, Album 44 has been repackaged, with only slight modifications from the original version. Essentially, they've condensed the previous cover into a more compact image. It's more or less the same cover, except made to fit as a regular CD insert.



As a side note, I really think Album 44 was where Odyssey really start to ramp things back up in terms of character and storyline development. While there were numerous episodes prior to this album that I immensely enjoyed, it wasn't until Eugene returned that the stakes were raised. The issues discussed and the messages they conveyed got deeper and more relevant to current culture. We were given a closer look at the family struggles Mandy faced and we were introduced to Kellie and the McKay family. We witnessed the brand new Meltsner arc (it should have been called The Search for Leonard) and were able to see more of Wooton's character. Finally, in this current season, it all came to a head as both Leonard and Grady accepted Christ. What an incredible finish to an amazing run... and there's still the spring season!

"The Highest Stakes II" Available!

Yep, and it's been out for just over 24 hours now, but you can listen to The Highest Stakes II right now! To those of you who have sent me reminders, I thank you verily. However, do realize that I check out the Town of Odyssey on an extremely consistent basis and that I am continually checking Oneplace for the latest episodes. So just because I don't post an update telling ya'll that the episode is up doesn't mean I'm not aware of it. ;)

As you may or may not know, Sarah and I were recently afforded the opportunity to speak with Lauren Schaffel. We had an awesome time talking and reminiscing about her time with Adventures in Odyssey! She's truly a multi-talented and extremely well-spoken individual... who apparently sounds a lot like our very own Sarah. But you'll have to wait for another couple weeks before getting a chance to hear our discussion with her... sorry! We still have to review The Highest Stakes and Chip Off the Shoulder, after which we will release the interview for your listening pleasure!

Random Musings

I suppose I should answer the question I proposed to ya'll over a week ago.

What person(s) are you most grateful for and why?

Obviously, my mom and dad are the people for whom I am most grateful due to their involvement in my life for the past nineteen years. It's truly been a remarkable journey thus far and I can honestly say there have been no one more loving, generous, and committed to me in my entire life. I know it's not always like that for everyone, as we have seen in the lives of characters like Kellie, Grady, or Eric. But regardless of your present situation, I pray each one of you would find someone in who will pour into you the same kind of love my parents have shown me. Whether this be your parents, your pastor, a mentor, or even a close friend, may you be blessed just as I have been these last couple decades.

Okay, onto more exciting discussion! I trust you, like myself, are all expecting The Highest Stakes II to be released on Oneplace sometime over the next couple days. But my question for you is this: What do you think about the latest controversial issue into which Odyssey has delved? We just came off another emotionally powerful two-parter with Life in the Third Person, which also centered around a broken family. This time, instead of a divorce, gambling is the source of the conflict. There hasn't been much discussion on the message boards about The Highest Stakes I, but there was one post in particular which caught my eye.

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 . . . 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).

LizzieG, the author of this message, made a good point regarding the "problem" of having happy endings. We could have a lengthy debate about whether or not it was unrealistic for Stephen and Rachel Straussburg to fix their marriage like they did, but for the sake of your time, I'll save us the trouble.

Consider this. What is the purpose of Adventures in Odyssey? Showing the harsh reality of life or showing the hope we have in Christ? I would argue for the latter. Had Stephen and Rachel Straussburg not gotten back together, what message would that have conveyed? That divorces happen to Christian couples, too? That's all well and good, but we already know that! To be honest, I don't believe Odyssey shies away from reality at all. Just look at the opening scene of The Chosen One I. If anything, the fact that Stephen and Rachel were even contemplating divorce as an option illustrated reality in itself. So to say that the Straussburg arc was unrealistic is besides the point, regardless of whether or not that assertion is true. People don't need to hear yet another example of a failed marriage. What kids (and listeners of all ages) need to be taught is that marriages can be saved... through prayer and through the power of Christ.

I believe the same can be said of Grady's father, Carson McKay. Sure, it might be satisfying to see a bittersweet ending with him having to abandon his family once more. Once again I ask, what message would that convey?

There have been individuals who have complained that Odyssey has become too soap-operatic in its style of writing. I believe the contrary. Soap operas are specifically conflict-driven, in which there are relational, marital, or financial issues that plague its characters. Is healthy, Biblical resolution ever demonstrated in those shows, whereby the interests of all parties involved are satisfied? Hardly. For the most part, Odyssey has set itself apart from soap operas by showing both the conflict and the resolution, and all in the context of a Biblical worldview. When it starts to depart from its values and principles and no longer teaches its listeners a moral or Biblical lesson, then it can become soap-operatic. But as far as I'm concerned, the writers and producers at Focus have done a masterful job remaining faithful to their ultimate goal-- to share the love and hope of Jesus Christ.

"The Highest Stakes I" Available!

Don't want to wait until Saturday to hear the latest Odyssey episode? Then why don't you click on the header to hear The Highest Stakes I. As the first of a two-parter, this episode delves once again into the life of Grady, but more specifically-- his family. Rather than ruin it for you by divulging the entire content of the show, I'll let you listen for yourself.

Many thanks to all who submitted questions for our upcoming interview with Lauren Schaffel, voice of Liz Horton. We will do our best to get to as many of your questions as possible. The question box is now closed... however, stay tuned for more details on when the interview will be released!

Odyssey Returns This Week!

As Odyssey's three-week break comes to a close, I thought it'd be interesting to note that they aired The Chosen One I & II this and last weekend. Typically, whenever there's a break in a season, they'll air episodes that pertain to the upcoming new shows. This occasion was no exception. Over the next three weeks, we'll be hearing the return of both Kelly and Grady to the forefront. According to the Official Site, the next few episodes will be airing on the following dates:

December 1 & 8: The Highest Stakes, Parts 1 & 2
December 15: Chip Off the Shoulder

Which brings me to the Album 49 cover art. I'm pretty certain the kid featured on the front cover is Grady. (What other Caucasian boys between the age of 8 and 12 are there in Odyssey anymore?) However, more interestingly, note the back cover descriptions:

When a long-lost relative returns to Odyssey, a tour of Wooton's house seems like the perfect way to catch up. Who knew that a little secret could make such a big mess?

Any guesses on who that long-lost relative may be? :)

More Album Cover Art!

First things first. Happy belated Thanksgiving to all our American listeners out there. I hope you all enjoyed your meleagridinae on Thursday, or whatever you usually gobble for your holiday dinner.

As we (or you, since we Canadians got on the ball quicker than the rest of you) contemplate the meaning behind the season, I am reminded of the Thanksgiving episode Thank You, God, in which Whit and his friends shared the things for which they were thankful.

That was a particularly poignant episode for me, since it included the powerful story of how Whit became his Christian. In spite of a terrible accident which left his mother blind, she was able to show him what it meant to have faith in God. Through her suffering, she was able to lead Whit to Christ. As a result, Whit says the person for who he is most thankful was his mother, Fiona Donneral. So that leads me to my question...

What person(s) are you most grateful for and why?



I couldn't resist. You gotta love the simple humor in comics. Anyway, leave a comment and let me know what people in your life you are thankful for and why. I'll share my own thoughts at some point next week.

As far as Adventures in Odyssey goes, there are a couples things of note to report. Odyssey has released the album cover art for Album 32: Hidden Treasures, part of the repack series which will include Albums 16 through 35. I must admit I'm liking the new artistic style they're using for the album covers. It certainly has taken a few years to get acclimated to the new designs they've implemented in recent years, but you gotta admit the new version of the Album 32 cover easily trumps than the old one.



Odyssey has also released the album art cover for Album 49, which will include all the episodes from the current season. I'll be posting the front and back covers in an upcoming blog. Enjoy your weekend!

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 26

As promised, we're back earlier than usual to answer all your questions and... we're extremely excited to announce our upcoming interview with an Odyssey actress! Start sending your questions by emailing them to us at aiofanpodcast@hotmail.com or posting them on the Town of Odyssey. Like I mentioned on the podcast, you can subscribe to the podcast or sign up for email updates by scrolling down and looking for the "Subscribe Now" section on the right-hand column.

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Running Time: 19:30

Feed Size Limit Fixed

If you've recently subscribed to the podcast with iTunes (within the last week), you may have noticed that you couldn't download all our podcasts. To make a long and very technical story short, essentially the feed limit only let you download the last fifteen episodes. I have since fixed that problem... so now you can enjoy all twenty-five of our podcasts! If you haven't already. ;)

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 25

Perhaps we should stop telling everyone exactly when we plan to release our podcasts... that way no one could get upset about us being "late" since we wouldn't have specified a date! Of course, that might prompt further conspiracies about why we aren't posting our podcasts more regularly, which could add additional complications to our already difficult situation! But I'm getting way ahead of myself. Today, we're back on the air to review "Life in the Third Person," parts one and two. Also, we announce the winner of our writing contest!

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Running Time: 41:24

Vote for your Favorite Story Entry!

Many thanks again to all our participants! Sarah and I thoroughly enjoyed them all! Right-click and save the following links (all in MS Word format) to download the six entries we received. Afterwards, let us know which entry you enjoyed the most! (See right-hand column.)

"Hidden Treasures...Maybe" by Catspaw
"Chaos Theory" by Elf of Rivendell
"Too Busy to Help is Too Busy" by Emma
"The New Baby" by Jessica
"Mass Production" by Marianna
"Cuffed Together" by Snow de Whit

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

Can you believe it, folks? I kid you not, today is Sarah's 21st birthday. I know, I was almost as shocked as you when I discovered how old she really was. So I hope you all will take a minute to leave a comment and wish her your condolences for this tragic moment in history.

Okay, okay, I'm kidding. What I really meant to say was...



In other news, it would seem I've caught the bug that's been recently going around northeastern region of the continent. Alas, we were unable to record yesterday. As as result, instead of promising a new podcast for tomorrow, we're planning on releasing it this weekend.

Podcast Delayed

Hey guys, hope you're having a fantastic weekend! Regrettably, we didn't get a chance to record this weekend... Sarah managed to contract the stomach flu (probably from one of her generous classmates), so we decided to postpone our recording session until tomorrow. Hopefully, it'll be ready for download by no later than Tuesday afternoon!

Upcoming Interview?!

Can it be true? Is it happening all over again? Are melted marshmallows tasty with graham crackers? Yes, yes, and yes! In the ten months our podcast has been around, we've been extremely fortunate to speak with tremendously awesome members of Odyssey's cast and crew, including Dave Griffin (voice of Jimmy Barclay), Nathan Hoobler (writer and director), and Marshal Younger (writer and director). Well, I am extremely excited to announce we will be speaking with another Odyssey cast member in only a few weeks... stay tuned to our upcoming podcast for more details!

By the way, entries for the story contest are due tonight at midnight.

"Life in the Third Person II" Available!

It seems like they keep uploading the new episodes earlier and earlier. Ever since Odyssey fans discovered the server to which Oneplace posted streaming links, they've been chomping on the bit to hear the new shows. Only a few years ago, we'd be lucky if the weekend episode was available by midnight on Friday. Then all of a sudden, Oneplace started uploading the weekend episodes in the late afternoon on Thursday. In recent months, however, we've seen new shows made available anywhere from Wednesday afternoon to midnight on Monday. Maybe we can somehow pressure them to posting the new shows a full week in advance... now there's an idea!

Odyssey News!

It's official! Albums 16-35 are being redone with new cover illustrations and new behind-the-scenes inserts. However, unlike The Gold Audio Series, they're not being released in sequence. New cover art is being done as soon as the old edition is out-of-stock. Album 20: A Journey of Choices was the first to be redesigned. Pretty extreme change from the Original Album #20. This new version should be available for purchase around the New Year.



We also get a closer look at the DVD Game that Digital Praise has released. Click on the image above for the full image. I think it looks pretty snazzy and I can't wait to get my hands on the game. Any thoughts?

Story Entries Due This Wednesday!

Hey guys, I hope you're enjoying your weekend thus far. Farewell to daylight savings! Just wanted to give ya'll a quick reminder that time is running out for those participating in our writing contest. Your entries are due this Wednesday by 11:59 pm ET. I can't wait to read them!

New Layout and Logo!

Okay, so if you're reading this, you've obviously noticed the new layout. Duh. But we're also hoping to introduce a new logo soon! Additionally, I've added a podcast archive to the right-hand column for easy access. As always, you can download all of our shows individually or subscribe to the podcast with iTunes.

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 24

Sorry about the delay, guys! We had a pretty busy weekend, so we weren't able to produce the episode as early as we had hoped. However, we are back again to review the latest episodes, "Wooing Wooton" and "Something Significant". Also, we update ya'll on the writing contest, including details on an extension!

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Running Time: 36:21

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 23

October 14, 2007

Wow, three podcasts in as many weeks! Boy, you guys are spoiled. Okay, okay, maybe not. But we're back on the air to review "BTV: Temptation" as well as "Buddy Guard"! If you have any ideas for a new podcast logo, be sure to send your suggestions or designs to aiofanpodcast@hotmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Running Time: 19:59

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 22

October 6, 2007

I know, it hasn't been a week yet... but we totally forgot to announce our contest last weekend, so we're making up for it with an early podcast this time around! Plus, Sarah's high-quality audio makes a surprise return! No more of that ugly phone quality stuff from last week! Full contest details are available below.

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Running Time: 7:32

The Unofficial Podcast's Writing Contest

It was ten o'clock in the morning and Trent already felt his legs beginning to ache. He groaned and sat down on a tree stump for a momentary reprieve.

Trent had taken this particular trail before numerous times with his brother but didn't remember the climb being so dauntingly steep. He wasn't cut out for this. If it was up to him, he would much rather be intellectually stimulated than be forced to endure such physical anguish. But he had no other choice. Where else would he find the right plants for his science experiment?

He staggered up the slopes, stopping only to wipe the sweat from his glistening face. Beyond him, tall pine and spruce trees cast their shadows over Trickle Lake while a flock of geese soared overhead. A fresh blanket of brown fallen leaves crunched beneath his feet. As Trent rounded a corner, he noticed a cluster of small wooden shacks a couple hundred feet away. Quickly, he clambered up the path to investigate what appeared to be an abandoned clearing.

Two dusty windows adorned each of the rundown shanties, all of which were covered by graffiti. Trent scratched his head, perplexed by the scene. Maybe if he looked inside one of the shacks, he could solve the mystery that stood in front of him.

He grasped the door handle of one of the shacks and stepped inside...

Instructions

1. Write the conclusion and come up with a title!
2. Email your story to us. No attachments, please. Be sure to proofread it before submitting!
3. All entries must be submitted by October 31, 2007 at 11:59 pm ET.
4. The conclusion must be original and must be between 500-3000 words.
5. If you have any more questions, email us or leave a comment below.

The Incentive

After the deadline passes, we will select our favorite entry. The winner will receive a copy of "A Christmas Odyssey" as well as a special surprise!!

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 21

September 29, 2007

Yes, we're finally back! Sorry about the long wait, everyone. Two weeks became four weeks, which became six weeks, which became eight weeks... yeah, we kinda neglected ya'll due to extreme busyness due to school resuming and all. But we have finally returned and with a vengeance! In this extremely lengthy episode, our longest yet, we review A New Era and read your letters! Since we ran way overtime with this particular podcast, we've decided to hold off on our contest announcement. Stay tuned for further details later this weekend!

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Running Time: 53:25

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 20

August 4, 2007 Episode

In our special 20th podcast, we read your letters and answer some of the questions sent to us via the survey. Plus, Odyssey discussion and more bantering can be heard aplenty! If you haven't filled it out already, be sure to check out the aforementioned survey!

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Running Time: 29:49

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 19

July 28, 2007 Episode

In this third and final installment of the interview, Nathan and Marshal talk about past episodes they've worked on, the inspiration behind the Novacom saga, and the new complete guide!! If you haven't already, be sure to fill out the survey as mentioned on last week's podcast!

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Running Time: 27:48

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 18

July 21, 2007 Episode

In this second installment of the interview, Nathan and Marshal discuss future story arcs, hint about upcoming appearances on your favorite characters (including Eugene, Katrina, Trent, Tom, and Bart), and answer the loaded question: "Is the show being purposefully dumbed-down"?

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Running Time: 28:22

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 17

July 14, 2007 Episode

The wait is finally over!! After yet another three week break, we're back again... this time with two very special guests, Nathan Hoobler and Marshal Younger! The entire interview is nearly 80 minutes long, so we've split it up into three parts. Check out this episode for the first installment! In it, Nathan and Marshal discuss the possible return of old characters and explain some of their thinking behind the Leonard Meltsner story arc!

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Running Time: 27:26

That's all, folks!

Well, the deadline has passed... thanks for all your questions! We'll be sure to get as many of them answered as possible. You can anticipate the release of first part of the interview on July 14th!

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 16

Wow, it's been over three weeks since we last posted anything!? But, hey, we make up for it in this special abbreviated edition of the Unofficial Odyssey Podcast with an announcement regarding an interview with two special guests coming up in mid-July. Start sending your questions to aiofanpodcast@hotmail.com now! :o)

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Running Time: 9:43

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 15

Sorry for making ya'll wait an extra couple days! But it's better late than never, right? ;) In this edition of the podcast, we review "The Other Side of the Glass I, II and III." We also hope to have some details on a future interview with an Odyssey-related guest within the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

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Running Time: 21:15

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 14

May 19th, 2007 Episode

Well, we finally return to producing a podcast with a running time of less than twenty five minutes! Considering three-parters are best reviewed after three episodes have aired, we decided to postpone our analysis of The Other Side of the Glass once again. Instead, we read your letters and hear who the fans chose as their favorite host. Also, we have included bloopers from our recording of the introduction. Enjoy!

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Running Time: 23:25

No Podcast This Week

Just wanted to let ya'll know we will not be recording a podcast this weekend. Sarah has been feeling under the weather recently (and sounds like a frog), so we'll be reserving our thoughts and comments on Part I of The Other Side of the Glass for next weekend. Also, we'll be unveiling the results from our "Pick your favorite host" contest. Stay tuned! :o)

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 13

May 5th, 2007 Episode

- We review Only By His Grace
- Special shoutout to the Odyssey writing team!

Keep sending your letters, telling us which host you prefer: Chris or Sarah? ...and why?! Leave us a comment or email us at aiofanpodcast@hotmail.com. The best responses will be read in our May 12th podcast! You have until May 9th to submit your answers!

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Running Time: 38:20

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 12

April 28th, 2007 Episode

- We read your letters and review Best of Enemies

The gauntlet has been thrown! Who is your favorite: Chris or Sarah? ...and why? Leave us a comment or email us at aiofanpodcast@hotmail.com. The best responses will be read in our May 12th podcast! Deadline: May 9th.

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Running Time: 24:46

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 11

April 21st, 2007 Episode

- Bloopers from our interview with Dave Griffin
- Odyssey news, including an update on the new Official Guide!
- We read your letters and preview of Best of Enemies

Dave Griffin (Photographed by Alexandra Kofsky)


Focus on the Family Production Team

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Running Time: 29:25

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 10

April 14th, 2007 Episode

- Fifth and final part of our interview with David Griffin!
- Dave answers the remainder of your questions in our Rapid Fire segment, including the most important question of them all! Plus, more banter between Sarah and Chris!

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Running Time: 34:08

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 9

April 7th, 2007 Episode

- Fourth part of our interview with David Griffin!
- Dave shares some of went on behind the scenes leading up and during his return to Adventures in Odyssey in Plan B, as well as his thoughts on and memories of acting as a kid.

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Running Time: 32:41

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 8

March 31st, 2007 Episode

- Third part of our interview with David Griffin!

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Running Time: 35:13

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 7

March 24th, 2007 Episode

- Second part of our interview with David Griffin!

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Running Time: 31:13

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 6

March 17th, 2007 Episode

- First part of our interview with David Griffin!
- Bloopers

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Running Time: 30:22

New Episode Titles

My intial thoughts can be heard on the Unofficial Odyssey Podcast Ep. 5, but I'll go a little more in depth here. ;o)

Best of Enemies (April 28th)

Logic would tell me that it's an episode that highlights the ongoing relationship between Tamika Washington and her new "sister," Kellie. Considering the verbal spats they had in the fall season, I would presume that they're aren't the best of friends yet. That being said, they did seem to make some degree of progress in The Chosen One II, so it might seem like a stretch to call them enemies. However, maybe that's the point of giving such a title to the show. Regardless of whether or not this episode features Tamika and Kellie, I'm wondering if we'll hear from the Washingtons more this season. I expected to hear from them at least twice and, thus far, we've only heard from one member of the Washington family.

Fall From Grace (May 5th)

We already know that this episode highlights the Straussberg family, and that Stephen Straussberg is going on a trip to Chicago. Incidentally, this sounds interestingly similar to when George Barclay had a business trip to Washington, D.C. in The Vow, the episode in which Donna and Jimmy presumed their parents were getting divorced. Due to the show's title, my guess is that this episode ends the relationship between Rachel and Stephen for the immediate future. I think it's great that the Odyssey team has used this family, from which we haven't heard a lot over the years but have grown to know and love, to handle the issue of divorce. We've seen a handful of kids with single parents (i.e. Zachary Sellars, Curt Stevens, Kellie, etc.), but we've never seen a divorce actually occur. And this is what makes the Straussberg saga so heart-wrenching. I can't help but wonder if this episode, in a way, releases Nathan Carlson, voice of Stephen Straussberg, from the show. I would certainly hope not (for reasons explained below), but there is the potential for a convenient exit if Mr. Straussberg decides to move to Chicago.

The Other Side of the Glass I, II, III (May 12th, 19th, 26th)

Several of you have brought up some intriguing scenarios in regards to what this episode could entail. I'm going to address some of them first and then give some of my own thoughts. First, let's examine the possibility of an Everett/Dalton scenario. While it would definitely be interesting to see more of Everett, I don't understand why they would bring Dalton back into the picture so quickly. Wasn't the latest three-parter supposed to revolve around Leonard (and to a lesser extent, Eugene) disposing of Dalton? If anything, I would expect an Everett/Leonard/Eugene episode or two. While I wouldn't mind hearing from Dalton again, I don't think we'll hear from him for a while.

Second, some have brought up the idea of a Monica/Jason mini-arc. This would certainly make more sense, seeing as how the writers have decided to bring back Jason into the fold. I would definitely like to see them explore Jason's character a little more and seeing (or hearing) how he deals with Monica would certainly be intriguing. That being said, I don't know how or why you would need a three-parter to deal with their relationship. Two episodes would suffice, if not a single show. While I don't think Jason and Monica are going to get re-united in this particular three-parter, I hope I'm wrong.

Now, I present to you the most intriguing idea! Okay, maybe not. Anyway, the reason why I don't want Nathan Carlson to leave Adventures in Odyssey is that he also happens to voice one of the most loved characters on the show. We haven't heard from Richard Maxwell since I Slap Floor, which, because it was a fictional story told by Bernard, doesn't really count. Hence, Richard hasn't appeared in Odyssey since The Last Resort. If the whole idea of the "other side of the glass" is, indeed, referring to an episode in which a primary character is imprisoned, it would make perfect sense to see Richard in that position--especially considering his shady past. Upon looking at the character database, I was actually surprised to see how few episodes in which Richard has appeared. And yet, he was in such integral shows that he become one of the most appreciated characters. Wouldn't it be great to bring him back for a three-parter, thereby opening the possible of seeing him return in the future? To be honest, while my hope is that The Other Side of the Glass marks the return of Richard Maxwell, I think this is the least likely of three mentioned scenarios to occur. Again, this speculation is all built around the presumption that "the other side of the glass" refers to a jail location. Maybe we're all wrong and it's referring to something completely different! What do you think?

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 5

March 10th, 2007 Episode

- Review of the episodes The Top Floor I, II, III
- Recent Odyssey news
- Titles of the 5 new episodes coming up
- Update on our interview with Dave Griffin, voice of Jimmy Barclay

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Running Time: 25:50

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 4

February 17th, 2007 Episode

- Review of the episode Hear Me, Hear Me with special guest, David O, from the Town of Odyssey
- News regarding interview with former cast member Dave Griffin (actor who played Jimmy Barclay)!
- Preview of the upcoming three-parter The Top Floor

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Running Time: 25:50

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 1

January 19th, 2007 Episode

- Reviews of Forever, Amen, Just Say Yes, and A Lesson from Mike
- A look ahead to Pamela Has a Problem and Amazing Grace
- Preview of the upcoming spring season


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Running Time: 38:48

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 2

February 3rd, 2007 Episode

- Review of the season opener Run-of-the-Mill Miracle
- Preview of the upcoming episode Prequels of Love

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Running Time: 21:31

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 3

February 10th, 2007 Episode

- Review of the episode Prequels of Love
- Preview of the upcoming episode Hear Me, Hear Me

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Running Time: 21:27

Introducing the Unofficial AIO Podcast

Well, it took us three episodes before we finally figured out how to advertise our podcast, but we finally did it! Check out the latest installments to hear our thoughts, reviews, and rants on the latest Adventures in Odyssey episodes. Alternatively, you could always subscribe to our podcast feed.

Feel free to drop a comment... and email us your questions if you want them to be read on air!