Album 57

For those of you who don't know this, Odyssey has different seasons. There's a fall season and a spring season. But, when episodes from album 56 were airing in the fall, we were told that album 57 wouldn't come out at the expected time of spring 2013 but fall 2013. Needless to say, nobody was happy to hear this news.

If you look on the message boards, you will see there has been a lot of speculation about Album 57. The two main message boards I frequent are ToO and the Soda Shop. On both sites, there are threads about Album 57 that are pages and pages long. This speculation has been going on since December and will probably keep going until the fall. Let me tell you, there have been some interesting theories flying around the Internet. 99% of these theories are about the mysterious three parter called "Life Expectancies". Let me try and list all the ones I have come across. 

                              -Bill Kendall is dying

                              -Bill Kendall introduces a new half sister or step sister to Connie

                              -June Kendall is dying so Bill Kendall moves to Odyssey to be there for Connie

                              -Connie is pregnant 

                              -Connie is meeting Bill's new girlfriend Jules

                             -Connie has some kind of hereditary disease

                             -Jules is Connie's twin

                             -Connie gets engaged.

                            -Katrina finds out she's pregnant in the episode "Your Servant Is Listening"

In short, nobody has any clue what album 57 will be about. 

The Odyssey team has done an excellent job of keeping this album under wraps. Nobody knows anything. All we know is that it features the Get In The Show contest winner Shona and the voice of Bill Kendall. For some reason, nobody can make the connection between these two hints. 

The reason all these crazy theories are flying around is because we're all so anxious for new episodes. What else are the fans going to do? The AIO team pushed back the release date for the album! Any writer or producer knows how risky of a move that is. Fans either get anxious or annoyed. 

I have some speculations about Album 57 but I'm not going to share them. That would fan the proverbial fire, right? 

Besides, the speculations don't matter to me. All that matters is that I'm psyched for Album 57. Bill Kendall's return, the Biblical episode about Samuel, and the mysterious episode called "Life Expectancies" give me high expectations for this upcoming season. I'm sure all Odyssey fans share my feelings. We can't wait for October. 

The Best Era? There Is No Right Answer.

I don't know that many Odyssey fans and the ones I do know think that I only mildly enjoy the show. They don't realize how deep my love goes... it's probably best they don't. I'm a very serious and mature person in real life and I don't want them to know that I'm this secret fangirl.

I'd like to keep that part of my personality under wraps

Anyway, the point is that I don't talk with many people about favorite episodes, characters, or time periods. To fill the void, I do what I always do when there's something lacking in my life. I go to the Internet. I've found various blogs and show reviews where I've collected various people's opinions. Man, I have no clue what people must have done before the Internet. I'm sure people had things to say about Eugene when he showed up! Who did they whine to when they were depressed about Whit's departure to the Middle East? What did they think of Jack and Jason's appearences and where did they express their opinions? I guess people just wrote angry letters to Focus and stored them in their Trapper Keepers until they mailed them or whatever. Back when people used the US Postal System. *rolls eyes* Oh, those simple fools of the late 80s and early 90s.

Where was I? Oh yeah, favorite things about Odyssey. Well, one question you find on the message boards is "What is the best era of Odyssey?"

Dividing up Odyssey into eras is a difficult task and it can be done in a number of ways. It can be divided up by arcs, writers, decades, ect. I just list my favorite years. My favorite years are 92-97. I say this because almost all my favorite episodes are in those years. If you list my favorite episodes and put the air date with them, the most common dates fall between 92 and 97. Not all the episodes are apart of this though.

•First Love. (First aired April 21, 1990).

This is a great episode because it is the first time Odyssey deals with being in love with an unbeliever and because it places Connie on a more adult path. Plus, I love episodes about love. (On a side note, I love that the guy who plays the boyfriend of Cheryl is Steve Burns who ended up playing Mitch. But I'm sure you all knew that)

•Someone To Watch Over Me. (First aired February 9, 1991)

This is a classic episode. First time listening, I was liking the episode until about halfway through and then I realized that this wasn't a lighthearted adventure episode. There was a deeper meaning to the episode. To this day, that episode brings tears to my eyes. All around well done.

•Malachi's Message (First aired September 12, 1998)

This one is a no brainer. It has the best characters and I love situations that bring out everyone's inner skeptics. This episode is a great and one of my top favorites.

•The Triangle 1&2 (First aired March 3, 2001)

I love episodes about Whit's past. I wish there were more of them. Who else here likes the relationship between Whit, Jack, and Jenny? I can imagine them just hanging out, playing cards or whatever and talking about random things. It'd be great. I wish there were more episodes with them in it.

•Silent Night (First aired December 17, 2005)

Another episode about the Whittaker family history! What more is there to say? Whit and Jenny's relationship is sweet. I love them together. I wanna hear more about them. Plus, the Whittaker kids are totes fabuloso.

•Here Am I. (Off The Truth Chronicles Album)

One of the best episodes when it comes to important lessons. It's one of the more philosophical ones but it isn't confusing. I can see why some people wouldn't like it because it only has Connie and Whit in it. Plus the whole thing is a dream and I know that many people hate "it was all a dream" plots. Still, the concept of absolute truth is generally not accepted by modern society. I appreciate how AIO took a stand on it because it, in turn, helped solidify my beliefs. It also made me interested in philosophy and worldview. It's a phenomanal episode.

In conclusion, no matter what era you prefer, Odyssey has been making fantastic episodes for the past 25 years. I'm excited for the next season and all the good episodes we'll hear.  

Leave your own opinions in the comments! I'd love to hear them.