How could the return of John Whittaker become even more impactful than it has been so far? The answer is “Clara.” On this review on AIO Audio News of the next post-Blackgaard episode, Ryan and I delve into this masterpiece of a story, and along with a lengthy discussion on modern-day AIO character development, we break down one of Phil Lollar’s best emotional scripts and one of Paul Herlinger’s best performances. And while it still takes 100 minutes to slog through, the third installment in the return of the Revi-niews should be worth the wait.

Whit returns to Odyssey and Ryan and I are here to talk about everything that is remotely connected to the episode “Home, Sweet Home” in this review on AIO Audio News. We’re back to covering the post-Blackgaard arc, which means we have a lot of story to catch up on, a lot of character development to cover, a lot of tangents to take, and a lot of jokes to make… but no red meat.

Buckle up. We’ve reached the Train Room scene in the review series of The Ties That Bind, and the thesis of the album has been laid bare. Ryan and I are here to go to the mat on picking apart every piece of this episode and album, and we hold nothing back in our candid but tasteful discussion of the issues at hand. Be forewarned that no stone is left unturned, and some listeners may be put off by my viewpoints. It’s a long but important discussion as we unpack just why The Ties That Bind is one of the most controversial series in Adventures in Odyssey.

We are back again continuing The Ties That Bind! In Part 5, as the plot continues to move forward, Ryan and I start to cement our critiques of the series as we discuss the vague dialogue, Miss Adelaide’s strange characterization, the faceless opposition, Wooton’s trust of Hadley, reconciliation (and Morrie), and steamed hams!

Please note that we do talk candidly about the themes and issues brought up in these episodes.

Binary Rating Spreadsheet (Beta): Google Sheets

As a breath of fresh air, Ryan and I head back to a more nostalgic era of AIO to review the next episode in the post-Blackgaard arc, “The Right Choice, Part 1.” Throughout our gleeful raving over the episode, we discuss “who started it,” if jet lag is a poor excuse, consequences for immaturity, Brandon’s character arc, and parallels between this episode and both of our love lives. It’s the longest and deepest review we’ve done so far.