Episode Description:
"It seems everyone in Odyssey is being extra gracious toward the Perkins family ... and Bridget has had all she can stand." -AIO
Episode Review:
Marshal Younger is known for writing episodes that provide realistic snapshots of the fears, worries, and struggles of everyday life. He’s penned “A Call for Reverend Jimmy”, where Jimmy felt the pressure to be like his dad...“Preacher’s Kid”, where Donna felt the pressure to be perfect...and “Letting Go!”, where Zachary Sellers had trouble with his mother dating again. Compare each of these episodes and you’ll notice that they do not start with over-the-top inciting incidents, or take place in flashy settings, or even feature main characters with very clear goals -- instead, for much of the episode’s running time, we’re shown contemplative and somewhat melancholic characters internally wrestling with the pressures brought about by their previously-established life circumstances.
The recent series of Perkins family episodes follow this same pattern, depicting a group of characters attempting to navigate their rather challenging life circumstance-- in this case, they’re struggling to adjust to having a father in the military. Whether Wyatt is feeling the need to be the man of the house in “Man of the House”, or Bridget is missing her Dad in “Always Home”, or Bridget is sick of being treated differently in “Bridget Redefined”, each episode’s dilemma stems from this singular problem that was introduced to us in the family’s first episode. And much like those other older Marshall Younger episodes, the characters’ difficulties are not miraculously resolved by having the central problem resolved -- i.e. the father returning permanently from the military -- but by the characters learning to adjust to their circumstance and, by the end, gaining new, fresh perspective.
This format/style of episode may not necessarily be the most dramatic or exciting to listeners, but they are certainly relatable and have a lot of heart -- more heart, in my opinion, than what I’ve heard from the Washington and Parker family episodes of the past 15 years (that said, those family-centric episodes had their own strengths). In “Bridget Redefined”, specifically, I connected with Bridget’s feelings of not knowing quite how to act when other people know you’re going through a tough time. Like Bridget, I often find myself having difficulty accepting gifts, or can often feel guilty if someone is being too nice, or get irritated if I feel like I'm a burden. And, like Bridget, I’d also likely react the same way if someone bought me an ice-cream sundae without asking, or roll my eyes about being given casseroles, or feel quite uncomfortable if I was being given good grades that I don’t deserve. Although the way Bridget ultimately “blows up” on stage seems a tad bit overdramatic (and crazy!), it also feels logical given her reaction to the preceding events (Wyatt’s comical history blunders nearly stole this amusing scene, however). Overall, these episodes are written with more emotional awareness and sensitivity than other family-centric episodes.
Sadly, the most recent crop of Marshal Younger episodes would be rated much higher if they weren’t so bogged down by head-scratching casting decisions. How much better would “The Sandwich Initiative” and “Man of the House” have been if audiences weren’t so distracted by the recasting of Mr. Parker? How much more involved would “Between Camp and Hard Place” had been if all of its female characters had not sounded so similar? And, likewise, here in “Bridget Redefined”, I’m flabbergasted how no one noticed how similar Zoe and Bridgett sounded together in their scenes. (There was a Whit’s End scene towards the beginning of this episode where I thought Bridgett was speaking until Whit called her Zoe). Whoever is currently in charge of AIO casting seems to think only one type of female voice is ideal for radio. Where’s the variety? Where’s the distinctiveness and realism? But this recent AIO trend of casting the same kind of voice is really weighing down perfectly decent episodes. The conversations between Zoe and Bridgett never feels as involving as it might have because the characters just don’t sound distinct enough (also, not too sure why “sheeple” got so much air-time)
By the end of the year, “Bridget Redefined” probably won’t be remembered as the year’s most memorable episode. Far more entertaining episodes have aired, and probably have yet to air this year. But, along with “Home Again”, “Bridget Redefined” does manage to feel surprisingly honest and real, and those are the sorts of episodes, in the long run, that end up benefiting the show’s characters the most. I certainly look forward to hearing more Perkins family episodes for many more years in future -- but, I beg you, Odyssey, please refrain from following in the footsteps of the Parker family and regularly recasting these characters.
"It seems everyone in Odyssey is being extra gracious toward the Perkins family ... and Bridget has had all she can stand." -AIO
Episode Review:
Marshal Younger is known for writing episodes that provide realistic snapshots of the fears, worries, and struggles of everyday life. He’s penned “A Call for Reverend Jimmy”, where Jimmy felt the pressure to be like his dad...“Preacher’s Kid”, where Donna felt the pressure to be perfect...and “Letting Go!”, where Zachary Sellers had trouble with his mother dating again. Compare each of these episodes and you’ll notice that they do not start with over-the-top inciting incidents, or take place in flashy settings, or even feature main characters with very clear goals -- instead, for much of the episode’s running time, we’re shown contemplative and somewhat melancholic characters internally wrestling with the pressures brought about by their previously-established life circumstances.
The recent series of Perkins family episodes follow this same pattern, depicting a group of characters attempting to navigate their rather challenging life circumstance-- in this case, they’re struggling to adjust to having a father in the military. Whether Wyatt is feeling the need to be the man of the house in “Man of the House”, or Bridget is missing her Dad in “Always Home”, or Bridget is sick of being treated differently in “Bridget Redefined”, each episode’s dilemma stems from this singular problem that was introduced to us in the family’s first episode. And much like those other older Marshall Younger episodes, the characters’ difficulties are not miraculously resolved by having the central problem resolved -- i.e. the father returning permanently from the military -- but by the characters learning to adjust to their circumstance and, by the end, gaining new, fresh perspective.
This format/style of episode may not necessarily be the most dramatic or exciting to listeners, but they are certainly relatable and have a lot of heart -- more heart, in my opinion, than what I’ve heard from the Washington and Parker family episodes of the past 15 years (that said, those family-centric episodes had their own strengths). In “Bridget Redefined”, specifically, I connected with Bridget’s feelings of not knowing quite how to act when other people know you’re going through a tough time. Like Bridget, I often find myself having difficulty accepting gifts, or can often feel guilty if someone is being too nice, or get irritated if I feel like I'm a burden. And, like Bridget, I’d also likely react the same way if someone bought me an ice-cream sundae without asking, or roll my eyes about being given casseroles, or feel quite uncomfortable if I was being given good grades that I don’t deserve. Although the way Bridget ultimately “blows up” on stage seems a tad bit overdramatic (and crazy!), it also feels logical given her reaction to the preceding events (Wyatt’s comical history blunders nearly stole this amusing scene, however). Overall, these episodes are written with more emotional awareness and sensitivity than other family-centric episodes.
Sadly, the most recent crop of Marshal Younger episodes would be rated much higher if they weren’t so bogged down by head-scratching casting decisions. How much better would “The Sandwich Initiative” and “Man of the House” have been if audiences weren’t so distracted by the recasting of Mr. Parker? How much more involved would “Between Camp and Hard Place” had been if all of its female characters had not sounded so similar? And, likewise, here in “Bridget Redefined”, I’m flabbergasted how no one noticed how similar Zoe and Bridgett sounded together in their scenes. (There was a Whit’s End scene towards the beginning of this episode where I thought Bridgett was speaking until Whit called her Zoe). Whoever is currently in charge of AIO casting seems to think only one type of female voice is ideal for radio. Where’s the variety? Where’s the distinctiveness and realism? But this recent AIO trend of casting the same kind of voice is really weighing down perfectly decent episodes. The conversations between Zoe and Bridgett never feels as involving as it might have because the characters just don’t sound distinct enough (also, not too sure why “sheeple” got so much air-time)
By the end of the year, “Bridget Redefined” probably won’t be remembered as the year’s most memorable episode. Far more entertaining episodes have aired, and probably have yet to air this year. But, along with “Home Again”, “Bridget Redefined” does manage to feel surprisingly honest and real, and those are the sorts of episodes, in the long run, that end up benefiting the show’s characters the most. I certainly look forward to hearing more Perkins family episodes for many more years in future -- but, I beg you, Odyssey, please refrain from following in the footsteps of the Parker family and regularly recasting these characters.
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Marshal Younger
Sound Designer: Jonathan Crowe
Music: John Campbell
Scripture: Galatians 6:2
Theme: Bearing One Another's Burdens
Original Air-date: May 1st, 2020
Episode Reviewed: June 28th, 2020