“Drake the Cosmic Copper” begins in the same way that “I want My B-TV” does: a group of friends sitting around the Whit’s End counter, exercising their creativity, revealing to us that they all apparently moonlight as professional voice actors, and thereby introducing the audience to a new (potential) format that will serve as a vehicle to explain biblical messages. And like most BTVs, the result is a colorful and energetic episode with unique sound design and storytelling, which provides listeners, by the end, with more food for thought than initially expected.
Despite the episode’s strengths, “Drake the Cosmic Copper” doesn’t always, narratively or thematically, deliver its story with the utmost clarity. Part of this is because the action is situated in a new and unfamiliar setting (aside from a brief nod to it in “Hidden in My Heart” and “Someone to Watch Over Me”, Adventures in Odyssey really hasn’t had many opportunities to truly riff on intergalactic space travel). Part of this is also intentional; writer Bob Hoose keeps the clues purposefully unclear for the first half, wanting the listener to piece things together and discover the metaphor on their own – until it is revealed that the “species” Drake and Woots are visiting are humans, and the “strange, barbaric” action they’re performing is Baptism.
“Drake the Cosmic Copper” is a reminder of how Adventures in Odyssey has surprisingly avoided the topic of baptism throughout the years. Due to the vast number of interpretations, it’s only natural that Adventures in Odyssey would want to avoid the topic entirely. Not only do Christians disagree about when it should occur, but also how and why. Is baptism meant for adults or for infants? Should we be fully immersed or only sprinkled? Is it necessary for salvation, an outward ritual symbolizing inward cleansing, or simply a declaration of faith?
Any depiction of this action would surely beg criticism from those who have a different interpretation, right? In fact, it once did. In the episode “A Prisoner for Christ”, listeners apparently had a problem with Paul baptizing Onesimus, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit”. And in decades following this episode, the show, to the best of my memory, has only addressed this issue a handful of times through Bible episodes like “A Big Deal 1,2”, without spending much more than a nanosecond explaining its meaning. In fact, until now, Adventures in Odyssey’s most overt reference to an Odyssey character getting baptized wasn’t even from the show at all. It was from Paul McCusker’s AIO novel “Point of No Return” which tells the story of Jimmy Barclay before he becomes a Christian:
George cleared his throat and said, “Jimmy accepted Jesus last night and would like to be baptized.”
“Congratulations!” the pastor said warmly. He then looked at George expectantly, as if there were something else to be said.
Jimmy look up at his dad’s face and suddenly realized tears were rolling down his cheeks.
“Because my son accepted Jesus, I want to rededicate my life to Christ.” [McCusker, 1995]
It’s a surprise, then, that “Drake the Cosmic Copper” finally references baptism after such a long drought. My issue is not how it was portrayed, given Focus on the Family’s evangelical roots, or that they decided to allude to it at all, but that they chose to incorporate it given the episode’s theme. What do I mean? For an episode that discusses how the “Non-Christians may often question our motives, but it’s simply because they don’t know us…”, it’s slightly ironic that it chose to depict a Christian issue that has such various interpretations that we can’t even agree upon ourselves. In other words, depicting baptism seems to undercut the message – if ever so slightly.
From H.G Wells to Star Trek, science fiction has been a great tool to explain complex issues. But what can this episode’s message teach listeners? For me, it’s a reminder to try and make Christianity accessible – to mold our language carefully when we communicate with others, to avoid speaking Christianese, and to be sensitive to the perspectives and viewpoints of others. Overall, there’s enough substance in “Drake the Cosmic Copper” that’s certainly worth revisiting, dissecting, and contemplating upon. However, the true value of this episode – and the many sequels it will undoubtedly spawn – will be best judged with enough time and space.
Despite the episode’s strengths, “Drake the Cosmic Copper” doesn’t always, narratively or thematically, deliver its story with the utmost clarity. Part of this is because the action is situated in a new and unfamiliar setting (aside from a brief nod to it in “Hidden in My Heart” and “Someone to Watch Over Me”, Adventures in Odyssey really hasn’t had many opportunities to truly riff on intergalactic space travel). Part of this is also intentional; writer Bob Hoose keeps the clues purposefully unclear for the first half, wanting the listener to piece things together and discover the metaphor on their own – until it is revealed that the “species” Drake and Woots are visiting are humans, and the “strange, barbaric” action they’re performing is Baptism.
“Drake the Cosmic Copper” is a reminder of how Adventures in Odyssey has surprisingly avoided the topic of baptism throughout the years. Due to the vast number of interpretations, it’s only natural that Adventures in Odyssey would want to avoid the topic entirely. Not only do Christians disagree about when it should occur, but also how and why. Is baptism meant for adults or for infants? Should we be fully immersed or only sprinkled? Is it necessary for salvation, an outward ritual symbolizing inward cleansing, or simply a declaration of faith?
Any depiction of this action would surely beg criticism from those who have a different interpretation, right? In fact, it once did. In the episode “A Prisoner for Christ”, listeners apparently had a problem with Paul baptizing Onesimus, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit”. And in decades following this episode, the show, to the best of my memory, has only addressed this issue a handful of times through Bible episodes like “A Big Deal 1,2”, without spending much more than a nanosecond explaining its meaning. In fact, until now, Adventures in Odyssey’s most overt reference to an Odyssey character getting baptized wasn’t even from the show at all. It was from Paul McCusker’s AIO novel “Point of No Return” which tells the story of Jimmy Barclay before he becomes a Christian:
George cleared his throat and said, “Jimmy accepted Jesus last night and would like to be baptized.”
“Congratulations!” the pastor said warmly. He then looked at George expectantly, as if there were something else to be said.
Jimmy look up at his dad’s face and suddenly realized tears were rolling down his cheeks.
“Because my son accepted Jesus, I want to rededicate my life to Christ.” [McCusker, 1995]
It’s a surprise, then, that “Drake the Cosmic Copper” finally references baptism after such a long drought. My issue is not how it was portrayed, given Focus on the Family’s evangelical roots, or that they decided to allude to it at all, but that they chose to incorporate it given the episode’s theme. What do I mean? For an episode that discusses how the “Non-Christians may often question our motives, but it’s simply because they don’t know us…”, it’s slightly ironic that it chose to depict a Christian issue that has such various interpretations that we can’t even agree upon ourselves. In other words, depicting baptism seems to undercut the message – if ever so slightly.
From H.G Wells to Star Trek, science fiction has been a great tool to explain complex issues. But what can this episode’s message teach listeners? For me, it’s a reminder to try and make Christianity accessible – to mold our language carefully when we communicate with others, to avoid speaking Christianese, and to be sensitive to the perspectives and viewpoints of others. Overall, there’s enough substance in “Drake the Cosmic Copper” that’s certainly worth revisiting, dissecting, and contemplating upon. However, the true value of this episode – and the many sequels it will undoubtedly spawn – will be best judged with enough time and space.
Writer: Bob Hoose
Director: Dave Arnold
Sound Design: Jonathan Crowe
Music: John Campbell
Theme: Salvation
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-12
Original Air-date: 04.01.14
Review Published: 05.06.18