Are You Game for a Mystery?

This episode was okay. But it didn't really live up to the usual standards of an Odyssey episode. The only episode similar to it is "Heatwave", which I happen to not like very much either. It was fine in the mystery sense, but it didn't seem to have much of a backbone. However, there were several things I liked and just a few things that I disliked about "Game for a Mystery".

Likes:

• I very much liked both Emily's and Barrett's voices. Although, did anyone else think that, in some scenes, Barrett sounded almost exactly like the younger Trent DeWhite? I don't know who voices him, but in the scene where he interrogates Nelson, I kept hearing Trent. (I hope I'm not alone.) I also thought that Emily did a very good job as the narrator. My favorite line in this episode was, "Shame is a prison, Nelson, and you're its inmate." That was funny because it did not sound at all like something a ten-/eleven-year-old would say.
• I defenitely agree with those who have said that Emily's amazing clue-finding skills, nearly equal to those of Sherlock Holmes, are a bit unrealistic. But why run a detective agency unless you're really good at finding clues.
• I like the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Jones. The only problem I had with it was that they sounded a little old to be playing the parents of a 12- and 9-/10-/11-year old.
• I loved the squabble between Matthew and Emily at the end over the motto of the detective agency.
• I liked the re-mention of video games after a lull since Living in the Gray Part II. Although, I would have liked for there to be a character like Mr. Whittaker who talks to Barrett about using time wisely.
• The new music was a big plus; it gave the show a whole new feeling.

Dislikes:

• One big problem I had was that for the first time in a long while (excluding "The Inspiration Station Part 2" which didn't count because it was the second part of an episode that did include major characters), there were NO main characters at all! They could have at least, like, put Wooton in a scene delivering mail, or have the kids walk in to Whit's End to finish the episode. That is why this episode didn't feel much like Odyssey to me.
• Another thing I noticed was that this episode didn't follow the usual Odyssey outline of two stories going on at the same time, switching back and forth, from story to story as the episode progresses. I realize that this occurred in "Clutter" as well, but it was better handled in that episode.
• I highly disagree with those who say that Matthew and Emily were flirting with each other. I think it was another reflection of Odyssey days gone by when boys and girls could have innocent friendships without being teased. Back then, I don't think anyone would have even thought of such an occurence much less talk about it (excluding the fact that you couldn't blog or comment back then, it was all, "Why don't you write and tell me about it?")

All things considered, this isn't an episode that I would enjoy listening to over and over again. It just didn't seem much like Odyssey to me. Out of 10 stars, I give this episode a 5.(5. maybe). Please comment!