Tribute to Will Ryan (My Top 20 Favorite Eugene-centered AIO Episodes)

 One of my favorite shows is the radio drama Adventures in Odyssey (AIO).  The shows range from simple slice-of-life stories to more intense action/adventure stories.  I've been listening since I was five, and in a lot of ways my appreciation for it has only grown since then.  And one of the best loved characters on the show was Eugene Meltsner, Odyssey's resident genius.  He was voiced by the immensely talented Will Ryan.

Sadly, Mr. Ryan just recently passed away, and I was heartbroken to hear that the man who had brought so much joy to my life was now gone.  So, I wanted to do something to pay my respects.  I thought it would be nice to give my top 20 favorite episodes that focus on Eugene, or at least have him as a main character in the story.

This list was very hard to put together because he's been on the show since 1988, and there are so many great Eugene stories.  As such, if you're an Odyssey fan, there are probably many episodes that you love that didn't make my cut.  Here are some honorable mentions:

A License to Drive (from Album #14:  Meanwhile, in Another Part of Town...), Back to Bethlehem (from Album #10:  Other Times, Other Places), Prisoners of Fear (from Album #45:  Lost and Found), The Right Choice (from Album #28:  Welcome Home), Truth Trivia and Trina, Naturally I Assumed...(both from Album #19:  Passport to Adventure), It Ended with a Handshake (from Album #20:  A Journey of Choices), and The Turning Point (from Album #24:  Risks and Rewards)

Now, on to the list...

20.  A New Era (from Album #49:  The Sky's the Limit)

This episode comes at the end of a long story arc of Eugene searching for his long lost father, Leonard.  Having finally found him and gotten rid of a dangerous man who was hunting Leonard, it seems everything is great now.  But then Leonard starts recalling his own failures as a father during Eugene's childhood, not the least of which was trying to pressure his wife into an abortion when he first discovered she was pregnant!  Eugene ends up having to save his father's life, giving up his kidney in a risky surgery during the story, and this just makes Leonard feel all the more guilty.  He finally comes clean to Eugene, who is hurt at first, but still ultimately forgives his father, knowing that's not the man he is now.  It's this decision that influences his stubborn father to finally accept Christ, after having debated about God with Eugene in previous episodes.  Eugene's seemingly otherworldly understanding is just one of the things that makes him so cool.

19.  A Christmas Conundrum (Album #45:  Lost and Found)

Granted, this one is more of an ensemble piece than specifically a Eugene story, but he shines so much at the end, I have to mention this one!  This episode concerns a big Christmas mix-up over who is giving which gift to whom.  I'll try to explain:  Mr. Whittaker (Whit) wants to get Connie Kendall a car for Christmas, but he asks Eugene to find out which one she wants.  This leads Connie to believe Eugene is getting her the car, so she wants to get him something expensive, too.  She decides to get him a stereo he wants, but asks Tom Riley to pick it up for her.  Eugene sees Tom picking it up and assumes Tom is getting him the stereo.  He then asks Whit to find out what kind of expensive gift Tom might like.  Tom answers he could use a better vacuum cleaner and of course thinks Whit is giving it to him, and he decides to buy Whit an expensive watch that Connie was going to get for him before cancelling it to buy Eugene's stereo.  Get all that?  I hope so, I'm not repeating it.  Anyway, they all exchange their gifts, learning the truth and becoming embarrassed that their gifts don't equal what the other person gave them.  Whit tells them that Christmas isn't about trying to make everything fair, but giving something from the heart.  After all, what could we give back to Jesus that equals His gift to us?  Nobody takes the lesson to heart more than Eugene, who gives a young poor boy named Grady his stereo to take home to his family for Christmas.  That gets me every time....Odyssey never deserved you, Eugene!  I'm not crying, you are....just go to the next episode!

18.  Flash Flood (from Album 15:  A Place of Wonder)

In this one, Eugene goes on a camping trip in the mountains with Whit, Tom, and Bernard Walton.  Neither Tom nor Bernard are particularly pleased to have Eugene along, as he's not exactly outdoorsy, and brings along a lot of equipment they believe to be unnecessary.  But, it's not long before Tom is thanking both Eugene and God that he was so prepared as a flash flood strikes where they're camping (hence the title) and Eugene uses his equipment to save a trapped Tom.  Tom learns to accept Eugene more and about the value of being prepared.  

17.  Connie (from Album #3:  Heroes)

The main focus of this episode is Connie becoming a Christian.  But I have to include it here as it is Eugene's first episode, and you know what, I'll just let this amazing introduction speak for itself:

Eugene:  You know there are more efficient ways to let you know a customer has come in than the employment of that small bell above the door.

Whit:  Probably.  Are you a salesman?

Eugene:  No sir.  My name is Eugene Meltsner.  I'm a science student, and might I add in all modesty, a recognized genius of the Campbell County Community College.  Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?

Whit:  Um, I'm John Whittaker, and this is Tom Riley.

Tom:  Howdy.

Eugene:  *chuckles*  Howdy, an abbreviated form of the phrase "how do you do?" or in the older English, "how do you fare?"  In answer, Tom, I fare well, thank you!

So Eugene begins working at Whit's End and immediately automates all the machines there.  The kids aren't too happy and Whit has to teach Eugene that Whit's End is more about the people than the inventions.  Eugene gets the message and undoes everything.  This is a big key in his development toward a more empathetic character, and Whit also later uses a variation on his ideas with the computer, MABEL, but we'll get to that....

16.  The Cross of Cortes (from Album #12:  At Home and Abroad)

Yes, the one where Eugene is chased by the bull!  In this one, Eugene records his and Whit's trip to Mexico to assist a missionary friend's search for a valuable cross rumored to have special powers.  It becomes very Indiana Jones-esque as they encounter other ruthless people after the cross and make their way through some dangerous locations to get to it.  Of course, the cross doesn't actually have supernatural power on its own (Focus on the Family is still waiting for their royalty check, Veggietales' Minnesota Cuke!) and a lesson is learned about where we place our faith.  I like that they point out that, in addition to it being wrong for the villain to want it for power, it is also wrong for the missionary, Dan Isidro, to want it to try to win souls for Christ, as magical conversion is, of course, not what God is all about.  An important lesson, and an important step in Eugene's journey toward faith!

15.  Thy Kingdom Come (from Album #17:  On Earth As it is in Heaven)

Another big step in Eugene's faith journey.  Eugene is reluctant to help Whit with a Kids' Radio program about the Kingdom of Heaven, as he's just had a traumatic experience with a life after death simulation in the Imagination Station (you bet your life I'll be talking about that in another entry!).  But Connie discovers he actually has been looking into into Christianity and isn't sure what he wants to do about it.  This episode also contains a very powerful moment:

Eugene:  I think I want to believe, but I need help with my unbelief.

Whit:  Eugene, that's as good a start as any!

14.  Train Ride (from The Lost Episodes)

A bit more of a lighthearted one.  The reason this one is included in the Lost Episodes is because, even though it does still air as part of the syndication on the radio, it was never included in a regular album.  Apparently, some parents were upset that an apparent murder that takes place might be too intense for younger listeners.  I can't say too much about this one without giving away the twists, and this is one you should hear on your own.  Suffice it to say this is a fun, offbeat mystery/comedy episode that shows us a new side of Eugene!

13.  Suspicious Minds (from Album #8:  Beyond Expectations)

Another funny mystery.  Cash goes missing from the register at Whit's End, and both Eugene and Connie go to hilarious lengths to try to catch the thief, eventually even suspecting each other!  This is where we first hear that as a child Eugene once put a trap on his parents' refrigerator to help them diet.

Bernard:  You must have been a joy to have around as a child.

Actually, this is also one of my favorite Bernard episodes as well, as he knows what both Eugene and Connie are up to and can only sit back and laugh at their ridiculousness.  All of this combines to make it one of Odyssey's most hilarious episodes and a real classic.

12.  Last In a Long Line (from Album #10:  Other Times, Other Places)

This is the first in the mystery surrounding Eugene's family, though the search for his father wouldn't continue for several more years.  In this one, Eugene discovers his father's name on a grave near Odyssey and can't understand how it got there, until he discovers his grandfather, Hiram, might still be living nearby!  It's a bittersweet episode on the importance of your heritage, even if you don't have the best history with your family.  This is also where Eugene discovers that another Odyssey character is a distant relative, whether that person likes it or not!

11.  Feud for Thought (from Album #14:  Meanwhile, in Another Part of Town...)

Sort of picking up where the last one left off, Bernard invites Eugene to come with him to his family reunion.  But trouble starts when they find that Bernard's grandfather, Borealis, has a long-standing grudge against Eugene's grandfather, Hiram.  Eugene then goes on a journey to find out if the grudge is warranted and, if so, how he can make it up.  Another good lesson on respecting your heritage and a cautionary tale of what bitterness can do to family.  Also, my favorite character to be paired with Eugene remains Bernard Walton, any episode with them is gold!  Speaking of which...

10.  Room Mates (from Album 12:  At Home and Abroad)

Eugene's dorm room is being fumigated, so he's invited to stay with Bernard, as his wife is out of town.  What follows are all the odd couple shenanigans you would expect, as both of them push each other toward the edge of their sanity and must learn to get along.  It's just a great setup, having these two live under the same roof.  We also get one of those tough love scenes from Whit that became less common after his original voice, Hal Smith, died, which is always a plus.

9.  The Eugene Returns trilogy:  A Most Intriguing Question, A Most Surprising Answer, and A Most Extraordinary Conclusion (from Album #44:  Eugene Returns)

After discovering his new revolutionary research, the radio wave study, was being used for nefarious purposes by an evil company called Andromeda, Eugene went on the lam.  And even after the story line, which became known as the Novacom Saga, ended, Eugene still stayed gone for a few years to make sure he was safe.  When he finally returned, of course had amnesia and had to relearn who all of his friends from Odyssey are.  Easily one of the most heartbreaking parts of the series.  Hearing Eugene back after all that time he had been absent from the show was a joy, even if the circumstances weren't great.  And the journey he goes on, recalling every classic moment he spent with Whit, Connie, Tom, Bernard, and his wife, Katrina, is still just as emotional every time I hear it.

8.  Gone... (from Album #21:  Wish You Were Here)

One of the saddest episodes in the show's entire history.  Eugene and Bernard had been on a road trip across the country for the last few episodes.  They come back to find out that Whit is about to leave Odyssey to assist with an archaeological dig in the Middle East.  Eugene tries to catch Whit before he flies over so he can say goodbye, but he is unsuccessful.  The episode is even sadder knowing that the reason for this episode is that Hal Smith, the original voice of Whit, had died recently, and this was their way of keeping Whit off the show for awhile.  Eugene gets a letter at the end from Whit letting him know that "the best is yet to come," which is now all the more poignant now that Will Ryan is also no longer with us.  This episode and the next one, ...But Not Forgotten, have the characters learning to cope with the loss of Odyssey's most loved citizen, and you can tell the actors are trying not to cry learning to live without Hal.  Always emotional, but a good way to discuss death with your kids without being too heavy-handed.

7.  Dead Ends (from Album #46:  A Date with Dad and Other Calamities)

Another in the saga of Eugene's search for his father.  He begins to despair of ever finding him and even wonders if his father even wants to see him.  But after a visit with his foster parents, the Burnetts, he learns that God really does provide for us, as he's always had a father figure when he needed one.  In the very heart-tugging final scene, Eugene tells Whit that God first gave him his biological father, Leonard, then his foster father, Mr. Burnett, and finally...Whit.  Since Eugene came to Odyssey, Whit has been like Eugene's father.  We all knew it, but to hear Eugene finally say it really gets the waterworks going.

6.  Eugene and Bernard's Road Trip Saga (from Album 21:  Wish You Were Here)

This is where Odyssey's odd couple took a trip across the country together and had lots of adventures.  In "First Hand Experience," they first start out travelling separately, then have to help each other out of various jams, until they ultimately decide to travel together.  You truly never know who your friends are, until you need them.  In "Second Thoughts," they help settle a dispute in Iowa between a father and son, since they can relate to them.  The father is more mechanically minded, while the son is more into computers.  Then we get the comical "Third Degree" where Bernard goes to jail for a traffic ticket and Eugene meets a group of people just like him.  Eugene decides that he is willing to give up the acceptance of this new echo chamber he's found and stick with those he loves in Odyssey, which is really cool.  "It Happened at Four Corners" gives us a mash-up of the comedy classic It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and the silent film Greed as Eugene and Bernard are supposedly struck with gold fever at Four Corners.  Finally, we get The Fifth House on the Left (see a pattern forming here?) where Eugene and Bernard encounter Hollywood people and see what can happen to those who create artificial worlds for themselves when a devastating earthquake strikes.  A really fun time with Eugene and Bernard, as both undergo a lot of character development, and they're both thankful for the adventure in the end.

5.  Blind Justice (from Album 27:  The Search for Whit)

A retelling of 12 Angry Men has Eugene and Bernard on the same jury to decide the fate of a young man accused of burglary.  Like the classic story it's based on, everyone else would love to deliver a fast verdict and leave.  But with Eugene there, that's not an option.  He insists on going over every detail to make absolutely sure of the young man's guilt or innocence, slowly winning everyone over to reasonable doubt and exposing the bias of one particularly stubborn juror.  His fight for the truth helps ensure the defendant gets a truly fair trial, and Eugene earns Bernard's respect for it.

4.  Eugene's Dilemma (from Album #5:  Daring Deeds, Sinister Schemes)

After Whit showed Eugene the aforementioned central computer, MABEL, he and Connie both get fired for messing with a forbidden program on it called Applesauce.  Eugene takes a new job at the college computer department and uncovers a grade changing racket masterminded by a counselor at the school named Richard Maxwell, who becomes a lackey of Odyssey's main villain, Dr. Regis Blackgaard.  He's using a young boy at the college named Nicholas to do it, and Eugene decides to take the blame for the problem to keep Nicholas out of trouble.  Luckily, Nicholas defends Eugene at the last minute, and Eugene's sacrificial behavior earns him back Whit's respect and trust.  To see Eugene go to bat for someone like that is always cool, and to have Whit accept him once again is even better!

3.  Poor Loser (from Album #30:  Through Thick and Thin)

This is a totally biased ranking, I just think this one is really funny.  Eugene has always fancied himself the most intellectual person around. Consequentally, he can't handle it when Bernard consistently beats him at chess.  Adding insult to injury, he does it with no apparent strategy!  Eugene's state of disorient when Connie and Whit go to check on him is easily one of the show's funniest scenes.

2.  The Mortal Coil (from Album #16:  Flights of Imagination)

I submit this as the most emotionally intense episode of the whole show.  I was definitely not ready for it as a kid.  Whit decides to see if he can invent an Imagination Station adventure that simulates life after death.  The point is to show that death is nothing to be afraid of for a Christian.  Unfortunately, when Whit goes inside and reunites with people he's lost like his wife, Jenny, and his son, Jerry, he doesn't want to leave and goes into a coma.  This leads to one of two of the most emotional scenes as Tom pleads in the hospital for Whit to come back and not try to glimpse things he shouldn't see yet.  "As believers, we may long for Heaven, but we're to remain here as servants, until the Master calls us."  I'm getting emotional just writing about this, so let's move right along.  Eugene also decides to test the program out, but not being a Christian yet, he sees what is basically a vision of hell.  His conversation with Connie discussing the horrors he witnessed is the other big emotional scene and beyond haunting to a young boy like I was when I first heard it.  This is arguably the biggest development toward Eugene's eventual salvation and it even has the guts to end on a cliffhanger as Eugene debates what to do with this experience!  (Don't worry, Whit's okay, though...)

1.  The Time Has Come (from Album #25:  Darkness Before Dawn)

If you're an Odyssey fan, this is probably the exact episode you were expecting to take the top spot.  I'm sorry to be so predictable, but I have to be honest with myself, and this is by far Eugene's most important episode.  At this point in the series, Eugene feels he's been stripped of everything important to him.  Whit is still in the Middle East, Katrina has left Odyssey, and Whit's End has been shut down by the weasel Philip Glossman, working under Dr. Blackgaard.  But the wise Jack Allen tells him that it is good that all of his distractions are now gone, as "the time has come" to make a decision regarding Jesus.  Eugene decides to reexamine his life in Odyssey through the Imagination Station and sees how it has all brought him to this point.  With Jack, Connie, Bernard, and Tom as witnesses, Eugene finally makes the best decision of his life and accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior.

And with that, I wish Will Ryan a fond RIP.  Hopefully, some day, I will be able to tell him how much he's meant to me.  And if you haven't heard any of these episodes, do yourself a favor and check them out.  Mr. Ryan was truly a talent unparalleled.  God rest your soul, sir, the world won't be the same without you!