66. Next in a Long Line
Is it time for Leonard Meltsner's return?
By David Hilder | May 28, 2024
Is it time for Leonard Meltsner's return?
By David Hilder | May 28, 2024
Album 76: Keep It Together, which just finished airing on the radio and online, has been long in the making. The album adds onto two character arcs that have been playing out for some years now: Morrie Rydell, and Buck and Jules. Morrie, who first appeared eight years ago in 2016, gets an adventure which seems to be pushing his character in a new direction, which hopefully leads to some major changes in his life. Meanwhile, Buck and Jules are navigating their long-distance relationship, the latest phase in their long story arc. They first met in Album 58, which aired in 2014. So much has happened in both of these major storylines over the years, but there’s clearly more to come.
I’m personally more interested in what happens to Buck as he, and the writers, navigate his “Adventures in Baltimore” saga. And apparently, more Baltimore adventures are in the works. The Meltsner family is in a privileged position. We never got regular “Adventures in Pokenberry Falls” after the Barclays moved there, or periodic “Adventures in the Middle East” after Mr. Whittaker moved there. I’m sure one or two in the fandom would have loved to hear some “Adventures in Budapest” after Mitch moved there. And I think that’s exactly what we would have gotten if Connie had in fact married Mitch. But it was Buck and Katrina’s departure that finally brought the show’s focus away from Odyssey to Baltimore, and that speaks to their importance as characters.
Of course, there’s someone noticeably absent from the “Adventures in Baltimore” episodes. Our beloved Eugene Meltsner is referenced, but not present. There’s a gap in the Meltsner family, and you can’t help but notice it. And even though it makes sense for the story to have Eugene busy with his research, it feels off. I can’t imagine Eugene as an absent father, not after everything he’s been through. But he almost comes across that way in this two-parter, and I think that will only continue as we get more Baltimore episodes. Keeping “Adventures in Baltimore” episodes to a minimum might help. And even though the comics are no substitute for the audio drama, having Eugene appear in a regular comic storyline in Baltimore might help too.
But perhaps there’s another solution to the perceived gap in the Meltsner family, a solution fans have been asking about for years: the return of Leonard Meltsner.
I’ve always loved the search for Eugene’s missing father. The intrigue and the mystery of the saga was a big draw for me when it first aired, and it still is. I loved learning more about Eugene’s backstory and getting more insight into his character. And it was just fun to spend more quality time with Eugene after his absence during Novacom. For some reason, this is a saga that I’ve listened and re-listened to again and again. When I’ve felt alone, in need of comfort, it’s these episodes that I’ve come back to. When I’ve been away from home, it was this saga that made me feel at home. These stories take me back to when I first heard them, and was hooked by the adventure.
Finding Leonard Meltsner was a riveting journey, but I don’t think I was prepared for the emotions involved. Not only did Eugene have to find Leonard, he had to address the estrangement that he felt growing up. It was wonderful how Eugene and his father were able to reconcile. I’m still disappointed Leonard didn’t stay around for longer. He was a great character, with a great voice too! He was brilliantly played by Phil Proctor, though Phil is now better known as Detective Polehaus. One of the reasons given by the writers for not bringing back Leonard is that he sounds too similar to Polehaus, but I disagree. There are plenty of listeners who are surprised to find out Polehaus and Leonard are voiced by the same person.
Fans, myself included, have been clamoring for Leonard’s return ever since he and Everett left for Africa. He’s cameoed in the comics, but it’s not the same as an appearance on the audio show. It was such an ordeal to find Leonard, and so emotionally meaningful when it happened. And then it almost felt like a waste for Leonard to immediately disappear, never to be heard from again. Unfortunately, there was no “Adventures in the Congo” to follow his storyline further.
Now, with a new adoptive son to raise, and Eugene busy with his research, it would make sense story-wise for Leonard to reappear. He could offer a lot of support to Eugene and Katrina as they get settled in their new Baltimore home. I’d love to hear Buck interacting with and learning from his adoptive grandfather. And they might have some things in common. Leonard had to be incredibly street-smart to avoid the clutches of Dalton Kearn for years, skills Buck could appreciate.
It would benefit Buck and his ongoing story arc to have another male, Christian influence in his life. Leonard could offer Buck his life experience and perspective on faith. Buck has shown resistance to accepting the beliefs of his adoptive parents. Maybe he needs a Mr. Whittaker figure in his life to be his mentor, a grandfather who can get around his defenses. Leonard Meltsner could be that person. And if Leonard wants to take Buck on a quick adventure to Africa to revisit some old friends, I wouldn’t be opposed.
I think it might also be good to have a multigenerational family on Adventures in Odyssey once again. The Parkers’ grandmother, Lucia, has appeared less and less frequently in recent years, mirroring the slow fading of the Parker family. But grandparents play an important role in families, and there simply aren’t enough represented on the show.
The Meltsner family feels incomplete. Nothing can fill that gap except Eugene himself. But we don’t have that option available to us. The use of voice technology was a wonderful opportunity to give Eugene a send-off in Album 75, but it’s not a long-term solution. Without Eugene available, I think the return of Leonard could be the next best thing. And it might be especially good for bringing Buck’s storyline into a new phase.
Maybe it’s time to finally bring back Leonard, or should I say, Grandpa Meltsner?
I’m personally more interested in what happens to Buck as he, and the writers, navigate his “Adventures in Baltimore” saga. And apparently, more Baltimore adventures are in the works. The Meltsner family is in a privileged position. We never got regular “Adventures in Pokenberry Falls” after the Barclays moved there, or periodic “Adventures in the Middle East” after Mr. Whittaker moved there. I’m sure one or two in the fandom would have loved to hear some “Adventures in Budapest” after Mitch moved there. And I think that’s exactly what we would have gotten if Connie had in fact married Mitch. But it was Buck and Katrina’s departure that finally brought the show’s focus away from Odyssey to Baltimore, and that speaks to their importance as characters.
Of course, there’s someone noticeably absent from the “Adventures in Baltimore” episodes. Our beloved Eugene Meltsner is referenced, but not present. There’s a gap in the Meltsner family, and you can’t help but notice it. And even though it makes sense for the story to have Eugene busy with his research, it feels off. I can’t imagine Eugene as an absent father, not after everything he’s been through. But he almost comes across that way in this two-parter, and I think that will only continue as we get more Baltimore episodes. Keeping “Adventures in Baltimore” episodes to a minimum might help. And even though the comics are no substitute for the audio drama, having Eugene appear in a regular comic storyline in Baltimore might help too.
But perhaps there’s another solution to the perceived gap in the Meltsner family, a solution fans have been asking about for years: the return of Leonard Meltsner.
I’ve always loved the search for Eugene’s missing father. The intrigue and the mystery of the saga was a big draw for me when it first aired, and it still is. I loved learning more about Eugene’s backstory and getting more insight into his character. And it was just fun to spend more quality time with Eugene after his absence during Novacom. For some reason, this is a saga that I’ve listened and re-listened to again and again. When I’ve felt alone, in need of comfort, it’s these episodes that I’ve come back to. When I’ve been away from home, it was this saga that made me feel at home. These stories take me back to when I first heard them, and was hooked by the adventure.
Finding Leonard Meltsner was a riveting journey, but I don’t think I was prepared for the emotions involved. Not only did Eugene have to find Leonard, he had to address the estrangement that he felt growing up. It was wonderful how Eugene and his father were able to reconcile. I’m still disappointed Leonard didn’t stay around for longer. He was a great character, with a great voice too! He was brilliantly played by Phil Proctor, though Phil is now better known as Detective Polehaus. One of the reasons given by the writers for not bringing back Leonard is that he sounds too similar to Polehaus, but I disagree. There are plenty of listeners who are surprised to find out Polehaus and Leonard are voiced by the same person.
Fans, myself included, have been clamoring for Leonard’s return ever since he and Everett left for Africa. He’s cameoed in the comics, but it’s not the same as an appearance on the audio show. It was such an ordeal to find Leonard, and so emotionally meaningful when it happened. And then it almost felt like a waste for Leonard to immediately disappear, never to be heard from again. Unfortunately, there was no “Adventures in the Congo” to follow his storyline further.
Now, with a new adoptive son to raise, and Eugene busy with his research, it would make sense story-wise for Leonard to reappear. He could offer a lot of support to Eugene and Katrina as they get settled in their new Baltimore home. I’d love to hear Buck interacting with and learning from his adoptive grandfather. And they might have some things in common. Leonard had to be incredibly street-smart to avoid the clutches of Dalton Kearn for years, skills Buck could appreciate.
It would benefit Buck and his ongoing story arc to have another male, Christian influence in his life. Leonard could offer Buck his life experience and perspective on faith. Buck has shown resistance to accepting the beliefs of his adoptive parents. Maybe he needs a Mr. Whittaker figure in his life to be his mentor, a grandfather who can get around his defenses. Leonard Meltsner could be that person. And if Leonard wants to take Buck on a quick adventure to Africa to revisit some old friends, I wouldn’t be opposed.
I think it might also be good to have a multigenerational family on Adventures in Odyssey once again. The Parkers’ grandmother, Lucia, has appeared less and less frequently in recent years, mirroring the slow fading of the Parker family. But grandparents play an important role in families, and there simply aren’t enough represented on the show.
The Meltsner family feels incomplete. Nothing can fill that gap except Eugene himself. But we don’t have that option available to us. The use of voice technology was a wonderful opportunity to give Eugene a send-off in Album 75, but it’s not a long-term solution. Without Eugene available, I think the return of Leonard could be the next best thing. And it might be especially good for bringing Buck’s storyline into a new phase.
Maybe it’s time to finally bring back Leonard, or should I say, Grandpa Meltsner?
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