Recap / Odd Squad S 3 E 28 Welcome To Odd Squad

"This is the worst script I've ever read and I've only been here for 13 episodes. Who is this 'Mark De Angelis' and 'Adam Peltzman'?"

Welcome to Odd Squad

Airdate: October 28, 2021 ^note CBBC premiere of Part 1, October 29, 2021 ^note CBBC premiere of Part 2, December 31, 2021 ^note PBS Kids premiere; airing as part of PBS Kids Family Night

Little O has been asked to record a new training video for kids interested in becoming Odd Squad agents. However, a Sandbeast is on the loose, causing oddness all over town and making things difficult.

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Tropes:

• Artistic License – Space: It goes without saying, but Saturn is definitely not at close proximity with Earth, let alone so close that it's the space equivalent to driving to someone's house that's only a mere couple minutes away.
• Bad "Bad Acting": Averted. Unlike Oprah, who is terrible at acting and is explicitly referred to as a nightmare to work with, Orpita is a skilled voice artist and the problems she creates for Oppola and the sound operator are perfectly justified because she's not helping out with the commercial willingly and she has a bigger issue on her hands that they fail to realize due to Skewed Priorities.
• Bait-and-Switch: Oppola tells the Mobile Unit and Orpita that they can take five...but she means seconds, not minutes.
• Batman Can Breathe in Space: The Mobile Unit, Orpita, Oppola and the sound operator are all able to breathe fine in space despite not wearing any spacesuits or wearing any helmets. This once again retcons Odd Squad: The Movie, where Olive, Otto, Olympia and Otis were shown going into space wearing spacesuits and could breathe fine due to the windows being rolled up tight.
• Bread, Eggs, Breaded Eggs: Orpita encourages kids to join Odd Squad who are serious, silly, or "seri-silly-ous".
• Call-Back: It's not the first time a head agent of Odd Squad has been tasked with filming a commercial for Odd Squad. However, the problems that occur aren't solely Orpita's fault, but rather, they're the fault of the Mobile Unit constantly barging in and interrupting her. In addition, the commercial that Otis films in that episode plays at the end of this episode as a "bonus ending" that Oprah adds.
  • A Sandbeast is the primary threat of the episode.
• The Cameo: Although it's simply reused footage from past episodes, almost every main character from the past three seasons (barring Omar, Orla, Oswald, and Orpita, who have bigger roles) cameos at some point or another in the commercial, to such an extent that they're listed in the credits.
• Clip Show: The episode focuses on Orpita helping to film a commercial that reuses quite a lot of previous clips from past episodes.
• Combined Energy Attack: It takes five Shrink-inators — one controlled by each member of the Mobile Unit (plus Orpita) — to shrink, and by extension defeat, the strongest type of Sandbeast in the world.
• Continuity Cavalcade: Footage in numerous episodes from all three seasons, as well as footage from Odd Squad: The Movie, is used in the commercial.
• Continuity Nod: Once again, Olive and Otis are referred to as "serious" agents while Otto and Olympia are referred to as the "silly" agents, with footage from episodes used to represent those aspects of their personalities.
  • The sound operator is shown reading a Detective Shmumbers book — specifically, Space Crime, the same book that Oswald gives to Orla to read in the episode.
  • The previous episode had an agent going up into space to deliver juice boxes to Oprah. This episode has an agent going up into space to deliver an SD card containing the completed commercial to Oprah, complete with the same outfit worn by Otto and Otis in Odd Squad: The Movie.
  • When Oppola talks about the script she made, she mentions the section where Orpita talks about how Odd Squad deals with odd problems, such as having a pie for a head.
• Curse Cut Short: Subverted. Orpita begins to read the final line of the script, but stops just before saying "Join Odd Squad", shoots a look at Oppola and the sound operator, and outright refuses to read it aloud. At first glance, one would think that the line is something inappropriate, but instead, the line is "Join Odd Squad, where heroes never fail to save the day", which Orpita states is deceptive because Odd Squad agents do fail from time to time.
• Cuteness Proximity: The Mobile Unit, as well as Orpita, do this not with a Ridiculously Cute Critter, but with the Shrink-inator gadgets, which are small enough to fit in the palm of their hands.
• Dada Ad: The current commercial used to advertise Odd Squad is completely nonsensical in nature. Apart from the theme of oddness and the frequent cuts to the logo (of the show, surprisingly, not the seal), there's nothing that represents the organization as a whole.
• Determinator: Oppola is very determined to film the video and get it sent to Oprah in space.
• Discontinuity Nod: There's quite the harsh jab made at the Mathroom from Season 1. It's cited as ancient when put in retrospect to the other high-tech things that Odd Squad has, including the smartwatches, which replaced the Mathroom's function.
• Disney Acid Sequence: The most recently-made commercial for Odd Squad is incredibly trippy and nonsensical, to the point where it drives kids away rather than gets them to apply for a job at the organization. The music accompanying it is quite the bop, though.
• Does This Remind You of Anything?: When Orpita explains that agents at Odd Squad have strong stomachs, a clip from "Oscar of All Trades" is shown where Oscar offers roasted nuts to the crowd as a concessions worker. Roasted nuts on their own aren't normally nausea-inducing and so the clip being in that section of the commercial seems out of place...but it's always possible that it might be implying something else.
• Early-Bird Release: The clips of Omar, Osmerelda and Oswald transforming into different outfits appears to be from an upcoming episode, "Old Odd, New Tricks". It's also the only new footage in the entirety of the commercial.
• The End of the World as We Know It: The Sandbeast is a creature that has the ability to cover the whole world in sand if it so pleases, something that everyone is aware of.
  Omar: If we go to the place the Sandbeast struck and measure the footprints it left behind, we can narrow down the list!
  Little O: Exactly.
  Oppola: So the world won't end now?
  Omar: Maybe. Maybe not. But hey, that's better than before, bye!
• "Eureka!" Moment: A consistent Running Gag in the episode is Oppola lamenting about her script for the commercial and inadvertently giving the Little O an idea for how the Mobile Unit can figure out what type of Sandbeast they're dealing with.
• Everything Explodes Ending: The episode ends after the ending of Otis's failed commercial in "Odd Squad Needs You", with one major difference — instead of just a fiery explosion, there's an explosion of color followed by the fiery explosion seen in the original.
• Fun with Acronyms: Oprah wants the commercial delivered to her "EASAP", or Extra As Soon As Possible.
• Girls Love Stuffed Animals: The agent set to go into space is shown holding a teddy bear, which she plans to take into space with her.
• Instant Costume Change: A couple clips from the section where Orpita talks about the Odd Squad uniform (specifically, those of Investigation agents and Mobile Unit agents) shows Omar instantly transforming into a painter, and Osmerelda and Oswald respectively transforming into a rockstar and a dalmatian, by tugging on the left sleeves of their suits.
• Instantly Proven Wrong: Oppola expresses her delight at Orpita's agreement to film a commercial for Odd Squad. Orpita is quick to tell her that she didn't agree — Oppola simply barged in and forced her to make one.
  • When the Mobile Unit deduces that the Sandbeast will strike the playground next, they head towards there, and Orpita becomes confident, believing that she doesn't have to be burdened with helping film the commercial anymore. Alas...
  Little O: Now that's how you solve a...
  [Oppola and the sound operator approach her, ready to film again]
  Little O: I guess we're doing this.
  • When Oppola states that she's running out of time to send the new commercial to Oprah in space, she remarks that the current commercial isn't bad and shows it to the Mobile Unit. Everyone then immediately protests against sending it to her.
• Invincible Hero: The slogan of "the heroes never fail to save the day" is used as a selling point by Oppola to get kids to apply to Odd Squad. Orpita refuses to read it as it's written on the script because it's misleading — Odd Squad agents do fail from time to time. This is backed up by the Mobile Unit running into the van and Omar telling Orpita that they failed to capture the Sandbeast.
• Literal Metaphor: Oppola tells the Little O that kids look up to her...or down upon her, according to how tall or short they are.
• Living Legend: While it was previously established that Olive, Oprah and Otto are legends among Odd Squad, this episode implies that the rest of the main characters are also legendary agents to some degree — particularly Oscar, Oona, Olympia and Otis, but also the Mobile Unit agents as well. Of course, since they're all main characters in the completely meta TV show of the same name, this is to be expected.
• Moment Killer: Every time Orpita gets going in reading from the script, someone from the Mobile Unit will be barging in to interrupt her. Not that she minds, since she's being forced to provide voiceover for the commercial anyway.
  Omar: Am I interrupting something?
• Multi-Part Episode: The tenth one of Season 3.
• Nausea Dissonance: Invoked by the Little O, who states that kids who wish to work at Odd Squad need to have strong stomachs and not be prone to getting sick or vomiting easily.
• No Need for Names: The sound operator helping Oppola doesn't have a name. According to him, he doesn't see the point in giving himself one.
• Noodle Implements: The sound operator has written short articles for, of all things, the New England Journal of Medicine. It's never explained what the articles were about nor is his apparent knowledge of health and medicine expanded on, but the revelation comes so far out of left field that it prompts a Reaction Shot of everyone giving him curious and confused looks.
• Our Slogan Is Terrible: Although it's not Odd Squad's official slogan, the commercial has the slogan of "Where heroes never fail to save the day" as a selling point. The Little O feels that it's deceptive advertising because Odd Squad employees do fail, but often can pick themselves back up with the help of their co-workers and friends, and decides to make up her own slogan.
• Poor Communication Kills: Just as Oppola hands the SD card to the agent about to head into space, the sound operator asks if it's a bad time to mention that the space pod is nonfunctional, explaining that he got it from the Odd Squad Museum of Natural Odd and that the "agent" isn't employed with Odd Squad and is a kid he found on the playground.
• The Power of Friendship: Orpita's intended ending for the commercial, which demonstrates how Odd Squad runs on friendship and teamwork.
  Little O: If you join Odd Squad, will you save the day, every day? Of course not. You'll fall, and you'll fail. But, with the support of the greatest team, you'll learn and get better each day. And that is true success. That...is Odd Squad.
• Product Placement: Played with. The commercial seen in the episode, and by extension the episode itself, appears to basically be just one long entire commercial for the show called Odd Squad and not the organization of the same name, since it goes on for far longer than a commercial on TV would. ^note For reference, the commercial that Otis films in "Odd Squad Needs You" is 30 seconds long and is meant to confirm the existence of the promos of the same name shown in-universe as interstitials between episodes. It's also meant to get kids to join the organization, something that the commercial in this episode aims to accomplish, but it's solely comprised of new footage with Oprah starring. Whether this was actually the episode's intent or not, though, is unknown.
• Recycled Premise: This episode takes very heavy inspiration from two previous episodes: "Odd Squad Needs You" and "Nature of the Sandbeast". Although it's more derivative of the former than the latter.
• Resigned to the Call: The Little O doesn't have the time to film a commercial and initially turns down Oppola's offer, but the Audio/Visual agent forces her hand and she is forced to clear her schedule so she can provide a voiceover for the commercial, much to her chagrin.
• Sand Blaster: The aptly-named Sandbeast, naturally. The most powerful type out of the 30 presented can shoot sand out of its mouth with enough force to rock the van — a multi-ton vehicle — back and forth.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Defied by Oppola, who frequently hinders the Little O's attempts to leave so she can help the Mobile Unit deal with the Sandbeast. Eventually she's successful in leaving, but Oppola and the sound operator just drag their equipment to the Mobile Unit's van to continue their work.
• Series Continuity Error: The section of the commercial where Orpita talks about the many departments at Odd Squad has quite a few errors.
  • The Creature Care department is simply referred to as "Creatures".
  • The Food and Beverage department is referred to as "Kitchen Services".
  • The Task Force department is misnamed "Internal Investigations". ^note Although it was referred to as such in the Odd Squad Agent's Handbook, it is considered Loose Canon.
  • The Maintenance/Transportation department is just referred to as "Tube Lobby Operators", with no mention of any agents who work in the Maintenance section of the department.
  • Similarly, the Athletics and Conflict Resolution department is simply named "Athletics", and ignores the "Conflict Resolution" part entirely.
  • The commercial neglects to mention that there are over twenty different departments of Odd Squad, more than the ones that are presented.
  • Contrary to what the commercial advertises, Odd Squad Directors are part of their own separate department (Management), and it seems to imply that such a department doesn't exist.
• Skewed Priorities: Oppola is more concerned with filming a commercial than the fact that a Sandbeast is roaming around town and covering places in sand.
• Spheroid Dropship: Oppola and the sound operator have prepared one for the astronaut to deliver the video to Oprah in space. However, it turns out to be fake.
• The Stoic: The sound operator that helps Oppola out expresses no emotion because he's lost all hope for the world. The only single shred of hope he has is the lie that the space pod is real and that it can go to space, and the girl using it is actually a real agent. When his hope for humanity has been restored, he admits the truth.
• Take That!: The sound operator who has no hope for the world and is completely cynical might be a potential jab at those who may feel the same way due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, either due to "pandemic fatigue" or how it's brought out the worst in some people.
• invoked Technology Marches On: An in-universe example. Orpita states that Odd Squad is at "the leading edge of technology" and cites the Mathroom and the smartwatches as an example, implying that the Mathroom is too outdated technology-wise and the smartwatches, as well as the various gadgets and computers seen in the show, are more advanced. Potentially justified by the fact that a fair bit of the show's technology is based off of the products created by Apple, which is notable for being high-tech and innovative.
• This Is Gonna Suck: Orpita's general reaction every time she's forced to provide voiceover for the commercial. Perhaps the best example of this comes when Oppola drops a bigger script that's quite a few pages thick onto Orpita's desk (thicker than the initial two-page script), and all she can give in response is an "Ohhh boy."
• invoked Throw It In!: In-universe. Orpita doesn't rely on the script for the ending of the commercial and comes up with it completely on her own, which Oppola and the sound operator decide to include in the final product.
• Tyop on the Cover: Some sources refer to this episode as "Welcome to the Odd Squad" — while it's not the first time Odd Squad has been referred to as "The Odd Squad", the official title for the episode doesn't have "the" in the middle.
• Villain: Exit, Stage Left: The shrunken Sandbeast simply flies away once it's defeated, which basically defeats any chance the Mobile Unit has of capturing it, which was their intent to begin with.
• What Is This Feeling?: The sound operator has never felt actual emotion before, and upon seeing the joy that the Mobile Unit, the Little O, and Oppola are sharing, he puts his hand to his heart and asks if this is what human emotion feels like. The Little O nods, and he says that they have restored his hope for the world.
• What Were They Selling Again?: The initial commercial for Odd Squad (presumed to have been filmed far after the one Oprah made in "Odd Squad Needs You") is so confusing that employees of Odd Squad are quitting their jobs over it.
• Worldbuilding: This episode reveals that Sandbeasts come in 30 different types, with 15 residing in the Northern Hemisphere and 15 residing in the Southern Hemisphere.
• World Tour: Once again averted. This episode doesn't reveal where the Mobile Unit, and by extension the Big Office that Orpita works at, is located, only that they're somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
• You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: Every time the Little O gets a "Eureka!" Moment, Oppola gives a "Seriously?" in response.

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