History Recap / OddSquadS3E1OddBeginningsPartOne

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Opal is tired from working in the Arctic Odd Squad precinct, and her primary goal is to do something big so that she and Omar will get noticed by the Big O, who will then transfer them into the precinct that they want. She gets a chance to make Odd Squad history when she receives a letter from Oswald regarding an ancient artifact known as the 44-leaf clover.

** The Mr. O that serves as Opal and Omar's boss in the Arctic is first seen as being very [[TheDitz dimwitted]] and [[MellowFellow laid-back]], and very weak despite being the leader of a precinct. Later episodes, as well as other media like [[CharacterBlog [=OddTube=]]], would show more of his personality.

* FunnyBackgroundEvent: During the scene with Opal and Omar at their desks, Mr. O can be seen in the background appearing deathly still and leaned back as though he's asleep. Considering that a later episode of [[CharacterBlog [=OddTube=]]] reveals that he's a {{Sleepyhead}} who takes up to ''eight naps a day,'' it's only fitting that he'd be asleep.

* RunningGag: This episode introduces yet another season-long one: Esmeralda Kim, a young girl who wishes to join agents on their adventures, but is so preoccupied with other various things that she can't find the time to do so. Unlike with Sheila from Season 1 and toast from Season 2, it's ultimately left ambiguous as to whether this gag is RunningGagged or not -- Esmeralda's final appearance in the season is her offering to take the place of Opal following her departure from the Mobile Unit in the Season 3 finale (with the agents acting hesitant about letting her in), but it's unknown if she'll return.

* ThemeTuneCameo: Esmeralda Kim sings the theme song as Opal, Omar and Oswald head off to the Amazon rainforest to retrieve the clover.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Thought Season 3 couldn't get any darker than the past 2 seasons? The episode opens up with Opal and Omar inadvertently causing a cave-in which nearly kills them, and directly after that, it shows them ''attempting to escape an avalanche.'' And bear in mind, this happens within the ''first 5 minutes of the episode!''

* BreakingOldTrends: Apart from the "Shmumtours" original name, this season drops the [[BrandX "Shmumbers" name]] from a majority of products, after having been used for 2 seasons to cover up actual product names.

** As the Sticky Sisters make their escape after barricading the door, Opal asks Oswald to tell them if there's another way out of the Odd Squad Museum. Oswald says there's another way out...but then states that he only said that because Opal asked him to.

* EpisodeTitleCard: Following Oprah's promotion to the Big O, the title cards for each episode change from this episode on -- while the basic aspect is the same (Oprah saying the episode name and opening the folder, then a zoom-in to the "case", or episode, in question), titles are printed on blue-green folders instead of manila folders, and the folders are placed on the Big O's desk. The writer and director credits are also shown in a different, smaller font on the bottom-left corner of the screen instead of on the bottom-right corner like it was in the past 2 seasons, where it was bigger and more noticeable font.

* ActuallyIAmHim: Opal and Omar arrive at the Odd Squad Museum of Natural Odd and come face-to-face with a Security agent who greets them kindly. Opal explains how she and her partner are looking for Oswald, and Opal goes full-on MotorMouth as she explains how she and him have been communicating back-and-forth for a while. The Security agent has them answer a question to prove that they're real Odd Squad agents, and once they pass that, he spins around in his chair to reveal that ''he'' is the agent they're looking for.

* ActuallyIAmHim: Opal and Omar arrive at the Odd Squad Museum of Natural Odd and come face-to-face with a Security agent who greets them kindly. Opal explains how she and her partner are looking for Oswald, and Opal goes full-on Motor Mouth as she explains how she and him have been communicating back-and-forth for a while. The Security agent has them answer a question to prove that they're real Odd Squad agents, and once they pass that, he spins around in his chair to reveal that ''he'' is the agent they're looking for.

** There are at least 21 different departments in Odd Squad. Of the 16 that currently exist, 5 more are introduced in this episode. [[note]]Notes indicate which rank out of the 6 main departments (Investigation, Management, Transportation/Maintenance, Security, Medical and Science) the listed rank is equal to, and if the name of the department is speculation or is canon.[[/note]]

* ActuallyIAmHim: Opal and Omar arrive at the Odd Squad Museum of Natural Odd and come face-to-face with a Security agent who greets them kindly. Opal explains how she and her partner are looking for Oswald, and Opal goes full-on Motor Mouth as she explains how she and him have been communicating back-and-forth for a while. The Security agent has them answer questions to prove that they're real Odd Squad agents, and once they pass those, he spins around in his chair to reveal that ''he'' is the agent they're looking for.

--> '''Opal and Omar:''' [[PunctuatedForEmphasis New.]] ''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis York.]]'' '''''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis CITY!!!]]''' ''[cheering and jumping]''
* BlandNameProduct: Oddstagram, a clear parody of Website/{{Instagram}}.

* CardCarryingVillains: The Sticky Sisters aren't afraid to let their enemies know that they're villains.

* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: Opal and Omar have the ability to change into ski and snowboarding gear by tugging on their jackets' collars. Other than that, they're pretty much defenseless due to having no gadgets, since the Arctic HQ doesn't make gadgets (despite the fact there's apparently a lab in there).

* CuteButCacophonic: May God help your ''soul'' (and your eardrums) if you come across Opal and Omar shouting and screaming. Their combined lung power is enough to leave those like ''[[GenkiGirl Olympia]]'' in absolute ''awe.'' Hell, even Opal on her ''own'' is cacophonic!
* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Opal's primary goal is to do something big so she and Omar will get noticed by the Big O, who will then transfer them into the precinct that they want, since she is tired of working at the Arctic Odd Squad precinct. She gets a chance to do something big when she receives a letter from Oswald regarding an ancient artifact known as the 44-leaf clover.

* EpisodeTitleCard: Following Oprah's promotion to the Big O, the title cards for each episode change from this episode on -- while the basic aspect is the same (Oprah saying the episode name and opening the folder, then a zoom-in to the "case", or episode, in question), titles are printed on blue-green folders instead of manila folders, and the folders are placed on the Big O's desk.

** "Arctic Mr. O" (as he's called), who serves as Opal and Omar's boss in the Arctic, is first seen as being very [[TheDitz dimwitted]] and [[MellowFellow laid-back]], and very weak despite being the leader of a precinct. Later episodes, as well as other media like [[CharacterBlog [=OddTube=]]], would show more of his personality.

** It's subverted in the case of Oswald, who doesn't appear to be joining the cast at first since Opal and Omar are forced to leave him behind in the Odd Squad Museum with no way out, but then he manages to find a way out of the museum anyway.

** Omar is one of Otto, being a {{Pollyanna}} who is often a little clueless when it comes to the world around him. He also shares Otto's BigEater tendencies and his appetite, which pops up in later episodes such as "Into the Odd Woods".
** It's subtle, but Oswald is one of Oscar, sharing the ex-Scientist's nervousness as well as his general drive to help his teammates out whenever it's needed and his vast knowledge in various subjects. Bonus points go to Oscar being revealed to have had red hair when he was working as a tube operator in [[Recap/OddSquadS1E36OscarOfAllTradesSwampsNGators "Oscar of All Trades"]], the same hair color as Oswald -- not only that, but Gavin [=McIver=]-Wright (Oswald's actor) having played O'Paddy, a tube operator, in [[Recap/OddSquadS2E26HandsOnADeskChairThereIsNoOInObot "Hands on a Desk Chair"]].
* FacialDialogue: Opal uses a lot of this. Her range of facial expressions rivals Olive's from Season 1, who also had a wide range of expressions and used facial dialogue often.
* FictionalSocialNetwork: Oddstagram, a parody of Website/{{Instagram}} which is a social media network for Odd Squad agents.
* FourLeafClover: The 44-leaf clover is an ancient Odd Squad artifact that is commonly thought to be nothing more than a made-up {{Legend}} by agents, up to an including Oprah herself. According to books of legend, whoever is in possession of it is granted magical powers, and the clover itself is stated to be 11 times luckier than a typical four-leaf clover. When Opal receives a letter from Oswald stating that the clover is real, she jumps on the chance to find it and save it.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: During the scene with Opal and Omar at their desks, Mr. O can be seen in the background appearing deathly still and leaned back as though he's asleep. Considering a later episode of [[CharacterBlog [=OddTube=]]] reveals that he's a {{Sleepyhead}} who takes up to ''eight naps a day,'' it's only fitting that he'd be asleep.

* IdiosyncraticWipes: This episode introduces a new transition wipe for the Big O, using the department's logo. Later episodes would introduce one for the Mobile Unit as well.

* IWorkAlone: Oswald works alone at the Odd Squad Museum of Natural Odd in New York City. However, apart from that, the trope is averted for the most part, as he's thrilled to get out into the world after working behind a desk for most of his life.

** Once Oswald gets tangled up in the adventure, he's more than happy to come along, stating that he's spent his entire life behind a desk and wants to get out into the world to see what Odd Squad is truly about.

* MultiPartEpisode: The first one of Season 3. Notably, it's the first time that an episode is explicitly referred to as a two-parter rather than having two 11-minute segments in one episode, meaning that "Odd Beginnings" as a whole is a 45-minute episode, barring interstitials and Creator/PBSKids promos.
* MuseumOfTheStrangeAndUnusual: Oswald runs an Odd Squad Museum in New York City, which houses artifacts from other Odd Squad precincts that must be preserved.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Opal and Omar are so excited about finding an oddity after years of not doing so that they cheer loud enough to cause a cave-in that nearly ''kills them''...which in turn causes an avalanche.

** Omar posts a selfie of him and Opal to [[Website/{{Instagram}} Oddstagram,]] which attracts the attention of two villainous siblings known as the Sticky Sisters, who go out to find the clover and steal it for themselves.
* NonLethalWarfare: [[ImpliedTrope Implied.]] Since the show can NeverSayDie, the fate of the soldiers on both the villains' and heroes' side is left ambiguous, but Opal's wording of "Odd Squad won, obviously" implies that most, if not all, agents made it out intact. The villains' fate isn't stated, though. (And of course, Orla lives.)

** [[{{Aesop}} Aesops]] in episodes are no longer solely mathematical, due to the show's shift to teach more STEM-related [[{{Aesop}} Aesops]]. Instead, both math and science lessons are taught beginning with this episode, where simple machines (a science concept) is the main {{Aesop}}.
* OffscreenTeleportation: Mr. O's ice sculpture of himself does this, suddenly appearing behind Olive and Otto upon being pointed out by the Director and scaring them. Omar [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it.

* ThePollyanna: Omar is constantly enthusiastic and always finds the positives in a bad situation. Even Oswald has to comment on it at one point.

* RageBreakingPoint: At the climax of the episode, after Opal and Omar escape the Museum, Opal begins to lament how the Sticky Sisters got away from them. Omar tries to cheer his partner up, but she won't have it, and lets out her rage at him, ranting about how they'll be stuck working at the Arctic office forever and how the world will end once the Sticky Sisters get their hands on the clover. Omar then tries again in cheering her up, saying how the partner pair will find and protect the clover together, which lifts her spirits.

* RunningGag: This episode introduces yet another season-long one: Esmeralda Kim, a young girl who wishes to join agents on their adventures, but is so pre-occupied with other various things that she can't find the time to do so. Unlike with Sheila from Season 1 and toast from Season 2, it's ultimately left ambiguous as to whether this gag is RunningGagged or not -- Esmeralda's final appearance in the season is her offering to take the place of Opal following her departure from the Mobile Unit in the Season 3 finale (with the agents acting hesitant about letting her in), but it's unknown if she'll return.

* SuperCellReception: Omar can still post on [[Website/{{Instagram Oddstagram]] despite him being in the Arctic, where Wi-Fi is practically nonexistent.

* SuperStrongChild: Notably averted in the case of Mr. O, who is an Odd Squad Director and yet has no strength whatsoever. It goes hand-in-hand with him being a PointyHairedBoss.

* {{Wingdinglish}}: There is a language known in the world of Odd Squad as "ancient Jackalopian". While the font looks more like hieroglyphics, Oswald is able to translate it into English.

** The Odd Squad Museum, a museum located in New York City where old or important artifacts from various precincts' Headquarters are sent to for preservation, is introduced. It's a recent location, having opened only 6 months ago, and Oswald -- referred to as a "library museum person" -- is the person who keeps it running.

** There is an ancient Odd Squad Headquarters located in the Amazon rainforest that houses the 44-leaf clover. The next episode reveals that this is the home of Orla, the clover's guardian, and that the Headquarters has stood for centuries.
** The Big Office is seen for the first time after having had numerous mentions in the past. It's a very spacious building with lots of rooms and posted Security guards, and to see the Big O personally, one has to check in with a receptionist and state if their problem is a big emergency or a small one, which determines a person's priority in seeing the Big O. For those who have small emergencies, they are forced to sit in a waiting room until called.
** This episode reveals that there are at least 21 different departments. Of the 16 that currently exist, 5 more are introduced. [[note]]Notes indicate which rank out of the 6 main departments (Investigation, Management, Transportation/Maintenance, Security, Medical and Science) the listed rank is equal to, and if the name of the department is speculation or is canon.[[/note]]