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How would you rank the seasons? With the second half of S3 being S4, I feel there’s a fine line between those two

Oh yeah there is definitely a line between the two half of Mobile Unit. Some people call the second half Season 3.5. I personally call it Season 4 because 1) there is a new main character (Osmeralda) and 2) it has its own separate story arc. So I will distinguish the Mobile Unit episodes as Season 3 and 4

Okay so there are two ways that I rank the seasons: 1) by episodes overall and 2) by season arc. Let me first rank them by episodes

Season 2: what I mean by ranking the episodes overall is that I am considering the quality of episodes as stand alone stories. And on that basis, I think season 2 had the best written episodes overall. By this point, the showrunners had a whole season under their belt and already established Odd Squad as a concept and organization. Thus, they not only knew how to write the episodes but also had the opportunity to explore more lore and try new things. Season 2 had a lot of fun and well written episodes, and I love almost all of them. In addition, this season had a lot of my favorite episodes of the whole show. And this is in part thanks to improved writing and filming styles. In addition, the dynamics between the characters are a lot of fun. The showrunners did a great job of making sure that the new agents are unique and different from the season 1 agents. Going into season 2, I was so sure that I was going to dislike the new agents but I fell in love with Olympia and Otis almost immediately. Honestly, it took me a while to really warm up to Oona (partially bc she was literally following Oscar's footsteps), but eventually I fell in love with her unique brand of craziness that is completely different from Oscar's zaniess. She is one of my favorite characters (though to be fair, I love the main 7 so so much haha)

Season 1: I've watched the show ever since it first aired (and technically before it even officially aired since the PBS Kids player released the first few episodes a few days early). And even though I loved the show from the start, upon rewatch I can definitely see that this was a new show that was still trying to find its bearing. This is especially evident in the early episodes where the episodes seem a bit slow for me. And there is a sharp contrast between the episodes from the beginning of the season vs the end. I think the writing and quality of the episodes definitely improved after Training Day. There are some episodes that I absolutely love from this season but most of the episodes are enjoyable or just okay for me. Don't get me wrong, I love season 1 (wouldn't be obsess with the show otherwise haha) but you can definitely see a learning curve as the season progress but when the show becomes great it really is GREAT

Season 4: I will be the first to admit that I didn't enjoy the Mobile Unit nearly as much as the Season 1 and 2 episodes and characters. While Season 1 and 2 are like a 10 for me, the Mobile Unit is like a 5. Maybe a 6. That being said, between Season 3 and 4, I think that Season 4 has better quality episodes overall. Maybe it's just because the episodes are more "fresh" in my mind but I think it helps a lot that 3 of the main characters already have been working together for a season so they have that established dynamic. In addition, there are more villain ensemble episodes that I can remember, and honestly those villain episodes are more fun than the other case episodes I think haha. In addition, it seems like that by season 4, the writers have gotten better writing this version of the show. Mobile Unit is definitely different from the main show of season 1 and 2. Mobile Unit already got rid of the cold open where the agents help a client who is not usually related to the main plot of the episode. In addition, Mobile Unit got rid of the main dynamic of two partners, one scientist, and Ms. O and exchange it for 4 agents and the Big O. And not really the Big O since she isn't really involved. So really just four agents. But the problem is that they don't really have distinct roles in the team. So while the other seasons can focus on the two main agents and sometimes bring in or focus on the scientist and Ms. O, the Mobile Unit episodes have to focus on all four agents and that is hard to juggle in just 11 minute episodes. So overall, I find the Mobile Unit seasons a lot weaker than season 1 and 2, but I find the season 4 episodes stronger overall than season 3 bc the writers have gotten used to writing for this new dynamic/style

Season 3: this is the season where they changed up the format of the show. As I already mentioned, they got rid of the cold open, have four main agents to focus on, and Oprah has a much smaller role in the show. So similar to season 1, they kinda of have a new start and are trying to figure out how to write for this changed show. But on top of that, they tried to introduce science topics into the show in addition to the math ones. And in my opinion, the science lessons weren't very well written and dragged the episodes. For me, those episodes weren't the best. I think that the showrunners realized that because there are no science episodes that I can think of in season 4. So basically, Mobile Unit is almost a new show and thus they are trying to figure out how to write for this new format, which really shows through the quality of the episodes

Okay that was a lot longer than I thought it would be haha (I ramble too much haha). And now to rank the story/mystery arcs. Which is going to be below the cut bc SPOILERS. Don't read if you haven't seen all 4 seasons. I am looking at you guys who I am trying to get to watch season 2- I don't want to have the mystery arc spoiled for you guys! So spoilers ahead!

Season 1: without a doubt the Odd Todd mystery arc is the best of the whole show. All the hints of him through the 43s and brief mentions all leading up to the grand reveal of Odd Todd in Training Day were perfect!! Training Day is a masterpiece within itself as we get to see the return of Todd and the reveal of Olive's past. And throughout the rest of the season (and honestly the show), Odd Todd proves to be a great character and villain. Seriously, no other main season villain ever lived up to Odd Todd. Joshua Kilimnik's portrayal of Odd Todd made him feel like an actual threat to Odd Squad while also have a very peculiar personality that was so fun to watch. And of course, connected with this mystery arc is Olive's and Otto's character arc though it is mainly Olive's. Olive was traumatized from the events with Todd and at first was closed off from Otto. However, she soon learned to trust him not only as a partner but as a friend. I will forever quote Otto from Disorder in the Court, "Olive, we're not just partners. We're friends. Nothing will ever change that." Also all of Trials and Tubulations cement their friendship but that is an essay for another day haha. And then of course all of this is paid off in O Is Not For Over, which is a great finale where Odd Todd is defeated and turns over a new leaf (haha) and Olive and Otto get to run their own Odd Squad. Now if we are going to get picky, I wish that the finale didn't kinda pull the rug under us and reveal that Otto didn't actually turn over the bad side. It would be interesting to see him tunr evil even for a short while. But that is just a minor thing. Basically all of the plot important episodes were very well written and executed and it all paid off in the finale

Season 2: this season's main question of "Who is agent Otis" was kinda a let down for me bc I basically called it from the beginning that Otis was a former villain associated with ducks. And honestly the actual reveal was a letdown for me bc I personally thought that my theory/idea for the season finale was better: Otis was raised by a family of evil ducks but he never wanted to be a villain. However, in the finale, the ducks come back and take Otis away, forcing him to help them carry out their evil scheme but he is reluctant and eventually with the help of the squad they defeated the ducks. But obviously that didn't happen. What really annoys me about the reveal is that everyone calls Otis a villain even though he never really was?? Like he was never evil, and we never see him doing evil crimes for the ducks. So that whole final trial (a poorer version of Disorder In the Court in my opinion) made no sense. Basically, I don't think that the Otis mystery paid off at all bc the hints were obvious (at least to me), and the reveal was very poorly executed at the end. Also the reveal happened at the end of the season. With Season 1, Odd Todd was revealed in the middle of the season, giving the show time to further explore his character in later episodes. If they did the Otis reveal in the middle of the season, then we could have gotten more time to see how that affects Otis and his dynamic with the rest of the squad and especially with Olympia. Instead by leaving the reveal until the very end, all the reactions and the reunion feel rushed and forced. BUT while thinking about ask this morning, I realized that there was a second connected arc that was better executed: the villain break-ins. We see the villains breaking in thoroughout the season, but I personally didn't think much about them. Then in the end, it is revealed that the villain break-ins is connected to the traitor. So good on the show for dropping these hints without me noticing them the first time around haha. However, what was horribly excecuted is the reveal that Ohlm was the traitor and main villain all along. I still think that Ohlm being the main villain was a last minute rewrite and if it wasn't then the show did a horrible job of building that up. Also Ohlm acting as a villain is pretty weak especially compared to Odd Todd. The X's should have been the main villains but I guess they were just red herrings. Basically, I think that the mystery arc of this season wasn't very written and not executed well but at least it had potential. Unlike Mobile Unit...

Season 3: okay in a sense the mystery arc was better established in this season than season 2. We get introduced to the Shadow at the beginning of the season, and we see her throughout the season. But once again I already figured out that she was Opal's sister, so that mystery arc was ruined for me LOL. Also her villain acting is not great (sorry guys you are nowhere near Odd Todd's level haha). Like all of the other main season villains, she wants to destroy Odd Squad but I found her reasoning for turning evil to be the weakest of all 3 of them. She decided to turn evil just because of her sister?? And on top of that, I found the finale was weak. She changes her tune way too fast in my opinion. At least with Ohlm, he still wanted to destroy Odd Squad despite being saved by the main four. Basically, I personally didn't like the story arc of this season and didn't think it paid off well. The Shadow being almost immediately forgiven does not feel deserved.

Season 4: what season arc was there??? something about the thing that Golden sundial?? It was mentioned in the first episode of the season and like never mentioned again until the end of the season. On top of that they never even established the main villain, Olando (I honestly forgot most of this season's arc and even this guy's name, I had to look it up lol), and he wasn't even really a villain in the first place! They had him go rogue for like an episode (turning for a really weak reason that I can't even remember now- he didn't want to work in a team??) and then try to repent like 15 minutes later. They could at least make him a full on villain like the past seasons' villains, and it would have made this season's story arc so much more interesting. And on top of that, they resolved the final conflict way too fast. There was no build up and they traveled back in time to talk to Ms. O and Oscar (please don't get me started on how horrible this scene was haha). And then when they defeated the problem (me using vague terms bc I barely remember what the actual problem was LOL), Orlando just walks off?? Without suffering any consequences?? This season's story arc (or really lack of one) was just BAD. And such a sad way to end the series. Oh and one more thing: yes Oswald let's name every single past main odd squad agent and then travel back in time to visit them (the way that line was written and executed annoys me so much ahhhh). Anyway, yes season 4 had the weakest story arc out of all of them Wow that was a lot. Thank you for reading all of that if you've made it this far. I honestly rambled a lot, and I'm not sure if half the things I wrote even made sense (I'm not rereading this LOL). Anyway thanks for the ask! And I would love to know how you would rank the seasons! Ask me anything about Odd Squad!

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