I listened to the show while I was hard at work. It was just okay.

Then it came time to post my thoughts, but I held back. I didn't feel I gave the show a proper "listen." So, I listened to it again.

Woah.

It always blows me away how much more you gain from listening to a show more than once. This is a prime example. It began, for me as a yet another World War II episode, which there are a great deal of in the RMT collection. I just went with it, despite tales of this period not being my particular favorite.

Then the show moved to a dark, painful place, war aside. Or perhaps, war within, if you catch my meaning. The battle which Carl Erich was dealing with internally must have been horrific. Add in a vicious, mentally and physically abusive mother... oh my!

But how diabolical of the RMT writers that take us from that place into one of hope and victory. The scene in the bakery. It was the schoolyard chump standing up to the bully. And with the Dr.'s providence peering in from the background. Fabulous!

But again. Again! The writer's take us into that darkness, begrudgingly and knowingly. We all know what to expect. In the case of Carl Erich, it was simply unfair. We all know where it could lead him. When the friend who invites him to move in mentions the "meeting," I closed my eyes and thought, "ugh."

But the final deliverance of the Dr.'s words were like a hen dropped into a deep well. I admit missing it the first time. It generated a unique smile on my face, while saddening me with reality.

This was a fine episode. Unlike many others I've heard. You could take many other historical scenarios and put them into the mix instead of WW2, and the effect could be similar. The redemption. The unholy retribution. woah.

In a strange way, this tale reminds me of when I was a young art student and I discovered the work of Dr. Theodore Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss. We all know of his work with The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham, but when I came across his Oscar winning works that were products of his absolute despise of the Nazi regime (Hitler in particular), I was much like that hen dropping into the well. It changed my perspective. It made me realize that there MUST be a point to the work I create. For if there is no point, then the work is pointless. Much like the life of Carl Erich.

Anyhow, again I ramble! If you'd like to see Seuss' political work from the '40s.

I gave this episode a very rare 5. An excellent selection. Thank you!