Hmmm. I can appreciate many stories if what is being conveyed is relevant. How about film analogies? Sometimes a story's relevancy is minor, but character is good the story is enjoyable: such as Godzilla 2000 (Japanese). Sometimes a story is relevant and powerful but needs some dissecting and a good deal of time to unearth, the surface may be tarnished: such as many Dr. Who episodes. Sometimes a story is just eye candy and is ultimately not entertaining or meaningful: Jurassic Park 3. Now sometimes a story is relevant and especially meaningful. These are the gems, such as Das Boot. Add beauty to a story with the other attributes and we have a masterpiece. Is "Help Somebody" a masterpiece? In it's realm, yes.. It contains enough of the elements -character-relevancy-beauty(in story and music) combined with tremendous meaningfulness to make this a very unique episode. It is a mutation really. These shows were produced each day on a fine time schedule. The story itself has some 45 minutes to be told-on radio! Yet this was accomplished. Certainly loneliness, depression and the meaning of life are weighty subjects. To present these in a story in such a manner that is poignant is the goal. I think this was accomplished here.

Someone wondered what the 3 people and dog might represent. Maybe the best way to answer this is to look at their effect on the story and protagonist. The young thin girl, "rather plain really". I think Anthony describes her is female human companionship that is nonsexual. He began to look forward to sitting with her and simply make human contact. Now, our "Feral dogs only live about 2 yr" gentlman serves as a contrast for Anthony's developing awareness of this new dog world. His callousness stirs hate in Anthony. Would Anthony have reacted so in the earlier acts? He would not. So we see that Anthony has feelings indeed! Now our older gentleman is "Understanding" where the dog is "Something". Anthony relates his experience to the old man, and the old man interprets. This is a valuable tool for Anthony. Then we have the glorious moment when Anthony realizes what Something is and pursues it as if his life counted on it. Indeed his life did count on it. Here Anthony is feeling quite a bit. He is feeling alive!

I would imagine those who have experienced depression can relate to this story particularily well. However, what happens here is a crucial lesson in "living" for all people. This is certainly something to think about if one hasn't done so already. I am happy to see that the show has stimulated the member's fine brains and hearts.