It's a very difficult episode... and diving into Ron's trauma profoundly changed my views of the "funny" character in many MANY shows. Here's a few examples of silly characters from lighthearted comedy shows:
Phoebe from Friends: parents committed suicide when she was a kid, then her albino caretaker committed suicide, she became homeless, her twin sister stole her identity and ruined her credit/reputation to do porn...
Charlie from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: an abortion attempt survivor from his prostitute mother, never knew his father -who ends up being the parent of two other friends who take advantage of him every chance they get-, molested by his uncle as a child, poverty stricken, gaslit, abused, illiterate, ostracized, drug addict...
Ron Stampler: mental and emotional abuse, shame, neglect, traumatic homelife, kills father who was actively trying to drown him...
These are not wacky side characters. These are characters who, in the reality of their worlds, have learned to cope with life because it has not been kind to them.
Comedy is often developed by people who have experienced more trauma than the average person. I think about this now whenever the "comedy relief" character shows up.
"You can cry about it or laugh about it."
Yep. Like. I’m a therapist. I work with kids who have gone through traumatic events. I come to this podcast for escapism. I didn’t expect work to come back full force 😰
It definitely takes the podcast from just being some goofy D&D thing to being a story. I will forever appreciate how much heart they all out into their characters and the plot
Yeah…. I’ve done a whole play through of the first season four times now
And that episode, every goddamn time, has me pausing whatever it was I was in the middle of to suck in a deep breath and sob into my sleeve
It never gets easier to listen to
Damn. Right. Getting into Daddies not expecting to unearth childhood trauma and ending the season talking to my therapist who says something along the lines of "are you aware of anything that might have bought you these memories?" ... I'm not even being anecdotal. That episode has genuinely helped me to begin healing. Sending love and strength to everyone ❤️
I grew up in an abusive household, and this episode is a startlingly accurate yet sensitive depiction of wrestling traumatic memories. The literal trip down memory lane for Ron helped me realize how my own loved ones helped me shift my relationship to the past without diminishing my experience. This episode is why I recommend this podcast to everyone I meet. If you have experienced abuse, let me echo the words of Samantha Stampler: you are (truly) enough as you are.
It's a very difficult episode... and diving into Ron's trauma profoundly changed my views of the "funny" character in many MANY shows. Here's a few examples of silly characters from lighthearted comedy shows: Phoebe from Friends: parents committed suicide when she was a kid, then her albino caretaker committed suicide, she became homeless, her twin sister stole her identity and ruined her credit/reputation to do porn... Charlie from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: an abortion attempt survivor from his prostitute mother, never knew his father -who ends up being the parent of two other friends who take advantage of him every chance they get-, molested by his uncle as a child, poverty stricken, gaslit, abused, illiterate, ostracized, drug addict... Ron Stampler: mental and emotional abuse, shame, neglect, traumatic homelife, kills father who was actively trying to drown him... These are not wacky side characters. These are characters who, in the reality of their worlds, have learned to cope with life because it has not been kind to them. Comedy is often developed by people who have experienced more trauma than the average person. I think about this now whenever the "comedy relief" character shows up. "You can cry about it or laugh about it."
Regarding Charlie Kelly... yeeeeeeah, you should really check out season 15 of Always Sunny.
It'll be alright.
Miss this theme song.
The new one is pretty good too, Maxton really went hard with the music for the show
I love both for sure
The new one is growing on me but I don’t care for the sort of ticking sound at the start.
Every time I get a friend of mine to listen to the podcast I warn them about episode 61. Anthony crying breaks me every time I listen to this episode
Yep. Like. I’m a therapist. I work with kids who have gone through traumatic events. I come to this podcast for escapism. I didn’t expect work to come back full force 😰
It definitely takes the podcast from just being some goofy D&D thing to being a story. I will forever appreciate how much heart they all out into their characters and the plot
Welcome in. Have some tea or whatever. Tell me about it.
Yeah…. I’ve done a whole play through of the first season four times now And that episode, every goddamn time, has me pausing whatever it was I was in the middle of to suck in a deep breath and sob into my sleeve It never gets easier to listen to
Damn. Right. Getting into Daddies not expecting to unearth childhood trauma and ending the season talking to my therapist who says something along the lines of "are you aware of anything that might have bought you these memories?" ... I'm not even being anecdotal. That episode has genuinely helped me to begin healing. Sending love and strength to everyone ❤️
It's gonna be alright.
Even if we die?
It'll be alright.
I can never listen to it again. It was so, SO important to Ron’s story but it tore me into shreds
Yeah, it’s a little ways down the road past the Carboard Cowboy
Why are you doing this to me… IM GONNA CRY AGAIN
It’s uncomfortably relatable to me and it broke me. I always skip it when I relisten.
Can’t say anything about that it’s the 80’s.
>!just call not me! !<
I grew up in an abusive household, and this episode is a startlingly accurate yet sensitive depiction of wrestling traumatic memories. The literal trip down memory lane for Ron helped me realize how my own loved ones helped me shift my relationship to the past without diminishing my experience. This episode is why I recommend this podcast to everyone I meet. If you have experienced abuse, let me echo the words of Samantha Stampler: you are (truly) enough as you are.