Walking Distance vs A Stop at Willoughby
Similar themes, both from the 1st season.
Which of these two do you prefer and why?
I prefer Walking Distance. My reviews:
Walking Distance: This is one of my favourite episodes. There are some really nice moments here, I enjoyed the interactions and the performances of the actors. I like the journey that the character goes on and how it affects him. It's just a very enjoyable, good natured episode that I really connected with. 10/10
A Sop at Willoughby: I enjoyed this episode. It was an interesting premise with a good twist. The ending is somewhat ambiguous. However you interpret it, this is a really good episode. 8/10
Well observed.
I wish the ending of Willoughby was indeed a little less ambiguous even though my wife and I both interpret it as Gart getting off the train at Willoughby and finally enjoying the life he wanted all along.
Walking Distance had a great message. When his father suggested that instead of looking behind him (to the past), he should look for happiness looking forward. Great message.
That's how I interpreted it too.
shareI interpreted it as....
spoiler:
he jumped off a moving train and died. Willoughby was the afterlife where he rest in peace aka: heaven. That's why the funeral home is called Willoughby.
It's one of my favorite episodes 10/10. I like idyllic small towns like Mayberry and Bedford Falls, also.
Yeah, I wasn't clear. When he stepped off the Stamford train he died but when he stepped off the Willoughby train he went to Willoughby to live the "life" we most wanted.
That episode reminds me of "The Bewitchin' Pool" episode with the brother and sister who jump in a pool and end up in a place with a "grandma" taking care of many kids.
It's a fantasy show so I guess they're all in the Twilight Zone.
My favorite part of The Bewitching Pool is the reasonable sized hanks of cake that Ain't T portions out to the kids. All I would need is a pot of coffee, a hank of that cake, and a couch to take a nap afterwards on.
It can be interpreted that he went to heaven or some sort of paradise, that death was the only means available and the price to escape as it obviously cost him his life but he wasn’t cognizant of it when it did happen. It reminds me of the old Moody Blues song, “Knights in White Satin”. “Just what you want to be, you’ll be in the end.”
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