I listened to this episode twice though not because I was as caught up as I’d been for the last episode. I think that will be my habit from now on, as it helped me catch some things I would have missed otherwise.
So for the most part this episode didn’t strike me as creepy or spooky at all, just gross. I felt like there was a very key bit of information that was missing that made the whole episode fall a little flat for me. They never told us Toby’s estimated time of death. It just seemed like that information could have added another layer to it all.
Ok, let me back up. I want to comment on the intro music, as I’ve yet to do so. I really enjoy it and think it sets the mood for the podcast very nicely. It’s simple and not distracting and creepy but not in an unpleasant way. I find the clattering sound interesting. It makes me visualize a long hallway in an old school or prison or the like with those noisy lights that make a loud noise as they’re turned off, with the lights turning off row by row down the length of the hallway. I can only assume that’s the intention and it’s an intriguing image.
Anyway, back to the timing. This whole story was spread out over a much longer time than most of the other ones I’ve heard so far, nearly five years from when he moved in to when he reported it. Toby was nailing meat to the walls for like two years before his body was found and I find it difficult to believe that quantity of rotting flesh wouldn’t attract more attention sooner. It was also over two from the time when the guy delivered the package to Toby and when he discovered his body. The mention of the mark on Toby’s hand seemed like it was emphasized enough that it should have been relevant like perhaps this was the wound that became gangrenous and killed him but from what little I know if gangrene it doesn’t usually take that long.
I guess overall this episode felt like it lacked a sense of cohesion and left so many questions unanswered that it went from intriguing to frustrating. There were lots of little tidbits that felt like they were supposed to lead somewhere but unless I’m being particularly obtuse, just were sort of left hanging. There were prior episodes that left a huge question mark at the end- Lost Johns’ Cave springs to mind- but they were much more about the experience of the person than about the answers we might glean from it and ‘stinky upstairs neighbor’ just wasn’t that enthralling to me. Perhaps I’ll get more information and feel more satisfied with it in the future but for now it’s low on my list of favorite episodes.
Where is Martin? Is he really out sick or is he on some kind of super secret mission? :o
