"The Stone Guest" is as bleak as Route 66 ever gets, but that doesn't mean it's a bad episode. In fact, it's one of the most philosophical and honest episodes in the entire series.
"The Stone Guest" centers around a friend of Linc's - Ben Belden, played excellently by Lee Philips in one of his two appearances in the Route 66 series - having trouble readjusting to regular life in his hometown after returning from the war. Tod tries to chalk up Ben's failure to Ben's character but, in a rare twist, Tod realizes and admits he's wrong to judge. Tod's conversion is complete when he finds a way not just to accept but, ultimately, validate the life of Ben Belden for the sake of Belden's son, David, who's dealing with anger and confusion over his father.
Christopher Votos plays David and is powerful to watch. He appears to be about seven years old but his face, complete with a black eye from fighting over his father, says everything a person need to know about anger and depression. It's surprising to find that, according to IMDB, this is the only role Votos ever played.
"The Stone Guest" does not have a single happy moment. Not one. It's relentless as it paints a dark picture of how lonely, unjust, and unhappy the world can be. That makes it sound like this episode doesn't have much to offer, but nothing could be further from the truth.
"The Stone Guest" centers around a friend of Linc's - Ben Belden, played excellently by Lee Philips in one of his two appearances in the Route 66 series - having trouble readjusting to regular life in his hometown after returning from the war. Tod tries to chalk up Ben's failure to Ben's character but, in a rare twist, Tod realizes and admits he's wrong to judge. Tod's conversion is complete when he finds a way not just to accept but, ultimately, validate the life of Ben Belden for the sake of Belden's son, David, who's dealing with anger and confusion over his father.
Christopher Votos plays David and is powerful to watch. He appears to be about seven years old but his face, complete with a black eye from fighting over his father, says everything a person need to know about anger and depression. It's surprising to find that, according to IMDB, this is the only role Votos ever played.
"The Stone Guest" does not have a single happy moment. Not one. It's relentless as it paints a dark picture of how lonely, unjust, and unhappy the world can be. That makes it sound like this episode doesn't have much to offer, but nothing could be further from the truth.