What higher forms of pain and suffering are there? It's all subjective and a matter of opinion sure.  But many would say there is no greater, ongoing, long term destruction of a human being than sexual abuse.

It's has entered their house.  It's in our house now and it's time we take care of this problem! (I sounded exactly like Saumel L. in my head while I was typing that. And there was a lot more swearing that I edited out.

BTW, I can't believe you made me laugh while talking about rape.

Accepting they - or some of them - get their jollies from Garmonbozia, it's a perfectly sensible thing to imagine some of them are gluttons and want more than their share.

For all we know, their idea about suffering may be devoid of our emotional baggage; to them it tastes nice and that's the end of it.  Does anyone here really care about what the animals we eat think about it?  I mean, it's all well and good to say we sign up to all these ethical this that and the other but we still keep killing and eating 'em.  Maybe we're the same to the Lodge entities, just food.

I once suggested the Lodge gang may be beyond good and evil, as we understand it.  It's a possibility that, as far as they are concerned, we're not even really alive or intelligent.  Suppose we really are like fish in a lake?  Just there for someone's pleasure, whether it's catching for sport, eating or just taking a look at now and again?

I get the impression that Gerard (physical host) died, and MIKE now remains in the lodge. 

That said, is it possible we'll get a big reveal next week that Coop has been dealing with the real Gerard, and MIKE will make a surprise appearance?

It's been heavily discussed that MIKE is down as Philip Gerard in the credits. 

It has been notable to me how straightforward Mike is in the lodge. He is not speaking in riddles, which one doesn't expect in the red room.

I'm glad he's played such a prominent role in The Return. Mike is the Magician and I expect great things from him in the finale  

'Through the darkness of future past 


The magician longs to see. 


One chants out between two worlds 


Fire walk with me.'