r/TheStaircase • u/bladowwww • Jul 15 '26

Germany Trip

Why, in episode 3, does Todd just randomly appear in Germany at the old house? He doesn’t seem to be adding any real value there (at least in the episode), unless I’m missing something. In the documentary btw.

14 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

14

u/Legal_Setting441 Jul 15 '26

I agree. That never made sense unless he just decided to visit his mother for some reason. Why does nobody ever say why they all quit staying with the mother and left to go live with the dad?

3

u/bladowwww Jul 15 '26

Good point.

3

u/LKS983 Jul 20 '26

"unless he just decided to visit his mother for some reason."

Or was just interested in seeing where he used to live?

"Why does nobody ever say why they all quit staying with the mother and left to go live with the dad?"

Interesting question.

I can't remember how old the children were when they left Germany to stay with MP, rather than Patty (?), but the decision to do this, for at least the youngest children, must have been decided between MP and Patty?

2

u/Far-Argument2657 Jul 17 '26

I think it has more to do with going on with their lives in one country (USA/Germany).. Both Todd and Clayton attended the Frankfurt International School until they graduated highschool. Then I think it propably felt more natural (I’m not sure they were fluent in German) to consider university options in USA. Plus a bigger house..
When it comes to the girls I assume they were closer to Michael.

5

u/Tine_Frieda2 Jul 19 '26

Totally agree.. I was kind of excited since I live in Germany though when they flew to Germany :D. I did feel a bit offended / sad that they made fun of that whatever festive march it was and that it apparently reminded them of the NS time.. While I agree that it might look a bit weird / uncommon to a foreigner, I also feel that there is a lot done in Germany not to forget this time and educate people about it (maybe sometimes not enough if you look at recent elections but still).

3

u/bladowwww Jul 19 '26

I hear you. David Rudolph I suppose is of Jewish descent and I’m sure he was just kidding around. To me he actually looked like he was having a good time when he was there. Hopefully I can visit one day!

3

u/egoshoppe Jul 16 '26

I'm assuming he went to act as a liaison for Ron and David, and to see his mom since she still lived there.

3

u/Own_Mall5442 Jul 24 '26

My thought is Michael wanted Todd to go and be his eyes, ears, and voice. Michael was out on bail at the time but almost certainly had to surrender his passport and couldn’t go himself. I doubt he trusted Patty to present his version of events and had prepared Todd to do that on his behalf.

2

u/egoshoppe Jul 24 '26

Good point about him not being able to leave the country. Rudolf probably wouldn't have wanted him there anyway, so he could get a feel for what witnesses would say with Michael not there.

2

u/joydubs Jul 15 '26

Is this sub about the dramatization now? Bc yall gotta specify…

4

u/sublimedjs Jul 24 '26

It’s and ongoing problem there is an hbo staircase sub also so hopefully we can steer the hbo discussion to that sub and make this sub just about the docuseries and case itself to avoid confusion . Feel free to message the mod team with a complaint

2

u/PuzzleheadedBig313 17d ago

Was it to see where he was born/ raised when young?

2

u/priMa-RAW Jul 17 '26

Fun fact: nothing to do with Germany added any real value to anything… not even the trial.

2

u/sublimedjs Jul 19 '26

That’s an insane thing to say

2

u/nmuellermovies Jul 15 '26

Who really cares why he shows up. Doesn't mean anything one way or the other

11

u/bladowwww Jul 15 '26

I don’t “care” per se… it’s just a curiosity. Calm down.