Seeing as my internal rewards system has moved on to 'trans fiction' from 'queer horror audio drama podcast' I thought I should do a little roundup of everything I listened to the past few months.
A rough ranking:
Malevolent. Just squeaking into the top spot here based on 1) technical prowess (iykyk) 2) compelling characters and story and 3) they are my blorbos your honor!!! Mind boggling that Harlan Guthrie has so much chemistry with himself.
The Silt Verses. Only topped by Malevolent bc season 1 is not as polished, but it really doesn't matter. Top tier characters, amazing worldbuilding, intricate plotting and it had something to SAY about the casual violence of systems, the nature of hope, the complexity of being human in a world that tries to make us inhuman. Also, it doesn't rely on some thin recording contrivance (a framing device that has its place) and instead truly takes the mantle of audio drama without apology.
The White Vault. On the topic of framing devices, TWV has a very cool take on found footage recordings. A group of [researchers/archeologists] are sent to investigate a remote site in [Svalbard/Patagonia] and the podcast is structured as a documentarian presenting the notes, recordings and diary entries in a reconstructed timeline. My favorite element is that many of the characters don't make their notes in English, so the segments will often open with the VA speaking German, Spanish, Mandarin, Icelandic, Russian, etc etc before fading into the translation. There are miniseries between the seasons available on their patreon and they were so worth the $10 I paid to access them for a month. Reveals are slow, but worthwhile, and the mythology built for the show is highly original and intriguing.
Deviser. A one season contained story from Harlan Guthrie of Malevolent. Scifi, psychological, lots of wet awful body horror. If you're a fan of Harlan wimpering into a mic, you'll love this one.
WOE.BEGONE. Long, ongoing, and so so so far from the original premise it's hilarious, I'm ranking this higher than it maybe deserves for two factors 1) the creator and the VAs are clearly having a blast and 2) it's riding the line of taking itself serious despite a premise that invites irony poisoning without becoming too wrapped up in itself. It's fun, I think, that keeps w.bg strong.
The Magnus Archives. Should this be one up? Probably. But everyone bloody well knows tma by this point, it's good, great even! Beyoncé of horror podcasts.
I Am In Eskew. Only knocked down due to the actually godawful sound quality. Truly unsettling stories though (the one with the building architect haunts me) and a surprisingly realistic conclusion. You can see the bones of The Silt Verses here, from the same creative team.
The Magnus Protocol. Everything above this is there due to originality. As a sequel series, TMAGP will always suffer in that measure. However, I like our new cast and I do love an alternate reality. Curious to see where season 2 takes us. I'd like to kill Mr Bonzo in a fire.
The Inexplicables. Another one season story, this time from Rusty Quill, with really fun, flawed characters and no recording framing device!
Wolf 359. Storywise, great! Characters, excellent! Kicking it way to the bottom bc they just would NOT STOP referencing H***y P****r. Yes, Doug's characterization hangs on excessive reference humor, but that was one well I wish they'd left alone.
Red Valley. Knocked for HP references too (come ON british podcasters, do better) but more importantly for veering WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY too close to real life in season 3 onward. I was here for a horror sci fi story about cryogenics, not to listen to my worst climate disaster fears brought to life via hearing rich old sods try to buy their way out of consequences while the world burns and eco terrorism escalates. Too real. Not bad storytelling, just very much not fulfilling my escapism needs.
It's kinda crazy to me that anytime I mention this genre to normies in my life they say, "oh, like true crime podcasts?" And then I die inside. No dude, like radio drama. Like War of the Worlds.
Anyway, I'm off to get even less relatable by reading a zillion niche trans novels (hello Welcome to Dorley Hall, aka, what if there really was a 'trans cult' force femming dudes to undermine their masculinity? It's amazing how much yarn we can make by subverting the cis gaze.)
Glad Fyodor's finally dead, everyone's alive and we can go back to solving cases and flirting fighting with the PM :D
so I got into grad school today with my shitty 2.8 gpa and the moral of the story is reblog those good luck posts for the love of god
You have so much fun on the internet watching other people have fun on the internet.
Hermitcraft +2
Dimension 20 +5
The Amazing Digital Circus +11
The QSMP Minecraft Server -2
Dan and Phil +20
Critical Role -5
Homestuck -3
Fantasy High: Junior Year
The Magnus Archives -1
The Magnus Protocol
Helluva Boss
EPIC: The Musical
Game Changer +10
StarKid Productions +13
RWBY -10
The Welcome Home ARG -10
Watcher Entertainment
Malevolent +10
The Life Series SMP
Nerdy Prudes Must Die +2
Dracula Daily -12
Crow Time +10
Half-Life VR but the AI is Self-Aware +10
Shen Comix -5
Smosh
Alien Stage
Inanimate Insanity
Marble Hornets +8
The Dream SMP Minecraft Server -14
Dungeons and Daddies -13
Lackadaisy -7
Sun and Moon Show
Make Some Noise
Thomas Sanders -4
Pusheen
Desertduo Vigilante AU
Battle for Dream Island
Re: Dracula -12
Parkour Civilization
Animator vs. Animation
Eddsworld +1
The Walten Files
Redacted ASMR -3
Drawfee
Misfits And Magic
Red vs. Blue
Florkofcows
The Adventure Zone
Ghost Files -29
Batman: Wayne Family Adventures -1
The number in italics indicates how many spots a series or group moved up or down from the previous year. Bolded series or groups weren’t on the list last year.
Do you love to yell with other fans on the internet about your favorite series on the internet? Well, here's a bunch of The Amazing Digital Circus Communities to get you started.
I keep thinking about the possibiity of Arthur and John both dying, John going back to the Dark World... and Arthur not winding up in the Dark World but instead finding himself back in the Waylay.
His Blood & Sand is still waiting, right where he left it. This time it's accompanied by the person who ordered it for him: Parker.
And Parker says, hey, you're finally here, it's all okay now. You've been through all kinds of hell, but now it's over. You can rest. We'll go find your little girl, and you can be at peace together, and be done with all of the pain you've suffered. You can rest. Just come with me, okay?
Arthur's still a little dazed--not quite sure where he is or how he got here or why it's so strange to see Parker again, feels like maybe he's forgetting something important--but oh god he's tired and everything hurts, he knows that much, and going to be with Faroe and have all the time in forever to just be, without worries or fears, sounds like--well, he's not a believer, obviously, but it sounds like heaven. He agrees, and starts to follow Parker out of the bar to whatever's next.
And then the band starts playing a different song:
And you call it madness, oh, but I call it love...
And Arthur remembers what he's forgotten that was so important, and remembers who he'll be leaving behind if he goes this way. Who he'll be leaving behind, alone, in a dark and horrific place, forever. Who he once told he would find again, should they both find themselves in hell.
And Arthur Lester has a choice to make.
The entirety of Dracula by Bram Stoker is really just:
Dr Seward: I wish we could figure out what’s wrong with Lucy.
Van Helsing: I figured it out immediately but I’m just going to let you solve it yourselves.
Dr Seward: Or you could just tell us.
Van Helsing: Friend John :( I have known you for one thousand years and you have been one of my very good friends and best students :( Do you not trust me? Why do you not trust me, friend John? Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me? Do you not think I have a good reason for withholding vital information? :(:(:(:( Have faith in me, your very old and good friend.
Dr Seward: You’re right :(
Lucy: I love everyone so much and I’m going to tell them every day 🥰💕 also legalise polyamory wtf
Renfield: look at all my pets that I’m definitely not eating 🪰🪰🪰🪰
Dr Seward: What happened to all the birds I gave you?
Renfield, with a mouth full of a feathers: I have no idea.
Arthur: I think… I miss my wife… also how the fuck didn’t we realise Dracula’s house was right next door?
Quincey: I keep saying I’m not that smart but I’m the only one to immediately point out that something was actively taking Lucy’s blood. Brb need to go shoot a giant bat with a gun.
Mina: I am the only person keeping this shit show together. We literally would not have made it without me and no one who adapts my character seems to get that. Women are the heart of this story. I am the glue that binds this group together. I just want ONE MOVIE that understands that and values my intelligence, which is at the forefront of my character.
Renfield: I have an entire character arc but don’t expect any adaptations to show it.
Quincey: ok but what if… we shot Dracula with a gun??? Also stop fucking cutting me from all the adaptations.
Jonathan: has seen indescribable horrors, is a shell of his former self, will literally never be what he was before going to Transylvania
Dracula: oh Jonathan! 🥰🥰🧛🏻🧛🏻🥰🩸🩸🥰🥰
BONUS: everyone is constantly holding hands, especially all of the men, and talking about how they’re going to be best friends forever. The male friendships in this book are shockingly pure and the women are incredible. The Crew of Light are actually the only found family ever, I think.
What is so special about you?
I checked. I watched your life unfold, Arty.
For part one, click here. I went on another audio drama binge and I found some that were pretty fun to listen to. I usually tend to go after the ones that are completed because the longer the wait, the more likely I will forget the details, but this time I just went for anything that caught my attention. This also isn’t in any particular order.
Keep reading
Recently, I’ve been on a audio drama binge and there’s a couple that I found that were really good, interesting or just fun and enjoyable to listen to. They’re not in any particular order.
Keep reading
A currency that isn’t gold-standard/having gold be as valuable as tin
A currency that runs entirely on a perishable resource, like cocoa beans
A clock that isn’t 24-hours
More or less than four seasons/seasons other than the ones we know
Fantastical weather patterns like irregular cloud formations, iridescent rain
Multiple moons/no moon
Planetary rings
A northern lights effect, but near the equator
Roads that aren’t brown or grey/black, like San Juan’s blue bricks
Jewelry beyond precious gems and metals
Marriage signifiers other than wedding bands
The husband taking the wife's name / newlyweds inventing a new surname upon marriage
No concept of virginity or bastardry
More than 2 genders/no concept of gender
Monotheism, but not creationism
Gods that don’t look like people
Domesticated pets that aren’t re-skinned dogs and cats
Some normalized supernatural element that has nothing to do with the plot
Magical communication that isn’t Fantasy Zoom
“Books” that aren’t bound or scrolls
A nonverbal means of communicating, like sign language
A race of people who are obligate carnivores/ vegetarians/ vegans/ pescatarians (not religious, biological imperative)
I’ve done about half of these myself in one WIP or another and a little detail here or there goes a long way in reminding the audience that this isn’t Kansas anymore.