The Audio File: The TEMP: Season 1

I've already established, on multiple occasions, that I'm happy to help anyone who ask me to review their audio drama podcasts. I don't really have any more preamble to add, so let's jump right into it. We're taking a look at The TEMP.

The TEMP follows a man named Bernie Pfelger. He's a temporary worker, a temp if you will. He has worked many strange jobs, with many strange employers. We are joining him on all the wacky misadventures in his quest to find permanent employment. I realize that isn't much of a summary, but I promise that this is a good show.

I was approached by series creator Michael Wilhelm to review this audio drama. He noticed my frequent posting of reviews in the Audio Drama Lovers Facebook group. I said yes, after I took care of a couple other reviews, and now here we are.

A few general thoughts before we delve into the individual episodes. The TEMP is recorded before a live audience. The first few episodes were recorded in a coffee shop with an audience of about thirty. Later episodes were recorded in a television studio with a slightly smaller audience, but the microphone was better able to record audience reactions. So yes, that is real laughter you are hearing in the episodes.

The acting is good, but it felt like something was off when I first listened to The TEMP. I guess recording in front of a lives audience does result in a different sound that recording in a studio. It's also a bit more barebones compared to most audio dramas. Not as much music or sound effects as most other audio dramas. The dialogue and acting certainly carry the show, but there were a couple times I felt that a little music, or a touch more of sound effects would have gone a long way.

The humor and writing are very reminiscent of Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Stuff like The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo and the like. That's interesting because Hanna-Barbera cartoons were often criticized by animation veterans as being illustrated radio plays, due to how dialogue-heavy they were. Of course, that was kind of a necessity due to the limited animation style Hanna-Barbera utilized. And some would argue the dialogue was part of the charm of those shows.

Okay, now let's move onto the individual episodes. Episode One is called "Voices." It sets up the basis premise of the series. Bernie is working a terrible job for a terrible boss. He decides to use his knack for doing impressions to get back at the boss. This works, but he gets fired, and thus we have our series. Okay, got to admit, this was the weakest episode of the bunch. The series was still trying to find its footing, and the humor came across as corny rather than charming. Well, let's leave this one behind and move on to Episode Two, what I consider to be the true start of the series.

Episode Two is titled "Child's Play." Bernie is hired to work at a video game company. It is a very youth oriented start-up. In fact, Bernie is the oldest person there. Oh, and did I mention that the second oldest employee is eleven? Yeah, not only is the company aimed at kids, it is also run by kids. Bernie is hired to wear a high-tech mascot suit at conventions. It seems like a fairly simple and fun job. What could possibly go wrong?

This is the episode where the series really found its footing, and is the one I recommend starting with. The true charm of The TEMP is having Bernie, our everyman, finding himself in absurd and unusual situations. The suit he wears did sound kind of cool. It has its own internal air conditioning system, and the face of the mask is synchronized with the facial movements of the wearer. If I did have one criticism of the episode, and I admit this is more of a nitpick than anything, it would be that some of the stuff the kids like seemed a bit outdated. For example, it was pretty strange that there were no Fortnight references, despite the company being run by and for kids.

The kids also have cubical so based on things from cartoons. One kid has a cubical shaped like the Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo. Okay, that's acceptable, and fitting, given how similar to a Hanna-Barbera cartoon The TEMP is. Except another kid had Snoopy's doghouse. I'm not so sure The Peanuts are as popular as they used to be. Though the kid with a pineapple cubical was a nice touch. If you're wondering what that one is, answer the following question: who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Though I'd also add that it was odd that the superhero represented in the meeting room were all DC, but no Marvel. Especially odd given how big the MCU is. Though, like I said, these are just minor nitpicks. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this episode.

Of course, given the nature of the show, we know that Bernie's going to lose his job by the end of the episode. In this case, he showed his wife Penny the suit, but it went into lockdown mode while she was wearing it, and the paramedics have to come cut her out. Bernie explain at work the next day that it happened when he and his wife were messing around in the bedroom. Good thing he was the only adult at the company, or else someone might think he was making an inappropriate sex joke, and he'd wind-up in hot water. All in all, and excellent episode.

Episode Three is titled "Beauty Treatment." Bernie has gotten a job at a cosmetics company where he is surrounded by beautiful women all day. His coworker are all very nice and very friendly; especially since he's pretty much the only man at the company. This makes Penny worried that Bernie is going to have an affair sooner or later.

We had some technical issues with this episode. I only got sound out of one earbud. And no, it wasn't a problem with my headphones. I checked, it worked just fine on everything but this episode. A problem such as that is a major issue for a podcast episode. Were I not listening for review, I probably would have skipped this episode because of this. Thankfully, Michael immediately fixed this issue when I brought it to his attention, and now all is well.

Technical issues aside, this was another well-written episode. Penny's fears were for nothing. Bernie only has eyes for her. So he quits the job so she won't have to worry anymore...well, that and he's allergic to the perfume that the company specializes in. There really isn't much more for me to add here other than that, apart from the sound issues, this was a really great episode and I enjoyed it.

Episode Four is titled "Detour." Bernie gets hired as a hearse driver for a funeral company. Unfortunately, he has a terrible sense of direction. So he has a handy GPS installed in the hearse. But what's going to happen when he accidentally resets the GPS?

I very much related to this episode. Driving has always made me nervous, and I'm not the best at improvising. I used to have a GPS, but I lost it, that's how bad I am with finding my way. Thankfully, I've got the Google Maps app installed on my iPhone now, and that helps a lot. I liked the scene where Bernie takes the hearse to a drive-thru and orders in his vampire voice. The cashier assumes he's joking about the hearse, but nearly has a heart attack when Bernie pulls around. I can kind of understand why everyone was mad that Bernie didn't make it to the funeral on time. I sort of can, but come on, it isn't Bernie's fault that the dead are always late to their engagements.

All of this having been said, the audio issues from the last episode persisted in this episode. Thankfully, this has also been resolved, and all is well with the world once again.

Episode Five is titled "Temp Games." Bernie is competing against several other temps for one of seven positions at a company. And when I say competing, I mean like on a game show. Bernie is face tests of strength, cunning, and tasks that actually have little to do with actual office work, but they sure are entertaining to watch.

First off, I'm happy to see that the audio issues of the previous two episodes are completely absent here, and remain so for the other two episodes after this one. This episode kind of reminded me of The Next Food Network Star. It's that show Food Network does every few years to pick a new headliner for a new show. Said new shows never seem to stick around too long, unless your name is Guy Fieri. Though some of the other winners occasionally show up as judges on other shows. Food Network Star will make the contestant do all sorts of crazy things that don't really have much to do with having a show on Food Network. For example, one challenge is that you have to keep filming even though the lights go out, or something falls over. In real life, production would stop and those issues would be fixed, but the challenge makes for better television. That, and Food Network can probably assure that the winner will be reasonably loyal to them. Especially ironic in that Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis constantly mumbled and failed to look at the camera when they started out.

Where am I going with this? Well, Bernie finds himself in a very similar situation. One challenge is to change the toner on a copy machine, but he must climb a rope to get to the toner. Another challenge is to answer what do when your printer isn't working. Giving three wrong answers eliminates you from the competition. Bernie gets two strikes when he says he ask other people for help. Then, in frustration, says he'd fix it himself, and this turns out to be the correct answer. A similar challenge has "I don't know" as the correct answer. So, Bernie bumbles his way towards victory and even becomes team captain. Of course, given the nature of The TEMP, he gets stabbed in the back at the last minute, and all his trials and tribulations were for naught.

I suppose this episode could be read as a commentary on the struggles of finding employment in a struggling economy...nah, I'm overthinking it. This is, however, another excellent episode from The TEMP.

Episode Six is titled "Love Language." Bernie gets hired as the personal assistant to an old ex-girlfriend of his. She's married to a famous writer, and they're both very cerebral people who pride themselves on their intelligence. Bernie and Penny are invited over for dinner, but given what show this is, things go pear-shaped before long.

I'm also happy to report that there are no sound issue for this episode either. So, we have an episode where Penny plays a major role almost from the start. We also get some insight into her relationship with Bernie. She married him because he made her laugh. Of course, after several years of marriage, the voice impressions got rather annoying. Still, despite it all she does still love him very much, and the feeling is mutual. Of course, Penny runs foul of what ought to be a golden rule: never correct smart people when they're on a roll. So for once, Bernie loses his job for reasons outside his control. But hey, that's just how the show goes. And this is another great episode.

Episode Seven is titled "Flexibility." Bernie gets a job working for a military contractor. It's mostly stuff like writing technical manuals or drawing schematics. However, the boss runs things with military precision. That means no listening to music, no joking around, and pretty much no creativity or self-expression. The other workers are miserable, but Bernie is determined to help them express themselves.

Maybe it's because I've grown up around military types, but Bernie's boss seemed oddly mellow for a military guy. I would have expected him to yell more, or be more boisterous. Thought that was just a minor nitpick. This was another episode I greatly enjoyed, and that was free of audio issues. Some of Bernie's coworkers had cool sounding ideas. One guy tacks rubberbands to the wall, and puts little note cards explains their fake history. For example, one is said to have been found on the Yellow Brick Road, and is claimed to have held up the Scarecrow's pants. Another person draws animals, like butterflies and rabbits, in the technical manuals. Since the manuals must be followed to the letter, then means there are navy ships with hidden butterflies and bunnies drawn on their inner workings. So, they were all subtly resisting even before Bernie showed up.

Still, good that he helped them stand-up to the boss. We all know that Bernie is doomed to fail eventually, but he's endearing enough as a character that we want to see him succeed, even if only briefly. Another great episode from The TEMP.

Next is a Christmas Special titled "A Christmas Stocking Full of Easter Eggs." It's the holiday season, but Bernie still has to work. Specifically, he's a concierge at a Christmas party...thing, held at the municipal center. It's just as well; at least he won't have to go to Penny's family's Christmas party. Bernie's going to find himself dealing with quite the cast of characters, and perhaps discovering a little Christmas magic along the way.

I would have reviewed this episode sooner. However, one of the few rules that I actually have for these reviews is no Christmas episodes until two days after Thanksgiving. I'll do whatever I can to fight back against Christmas creep.

As the title suggests, there are a ton of shout-outs to various Christmas movies and specials. Let's all get out our field guides and see how many I managed to spot. Bernie meets a man named Ralphie who is carrying a Red Rider BB Gun, and Bernie warns he'll shoot his eyes out (A Christmas Story). He also meets a man named Griswold (Nation Lampoon's Christmas Vacation). There's a grown man named Buddy running up and down the stairs in an elf costume while proclaiming his love for Santa and Christmas (Elf). Bernie and Penny have to remember if they turn onto 34 Street (Miracle on 34th Street). At one point Bernie is visited by a man claiming to be an angel sent to help him (It's A Wonderful Life). There's a girl selling matches who say "Keep the change you filthy animal" (Home Alone and The Little Match Girl). Bernie asks if anyone knows the true meaning of Christmas, and someone begins residing from the Gospel of Luke...before Bernie tell him to get out of the doorway (Peanuts Christmas Special).

One girl is crying because her grandma got run over by a reindeer...at the indoor reindeer petting zoo. There's mention of a contract containing a Santa Clause. Another girl wants a hippopotamus for Christmas, and says that her teach said that hippos are vegetarians. Just as an aside, technically hippos are omnivores, and they kill more humans each year than lions and crocodiles combined. Getting back on track, a bunch of people dressed as elves are going on strike, and say that they will not just be elves on shelves. That might possibly have also been a reference to the Barenaked Ladies song "Elf's Lament" but I could be wrong. As another aside, I always found Elf on a Shelf stupid. If you want your kids to behave, just remind them that Santa is always watching. You'll save twenty bucks, or however much that humbug is changing for these days. But, if nothing else, it did indirectly give us the endlessly amusing Jewish alternative Mensch on Bench. But I digress.

The episode ends with the narrator saying, in those immortal words of Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol, God bless us everyone. As for which adaption of A Christmas Carol is the best, well, it's a toss-up between the Flintstones and Muppets adaptions. Anyway, back on topic, at one point Bernie meets a group of atheists who are protesting the event. I'm an atheist myself, and I can take a joke. There are stupid atheists in this world. I would, however, point out that in real life most atheist don't mind the secular aspects of Christmas, given that most of them are rooted in pre-Christian paganism. It's only when the government endorses religion that most of us take issue.

Also, May the Fourth is not a religion; nobody, of sound mind, seriously believes the Force is real. It is a scam run by an eastern syndicate, and by that, I mean Disney. Well, that's what some people say. Personally, I'm pretty neutral on the whole thing.

What else can I say? It was a fun episode and I enjoyed being on the look for references to Christmas stuff.

Episode Eight is titled "Tardy." Bernie is on his way to his latest job at the law firm of Castle, Frank, and Stein. Unfortunately, his car breaks down in-route, so he has to scramble to find a bus. Along the way, he'll meet a cast of colorful, and rather crazy, characters. Strap in tight, Bernie's about to face his greatest foe yet: the American Public Transit System!

When I first saw the title card for this episode, I thought Bernie was going to try out to be a bus driver. Not exactly a good idea, given how driving hearses went. Doing the same thing twice, and exciting different results, is the definition of insanity. Though, thankfully for Bernie's sake, this was not the case.

This episode breaks the mold a bit. We follow Bernie doing something other than a job. Though, granted, it is related to the job he's trying to get to. But as with many things, it is the journey, not the destination, that matters in the end. The parts on the bus with all the crazy people were my favorite bits. We've got a lady with an emotional support snake, a superstitious old Russian woman, and a possibly mentally ill man with an unhealthy obsession with cheese. Hey, at least none of them were exhibitionists or chronic masturbators. I was reminded of the Weird Al song "Another One Rides the Bus." That's good, I always liked that song. Speaking of songs, after the episode there is a song based on Bernie's trip on the bus.

Buses have something of a bad reputation in America, but their image getting better. Buses started get a bad rep around the time cars really took off. That meant the buses tended to be used by people who had no other choice such as people who had their licenses suspended, disabled people, the mentally ill, poor people, and so on. Buses were also associated with cities, which tend to attract people who fall outside of what is considered normal. Of course, with greater emphasis on public transport, buses are starting to be seen in a more positive light.

We also get lots of animal and vehicle noises courtesy of the cast. Even the audience gets in on the act by helping create the rain sounds. There's also a part where Bernie tries to hitchhike, but everyone thinks he's flipping them off. Amusingly, there are several parts of Europe where raising your thumb is considered akin to raising your middle finger in America. Try hitchhiking American style in Turkey, for example, and drivers will notice you, but then deliberately speed up so that they'll miss you.

This was another very enjoyable episode of The TEMP. Good to see Michael and company shaking things up a bit.

And so that's season one of The TEMP that have been released thus far. Despite a rocky first episode, this is overall a great series. The writing, while not the most sophisticated I've ever seen, always manages to show the listener a good time. I'm glad I've gotten to listen to it, and I happily recommend it to all of you. 

And hey, the fun keeps going in my review of season two of The TEMP.

Well, I think that's should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

The Audio File: Sticks Shift Incorporated: Season 1

 I'm always happy to take requests for reviews from audio drama and other fiction podcasts. However, I maintain a policy of strict honesty. I will not hesitate to critique any elements I feel are lacking or otherwise not working. With all of that in mind, this brings us to the podcast we'll be reviewing today. We're taking a look at season one of Sticks Shift Incorporated.

Sticks Shift Incorporated follows a young non-binary person named Skyler. They are down on their luck given that post-college life turned out not to be all it was cracked up to be. Still, they are keeping busy working for a sushi restaurant and for a ride share company named Sticks Shift Incorporated. However, all is not as it seems. Strange things have been happening around Vancouver. Before long, Skyler finds themselves in the middle of a war between Heaven, Hell, Mount Olympus, The Fae, and just about every other realm from mythology and religion. And what does Sticks Shift Incorporated have to do with all of this?

I was approached by series creator Ditrie Marie Bowie to review this podcast. I post my reviews to the r/audiodrama subreddit, and that often attracts the attention of audio drama creators hoping to promote their shows. As previously stated, I'm more than happy to oblige. Of course, at the time only one episode had been released, so I had to wait a bit to get a proper fell for the show. Well, what do I think now that I've listen to the entirety of season one? I see potential, but there's also room for improvement.

Okay, so the synopsis was incredibly vague and didn't even hint at all of the gods and mythology stuff. Yes, I technically spoiled that for you, but believe me when I say you'll be in much better headspace if you know all of that going in. The first half of the seasons seemed to be just wandering around aimlessly and tossing out random weirdness for the sake of tossing out random weirdness. Having to wait for episodes weekly was a new experience, as usually I just binge a series all at once. Of course, that is starting to change for me, as I am listening to season two of Timestorm on a weekly basis.

Unfortunately, the wait between episode made the plot felt like it was dragging out for way too long. I was practically drumming my fingers thinking "Get to the point already!" The first half of season one of Sticks Shift Incorporated felt like it was drawing from the JJ Abrams School of Mystery Box Writing. Well, halfway through the season the mystery box finally opened, but you already know that because I told it to you at the start.

Okay, let's go into a bit more detail. Mr. Katakosmos, the CEO of Sticks Shift Incorporated, is in fact Hades, Greek god of the underworld. The name of the company is a pun on the River Styx. That means that Skyler has, in fact, been ferrying the souls of the dead to the afterlife. That's the reason Skyler faces penalties for driving non-clients in the car. The living aren't supposed to ride on the ferry of the Styx. Apparently, the Olympians are trying to expand their territory outside of Greece. Also, several of Skyler's acquaintances turn out to be demons and angels. Heaven is having trouble because God has disappeared. Oh, and there's this prophecy that says one day a human will sit on the throne of Heaven. So, Heaven and Hell are also gunning for Skyler.

Fortunately, Skyler has some allies on their side. Skyler's mysterious benefactor is Wisakedjak, better known as Whisky Jack, a trickster figure from the mythology of the Algonquin people. He's been doing his best to keep the Fae from Celtic Mythology away from Skyler. Yeah, turns out that mythical beings can only interfere with people who have ancestry from their cultures. Skyler has Celtic, Greek, French Catholic, and Cree ancestry. Hence, why everyone is after them. Also, angels, demons, and other mythical creatures can't expose their true nature to humans, or else they explode into dust. However, there are a select few humans who have a genetic mutation that allows them to see mythical creatures as they truly are without said creatures exploding. Skyler is one of these individuals.

So the set-up is sort of like a Canadian version of American Gods. I guess Canadian Gods just didn't have the same ring to it as Sticks Shift Incorporated. Although I can't say that I'm too thrilled about Hades being cast in the villain role. Way too many works of fiction portray him as the Ancient Greek equivalent of Satan. In reality, Hades wasn't any worse than the other gods. In fact, in many way he was better than the other Greek gods. Hades was firm, but fair, for all are equal in death. Well, the Ancient Greeks would say it depended on if you got proper funeral rights, and how you lived your life, but you know what I mean.

Granted, this is softened a bit by the implication that Zeus is that one really calling the shot, and that Hades is submissive to him. I'm hoping this turns out to be the case in future seasons, and that the podcast didn't lazily turn Hades into a villain. Hades being head of Sticks Shift Incorporated also explains a minor issue I initially had. It seemed weird that an evil CEO would be so open-minded about having a non-binary employee. But him being a Greek god clears that up, as the Ancient Greeks were more open-minded about that sort of thing. 

I'm glad to see Whisky Jack involved in the happenings. Always good to see Indigenous Mythology play a role in pop culture. Especially when it is accurately represented. This adds another dimension to Skyler being non-binary. Many Indigenous tribes in Canada believe in concept of being two-spirited. Roughly, this means to be both male and female at the same time, but also a category onto itself. Two-spirited people got to perform special rituals for the tribe, and held positions of honor and authority. However, you have to be careful about using the term if you aren't Indigenous. Due to the history of White Canadians trying to stamp-out their culture, many Indigenous Canadians don't take kindly to non-Indigenous people adopting the two-spirit identity.  

Okay, now that all sounds like an interesting premise for an audio drama. However, I would have preferred to have known that going in rather than discovering it halfway through the first season. First impressions are everything when it comes to fiction. No matter if you are writing a podcast or a book series, a good first impression is non-negotiable. If you fail to hook the audience by the first installment, be that a first season or a first novel, then we have a serious problem. Serialized podcasts have an additional wrinkle that the first few episodes are especially critical in this regard.

When I started out with Sticks Shift Incorporated I had absolutely no idea what to expect. There were certainly no hints of the urban fantasy mythology crossover that I eventually got. It all just felt like weird things were being tossed around for the sake of tossing out weird stuff, a la Welcome to Night Vale. In fact, were it not for that fact that I was specifically asked to review Sticks Shift Incorporated, I probably would have dropped the podcast before I got to the point that everything is revealed.

Season one rather feels as though it is setting up the premise of the show. I would have preferred if we had gotten the reveal from the get-go and then expanded upon things from there. Of course, now that we've gotten this out of the way in the first season, this should mean that season two will be smooth sailing. That is, assuming that aren't going to be any other mystery boxes in need of opening. 

 Okay, time for the million-dollar question, would I recommend Sticks Shift Incorporated? Well, for now I will give a tentative yes. Despite its initial flaws, I see great potential in this audio drama. Stick with what you're good at, urban fantasy mythology crossover, and leave out the mysteries. However, this is all going to depend on how season two turns out. Sticks Shift Incorporated impressed me with the second half of its first season; let's see if it can keep up the momentum.

Hey, I've been surprised before. The Program started off in a very similar position, and it is now one of my favorite audio drama podcasts. So, you never know.

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

The Audio File: Miriam and Youssef

So, the audio drama we're looking at deals with the origins of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, and the founding of the State of Israel. Well, I can see absolutely zero ways that this could go pear-shaped. For those of you who couldn't tell, that was sarcasm. Well, no point in putting it off any further, so let's just get into it. We're taking a look at the audio drama Miriam and Youssef.

Miriam and Youssef tells the story of the British Mandate of Palestine and the founding of the State of Israel. It does so by following a Jewish woman named Miriam and a Palestinian man named Youssef. Miriam came to the Mandate of Palestine to escape persecution in Poland, and is optimistic about the future of the fledgling Jewish State. Youssef was born and raised in the village of Deir Yassin, just outside of Jerusalem. He's cautiously optimistic about the changes the British bring to Palestine, but fate has other plans. It is these two who will serve as our eyes as we explore the history of the British Mandate of Palestine. We begin in 1917 with the Balfour Declaration and the founding of the Mandate, and end in 1948, with the founding of the State of Israel.

Miriam and Youssef is created by Steve Walters and is a production of the BBC World Service. Steve previously teamed up with the BBC World Service to create the excellent audio drama Fall of the Shah. It is because of this that I was willing to give Miriam and Youssef the benefit of the doubt. And it would seem that my faith was not misplaced. So, a bit more background about Steve Waters. He worked on a kibbutz in Israel when he was a teenager. Kibbutz are a type of Israeli communal farms. So, he obviously got to know many Israelis, but he also met several Palestinians and learned their stories and perspectives.

As part of his research for Miriam and Youssef, Steve worked with several Israeli historians and scholars who have begun to question the traditional narrative of the founding of the State of Israel. These scholars argue that traditional narratives largely ignore the Palestinian perspective, and downplay Israel's less than shining moments. Was he right to do this? Are these scholars really worth their salt? I freely admit that I don't know the answer. I'm just letting you know so that you know what perspective Miriam and Youssef is aiming for.

For what it's worth, Steve has stated that he believes the creation of a Jewish state in the Levant was justified and necessary, especially after the Holocaust. That having been said, he also believes that Israel did wrong by the Palestinians.

Well, time to see how well I can navigate this mine field. So, what do I think? No nation is perfect or immune to criticism, and that includes Israel. I would say there probably were mistake made along the way. On the other hand, few other nations have their right to exist so often called into question. I also think they don't get enough credit for the good that they do. Israel is the only nation in the Middle East where you can have gay pride parades. Almost all of the Arab gay rights organizations are headquartered in Israel, because there is nowhere else in the Middle East they can do so. Don't get me wrong, there's still a lot of conservative religious Jew in the Knesset, and in Israeli society in general. Still, Israel remains far more secular and liberal than pretty much all of its neighbors. The Middle East needs all the secularism and liberalism it can get.

On the flip side, Palestine is dominated by Muslim fundamentalists and other radicals who aren't above bombing school buses and targeting civilians. There's a reason Israel needs its Iron Dome missile defense system. One State? Two State? I don't know, I really don't know. Honestly, there is no easy answer, I don't expect a solution anytime soon. Still, there is a small, but hopefully growing, movement among young Jews and Palestinians living in Israel to move on from the past, and work towards a common future. We can only hope this is the case. Also, Arabs account for nearly twenty percent of Israel's population. Not all Palestinians live in the Palestinian Territories. Some do live in Israel proper. Just letting you all know where my thoughts and biases are.

Well, now that I have alienated just about everyone by discussing modern-day politics, let's get back to the podcast. This means we now get to discuss 1917-1948 politics. I will say that it is interesting that the series begins in 1917 with the Balfour Declaration. Usually, works exploring the origins of Israel, and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, begin in 1948, with the founding of the State of Israel. By contrast, that is where Miriam and Youssef ends. You don't really see the British Mandate of Palestine explored in fiction very often, so this was a nice change of pace. This means we also get the preservative of British people who moved to Palestine during this time. We do so through the eyes of, arguably, our third main character: Harry Lister. He's a British civil servant stationed in Jerusalem. Unlike most of the other civil servants, he makes an effort to connect with the locals and learn their culture. He winds up befriending both Miriam and Youssef over the course of the series.

In fact, the podcast actually argues that the British are most to blame for the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Throughout the series we see the British do only the bare minimum required to keep peace between the Jews and Palestinians. Even this rarely proves sufficient. The podcast argues that the British made no effort to integrate the Jews and Palestinians, and often inadvertently fanned the flames of resentment. It's rather telling that, by the end of the series, both Jew and Palestinian alike are revolting against the British. The episode set in 1942 is especially sad. It intersperses the story of Miriam and Youssef with the story of a boat of Jewish refugees desperate to escape the Holocaust. They arrive in Palestine, only to be turned away because the British are limiting Jewish immigration to appease the Arabs. The ship spends several weeks docked at a Turkish port before it is torpedoed. It is a somber reminder that Miriam is lucky she got to Palestine when she did.

Interesting that the British are assigned the most blame. That's not a perspective you see too often in discussions about the Arab-Israeli Conflict. But the series doesn't just leave it at that. If anything, the blame is placed on the fear and mistrust both sides had for each other. Distrust leads to fear, fear leads to hate, hate leads to violence. This is best demonstrated in episode two. Jews and Arabs are doing work near the Western Wall, and some small bits of rock fall. The Arabs and Jews immediately get into a fight with each other. Worse, the Arabs have been wary about the Jews building kibbutz, and use the riot as an excuse to attack the kibbutz. Earlier, the Jews has been debating about if the kibbutz needed to have more security, or if they were worrying for nothing. It would seem they had good reason to be wary.

Now let's talk about our two leads. Miriam starts off very optimistic about the possibility of a Jewish state in Palestine. By the end of the series, she's still cautiously optimistic, though it is an optimism tempered with the world weariness of life experience. She quickly rises through the ranks of leadership within her local kibbutz. She also winds up working for the British administration in Palestine, which is how she meets Harry.

Miriam also rubs shoulders with several figures involved in the founding of Israel. For example, she frequently mentions having a cousin named Ben Gurion. When we finally meet him, it becomes clear that he is David Ben Gurion, one of the founding fathers of Israel. I can best describe him as the George Washington of Israel, as he was the first prime minister of Israel. In other figures, Miriam also works as the assistant to Rabbi Judah Magnes. He was a rabbi from New York City who was one of the leading voices of the Reform Judaism movement. He was a major propionate of the One-State Solution, with him envisioning Palestine as a multinational joint Arab-Jewish state. I guess he envisioned it as a federation of sorts.

Miriam's views on the Arabs shift throughout the series. She starts out reasonably open to coexistence, but then the attack on the kibbutz happens. Miriam's mother is among the causalities, which rather sours Miriam's views on the Arabs. As the series progresses, however, she begins to disavow the more extreme elements of Jewish resistance. Her major turning point when she participates in the bombing of the King David Hotel and the French Embassy. By that point, the Jews had grown angry with the British for failing to protect them from the Arabs, and for turning away Holocaust refugees; so the Jews began armed resistance against the British. Miriam grows guilty and try to warn the hotel, but it proves too little too late. Well, that and real history said the bombing had to happen.

Youssef is, in many ways, not all that different than Miriam. He starts out uncertain about the Jews and the British. He finds opportunity by attending British-run schools, and working for the British civil service, but these prove unsatisfying. He frequently finds himself falling in and out with various extremist groups. Usually, he'll try to do things the nice way, but then circumstances force his hand. In so, the series ask the question of just what drives someone to become an extremist? Ultimately, however, he rejects extremism, but doesn't necessarily accept peace. By the end of the series he's world weary and jaded, but accepts things as they are. The same can be said of Miriam.

Now, I do have a few criticisms of the series. For example, I felt like it seriously downplayed the role of religion in the conflict. Now, it is certainly true that there were more factors than just religion that went into the Arab-Israeli Conflict. For example, many Arabs weren't keen on having a largely scalar and westernized people moving in on their territory. However, to flat out ignore the role of religion in the conflict is, I would say, a major oversight. Also, I couldn't help but feel that Youssef and his family were awfully open-minded and liberal for their culture and time-period.  Arab antisemitism has roots way before the British Mandate of Palestine was established. In fact, it goes all the way back to the Prophet Mohammad himself. There were some Jews and Muslims living together in the Middle East, true. However, just because they weren't loping each other's heads off doesn't mean they got along particularly well.

Now, you could argue that Youssef and his family weren't meant to represent all Palestinians. Likewise, Miriam and her family aren't meant to represent all Israelis. It is the focus on the human element of the story that makes this podcast work so well. Still, there were a few times it felt like the podcast tried a little too hard to be sympathetic to the Palestinians. For example, at one point, Youssef bemoans that his father has been unjustly imprisoned. He conveniently leaves out the fact that his father was imprisoned because a hateful speech he gave caused the Arabs to riot against the Jews. The riot eventually leads to the attack on the kibbutz that claimed the life of Miriam's mother.

I think the podcast might have acknowledged this in a way. In episode three, Miriam and Rabbi Magnes are discussing the kibbutz massacre, and Magnes basically says "well, it is understandable why the Arabs attacked." Obviously, Miriam is having none of it and breaks-off their friendship. Even if Magnes might have had a point, it probably wasn't such a good idea to say so just after Miriam had lost her mother. He definitely could have been more tactful and sensitive.

On the other hand, there were plenty of well-written and powerful moments. The most notable of these was the depiction of the Deir Yassin Massacre. For those who don't know, Deir Yassin used to be a village located just outside Jerusalem. It had a population of about 600. During the War of 1948, a far-right Jewish paramilitia attacked the village, almost all of whom were unarmed civilians. To be fair, Israeli leaders, and international Jews such as Albert Einstein, condemned the massacre. All the same, it became a major rallying cry for the Arabs. Mind you, most Arabs don't love Palestinians. In fact, Palestinians are considered the bottom of the totem pole in most Arab nations. The Arabs primarily supported them to get back at Israel. Pretty much the only Middle Eastern nation, besides Israel, were Palestinians aren't still in camps is Jordan. And they aren't in a rush to give citizenship to Palestinian refugees, because if they did, Jordanians would be a minority in their own country.

Despite all of this, and despite acknowledging the massacre, the Israeli government hasn't really done anything to commemorate it. There were calls for the village to be abandoned permanently, but these were rejected. In fact, this is briefly depicted in the show. Today, a mental hospital sits on the former sit of the village. You can still see the ruins of the village in the hospital courtyards. Like the bombing of the King David Hotel, it is very much an example of the persecuted becoming the persecutors, and the hunted becoming the hunters.

Still, overall, I did very much enjoy Miriam and Youssef. Steve Waters said that originally, he wanted the series to be forty episodes long, but the BBC made him cut it down to ten. Perhaps if it has been forty episodes long, we would have gotten more nuance, well, more than what we already got. He also said that he could easily have made it about all the political maneuverings within the British government that allowed for the creation of the British Mandate of Palestine. Hey, I'd give it a listen. More than just that, I'd love to see what Steve could do with the history of Israel post-1948. Perhaps we'll get a sequel series one day. For the moment, though, that is only in our dreams. Of course, I'm also eager to see what Steve Waters can do with other eras of World History.

So there you have it. Miriam and Youssef tells the story of the British Mandate of Palestine and the founding of the State of Israel. It does so by examining these events through the eyes of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events. It is a well-made and well-written podcast, and I happily recommend it.

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

The Audio File: The Two Princes

I've said this before, but if I hear a podcast recommended enough, sooner or later I'll take a look at it to see what all the fuss is about. Sometimes I find the shows to be severely overhyped. Other times, however, I discover that the show in question is indeed worthy of all of the praise. The show we'll be taking a look at today falls into that second category. We're taking a look at The Two Princes.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far way, the King of the West and the King of the East faced each other in battle. Both kings wanted their kingdom to dominate the other, but their fighting caused a magical forest to sprout. Ah, but this wasn't one of those happy magical forests. It was a fearsome dangerous place that threatened to consume both the Kingdom of the West and the Kingdom of the East. All hope rests on their two sons. When two princes enter the Hallow of the Two Kings, upon reaching their eighteenth year, one kingdom shall rise, and the curse shall be broken.

Rupert, the Prince of the West, has led a fairly sheltered life. His mother, Queen Lavinia, has filled his life with parties and balls, and his trying her best to get Rupert married off. Rupert, for his part, prefers curling up with the good book, and cares not for the maidens he mother constantly tries to set him up with. Rupert decides that he must venture into the enchanted forest and break the curse. Along the way he meets Amir, Prince of the East, and a skilled fighter and statesman. There's plenty of adventure, comedy, and entertaining times as the two princes race to fulfill their destiny. Along the way, they were discover feeling for each other they never thought possible.

What can I say? I absolutely adore this audio drama. The humor reminds me a bit of the Shrek movies. And I mean that as a compliment. I love all of the Shrek movies and specials. A lot of people do so ironically, but I unironically love them. The Two Princes occasionally pokes fun, in an affectionate way, at various fantasy tropes, and liberally indulges in anachronisms. For example, you have characters who say things like "LOL" and "OMG" despite the setting being vaguely Medieval European. And there's one point where Rupert talks about how he thinks Sam and Diane should get together. It sounds like an anachronistic reference to Cheers, but then it turns out Sam and Diane are servants who work in the castle.

The characters will also often swear in the name various figures from Arthurian Legend, despite living in a separate fantasy world. There's also a point when Rupert nearly get eaten by a carnivorous plant that disguises herself of Flora, the Roman goddess of plants. Well, she never calls herself a Roman goddess, but she does call herself a goddess.

Also, I just love the voice acting. Yes, it is all very well performed, but there's another reason I love it: the accents. I know I'm going to get flack for this, but personally, I get tired of everyone on fantasy having British accents. Give me some American accents! Thankfully, The Two Princes give me my much longed-for American accents. Oh, there are a couple characters with British accents, but they are minor characters. All the major characters have American accents, and I love The Two Princes for that, among many other reasons.

However, also much like Shrek, The Two Princes more often than not plays the various fantasy tropes perfectly straight, and wholeheartedly embraces them. In fact, The Two Princes is very much a Heroic Fantasy story, but with lots of jokes and character development. Well, that and the interracial gay romance, but we'll talk more about that in a minute.

For now, we need to discuss what exactly Heroic Fantasy is. Heroic Fantasy is the middle ground between High Fantasy and Low Fantasy. There's less focus on geopolitics of different nations, and the setting is mostly there for the heroes to have adventures and quests in. It's also more hopeful and optimistic than Low Fantasy, and the heroes are genuinely heroic. The problems, while serious, tend to be more localized, rather than the potentially world destroying kind you see in High Fantasy. So less Lord of the Rings, and more Dungeons & Dragons, or perhaps Conan the Barbarian. Very closely related to the Sword & Sorcery genre, though that takes a somewhat darker approach.

Our two leads are a study in contrast. Rupert has been sheltered for most of his life, so he isn't much of a fighter. He usually tries to solve his problems with his wits and cunning, but his lack of real-world experience often proves to be a stumbling block. Still, he has his moments. For example, when he and Amir are attacked by a band of traveling thespians, Rupert, with Amir's help, comes up with a plan to disarm the performers. They do so by pretending to be aspiring actors who are looking for constructive criticism of their play, which requires them to use all the weapons the actors have.

By contrast, Amir has been trained to be a prince practically since birth. He's skilled with the sword, but also knows the art of diplomacy and state crafting. He's noble and has a strong sense of honor and duty. He's also kind to the low classes. For much of the first season, Rupert hides his identity from Amir, pretending to be a thief named Fitzroy. After getting of his initial disgust at "Fitzroy's" choice of career, Amir is shown to treat him with genuine respect, and comes to enjoy Rupert's company.

The feeling is very much mutual. As I have previously mentioned, a big selling point of The Two Princes is that it features Rupert and Amir developing an interracial gay romance. Rupert is white, and Amir...well, it isn't quite clear what race he is. The official series art clearly depicts Amir as non-white, but he could be black, or Indian, maybe Middle Eastern, maybe even some combo thereof. The Kingdom of the East seems to have the same vaguely Medieval European, with some elements of modern-day America, culture as the Kingdom of the West, with perhaps a dash of Middle Eastern for flavor. All that aside, I thought Rupert and Amir's romance was well-written and very cute.

Also, Rupert and Amir have a pet dragon named Porridge. They found him as an egg when they were exploring a cave, and he imprinted on them when he hatched. Rupert has always had a great love of dragons, especially since they were believed to be extinct. Of course, it turns out account of the extinction of dragons were greatly exaggerated. And no, I don't mean just because of Porridge.

In other secondary characters, I loved Sir Joan. She wants to be a knight like her father and grandfather, but her father and the other knights disapproves because she's a girl. Still, she proves herself, and Rupert and Amir's mothers task her with helping them find their sons. She also transforms Rupert's former suitors into an army of badass warriors. I really liked Sir Joan, and I wish she'd gotten more screentime. It might have been nice to have her join Rupert and Amir. Now, I can understand that this might have interfered with the development of their relationship. Oh well, maybe in a future season.

Okay, from this point forward we are going to talk about season two. I should also point out that season two is exclusively available on Spotify. As such, we're going talk about the ending for season one of The Two Princes. So, if you don't want any spoilers, now would probably be a good time to get off the train.

Last chance, you sure you want to continue?

Well, okay, if everyone who wants off is gone, let's begin.

Rupert and Amir make it the Hallow of the Two Kings. Their fathers are still there, but have been twisted into a pair of evil trees. This explains where the mysterious whispers Rupert has been hearing came from.

So, Rupert and Amir prepare to do battle, but then Rupert confesses his feeling for Amir. Before long, Amir does the same, and the next thing you know they're kissing. Not long after that the curse is broken, and the forest disappears. Surprise! The prophecy went that one kingdom would rise, because the two kingdoms will be united when Rupert and Amir marry each other. I must admit, I really like how the curse was broken, and the twist of the prophecy. The ending is really heartwarming, and our two princes certainly earned their happily ever after.

So, with an excellent first season under its belt, how does The Two Princes handle season two? Quite well, actually. In fact, I'd say it just keeps getting better.

Season two begins with Rupert and Amir preparing for their wedding. They've decided to build their castle between the two kingdoms, right where the Hallow of the Two Kings used to be. Unfortunately, Malkia, the former sorceress queen of the Midlands, has come to reclaim her kingdom. Rupert and Amir manage to save the kingdom, but at the cost of Amir getting amnesia. Worse, Malkia is going to return with an army of ghosts to take the kingdom by force. Thankfully, our two princes receive help from a good sorceress, who send the, on a quest to get ingredients from a potion to restore Amir's memories and defeat Malkia.

This season sees Rupert and Amir switch roles. Rupert has to be the proactive one who faces-off against the various threats. Amir, by contrast, has become scared of his own shadow, is easily distracted, and wants to be called Chad. It allows Rupert to grow as a character, while providing moments of comedy with Amir. There are also moments where Rupert questions if it is moral for him to restore Amir's memories. The is presented as a moral dilemma, but I call bullshit. Yes, amnesiac Amir will be gone with Rupert restores his memories, but old Amir will be gone if he doesn't. Why does amnesiac Amir, or Chad as he calls himself, have any more of a right to exist just because he's the one in the driver's seat? Doesn't old Amir get a say? It comes across as a weak attempt at drama, and a forced conflict.

Also, at the beginning of the season we learn that the royal baker refuses to make a cake for Rupert and Amir's wedding. And the royal florist also refuses to take part in the wedding. This is clearly mean to be a comment on the gay wedding cake debate, but it falls flat because The Two Princes is not set in our world. Rupert and Amir are, I assume, absolute monarchs. Couldn't they just throw the baker and florist in the dungeon, or threaten to have them beheaded, for refusing to make stuff for the wedding? Granted, both princes are wary about abusing their power because of their fathers, but still.

Thankfully, the moral dilemma doesn't play as big of a role in the plot as I might have made it seem. The quest itself is a lot of fun. One of the ingredients is unicorn horn, so Rupert and Amir travel to a menagerie in the hinterlands. Unfortunately, Rupert discovers that the menagerie was forced to eat its animals because the enchanted forest limited their food supply. And wouldn't you know it, that was the last unicorn in the world. Wow, Rupert and Amir really need to make a magical version of the Environmental Protection Agency. That would be pretty tragic, but what pushed it into comedy was that we're told the unicorn tasted like chicken.

The second item is the song of a siren. The siren they meet, named Lorelei, turns out to be surprisingly nice, and I hope she reappears in future seasons. She tries to seduce Rupert with her song, but it fails because he's gay. Amusingly, it turns out Rupert is the third gay person Lorelei has encountered. I must say that the third ingredient, hydra venom, was very well done. Each of the heads ask Rupert a different riddle, and it was a good opportunity to showcase Rupert's strength as a character.

Also, Sir Joan is back. She spends most of the seasons taking care of things so Rupert and Amir can go on their quest, but she's back all the same. She also has a girlfriend...sort of. Lady Cecily was head-over-heel for Rupert in the first seasons, but now she's got the hots for Sir Joan. This means the series has at least one confirmed bisexual character. For her part, Sir Joan isn't sure what to think of Lady Cecily, but there are hints that she'll come around to her eventually. Lady Cecily was my favorite of Rupert's hopeless suitors, mainly because she was the only one with a clearly defined personality, but still.

So, we've had two great seasons, but can The Two Princes pull off an amazing third season? Oh yes, it managed to bowl a turkey. Season three goes above and beyond its already amazing predecessors.

Season three sees Rupert and Amir's long-awaited wedding finally take place. The entire Kingdom of the Heartland is filled with joy as the big day fast approaches. Ah, but things rarely stay peaceful for Rupert and Amir. There are reports of a dark force growing in the hinterlands. Might this have something to do with the mysterious Prince Darling? Will true love be able to triumph over all adversity?

Like I said, this season goes even further in terms of quality than its already excellent predecessors. Also, this time round the season is a musical. All of the songs are excellent, and it certainly helps that most of the cast members have singing experience. Amusingly, it appears that everyone really is bursting into song and dance in-universe. At one point, members of the royal guard are late to a meeting because they got caught up in a dance number. I was also amused when the narrator recap at the begging of the episodes at one point said "Oh, why I am repeating all of this? You're probably binging this podcast." Yeah, that's more or less what I did this season. The Two Princes knows me well.

I suspected that Prince Darling was going to be behind the coming of The Despair, and I was even somewhat correct about why. He was blessed by the queen of the fairies to bring joy, happiness, and parties wherever he goes. Unfortunately, due to the balance between good and evil, Darling also brings The Despair wherever he goes. As the name suggest, it is the living embodiment of despair, and consumes all in its wake. Though, I will admit I was wrong about Darling's character. I assumed he was evil, but it turns out he takes no joy in bring The Despair. He was more or less exactly what he appeared to be.

One minor critique is that I wish Rupert's relationship with Lord Chamberlain had been developed. Lord Chamberlain is one of oldest servants of the palace, and figured out that Rupert was gay ever before Rupert himself knew. This is because Lord Chamberlain is also gay, but he had to hide his sexuality because, for most of his life, the kingdom wasn't a very accepting place for homosexuals. But Rupert and Amir's marriage has brought him tears of joy, because it shows that the kingdom will become a kinder and more tolerant place, where future generations of gay people will be able to live happy and openly. He also says that he has always been very close to Rupert, and considers him the son he never had. In turn, Rupert considers Lord Chamberlain to be a surrogate father. All well and good, but I think it would be a bit more meaningful if their relationship had a bit more development. And I thought it was nice that Lord Chamberlain got a love interest in the end.

I thought that the way Rupert defeated The Despair was very well done. He remembers all the people in his life who love him. He remembers his romantic love for Amir, his familial love for Lord Chamberlain, and the platonic love of all the subjects of his kingdom. The Despair might have consumed everything, but as long as Rupert remembered the love in his life, he would never be truly alone. Or to put it another way, remembering all of that love meant he never gave into despair. The actual confrontation with The Despair actually doesn't last all that long, but that just meant the final episode could devote more time to everyone's happy endings.

Sir Joan is back, and she has to deal with her disapproving father. Thankfully, Lady Cecily put him on his place with a rousing music number about how he needs to get with the times. That was especially nice because Lady Cecily broke up with Sir Joan at the start of the season, and started dating Sir Percy. But hey, we all knew that was never gonna last. Especially after, to the surprise of no at all, Sir Percy discovered that he likes boys.

This season also answered a question I'd been wondering for a while now. Rupert and Amir getting married is all well and good, but aren't they going to be concerned about needing a royal heir eventually? Well, as I somewhat suspected, it turns out that adoption was always an option for them. That's good, as it will prevent the kingdom from suffering any nasty succession crisis and/or civil war once they have gone to receive their great reward.

Things won't always be easy for Rupert and Amir, especially with their track record of luck. Still, just because there might be tough times ahead doesn't mean they won't be able to make it if they preserver and focus on the positives. This isn't their happily ever after, it's the happy beginning of a lifetime of more adventures. Rupert and Amir still have plenty of places to go and things to discover, and they'll do so together and happy.

Of course, you could also interpret the finishing musical number in a metafictional sense. The creators of The Two Princes are in talks with HBO Max to adapt the podcast into an animated series. I've also heard rumors that season three will be the final season of the podcast. That would make sense if the animated series has been given the green light. The producers, and I would hope all the actors for the podcast, would want to give the animated series their undivided attention. If this is true, it will be sad to see the podcast come to and end. Of course, all good things must come to an end, and all that. And hey, at least the podcast will live on in the animated series.

It would certainly be a pretty big thing if the animated series happens. I hope they use the same art style as the title cards. It might be fun to actually get to see the characters, and I hope they keep the original voice cast. But this is all a topic for another day. For now, I think it's time to wrap this review up.

Well, I think that's everything of note without spoiling the ending of season two. So, there you have it. The Two Princes is a fun, funny, entertaining heroic fantasy audio drama with a well-written gay romance. Be sure to listen today, you'll be glad that you did. Remember, seasons two and three are exclusively available on Spotify.

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

The Audio File: Yowie

As I'm sure I've said many times before, but there are a lot of hidden audio drama gems out there. They're just waiting to be discovered, but find them is another matter. That's a one of the reasons I created The Audio File. I like helping people find quality audio fiction. Am I going somewhere with this? Yes, I always like to add a little preamble before we get to the main event. We're taking a look at the audio drama Yowie.

Yowie takes place in Australia and follows a man named Ian Linville. The police believe that he murdered his wife and son, as well as a park ranger, on a camping trip in the Grampians National Park. However, they were never able to pin evidence on him, so he walked on a technicality. Now, Ian is conducting an interview with an investigative journalist to set the record straight. He says that he did not murder his family. Rather he claims they were kidnapped by Yowies.

As I've mentioned before, I'm more willing to take a gamble on podcasts that are shorter in length, which was a point in Yowie's favor. Personally, I think it was exactly as long as it needed to be for the story it was trying to tell. Also, I was very much intrigued by the Australian setting. I loved all things Australia when I was a kid. My dad got me a set of nightshirts that each had a different Australian animal on them. Kangaroo, koala, wallaby, wombat, kookaburra, I had them all. I even convinced by parents (or was it grandparents?) to buy me a didgeridoo; though I never really learned how to play it. I really wanted a boomerang, but I was always scared that I'd hurt myself. And yes, The Crocodile Hunter was one of my favorite television shows. When my first-grade class had a day where we all dressed up as people from different countries, which obviously meant I picked Australia.

Australia always seemed like a land of mystery and adventure. I've gotten a more nuanced view as I've gotten older, but I still have a soft spot for the land down under. I do hope I might get a chance to visit it someday. Now, let's address one bit of formation before we go forward: what is a Yowie? Basically, a Yowie is like the Australian version of Bigfoot/Sasquatch. Contrary to that time Scooby-Doo and the gang went to Australia, Yowies are not vampires, and have no connection to vampires. Well, now that we've got that cleared up, let's continue.

First of all, this is a very well-made audio drama. The voice acting, sound effects, and music and all very professional. I always appreciate when podcasters are willing to go the extra mile to create a truly great listening experience. I'm not the only one who thinks so. Yowie was a finalist in the 2019 Australian Podcast Awards. It was nominated in the Fiction and Outstanding Production categories. Though it might not have won, I'm sure Just Intertainment, the production company behind Yowie, was still very proud. 

Now let's discuss the story. Right from the start it is pretty clear that the Linville Family is incredibly dysfunctional. Ian and his wife Sarah frequently get into fights and arguments, while their son Aaron clearly doesn't want to be on the camping trip. Ian also clearly isn't pleased that Aaron doesn't like to do stereotypically manly things like hunting. So, from the start I suspected that something was up, and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. It also confused me that they were hunting deer, since deer are not native to Australia. However, I looked it up, and it turns out that deer were imported to Australia during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Yet another species the British brought over to remind them of home; and which then wreaked havoc on the local ecosystems.

Ian is also incredibly reckless with his guns, and has fairly lax attitudes towards gun safety. Admittedly, my knowledge of Australian gun law is fairly limited, so I don't know if that was meant to be social commentary or not. As much as I enjoyed Yowie, and did very much enjoy it, I couldn't shake the feeling that I might have gotten more out of it if I was Australian. That isn't to say that it is incomprehensible to non-Australians. Far from it, the plot is perfectly coherent. Still, I do wonder if Australians might pick-up on certain things that I may have missed.

The Yowie themselves are depicted as largely peaceful creatures who almost compelled eschew violence in favor of pacifism. I say almost because, if push comes to shove, they're more than capable of defending themselves. It actually takes a couple episodes before the Yowies make a proper onscreen appearance. Oh, but don't worry, there's still plenty of suspense to be had, especially after the Linvilles run-over a park ranger. It is while they're on the run, trying to avoid detection from the authorities or anyone else, that the Linvilles notice a strange creature following them. Well, Aaron had noticed a strange blue-eyed creature earlier, but that's when the Yowie really start playing a role in the story.

It would seem that the writing team took the approach you see in a lot of horror movies. You don't immediately reveal your monster; you give little hints and fleeting glimpses. This allows the audience to build-up the monster in their minds. There is no better special effects department than the human imagination. Of course, I wouldn't go as far as to call the Yowies monsters.

Okay, I've put it off for as long as I can. We've got to talk about the spoilers. I'm talking the big ones. So if you don't want any of that, turn back now.

This is your last chance. You sure you want to go forward?

Well, okay. If you're still here, let's begin.

Well, the second shoe finally dropped. The final episode changes just about everything about the series. Turns out Ian was indeed lying. There weren't any Yowies. Ian accidentally shot Aaron during their hunting trip. Then he killed a park ranger who came to investigate the noise. Finally, he killed Sarah when they got into an argument. Oh, but we aren't done yet, turns out Sarah was pregnant at the time because she'd been having an affair. The man she'd been sleeping with turns out to be the reporter interviewing Ian. He suspected the truth, and was just trying to get Ian to admit it.

Ah, but why was Ian so forthcoming? Because he doesn't intend for the truth to get out. He kills the man, switches their drivers licenses and IDs, and cuts off the man's fingertips and slashes his face so he can't be identified. When the police arrive, they assume Ian is the one who has been murdered. And thus, a serial killer evades capture.

I mean, damn, didn't see that coming. I mean, I suspected that Ian was lying, but I wasn't expecting him to murder the interviewer so brutally. I also didn't see the interviewer being Sarah's lover, and the father of her unborn child. Admittedly, I am a bit disappointed that the Yowies didn't turn out to be real after all. Still, I would say overall the podcast is good for what it is.

I almost wish we'd get a sequel series where he continues his killing spree across Australia. Maybe the twist could be that he's the reincarnation of notorious Australian serial killer Albert Fish. Or at least, thinks he's the reincarnation of Albert Fish. Wait, no, Albert Fish was American. Hmm, I’m sure there’s some Australian serial killer who could fill the role. 

Joking aside, I absolutely loved Yowie, and I'd love to see the team work on another project. Based on how Yowie turned out I expect nothing but the best from them. Well, I don't think there's much more that I can add. Yowie is a thrilling and suspenseful tale of secrets, lie, mysteries, and maybe a few cryptids. It might be only five episodes long, but it is lean and mean, and more than worthy of your time.

Well, I think that's enough from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

The Audio File: The Magical History of Knox County

I've said before that it can be frustrating when a really great audio drama ends after only a few episodes. Of course, I also say that it is better to burn bright and fast than to smolder well past your time. Plus, shorter lengths mean more opportunities to discover more great shows. With all of that in mind, allow me to introduce the podcast we'll be reviewing today. We're taking a look at The Magical History of Knox County. 

The Magical History of Knox County follows Mordecai Dogwood. He has recently gotten a job at a small public radio station in Knox County, Ohio. Specifically, he's been tasked with taking care of the station's flagship program The Magical History of Knox County. You see, Knox County is far from ordinary. There are krakens in the lake, magic trees and talking toads in the woods, and a quirky cast of townsfolk for whom all of this is just daily life. Mordecai will have to report on the happens of this strange magical world to his loyal audience of listeners. At the same time, he'll try to uncover what happened to the show's former host Abigail Redwine. 

I can best describe The Magical History of Knox County as a saner, more down-to-earth version of Welcome to Night Vale. You've got a public radio show host in a quirky small town where weird things are a part of daily life. However, The Magical History of Knox County is much more grounded and doesn't just throw our random weirdness for the sake of random weirdness. I'm aware that Night Vale has added more than just random weirdness, but I'd argue they didn't do so very well. But that is a discussion for another day. 

Suffice it to say, I absolutely love The Magical History of Knox County. It only lasted for a single season of eight episodes, plus one mini-episode. I don't know if it was intended as a single season show, or if more episodes were planned, but never materialized. Still, it tells a complete story, and all loose ends are tied up by the final episode. So, there's no cliffhanger, or anything like that. Since there are only eight episodes, why don't we look at each of them individually? 

Episode One sets up the premise of the series. Mordecai joins the station and we're introduced to several of the main characters of the show. There's station assistant Ned, whose name is short for Nedezhda. She's snarky, sarcastic, and not exactly thrilled to have Mordecai working at the station. She also very obviously still hasn't gotten over Abigail's disappearance. In other characters, we also meet Riddle Toad. He's a human-sized toad who speaks with a Transatlantic accent. He does offer advice and guidance of Mordecai, though, as his name suggests, he's very cryptic and indirect about it. I must say that I loved how the team nailed that detached NPR style narration, especially with Mordecai. Not too much else to say, other than that it is a pretty good first episode. 

Episode Two follows Mordecai on his first real investigation for the radio station. He's taking a look at a tree, but not just any tree. This is a magical tree, and anyone who carves their initials, and the initials of someone else, into it will be bound for life. Mordecai interviews several couples who have gotten together because of the magic tree to see how their relationships turned out. 

This is where the series really hits its stride. It would seem that the weirdness of Knox County only goes so far. Mordecai calls the local university to inquire how global warming effects magical plants, and most of the professors tell him to get lost. Well, he does find one professor who at least humors him. This episode does present an interesting question. What happens when you're bound to someone because of fate, and something stupid you did as a teenager? Throughout history, most marriages were arranged, and tended to be more like business transaction than anything else. Marrying for love is a fairly recent development in the grand scheme of things. Despite this, surviving accounts seem to indicate that most couples learned to love each other. Of course, you also have to factor in potential bias and omissions from those accounts, but still. 

It seems that many of the couples did indeed manage to make it work, though there were a few notable exceptions. It's also interesting how the tree works. It wasn't magical originally, but it became magical because enough people believed that it was. All in all, an excellent episode. 

Episode Three has Mordecai meeting with magical creature experts Lumily and Devodit. They study the magical ecosystem of Knox County, with a particular focus on Fearsome Critters. 

I was particularly fond of this episode. First of all, Lumily and Devodit are a joy. Devodit is like an absent-minded mad scientist, while Lumily tries to reign him in, but isn't so above it all. The second reason I loved this episode is the focus on the Fearsome Critters of American Folklore. Fearsome Critters are tall tales created by loggers in the Midwest and New England. Very few people seriously believed in them. They were created as a way to explain, in a tongue-in-cheek way, strange happenings around the camp. Whenever something would go missing, it would be attributed to a Fearsome Critter. Also, they were a good source of campfire stories, and fodder for playing pranks on new recruits. 

Today, most Fearsome Critters have faded into obscurity, with the notable exception of the jackalope. In this episode we get to see the wasset. It's a creature that looks like a green weasel during the summer, which is when it hibernates. During the winter, it turns white and sheds its legs. It swims through the snow, and can grow quite large and ravenous. Ned has one, named Snickers, as a pet. 

Lumily and Devodit are trying to counteract the effects of invasive hodags. Hodags are a Fearsome Critter from Wisconsin. They're described as having the head of a frog, face of an elephant, thick short legs with claw, the back of a dinosaur, and a long tail with spears at the end. They're still fairly well-known in Wisconsin, with many schools and sports teams using them as mascots. As such, a Wisconsin creature is certainly invasive in Knox County, Ohio. It would seem that the magical ecosystem has some fairly mundane problems. Another excellent episode. 

Episode Four begins with Mordecai investigating a case of magical poaching at the behest of Riddle Toad. Mordecai is about to get up close and personal with the seedy underbelly of Knox County. 

This episode really captures the major theme of The Magical History of Knox County. Despite all of the magic and fantastical things, the problems faced by Knox County and its inhabitants are fairly mundane. Having so many strange and magical creatures probably would lead to a pretty big black market. We also got Riddle Toad in a prominent role, so that was good. Fittingly enough, his best friend is a sphinx, who was unfortunately a victim of the black market for magical creatures. All things considered, another solid episode. 

Episode Five changes pace by having Ned as the main character. Mordecai has gone missing, and Ned has to find him while also keeping the show running. What could possibly go wrong?

I think this episode show that, though she'd deny it, deep down Ned really does care about Mordecai. I also loved the main threat of the episode. It's a shapeshifter, but it follows certain rules. It can't form its own sentences; it can only repeat what it's heard the people it transforms into say. This is handy for telling a shapeshifter from a real person. We also meet Wendell, the owner of The Sleeping Giant bookstore. Keep this in mind, it becomes important later. There's also Karl, he keeps track of all the books dealing in magic, alchemy, the occult, and other strange subjects. He's aided by his trusty team of bookworms. They're magical worms that eat books, but absorb the knowledge contained within the books. They can answer any question you have, unless it is a yes or no question. 

We also get mention of Abraham Young, who also becomes important later. As is the magical tear in reality within the basement of the store. In case it wasn't obvious, this a pretty important episode. Important, and all also excellent as usual. 

Episode Six sees Mordecai return to investigate a highly aggressive flock of magical bird known as, well, The Flock. We also get formally introduced to Abraham Young. 

This is the point where The Magical History of Knox County went from episodic to developing something of a continuity. Abraham being the most notable example of this, and his connection to Abigail's disappearance. The Flock made me think of The SCP Foundation. Seems like they'd fit right in with the SCP universe. Then again, you could say that about Knox County as a whole. This episode further shows that Ned really does care for Mordecai. Also, rest in peace Snickers, you were a good little wasset. Oh, I might have let it slip that something happens to Snickers, but you'll have to listen to the episode to find out what that was. Another episode that is pretty good. 

Episode Seven begins with a memorial service for Abigail, but then things get serious. Mordecai discovers that there is a giant buried beneath The Little Giant bookstore, and Abraham Young is attempting to awaken it. Mordecai is determined to stop Abraham at any cost, but what consequences will this bring? 

I've watched a lot of science fiction and fantasy anime that spend most of their season being fun, quirky, and lighthearted. Then the season finale comes, and suddenly things turn dead serious, sometimes even save the world level serious. This episode of The Magical History of Knox County, and the one that comes after it, is kind of like that. So yeah, there is a giant buried beneath the town. Well, giant isn't really the right word. It's more like a minor god in terms of power. A massive untapped source of raw, unrefined pure magic. It almost sounds like something straight out of H.P. Lovecraft's writings. But for our purposes, we shall call it a giant, as the Mordecai does. 

Okay, going to have to discuss some spoilers now, as it pertains to what will come in Episode Eight. So, turn back now if you don't want that. 

Last chance. You sure you want to continue?

Well, okay then. Let's begin. 

Turns out that Abraham wasn't trying to awaken the giant; he was trying to perform a ritual to contain it. Unfortunately, Mordecai stopped the ritual, and now the giant has awoken. Oh, and several characters, including Riddle Toad, are dead. I mean, damn, didn't see that coming. This is also why Abraham killed Abigail. She tried to stop his ritual, because she thought he was trying to tap into the giant's magical powers. Obviously, she was less successful than Mordecai. 

Well, that was surprisingly intense, but well done. Let's see if the writers can top that. 

Episode Eight deals with the fallout from Episode Seven. It is also the season finale, but due to there only being one season, is also the series finale. The giant has risen. Knox County, and possible even the world, is in peril. Only Abraham Young can possibly stop it, but he's gone missing. Mordecai is going to risk it all to find Abraham and save Knox County. 

And so the series reaches its end. As such, this whole segment is going to be one big spoiler, so you have been warned. 

Well, first all, turns out Abraham lied. He really was trying to siphon the giant's magic. Unfortunately, it quickly got out of his control, and the ritual is him desperately trying to fix his mistake. I will also add that I love how Mordecai finally locates Abraham. He carves their names into the magic tree from Episode Two. The giant is recontained, but you'll have to listen to find out how. Mordecai goes missing, apparently having sacrificed himself to stop the giant. Ned goes crazy without him, but never loses hope that one day he will return. See, she really does care. That, and this probably echoed Abigail's death, and hit way too close to home for Ned. 

But, thankfully, Mordecai does return. Soon after it becomes business as usual for The Magical History of Knox County. All of the major plot threads are neatly wrapped up, but there is a strong sense of "And the adventure continues" so it leaves the door open for future seasons. Unfortunately, we didn't get any other seasons, but hey, what we did get was excellent. 

There is a bonus episode where Mordecai interviews one of Knox County's residents, but personally I didn't care for it. I probably should have mentioned it before, but the voice actors are all incredibly talented. They are what really brings the story to life, as they should be. 

Bonus episode notwithstanding, The Magical History of Knox County is an excellent urban fantasy podcast. It has that off-beat quirky small-town NPR vibe like Night Vale, but is also more grounded and down-to-earth. I wish we had gotten more seasons, but perhaps we ought to take joy in what we did get. Bottom line check out The Magical History of Knox County today. You'll be glad that you did. 

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.