The world of audio drama is home to many genres and
stories. However, historical fiction is still relatively rare compared to most
other genres. As I've mentioned in the past, I tend to have fairly high
standards when it comes to historical fiction. Well, I've found a historical
fiction audio drama that is well-researched and incredibly well-written and
entertaining. We are taking a look at the podcast 1865 from Wondery and Airship.
I first became aware of 1865 when I was listening to Levar Burton Reads, another podcast I enjoy. Sometimes, Levar will give shout-outs to other podcasts he enjoys, and 1865 was one of those podcasts. I was intrigued, but unfortunately, at the time 1865 required a Stitcher Plus membership to listen to. Thankfully, 1865 is now available to listen for free on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, which is where I listen to most of my podcasts. I learned about this when Campfire Radio Theater, another podcast I love, tweeted about it on Twitter.
Well, I can certainly say that it was worth the wait. It is a truly epic series, and a true labor of love. The series started life as a play created by Steve Walters and Erik Archilla. They were supposed to write a paper about 19th Century America theater for a college class. However, they both hated research papers, and there wasn't much to research beyond minstrel shows, so they asked their professor if they could write a play instead. They titled their creation Mars, after Lincoln's nickname for Edwin Stanton. It was a success, and even managed to be performed a few times. Still, they always felt that there was something more that they could do with the story.
So they decided to team up with Lindsay Graham, the host of the popular American History Tellers podcast. Rob McCollum would act as director. The story would be expanded into a full cast audio drama with music, sound effects, and everything else. It would be a movie for the ears. The recording took place primarily at Lindsay's studio. To bring their vision to life, they assembled a crack team of talented voice actors from around the Dallas area and beyond. Through hard work and dedication, everyone did their part to deliver a solid podcast.
If you know your history, you'll know that, despite a valiant effort, Stanton largely failed to stop most of Johnson's schemes. The challenge for the writers, therefore, is to make the audience care about Stanton and his battle in spite of this. The writers met this goal and then some. I found myself very wrapped-up and enthralled by the story's plot. Occasionally, I had to remind myself of how things were going to turn-out. Still, I did learn a lot of things from this podcast. Chief among them being who Edwin Stanton is. He's not a figure most people would have hear of, and that certainly a shame. Hopefully, 1865 has played a part in raising Stanton's profile.
A bit more about Stanton. He was born in Ohio, and was the son of a staunch abolitionist. From an early age he was instilled with the ideals that all people, regardless of race, should be free and equal. He was the one who really pushed Lincoln make the Civil War not just a fight to reunify the nation, but a fight to end the evil of slavery once and for all. That's not to say Lincoln didn't care about blacks, but he tended to be more of a pragmatist than Stanton. For example, Lincoln wanted each former Confederate state have ten percent support for the thirteen amendment before rejoining the Union. Stanton, along with his fellow Radical Republicans, wanted fifty percent support from each state.
Facing off against Stanton was Andrew Johnson. Johnson was one of the few Southerners who remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War. He was Lincoln's second Vice President, and was primarily selected in hopes of convincing the border states from seceding from the Union. Lincoln didn't like Johnson, and certainly didn't think he'd ever wind-up as president, but again, Lincoln was pragmatic. About the only positive thing you can say about Johnson's presidency is that the Alaska Purchase happened during it, but that was Secretary of State William H. Seward's doing. Johnson is widely considered one of the worst presidents America ever had. He was a bigot and a white supremacist. He deeply opposed Reconstruction, and pretty much anything that might grant equality to blacks. For example, he opposed the Freemen's Bureau, even though they sought to help poor whites as well.
Each episode is accompanied by a behind-the-scenes bonus episode explaining the facts behind the fiction. The bonus episodes also feature the creators going into more details about their writing process. They explain where they deviated from the historical record, and why they chose to do so. I should note that they very rarely deviated from established history. 1865 is impeccably researched.
Of course, a podcast of this magnitude needs a talented them of voice actors to bring it to life. Thankfully, the cast of 1865 is more than up to the challenge. Many of them are alumni of anime dubbing companies such as Funimation. Edwin Stanton, our leading man, is voiced by Jeremy Schwartz. He has lent his voice to several animes over the years, but I haven't seen most of them. Though I do recall that he had a very memorable minor role in the fourth season of Full Metal Panic! I recognized him thank to 1865. Besides that, I think he was Sasha's dad in Attack on Titan, and I think he was possibly in Space Dandy, and an episode of the reboot of Space Battleship Yamoto. I know it sounds like I'm being an asshole, but he's not a name I'd think of off the top of my head if you asked me about anime dub actors. Though his voice does sound familiar. Of course, if I was more up on my anime, I probably wouldn't have time to review podcasts. Schwartz delivers a powerful and commanding performance as Stanton. Amusingly, he kind of looks like Stanton too.
Johnson, our main villain, is voiced R. Bruce Elliot. He has appeared in several animes that I actually have watched. He was Kanbei in Samurai 7, Dot Pixis in Attack on Titan, and I believe he was also in both versions of Fullmetal Alchemist. He's also appeared a several minor live-action roles in films and television such JFK and Walker, Texas Ranger. Oh, and he was also Mr. Tenagain on Barney and Friends. Damn, I could have had some fun with that one if I was better at splicing audio. He actually sounds almost exactly like how I envision Andrew Johnson sounding. Not only that, but he actually kind of looks like Johnson as well.
In other famous voices, Secretary of the Navy Harrison Wells is voiced by J. Michael Tatum. He has appeared in several of my favorite animes, and was for me, the biggest surprise of the cast. He was Kraft Lawrence in Spice and Wolf, Scar in Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, and Kyoya Ootori in Ouran High School Host Club. He has a very distinctive voice, and I certainly wasn't expecting to encounter him in 1865, but it was a pleasant surprise indeed. We also have William Jackson Harper, famous of Chedi from The Good Place, as John Mercer Langston, the head of the Freedman’s Bureau.
Series executive
producer Lindsay Graham voices Abraham Lincoln in the various flashback scenes.
Overall, he does a good job, though at times he makes Lincoln sound a bit
sinister. Even Erik Archilla and Rob McCollum got in on the actions and voiced some minor
characters.
Obviously, there's a ton more actors and actresses in the cast. However, this review would drag on too long if I named all of them. I will say that they all do an excellent job, and it is because of their hard work and dedication that 1865 is the amazing podcast that it is. It is good that they are all getting more work and expanding their acting careers.
Now let's take a moment to talk about the musical score. It's all original pieces specifically commissioned for the podcast. It a lot of violins and fiddles, and maybe one of two other instruments. Certain musical effects were achieved by running bits of violin music through a synthesizer. You just know you're in for something amazing when the music begins to swell at the start of each episode. The ending music, clips of which are used for transition, is also well-done. The bonus episodes use a less dramatic, more plucky kind of fiddle for their music accompanied by acoustic guitars. The music helps to enhance and elevate the writing and acting.
In addition to the main show, there is also a three-episode miniseries about John Wilkes Booth. This originated in the show's initial run on Stitcher. They had a few episodes that focused on the hunt for Booth. However, these were dropped in the revised show, as the writers felt it interfered with the flow of the plot. Despite this, the writers still liked those episodes, and wanted to find a way to work them into the revised show. The first episode begins in 1862, and the last episode ends where the main series begins, with Lincoln's assassination in 1865. The first episode of the Booth miniseries is slightly racier than the main show, as it does begin with a sex scene. Though this is the only instance of this in all of 1865. The ending is also rather interesting. The main show, which has skipped ahead to 1868, ends with a reading of Stanton's obituary. It feels like the culmination of everything up til that point. We get a true sense of what a lion of a man Stanton was, and even the music changes to reflect this. At the end of the Booth miniseries, it ends like just a typical episode. This gives you a sense of what a pathetic individual Booth ultimately was.
1865 deals with topics and issues that, in many way, America is still feeling the ramifications of even 150 years later. It is said that history doesn't repeat, but it often rhymes. Various political goings-on inadvertently paralleled things happening in the podcast. For example, at one-point Harrison Well complains that Johnson is acting too loutish and unpresidential. Johnson retorts that he's the president and can act how he pleases. Erik Archilla, who runs the 1865 Twitter account, had an absolute field day with this. It would say things like "The President has been impeached. He calls it a witch hunt; a plot to remove him from office. He blames the former head of intelligence, a man he fired for not showing loyalty to his Presidency, for orchestrating the whole affair. Washington picks sides. Welcome to 1865."
On a more serious note, it is true that many things America is dealing with today do have their roots in the time of 1865. Towards the end, Stanton is informed that monuments to the Confederacy are being built, including in places like West Virginia, which never joined the Confederacy. It is astounding to think the controversy over Confederate statues began mere years after the Civil War. I'm of the opinion that they ought to be removed and placed in museums. People say it's to remind us of history, but you don't see Germans building statues of Nazis. But that's the discussion for another day, and I'm getting off track.
Moreover, Johnson has been acquitted by one vote, and it seems that equality for black will have to be yet another dream deferred. By this point, Johnson has successfully granted the South amnesty, and reintegrated it into the Union. Pretty much the only glimmers of hope are that Johnson's shot at a second term has been ruined thanks to Stanton. Stanton also achieves his dream of joining the Supreme Court, thanks to the newly elected Ulysses S. Grant, but he dies five days after being appointed.
It is certainly tragic to think that the chance to correct one of the greatest evils of American History was ruined by a man who never should have been president. Personally, I think Johnson should have been declared ineligible by merit of being a Southerner, but I digress. It is also amazing to think that a pivotal moment was decided by a single vote. Perhaps if Stanton had been more pragmatic, and gone after Johnson on lesser crimes, the vote would have turned out differently. It is also interesting to ponder how American history and politics might have turned out if a president has successfully been removed from office. Still, as with most speculations, we will never know for certain, and are left to ask, what if?
It is equally tragic that Stanton has faded from the public consciousness. Then again, so has Johnson, so there's that. Still, despite the immeasurable odds stacked against him, and his often thankless job, Stanton never gave-up, and continued to fight the good fight. I hope more people become aware of Edwin Stanton, and his battle for the rights of all Americans, thanks to 1865.
The writers have said that season 2 is on the way, and it will explore another era of American History, or possible be a prequel about Stanton early career. I can't wait to see what they've got. In the meantime, if you join the 1865 Patreon, you'll have access to all sort of bonus material. One is the "In Their Own Voices" series, where the cast read writings from the characters they portray.
Well, there you have it. 1865 is a standout production. It is earned several awards in the audio drama and podcasting world, and with good reason. It is a well-researched, and expertly written story in a pivotal moment in the history of America. I can't recommend it enough. Go ahead and start listening as soon and you're done reading this.
Well, I think that should do it for now. I've got to get back to writing more reviews so I can introduce you all to more great podcasts. I will see you all next time.
Obviously, there's a ton more actors and actresses in the cast. However, this review would drag on too long if I named all of them. I will say that they all do an excellent job, and it is because of their hard work and dedication that 1865 is the amazing podcast that it is. It is good that they are all getting more work and expanding their acting careers.
Now let's take a moment to talk about the musical score. It's all original pieces specifically commissioned for the podcast. It a lot of violins and fiddles, and maybe one of two other instruments. Certain musical effects were achieved by running bits of violin music through a synthesizer. You just know you're in for something amazing when the music begins to swell at the start of each episode. The ending music, clips of which are used for transition, is also well-done. The bonus episodes use a less dramatic, more plucky kind of fiddle for their music accompanied by acoustic guitars. The music helps to enhance and elevate the writing and acting.
In addition to the main show, there is also a three-episode miniseries about John Wilkes Booth. This originated in the show's initial run on Stitcher. They had a few episodes that focused on the hunt for Booth. However, these were dropped in the revised show, as the writers felt it interfered with the flow of the plot. Despite this, the writers still liked those episodes, and wanted to find a way to work them into the revised show. The first episode begins in 1862, and the last episode ends where the main series begins, with Lincoln's assassination in 1865. The first episode of the Booth miniseries is slightly racier than the main show, as it does begin with a sex scene. Though this is the only instance of this in all of 1865. The ending is also rather interesting. The main show, which has skipped ahead to 1868, ends with a reading of Stanton's obituary. It feels like the culmination of everything up til that point. We get a true sense of what a lion of a man Stanton was, and even the music changes to reflect this. At the end of the Booth miniseries, it ends like just a typical episode. This gives you a sense of what a pathetic individual Booth ultimately was.
1865 deals with topics and issues that, in many way, America is still feeling the ramifications of even 150 years later. It is said that history doesn't repeat, but it often rhymes. Various political goings-on inadvertently paralleled things happening in the podcast. For example, at one-point Harrison Well complains that Johnson is acting too loutish and unpresidential. Johnson retorts that he's the president and can act how he pleases. Erik Archilla, who runs the 1865 Twitter account, had an absolute field day with this. It would say things like "The President has been impeached. He calls it a witch hunt; a plot to remove him from office. He blames the former head of intelligence, a man he fired for not showing loyalty to his Presidency, for orchestrating the whole affair. Washington picks sides. Welcome to 1865."
On a more serious note, it is true that many things America is dealing with today do have their roots in the time of 1865. Towards the end, Stanton is informed that monuments to the Confederacy are being built, including in places like West Virginia, which never joined the Confederacy. It is astounding to think the controversy over Confederate statues began mere years after the Civil War. I'm of the opinion that they ought to be removed and placed in museums. People say it's to remind us of history, but you don't see Germans building statues of Nazis. But that's the discussion for another day, and I'm getting off track.
Moreover, Johnson has been acquitted by one vote, and it seems that equality for black will have to be yet another dream deferred. By this point, Johnson has successfully granted the South amnesty, and reintegrated it into the Union. Pretty much the only glimmers of hope are that Johnson's shot at a second term has been ruined thanks to Stanton. Stanton also achieves his dream of joining the Supreme Court, thanks to the newly elected Ulysses S. Grant, but he dies five days after being appointed.
It is certainly tragic to think that the chance to correct one of the greatest evils of American History was ruined by a man who never should have been president. Personally, I think Johnson should have been declared ineligible by merit of being a Southerner, but I digress. It is also amazing to think that a pivotal moment was decided by a single vote. Perhaps if Stanton had been more pragmatic, and gone after Johnson on lesser crimes, the vote would have turned out differently. It is also interesting to ponder how American history and politics might have turned out if a president has successfully been removed from office. Still, as with most speculations, we will never know for certain, and are left to ask, what if?
It is equally tragic that Stanton has faded from the public consciousness. Then again, so has Johnson, so there's that. Still, despite the immeasurable odds stacked against him, and his often thankless job, Stanton never gave-up, and continued to fight the good fight. I hope more people become aware of Edwin Stanton, and his battle for the rights of all Americans, thanks to 1865.
The writers have said that season 2 is on the way, and it will explore another era of American History, or possible be a prequel about Stanton early career. I can't wait to see what they've got. In the meantime, if you join the 1865 Patreon, you'll have access to all sort of bonus material. One is the "In Their Own Voices" series, where the cast read writings from the characters they portray.
Well, there you have it. 1865 is a standout production. It is earned several awards in the audio drama and podcasting world, and with good reason. It is a well-researched, and expertly written story in a pivotal moment in the history of America. I can't recommend it enough. Go ahead and start listening as soon and you're done reading this.
Well, I think that should do it for now. I've got to get back to writing more reviews so I can introduce you all to more great podcasts. I will see you all next time.
Excellent review. I may be a little late listening but it’s never too late to become more informed.
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