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. 

The Audio File: Moonface

I love speculative fiction audio dramas, but I also enjoy more down to Earth audio dramas. I'm always very happy when I can find one of those podcasts. Especially if they live up to my standards. That brings us to the audio drama we'll be reviewing today. We're taking a look at the podcast Moonface. 

Moonface follows a young gay Korean-American man named Paul who lives in Downey, a suburb of Los Angles. He's a wayward twenty-something desperately trying to make his way in the world. More importantly, he's trying to come out to his mother. This is complicated by the fact that she doesn't really speak English, but Paul doesn't really speak Korean. The series follows Paul as he tries to find both his place in the world and a way to connect with his mother.

I first became aware of this podcast when I was browsing on the r/audiodrama subreddit. There was a thread about great single season podcasts. I shared my favorites, such as Lights Out and The Hermes & Hekate Road Show, but I also went to see what everybody else was recommending. One person recommended an audio drama called Moonface. I checked it out, and saw that it wasn't too long, and the premise sounded interesting. I'm more willing to take a gamble on shorter shows, since if I don't like them, it will be over soon. Of course, if I wind-up loving them, which is fairly often, I always wish they'd go on for longer. Thankfully, I can safely say that Moonface falls in the latter category. Though I would say it is about as long as it needs to be.

It occurs to me that I'm reviewing this podcast in the middle of Pride Month. Those of you who have been following this blog for a while will know that there is no set schedule, and as such I did not plan this. It is merely a happy coincidence. If I get things posted in a timely manner, it is something of a small miracle.

Moonface is created by James Kim. Like Paul, he is a young gay Korean-American man who lives in Los Angles. He also struggled to connect with his parents due to not being able to speak Korean. Also, like Paul, he has worked in radio and podcasting. I suspected that there were some autobiographical elements to Moonface, and based on what James has said in interview, it appears my hunch were correct.

Moonface very much draws from the Asian-American and LGBT experience. However, you do not have to be Asian-American or LGBT to enjoy this podcast. I have PDD, Pervasive Developmental Disorder. It is an autism spectrum disorder that has aspects of Asperger's, Autism, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia and because misery loves company, Anxiety and Depression. It not the same as being visually a minority, but I often find parallels to my own experience in the stories of minorities. I also related to Paul's struggles to find his place in a post-college world. And even disregarding all of that, Moonface is a well-written and engaging podcast.

I'd like to take a minute to talk about the sound editing and sound design for Moonface. There are several instances of long stretches of silence, with the only noise being ambient background noise. It helps to paint the scenes and indicate the emotions of the characters. In-universe, one of Paul's ideas for a podcast is one composed of nothing but ambient noises.

Of course, another big aspect of Moonface is the focus on language and communication. Obviously, there are no subtitles in podcasts, so we hear what Paul hears. When his mother speaks untranslated Korean, and he can't understand it, that's what we hear. It serves to underscore the language barrier between them. Furthermore, we get flashbacks to Paul's childhood. We see that he speaks Korean fluently when he is a little boy, but gradually loses the language as he gets older. By the present day, he can only speak a handful of Korean words, and not very well at that. This does reflect not only James Kim's experience, but also that of Korean-Americans, and children of immigrants in general.

Usually, immigrants will speak their native langue, with enough English to get by day-to-day. Their children will usually be bilingual, but the grandchildren of the immigrants are usually the ones who loose the language and speak exclusively English. Korean-American are different, as with them, it is usually the children of immigrants who lose the language. Why exactly this happen is unknown, particularly given that there are still large amounts of Koreans immigrating to America, which usually preserves the language for a bit.

James Kim did a report about this phenomenon when he worked for a Southern Californian NPR affiliate. Based on his own admission, and the testimony of his parents, he lost it due to apathy towards Korean culture. For Paul, that appeared to be a factor as well, but also his desire to fit-in with his non-Korean classmates. One of the flashbacks sees Paul's elementary school class going on a field trip to his house to learn about traditional Korean homes. He becomes embarrassed by how strange his classmates find his home, and that seems to be the point he turns his back on Korean culture.

You do learn several tidbits about Korean culture during the course of the podcast. For example, when Paul's mom catches him in bed with his boyfriend Ryan, Paul isn't too panicked. In traditional Korean culture, it isn't uncommon for two men to share a bed. There's also a point where Paul and a fellow Korean-American classmate at his podcasting class compare experiences. They talk about going to Korean megachurches in their youth, and getting looked down on by the rich Korean kids. Christianity is fairly common among Koreans. About thirty percent of South Korea identifies as Christian. I've had several Korean Christians attempt to proselytize me over the years. I've also had many Black Jehovah's Witnesses, and Black Christians generally, do the same. The number White proselytizers tended to be fairly low, but I suppose that might be a quirk of where I live.

As a side note, I just wanted to say that I utterly adored Paul's two best friends, Shayla and Danny. They've been Paul's best friends since he was in the third-grade, and are also struggling to figure out what to do with their lives. Shayla dreams of being a fashion designer, but keeps getting passed over for promotions, and is stuck as an assistant. Danny wants to be an artist, but his self-doubt causes him to be stuck working in a retail store. Shayla is Black, and Danny is Mexican-American and gay, and they often compare and contrast their experience with Paul. They're also the ones who encourage Paul to get out of his rut, and add levity to the show.

Obviously, being gay, and trying to come out to his mom, is an important aspect of Paul's character. However, it is not the be-all end-all of who he is. He has his desire to be a podcaster, as well as his general search for a purpose to his life. Paul thinks that coming out to his mom will be this big turning point, but what he really wants is to figure out what he wants to do with his life.

Moonface is a great audio drama podcast, and every audio drama needs a great team of voice actors. James Kim certainly went the extra mile to get that team for Moonface. Paul is voiced by Joel Kim Booster. I'm not previously familiar with him, but he did an excellent job. James really wanted Joel for the part, so I'm glad it all worked out. Paul's mother was played by Esther Moon Wu. Again, not previously familiar, but she also did a good job, especially given the limits of the role. The other voice actors are also excellent. They're all professional actors who have appeared in shows such as Dear White People, The Affair, and Where the Bears Are. The endings for each episode feature music from a different South Korean indie band. It all sounds awesome, and made me want to look-up the bands.

Now we've at the part of the review where we have to go into spoilers. So turn back now if you don't want any of that.

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

If you're still here, and want to continue to the spoilers, then let's begin.

So, Paul finally confesses to his mom about his sexuality...and she doesn't care, because she already knows. However, she is angry that he hasn't bothered to learn Korean, especially since they're going on a trip to visit family in Seoul soon. But more than just that, she's angry that he isn't making an effort to connect with her, especially because she's been trying to improve her English specifically for this purpose.

Admittedly, I kind of suspected something like this was going to happen. All the same, it was a very effective reveal. But we aren't done yet. I did chuckle a little when Paul's mother says that she's known he was gay for years because he watches Disney movies and doesn't like sports. Stereotypical reasoning, but it is nice that she didn't judge him for that.

Paul's mother got a friend to help her write a heartfelt letter to Paul. She talks about her life in South Korea, meeting Paul's father, and moving to America. Most of all, she talks about how much she wants to connect with Paul and be part of his life. From the letter we learn that Paul's father has died, and fairly recently, from the sounds of it. Admittedly, I had been wondering about that, since Paul's dad appears in the flashbacks, but not the present day. He was also from South Korea, but could speak English much more fluently than Paul's mother, so finding a job in America was much easier for him. His death is also a big part of why Paul's mother wants to connect with him, because they have to be there for each other during these trying times.

The letter Paul's mother wrote reminded me of several other stories I've read of Asian-American parents trying to connect with their kids. In particular, I was reminded of "The Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu. In fact, Ken has said that his inspiration for that story was becoming a new father, and trying to pass on his Chinese culture to his daughters. That, and imagining the generation gap that might ensue due to them being the children of an immigrant. I guess some experiences are universal no matter if you're the child of immigrants from South Korea, China, or anywhere else.

There's some more stuff that happens, but I've said enough. I gotta leave you guys with something to discover for yourselves. I kind of wish Moonface had lasted just a bit longer, because I love it so much. However, all things considered, I think it is exactly as long as it needs to be.

Well, there you have it. Moonface is great podcast about a young gay Korean-American man try to find his way in the world and bridge a cultural divide. I can't recommend it enough.

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

The Alt-Hist File: Prototype World of Tomorrow: Murder in Progress

I've always been fascinated by all of the artistry, creativity, and imagination that goes into Disney theme park attractions. That's especially true of ones that aren't tied to a preexisting franchise. There's a tons of attractions that were never built for various reasons. We have not but some very tantalizing concept art. There's plenty of fertile ground for alternate history fun and adventure among those ideas. Am I going somewhere with this? Yes indeed, it all ties into the podcast we're taking a look at today. We're taking a look at Prototype World of Tomorrow: Murder in Progress.

Prototype World of Tomorrow: Murder in Progress takes place in a world where Walt Disney's original plan to build an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow became a reality. This great domed metropolis, known as Progress City, is home to over 50,000 temporary workers. It is a permanent showcase of American ingenuity and industry. Progress is home to super-science and fantastical inventions. Robots, shrink rays, and other futuristic inventions are all common sights. Recently, however, it's also become home to a homicide. Liam Crawford, the richest man in Progress, has been found murdered. Someone tossed him from his penthouse apartment, but who? Thankfully, Progress is home to a crack private detective named Tim who...well, actually, he's kind of an idiot. Still, Tim's going to do his best to solve the murder and bring the killer to justice. Though, if he wants to get by, he'll need a little help from his friends.

I first became aware of this audio drama while I was listening to a podcast by Defunctland, one of my favorite YouTube channels. It covers the history of defunct, or otherwise non-functioning, theme park attractions. Kevin Perjurer, Defunctland's creator and host, was interviewing Ben Lancaster about an indie film he made called The Further Adventures of Walt's Frozen Head. Towards the end of the podcast, Ben mentioned a future project he was working on called Murder in Progress. It would be an audio drama murder mystery set in a world where Walt Disney's dream of an experimental prototype community of tomorrow became a reality. Obviously, this was to be Prototype World of Tomorrow.

Time passed, and then one day I decided to search for Murder in Progress on the Apple podcast app. Lo and behold, I founded it, and it was absolutely amazing. I should also clarify some terminology. The show was originally called just World of Tomorrow, but then the team discovered that there is a Futurama fan cast, which hasn't been updated since 2018, that also has that name. So, after season one, they modified the name to Prototype World of Tomorrow. Murder in Progress is the name of the first five-part story of the series, which we will be discussing in this review.

 Now that we've got all that out of the way, let's begin. As a fan of alternate history, I do appreciate that this podcast took the path less traveled. Don't think I've seen too many works where Walt Disney successfully achieved his dream to make Progress City. The way it is presented sounds fun, if not necessarily realistic. Let me elaborate. Could Progress City have been made using 1960s tech, probably yes. Would it have functioned as intended, probably not. For example, the residents would constantly have their appliances switched out with the latest models as soon as they hit production. On paper, this sounds good, but it would be a logistical nightmare. Imagine having to have your refrigerator replaced every few months. You'd have to constantly unload and reload it, and what if the new model wasn't as good as the old, or removed some feature you really liked?

Then there's all the fantastical and otherwise super-science inventions. So, maybe not realistic, but I'm not complaining. Plus, we do get hints that Progress doesn't work quite as well as advertised. For example, Progress is enclosed by a giant concrete dome, as was the plan in real life. However, this causes quite a bit of noise whenever it rains. Given that Progress is in Florida, this happens fairly frequently.

 There's a ton of references to the history of Disney theme parks, especially never built attraction, scattered throughout the series. Progress is depicted, by and large, much as it was in Walt Disney's concept art and models for his planned Progress City. Yes, even the cable cars were part of the plan at various points. The center of Progress has a collection of ethnic neighbors called the International Tapestry. Yes, this was also a plan for Progress City, and it is what inspired the World Showcase section of EPCOT.

At one point, when describing the various nations represented, Tim specifically mentions Israel, Equatorial Africa, and Spain. These are the most famous never built World Showcase pavilions, because they came closest to actually getting built. Israel agreed to pay for a pavilion, but Disney got cold feet because they were afraid Palestinian terrorists would bomb the pavilion. Disney could never find any one African nation to sponsor Equatorial Africa, because every time they almost got a sponsor, there would be some political turmoil that sent them back to square one. South Africa offered to sponsor a pavilion, but they did so in the middle of Apartheid, so Disney said hell no. Though many design elements of Equatorial Africa got incorporated into the Africa section of Animal Kingdom. There's is a small stand called The Outpost that sells African themed souvenirs, and hosts African drum performances, at EPCOT. As for Spain...well, you got me there.

There's also a Persian section of the International Tapestry, where Tim's friend Bayan lives. Most residents of the International Tapestry live in Progress for a year, as ambassadors of their home nations. However, if their home country experiences any political turmoil while they're in Progress, they're allowed to stay indefinitely as part of the Progress Refugee Program. This first happened in 1979 during the Iranian/Islamic Revolution, and that's how Bayan and his family are in Progress. This is another sly reference to a never built pavilion. Disney planned for an Iran pavilion at EPCOT, but the revolution put the kibosh on that.

There's also plenty of references to attractions that actually did get built. For example, there's a popular bar in Progress called The Temple of Heaven. This is a nod to how the centerpiece of the China pavilion at EPCOT is a replica of the Temple of Heaven.  Many of the business tend to be nods to the various pavilions of Future World. For example, Tim's girlfriend Annie works for an agricultural company that offers behind the scenes tours. This is obviously a nod to Living with the Land, which these days is just called The Land.

As a fan of all the creativity and imagination that goes into Disney theme park attractions, I very much approve of all of these references. Though I do wonder how Progress effected the history of Disney World. I'm guessing that EPCOT never got built, but was some other park built in its place? If so, what is it like? For that matter, do Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom exist, or are other parks standing in their place? Also, what about the international Disney Theme Parks? It is interesting stuff to think about, and I hope it will be addressed in future seasons.

Now that we've got that out of the way, let's talk characters. Tim Less is our protagonist. He's a private investigator who is eager to prove himself. He's eager, but also kind of an idiot. Well, he does show a fair bit of cunning and initiative, and is willing to take several risks, as the series go on. All the same, he just as often stumbles into clues without intending to. Tim seems to believe he's a detective in a film noir, as opposed to the science fiction dramedy that he's actually in. Still, his eagerness coupled with his frequent ineptitude is what makes him enduring.

Tim soon finds himself entangled with his girlfriend's sister Eve Moore. Oh, less and more, I just realized that. Anyway, Eve used to work in robotics, but she was framed for the murder of her boss. I need to take a moment to discuss that. She and the boss were working on nanobots, but had trouble getting them small enough. So, they built the robots at standard size, and used a shrink ray to shrink the robots down to the proper size. Very creative solution, though not very applicable to the real world, as we have yet to invent shrink rays.

Eve suddenly becoming unemployed is a bit of an issue, as all residents of Progress are required to be employed. If you don't have a job within a set number of days, you are evicted from the city. Since she's already suspected of one murder, now two, Eve would draw the attention of the Orange County sheriff department if that were to happen. Though it is in Orange County, Progress is considered legally distinct, which the Orange County sheriff department is very resentful of. I actually thought that Tim had more chemistry with Eve than he did with Annie. Granted, Eve got a lot more screen time, for want of a better term. Still, I do wonder if this will become a plot point in future seasons. She compliments him well. Eve is smart, quick-witted, and more down-to-earth than Tim is.

I'll now take a moment to talk about the amazing cast of voice actors that were assembled for this podcast. Tim and Eve are voiced by BrIan Ballance and Callie Wills. I'm not previously familiar with either of them, but I see bright futures in the world of voice acting for both of them. That is, assuming they aren't already involved in other productions. Really the whole cast is incredibly talented, and top of the line. However, the biggest surprise among the cast is that Ron Schneider cameo's as the announcer for one of the companies. Ron played Dreamfinder in the original version of the ride Journey into Imagination. He also previously worked with Ben Lancaster on The Further Adventures of Walt's Frozen Head, where Ron played Walt Disney himself.

This is just the first season, and there's still many mysteries to solve in Progress. Chief among, just what was Liam Crawford secretly working on before his death? Also, I know Kevin Perjurer said he'd love to cameo in the podcast. Perhaps ought to take him up on that offer. Based on what we've seen in season one, there are great things in-store for Prototype World of Tomorrow in the coming seasons.

Well there you have it. Prototype World of Tomorrow: Murder in Progress is an alternate history murder mystery that you won't want to miss out on, especially if you love Disney Theme Parks. Go and listen to it today, you'll be glad that you did.

I think that should do it for now. I will see you guys next time.