Residents of Proserpina Park begins with a frame story. It begins with our unarmed narrator listening to some recordings that her brother gave her. They're made by a young woman named Alina, who is investigating rumors of a mysterious secret park, known as Proserpina Park. It's part of an assignment for journalism class. Alina found more than she bargained for. Turns out, Proserpina Park is a sanctuary for all the mythical creatures from across World Mythology and Folklore. Fortunately, she's not exploring the park alone. Alina meets a guy named Sam, who is something of a park resident himself. Each episode sees Alina learn more about the various creatures who call Proserpina Park their home.
I'd been meaning to review this audio drama for a while. However, it was when the official Residents of Proserpina Park Twitter account asked if people would review that show that I finally got my motivation. I just wanted to make sure there wouldn't be any unexpected bonus episode before I did a formal review. But that didn't happen, so, now here we are.
I'd argue that, in many ways, Residents of Proserpina Park is an edutainment show. It sets out to teach listeners about different mythological creatures in a fun and entertaining way. Most episodes follow roughly same format; Alina will arrive at the park, meet Sam, and then Sam will tell her about a new creature, and explain the creature's origins and mythological significance. Usually, the recordings end right before Alina and Sam go to actually see the creature in question. Though, later episodes do shake up the format a bit. Alina starts exploring the park on her own, and bringing friends along, something Sam tells her she must never do. Some creatures, particularly the ones with human-level intelligence, do also make on-screen, for lack of a better way of putting it, appearances.
For example, on her first trip to the park with friends, Alina encounters a kappa. The kappa stops to chat for a bit, and is kind enough not to eat anyone's liver. Also, the Jersey Devil is the park's ranger, and identifies as non-binary. Well, I guess the legends never specified what gender the Jersey Devil is. When Alina first meets the Jersey Devil, JD says something to the effect of "What makes me weird to you? Disproportionate head-to-body ratio? Is it that I have bat-wings even though I'm mostly mammal?" Uh, JD, quick question, you do know that bats are mammals, right?
So, anyway, from this encounter we learn that some creatures choose to live in the outside world. It helps that they have people who genuinely believe in them. Bigfoot and Mothman are specifically mentioned. JD doesn't like them very much, because they tend to hog the cryptid spotlight. JD claims that many kids today have never heard of the Jersey Devil. That seems a bit odd, as I've seen the Jersey Devil mentioned frequently in cryptozoology media. But maybe I'm not the best gage of these things.
Some people believe that creatures like Sasquatch, the Jersey Devil, and the Loch Ness Monster are part of a modern-day mythology of a sort. Personally, I agree with that. Not just because they're mysterious creatures that some people believe in, but also for what they represent. Take Mothman, for example. His sightings first began in 1966 and 1967. That was a time of great technological and social progress in America. However, it was also during the Cold War, when the threat of nuclear war constantly hung over everyone's heads. Especially so, given how recently the Cuban Missile Crisis had occurred. Perhaps, then, we can see Mothman to represent the anxieties about rapid technological change. What unforeseen consequences might all this new technology bring? What new horrors might science unwittingly unleash upon the world?
Perhaps Bigfoot, and cryptids in general, represent our desire for there to still be a bit of mystery and wonder still left in the world. Jersey Devil is a bit closer to a traditional mythological creature. Its story was used to teach kids to be careful in the woods. Though, you can also read certain sexist undertones to the story. The Jersey Devil was born as it is because it's mother, who already had twelve kids, said "I don't want another child. Let this one be the Devil!" So, you can read that as being a condemnation of women who tried to defy the social expectations of the 18th Century. It is worth nothing that the part of New Jersey the Jersey Devil is claimed to be from was home to a large Quaker community in the 18th Century. Quite ironic, given that Quakers have become quite progressive, and supportive of women's rights these days.
Anyway, at another point Alina meets an alien that disguises itself as a dog. It gave itself the very creative name Dog. Dog really looks like one of those stereotypical Grey aliens; the ones with the big heads and big black eyes. Again, I'd argue this is modern mythology of a sort. Tales of alien abduction aren't all that dissimilar from tales of people being taken to the Land of Faerie. Well, there might be another explanation. Some people with exceptionally good memories are capable of remembering their own birth. Many have notes that the general description of the Greys isn't too dissimilar to how a newborn baby might perceive doctors. Perhaps, people claiming to have been abducted by aliens are subconsciously remembering their birth.
But don't worry, there are plenty of creatures from traditional mythology. In fact, they make up the bulk of the park's population. I found both creatures I was familiar with, and new ones to learn about. On the ones I knew about side, I was familiar with the antlions. As their name suggests, they have the body of an ant and the head of a lion. They appeared a lot in medieval bestiaries. The lion part craves meat, but the ant part can only digest grain. Medieval bestiaries were full of all sorts of weird creatures like that.
On the unfamiliar side, I got to learn about Bulgae. They're dogs from Korean Mythology who chase the sun and moon across the sky. When one of them bites the sun, it causes an eclipse. I also learned about the Aralez from Armenian Mythology. They're large dogs with feathery wings, and can heal people simply by licking them. That's interesting, because I remember that the second Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children book made mention of a Peculiar dog that could heal anything with its licks. I wonder if it was a reference to the Aralez?
I also learned about the Yumboes from Wolof Mythology. They're kind of like fairies, but they're really spirits of the dead. I should clarify that's fairies in the helpful nature spirit sense, not the play mean-spirited ticks sense. They've only really been documented by the Irish writer Thomas Keightley; based on his childhood in Senegal. Series creator, and voice of Alina, Angela Yih agonized about including them, before deciding to do so. Lack of primary sources is a problem with a lot of mythologies that come from pre-literate societies. Well, that and there not being many stories that managed to get written down. Irish and Welsh Mythology, for example, have some large holes in them, and Slavic Mythology is practically non-existent. Slavic Folklore is a bit better preserved, but it is still frustrating.
The point is, sometimes with these things you just have to do your best, and hope that it all works out. I will add that there are other fairy-like creatures from African Mythology. The Mmoatia, from the mythology of the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast, come to mind. The spider god Anansi had to capture a Mmoatia as part of his four tasks. Once Anansi completed the tasks his father, the sky god Nyame, would give Anansi a box full of stories.
Now let's talk about the people who make Residents of Proserpina Park possible. I've already briefly mentioned series creator, and voice of Alina, Angelia Yih. She describes herself as, and I quote, "a weeb who still writes Percy Jackson fanfiction. And a total mythology nerd." Ah, clearly a woman after my own heart. The narrator is played by Vida Shi. In addition to voicing characters in audio dramas, she also has a career as a VTuber. For those who don't know, VTubing is that thing where you create a digital avatar, craft a persona around said avatar, and play video games and do live streams and stuff. And thus, one of the biggest twists of season one was a metafictional one.
Sam is voiced by G3, who actually looks pretty spot-on for how I envision Sam. Sara Roncero Menedez voices Dog. She's a big horror fan, and has advocated for more horror-based creatures to appear in season two. Based on a casting call that has been put out, it looks like we'll be getting to meet the Aswang from Filipino Mythology come season two. There are several other very talented contributors to Residents of Proserpina Park, but I think we need to wrap things up soon. But suffice it to say, the rest of the cast are all very talented, and their contributions are appreciated.
Okay, now we have to get into some spoilers for the end of season one. So, if you don't want any of that, turn back now.
Last chance, you sure you want to continue?
Well, okay. If everyone who wants out is gone, let's get into it.
I had wondered if Sam might be some sort of creature for a while. Or at least, that he's not entirely human. He can’t hear the Jersey Devil when they talk, and that's bound to be significant. I wondered if, somehow, he might be an atheist. That is, he lacks sincere belief, and that limits how he can perceive the creatures of the park. But then how do you account for Alina? She didn't believe in anything, but could see Cerberus for what he actually is. Granted, she was awfully blasé about meeting a three-headed dog with snakes around its necks, but still.
Then another thought occurred to me. If creatures from mythology are still around, then what about the gods? Could it be that Sam is a demigod of some sort? Well, towards the end of season one, Alina and company are searching for Chinese dragons, and Dog mentions that the Aztec feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl lives in Proserpina Park. This certainly added further fuel to my speculations, but then the season one finally happened. Sam got an unexpected visit from his cousin, who is a Greek demigod.
What does this mean? What are the implications here? Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Also, Quetzalcoatl being at Proserpina Park has interesting implications. Are any other gods at the park? Is it just the ones that look like animals, or are the human-looking ones there too? Sam mentioned that Proserpina Park isn't the only mythological nature reserve in the world. What are the other ones like? What sort of creatures do they hold?
If mythological creatures exists because people believe in them, did they pop into the world ex nihilo? Or did the world change so that, retroactively, they always existed. Like in that issue of Neil Gaiman's Sandman where it turns out cats used to be the dominate species, until humans dreamed the world into what it is now.
There's plenty of fertile ground for material for season two. And I have full confidence that Angela and her team will make the most of it. Season one was absolutely fantastic, and I can't wait to see what season two has in store for us.
Well, there you have it. Residents of Proserpina Park is a fun and entertains way to learn about creatures from across World Mythology. Season one was absolutely amazing, and season two looks to be just as amazing, if not more so. Episodes are typically about eleven or twelve minutes, so season one is easily bingeable. And I would strongly advise you to do so as quickly as possible if you haven't already.
Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.
I'd been meaning to review this audio drama for a while. However, it was when the official Residents of Proserpina Park Twitter account asked if people would review that show that I finally got my motivation. I just wanted to make sure there wouldn't be any unexpected bonus episode before I did a formal review. But that didn't happen, so, now here we are.
I'd argue that, in many ways, Residents of Proserpina Park is an edutainment show. It sets out to teach listeners about different mythological creatures in a fun and entertaining way. Most episodes follow roughly same format; Alina will arrive at the park, meet Sam, and then Sam will tell her about a new creature, and explain the creature's origins and mythological significance. Usually, the recordings end right before Alina and Sam go to actually see the creature in question. Though, later episodes do shake up the format a bit. Alina starts exploring the park on her own, and bringing friends along, something Sam tells her she must never do. Some creatures, particularly the ones with human-level intelligence, do also make on-screen, for lack of a better way of putting it, appearances.
For example, on her first trip to the park with friends, Alina encounters a kappa. The kappa stops to chat for a bit, and is kind enough not to eat anyone's liver. Also, the Jersey Devil is the park's ranger, and identifies as non-binary. Well, I guess the legends never specified what gender the Jersey Devil is. When Alina first meets the Jersey Devil, JD says something to the effect of "What makes me weird to you? Disproportionate head-to-body ratio? Is it that I have bat-wings even though I'm mostly mammal?" Uh, JD, quick question, you do know that bats are mammals, right?
So, anyway, from this encounter we learn that some creatures choose to live in the outside world. It helps that they have people who genuinely believe in them. Bigfoot and Mothman are specifically mentioned. JD doesn't like them very much, because they tend to hog the cryptid spotlight. JD claims that many kids today have never heard of the Jersey Devil. That seems a bit odd, as I've seen the Jersey Devil mentioned frequently in cryptozoology media. But maybe I'm not the best gage of these things.
Some people believe that creatures like Sasquatch, the Jersey Devil, and the Loch Ness Monster are part of a modern-day mythology of a sort. Personally, I agree with that. Not just because they're mysterious creatures that some people believe in, but also for what they represent. Take Mothman, for example. His sightings first began in 1966 and 1967. That was a time of great technological and social progress in America. However, it was also during the Cold War, when the threat of nuclear war constantly hung over everyone's heads. Especially so, given how recently the Cuban Missile Crisis had occurred. Perhaps, then, we can see Mothman to represent the anxieties about rapid technological change. What unforeseen consequences might all this new technology bring? What new horrors might science unwittingly unleash upon the world?
Perhaps Bigfoot, and cryptids in general, represent our desire for there to still be a bit of mystery and wonder still left in the world. Jersey Devil is a bit closer to a traditional mythological creature. Its story was used to teach kids to be careful in the woods. Though, you can also read certain sexist undertones to the story. The Jersey Devil was born as it is because it's mother, who already had twelve kids, said "I don't want another child. Let this one be the Devil!" So, you can read that as being a condemnation of women who tried to defy the social expectations of the 18th Century. It is worth nothing that the part of New Jersey the Jersey Devil is claimed to be from was home to a large Quaker community in the 18th Century. Quite ironic, given that Quakers have become quite progressive, and supportive of women's rights these days.
Anyway, at another point Alina meets an alien that disguises itself as a dog. It gave itself the very creative name Dog. Dog really looks like one of those stereotypical Grey aliens; the ones with the big heads and big black eyes. Again, I'd argue this is modern mythology of a sort. Tales of alien abduction aren't all that dissimilar from tales of people being taken to the Land of Faerie. Well, there might be another explanation. Some people with exceptionally good memories are capable of remembering their own birth. Many have notes that the general description of the Greys isn't too dissimilar to how a newborn baby might perceive doctors. Perhaps, people claiming to have been abducted by aliens are subconsciously remembering their birth.
But don't worry, there are plenty of creatures from traditional mythology. In fact, they make up the bulk of the park's population. I found both creatures I was familiar with, and new ones to learn about. On the ones I knew about side, I was familiar with the antlions. As their name suggests, they have the body of an ant and the head of a lion. They appeared a lot in medieval bestiaries. The lion part craves meat, but the ant part can only digest grain. Medieval bestiaries were full of all sorts of weird creatures like that.
On the unfamiliar side, I got to learn about Bulgae. They're dogs from Korean Mythology who chase the sun and moon across the sky. When one of them bites the sun, it causes an eclipse. I also learned about the Aralez from Armenian Mythology. They're large dogs with feathery wings, and can heal people simply by licking them. That's interesting, because I remember that the second Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children book made mention of a Peculiar dog that could heal anything with its licks. I wonder if it was a reference to the Aralez?
I also learned about the Yumboes from Wolof Mythology. They're kind of like fairies, but they're really spirits of the dead. I should clarify that's fairies in the helpful nature spirit sense, not the play mean-spirited ticks sense. They've only really been documented by the Irish writer Thomas Keightley; based on his childhood in Senegal. Series creator, and voice of Alina, Angela Yih agonized about including them, before deciding to do so. Lack of primary sources is a problem with a lot of mythologies that come from pre-literate societies. Well, that and there not being many stories that managed to get written down. Irish and Welsh Mythology, for example, have some large holes in them, and Slavic Mythology is practically non-existent. Slavic Folklore is a bit better preserved, but it is still frustrating.
The point is, sometimes with these things you just have to do your best, and hope that it all works out. I will add that there are other fairy-like creatures from African Mythology. The Mmoatia, from the mythology of the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast, come to mind. The spider god Anansi had to capture a Mmoatia as part of his four tasks. Once Anansi completed the tasks his father, the sky god Nyame, would give Anansi a box full of stories.
Now let's talk about the people who make Residents of Proserpina Park possible. I've already briefly mentioned series creator, and voice of Alina, Angelia Yih. She describes herself as, and I quote, "a weeb who still writes Percy Jackson fanfiction. And a total mythology nerd." Ah, clearly a woman after my own heart. The narrator is played by Vida Shi. In addition to voicing characters in audio dramas, she also has a career as a VTuber. For those who don't know, VTubing is that thing where you create a digital avatar, craft a persona around said avatar, and play video games and do live streams and stuff. And thus, one of the biggest twists of season one was a metafictional one.
Sam is voiced by G3, who actually looks pretty spot-on for how I envision Sam. Sara Roncero Menedez voices Dog. She's a big horror fan, and has advocated for more horror-based creatures to appear in season two. Based on a casting call that has been put out, it looks like we'll be getting to meet the Aswang from Filipino Mythology come season two. There are several other very talented contributors to Residents of Proserpina Park, but I think we need to wrap things up soon. But suffice it to say, the rest of the cast are all very talented, and their contributions are appreciated.
Okay, now we have to get into some spoilers for the end of season one. So, if you don't want any of that, turn back now.
Last chance, you sure you want to continue?
Well, okay. If everyone who wants out is gone, let's get into it.
I had wondered if Sam might be some sort of creature for a while. Or at least, that he's not entirely human. He can’t hear the Jersey Devil when they talk, and that's bound to be significant. I wondered if, somehow, he might be an atheist. That is, he lacks sincere belief, and that limits how he can perceive the creatures of the park. But then how do you account for Alina? She didn't believe in anything, but could see Cerberus for what he actually is. Granted, she was awfully blasé about meeting a three-headed dog with snakes around its necks, but still.
Then another thought occurred to me. If creatures from mythology are still around, then what about the gods? Could it be that Sam is a demigod of some sort? Well, towards the end of season one, Alina and company are searching for Chinese dragons, and Dog mentions that the Aztec feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl lives in Proserpina Park. This certainly added further fuel to my speculations, but then the season one finally happened. Sam got an unexpected visit from his cousin, who is a Greek demigod.
What does this mean? What are the implications here? Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Also, Quetzalcoatl being at Proserpina Park has interesting implications. Are any other gods at the park? Is it just the ones that look like animals, or are the human-looking ones there too? Sam mentioned that Proserpina Park isn't the only mythological nature reserve in the world. What are the other ones like? What sort of creatures do they hold?
If mythological creatures exists because people believe in them, did they pop into the world ex nihilo? Or did the world change so that, retroactively, they always existed. Like in that issue of Neil Gaiman's Sandman where it turns out cats used to be the dominate species, until humans dreamed the world into what it is now.
There's plenty of fertile ground for material for season two. And I have full confidence that Angela and her team will make the most of it. Season one was absolutely fantastic, and I can't wait to see what season two has in store for us.
Well, there you have it. Residents of Proserpina Park is a fun and entertains way to learn about creatures from across World Mythology. Season one was absolutely amazing, and season two looks to be just as amazing, if not more so. Episodes are typically about eleven or twelve minutes, so season one is easily bingeable. And I would strongly advise you to do so as quickly as possible if you haven't already.
Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.
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