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. 

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.   

The Audio File: A Scottish Podcast

Some podcasts are just so big, and come up in conversation so much, I just can't ignore them. Eventually, I have check them out just to see what the fuss is about. Sometimes they turn out to be overrated, but other times they turn out to indeed be worthy of the praise. That brings us to the podcast we'll be reviewing today. We're taking a look at A Scottish Podcast. 

A Scottish Podcast follows two Scottish dudes named Lee and Douglas. Lee used to be a radio DJ, but he recently lost job. In his quest to not starve, Lee has stumbled across, what he thinks, will be a surefire path to success: starting a paranormal investigation podcast. Lee soon drags Douglas along for the ride, and the two set out to make the best paranormal investigation horror podcast set in Scotland. 

Well, I must admit, I'm glad I finally gave this podcast a listen. I wouldn't so much call A Scottish Podcast a horror podcast. I'd say that it's more of a comedy/slice-of-life podcast that happens to include horror elements. The podcast primarily focuses on Lee and Douglas' day-to-day lives, and the various mundane aspects of running a podcast. Still, there's plenty of laughs to be had, and shout-out to other podcasts. Lee models the podcast, known as The Terror Files, as essentially a Scottish version of The Black Tapes. Haven't listened to that one, but from what I understand, it's kind of like the X-Files. Though, The Black Tapes is a fiction podcast, whereas The Terror Files would, in-universe, be a non-fiction investigation podcast. In other shout-out, at one-point Lee and Douglas discuss an episode of Campfire Radio Theater that is set in Scotland. It's a meta joke, because Lee and Douglas' voice actors, Rob Cudmore and Matthew McLean, played the lead roles in that episode. Two other podcasts Lee hopes The Terror Files will be able to rival is The Message and Limetown. Like I said, plenty of shout-outs and love to go round. 

Now let's talk characters. A Scottish Podcast is very much a character-driven show. There are plot threads that are set up at the start of the season, but it really is the characters, and the focus on their lives, that carries the show. Granted, there are hints of horror throughout the seasons. Things also tend to come to a head during the finale episodes of each season, which take a more serious tone, at least at the start.  

Anyway, back to characters. Lee has a freewheeling devil-may-care personality. He's the type to jump in first and hammer out the details as he goes along. That pretty much describes how he created The Terror Files. By contrast, Douglas is more sensible and cautious. Well, he did agree to Lee's crazy idea, but otherwise he's pretty sensible. He's also got a bit of a chip on his shoulder due to the time he shit in his pants on live television. 

Lee and Douglas' primary financial backer is a gangster named Bruce. He's the top gangster in Scotland, and widely considered to be the most dangerous man in Britain. He's also a huge fan of horror investigation podcasts, and The Terror Files is right up his alley. Douglas was a bit hesitant about being sponsored by a violent criminal. Lee meanwhile, pretty much said "where do I sign?" immediately. Though, considering their primary sponsor prior to that had been a hemorrhoid cream company, perhaps it is understandable why Lee said yes so quickly. A good bit of humor comes from how Brice his always cordial and polite, even when he's doing gangster stuff. For example, one time he politely calls to ask how the podcast is going, while also murdering a man in a cement mixer. He's also speaking with an English accent, which I found a bit odd. Is that common with Scottish gangsters? I once took a school trip to London (and Paris and Venice) and encountered a Scottish drug dealer selling marijuana. I had to do my best to defuse a tense situation after one of my stupid classmates pissed him off, but I digress. Bruce is voiced Karim Kronfli. He has dyslexia, but that hasn’t stopped him from perusing a successful career as a voice actor. 

In other notable characters we have Helen, the perpetual drunk who practically lives at the local bar. I'm not sure how I feel about her. She was amusing at first, but then she got kind of annoying. Still, the prequel episode where she fills in for Lee as Santa at a charity even for sick kids was kind of fun. Helen, being Helen, rented some vans and took the kids to the pub, and bought them all jäger bombs. That was probably one of the best Christmases those sick kids ever had. It was also amusing when Lee think he's died and gone to Hell, which appears to him as the local pub. When questioned, Helen basically says, "it's Hell, everyone is Scottish." She is voiced by Sarah Golding, who is to the audio drama community what John Ratzenberger is to Pixar movies. She’s a true gem of the community, and has appeared in countless audio dramas in various roles. 

In season two, Lee and Douglas are joined on their adventures by an American woman named Gina. She's a big fan of The Terror Files, and I though she provided a good foil to Lee and Douglas. There are plenty more characters, but those are the ones who really stand out. So then, let us move on to other subjects. 

Season three is perhaps the most bonkers to date, but in a good way. Lee disappears for a while. Then, Douglas finds him again. Specifically, Lee is on a spaceship, and he’s taking Douglas to the planet Yuggoth. They’re off to explore the mysterious ruins of Yuggoth. We went from a slice of life with horror elements, to what I can best describe as We Fix Space Junk, but with two Scottish dudes. Hmm, would that be Wee Fix Space Shite, then? Well, didn’t see that coming, but I’m all here for it. In all of its glorious insanity. 

I must also take a moment and talk about the fantastic voice acting this podcast has. I also must be very careful about how I chose my words. The team behind A Scottish Podcast are usually good sports about negative reviews. In fact, they've turned several of their negative reviews into drink coasters that you can purchase. All the same, I'd prefer if my reviews didn't wind up on a drink coaster for the wrong reasons. I'd also just like to say the official series title card is awesome. Even more than good word-of-mouth, it is what really convinced me I needed to give A Scottish Podcast a try. 

Okay, so how do I put this delicately? Fine, I'll just be brutally honest. I've always found Scottish people to be kind of annoying. They always sound like seals barking, which I, half-jokingly, suppose explains where the legend of the selkie comes from. However, I found the cast to all be rather pleasant to listen to. They're all very talented, and clearly hard working and devoted to their craft. Also, if this does wind up on a coaster, I demand a royalties check. Just putting that out there now. 

In addition to the main show, A Scottish Podcast has had many fun special. They did a Burns Night Special, where the characters all read poetry, but it was all original works, rather than the poems of Robert Burns. They also did a special where the characters all read poems written by HP Lovecraft. This was framed as a poetry contest that Bruce was running to sponsor a butcher shop he owns. They're famous for their meat pies...if you know what I mean. Naturally, he was declared the winner, because everyone was too scared of what would happen if he didn't win. 

Lovecraft was clearly a pretty big influence on the creators. Several of the strange things Lee and Douglas investigate have strong Lovecraftian undertones to them. For example, in season two they investigate a professor from Miskatonic University who conducted experiments for the British government during World War II. Also, apparently Miskatonic University is real in the world of A Scottish Podcast; albeit as a mundane university that is a bit annoyed that Lovecraft featured them in his works. Season one also featured Lovecraftian horrors lurking beneath Edinburgh, but also an undead cannibal warrior from the 10th century. A Scottish Podcast even did it's own adaption of The Shadow Over Innsmouth. The set-up is that Douglas is traveling to England on holiday, and stays at the seaside town of Innsmouth. Ah, so that's how Lovecraft slipped that one under the radar. Everyone thought the reals Innsmouth was in New England, like the story, but it was actually in Old England all along. Thought, to be clear there is no Innsmouth on either side of the Atlantic in real life. 

There was also an episode where A Scottish Podcast crossed over with several other horror podcast audio dramas. The episode featured Lee and Douglas attending a podcasting convention, and meet with the creators and/or characters of the other podcasts. However, they were all podcast I don't listen too, so I didn't quite have the intended effect on me. Still, for fans of those podcasts, I'm sure they were over the Moon. I know I got excited when A Scottish Podcast merely mentioned Campfire Radio Theater, one of my favorite podcasts. 

So there you have it. A Scottish Podcast is a comedy/slice-of-life podcast about two Scottish dudes trying to create their own horror investigation podcast. It's a name you often hear in the world of audio drama podcast, and I'm glad I finally gave it a listen. Give it a listen yourself, you'll be glad that you did. 

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

The Audio File: Fall of the Shah

Britain has had a long history of producing quality audio dramas. I suppose it is partially because television arrived there later than it did in America. Of course, even after television arrived, the British continued producing audio dramas, even into the present day. That brings us to the podcast we're reviewing today. We're taking a look at Fall of the Shah, a BBC production.

Fall of the Shah tells the story of the early days of the Iranian/Islamic Revolution. We see this historic event though the eyes of many people. There is of course, the Shah and his wife, but also leaders in America and Britain, a Canadian journalist, and an Iranian family divided by the revolution.

Okay, I know that doesn't sound terribly exciting, but this is an excellent podcast. Being produced by a major company means that the audio production is a true cinematic experience. The BBC usually does with their productions. I say usually because there have been some occasion, many within the last few years, that they've gotten sloppy with their audio drama standards. Thankfully, Fall of the Shah is not one of those instances. Everything from the voice acting, to the music, to the sound effects, are all top of the line. Fall of the Shah has a full voice cast, but also features a narrator, voiced by Dame Diana Rigg, who helps to set the scenes and explain some of the background details about the various events the podcast depicts.

I should perhaps give a bit of background to help set the stage.  The Iranian/Islamic Revolution wasn't the first revolution. The first revolution occurred in 1953. It was a socialist uprising, and since it was the Cold War, the United States and United Kingdom didn't look too kindly on it. Especially since Britain owned several oil companies in Iran, and the Iranians were trying to reduce British influence in their nation. The uprising was swiftly squished, and America and Britain installed Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as the Shah of Iran. The Iranian people always resented this, especially since Pahlavi was rather incompetent as a ruler. This anger continued to simmer until it boiled over into a new revolution.

Obviously, the Shah gets a fair bit of focus. I'm heard some people accusing this podcast of whitewashing the actions of the Shah. I would argue that it doesn't, as it takes time to have other characters voice precisely why so many people are angry with the Shah's government. More on that in a bit. Even if it might go a bit soft on the Shah, I'd argue that the writers did so because they knew what came after him was much worse. It's a bit like how media relating to the Russian Revolution tends to downplay Tsar Nicholas II's faults, because everyone knows how much worse the Soviet Union turned out to be. And I will applaud the writers for really humanizing the Shah.

On the flip side, the podcast also does an excellent job portraying Ayatollah Khomeini. He's cold, cunning, and calculating. The podcast doesn't say away from the fact that he was a religious extremist. At the same time, the podcast also makes a point of show how he was able to manipulate people and gain their support. Hats off to the voice actor who played him, and really captured Khomeini's public speaking ability. Many of those who initially supported the 1979 Revolution were socialists, but they believed the Ayatollahs and their followers would be useful idiots. They wrongly assumed that the Ayatollahs would be too obsessed with their religion to be of much harm. It is quite ironic that Khomeini's exile took him to Paris, a modern secular Western city. He railed against all of these things, and yet he only survived because of them.

We also get to see things from the perspective an Iranian family, and see how revolution divides, and ultimately disillusion them. The kids begin by getting involved in student protest groups, which were key in the early stages of the revolution. Then the fundamentalists begin to seize control of the government. Like I said before, the podcast might glossed over the Shah's flaws because the fundamentalist government was so much worse. For example, the Shah had 3,000 political prisoners, but the Islamic government had over 300,000 political prisoners, and that was just at the start of the revolution. One definition of revolution is to move in a circle, or in other words, make things like they were when you started. Having the family as one of the groups of focus characters gives a really great street view of revolution.

We also get to see things from the perspective of leaders in America and Britain. First, off, whoever played Jimmy Carter really nailed his voice. The writers also did a good job portraying Carter sympathetically. Carter is often remembered for how he mishandled the Iranian Hostage Crisis. In my opinion, Carter wasn't a bad president per se, but he got dealt a bad hand. It was during his presidency that the OPEC Oil Embargo, and the ensuing Oil Crisis, occurred. My mother tells me she remembers that because she'd just gotten her drivers license and gas had gone up to the outrageous price of one dollar per gallon. Carter can be said to, perhaps, have been in over his head, and might have made a better Secretary of State than president. He was a nice guy, but maybe not necessarily pragmatic enough for the job.

The podcast ends on a somber note. The Shah has died in exile, and the fundamentalist government maintains its grip on Iran. Women who once dressed as freely as Western woman now walk the streets clad in burkas. The desert waits for rain, and the Iranian people wait for the day when they can breathe freely once again. A powerful ending indeed.

So there you have it. Fall of the Shah is an excellent audio drama podcast from the BBC. It chronicles the Iranian/Islamic Revolution from a variety of perspectives, and I happily recommend it. Sorry if this review was a bit on the short side. I've been planning a...not so secret project, shall we say. If you are in the same Facebook groups I am you should be able to guess what it is. If not, you'll be hearing more about it relatively soon-ish.

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