Random Thoughts

In which I write way too many words about the plot of a game I've never played.

( Spoilers, naturally. Deals with mental health issues so proceed with caution. )

On my last Content Consumption Log post I asked for recommendations for narrative audio, and I got some! So here's some assorted thoughts on what I've listened to.

Wolf 359, Episodes 1-14

This was not so much recommended as suggested by alexseanchai, so I sought out more information and found a blog post by Wil Williams, "You Should Be Listening To: Wolf 359". This made it sound appealing, so I dove in, heeding the advice that it "got good" around episode 10.

Even though Williams mentions that the main narrator, Eiffel, can be very grating, I really feel I need to emphasise it, because he is so. obnoxious. The early episodes were a real trial to get through. And (mild spoilers) it doesn't so much "get good" around episode 10 as it does take an abrupt turn from quirky light comedy with unsettling weirdness peeking in around the edges to a full on conspiracy drama.

I'm going to continue because I'm committed now and I really want to know what's going on! (But I hope Williams is right that Eiffel becomes better developed /o\)

PS: Did we really need a creepy experimental Russian doctor character? Come on.

Canon Romance(s): None so far



Tides, Episodes 1-8 (Season 1 Complete)

After reading the Wolf 359 post mentioned above, I poked around the blog a little more in hopes of finding other recommendations. I found this review of Tides: First Impressions: "Tides" a Refreshingly Funny, Smart Sci-Fi Audio Drama.

It's slow moving and contemplative, and largely concerned with exploring ideas of alien biology. The protagonist, Dr. Winifred Eurus, is fascinated by her surroundings but also deeply annoyed at being stuck on this planet alone, and her abrasive commentary on her situation really adds an interesting edge to the podcast.

( Spoilers for the end of the series. )

Canon Romance(s): None so far.



After listening to these two I was thinking about how scripted podcasts seem to feel the need to explain their medium in a way traditional radio dramas didn't necessarily - Welcome to Night Vale, The Strange Case of Starship Iris, Wolf 359 and Tides all present an in-universe justification for their audio existing.

Immediately after having this thought, I listened to one that didn't.


The Chicago Center for Supernatural Support, Episodes 1-12 (Complete)

This was recommended to me by donutsweeper. There's very little information about what it's actually about online, so let me attempt to summarise: In a world where supernatural creatures are real, but most of the world doesn't know about it, the Chicago Center for Supernatural Support attempts to help werewolves and other supernatural creatures cope with their lives in any way they can.

I really enjoyed this, it was kind-hearted and fun, and I liked the way the shifting points of view developed the characters of most of the Center's employees and associates.

( Some more specific, spoilery reactions )

I'm going to throw out a mild warning for episode 6 (Jasmine), for use of lycanthropy as a metaphor for sexual assault.

Canon Romance(s): f/m

I found this D&D gameplay podcast through a somewhat circuitous route, but the short of it is that one of the players wrote the "Four Sherlock Holmes and a Vampire (Who Is Also One of the Aforementioned Sherlock Holmes)" one-page RPG the McElroys used for this year's MaxFunDrive content.

I thought the concept for this was really cute, described as "a light-hearted fantasy police procedural show", which is relevant to my interests as a fan of light-hearted* mystery novels and also fantasy novels. Unfortunately, the gimmick of having the game live streamed on Twitch and having the audience act as the jury and vote on the conviction has a couple of consequences that didn't really work for me. The first was that the audio quality was Not Good. The second was that the options are a) convict the suspect arrested by the players, or b) the Black Inquisition, who AFAICT are distrustful of all paranormals, make a case and that case is accepted by the judge.

( Cut for spoilers, negativity )

In conclusion, cute idea, I wish I'd enjoyed it!


*And thus, unrealistically divorced from the reality of policing

--

As my next experiment in filling out my podcast app, I'm going to try Starship Iris. (If you've listened to it and think you need to warn for something, please let me know!)

Adventure Zone! Come on, grab your friends. We'll go to very distant lands...* No? Wrong one?

( Thoughts and spoilers abound. )


*With Jake the dog... No dogs on the moon!

If you want a book which is basically Harry Potter dialled up to 11 with canon m/m and vampires, go read this one.

( Cut for spoilers and too much italics. )

Edit 1: Added 2 points!