Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
Note to self: Do Not Start New Podcasts until getting caught up with current ones. I made the mistake of listening to Trilling Adventure Hour on a whim and now I'm behind over 200 episodes in my backlog.
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Fictional Podcasts |OT| - "You mean it isn't real?"
- Thread starter Malyse
- Start date
The season ends on a hell of a cliffhanger. Can't wait till they come back!
I know that feeling... I know that feeling EVERY well!
...
Listened to the first episode of Within the Wires. Seems pretty solid and strange. Par for the course with these people! Based on the first episode, I like it, though I'm glad it's going to be a limited series (10 episodes, right? - until they do season two or whatever...), as I don't think the idea has the potential to last theoretically infinitely. And on that note, I'd kind of like to see Night Vale end, so they could just start over with something new. It's run its course, in my opinion. Of course, I know it's still very popular, so that's more just a personal opinion, I suppose.
Also I got all caught up with Friends at the Table. (What an amazing GM Austin is. What an amazing group of players they are. I'm immensely jealous that I've never experienced something even close to that.) I know it's not exactly what this thread is about, but I still highly recommend it if you're into people basically improving a story. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always genuine. It's good!!
And now I need to figure out what I'm going to catch up on next. Hmmm. Off the top of my head I've listened to: We're Alive, Liberty: Critical Research, Limetown, Welcome to Night Vale, Alice Isn't Dead, Within the Wires, Hello from the Magic Tavern, Earbud Theater. I've liked all of those to various degrees! I also gave The Thrilling Adventure Hour a shot once, but couldn't get into it. I've considered trying again, but I think that Again Time has not come up quite yet.
So basically, what should I listen to next? I think I might want something a little lighter at the moment, though. At least, funnier. The end of COUNTER/Weight on Friends at the Table was pretty intense.
I'm currently leaning toward Siblings Peculiar just because I love Magic Tavern so much, but that's fairly new and won't take long to catch up on!!
More_Badass
Member
Tanis and The Bright Sessions are really good. Ars Paradoxica is in my queue
Christoff Yurievich
Member
Speaking of massive queues: I'm on vacation for the next three weeks and I'm still trying to catch up on what I've missed for the past two weeks. I think I'm just going to have to cull very heavily when I get back. Ugh. I hate skipping shows.
More_Badass
Member
Started listening to Ars Paradoxica and Archive 81. I really liked the audio effectsin Ars, top notch, but the story and acting didn't really click with me. Archive is interesting, also great sound effects, and quite eerie.
Not exactly fictional, but the podcast Flash Forward might interest some. It's part fictional, part science discussion. Basically each episode explores a possible future and then interviews scientists and experts in various fields to discuss the potential societal effects of such a future, if and how such scenarios could happen. The fictional part is the segment at the start that acts as day-in-the-life sound bites from that episode's future. They're really good. The most recent one Kaboom (what if all the world's volcanoes erupted) had some quite convincing news reports
I started and caught up on both Ars Paradoxica and Siblings Peculiar and like them both a lot. For completely different reasons.
AP took me like five episodes to really get invested, but I'm definitely hooked, at this point. It's solid. I dunno if I can say it really stands out in the genre of time travel fiction in terms of quality, but I do like that it (this is only a spoiler in the sense that it reveals the mechanics of time travel in AP, not in that it reveals any story events)
.
I think it's worth noting that, unlike the other improv story podcast Adal Rifai does (Hello from the Magic Tavern - which is still absolutely one of my favorites), SP is... really just exceptionally goofy in every way. So is Magic Tavern, but, hmm, I dunno how to put it into words. Magic Tavern seems to take itself much more seriously while being goofy. Maybe, it's consistent within its own fiction? But SP just does whatever the hell it wants? Yeah, I think that suffices as an explanation. And I find that the guests are are much more hit or miss. I dunno if it's the content/context or the guests themselves. I'll definitely keep listening, as it's made me laugh a lot, but it's near the bottom of my priority list when I've got multiple 'casts to catch up on.
I think I might take this opportunity to catch up on other podcasts that are not fictional. Well, not explicitly so, anyway. (Having been a recent convert to the McElroy brothers, thanks to The Adventure Zone - topical! - I'm now going through the MBMBaM backlog.)
AP took me like five episodes to really get invested, but I'm definitely hooked, at this point. It's solid. I dunno if I can say it really stands out in the genre of time travel fiction in terms of quality, but I do like that it (this is only a spoiler in the sense that it reveals the mechanics of time travel in AP, not in that it reveals any story events)
looks at the idea of a time travel paradox and says "fuck it, let it happen", which is refreshing, as most serious time travel fiction concerns itself with multiple timelines, fracturing and/or converging and/or exploding
I think it's worth noting that, unlike the other improv story podcast Adal Rifai does (Hello from the Magic Tavern - which is still absolutely one of my favorites), SP is... really just exceptionally goofy in every way. So is Magic Tavern, but, hmm, I dunno how to put it into words. Magic Tavern seems to take itself much more seriously while being goofy. Maybe, it's consistent within its own fiction? But SP just does whatever the hell it wants? Yeah, I think that suffices as an explanation. And I find that the guests are are much more hit or miss. I dunno if it's the content/context or the guests themselves. I'll definitely keep listening, as it's made me laugh a lot, but it's near the bottom of my priority list when I've got multiple 'casts to catch up on.
I think I might take this opportunity to catch up on other podcasts that are not fictional. Well, not explicitly so, anyway. (Having been a recent convert to the McElroy brothers, thanks to The Adventure Zone - topical! - I'm now going through the MBMBaM backlog.)
More_Badass
Member
Have fun with that. I had known about them through Sawbones, but got hooked on MBMBaM in February, and now I'm up to #260. Also started Adventure Zone last month
As for other nonfiction, I love Hardcore History. It's all history, but Carlin is such a good storyteller that it's impossible to not be engrossed. Episodes tend to be more like audiobooks, from 90 minutes to 4+ hours long.
There's a catch-all McElroy thread too: www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1187189
Oh good lookin' out! I'll keep an eye on that thread.
I've also got Sawbones on my list for somewhere in the distant future.
Through four episodes of Siblings Peculiar, it's solid but not as good as Magic Tavern.
I'm through 30 something episodes of Magic Tavern I think. I'm not really feeling the live shows too much, but the rest are still pretty great. Just finished Forever Girl in one of them, I think? and it was funny as hell.
I'm through 30 something episodes of Magic Tavern I think. I'm not really feeling the live shows too much, but the rest are still pretty great. Just finished Forever Girl in one of them, I think? and it was funny as hell.
Bright Sessions and Archive 81 are really good so far. Starting to lose interest in Ars Paradoxica.
The Pax East show, episode 61 I think, was spectacular. They get better at the live ones.
The Pax East show, episode 61 I think, was spectacular. They get better at the live ones.
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
The Truth's That's Democracy has been made into a short film. Plus, a thirty minute documentary on how they wrote the story (refresh your feeds!)
Buttonbasher
Member
That's a solid adaptation. That episode really stuck with me. Looking forward to checking out the documentary!
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
Finally got caught up on Night Vale. The run towards this season's finale was the strongest string of episodes since its first year. The show becomes very thrilling when it stops playing the wacky cutesy card and embraces the creepiness of the setting.
Didn't like the Alice Isn't Dead finale. Felt like a sequel hook for the sake of having a sequel hook.
Didn't like the Alice Isn't Dead finale. Felt like a sequel hook for the sake of having a sequel hook.
More_Badass
Member
What episodes are those? I had been into it at the start but then it just meandered on and on
Omegasquash
Member
I dropped TBT and that other spinoff too. It felt very strongly like they were getting too into theirselves.
Who's a good boy?
Alternatively, the phrase "I am still in the mud" has never and will never leave me with such chills again.
Hated this show from the first episode.
I really wish there were season numbers marked into how they denote their podcasts. The storyline starts at the beginning of their most recent season and it really is good. I can't for the life of me remember what episode that was though.
Sweeping Strexcorp under the rug has been good for the show. Strex started interesting enough, but it outstayed it's welcome. Especially when the Cult of the Smiling God is so much more interesting without them.
I was only half listening to the last few episodes of Night Vale (like many, I feel it's gotten less good over time, so I generally listen to it as background noise now). I should relisten, as I do remember specific moments sticking out to me...
Where should I start for the beginning of the arc in question? I can't remember. (EDIT: Just saw the edit above. Thanks! (EDIT EDIT: Actually you said you couldn't remember the episode number! Well, thanks anyway.))
Also since this is really the only place I really talk about podcasts a lot, is anyone else having weird issues with PocketCasts where when it downloads multiple episodes from multiple feeds at once, they sometimes get garbled and mixed up? It's jarring listening to the latest Adventure Zone and being suddenly interrupted by Idle Thumbs intro.
Where should I start for the beginning of the arc in question? I can't remember. (EDIT: Just saw the edit above. Thanks! (EDIT EDIT: Actually you said you couldn't remember the episode number! Well, thanks anyway.
))Also since this is really the only place I really talk about podcasts a lot, is anyone else having weird issues with PocketCasts where when it downloads multiple episodes from multiple feeds at once, they sometimes get garbled and mixed up? It's jarring listening to the latest Adventure Zone and being suddenly interrupted by Idle Thumbs intro.
Same - I love the setting but it has jarring tone shifts that made me stop listening.
If you need an episode number for Nightvale, I'd say the most complete answer is episode 77.
That puts you 13 episodes back, which is about right for the most recent season. If you haven't listened for a while, lots has changed...but then Nightvale never made sense in the first place, so just roll with it, no?
If you want less commitment than that, you might be able to get away with starting at episode 86 and being alright. That's when things this season get really weird. Some of the stuff going on in the resolution of this story might seem a little out of left field without some of those earlier episodes, but you'll still probably have a good time.
That puts you 13 episodes back, which is about right for the most recent season. If you haven't listened for a while, lots has changed...but then Nightvale never made sense in the first place, so just roll with it, no?
If you want less commitment than that, you might be able to get away with starting at episode 86 and being alright. That's when things this season get really weird. Some of the stuff going on in the resolution of this story might seem a little out of left field without some of those earlier episodes, but you'll still probably have a good time.
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
I'd say from episode 83 onwards is when it got really good again, but the current storyline started in 77. The earlier half of the season almost felt like product placement for the novel.
Spoilers for season three:
I for one blame the emphasized focus on Cecil and Carlos' relationship. It's not like Night Vale hadn't had that stuff earlier, but it took the forefront for too long.
P.S. If you are not interested in sitting through the bullshit, I recommend episode 42, 45, 67. Those should be enjoyable and are self-contained stories.
I liked it!
The fight was epic, and it was cool to finally hear her name. Can't wait for part 2.Listened to Scotch last night. Its completely forgettable, though well voice acted and the outro music is nearly as long as the episodes. Skip this one folks.
Are there any good cosmic horror fictional podcasts, or at least any that sort of lean in that direction?
My wife and I are currently going through The Black Tapes (almost done with the first season) and it's getting harder to listen to it with each new episode. It's pretty ridiculous how almost every character's dialogue is written, for the most part, identically. I've also started laughing every time someone asks Alex if she's religious, because every time she gives a shitty non-answer like "mmmmmaybe?" in a way that no actual reporter would ever do. Either just have a firm opinion or lie, which in some of these cases would have given her better results.
The advertisements have been getting ridiculous, too. In the first episode, the ad was at the very end of the show and non-intrusive. With each episode it moved slightly earlier, until an episode that literally started with the ad and then had a second one partway through. The worst one, by far, was when she segued from the show into the ad by saying something like "the only thing scarier is going to the post office, so with stamps dot com..."
My wife and I are currently going through The Black Tapes (almost done with the first season) and it's getting harder to listen to it with each new episode. It's pretty ridiculous how almost every character's dialogue is written, for the most part, identically. I've also started laughing every time someone asks Alex if she's religious, because every time she gives a shitty non-answer like "mmmmmaybe?" in a way that no actual reporter would ever do. Either just have a firm opinion or lie, which in some of these cases would have given her better results.
The advertisements have been getting ridiculous, too. In the first episode, the ad was at the very end of the show and non-intrusive. With each episode it moved slightly earlier, until an episode that literally started with the ad and then had a second one partway through. The worst one, by far, was when she segued from the show into the ad by saying something like "the only thing scarier is going to the post office, so with stamps dot com..."
TANIS
We were going to try another show after TBT before getting back into a PNS show, but maybe we'll jump right into TANIS after we finish this season. Thanks!
Decided to start TANIS and I opened up the feed and saw "207" at the top and panicked before I scrolled down and realized it's "season 2 episode 7". PHEW.
Here we goooooo.
(Probably gonna drop Siblings Peculiar after one more episode of blah. What a disappointment after Hello from the Magic Tavern! I really like Chunt, so I expected better. C'est la vie.)
(Speaking of Chunt, I liked the live Chuntsnight episode. It was suitably goofy.)
Here we goooooo.
(Probably gonna drop Siblings Peculiar after one more episode of blah. What a disappointment after Hello from the Magic Tavern! I really like Chunt, so I expected better. C'est la vie.)
(Speaking of Chunt, I liked the live Chuntsnight episode. It was suitably goofy.)
I think Archive 81 is going in this direction. TANIS for sure as well, its had a really strong second season to top it off. I would love more cosmic horror.
Are there any super cuts of the behemoth? These super short episodes with intros and outros are infuriating to listen to, even though I like the podcast.
More_Badass
Member
I need to get back into Tanis. Did the show begin to answer questions, and get back to the more cosmic horror elements of its first few episodes as opposed to the "we're going to connect this story with all kinds of real life events" of later ones
Did you finish season 1? Its ends very lore heavy and season 2 is the same way. The dialogue has gotten much better and some things are answered, but more questions are always raised. As it should be.
Interesting - I've listened to the first few episodes of Archive 81, so I need to continue. I have to say that it did remind me a little of Peter Clines' novel "14".
More_Badass
Member
I didn't. The show kind of lost my interest after the first few episodes. If it's back on track, definitely need to start listening to it again
People really need to check out The Magnus Archives
It starts off as individual stories, but gradually an overarching plot starts to emerge
Riveting, creative stories that are well narrated. Very little filler. Tons of variety as well. (Not repeating the same shit over and over ala Black Tapes). Has much more of a Lovecraftian feel as well.
Don't let the over-seriousness of the intro turn you off. It did me. But super glad I stuck with it.
http://rustyquill.com/?cat=15&paged=6 (start with Mag 1 and work your way up)
You can read more praise over at these threads (where I first discovered it)
https://www.reddit.com/r/PNWS/comments/4ivmuo/the_magnus_archives_a_horror_podcast_halfway/
https://www.reddit.com/r/PNWS/comments/4ukoy6/similar_podcasts_to_listen_to/
Oh and this week's Black Tapes was the first in a LONG time I would say was really really good.
It starts off as individual stories, but gradually an overarching plot starts to emerge
Riveting, creative stories that are well narrated. Very little filler. Tons of variety as well. (Not repeating the same shit over and over ala Black Tapes). Has much more of a Lovecraftian feel as well.
Don't let the over-seriousness of the intro turn you off. It did me. But super glad I stuck with it.
http://rustyquill.com/?cat=15&paged=6 (start with Mag 1 and work your way up)
You can read more praise over at these threads (where I first discovered it)
https://www.reddit.com/r/PNWS/comments/4ivmuo/the_magnus_archives_a_horror_podcast_halfway/
https://www.reddit.com/r/PNWS/comments/4ukoy6/similar_podcasts_to_listen_to/
Oh and this week's Black Tapes was the first in a LONG time I would say was really really good.
More_Badass
Member
More_Badass
Member
I recently started reading through the SCP wiki from the beginning and it has quickly become one of my favorite collections of fiction online
Yessss it's so good. Some of 'em can be duds, but overall they tend to work, I think. And the ones that hit, hit hard.
The Magnus Archives is incredible. This thread delivers yet again.
How do I even find this podcast? When I google "scotch podcast", the first result is this, which doesn't look like the right podcast at all. Please help!