episode notes
Figured I'd post some thoughts as I listened to each episode! We'll start with Protocol, and I'll add in Archives episodes once I invariably do another relisten (god, what am I at now... like 4??). Click the little arrow to see my thoughts. Full spoilers abound!
The Magnus Protocol
Season 1
Now, that being said, the first case? A little 'ehn'. Thematically it works, but as a starter, it's got nothing on The Anglerfish. The second forum case though, ooh, that was delicious.
1 - First Shift
I was actually nervous to listen to this first episode! I had it in my mind that no matter what, I still loved The Magnus Archives, and any extended universe stuff wouldn't change that, but my hopes were still so high that I'd love this one too. And I did! It isn't the same love as Archives (I don't think anything will beat that) but it's something fully on it's own while retaining some great aspects of what made the original show work. The acting is pretty much flawless, especially when we get some quick one-liners between our new cast, and the mysterious aspects of the OIAR, and these ~computers, sets us up nicely for the rest of the series. And oh did my heart leap a little when hearing Jonny and Alex return, voicing Chester and Norris! When I heard Alex making that statement I was 'Okay!! We are SO on board now!!"
A pretty cool case, and our first with a guest VA! Very classic TMA, with the background on our victim's past, feelings, descent into horror. A solid second episode! And I feel like this Ink5oul will be a recurring villain... Also I do not remember what happened in the meta plot 😅
2 - Making Adjustments
(Okay, disclosure, I'm writing these next three episode notes a few weeks after having listened to them, so my memory is not so great! I'll be more detailed when I relisten to these again :))
3 - Putting Down Roots
Our first guest writer for the case! People seemed to LOVE this one, and while I really liked it, I found it went on for a bit too long - there were a few points where the author could have stopped and the horrific effect could have been the same. Like, leaving it a little less explained would be scarier, y'know? But as it is, this one is neato, and I look forward to listening to it again!
And beyond AUGUSTUS!!! I really like the case itself! A little long but ooooh baby I always loved Slaughter episodes, especially the ones mixed with music. It's such a neat match that I adore every time, and I'm so glad it got to reappear again. ALSO this one came from Gwen's computer... my ship begins 🥰🥰
4 - Taking Notes
OH BABY WE GET AUGUSTUS, HELL FUCKING YES!!!!! I was so insanely hyped whenever he first popped up and I LOVE his old man voice. I don't think we'll ever get full confirmation that Chester, Norris, and Augustus are the real Jon, Martin, and Jonah, but since they mentioned the .jmj error in the beginning of the episode... that is good enough for me 🥰 And due to behind the scenes things, I don't think they'll get Ben Meredith back again to voice Elias, so I like to think that this is the OG Jonah voice (or, J mentioned that it could be James Wright, based on some timeline shenanigans).
5 - Personal Screening
This was a case that I was really enjoying listening to, and the beginning with WELCOME TO MY TWISTED MIND made me laugh out loud, but damnnn does that ending just not hit. It's kind of the opposite problem to Putting Down Roots: where that one could have stopped earlier and perhaps explained a little too much, this one just. ENDS. Right when we're about to get into what should be the main meat of the story too, blah. My friend Tony says this was probably one of the weakest writers on the guest writer list, so I'm happy enough that it's a pretty early episode. And it wasn't terrible or anything, just not up to the usual standards of the show.
On the OIAR side, OOH I am loving Celia! She seems like she's going to a be a fun addition to our usual gang, without shaking things up too much. Plus, she's wonderfully voice acted (we are SO spoiled in the VA department in this show). Bets on when she'll die go between 'oh, she's too cheerful, she'll be the first to go' to 'I feel like she's got more depth than she's letting on... perhaps some Final Girl energy?' And also, this may be the same Celia from the season 5 cultists...
6 - Introductions
My god this Needles guy has insane Kayne from Malevolent energy, haha. I can see him becoming a Tumblr Sexyman immediately, and that's not a bad thing! Who doesn't love a homoerotic Batman-style villain full of needles? AND he's got a lil bit of a temper! (The exchange when the police officer told him he wasn't afriad of Needles was pretty fun). I'm hoping he becomes a bit of a Michael or Helen-like character - not too important to the main overarching plot, but a Fun Guy Who Causes Issues.
7 - Give and Take
YOOOO ANATOMY STUDENTS...TWO!! they're not quite as cute as the og group but I still love them. And the statement! Very oldschool TMA - creepy but also with a weird, fun twist. But the main point of the episode - all those TMA references! Magnetic tape! Hilltop road! Celia recognizing Jon's voice! Other things that I forget! Also I really liked how Alice was more toned this time, with Celia - love her, but she could be a bit much. Also GWEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING GIRL????
8 - Running on Empty
Every progressive episode is me laying down on the floor dying because PLOT!!! Compared to Archives we are working through this at breakneck speed! The statement was lovely and I've seen people say that Norris's cases were lonely-aligned, which I thoguht was justa coincidence, but after this one, welllll! Perhaps not so much. Still loving the dynamic between all our OIAR employees, but most importantly - Gerry?? Getrude??? A mention of Georgie at the end? MULTIVERSE BITCHES!!! (I don't have anything intellectual to say. I am just SO here for this ride :D)