Review For Welcome to Night vale

Welcome To Night Vale Podcast Cover Art from Common Place Books

As of late the podcast Welcome to Nightvale has been making waves and getting attention. The fans have run run wild with the series and I decided to check it out and review it. 

There is a lot to say about the series so let's start with a run down. As of the start of September there have been 30 audio podcast released all taking place in the world of Nightvale. Nightvale is a town in the middle of dessert that has been described in many way ranging from the most scientifically interesting town in the United States to a terrifying place. The show is a radio show hosted by the main character Cecil as he announces news from the small town. The news one hears aren't things you'd expect, in fact the range from airplanes materializing in the middle of high school basketball games, to a floating cat in the middle of the radio stations men's room to hooded figures that run around that everyone avoids making contact with. The town seems smack dapped in the middle of the most bizarre and strange things imaginable and everyone in town just shrugs it off as normal everyday events. The only evidence we have that this is not the normal for this whole world is the new comer scientist Carlos trying to warn and explain everyone that these things aren't normal as he studies the town and the various strange happenstance.

Each episode focuses on the strange event of the week in town which include news segments for community events and they sometimes flood into the episode themselves. The episode usually has one event being reported on as it happens with updates given through out the show. It is a unique way to tell a story that allows for new ways to tell the story and keep the pace and tone light hearted. Still the story behind the town slowly unravels through the stories broadcast on the show. It paints the town as an Orwellian government that runs the town whose is in league with hooded figures who are well above the law.

Some episodes can be very chilling despite the overall series light hearted take of this bizarre town. The show is rather intelligent and funny making jokes from something like a mood swing to just a bizarre poem. The continuity of the show is rather impressive often setting things up several episodes ahead to be called up much later. The running gags are not over used and do not feel forced. There are story arcs speared through the episodes happening the back ground along with the main stories.

The characters are well developed, Cecil being the only character regularly voiced and mostly the only voice the listener hears has been well flushed out through the series. There are great example were he has learned and changed. Though as the broadcaster Cecil tries to stay calm as he reports there have been events that have caused him to break down and show great emotions. Credit has to be given to the actor, Cecil Baldwin, when Cecil thinks his love interest is dead Cecil breaks down crying trying to finish the segment and ends up switching to a prerecorded message. That scene was particularly well acted and really got to many of the listeners. The writers have down a great job going into his past subtly and even delving into psyche, motivation and worst fears.

There are great deal of recurring characters who don't get as much time but they do all seem to get some time to shine and get developed.  The writers do an excellent job keeping them all unique with their own voices.  The writers have done so well that some character steal the show without having any dialogue and sometimes are promoted to actually speak on the podcast.

The setting is a strange town and it's down right bizarre but everyone acts as if its normal. Out of all the things that stick out the dog park has to be one of the things the sticks out the most. Some would wonder why a dog park would stick out and that's because people are not allowed in the park and neither are dogs only city official and hooded figures are even allowed close to it.  Much of the town seems to be in the same strain of weirdness, libraries whose visitors become captives and houses that don't exists but does.

The podcast itself is very creative, it's a strange mix that a Lovecraft and Orwellian along with some silly if dark humor. Still the podcast is bizarre though well written. The characters are lively and Cecil being the main characters is easily liked and just endearing. Overall the show gets a solid four out of five.

For more information check out Common Place Books