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Post by Oneiros on Aug 11, 2016 9:28:11 GMT
The #Magnus Archives makes its first trip to the jolly ol' US of A today as our statement giver goes in search of some visceral thrills and appears to run into a staple of American folklore.
There's some lovely juxtaposing of ideas and sentiments in this episode, I feel. The characterisation of Lawrence is put up against the concept of hunting for sport, and found rather wanting making this one ep where I was more on the side of the supposed beast (which in of itself is a great twist from the usual protagonist-antagonist narrative we operate under as standard). And then the way Sims dismisses the actual tale and details in favour of the feelings it evokes, acts as both evolution of his character and stands in stark contrast to 'operations as normal'.
So what could very easily have been a filler episode serves, in fact, to further ground us in the 'reality' of their situation. *applause*
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Post by cannonlongshot on Aug 11, 2016 10:28:31 GMT
I've never been keen on the idea of hunting for sport, and this sure didn't convince me otherwise XD
Was the beast in the end an actual werewolf, then? I don't think it was in a traditional sense (though I recall Lawrence mentioning that it was a full moon?), rather I got the impression that it was some kind of otherworldly apex predator.
Also, the description of the fingers as "sharp" definitely reminded me of Michael...
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Samwise
Member of the Order of the Quill
Posts: 156 
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Post by Samwise on Aug 11, 2016 11:06:28 GMT
JESUS Christ! I'm only a 1/3 into listening to it and someone started whistling in my office. that just shit me right up!
... anyway I'll go back to listening to it, sorry for the interruption.
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Samwise
Member of the Order of the Quill
Posts: 156
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Post by Samwise on Aug 11, 2016 11:32:35 GMT
That was really good! liked that one.
Although its going to make working in forests more interesting. Especially as our company has just branched out to the States and we seem to be winning a lot more work out there! lets just hope not in Virginia.
Really liked that quote from Dutchess of Malfi, very harrowing.
The descriptions did seem very similar. we seem to have a number of "Creatures" with sharp bone-ey hands. perhaps a co-incidence?
what am I saying, I don't think anything in TMA is a co-incidence.
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missnash
Officer of Many Letters
illustrating happy
Posts: 190
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Post by missnash on Aug 11, 2016 22:15:56 GMT
Nothing is a coincidence!
Another very creepy episode.
Jonny actually commentating on the worms and their situation is interesting.
Him showing his actual concern (and fear?!) through his voice and of him talking to the old cassette player in the institute, built a very isolated (and frankly scary) image in my mind. Team that with the episode with the old man from a couple of weeks ago, I can see why Jonny was more uncharacteristically sympathetic with the themes of disbelif and loneliness/isolation. Especially now we're adding hunted to the mix.
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Post by spooniermist on Aug 12, 2016 20:41:51 GMT
Gotta say that I love Freak of the Week episodes and this was no exception. I really don't get the idea of hunting Elk etc (well, as a veggie I shouldn't!), and love the idea of the hunter being the hunted, and the haunting whistle was a terrifying touch.
It's really nice seeing Sims develop as a character. Going from being dismissive and untrusting and unfazed, to accepting and philosophical shows how much of a bad shape he's in. I can't wait for the climax of season 1!
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Kate
Travelling Wordsmith
Noodle brain: stir fried.
Posts: 44
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Post by Kate on Aug 15, 2016 21:54:33 GMT
This was a better, meatier episode. The beauty of 'monster of the week' episodes is how they can be related back to a broader, over-arching framing device to create a greater sense of cohesion of that very framing conceit. Just as a listener gets into the tale for its own sake, slip in the freaky little detail at the end, and it will be remembered. You got 'em hooked with the story of the week- then shake them up through that commitment to listening with a dark sliver of frameing-fiction detail.
I've been watching the 'X-Files' from series one all over again. For starters- oh, the 90s! The shoulder pads! The HUGE mobiles! The oversized cars! Yup, those were flash-back-worthy on their own. But it reminded me; for a long-running show more steeped in its own created mythology, I know not. It reminds me how to do (and in some episodes, not to do) the concept of a longer story wrapped around episodic pieces of a puzzle. And how an apparent change of scene or pace in the odd episode works so well to underscore the mythology. It is ever thus with writing; change it up, keep it real to what it needs to be at the time. Static style loses so much.
Basically, I felt that Jonny's musings at the end of this one moved on the Institute meta-fiction far more than the episodes more devoted to it; e.g. having his staff giving their stories for the main episode plot or having extended conversations between them about the situation.
This episode felt more poised, more polished.
And were-beasties are always good for a giggle.
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Post by spooniermist on Aug 31, 2016 19:35:17 GMT
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Post by captainhowdy on Dec 31, 2016 2:52:52 GMT
Discovered the Archives a couple of weeks ago and this is my first posting on the forum. My discovery was pure accident. Fell asleep listening to podcasts on autoplay. After some pretty intense dreams I checked the play history and lo and behold The Magnus Archives!
Just wanted to say wow! I'm a huge horror fan and it can be a bit of a struggle to come across fresh original material, however the archives are genuinely fantastic! The juxtaposition of the banal and ordinary against the dark and inexplicable while being suffused with pure dread is an absolute treat. It reminds me somewhat of Barker during the Books of Blood days and obviously there's a hint of MR James in the way they are recounted by the participants as past events...
The reason I chose to comment on this story is that there were quite a few elements that I haven't previously come across in the werewolf trope which really chilled me. First off having the werewolf as a man who not only know's what he is, but revels in it! Audaciously approaching his would be victims the day before and sniffing at them while whistling 'a hunting we shall go' was a great touch! Also for the description of the beast itself, Sims vaguely hints, thus leaving enough to imagination for us to conjure up something awful. "Everything about him was sharper!', and then quoting Duchess of Malfi... A great touch :-)
For now I'm hooked... 11 more episodes to bring me up to date. If they're anywhere near as good as the first 30, I'll relish them all :-)
Thanks!!!
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Post by cannonlongshot on Jan 1, 2017 11:10:13 GMT
Fell asleep listening to podcasts on autoplay. After some pretty intense dreams I checked the play history and lo and behold The Magnus Archives! That's... concerning. |
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