kevinvoiceofdesertbluffs
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187 - Citizen Spotlight: The Spire
The Spire! Ah, this oughta be good. By the way, the first chapter of The First Ten Years? Really, really frickin’ good. Can’t wait to read it.
Aah, yes, the Brown-Stone Spire. Saad Ibrahim carves long-forgotten symbols into the stone. He knows the meaning of them, after he finished carving. Twenty years of carving... I suppose the Spire likes him.
We get a brief biography of his life, and- oh, very interesting. It seems, did he- it seems he had built the spire himself? Or, at least, he is planning to do so, at this point in the story of his life.
Saad, you will now know, is a rather skilled sculptor. Yes, he has, in fact, enlisted merely to help on the spire. He was not, at least not yet, the progenitor of its entirety.
The Brown-Stone Spire, by the by, is nothing like the Tower of Babel. They may, on a first glance, have similar purposes, histories, and occasions - but, as we all know, heaven is no longer in the sky, and God has retired in 1983. A nice touch.
No, to Saad, the Spire only exists to be built. Nothing, of course, can last forever. Some things, in their greatness, must come down. It is impossible to be grand forever. It is impossible, physically, for such grand structures to exist for long.
I really, really, really like this weather.
The conclusion, well... the conclusion, I suppose, I cannot describe, as I have omitted many details. None of this, after all, is important. It simply is. But this is not the story of Saad Ibrahim.
I do not remember Citizen Spotlight being a title before, but I do recognize the format. I quite like these person-focused stories. They really make you introspect like no others.
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186 - The Many Lives of Frank Chen
The Frank Chen saga continues! I really like what they’re doing with this storyline, and am excited to hear more.
Just a refresher - the family of Frank Chen demands from the city of Night Vale, living and breathing Frank Chen back.
It seems that the city has, uh, succeeded! There he is. Frank Chen, flesh and blood and bone and hair, just like before. Eating a taco. It’s good, he says. Of course, is he really Frank Chen?
You see, he is a clone, and he doesn’t have any of Frank’s past experiences. We are, after all, merely collections of moments and experiences, our past accumulated into a singular point of now. Without our past - could we really be who we are?
It’s a resounding “No” to that question from Frank’s family. He doesn’t even know anything about polka! Now, look - I love polka as much as anyone, so I can understand that. Amateurism cannot be tolerated.
Did I mention he’s a clone? Oh, there’s four more. Any of these good? No, by the way, the answer is still no.
So, the court rules in favour of the Chens - get Frank back, not simply a clone. Or, clones, I guess. Quality over quantity, folks.
The latter part of this episode, after the weather, is great. The Many Lives of Frank Chen, in which each of Frank’s clones takes his own path. They marry, they divorce, they live, they survive. They live, and experience. Each in their own way, so similar yet so different. Not mere clones, but people trying to live their best lives.
After all, what are we if not mere collections of moments...
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185 - Fair
I’ve taken quite a break from these again, huh. I’ve listened to the episodes! Just found no time to write... whatever these things are. I shall comment on the last two episodes, from memory!
Fair was a fun episode. The Librarians have escaped! From the cages! Somebody should do something! What about Tamyka Flynn, the young bookworm-and-mercenary-leader extraordinaire? Well, she’s actually working for the government and the City Council now. She’s leaving childish things like armed vigilante militia behind, you see.
Oh, by the way! There’s gonna be a book fair organized by the city soon! Hope to see you there!
Well, Cecil is quite understandably worried about the, well, escaped rampaging beasts in the city. They are making their way towards the town hall. Tamyka is in danger! Do something! Well, she will do something-
-that something being, of course, talk to them! In an actionable fashion and some thrown hands, but still very much talk. Turns out they want to file a complain about their employer, who keeps them in cages, and revokes their break time rights on a whim. They will soon start a Librarian union. And, of course, they will be present at the book fair.
I think Fair is very much in a spirit of an absurdist comedy. A nice moral about not judging books by their cover, or librarians by their slimy exterior and thirst for blood - quite a wild juxtaposition of what we know about Librarians and the, I suppose, reality. Although, I will definitely not be at the book fair.
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184 - The Fog
This is a fun one! I forgot the last two episodes on-time... I’ll do The Nephilim right after this!
In any case - a mysterious fog is filling Raydon Canyon. These fogs are uncommon. However, it is... incredibly dense. Consuming everything. Light, sound, all of it.
Before that, however- there’s a sponsor! Deb iiiiiis supposed to read it... but she’s not in the station. She gets summoned, almost right from the shower. She is a sentient patch of haze, however. And should really be doing her job.
River rocks do indeed not wear clothes to work! Much more acceptable than perverts, however.
Ahem, Capital One Financial loves you. That’s the sponsor.
Unfortunately, Cecil and Deb get into a fight - Deb feels underappreciated by Cecil. He treats her just like a coworker! She is a proud, sentient patch of haze! Not just a wage slave! She also gets unsummoned, on her request.
The sponsor? Very much a metaphor for this episode! Not the fog. You might think it’s the fog, but it’s not the fog. It’s the sponsor. I originally thought the sponsor was the fog, or even Deb, but they really did a switcheroo on me! Good on the writers, I bet it was planned.
Sponsor again! Deb... is not here. Cecil is worried. Capital One Financial is, uh, sponsoring again! They are disappointed. But they understand. Relationships must be mutual, after all. And such.
“They call us a holding company for a reason” is a great frickin’ line.
Deb is, once again, sad, and the fog is just getting worse and worse.
Cecil now really gets into a slump, alone and cut off, perhaps unheard by anyone. His only friend at work is gone. And it’s all his fault, he feels.
The weather is quite nice.
Capital One Financial, once again! Cecil doesn’t really feel like reading it without Deb, however. He can’t reach her at all. Aaaaand... accidentally summons her.
However! They reconcile! Or, ehm, he reconciles. Deb is above these petty human feelings, and totally not touched, and absolutely not crying. She will, however, be glad to meet your family, and have you meet yours. She has a big family, by the by, it’s cute. A long, cute segment.
She, finally, reads the ad copy. A wonderful job she does.
Oh, she also was the fog. She lives in Raydon Canyon, and her mood was quite bad today. Oh, well. Not a metaphor. Just quite literal.
Honestly, I love any episodes with Deb, or really any long featuring of Meg. She’s just so dang great.
Hug your close friends today, Night Vale. Hug them.
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182 - It Sticks With You
Oh, it’s been a while. I’ve taken a break from these, but I do somehow miss writing them.
I have little to say about U-Turn, I thoroughly enjoyed C****s but I think it’s better to leave it be, legal as it may be to talk about now. Both episodes had some great character stuff, but why not get back into the groove with a good ol’ live listen, eh?
I agree with Cecil, hikes and trees are pretty nice. Apparently the episode is about the hike! Get ready for some forest creeps.
Carlos telling his family science nature facts on the hike sounds adorable.
Man, that’s a lot of hawks!
Oh! Cecil and Carlos’ son’s name is Esteban, I did not know that.
Owl hoots are pretty tricky, no wonder they’re hard to accentuate.
You know, the idyllic trip Cecil describes makes me think that there is a reckoning a-coming. It sticks with you, after all.
I’m glad I invested in intuition.
Ah, I see. It sticks with you, except he fails to remember. Now that I think about it... have you ever seen an owl?
Are owls real?
I feel like this is very much a trip down another memory lane - whatever may have happened to Cecil’s father.
I’m with John Peters (you know, the farmer?), you gotta stick to your narrator, and play some catch with tax collectors.
Trees hold many secrets. There are things in their trunks. Worlds contained within a single organism. Universes within a being.
Ahah! Joseph Fink once again singing the weather! I do like his songs. This one is a little strange, but nice nonetheless.
I’m liking the episode so far. It resonates with the past year, the forest and the memories.
Welllllllll... I guess it sticks with you more than one would’ve guessed. I guess the trees keep their secrets, keep your memories.
Ah... flowers at the base of the hollow redwood.
Well, this episode has a lot in it, truly. What does it all mean? Who knows! Well, I’ve an inkling, but I’m sure you’ve had more time to think and analyze. Perhaps I will listen to this one again shortly.
Perhaps during a walk in the woods? That could be nice.
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179 - First Snow
Y’know, I didn’t even bat an eyelash at the title. Just accepted it. Nevermind Night Vale’s in the desert, it’s fine.
It is unusual though! As Cecil helpfully points out - snow? In Night Vale? Also not just gentle snow, a full on blizzard! Everything is covered in white, powdery goodness. And it’s not cocaine this time.
Everyone likes the snow, of course, the rarity it is. The City Council even declares it a snow day! No joy allowed. Well, a little joy, maybe. Everyone is being joyful, after all.
Cleanup of Mission Grove Park has been completed! Good job us. Well, good job Lyenne Hart, really.
M C H O H L O Z B G I Q O F W E N V N Q T E E T H
So much snow now! The tourism industry will boom, probably. City Council declares a big ol’ holiday. There’s a whole community... event... thing! Festival thing!
Hey there, Cecil! An Agony Aunt segment! How have we not had this before? This is such an obvious thing, I’m surprised it took this long. Very fun segment, with Telly and hearing Cecil just so mad.
Tamyka also feels like she’s stuck. We’ve all been there. Never too late to apply for college!
Cecil goes to the winter festival! Fun!
The weather is neat. Very my style.
Well, what an ending! I’m gonna spoil it under the break, boop
This is just... so good. At first, when the snow turned out not to be snow, I was like “Wow. Who knew Night Vale has lacre.”
Lyenne being just totally bewildered about what everyone is on about was so good.
This is one of those stories that you wish you came up with. I almost just want to steal that entire plot point.
A wonderful fun story, gotta listen to it again once it actually snows here!
Good night, Night Vale.
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178 - Rattlesnake Rest
Good news! The town cemetery is full! Death is no longer a worry! At least try not to die.
The closure is, sadly, not the best news for everyone. Anette Jacoby and Al Kencade, funeral home director and gravedigger respectively, are out of job for a bit. Anette decided to take a creative writing class, Al wants to spend more time with his daughter.
We get some cemetery lore. Fun! It is named Rattlesnake Rest after the Rattlesnake mine, in which seventeen miners were caved in.
Breaking news! Smokehouse brisket sliders, back at Arby’s for a limited time only! Honestly, the ad went a little too hard. You had me convinced in the first 80%, the last 20% was just unnecessarily antagonizing me.
Breaking news again! Some guy is stuck in a potential time loop, ordering and reordering the brisket sliders at the Arby’s drive-thru, again and again and a again and again and again... The drive-thru is, for the time being, closed.
One more Arby’s update - the Council is trying to get a free sandwich. A raccoon is in the restaurant. Adorable. Honeymustard is indeed the best raccoon.
I was originally gonna say how it’s slightly strange how there’s a couple Arby’s news and then nothing, but seeing it on the screen here, there’s three sections that round it off. They might not round it off well enough, though, as at the first listening there left me feeling like there’s a lack of something. Maybe I just read into the time loop too much.
Anette is moving on with her novel! Looking for publishers. She’s gone farther than many of us have... Good for her.
Sadly, not all is good in Anette’s life now, without the funeral home. She doesn’t want to self-publish. A well known sentiment. She misses funerals, the connection to the community.
Al finds he can’t connect to his daughter well. He misses the funeral home, misses working with his hands. Misses digging. Digs up the garden he does.
And so they conspire.
The weather is a really boppy.
Good news! The Rattlesnake Rest cemetery is reopening! Anette Jacoby has self-published and is doing a book signing. Good for her!
The graves, it seems, have been freed and are good to go! How, you ask? Don’t!
Definitely not the work of the funeral director, nor the gravedigger covered in dirt. All self help, it is.
Either way, it’s good that death is back on the table. And the briskets are neat, too.
A very nice episode! Good character arcs, for both Anette and Al, some fun lore, and fun segments. I like just how time was irrelevant. Was it all in a day? Or in several weeks? Who knows! Who cares.
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177 - Bloody Laws, Bloody Claws: The Murder of Frank Chen
Well, the episode title immediately answers my previous question. All the mentions in the previous episodes did indeed lead into its own episode!
I am also livetyping this as I listen to the episode - a return to roots, if you will. Logistical reasons, mostly, and I think that always has the potential to get some interesting commentary going on. So, let us dive in deep, into the case of Frank Chen, a long overdrawn court case, and a five-headed dragon.
This is... this is just fantastic, right away. So, not the usual radio show - this is Cecil’s previously mentioned true crime podcast! The final episode, that is. And he sings his own opening tune, oh yes.
SO MANY EPISODES, CECIL DO YOU NOT GET ENOUGH RADIO?
Ok, yeah, he gets a lot more money on the podcast, and he is passionate... makes sense.
It’s true alright, you GOTTA have a Twitch channel if you wanna podcast in this day and age. Cecil, being 19, should actually know that. For shame.
All the way in 2012... I forget the actual timeline. Was- was the Hiram McDaniels storyline seriously all the way back in 2012? Or has this happened before that whole shabbang?
FruitBox sounds like my kinda subscription service.
Dragon law - law involving dragons, unfortunately, not law of dragons. That’d be much more interesting. Not much precedence in that area, I’m afraid. Not like that’s a good legal system, anyways.
Cecil, don’t get scammed by your podcast producer/manager.
Hey, wait, he said there’s money in podcasting, but he’s not been paid yet? Cecil, get your priorities straight. Well, at least he’s pursuing his passions. And he’s getting some sweet gigs! Like a 60-city talk, with puppets, and voice acting!
Carlos is the best. What a fricking sweetheart, I love it. Hehe, my tortoise...
Also, he brought him lunch all the way to a court room? And, why does Carlos’ voice sound so much better than Cecil’s? I’m gonna guess it’s either a stylistic choice, or Cecil the character has something impeding him, or Cecil the actor had mic issues while recording.
Ah, sponsors are always great segments.
Oh, oh! Judge verdict!
So, while the wea- uhm, unrelated song, plays (it’s fine but kinda eh), let us talk about the meta of this episode. It’s very obviously a light jab at podcasting, and it’s pretty funny I gotta say. From the sponsors, to the unrelated song, which is a Night Vale staple, to the multimedia and social interaction side...
Aaaand I’ve just made it unfunny, amazing.
Ok, unrelated song is over!
Honestly, if all judge verdicts were magic shows, I’d go to all of them. They’re public!
I love the fact Cecil is, indeed, narrating everything out loud, as it happens, to the dismay of everyone around him. Amazing stuff.
By the by - who won? Go listen to the episode if you wanna know!
Ok... I kinda... kinda have to talk about it, actually. Under the spoiler read more it goes!
So, the Chen family won. And the city of Night Vale, and the police, have to pay damages. The payment is, drumroll... one living Frank Chen!
They. They have to resurrect someone! This is so gonna come back.
This was a pretty enjoyable episode! Podcasts are nice, and while it is in no way a conclusion-
Ok, at the end, Megan says “Bloody Laws, Bloody Claws” instead of “Night Vale”. Alright, this might be a more regular segment. I’m excited.
Uhm, not sure what else to say! Livetyping one, good podcast, good episode, good podcast episode.
Have a spooky November, and happy belated Halloween!
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176 - The Autumn Specter
The Autumn Specter comes. Pale fingers and firey eyes, it wants your soul - you cannot hide.
The most uncomfortable opening line I’ve heard here yet - “Lips are the toes of the face.” Just why.
The new music, however... ah, chills, it’s so good.
They’re early to Halloween! I genuinely do not know whether or not we’ve had Halloween explicitly celebrated on the show. Now, this makes sense, as it is now October, but it is 16 days too early (and I know I’m 3 or so days too late). Perhaps having it released on 1st of Nov would be a good idea?
Nonetheless - Halloween is here. Cecil, of course, loves scary stories, and he has compiled some of his favourites for us to hear today. They are all classics with a very fun twist that I won’t spoil. Nonetheless, the Red Ribbon story (here it’s a green ribbon) is definitely one of my faves, and I love this interpretation. The stories are also rightfully creepy as hell and will spook you most if not all of the way.
This Halloween, and this week in the Community Calendar - the Autumn Specter is coming. Fear for your lives, for they shall be short. What hath been sowed shall be reaped; souls ripe to collect.
Cecil’s spooky voice is amazing. Also, intern James is noooot doing his job too well. I like how Cecil is referring to James himself, and throughout the episode he more talks to James rather than just narrating to the audience (apart from the last retelling of the episode). It’s a nice change of pace, to have a pseudo dialog and Cecil sort of in his element.
James is really bad at his job - the traffic report is not in. His burlap bag is totes fashionable, though. Not within dresscode, sadly.
The runic joke is pretty good, I gotta say.
James, seemingly, is trying to summon the Autumn Specter? With his small shrine and a nanotacle and whatnot.
Most of this episode, by the by, is the spooky stories, which I had already said I shall not spoil.
The traffic report is still not there! At least the weather is nice and calm...
Intern James, it turns out, is not the Autumn Specter! I- I did mention that possibility, right? Anyhow, he died in mid 19th century. He did want to be a radio intern! HR only now got to his CV, you see. He truly was there for the radio; he did not want to bring harm to Cecil, only to warn him.
In the end, he even saved him. I wonder if ghosts can be further mourned.
Perhaps you will be assigned with the mourning on this Halloween night. Who knows.
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175 - The October Monologues
You know them, everybody loves them, it’s the October monologues.
I’m pretty sure they used to be in September. I’m also pretty sure it’s the same three folks each time, which is frankly dumb of me to realize only now. either way - well, I rather like them.
The Faceless old woman speaks of loneliness and love. Although she says things that perhaps those who have read the book about her understand more (I have not read the book about her), it is still a moving and revealing monologue.
Michelle Wynn talks about music, naturally. This time, she likes something that’s popular. Always a delight.
Steve Carlsberg talks about what it means to be believed, and his relationship with the town of Night Vale, with mysteries, with Cecil, as well as how all those things relate to each other. I think Steve’s monologue is always my favourite of the bunch.
Not much else to say. They’re just good. See you in two weeks, Night Vale - and happy Spooptober.
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174 - Radio Jupiter
I know supporting artists is a good thing, I’m still miffed to be a poor student in this age of paid livestreamed content. At least when they did tours I had the excuse of travel being dear af.
Nonetheless, new episode!
We open up with Robin Virginie as the voice of Radio Jupiter. Also with a very asexy space-jazz tune, which I’m assuming is a Radi Jupiter theme. That, and the background music for RJ later are just so amazing I love it.
Radio Jupiter has amnesia, and is yet another broadcast hijacking the Night Vale Community Radio signal. Some nice prose about beauty follows.
Cecil tunes back in, with some news! Since this episode is about RJ, some news following up on stories are in order. Susan Willman has stepped down from her positions both in the Night Vale Community Theatre, as well as the PTA board, following the whole... knowing the name of an immortal Obelisk, which all whom hear will die instantly and horribly. This section demonstrates nicely (and yet again) the great juxtaposition of the horrifying with the very mundane.
The Ralph’s beer cave - the one with the eldritch darkness monster and time travel abilities - is totally fine! Don’t go in there to stay safe, but otherwise it’s totally fine! The Ralph’s corporate doesn’t know Night Vale exists. Nothing new, although a little weird still with the conjunction of spheres having happened already.
More on the news, from me:
I like what they’re doing here, expanding on storylines not in singular focused episodes, but rather in little tidbits and happenings. I know they’ve done it before, but I feel like they’re doing it more now, and it gives the whole show a bit more... life, I suppose.
We cut back to RJ.
Poor thing’s a bit worried now, and the spaceship she’s on is also full of weapons. Many, many weapons, guns, well, everything. And she knows how to use them all, a trained warrior. She contemplates who she is meant to wage war on - the planet below, the stars all around, or, perhaps, you, the listener. So, we get threatened and declared war on; (un)fortunately, Robin’s voice in this role is about as intimidating as a pug on a bean bag.
Which is also adorable.
Cecil and the station staff surmized that the signal is military, thus it keeps overriding things. Local military man, Rudy, does not want to say.
We get a sponsor message - Nature’s Caress Fountain of Youth Gentle Flushable Wipes. Yup.
Lee Marvin performs Shakespeare next! Except... well, yes, more interruptions.
RJ is back! To declare peace now. Days of war are behind her. Guns jettisoned. Is it a waste of guns? Perhaps not. She is keen to travel, now, travel away, find her own way, a girl with no memory in a universe that perhaps does not care.
Back on what may be Earth, she has been identified. Agent N-223, sent to space in hybernation, to serve as reinforcement in the Blood Space War. Of course! That was my first thought, because of course it’s the Blood Space War.
The weather follows, and augh, I love it. Fits the calm of the episode perfectly.
RJ, for one last time. Getting out of range, now. Farther, farther away, and we can hear it, and feel it.
I’m gonna be honest.
Make Radio Jupiter a new podcast, I wanna listen to it.
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173 - The Hundred Year Play
Hahaah, I’m late again! I’ve got my reasons alright...
I’ve been simply recounting a lot in the past. I would like to take a more light literary analysis view on this episode, talk about some of the concepts and writing a little more. Also, I shall touch on the non-plot segments, as they are not only quite good this time, in my opinion, but I don’t do it enough! So... let us begin.
I know people will imagine Cecil making the starting raven sounds... but I think he just found a random raven and recorded it. Which is funnier.
The Hundred Year play! What a concept. Simple to understand - a play that takes exactly one hundred years to complete. Actors rehearse, play, live and die in an endless sea of theatre.
It’s an oddly romantic concept, and very fitting for Night Vale. Throughout the episode, as Cecil describes the play, you simply have to wonder what the actors are going through, what the plot is, everything like that.
We FINALLY get some news on the Franklin Chen (Chan?) case. It has been quiet for a bit. Now, this story has been dripping in small segments to us, and I wonder if they’re building up to something, or if this is purely a side story lien told through infrequent news reports.
Frankly, I hope it’s the latter. I’ve been trying to do that exact thing in my own project, and I, well, I suck at it. A real struggle, that. I’ll have to give previous episodes a listen and take some notes, because NV is doing everything right here.
We have a simple enough story, withheld information while also knowing enough to be satisfied and curious, and it’s going at a surprisingly alright pace. Perhaps because it does seem like a small story, always only having a couple minutes within an episode.
Also, Cecil has a True Crime podcast. Very in-character.
Cecil then talks about the beginning of the play. This is what sort of made me shift my perspective for this post - I know that NV has admitted to time shenanigans for some time now, even pointing at Cecil’s longevity in a live show, but this is the first time we so directly hear his pure agelessness. Over a hundred years of life! He was there when it started!
Speaking of the play itself - Cecil puts on silly voices for the dialogue, but if the lines were acted a little better, I think this would made for a rather compelling start to a play. It also made me miss the theatre immensely. Bah, damn you, pandemic.
There is also the newborn - a baby born, most likely, that very day.
The sponsor! The sponsors are always very fun. They’re one of the most bizarre and fun and often unnerving part of the episode. Whether it’s a story, or a call to action, or something else, the sponsors never cease to be something totally mundane made absolutely alien. This time - hydration, except you drink all the water, possibly in the universe. Recommended by the NV Medical.
The descriptions are beautifully vivid.
Next time Cecil saw the play was 20 years later. Of course the play continued. He saw a woman, monologuing, in a slow, coarse, almost pained voice. A speech lasting for hours, days, perhaps weeks after the four hours Cecil had spent there.
He also mentions about how no one knows how the play ends. Before anyone could even flip to the end, there is more play to be made. What a metaphor for life - and it does not end.
Also, the line “Not one of us dies in the world we were born into.” Night Vale is consistently beautiful and meaningful and the truth in that line strikes a cord.
Ah, not to forget. This woman, giving the monologue - she is the child from the start. Not only the same character, but the very same performer. The baby from the start.
Community calendar! They give us so much insight into the daily life of Night Vale. Recurring citizens show up and make fuss. Strange things are always happening. The PTA is stirring things again, the Glow Cloud (ALL HAIL) specifically. Lee Marvin is giving acting lessons. Josh Crayton is shapeshifting into a pool, which people can swim in. What a nice gesture! The corn field will appear again. (Is this the invisible corn?)
Finally, we get to the end of the play - well, after the weather.
Which is a nice song! I wonder how they get the music for the show. Is it through submission, commission, coercion?
And so, the final scene of the hundred year play. To spoil the fun - there is an old woman. The woman speaks, and she explains she is Hannah Hershman (Hershmann?). The playwright of that very play. She was born with the script - literally, or has she written it all during her life? She explains how the play dies when she dies. She must die, because the play dies. The script is now complete.
It is morbid, but - there is a magic to it.
We get two more wonderful lines from Cecil.
“[She] dies to the best possible sound a person can hear - concrete evidence of the good they have done in the lives of other humans.”
“From the script of a life I have not yet finished performing-”
Good night, Night Vale.
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172 - Return of the Obelisk
Ah, yes, a much calmer episode. Very typically Night Vale strangeness.
The Obelisk is back! As you know, the Obelisk appears every 5-10 years. The whole of Night Vale puts their name on it, and the Obelisk then chooses one person, who can ask a single question, and get a true answer. Only they can hear this answer, though they may share it with anyone they like. After that, the Obelisk disappears.
I shall hold off on any detailed recaps this time. The Obelisk had been, in the past, asked about the cure to cancer (which has not been properly recorded), dinnertime, cheating, the JFK assassination, sports championship results, fizzy drinks, and perhaps I am forgetting one more that had been. List not in a chronological order, by the by.
There’s some fun segments, of course. Susan Wilman is at it again. Cecil is not. pleased.
Speaking of Susan - she had been chosen by the Obelisk! Too late to stop it now. Oh, how high and mighty she is. I think she’s kind of a soccer mom? Her questions is...
The Obelisk’s name. Now, no easy task, this. Whoever shall speak it aloud shall become the Obelisk. So shall they live forever, know all, and forever be damned. All who hear the name of the Obelisk spoken aloud shall perish.
So, y’know, sort of a win-lose situation there. Quite some power right there. I wonder if you can whisper it under your breath, if that counts as aloud.
Nonetheless, good luck to Susan Wilman on her further journeys! Please do not perish anybody.
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Also, as mentioned by somebody else at some point in the past, this episode is very paranoia inducing. Especially near the end.
170 - To the Family and Friends
Happ 8 years, Night Vale! Oh, oh my, 8 years… so many years… one Vriska of years. How long have I been listening to this, I wonder?
Let’s get on with the episode!
Condolences to the family of Intern Victor.
New open spot in the intern programme, however! I get the joke with this being an entry-level unpaid position and you need 30 years of experience, but I think it’s too much to take it as actual in-world- ok, well, at least now that time works sort of ok in Night Vale.
Seems the Medical Association has a lot of work cut out for itself, what with the Asylum shenanigans and whatnot.
Why is kindness not a common sense, indeed…
Some more details about Victor’s death. To be fair, with Cecil’s tough remembering of what happened to Leonard Burton, does time still work well? Hey, keeping up the mystery is great!
Ok, maybe Cecil just doesn’t comprehend death anymore? Y’know, as you do.
Alright, it’s a lot from Cecil here. Woah.
Victor was an intern for a long time… and then quit himself. What a long time to be an unpaid intern.
Victor has returned years later - and much older for it. From what I’m gathering here, Victor either better saw the truth of Night Vale, or Cecil is just truly trapped. Victor did actually leave Night Vale! Huh, interesting.
Alright, with Cecil’s “…what I might’ve accomplished, if I had aged as well.”…
Well, Cecil keeps being very unsure of what will happen to him as the Voice of Night Vale when his career is over.
So, Victor came back to Night Vale, to retire, and be with his family and loved ones for the last of his days. He lived at the trailer park, tending to his flowers, and to the community at large.
Oh my gosh, Joseph Fink’s song is the Weather. Just like all those years ago… I loved the first two Weather songs, both his I believe.
So, Victor dies… well, of old age. Simply of old age. A peaceful ending.
My. This was a good episode. I think this live reaction thingy may have taken away from it, a little. I’ll have to listen to it without anything. Just. Peacefully.
Happy eight years, Night Vale.
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171 - Go to the Mirror?
I’ve postponed this episode for two weeks. I’m not sure if that was silly or a good idea.
There’s no real plot to this episode. Having listened to some episodes of Start With This, I know exactly how this episode came to be. Write an episode that’s all questions only.
I’m gonna be honest, this is the first episode that actually just terrified me. I absolutely hate mirrors. I don’t like horror involving mirrors. Perception, loneliness, paranormal anything, mirrors are awful. Nothing good can come of mirrors.
The writing is still very good of course.
The weather is kind of eh, maybe that’s compounded by the fact the episode is scaring me.
I’ve literally stood in my room for 20 minutes just listening to it because I was too scared to move, until I opened my laptop at a moment of silence, so.
Careful with this episode! Listen to it with a friend during the day, maybe.
Honestly, the quiet voices underneath Cecil’s voice are compounding the fear even more. And Cecil’s acting is quite something here. Overall, the audio is great, the writing is great, Cecil is great. I just really want this to be over lmao.
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170 - To the Family and Friends
Happ 8 years, Night Vale! Oh, oh my, 8 years... so many years... one Vriska of years. How long have I been listening to this, I wonder?
Let’s get on with the episode!
Condolences to the family of Intern Victor.
New open spot in the intern programme, however! I get the joke with this being an entry-level unpaid position and you need 30 years of experience, but I think it’s too much to take it as actual in-world- ok, well, at least now that time works sort of ok in Night Vale.
Seems the Medical Association has a lot of work cut out for itself, what with the Asylum shenanigans and whatnot.
Why is kindness not a common sense, indeed...
Some more details about Victor’s death. To be fair, with Cecil’s tough remembering of what happened to Leonard Burton, does time still work well? Hey, keeping up the mystery is great!
Ok, maybe Cecil just doesn’t comprehend death anymore? Y’know, as you do.
Alright, it’s a lot from Cecil here. Woah.
Victor was an intern for a long time... and then quit himself. What a long time to be an unpaid intern.
Victor has returned years later - and much older for it. From what I’m gathering here, Victor either better saw the truth of Night Vale, or Cecil is just truly trapped. Victor did actually leave Night Vale! Huh, interesting.
Alright, with Cecil’s “...what I might’ve accomplished, if I had aged as well.”...
Well, Cecil keeps being very unsure of what will happen to him as the Voice of Night Vale when his career is over.
So, Victor came back to Night Vale, to retire, and be with his family and loved ones for the last of his days. He lived at the trailer park, tending to his flowers, and to the community at large.
Oh my gosh, Joseph Fink’s song is the Weather. Just like all those years ago... I loved the first two Weather songs, both his I believe.
So, Victor dies... well, of old age. Simply of old age. A peaceful ending.
My. This was a good episode. I think this live reaction thingy may have taken away from it, a little. I’ll have to listen to it without anything. Just. Peacefully.
Happy eight years, Night Vale.
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169 - The Whittler
Hey, did ya know you should support Black Lives Matter?
Anyhow, to the episode.
It’s a story this time! Or so it seems. I mean, more than usual.
The titular whittler is an old man. He whittles, in front of his store, in the desert, whistling songs of loss.
The man whittles what he whittles, figurines of this and that and anything you might think of. He gives his work away for free. He also whittles... people. Actual people. It is, perhaps, a little unnerving, yet certainly effective.
He then whittles buildings. Roads. Landmarks. Full size wonders. Expanding Night Vale. Expanding? Or, perhaps, building? Does this man truly exist, or is this a folk tale? Is this happening concurrently with the retelling, or eons in the past, or in the future?
Indeed it seems that the whittler is existing now, whittling at the moment, expanding Night Vale as we speak. Or, as Night Vale speaks. Speaks of who or what or how he is. Ok, well, they’re really just talking about whether what he’s doing is good for the city. Most agree - yes! Even the City Council does.
The old man has whittled himself a stage, from rock. He stands upon this stage, now. He has even whittled himself a bride. How quaint. He has an audience, each with a little gift of their own. Everyone whistles together, now. A sad song with a tinge of happiness. The whittlers newfound happiness.
He gives us the weather - which is a rather nice song, soft.
Cecil himself now comes to see the whittler. He is, after all, a journalist. And, let’s be frank, the whittler is pretty dang great.
Cecil gets a small sea plane. Carlos gets a tiny wooden rose. Those are, of course, gifts that they wanted, even if they did not know they wanted them.
One of the crowd touches the old man, and... well.
There is an end to all things.
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