The Light in Radon Canyon

The lottery? Like from Shirley Jackson??? There's a speck of Omelas in here that I will defend with my booksellers profession.

The return of Carlos was also something nice! I feel like I haven't heard of him in a while, but that may be due to my own delay in keeping up on the listening schedule. Steve Carlsberg can also stay. I guess. Glow Cloud on the school board? Don't mind if I do! That segment was really the funniest so far of the show, if you ask me.

Desert Bluffs returns, Michael Sandaros and his second head/personhood, CARLOS WEEKEND PLANS WHEN??
The returning elements are fun to pick out amongst the wacky stuff that fills up the rest of the episode. I feel like Night Vale works very well in that way of balancing low-stakes worldbuilding with incorporating a compelling plot that spans multiple episodes.

I also keep wondering how they got away with this many sponsorship segments referring to real companies jksahfdjkahf.

History Week

I guess the most lore heavy of the episodes, but the show has a canon-typical way of altering its own history and the facts presented. In that way, not only Cecil, but Night Vale as an entity itself is a heinously unreliable narrator (/affectionately).

The Drawbridge

Shoutout to random number transmission lady. See you in a couple of episodes!

Not a whole lot going on in this one, but I may have been distracted by having this one as background noise in an effort to catch up. Has some small highs that stand out. Fun time as per usual. Not a whole lot to say, except that the weather caught me as off-guard as it did on previous listens. Dio and Sef are pretty big around here (or at least were in a way that makes it surprising to hear them on a weird lil podcast).

The Shape In Grove Park

And huddle with us...

RIP to another intern, but it did get us one of the most touching passages in the Night Vale canon. I love Cecil's ruminitions on life and existence. What if we are all just part of a single experience? Isn't it wonderful to have a sense of community even in absolute solitude?

Much to ponder.

PTA Meeting

DINOSAUR-GATE GATE

Love the bits of lore dropped into this. Secret police gets some more work to do, the angels are back, Carlos has a little moment to shine.

A hectic episode by some accounts, but it is a very fun listen. Loved the bit with the Hooded Figure, that was nice. Man, I love this show, I can't really describe all the details that make me smile.

Station Management

Telly the Barber...........

Love the little vindictiveness of Cecil here about a haircut. Carlos' hair, though invisible, certainly gains a reputation here. More introductions in the form of the legendary intern fatality rate, as well as the ominous station management. BIG RICO'S!! Really could go for a slice myself. Damn. If City Council supports it, then it's gotta be good.

Oddly enough, this episode feels shorter than the others. Not sure why, but a real neat listen.

Glow Cloud

ALL HAIL THE GLOW CLOUD!!

And precious kitty Khoshek. As a new cat owner myself, I really feel the "it becomes perfect when you learn to accept it for what it is" (Boris, my beloved, we'll get there).

If you see something, say nothing, and drink to forget. City council. A vague-yet-menacing agency. The scouts. John Peters (you know, the farmer). HIRAM MCDANIELS!! So many more iconic returning characters to be added to the roster here. It's another great sign of Night Vale that it makes a pretty large pool of characters to take from, yet never failing at keeping them all unique, interesting, and on-character. It definitely works in its benefit in many ways that the show leans more into the absurdism of conspiracy theory culture.

Was really in need of that last section before The List (tm) today. Thank you, Night Vale. Goodnight.

Pilot

Amazing how it captures the vibe of local radio with all it's little tid-bits of info. Of course Old Woman Josie (iconic!!) is selling a light-bulb touched by angels. Of course there's a dog park being opened. Of course the local city jerk is pulling another stint. Carlos as an outsider stand-in yet exposition person at the same time works wonderfully well. Whatever Cecil doesn't cover in his nonchalant way, Carlos will report in as research.

Surprised at how much you can forget about an episode you think you've listened to a lot of times. So many iconic characters make their entrance here already! Locations, events, etc. etc. If I remember correctly, there may even be some pretty far-off foreshadowing here (underground city!!).

Do think that the end credits are as iconic as the TMA opening disclaimer about 4.0 international license. Proverbs!!