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| Image Credit: No Such Thing Productions |
WARNING: The below contains general minor spoilers for Janus Descending by No Such Thing Productions.
No Such Thing Productions' first sci-fi horror podcast, Janus Descending, is written and directed by Jordan Cobb. The story stars Cobb as Chel and Anthony Rocco Olivieri as Peter, with Zach Libresco as Axel and Karyn Keene as the computer. Jack Pevyhouse, Christina Riegel, Julia Schifini, and Sarah Rhea Werner also appear. Released from October 2018-February 2019, it is a work I've been meaning to get around to for some time. Though my preference is for science-fiction of the punching and explosions variety, I was not disappointed.
The story revolves around two xenoarchaeologists—Chel and Peter—sent on their first field mission by the combined machinations of Chel and Peter's brother Axel, who is CEO of the company funding the mission. The story is told in The Last Five Years fashion; that is, Chel tells her story from beginning to end, and Peter from end to beginning. Considering it is essentially a story of relationships gone wrong, this is an appropriate homage (more on that later).
All the voice actors are in top form. I wish to highlight Cobb and Libresco. Cobb conveys Chel's pain and joy with razor-sharp intensity that makes the podcast difficult to listen to (the good kind of difficult). Libresco (of Wolf 359 fame) has always been skilled at generating more sympathy for his characters' arrogant selfishness than ought to be possible.
Before I get into the best part of the show, let me get any critiques out of the way. Between the non-chronological story telling and the familiarity of alien horror in our collective consciousness, most sci-fi fans will see two of the three big plots twists coming from miles away. However, the enjoyment of the story is primarily derived not from the results, but from the process, so this might be more of a feature than a bug. Also, the character of Peter is supposed to be a highly accomplished scientific genius, but I found it puzzling that his diction rarely reflects this. Finally, there is a scene of implied sexual coercion in the prologue that never gets referenced again. Perhaps by introducing and then abandoning this incident, Cobb was trying to draw attention to the fact that such things are usually swept under the rug. However, considering the long shadow cast by the guilty party for other infractions, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Now the best part: Janus Descending is aptly named after the two-faced god. It is essentially a show about pairs and deception: man and woman, employer and employee, explorer and explored. It is a show about how deception (especially self-deception) among these pairs morphs all relationships into another type of pair: parasite and host. This being science fiction, the transformation is both literal and figurative.
All the voice actors are in top form. I wish to highlight Cobb and Libresco. Cobb conveys Chel's pain and joy with razor-sharp intensity that makes the podcast difficult to listen to (the good kind of difficult). Libresco (of Wolf 359 fame) has always been skilled at generating more sympathy for his characters' arrogant selfishness than ought to be possible.
Cobb's writing is exquisite, especially when her character waxes poetic about the wonders of space and exploration. Composer Daryl Banner wrote some damn perfect music for an ethereal sci-fi/romance/horror mashup (though the decision to include it at the beginning *and* the end of every episode may cause listeners who binge to temporarily think their players are on repeat.) Karyn Keene and Julia Schifini, acting as Monster Maker and Sound Editor respectively, team up to create a jarring and truly scary audio experience.
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| Image Credit: Chelsea Geter |
Before I get into the best part of the show, let me get any critiques out of the way. Between the non-chronological story telling and the familiarity of alien horror in our collective consciousness, most sci-fi fans will see two of the three big plots twists coming from miles away. However, the enjoyment of the story is primarily derived not from the results, but from the process, so this might be more of a feature than a bug. Also, the character of Peter is supposed to be a highly accomplished scientific genius, but I found it puzzling that his diction rarely reflects this. Finally, there is a scene of implied sexual coercion in the prologue that never gets referenced again. Perhaps by introducing and then abandoning this incident, Cobb was trying to draw attention to the fact that such things are usually swept under the rug. However, considering the long shadow cast by the guilty party for other infractions, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Now the best part: Janus Descending is aptly named after the two-faced god. It is essentially a show about pairs and deception: man and woman, employer and employee, explorer and explored. It is a show about how deception (especially self-deception) among these pairs morphs all relationships into another type of pair: parasite and host. This being science fiction, the transformation is both literal and figurative.
Both out of a desire to avoid direct spoilers as well as a desire to keep this a “rapid” review, I shan't dive into these too deeply. However, I would like to touch upon the main pair at the heart of the show. Chel and Peter think they are in love with each other. There are some suggestions they may actually be in love too; their familiarity with the way each thinks and behaves under normal circumstances implies so. Perhaps if they're heroism hadn't been tested, they would have become a moderately happy couple. When an alien world needs to be explored however, their true colors become clear. Chel is willing to violate Peter's privacy and comfort to advance her own career goals. She also frequently puts herself, and by extension Peter, in unnecessary danger. More damning, when danger strikes, Peter is willing to sacrifice Chel to save himself, even if only subconsciously. Chel thinks Peter primarily thinks about Chel, and Peter thinks Chel primarily thinks about Chel. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Chel primarily thinks about Peter, and Peter primarily thinks about Peter. As a result, they regularly misjudge how the other will react under strained circumstances, and the choices that result from this are disastrous. Essentially, they transform from potential symbiotes (Aren't all healthy couples? Never let it be said I am not a romantic.) into a parasite and a host.
There's plenty more pairs to dive into: brother and brother, exploited and exploiter, colonizer and colony, “death and rebirth”. So start exploring; (or if you are an alien parasite, burrow on in). Here's the link again. "They" have been waiting for you.
There's plenty more pairs to dive into: brother and brother, exploited and exploiter, colonizer and colony, “death and rebirth”. So start exploring; (or if you are an alien parasite, burrow on in). Here's the link again. "They" have been waiting for you.
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| Image Credit: Chelsea Geter |
