Angels

"Statues can't wipe memories."

Writer: Catherine Brinkworth 

Format: Audio

Released: May 2022

Series: Redacted 1.04

Featuring: Abby, Shawna, Cleo

Synopsis

Abby get an interview with her favourite blogger, Larry Nightingale. The two think that maybe some creatures called Weeping Angels have something to do with the country-wide disappearances. Abby figures that meeting a strange man at night in Glasgow Necropolis is probably fine, yeah?

Verdict

Angels was another excellent episode to continue my way through the first series of the Redacted podcast! I am thoroughly enjoying this series as we dig a bit deeper into the mystery of the Blue Box Files and the enigmatic Doctor that accompanies the sightings. I think it’s quite ironic that an episode that barely features the Doctor in Blink becomes the subject of the latest podcast episode, but it’s also a really good choice when it comes to a potential explanation for the numerous missing people that has been occurring mostly in London and stretching to the likes of Cardiff. Having nearly one hundred people missing is a considerable number but I was still expecting a little more to be honest given the significance and scale of the feel of events in the first three episodes. Hearing Abby, Shawna and Cleo discuss the mysterious Wester Drumlins house was magnificent and I was impressed with how well informed they were on events at that house and of the Weeping Angels. Abby having a relationship through email with Larry Nightingale was really good and I like that people with knowledge of the Doctor and/or the TARDIS have formed something of an online community. That feels very real and certainly in this day and age is exactly what would happen. I’m surprised more adventures haven’t tapped into that yet as online continues to increase its dominance on society. Cleo was troubled by Jordan’s continued disappearance and it’s quite ironic that she only got seriously worried when he made contact. The distortion that accompanied the phone call was good and a high level on the creepy factor. It wasn’t quite as easy as him running off onto Ex on the Beach! If only it was that simple. There was definite tension between the three podcast hosts but it was lovely for Shawna and Cleo to get the train up to Glasgow to make sure Abby was okay as all of the information concerning Larry did seem suspicious, especially with his wife and sister being missing. That made him a prime suspect. For him, it had been fifteen years since the Weeping Angels but having him communicate through a tape recorder from the 1920s was tremendous. It was a fine use of the effect of the Weeping Angels without them actually featuring. I do wish it was possible to get the original actors for the likes of Larry here and Penny Carter back in SOS, but with them not featuring too prominent it’s not a big issue and I certainly understand given the limited budget a podcast series would be given. The way the trio were jumped at the end by a military cavalry was interesting as a cliffhanger and moved us onto the next one nicely, and I like how Cleo is continuing to be frustrated by his fellow hosts constantly forgetting the Doctor. But that’s kind of the point. It was nice for Abby and Shawna to feel a bit more in the read role this time around after a strong focus on Cleo to start, so hopefully we get more of an equal balance moving forward like we had here. Overall, an excellent listen!

Rating: 9/10