Litmaster, Witch_Doctor liked this post
Thank you for the new series.........I am glad I helped through Kickstarter to back this.
Aaaaaand I'm back! Boy, it's been a long time since I have written a Lit-Treatise, but I'm fresh off my 5th listen to the first part of 'Lockdown' and wanted to set some thoughts down and nudge this forum back to life, a bit. I don't have as much time to be on here as I used to, but it's great to put my fan hat back on and enjoy a great 'Audio Theater for the Mind' from Wayland Productions!
...there we go. So, I was at first hesitant about posting my reaction to the episode here, given that I'm listening to it nearly a week before everyone else (ep drops tomorrow for non-backers), but then I figured 'Ah, fuck 'em!' I paid the money, they didn't, so they can SUCK IT if they don't like me getting a head start on the new episodes'. #backerprivilege
Okay, so a few reactions / thoughts. First, regarding craft:
- It's better than We're Alive. BETTER! Kc and Grayson are at the top of their game, and have really outdone themselves with the writing, acting, music, effects, and overall production value. Amazing.
.- Writing is stellar, which is hard to do in audio. Like how Kc starts us with the 'known' characters and gradually moves us to the unknown. Also takes care to limit the number of characters introduced initially, and in the scene at the holding cell he has Simon repeat each of the new guy's names several times, using a narrative framing device to make things clear. VERY helpful in following who is who.
.- Really enjoyed the acting performances; voices and personality match up exceedingly well. Kim Estes did an especially great job.
.- Not sure who the composer is, but I like how he takes the original We're Alive music (written by Kc's sister, I think...?) and re scores it . Sounds awesome.
So, some thoughts / impressions about the story itself:
- So this is our gang stomping out the last, possibly, of the Mallers, which is a few months after the end of We're Alive (not counting the huge time jump. So that means Simon has been captive of the Mallers for some time. That's a lot of ass rape. Eesh.
.- Simon's real name is Simion, or 'simian' which a higher primate, like apes and humans. Monkeys are used, controversially, in medical research. Wondering what parallels his name and a research test subject might have...
.- It's mentioned at 38:45 that Fredo does work for 'The Families', of which there are three remaining, we know. I'd bet dollars to donuts that he knows Scratch.
.- Chuck mentions at 39:30 that he met a guy 'Dan' who told him about The Families, even showing him the ring with the insignia on it. How much you want to bet that 'Dan' is actually Angel Tunudo?
.- At 40:05 it's mentioned that The Families have a policy of 'a life for a life' and will stop at nothing to avenge the death of one of theirs, which explains why Scratch was so hell-bent on avenging John's death.
.- Cohen was the guy who inked up scratch, but I forgot who he turned out to be in the main story. I know Austin McKibbon eventually becomes Arrowhead... what about Cohen?
.- The mention by Chuck that "ink tells a story". Yep. Wondering now if some tats by an inmate will have some influence over the Zeds, as Ink's does.
.- At 47:21 it's mentioned that the guy from the drunk tank is bleeding. So he'll be the first to die, or to turn?
.- The mention of Block 7 being under construction has to be significant. Willing to bet that some future scenes take place there. Or maybe that's their means of egress?
.- We know that Ink is attacked in the van in the loading area, just as he's ready to be transported, and 'turns' in the van. So the jail is the first place he likely takes over. Given that it's a jail, the Zeds aren't likely to make their way in the place unless they are let in, especially given the place clearly goes into 'lockdown' before it's overrun. That means Ink is the only one who is going to keep these prisoners alive, becoming the new defacto 'warden' of the Twin Towers.
.- Once shit starts to go bad, the guards are the only ones capable of freeing any locked prisoners, so I'm guessing the guards and inmates are gonna have to team up here. "The enemy of my enemy", as Burt says.
That's about it for now. Can't wait to hear the next episode. Part of me wants to just binge the whole damned thing, but a part of me wants to savor it. In the immortal words of Puck, "Now I gotta wait."
Last edited by Litmaster; Apr 24th, 2016 at 11:40 AM.
We're back Alive again for WA Descendants!!
Speaking of Angel...Gotta Wonder what he did to "prove himself", since he had a ring...
...I gotta give Story of Survival another relisten methinks...Goes for Lockdown too for that matter, hehe.
Litmaster liked this post
Hello again all...... Checking in for the "public" as KC said..... Wasn't able to back at the time of the Kickstarter so I am very jealous of you guys that get it first!! Thanks for supporting and making it possible tho! KC this is amazing and you have done a great job already!!!
I love the way that every few seconds or so there is a "throwback"(or I guess a throw forward?!??) to what happens in were alive! So far I can already see some interesting plot points starting to develop with the guard that is a little too trusting, and the other guard who treats the inmates like crap....
Also I wonder what is going to happen to the inmate with the handcuffs on to tight??? I'm assuming they may just be loosened later..... But I was trying to remember if that was pointing to something from were alive before?!?
Witch_Doctor liked this post
It would seem to me that Ink was loaded into the van and departed before the lockdown was issued. We know it took some time for the initial wave of infection to spread..... So perhaps while Ink is being transported the infection is spreading rapidly thru the city...... Which would lead to why he never made it into the courthouse..... By the time the van arrives the city is basically over run???!!
After waiting ages since We're Alive I have finally listened to the first part of Lockdown. It was definitely well worth the wait it's just a shame I have to wait for a week before I can hear the next part.
I'm very excited for lockdown! Part one was awesome, it was so nice to here the old voices. I might have to listen to it a few more times to try to get a handle on who all of the character are again.
I discovered we're alive about a month after the final episode aired so it's a new feeling to have to wait for new episodes. On the other hand I missed this whole part of the experience trying to figure out the story with other fans.
Bookmarks