Okay, I told myself I wouldn’t get into any new obsessions this year. I really did promise myself. Well… I broke that promise to myself. I kinda got into a new podcast series. It’s called “Welcome to Night Vale.”
“Night Vale” is a podcast that is made on both YouTube and iTunes. This podcast is… what can only be described as amazing. The very first episode enters with a voice saying these words:
“A friendly desert community where the sun is hot, the moon is beautiful, and mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep. Welcome to Night Vale.”
Then the music comes. Oh my god, the music in this podcast is wonderful. I love it so much, and it’s so catchy that I can’t help but hum along every time I hear it.
We discover that the name of the show host is Cecil Palmer, broadcasting on the radio from Night Vale. He talks about the events happening in Night Vale, like the civilization of people living under the pin retrieval area in lane five, or the dog park, that doesn’t allow people or dogs inside the dog park.
He also tells us about a newcomer named Carlos, who is a scientist. He describes Carlos as having dark skin, and having “long, perfect hair.” He admits that he was infatuated the moment he met him. And hoenstly, it is so refreshing to see a gay romance story in a work of fiction. There’s characters that reperesent almost every aspect of the LGBT+ community, and it’s very refreshing to see.
Later in the series, we learn of Night Vale’s enemy town, Desert Bluffs. Desert Bluffs is just like Night Vale in many ways: it’s a small desert community with townspeople who love their community. However, there is one major difference: the whole town is under the thumb of an evil corporation called Strex Corp, and they have mind-wiped everyone in the town, turning them into violent and obedient “employees” under Strex.
Everyone in Night Vale has a counterpart that lives in Desert Bluffs. Cecil’s coutnerpart is named Kevin. From his description, we are told that he looks like Cecil, except that he has “black gaping eyes and a sinister smile.” Every time Kevin and Cecil interact with each other, it’s a battle to survive the encounter.
The Night Vale community is a strange one, that is true, but there is one thing that makes it equivalent to any other town in our normal world: they love their community, and they care for their friends and family. Even when the town is threatened by the street cleaners on Street Cleaning Day, or when portals open that bring in their violent Desert Bluffs counterparts, they still do their best to protect each other.
And I think that’s a beautiful message for this quaint little show.
And now, the weather.
