The Magnus Archives | Season 3 starts November 23rd

More_Badass · Oct 30, 2017

I know the series has a decently-sized following on here and the other forum, so with Season 3 announced, thought giving Magnus its own thread might be a good idea

http://rustyquill.com/the-magnus-archives/
iTunes | Stitcher | PlayerFM

Make your statement, face your fear. A weekly horror fiction podcast examining what lurks in the archives of the Magnus Institute, an organisation dedicated to researching the esoteric and the weird. Join Jonathan Sims as he explores the archive, but be be warned, as he looks into its depths something starts to look back… New episodes every Thursday produced by Rusty Quill, featuring guest actors, short stories, serial plots and more.
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I've listened to a lot of fictional podcasts. Liked a lot of them too; The Black Tapes, We're Alive, The Bright Sessions, Within The Wires, Night Vale, Knifepoint Horror, NoSleep, and more. But while I enjoyed them, there are areas where I felt they could often suffer, especially when they're going for dialogue and conversations rather than reading prose like Knifepoint.

But it's the writing that has made Magnus Archives my favorite horror fictional podcast. The show masterfully delivers mystery. These stories are often from a limited perspective, so there isn't really an explanation for why things happen or what the happenings are. We're not trying to solve what's going like in Black Tapes or Tanis. The people telling the stories aren't figuring out what happened through ancient texts or folklore. These eerie things just happen and we're left in the dark just like those people. Because of that, the story in Magnus Archives have such a great sense of creepy unknown.

The series' premise is reminiscent of Archive 81, here the archivist of an organization that investigates otherworldly occurrences is reading the transcripts of those archives. The stories descend into lovecraftian/SCP-esque territory, weird horrifying happenings that eschew explanations for the terror of the uncertain and unknown.

I like how even from the first episode, the voice acting is consistently good. I have unreasonably high standards for voice acting in audiodramas; most of the time, the conversations and pace of the dialogue in them feels so fake and stilted (Archive 81, I'm looking at you). But the main narrator does such a good job from the get-go; his delivery is a big part of why the series succeeds as well as it does.

I can't recommend this series enough.

More_Badass · Oct 31, 2017

Some poster impressions from here and elsewhere

Magnus is my current favorite work of ongoing fiction. Its so goood.

This podcast is completely deserving of it's own thread. The show is slowly becoming more popular, but it's still a shame it doesn't get as much recognition as so many other, more inferior podcasts.

Okay, so I took an extra-long lunch, and listened to the first four episodes.

This is good. I like the main narrator, and love how the stories so far have been the mundane turning just... really creepy. The first two in particular were great, Angler Fish and the one about the coffin.

Fuck, I really like this show.

I've been loving it so far, and I am 11 episodes in. Glad there's a bunch more because I'm exclusively listening to it right now

THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES IS SO GOOD.

I blew through season one last week and a huge chunk of it on an airplane trip to London. Amazingly well done.

Magnus really deserves the praise.
As a horror podcast it manages to avoid the pitfalls excellently illustrated by Black Tapes, Tanis etc.

The episodes are usually around 20-30 minutes long and while most technically could stand alone, it's best to listen from the beginning because there's an overall narrative thread that's VERY worth following.

It has great production values, the actors are fantastic, and the accounts are all fascinating if not downright chilling. There are currently ~80 episodes, which might sound daunting but is actually brilliant because you'll have tons of content to look forward to. <--I tried to ration them. It didn't work.

mattsdl · Oct 31, 2017

I've started listening to a lot of audio drama podcasts at the beginning of the year but nothing has captivated me as much as The Magnus Archives. I liked the series at the start but once the overarching plot kicks into high gear, it became quite special and I basically listend exclusively to it for a couple of days.
It seems crazy to me how one person can produce that many high-quality scripts in such a short amount of time, especially just as a side job. I'm seriously considering making Magnus the first patreon I sign up for because I love it so much.

Necromanti · Oct 31, 2017

I just finished the 23rd episode while going for a night walk. (I have no idea how long the first season is.)

I'll admit, I was a tad skeptical before I started it, but the impressions of it were very positive, so I thought I would give it a shot. And I've been enjoying it a lot more than I ever expected to. Even the episodes that I wasn't crazy about, I still found interesting enough to listen through. I'm very curious what direction the series is going in and have a bunch of questions about the nature of a lot of things in that "universe"...

H.Protagonist · Oct 31, 2017

Oh good. I'd grabbed the old thread from the cache and was going to restart it, but this saves me the trouble. I'm on "Hide and Seek" (ep. 79) now. Can't wait to see what goes down in the finale.

For those that far,

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Snö · Nov 1, 2017

Just listened to the trailer for season 3. Here's hoping it will top season two in creepyness!

Sulik2 · Nov 1, 2017

I couldn't believe when I saw the teaser for season 3 up already. These guys barely take a break in production. Best fictional podcast ever.

Strawberry Shortcake · Nov 1, 2017

Glad there's a thread for this as I was hoping for a place to discuss the show a bit further. I' m 30 episodes in now, and I've noticed

there seems to be an overarching story about the characters at the Magnus Institute, and I'm excited to see where it goes. I sometimes have trouble remembering what characters names are making reappeances in other stores lol

not sure if a spoiler bit don't wanna ruin anything on accident. I was excited to see the season 3 announcement.

Skittles · Nov 3, 2017

Currently re-listening through S1 and S2 right now. Noticed something on the very first statement (not ep1, the trailer)

statement talks about how you'll regret not running away sooner. Could be foreshadowing on a creature the archivist has attracted by doing these statements.

Natiko · Nov 4, 2017

Such a great podcast. Can't wait for it to return.

H.Protagonist · Nov 4, 2017

Just finished season 2 and I'm eagerly awaiting season 3 now. Some very interesting bits

got dropped in that last episode. How funny that John was right about Elias the whole time, though not in quite the way he'd expected. Jurgen's angle was an interesting twist too. Not exactly the arcane immortal I assumed he was. Bit of a wet rag, really, though the number of assistants he sacrificed is pretty horrific for all his generally mundane origins/mannerisms. I liked it. Hope we get to hear more about the library/books. And I especially hope we get more from Mary Keay...

Strawberry Shortcake said:
Glad there's a thread for this as I was hoping for a place to discuss the show a bit further. I' m 30 episodes in now, and I've noticed

there seems to be an overarching story about the characters at the Magnus Institute, and I'm excited to see where it goes. I sometimes have trouble remembering what characters names are making reappeances in other stores lol

not sure if a spoiler bit don't wanna ruin anything on accident. I was excited to see the season 3 announcement.

Not really a spoiler. I think it's good for people to know that they're best listened to in order. The earlier episodes could do just fine as stand-alones, but it's the trail/breadcrumbs in the overall narrative that makes it such a great podcast~

Strawberry Shortcake · Nov 4, 2017

Just finished season 1 and I'm now on episode 46 and I'm really liking how this season is progressing. Hoping I can time it where I finish up season 2 just in time for season 3 so I don't have to wait :3.

More_Badass · Nov 5, 2017

Got to Piecemeal during my re-listen, I had forgotten how messed up that one was. Body horror, especially the way it's presented there, is just chilling.

vastag · Nov 5, 2017

I'm on season 1. Love the series, but anyone else has trouble remembering all the names and catching the references to the metaplot? I'm seriously considering a re-listen from the beginning.

Strawberry Shortcake · Nov 6, 2017

vastag said:
I'm on season 1. Love the series, but I anyone else has trouble remembering all the names and catching the references to the metaplot? I'm seriously considering a re-listen from the beginning.

I do lol I need to go and put together like a character guide to keep track of all the different character threads that pop up in various stories.

Dineren · Nov 6, 2017

vastag said:
I'm on season 1. Love the series, but I anyone else has trouble remembering all the names and catching the references to the metaplot? I'm seriously considering a re-listen from the beginning.

I've been working my way through so slowly that I've been missing tons of references. I'll probably end up reading through the wiki assuming it is accurate.

Scion · Nov 6, 2017

Cool stuff, this will be the first season I follow along with. Season 1 was definitely stronger than 2 and I'm not entirely sold on the meta-narrative yet, but the weekly stories still hold up really well and I love the narrator's delivery.

Mikebison · Nov 8, 2017

Started listening recently. Up to about episode 22 or something. Really like it for the most part and the first fiction podcast I've listened to. Being a huge fan of anthology shows like Tales from the Crypt, it's right up my street.

2 issues though. Whilst I like John Sims voice acting and writing, sometimes he doesn't think about HOW the characters he's meant to be reading a statement from would speak. There are no colloquialisms or slang. It's all perfect prose as that's how he would speak. Takes me out of it at times.

The other is the one episode (so far) thad had a lady reading a part for the statement. I don't know if she's part of the staff making the show, but WHEW, she cannot act. It was painful to listen to and just had to turn it off.

More_Badass · Nov 8, 2017

Another behind the scenes episode to tide you over till Season 3
The Making of Magnus
Join Alex, Mike, Anil, Martyn and Ben as they discuss what it takes to get an episode of The Magnus Archives from the page to your ears.

NTGYK · Nov 12, 2017

I'm at like episode 57 and I think I will blow through the rest of the episodes during my nine hour flight home.

I am through the looking glass.

Jugendstil · Nov 12, 2017

I'm halfway through the existing episodes and have become completely obsessed with the show. I don't usually like fictional podcasts but I love horror and find it so impressive how such a small team has created such a great series of stories. It's also really rewarding to go back and study how interconnected the larger plot is. Can't wait for season three!

More_Badass · Nov 15, 2017

Jugendstil said:
I'm halfway through the existing episodes and have become completely obsessed with the show. I don't usually like fictional podcasts but I love horror and find it so impressive how such a small team has created such a great series of stories. It's also really rewarding to go back and study how interconnected the larger plot is. Can't wait for season three!

Yeah, the Making Of episode makes their output and quality that much more impressive

AmethystEnd · Nov 15, 2017

Ayyy, Magnus getting its own thread? Definitely worthy of one.

Mushroom · Nov 21, 2017

Can't wait!

Jugendstil · Nov 21, 2017

Finished season two today and I'm even more impressed with the show now. I loved learning that Jon's parents do the voices for two of the key characters! What's everyone's favorite episode? There are so many good ones, but mine has go to be First Edition.

Hearing Gertrude and Mary Keay together was such a great surprise, and Mary's story was so creepy. The actress that played her was really fantastic too!

More_Badass · Nov 21, 2017

I like more S1 episodes than S2: Across The Street, Thrown Away, Piecemeal, Bone Turner's Tale, The Man Upstairs, Freefall, Anatomy Class
From S2, my favorites were Binary, The New Door, High Pressure, Personal Space

AmethystEnd · Nov 21, 2017

From season 1, my favorite is Bone Turner's Tale.

From season 2, I can't decide between Binary and The New Door.

More_Badass · Nov 22, 2017

It's back!

MAG 81 - A Guest for Mr. Spider
Statement of Jonathan Sims, regarding a childhood encounter with a book formerly possessed by Jurgen Leitner. Statement recorded by subject, February 18th 2017.

Edit:

That was a good start. Jumping headlong into the Lovecraftian horror. I was reminded of Archive 81 doing a similar shift but Magnus did it much more subtly and eerily. You can never go wrong with a weird book that has eldritch influence over those who read it

AmethystEnd · Nov 23, 2017

Hell of a season opener. Glad to hear Jon's revelation that

he needs allies.

.

Jugendstil · Nov 23, 2017

It was hard but I waited to listen to the new episode until I had my train trip this morning and it was totally worth it. Very excited to see where the new season goes!

More_Badass · Nov 23, 2017

AmethystEnd said:
Hell of a season opener. Glad to hear Jon's revelation that

he needs allies.

.

They're planning for 4-5 seasons right? Because it feels like we're pass the midpoint now of the overarching story and slowly building toward the climax and final acts

mattsdl · Nov 23, 2017

Really good first episode back.

The book reminded me of the Babadook, would love for them to make real one as well. I wonder if we get more statements about things from the archivist's past.

More_Badass said:
They're planning for 4-5 seasons right? Because it feels like we're pass the midpoint now of the overarching story and slowly building toward the climax and final acts

They said 5 seasons in the first Q&A.

Aiii · Nov 23, 2017

Finished season one a week ago, great stuff. Taking a break (as in listening to 55 hours of Brandon Sanderson's Oathbringer) for a while before I move onto the second season. The balance of procedural and overarching storyline is really good definitely very X-Files-esque in its execution.

Skittles · Nov 23, 2017

More_Badass said:
They're planning for 4-5 seasons right? Because it feels like we're pass the midpoint now of the overarching story and slowly building toward the climax and final acts

Hard 5 seasons with all major plot points planned out.

So ep 81

the woman john is staying with was mentioned briefly in S2 when the ghost hunter came back. Sounds like shes an old lover maybe. Or could be a partner he used to work with, and then broke away from as her stuff deals with fake stuff. I wonder if the lighter john got earlier is related to mr spider.

About the general plot

since spiders are often depicted as creators, i wonder what role they play in this universe. Maybe they created the world. Or created the barrier which seperates us from the godly entities. Which would explain why most creatures in the world seem to hate spiders and it's implied that a cult sacrificed spiders to do something (maybe weaken the barrier between the dimensions or appeae the entities for power

Greigor the FellHand · Nov 23, 2017

I'm about 18~ episodes in, does it improve? Some at great then others feel odd and poorly written

Jugendstil · Nov 23, 2017

Skittles said:
Hard 5 seasons with all major plot points planned out.

So ep 81

the woman john is staying with was mentioned briefly in S2 when the ghost hunter came back. Sounds like shes an old lover maybe. Or could be a partner he used to work with, and then broke away from as her stuff deals with fake stuff. I wonder if the lighter john got earlier is related to mr spider.

On first listen, I wasn't sure who she was. Sometimes I get confused by who's a brand new character and who is someone that's been referenced before, but part of the fun is going back and figuring stuff out. I feel like no matter what, she's gonna get in trouble having John for roommate.

ak1287 · Nov 23, 2017

Aiii said:
Finished season one a week ago, great stuff. Taking a break (as in listening to 55 hours of Brandon Sanderson's Oathbringer) for a while before I move onto the second season. The balance of procedural and overarching storyline is really good definitely very X-Files-esque in its execution.

You will soon realize that, unlike X Files, everything in the statements is relevant to the ongoing plot.

Mushroom · Nov 30, 2017

A lot to unpack from the latest ep.

So I'm assuming that the police officer had written a statement in the past, and the way Elias was speaking to her it made it sound like she might be working for someone else. Pretty interesting hearing about the vampires again, those Vampire Killer is still one of my favorite episodes. Also, Tim is a great character for comic relief.

More_Badass · Nov 30, 2017

Mushroom said:
A lot to unpack from the latest ep.

So I'm assuming that the police officer had written a statement in the past, and the way Elias was speaking to her it made it sound like she might be working for someone else. Pretty interesting hearing about the vampires again, those Vampire Killer is still one of my favorite episodes. Also, Tim is a great character for comic relief.

I got the sense from this episode that the Archives has quite a large influence, or that it's a much larger and powerful organization than the public or maybe even Jonathan knows. That it may be untouchable to authorities.

Mushroom · Nov 30, 2017

Yea, aren't they owned/tied to the Lukas family? There's still a lot to explore with that family.

More_Badass · Nov 30, 2017

This seems like it's definitely going to be the lore and world-building season, even more so than past ones. Will be interesting how statements will be incorporated again

Jugendstil · Nov 30, 2017

Regarding the latest episode:

Elias is an aspect of The Beholding and the archives are part of it too. With that sort of power, who knows how far their influence actually extends? Can it read minds? That's what it seemed like to me when Elias was giving Daisy's statement. Does its power to know things extend to anyone who has given a statement to the archives? So many questions.

Rassilon · Nov 30, 2017

In my head-canon Martin looks like Martin from Greenwing.

Great start to S3, the quality of the writing and ideas continues to be grand.
I'm guessing Johnny made some pact with an eldritch knife-fingered beast in exchange for story tips.

More_Badass · Nov 30, 2017

Regarding statements

How do you think statements will be reincorporated into the series again? I think 1) they might have the Archives crew dig through old statements to figure out what happened and 2) Jon will be in the field so to speak, investigating events on his own and recording his findings

Skittles · Nov 30, 2017

More_Badass said:
Regarding statements

How do you think statements will be reincorporated into the series again? I think 1) they might have the Archives crew dig through old statements to figure out what happened and 2) Jon will be in the field so to speak, investigating events on his own and recording his findings

i think they'll be mostly live statements, taken from listeners of the radio show three woman he's living with does. Like theyll be static when they first try and call it in, so she does live interviews instead

parrotbeak · Nov 30, 2017

Man i forgot the new season started. Need to catch up.

AmethystEnd · Nov 30, 2017

Phew, that episode.

I thought Elias's plan at the end of season 2 was to frame Jon, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I know he's an evil douchebag, but I thought he was quite badass in this episode.

corasaur · Nov 30, 2017

damn. i listened to the new one late last night. i'd been planning to listen today, but I read the episode description and had to know what

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meant right away. that was cool as heck.

Mushroom · Nov 30, 2017

parrotbeak said:
Man i forgot the new season started. Need to catch up.

It's pretty good so far, friend.

RoyaleDuke · Dec 4, 2017

I feel like The Magnus Archives is one of the best lovecraftian style works to come out in ages. I'm about 8 episodes in.

The Magnus Archives | Season 3 starts November 23rd

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