The Strata

I see that this podcast had 10 seasons, and no reviews on IMDB. That must be some kind of record.

I listened to the first 1 1/2 seasons before giving up on this one. I'm a big fan of the genre, dystopic sci-fi drama, but this one did not deliver. I gave it a good try, but rather than getting better, the second season was actually worse than the first.

The dialog and the direction are both terrible. The characters are bombastic, melodramatic, and one-dimensional. The plot provides plenty of bathos, but no real emotion. Every voice actor overdoes it in every scene. Ultimately, it's intolerable and annoying.

This series was written and directed by the same person, and that might be a big part of the problem. If the writer/producer had collaborated with a different director, the story might have been salvaged. The voice actors seem competent and the production values are good. The story falls apart on the writing and direction.

So, maybe that's why there are 10 seasons and no reviews.

I love this podcast. I'm a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, and this one drew me in quite quickly. I'm on season 12 and get excited every time a new episode drops, it's that good.

Initially the focus is on Rust and what he faces as a courier in a dystopian setting, but over time you get to know a lot of other characters and they feel like friends to me now. The voice acting is brilliant and the story is compelling - I feel like I'm right there with them. At times I've found myself yelling out or holding my breath, and I'll catch myself thinking about the show at times and wondering how things will pan out. I love the sound effects too - I can really get a feel for the scenes, whether it's involving weapons, underground bunkers/tunnels or travelling.

I will be bereft if this one comes to an end!