Director's Notes – Episode 77

(NOTE: As always, Director's Notes contain spoilers)

Have you ever read The Unexpected Guest by Edward Gorey? In spite of (because of?) its adorable simplicity, it's one of the most terrifying books I've ever read, and I would call the stranger in this episode a vague tribute to Gorey's guest.

The stranger here has no explanation, and like Gorey's guest, no perceived desires or physical action. I've always been fascinated with imperceptible movement in horror, like Dr. Who's angels or even the adventure trope of the cursed object. To some extent, the ambling zombie is part of this.

Additionally in this episode, we get to hear from Dana. We haven't heard from Mayor Cardinal in a while - not in her own voice at least. And working with the actor Jasika Nicole is one of my favorite things in the world. So, duh, we wrote another part for her.

Here we have a delightful former intern-turned-mayor dealing with a controversial issue in town: the decision to financially help a rival city. Desert Bluffs, after all, was home to StrexCorp, which tried to overtake all of Night Vale just over a year ago. It's easy to see how a public endorsement of helping out neighbors would be a difficult choice.

Since Dana was an intern at the radio station and her subsequent life in the desert otherworld pining for a way home to see her brother and mother once again, I've loved her character. I've loved how Jasika layered Dana with such emotional gravity, so focused and independent, yet so in need of her tiny network of those who love her - Cecil included.

And yet, here she is, suddenly mayor of Night Vale. And it's been a hard go for her. City Council does not entirely support her choices. She's fairly young - imagine going from radio intern to mayor in like 1 year. Go on. Imagine it. I'll wait.

Know what? I'm tired of waiting. Let's move on...

I'm really interested in exploring the faults and favors of all characters. Generally speaking, Dana has thus far been nearly without fault, without many traits which make her difficult to like, to empathize with. I don't want her to seem like some ideal secondary hero, worthy of our admiration and unskeptical praise. She's human. She is capable of failings and sins and poor decisions.

So she chews on dirt when she is anxious (among other feelings). She speaks in questions. She is uneasy about her leadership. She is full of self-doubt not noticeably common in our political leadership.

- Jeffrey Cranor
11/1/2015