MAG 185 - Locked In
Added 2020-10-28 16:19:56 +0000 UTCCase ########-25
An examination on the nature of Justice.
Recorded by the Archivist in situ.
Content warnings:
This episode may require some extra context - while it's not directly about race or racial violence nor includes character death, it does explore general themes of wrongful imprisonment & abuses of power. Transcripts can be found here
PDF: https://cutt.ly/DgYjMGZ
DOC: https://cutt.ly/ngYkepC
- Prison (inc SFX)
- Dehumanisation
- Wrongful imprisonment & victimisation
- Police brutality
- Uncertain memory & distorted time
- Abuse of power
- Physical violence
- Bullying
- Isolation
- Pleading
- Explicit language
Thanks to this week's Patrons: Jessica Specht, Natalie Logan, Emily Simmons, Paige Morgan, Clarissa Olivares, Lana Roberts, Emma, Rhiannon Thomas Bourne, Malibustacy, Regan Sanders, Christina, Sir Prahlegod, Trixie McGee, A Brain In A Bucket, Esther Phillips, Annie Shoes, Natasha Tomecek, Maglor, Saturn '- Lynnette, Amaranta Petty, Allison Perrone, Ari Shenanigans, PumkinMilk, McKensie Schepers, Anneka V. Brighton, Jasmine Zeelfreund, Ludo, Marguerite Coles, Katharine Forman, hellotrickster, Riley Alexandre, Rose Johnson, reubenpax, what if you were defenseless, Tara, Biff, The Thing Lurking In The Dirt Under The Streets Of Alexandria, Sarah Anderson, [tips fedora] J'archivist, logan austin, Jem strongeststars Malak, OnaDacora, alex, skyberia, Gabby Figueroa, Zoe Wright, Charlie Morgan Reed, Heather, Nebula Wood, Gillis Lowry and Taylor Jackson.
Edited this week by Maddy Searle, Elizabeth Moffatt, Brock Winstead & Alexander J Newall
Written by Jonathan Sims and directed by Alexander J Newall
Produced by Lowri Ann Davies
Performances:
- "Martin Blackwood" - Alexander J. Newall
- "The Archivist" - Jonathan Sims
- "The Inspector" - Richard Davies
Sound effects this week by icmusic, dauser, rachyray, tontoepfer, CosmicEmbers, klankbeeld, Reitanna, RobertMThomas, brianbaltar, kd_jack, joanasjoan, felix.blume, ingudios, DWOBoyle, AcousticMemory, YleArkisto, Moulaythami, hargissssound, lwdickens, 13FPanska_Krug_Antonin, ultradust, Eneasz, kyles, rdneubauer, Anthousai, FngerSounds, nicktermer, nextmaking, kingsrow, SpliceSound, danielad, duckduckpony, datasoundsample, Adam_N, KomradeJack, LamaMakesMusic, conleec, mypantsfelldown, 14GPanskaHonc_Petr, leonelmail, SpliceSound, Cornwallis89, aglinder, vflefevre, volonda, scottemoil, Iceofdoom, audible-edge, BurghRecords, jmbphilmes, yadronoff, o_ciz, sturmankin & previously credited artists via freesound.org Additional sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com
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Comments
listening to the warning at the top of the episode days after Trump won the election 🫠 welp. *buckles seatbelt*
Rurrie
2024-11-13 18:25:26 +0000 UTCEveryone is welcome to their opinion but I think there has a been a trend where this episode is treated as specifically about POC when it is actually saying that the privileged shouldn't ignore the way systems that make them feel safe can oppress others and that often the privileged are the ones who decide what is an is not criminalized. This misuse of privilege affects/harms POC but also many other underprivileged groups like gender nonconforming and queer people so it's not purely a race issue. And I think "using privilege to ignore how systems that benefit you harm others is bad" is a worthy message. It's worth noting that trigger warnings, which were reviewed/generated by a person of color, are there specifically so people who aren't comfortable with an episode that deals with this can avoid it, and served as warnings not summaries. Also I think being personally uncomfortable with an episode (which is what trigger warnings aim to warn people about so they can make informed decisions on staying mentally and emotionally safe) and saying it shouldn't be made are two different things. Just look at some of them comments before you where neurodivergent and POC talk about how this episode worked for them bc they felt it handled systemic issues that affect them. It doesn't mean it will work for everyone bc any gorup - POC, the neurodivergent, etc. are humans and have different perceptions. The trigger warnings weren't a summary. They were a warning to keep people safe. Also RQs decision not to deal with sexual assault doesn't mean no work can or should deal with this. It's just something they didn't want to get into directly. It doesn't mean it can or should never be dealt with.
ThirdFromTheLeft
2020-11-02 19:51:43 +0000 UTChonestly i think police brutality should be treated in the same way that sexual assault is, chiefs. it’s a very real very familiar danger and fear past what’s acceptable to be examined in a horror podcast context. just because it’s commonly scary doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for a white writer to examine it at length.
ttroutlaw
2020-11-02 15:47:08 +0000 UTCThe Fears are the fears people have! That's the premise of the show! If people fear systemic abuse, racial abuse, police brutality etc, then you better believe that the Powers will stick their knife into that social wound and twist. I thought this episode did that exceptionally well.
Robbie Lyons
2020-11-01 17:46:44 +0000 UTCI found this episode to be incredible well done. The treatment of police brutality was appropriate. I love that privileged characters got the tables turned on them. I think it's really unfortunate that people who haven't listened to the episode have chosen to make judgments based on CWs alone.
fatal_drum
2020-10-31 22:05:37 +0000 UTCI'm white, and to me this episode feels directed at white people in a very pointed way. As soon as the statement narrator said she expected the police to help, my instant reaction was "Well that's a white neurotypical person for certain." I am also mentally ill, and therefore have statistically more risk of police abuse than a neurotypical if all other factors are equal, as well as psychiatric abuse and imprisonment (good psychiatry probably saved my life, but there is abuse far too often). As a petite cis woman, I have been warned about SA since before I even understood what it was, but was also taught to trust the police and ignore their abuse. As a white person, I found the episode drove home things I'm still learning, and as a mentally ill person it was cathartic, particularly the Inspector getting treated as he had treated others.
Judica
2020-10-31 15:42:11 +0000 UTCI thought this episode was well done and very clearly made points about the dehumanizing nature of imprisonment and the criminal justice system.
Opaline illyria
2020-10-30 19:34:59 +0000 UTCOh dear. Martin on his own in his own domain. I am very worried about next week. Another creepy and excellent episode. As to the controversy, I have no room to speak so I will not try to justify or defend. What I will say is that, to me, the juxtapose of Tina as the unlawfully detained felt like cosmic karma.
Heather MacKenzie
2020-10-30 16:36:23 +0000 UTCI’m sorry but people who think that the show shouldn’t publish episodes that criticise the police should think for a moment about what they’re asking for. I’m a British POC & have come up against trouble & arrests from the police countless times at protests in the past few years, & imo this episode excellently discussed the violence of the British justice system without any gratuitous violence or torture porn, as well as the British public’s general attitude towards prisoners. The idea that the podcast should hold off on taking a political stance in-canon against the police is purely reactionary no matter what justification people are giving. This is the MOST important time to do so. And frankly, they couldn’t have properly done justice to a discussion about the police as an institution without having an entire episode focused on it. You can’t have a piece of media that both tackles the important political questions of our time & also entirely avoids them. I think it’s reasonable for rusty quill to have held off publishing for a week, but the idea that this episode or others like it should be avoided is functionally asking for apolitical media. Surely no one needs to explain why THAT is inherently racist.
Lee!
2020-10-30 10:26:49 +0000 UTCidk why everyone is so critical of this elpisode. i think its one of the best ones this season. its very niche however still very real world. i love how every episode seems more realistic, and more like something that could and would/has happened irl. i find it very interesting and im excited to see more. i adore the way that tma is able to connect Fear to real life happenings. i also love the banter of course! plus the aoundscaping is amazing as usual.
nureyev liker
2020-10-30 08:07:09 +0000 UTCI think it's worth noting that from an American perspective, the phrase "police brutality" conjures up far worse ideas than what we actually get in the episode, where the horror is rooted less in outright brutality and more in the ostensible civility of the process. From my (admittedly limited) understanding of policing in the UK, that idea of horror cloaked in civility is in keeping with a British perspective, which is what I'd expect from British writers. So I'm wary of the suggestion that in addressing corrupt justice systems at all, Jonny and Alex are necessarily swerving into an American lane, to the point where citing recent events in Philadelphia is more appropriate than citing recent events in, say, Belarus.
Carrie
2020-10-29 23:15:20 +0000 UTCoh! for sure! sorry about that! SA as in sexual assault.
martin kachow blackwood
2020-10-29 22:50:52 +0000 UTCCan you clarify what SA stands for in this circumstance? I'm not familiar with that acronym.
Shelby C
2020-10-29 22:37:30 +0000 UTCa good point i'm seeing a lot of people make is that the other emotionally sensitive issues in TMA are much more universal in their ability to be done justice by a white author, rather than issues that are tied to systematic racism. horror has an automatic sort of glee and adrenaline to it, and the reason why the other sensitive subjects work is because it is believable that the author has been touched by such things, or closely acquainted enough to write said topics with that sort of morbid glee that sort of... seizes it and lets it go? and even though police brutality and imprisonment *can* happen to anyone, white folks do not face the everyday danger and likelihood of police assault or wrongful imprisonment that POC have to face every day, and with the events of the past few years especially regarding cases that have come out, it's deeply understandable that this episode does not read like the others for a lot of people. i'd also like to mention that jonny has drawn a line at using SA as horror. similarly, SA can affect anyone, but largely affects women. the steering clear makes quite a bit of sense. a lot of people feel similarly about this. that the social privilege is clear in the writing of this episode, that it was an inappropriate and line-crossing use of that privilege, and that it really missed the mark of what it was trying to do. that it held the hand of listeners with the same privilege, while hurting the people it was defending.
martin kachow blackwood
2020-10-29 22:11:19 +0000 UTCAlso reminder that police brutality and systems of abuse affect many identities. This episode was criticizing privilege and how it allows people to ignore abuse that harms many marginalized groups including POC but also neurodivergent people, the poor, the disabled, immigrants, etc.
ThirdFromTheLeft
2020-10-29 21:47:14 +0000 UTCThis episode was just So-so.
the thing lurking in the dirt under the streets of alexandria
2020-10-29 21:38:14 +0000 UTCThis echos a lot of my thoughts and I am interested to hear people's perspectives on it. A lot of TMA stories heavily draw on heavy, difficult real life stuff and I guess I'm having a hard time seeing how the way police brutality/systemic abuse was handled in this episode is different than those other examples mentioned. I do recognize that as someone who is not a POC there may be something I'm missing here but frankly I'm just a bit confused.
Shelby C
2020-10-29 21:04:11 +0000 UTCI really enjoyed the episode, and think delaying its release for a week/ releasing the transcript so people are more aware of what it is about is a good idea. Regarding the points raised here- I'm trying to understand what the difference is between wrongful imprisonment and many of the other themes explored in the podcast including medical neglect, eating disorders, gaslighting, landlord neglect/ invoking of the Grenfell tower fire, dementia, mental illness etc. TMA has always trodden very close to real life trauma and fear and suffering, including that which affects certain groups more than others. I'd genuinely appreciate anyone taking the time to explain this, as I'd like to understand more.
gojo fujoshi
2020-10-29 19:06:34 +0000 UTCI mulled it over until I had some opinions from my non-patron friends, and I've decided to cancel my subscription as a direct result of this company's repeated missteps regarding race. I can no longer offer my money directly in good conscience. I might come back after TMA is done, but currently I (along with many others) feel betrayed and hurt by these failings. Please do better.
PensAreIllegal
2020-10-29 18:42:01 +0000 UTCas someone who deeply loves TMA and the people who love it, i'd like to echo a concern that i see a lot of people bringing up: "SA is a hard line of real horror that the podcast won't tread, so where does the usage of police brutality as horror stop? why is it being treated as any less real?" it's good that the public release of the episode has been delayed, but many including myself feel as though the reaction to this episode warrants more than that. it may be difficult to rewrite and re-record to adjust some of these themes, but what's going to be more difficult at this point than the logistics of a possible hiatus is regaining the trust of the POC who have been hurt by the treatment of this subject. the reception you see here is very different from the feelings expressed by your fans elsewhere, save for one person who was brave enough to speak out above. this is a circle of patrons who adore you and want to trust your decisions, and we're inclined to come to your defense even when missteps happen. i want to amplify those who are likely not comfortable coming here to say this: please, please consider putting production on pause for a bit if that's what it takes to make some adjustments. even if it's a big delay, it will be worth it to care for your community. many feel as though this episode has gone further than a white writer should go, and that's a deeply troubling thing to go ahead with. there may never be a good time for a white horror writer to release this episode. content warnings are not a factor in a narrative that is making so many Black listeners feel as though their trauma is being profited off of. the response to this early release is an opportunity to rework this aspect of the rest of the season and i really hope you take it, regardless of the amount of listeners that say they were okay with this episode. it's obviously meant to condemn police brutality, but it does so by telling a story it doesn't have a right to in a way that diminishes how real it really is. for survivors of police brutality and their loved ones, it comes off as an after-school special in an apocalyptic world rather than an authentic reflection written by someone who has the lived experience to tackle this deeply sensitive topic. it exudes the same voyeuristic glee as the rest of the show's horrors, which, in this case, is hurtful. please trust those speaking out right now when the argument is made that this is as inappropriate as it would be if there were a domain dedicated to SA. many difficult topics have been covered so beautifully through the entities in a way that has become so deeply personal for your listeners. i'm urging you to keep the comfort of this horrible world in tact for as many listeners as possible.
martin kachow blackwood
2020-10-29 18:02:08 +0000 UTCFor folks awaiting transcripts they are now in post and duplicated here with some additional context: While the episode is not directly about race or racial violence nor includes character death, it does explore general themes of wrongful imprisonment & abuses of power. Transcripts can be found here PDF: https://cutt.ly/DgYjMGZ DOC: https://cutt.ly/ngYkepC
Rusty Quill
2020-10-29 17:54:18 +0000 UTCThis is a fabulously written episode with regards to Martin's character specifically. aaaaaaaaaaaaaahh I am hyped for the next one!
Anna S
2020-10-29 17:36:20 +0000 UTCMy poor Martin, 😭
That Podcast Queer
2020-10-29 11:26:17 +0000 UTCMe, in a sing-song voice: "Martin gets to curse again!~" Also me, two seconds later, realizing: "...WAIT."
Sinclair Cross
2020-10-29 08:53:52 +0000 UTCWasn't the writing for this season already completed before it even started airing, though?
Jonah Lubnevsky
2020-10-29 07:04:35 +0000 UTCi’m a black person who already typically feels ousted in fandom spaces - i’ve begrudgingly given the benefit of the doubt to this season but seeing the list of content warnings in the literal wake of the murder of walter wallace jr? that’s horror not fodder for the “socially driven” kind it’s a day to day fear of mine and so many others - the perversity of this has reached new heights and the writing ethos seems to have been severely compromised - regardless of how tactfully or gracefully it is supposedly done it doesn’t change those facts - i hope rusty quill heeds the complaints of people alienated by this show as i will now be joining their leagues
Iman
2020-10-29 06:23:11 +0000 UTCI know, right?? I'm so frickin on edge about the election and the ensuing chaos I'm bracing for...
LainyJP
2020-10-29 06:17:09 +0000 UTCFinally listened, great episode, definitely understand why the crew would want to make sure the soundscape and everything was perfect! Now....I seriously don't know if I can listen next week....at least until I see some reaction! 😳
LainyJP
2020-10-29 06:15:40 +0000 UTCSo that cliffhanger just HAD to be timed for the week in which the American listeners are already waiting to know what is going to happen in our utterly terrifying election next Tuesday. Great! I needed more variety in my dread! (It was a great episode. Just...damn.)
Kate Sparrow
2020-10-29 05:41:52 +0000 UTCNOT ready for next week. not in the slightest.
Kian
2020-10-29 03:17:21 +0000 UTCWow! I'm gonna go cry now! Also Jonny really said ACAB in this ep and I love him for that <3
Snaufey
2020-10-29 02:42:10 +0000 UTChey jonny??? jonny??? i know ur in there wtf????
spades stone
2020-10-29 02:33:19 +0000 UTCgasp!
Paola Ivanna
2020-10-29 02:32:52 +0000 UTCAlex why did you say J'archivist like That
kishdoodles
2020-10-29 01:22:44 +0000 UTCThe way my heart just dropped into my stomach. 😰
Laura Bailey
2020-10-29 00:21:51 +0000 UTCJesus Christ, this was fantastic.
david schutte
2020-10-28 23:16:44 +0000 UTCthe magnus archives is a podcast
Zoey
2020-10-28 22:04:35 +0000 UTCOh man that's one hell of a cliffhanger.
Spicy Hot Take
2020-10-28 22:01:02 +0000 UTCI'M ALLOWED TO KNOW WHAT SPIDER-MAN IS OH MY WEB.
fromgloriousjupiter
2020-10-28 21:46:46 +0000 UTCWait. Wait...what? What the heck just happened?!? Jonny! Jonny, what was that? What and why and where... 🥺 I am very worried.
Gilligan Mungus
2020-10-28 21:32:29 +0000 UTCRosie the Secretary final endgame BBEG
Aydenburd
2020-10-28 21:26:47 +0000 UTCha ha! i'm in danger.
james evelyn
2020-10-28 21:25:52 +0000 UTCI can see why the sound scaping took so long! Good episode, real quick about that ending? Jonny can you turn on ur location I just wanna talk
Owleics
2020-10-28 21:09:29 +0000 UTCThat is an incredible episode. The writing, acting, directing, soundscaping, everything is top notch. But damn, that cliffhanger. I have sooooo many thoughts on what comes next.
Lulu Last
2020-10-28 20:49:19 +0000 UTCI really liked the discussion on choice here. That seems to be a running theme in Magnus, one that could have a ton of academic essays written about it.
Mark Sutton
2020-10-28 20:25:35 +0000 UTCOH NO. But also, incredible soundscaping on this one! You just keep getting better and better!
MuddyHippy
2020-10-28 20:23:44 +0000 UTCJON....
video game
2020-10-28 19:50:56 +0000 UTCGOOD GOD HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT ANOTHER WEEK NOW
Juls SK Vernet
2020-10-28 18:34:55 +0000 UTCHELLO I AM JULS AND I AM AN AVATAR OF ANXIETY
Juls SK Vernet
2020-10-28 18:34:35 +0000 UTCI think I yelled 4 different times for 4 different reasons
carlee
2020-10-28 18:27:06 +0000 UTCReally interesting that Martin made the choice he did. I think Jon would have done the opposite if it was up to him.
Meredith
2020-10-28 18:23:22 +0000 UTCbrutal martin is my favorite martin
james
2020-10-28 18:21:54 +0000 UTChere we GOOOOOOO
Murdo Homewood
2020-10-28 18:06:34 +0000 UTCIncredible soundscaping, gang! FEELING FUNKY FRESH ABOUT THE ENDING
Deneb
2020-10-28 17:58:41 +0000 UTCgosh the sound design in this one was incredible, amazing job, y'all
Lydia
2020-10-28 17:48:32 +0000 UTCThe ending hell yes hell yes hell yes
Isabelle
2020-10-28 17:35:28 +0000 UTCi dont like it here i would like to live in a world where the ending did not happen thanks so much
charles
2020-10-28 17:35:04 +0000 UTCTHE MAGNUS ARCHIVES SURE IS A PODCAST
The Leo!
2020-10-28 17:23:08 +0000 UTCOhhhohoho that was powerful. Strapping myself in for what's to come. Fantastic work!!!
thenonsensearchives
2020-10-28 17:13:24 +0000 UTCOohhh my gosh! What a gripping episode and what a cliffhanger. I remember the cop from Elias's arrest... He sounded like a smarmy bastard. Jon would have had to work really hard at that conversion speech, punching the Eye's main man Elias probably counted against him. Anyways, thanks for the great listen
Lurkin
2020-10-28 17:10:03 +0000 UTCBRUH THAT END LITERALLY MADE ME DO A SPIT TAKE
Mitzy Czemierys
2020-10-28 17:07:52 +0000 UTCOOOOOH BOY HERE WE GO
Akidachi
2020-10-28 17:06:30 +0000 UTCALEX SAID MY FULL NAME IN THE THANK YOU PORTION AND PRONOUNCED IT CORRECTLY. IT’S A GREAT DAY ❤️❤️ also that cliffhanger 😫
~Jess~
2020-10-28 17:06:18 +0000 UTCWELL SHIT
Jennyclart
2020-10-28 17:03:58 +0000 UTCSTRAP IN EVERYONE...
sAZAndorable
2020-10-28 17:01:30 +0000 UTCIT ENDED THERE OH MY GOD! WHAT!!!?? listen. LISTEN. I was getting all ready to write a really coherent comment about the incredible complexity of this episode. How it didn't shy away from asking hard questions without easy answers. How well done and dripping in visceral creeping dread and blisteringly well done symbolism and commentary the statement was. How good the sound and voice acting were. How thought provoking the character development and choices were. I was going to write a whole comment on that without flailing for once. BUT THEN THAT ENDING JUST FRIED ALL MY BRAINCELLS! OH MY GOD WHAT A CLIFFHANGER OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS SHOW IS TOO WELL DONE HOW DARE YOU!
ThirdFromTheLeft
2020-10-28 17:00:06 +0000 UTCif it were me i would have this be act II's finale, which only makes me worry more about the actual one... Oh Boy...
Censina
2020-10-28 16:58:02 +0000 UTCIM GOGIN FERAL OH MY GOD THE ENDING??? THE ENGINGN THE ENDING PELASE
Izzy
2020-10-28 16:52:18 +0000 UTCoh i'm Worried
Finn Patrick
2020-10-28 16:50:37 +0000 UTCthe last 20 seconds really left me like 👁️👄👁️
Raluca Patrinichi
2020-10-28 16:49:39 +0000 UTCFantastic episode as always but a CLIFFHANGER?!!!!!! This is going to be the longest week ever
Lavanya Annette
2020-10-28 16:49:22 +0000 UTCOh wow, 9 pm came early today
Amalie Kirstine
2020-10-28 16:48:18 +0000 UTCOkay so every single cameo character gets closure except Rosie, huh? That’s how we’re gonna play this game?
Devin Goodman
2020-10-28 16:48:17 +0000 UTCMe, audibly to myself: Oh shit. Martin, one second later: Oh shiiiitt.
CrissyDana
2020-10-28 16:47:35 +0000 UTCWhew buddy
Jax
2020-10-28 16:46:52 +0000 UTC
