Alice Isn't Dead

From Podpedia

Alice Isn't Dead
File:Alice Isnt Dead.png
Presentation
StarringJasika Nicole
FormatMystery, Supernatural horror, Drama
LanguageEnglish
Production
Opening theme"Le Petit Bleu de la Côte Ouest" by Disparition[1]
No. of episodes23[2]
Publication
Original releaseMarch 8, 2016 – present
WebsiteOfficial website

Alice Isn't Dead is a podcast presented as a series of audio diaries by a truck driver in her search across America for the wife she had long assumed was dead (the eponymous Alice). In the course of her search, she encounters not-quite-human serial murderers, towns literally lost in time, and a conspiracy that goes way beyond her missing wife.[3] The series was created in 2016 by Joseph Fink, and it has been published by Night Vale Presents since March 8, 2016.[4] The main character and narrator, whose name is never mentioned until the final episode of the first season, is voiced by Jasika Nicole. During its run, the podcast typically airs on every other Tuesday. The first season ended on July 12, 2016, with a second season premiering on April 4, 2017 which concluded on August 8th, 2017. Fink has stated that the third season would be the final season.[5][6]

On August 16, 2017, it was announced that a novel based on the series, written by Fink, will be released in autumn 2018 by Harper Perennial. Additionally, a television adaption, executive produced by Fink, was in development for USA Network by Universal Cable Productions,[7] though it was ultimately not picked up.

Production[edit | edit source]

In an interview with the Huffington Post, Joseph Fink explained that the inspiration for the podcast came from his experiences traveling around in vans on long trips, particularly in the United States, for the Welcome to Night Vale live shows.[3] The series puts particular focus on the narrator driving through towns without stopping and spending time at rest stops along the highway. All ten episodes of the first season were written by Fink, with music by Disparition.

Jasika Nicole also appears on Welcome to Night Vale in the role of Dana Cardinal.[8][9] She was pitched the series during a conversation with Fink before one of the Night Vale live shows and signed on immediately, receiving scripts a few months later.[3] The first season was partially funded through sponsored advertising by Audible Inc., Squarespace, Casper Sleep, and Blue Apron[10] - a practice that would continue with other series under the Night Vale Presents banner such as Within the Wires and The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air).

Roberta Colindrez, who appeared in the original cast of Fun Home and was a member of the Neo-Futurists alongside much of the Night Vale Presents crew, makes an uncredited voice cameo in the finale of Season 1.[11] She makes her first credited appearance as this character in the bonus episode "Haugen, Montana," narrating in place of Jasika Nicole, before making an appearance in the premiere of Part 2.

List of episodes[edit | edit source]

Series overview[edit | edit source]

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
Part 110March 8, 2016 (2016-03-08)July 12, 2016 (2016-07-12)
Part 210April 4, 2017 (2017-04-04)August 8, 2017 (2017-08-08)
Part 310April 24, 2018 (2018-April-24)August 28, 2018 (2018-August-28)
Bonus103March 14, 2017 (2017-March-14)March 28, 2017 (2017-March-28)
3March 26, 2018 (2018-March-26)April 10, 2018 (2018-April-10)
4June 26, 2018 (2018-June-26)October 29, 2018 (2018-October-29)

Part 1 (2016)[edit | edit source]

Episode Title Written by Date Running Time
1"Omelet[10]"Joseph FinkMarch 8, 201620:47
2"Alice[10]"Joseph FinkMarch 22, 201622:25
3"Nothing to See[10]"Joseph FinkApril 5, 201621:13
4"The Factory by the Sea[10]"Joseph FinkApril 19, 201621:23
5"Signs & Wonders[10]"Joseph FinkMay 3, 201627:16
6"Sylvia[10]"Joseph FinkMay 17, 201624:29
7"Let's Break into a Police Station[10]"Joseph FinkMay 31, 201624:13
8"The Other Town[10]"Joseph FinkJune 13, 201625:46
9"Go Home Again[10]"Joseph FinkJune 28, 201622:17
10"Thistle[10]"Joseph FinkJuly 12, 201637:56

Part 2 (2017)[edit | edit source]

Episode Title Written by Date Running Time
11"The Last Free Place[10]"Joseph FinkApril 4, 201725:20
12"Mouth of the Water[10]"Joseph FinkApril 18, 201728:34
13"Abandoned Places[10]"Joseph FinkMay 2, 201723:56
14"Chain[10]"Joseph FinkMay 16, 201724:34
15"Taconic[10]"Joseph FinkMay 29, 201725:23
16"Badwater[10]"Joseph FinkJune 13, 201724:10
17"The Monk of Crystal Springs[10]"Joseph FinkJune 27, 201726:31
18"Absent Family[10]"Joseph FinkJuly 11, 201723:53
19"Prey[10]"Joseph FinkJuly 25, 201728:08
20"Why Am I Alive?[10]"Joseph FinkAugust 8, 201727:33

Part 3 (2018)[edit | edit source]

Episode Title Written by Date Running Time
21"Cause and Effect[10]"Joseph FinkApril 24, 201820:19
22"Surroundings[10]"Joseph FinkMay 8, 201820:33
23"Means of Escape[10]"Joseph FinkMay 22, 201824:09
24"Three Nights at the Old Motel[10]"Joseph FinkJune 5, 201825:55
25"What Happened to Hank Thompson[10]"Joseph FinkJune 19, 201823:05
26"This Isn't It[10]"Joseph FinkJuly 3, 201818:59
27"Speakers[10]"Joseph FinkJuly 17, 201822:39
28"To Forgive[10]"Joseph FinkJuly 31, 201820:50
29"Praxis[10]"Joseph FinkAugust 14, 201824:54
30"An Ending[10]"Joseph FinkAugust 28, 201827:17

Bonus episodes[edit | edit source]

During the lead up to the releases of Part 2 and 3, short bonus episodes were released to advertise the podcast's return.

Part 2 (2017)[edit | edit source]

Episode Title Written by Date Running Time
1"(3) North Rim, Arizona[10]"Joseph FinkMarch 14, 20173:57
2"(2) Fremont, Washington[10]"Joseph FinkMarch 21, 20174:00
3"(1) Haugen, Montana[10]"Joseph FinkMarch 28, 20173:16

Part 3 (2018)[edit | edit source]

Episode Title Written by Date Running Time
1"(1) Perth, Western Australia[10]"Joseph FinkMarch 26, 20184:31
2"(2) Mérida, Yucatán[10]"Joseph FinkApril 3, 20183:56
3"(3) Los Angeles, California[10]"Joseph FinkApril 10, 201836:24

Reception[edit | edit source]

Cassandra Khaw of Ars Technica positively reviewed the first three episodes, stating that the series "very quickly comes into its own, dropping any pretence of gallows humour for the kind of creeping, consuming terror that pervades the best horror movies."[12]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Alice Isn't Dead — Disparition". Disparition. Retrieved 2017-06-15. 
  2. "Alice Isn't Dead". Podbay. Retrieved 2017-06-15. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Capewell, Jillian (2016-03-09). "Your New Podcast Addiction Is A Fictional Thriller Starring A Truck Driver". Huffington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 2017-06-15. 
  4. "Alice Isn't Dead - Teaser". libsyn.com. 2016-02-29. Retrieved 2017-06-15. 
  5. "Alice Isn't Dead". Night Vale Presents. Retrieved 2017-06-15. 
  6. "Part 1, Chapter 10: Thistle". 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2017-06-15. 
  7. "'Alice Isn't Dead' podcast being adapted for print and TV". Washington Post. 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2017-08-16. 
  8. Baronemarch, Joshua (2016-03-07). "'Alice Isn't Dead,' a Dark New Fictional Podcast in a Booming Market". New York Times. Retrieved 2017-06-15. 
  9. Dobbs, Sarah (2013-07-25). "Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor on Welcome To Night Vale". Den of Geek. Retrieved 2017-06-15. 
  10. 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20 10.21 10.22 10.23 10.24 10.25 10.26 10.27 10.28 10.29 10.30 10.31 10.32 10.33 10.34 10.35 10.36 "Alice Isn't Dead". libsyn.com. Retrieved 2017-06-15. 
  11. @AlicePodcast (2017-03-31). "And a new voice! That we know now is Roberta Colindrez. And who is not the character people assumed she was. #AliceIsntDead" (Tweet). Retrieved 2017-06-15 – via Twitter. 
  12. Khaw, Cassandra (2016-04-21). "Alice Isn't Dead review: Gorgeously eerie work from the creators of Night Vale". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2017-06-16.