After listening to the first season, there were quite a few questions: What happened to our heroes? Did they get enough resources? Who else survived?
Well, with this new season, and the three-episode volume that came with it, those questions are finally answered.
As soon as the first episode begins we are introduced to what seems to be a meeting between delegates and other influential individuals, all discussing the aftermath of what happened at the end of Season 1. It turns out that while a substantial amount of food was brought back to Tantalus, it isn't enough to put an end to the famine. Rather there's only enough to hold everyone over for a few years at best. As such the Avalon expedition was deemed an "unmitigated disaster", and as a result the committee that approved of said expedition was dissolved, Elizabeth Ancelet was relieved of her duties as Director, and to really make things worse, none of the survivors were compensated for their efforts, including the crew of the Guinevere.
During all this there's a back-and-forth between many of the delegates whether or not they should strike back against the Advari for not just the destruction of the Avalon, but for the countless lives that were lost with Winston Redfield and Jasper Ravi chief among the casualties. A latter statement from none other than Cassandra's father Darius Farren himself.
While all this is going on we meet up with Cass and her crew as they try to make ends meet. While they did survive, the Guinevere did take a beating in escaping the nebula, but to repair it costs serious money - something they are almost out of. And for the entire first episode this is what they are struggling with. When they receive a message from Cassandra's father offering to help them with their situation Elizabeth wonders why they don't take the chance, but Meds makes it clear in no uncertain terms that that is not an option.
Going into the second episode our intrepid crew still is struggling financially until Elizabeth offers to take them to her home world of Firewatch, believing that her adopted father can help. Unfortunately, tragic circumstances force the crew to ultimately do the one thing that Cass and her crew mates thought they would never have to do - seek help from the former's father, which takes us into the third episode.
With Episode 3 we have our crew heading to where Darius Farren is and are met with quite the fanfare. But shortly after that Cassandra meets her father and the latter makes his offer to repair the Guinevere back to peak capacity, and with a little catch: there is someone that the crew needs to pick up from a district that isn't exactly ideal. After a short while - and a deadly game of quickdraw between Cassandra and a local - the mission is accomplished.
So what do I think of these three episodes? In a nutshell, they are an amazing start to a new season! Not only do we pick up right where we left off but we get to see how the events of season 1 have impacted not only our main heroes, but also the ones in the Tantalus cluster, whom we've only heard about until now. And as one can imagine, some want retribution for what happened, while others want to try a more peaceful solution, with some clearly working agendas of their own.
Going back to our intrepid crew you feel for their situation. Left out to dry by their own government to many extents, and having a hard time trying to get work in order to get back on their feet financially is anything but fun. And as you go through the three chapters you start to feel the desperation building more and more until finally Cassandra relents and guides her crew to meet her father.
And it isn't just Cass going through the motions but you find that Elizabeth is also going her own struggle. While she is trying to keep her optimism up, she does feel like the odd one out - a feeling that only gets amplified when she discovers the tragic circumstances regarding her adopted father. But then when the crew offers her the position of quartermaster for their ship Elizabeth is then able to get some sense of purpose again. With Meds and Croft they are able to go through the motions and deal with the situation much more effectively, and that's a testament to both the writing and the voice-acting talent.
Speaking of which - the cast once again knock it out of the park, with Larissa Thompson and especially Emily Serdahl taking it to another level with their performances, especially during the moments when both characters are at their respective low points. When you hear their anguish, you feel it.
Sam Redfern's music for the series once again takes it to another level, because now that our heroes are back on their home turf the audience can hear new themes for this star cluster that hasn't been highlighted until now.
So where does the crew of the Guinevere go from here? And just as important, what is Cassandra's father really planning? After all, the things he said in the beginning of the first episode does hint of him wanting to take arms against the Advari, especially given that several of the latter Empire's lightships managed to follow the survivors back to Tantalus and have formed a blockade around the actual Drift Gate that leads back to the nebula where the Advari live. Given that some in Tantalus' Parliament also share in the same mentality as Darius Farren I would not be surprised if some consider making war despite the current famine. Also, what's become of Vadric and Empress Valendra?
Nobody knows those questions yet, but one thing's for sure, with the Drift Gate still intact, there is a way for the Advari to send for reinforcements if they wanted to, which could indeed lead to an all-out war. Can our crew help prevent a conflict of that magnitude if it starts to get to that point? Will they see Vadric again?
Guess we'll find out as more episodes for this season drop.
So if you liked Season 1 of this unique Audio Drama/Space Opera, you're going to love these first episodes of Season 2!
Fair Winds!
2 Comments