We're Alive

You know, I've been of the opinion recently that zombies are becoming kind of old hat and could do with going away for a while.  But then, here comes something new to reinvigorate the genre again.


We're Alive doesn't offer anything new.  What it does offer is a determination to do what they're doing well. 

The premise is relatively simple.  A group of people in Los Angeles find themselves caught up in a zombie apocalypse and have to find their way to safety.  What follows is a determined attempt to show that this format can still be tense and entertaining even after the oversaturation we've been through.

There are a number of shoutouts scattered throughout, most prominently a veiled discussion of the walking dead's prison arc by pointing out that an apartment block provides many similar advantages without the downside of having to stay in a prison cell all the time.

The sound design and voice acting is of a sterling quality, done with a sense of professionalism that could easily equal any radio production. 

The characters are well written, covering a wide scope of people.  Protagonist Michael is one of the most interesting, delightfully more ambiguous than you would usually find a narrator character.  He has secrets, but the audience is left wondering whether they are dark or simply ones he doesn't want to share.

Other characters run the gamut from believable to cliche, but surprisingly all manage to be interesting and entertaining. 

Being an ongoing project, there's only so much I can say about it and I truly do hope they manage to find their way to a satisfying ending instead of facing the fate of most internet projects of petering out.  But after four seasons, that seems unlikely.

As a listening experience you'll find it hard to resist and along with Welcome To Night Vale, it really does give hope for podcasting as audio drama.  Check it out here.

Posted in: podcast, podcast review, We're Alive, zombie, Zombie Podcast