A Better Paradise - Podcast Rankings and reviews

I’m at Episode 12 so far, and while I do like this podcast series, I REALLY want to love it. The voice actors, characters, sound design, themes, ideas, and even humor is all great…but I feel like Lazlow picked the wrong storytelling format. At first, I really didn’t mind the Hamlet-like monologues, but overtime it got so tiring to hear the main character say over and over, “Oh, woe is me! I flew too close to the Sun like Icarus because I joined a startup company that turned into a cult!” The only character I feel it 100% works with is NigelDave, because not only does the monologuing fit his malevolent, bravado-like personality, but it kinda adds to the uncanny valley and reinforces his lack of humanity. With the other human characters, while it does let us know what’s going on in their heads, it doesn’t keep us engaged. They only tell us what’s happening between monologues/episodes.

Honestly, I feel like the script for Vol. 1 should have gotten a significant rewrite. If they wanted to keep the monologuing, why not do what The Magnus Archives or The Bright Sessions did and have Kurt or the other present-day characters keep audio diaries?

That’s not to say I don’t care for these characters and don’t wanna know what happens next. Especially after listening to Episode 12. I feel like “A Better Paradise” could be a spectacular podcast, but the passive characters (and a plot that relies on flashbacks) hurts our immersion into the story. Let’s hope Lazlow reads the comments section, because even with the podcast’s faults and clunky storytelling format, I’m still looking forward to new episodes.

Honestly- I love the monologues, read other reviews about how whiny or whatever they are but it gives all the background and really sets the scene. I’ve listened to this while working, so I have to pause it and get back to it- but I’m fully immersed, I don’t have to rewind to get back in like I’ve experienced with others. Thanks for another great series!!

I absolutely loved this. Top-notch acting (esp. NigelDave — Paterson Joseph is immensely talented and the sound effects they applied gave me chills), gorgeous dialogue, amazing music, totally immersive soundscape, the plot had me on the edge of my seat…praying there's a season 2. Bravo!

The depth of narrative is really compelling - interesting progression on the form. I love experimental storytelling that keeps me guessing and this delivers. It’s easy to imagine these characters in the immersive settings going through all the emotions. The writing is super clever. The last episode left me wanting more needless to say.

I heard the creator promoting this show on another podcast and his description made it sound brilliant. In theory, it should be thrilling. In practice, it’s an incredibly repetitive audio drama, where the repetition is the insufferable characters giving monologues that express their same sentiments over and over and over and over. There is virtually no progress in the story, there is very little painting a picture. The only redeeming quality is the AI’s rants about humanity. They’re quite well done and insightful, yet tacked on. The team behind this comes from gaming and it shows. Meandering, chaotic, and with very little actual story.

The monologuing style is particularly disadvantaged because the plot does not advance. You continually hear about the characters paranoia and they describe the past in vague terms, but it is barely shown. The narrators just pound you over the head with the desired takeaway, rather than leading you to it. Given the slow pace and repetition, I think the non-monologue portions could be extracted from episodes 1-11 to create a decent single episode.

I also found the philosophical exploration of AI rote, derivative, and shoddy. But, I also found Ex Machina disappointing for similar reasons.