Episode 7: The Shape Of Things That Were --OR-- Freight Train

Download the script for Episode 7 here

This is the first time we get to see exactly who Bernie is on the inside. Maybe emotionally immature, but not altogether a horrible person. Bernie’s species, the Akolytes, they age very slowly, so it might just be that he’s a little more youthful than he seems. Or maybe that’s just who he is. Hard to say.

Bernie is largely a set it and forget it kind of mechanism. Point him towards object, watch object disappear. It’s very hard to stop a train.

Maybe you noticed the double titles? I thought it was very fun to find a folk song that went along with every episode at least vaguely. I’ll probably not do this for Season 2 since it’s basically a joke for myself, but hey, there she is.

Production for this episode was lengthy. I recorded Kyla for the part of the soldier Bernie lets live, but somewhere between 2017 and this year I lost those files. I truly do not know where they went. I recorded one other actress for them, but I ended up using Kate Matthews for it during the Solomon sessions in late 2019.

I’ve found I’ll often want to change the tone of a scene late in production and the original actors are unavailable or otherwise not able to record again, and so I’ll just have to recast the part completely. That’s what you get when you back up quick deadlines against a 2 year launch window (really shouldn’t have let that happen, my bad).

I really enjoyed doing some of the soundwork for this episode. Jake’s delivery during the siren scene where Bernie is separated from Bernadette is I think my favorite bit of the whole season so far (at least through Episode 9, where I’m editing currently.). It’s just really nice. I like how he almost inserts himself into Bernie’s tonal voice rather than that of an indifferent narrator. It brings the scene around for me. Love it.

I hope you’ve been enjoying these solo episodes. Clyde’s has a really great moment as well, in my opinion. On we go.

Credits:

Ahab - Ryan Sheehe

Bernie - Morgan Stewart

Clyde - Derek Huss

Kyrgan - Katie Pappas

Announcer - Jake Roberts

Bernadette - Rebecca Booth

Soldiers - Chris Morrow/Kate Matthews

Music:

All music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

SFX: Various libraries

Episode 6: It's Whats Inside That Counts --OR-- Pretty Boy Floyd

The script for episode 6 is available here

Finally— the missions! We get to see a little of what being Ahab is like, and get our first experience of who DOM is. Ahab’s former military partner and somewhat dark friend. DOM is a machine that built itself—I’m sure we’ll learn more about that later.

Ahab and his twin sister grew up with warrior monks in a place called Perhara. We haven’t met her yet— her fate as of now remains unknown. Ahab doesn’t have a lot to say about her right now.

Typically, Ahab tries to use his intelligence as his greatest weapon. It may not seem like it since Bernie and Clyde often get the better of him when the banter breaks out, but he’s beyond a shadow of a doubt the smartest man in the room most of the time. His greatest flaw, however, is that he always believes this. It doesn’t always work to his advantage.

Ryan here delivers what I think is one of his finest performances yet. His characterization of Ahab as a rather easy going but prickly smart-ass never ceases to feel just right.

Solomon appears here as well, Kate Matthews’ first big speaking part. She’ll appear periodically throughout the season, but will be an important cast member going forward.

I hope you like Episode 6. The next two should give you glimpses into the inner lives of Bernie and Clyde, as well as their own separate relationships with the Kyrgan. Godspeed.

Credits:

Ahab - Ryan Sheehe

Bernie - Morgan Stewart

Clyde - Derek Huss

Kyrgan - Katie Pappas

Narrator - Jake Roberts

Dom - Christian Moore

Solomon - Kate Matthews

Various Soldiers/Gripper - Morgan Stewart

Music:

All music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

SFX: Various libraries

Episode 5: Our Gnarliest Friend --OR-- Dirty Old Town

Download the script for Episode 5 here

Today we head to Golden Bear port for the first time. This hollowed out asteroid floating in the depths of unregulated outlaw country is a haven for pirates and thieves and anyone trying to sell something that they have no business having.

Though it’s history extends far beyond the lifetime of one Mr. Cobb Gnarly, he has brought something akin to order to the port. Or a vague facsimile of it at minimum.

Of course, there’s no sleaze Cobb hasn’t appropriated, no minute speck of degeneracy he doesn’t love. Not many see him, fewer know him, but all are aware of how powerful he is.

He and Ahab are long-time business partners extending from Ahab’s days in the 777’s. Ahab is perhaps Cobb’s longest-standing smuggler. At least one of the few from that era that haven’t disappeared or otherwise been found floating out in orbit somewhere.

That’s not to say that Cobb has any amount of respect or gratitude towards Ahab— in spite of their working relationship, Cobb has a special hatred for the Misery Loves Company, the kind of hate you nurture and grow into a beautiful garden of loathing.

The Company hates their meetings because invariably they end up on some kind of suicide mission, or something that ends up costing them more than time or money.

Bloodstorm appears in this episode as well, once more asserting his special kind of friendship with the Company. He may be a tough son of a bitch on the outside but deep down he’s also a tough son of a bitch.

I’m sure we’ll see more of him.

The Misery Loves co. now heads off to get tied up in Mercenary Bullshit once more. I’m certain it will have long-lasting implications.

This episode is one of my favorites, sound wise. The spaces in Golden Bear are fun— it’s a lively place with a dark interior and untold crevices full of crime and degens. Malinda is an ancient beast, but she’s taken no shit her whole life. I love her deeply.

Malinda was one of the toughest voices to cast throughout production, and the source of endless delays in the shows debut. I recorded 6 different people for the role, including two that had complete sessions down to the last comma and exclamation point for all her episodes only to find myself dissatisfied with where she was. I finally found the right person for the job in Tyler B. Quick, giving her the elegance a true drag star deserves. I love her dearly.

She and Bernie have a long-standing relationship built on impotent flirtation, but if anyone in the galaxy may be a good fit for him, it’s her.

Cobb Gnarly is a re-appropriation of a character that existed in the short movies. He was initially a bounty-hunter type guy, more of a hitman for hire also played by Daniel Dockery. I decided he was better suited for a more important, longer lasting role. Fork is probably closest to who Cobb initially was in the shorts (He didn’t really have a name back then).

Music:

All music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

SFX: Various libraries