This Podcast Audio Drama is episodic and doesn’t have a clear “ending” as of this writing, there are 54 episodes of this particular show.
Podcast Novel or Audio Drama: Audio Drama
Title: The Red Panda Adventures (as presented by The Decoder Ring Theater Podcast.)
Written by: Decoder Ring Theater is made up of a company of folks, but I believe that the episodes are written by the leader of sorts Gregg Taylor. This is actually the second “run” of episodes, as the first few recorded episodes were recorded long, long ago, and were deemed too “silly”.
I found it at: Their feed on iTunes. As I mentioned in my review of Black Jack Justice my husband found the feed and brought it to my attention for the continuing adventures of that particular show. The Red Panda Adventures was included in the feed as well as a “Summer Showcase” with extra shows, another mini-series, and much more. After some debating, I finally decided to give this show a listen.
Reading/Voice Acting Quality: 5/5 – This company is truly wonderful. All of the actors are superb and I really love listening in this particular show for voices that I recognize from Black Jack Justice. I’m a little weird like that. *laugh*
Overall Production Quality: 5/5 – I’m not sure where this production group gets their sound effects, but other producers of audio drama should really find out and take note. The music appears to be written and performed on an organ specifically for each episode. It really has an old-time super-hero radio drama feel to it that I’m finding enjoyable.
Comments: This show is not at all what I expected. It is part vigilante justice, part super-heroics, part just-before-WWII fiction, part love story, part cheese, and all entertainment. Add in a dash of magical mysteries and mad science and you have The Red Panda Adventures. The writing is amazing and the characters and situations really come to life in your ears. The interplay between the two main characters, The Red Panda (voiced by none other than Gregg Taylor) and his new partner The Flying Squirrel (voiced by Clarissa Der Nederlanden Taylor) is a lot of playful banter and often some hints of romantic innuendo. You find out rather quickly that a certain Flying Squirrel is in love with a certain Red Panda.
When the dynamic duo are not out hunting down crime-committers and evil super villains, they disguise themselves as their alter-egos. The Red Panda being one of 1930’s Toronto’s wealthiest young bachelors (you don’t find out his name until episode 48 and I don’t want to give it away. ^_~) and The Flying Squirrel is his young lady driver Kit Baxter. It is revealed from the get-go that the reason that Kit becomes the Flying Squirrel is because she finds out about The Red Panda and demands to be included in his crime-fighting adventures. It’s amusing that it seems that rather than be scared of his identity as the Red Panda and the danger that comes with it, she is actually attracted to it and it makes her fall for him harder. She tries to make her feelings known subtly as she can, but she is often rebuked with “Kit Baxter, behave yourself.” And she usually answers with a resigned “Yes, boss.” (Though not always. *laugh*)
Overall I found this series to be very enjoyable, exciting and amusing. There are a few awesome twists that hit the duo starting with episode 36, so I really recommend listening to them all and in order. But as always, I don’t want to give them away. Download the episodes and listen for yourself!
Because the Decoder Ring Theater podcast feed includes Black Jack Justice, The Red Panda Adventures and other stuff, they alternate the series and release them in groups. A group of Black Jack Justice, then a group of Red Panda, and back again. They’ve just announced that their release schedule is now the 1st and 15th of every month.
Overall Score: 5/5 –I wasn’t sure at first that this kind of show would be my cup of tea. However, after the first four episodes, I was hooked! It’s worth a listen and if you enjoy it please spread the word. Go! Download it! Listen! Now! :D The episodes can also be found on their website linked below to listen to it on your computer if you have an Mp3 player that’s not in iPod/iPhone or don’t have one at all.
Author’s Website: http://www.decoderringtheatre.com/index.htm
Story Website: http://www.decoderringtheatre.com/redpanda/
Search “Decoder Ring Theater” on iTunes.
This was Part 2 of a double show review. If you missed it, please click here for the first part where I review Decoder Ring Theater’s other show, Black Jack Justice.
Reviewer’s Note: If you enjoy either of these programs, please consider voting for Decoder Ring Theater in the Roundtable Awards they have been nominated for by the Chronic Rift Podcast. More information on that HERE.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Double Review: Part 1 of 2 – Decoder Ring Theater’s Black Jack Justice
This Podcast Audio Drama is episodic and doesn’t have a clear “ending” as of this writing, there are 36 episodes of this particular show.
Podcast Novel or Audio Drama: Audio Drama
Title: Black Jack Justice (as presented by The Decoder Ring Theater Podcast.)
Written by: Decoder Ring Theater is made up of a company of folks, but I believe that the episodes are written by the leader of sorts Gregg Taylor. The concept of Black Jack Justice was originally created as a stage play, but the author of that is unknown. (I couldn’t find it)
I found it at: I initially found the Podiobooks.com feeds for season 1 and season 2 (episodes 1- 18). After listening to them all and enjoying them quite a bit, I was amazed when my husband discovered that Decoder Ring Theater had their own feed in iTunes which not only continued the adventures of Black Jack, but also featured The Red Panda Adventures (coming in Part 2 of my review) as well as a “Summer Showcase” with extra shows, another mini-series, and much more.
Reading/Voice Acting Quality: 5/5 - The voice acting in this series is top notch. The characters are believable, brought to life by the amazing cast. Christopher Mott plays the title character while Andrea Lyons plays Trixie Dixon, Girl Detective. Most of the rest of the Decoder Ring Theater cast play various secondary characters and you can really tell that they adapt well to the various roles.
Overall Production Quality: 5/5 – This podcast audio drama is excellent. Between the wonderful voice acting and the brilliantly appropriate music and other sound effects, you really can bring to life in your mind the situations that Jack, Trixie and the rest of their gang of mystery misfits find themselves in.
Comments: Styled in the classic sort of film-noir, hard-boiled detective story, Black Jack Justice brings the listener back “to a time when men were men, women were dames and everyone wore hats.” (Quoted from my initial listening of the show off the Podiobooks feed.). I believe the series is set sometime after WWI. It features two licensed private detectives, the decidedly hard-boiled title character Black Jack Justice and his partner the sharp-tongued, quick-witted Trixie Dixon, Girl Detective. The banter between the two main characters is often fast-paced and witty as all hell. You cannot help but laugh as they go at it, again and again. While they have a partnership, often they purposely act as if they can’t stand the other. Though, it doesn’t take a genius to read between the banter and realize they care more for each other than they let on.
This is primarily shown in my current favorite episode, #9 – No Justice. In this episode, Jack and his “pal” Freddy “The Finger” Hawthorne have managed to get themselves into trouble and they both go missing. It’s up to Trixie and her new “partner” Lt. Vick Sabien (not sure on the spelling of that. Feel free to correct me in comments Gregg! *lol*) to find the pair before it’s too late. The reason that this episode is my favorite is because of the following exchange that takes place after Trixie punches the daylights out of someone with a “$4 special”
After that exchange, I had to pause my iPhone because I was laughing too hard. Moments like that are what make this series so entertaining.
The series is episodic, which means that theoretically, you could listen to episode 14 or whatever first and not feel like you missed much of anything. While that is certainly true, I do recommend getting all the episodes and listening to them in order as there are elements from early shows that carry over into later shows. (I won’t mention them, as I am trying to prevent too many spoilers.)
Because the Decoder Ring Theater podcast feed includes Black Jack Justice, The Red Panda Adventures and other stuff, they alternate the series and release them in groups. A group of Black Jack Justice, then a group of Red Panda, and back again. They’ve just announced that their release schedule is now the 1st and 15th of every month.
Overall Score: 5/5 – Definitely worth a listen, even if you aren’t sure that hard-boiled detectives are your thing. Go! Download it! Listen! Now! :D The episodes can also be found on their website linked below to listen to it on your computer if you have an Mp3 player that’s not in iPod/iPhone or don’t have one at all.
Author’s Website: http://www.decoderringtheatre.com/index.htm
Story Website: http://www.decoderringtheatre.com/blackjackjustice/
Search “Decoder Ring Theater” on iTunes.
Please Stay Tuned for Part 2 – A review of Decoder Ring Theater’s other big series, The Red Panda Adventures.
Podcast Novel or Audio Drama: Audio Drama
Title: Black Jack Justice (as presented by The Decoder Ring Theater Podcast.)
Written by: Decoder Ring Theater is made up of a company of folks, but I believe that the episodes are written by the leader of sorts Gregg Taylor. The concept of Black Jack Justice was originally created as a stage play, but the author of that is unknown. (I couldn’t find it)
I found it at: I initially found the Podiobooks.com feeds for season 1 and season 2 (episodes 1- 18). After listening to them all and enjoying them quite a bit, I was amazed when my husband discovered that Decoder Ring Theater had their own feed in iTunes which not only continued the adventures of Black Jack, but also featured The Red Panda Adventures (coming in Part 2 of my review) as well as a “Summer Showcase” with extra shows, another mini-series, and much more.
Reading/Voice Acting Quality: 5/5 - The voice acting in this series is top notch. The characters are believable, brought to life by the amazing cast. Christopher Mott plays the title character while Andrea Lyons plays Trixie Dixon, Girl Detective. Most of the rest of the Decoder Ring Theater cast play various secondary characters and you can really tell that they adapt well to the various roles.
Overall Production Quality: 5/5 – This podcast audio drama is excellent. Between the wonderful voice acting and the brilliantly appropriate music and other sound effects, you really can bring to life in your mind the situations that Jack, Trixie and the rest of their gang of mystery misfits find themselves in.
Comments: Styled in the classic sort of film-noir, hard-boiled detective story, Black Jack Justice brings the listener back “to a time when men were men, women were dames and everyone wore hats.” (Quoted from my initial listening of the show off the Podiobooks feed.). I believe the series is set sometime after WWI. It features two licensed private detectives, the decidedly hard-boiled title character Black Jack Justice and his partner the sharp-tongued, quick-witted Trixie Dixon, Girl Detective. The banter between the two main characters is often fast-paced and witty as all hell. You cannot help but laugh as they go at it, again and again. While they have a partnership, often they purposely act as if they can’t stand the other. Though, it doesn’t take a genius to read between the banter and realize they care more for each other than they let on.
This is primarily shown in my current favorite episode, #9 – No Justice. In this episode, Jack and his “pal” Freddy “The Finger” Hawthorne have managed to get themselves into trouble and they both go missing. It’s up to Trixie and her new “partner” Lt. Vick Sabien (not sure on the spelling of that. Feel free to correct me in comments Gregg! *lol*) to find the pair before it’s too late. The reason that this episode is my favorite is because of the following exchange that takes place after Trixie punches the daylights out of someone with a “$4 special”
Lt. Sabien: “Speaking of sharks, where’d you learn to punch like that?”
Trixie: “At school.”
Lt. Sabien: “Public or Private?”
Trixie: “Reform. So I guess you could say a little of both.”
Lt. Sabien: “Lady Law-and-Order?! A juvie?!” *Chuckles*
Trixie: *sighs* “Save it.”
Lt. Sabien: “What’d ya do?”
Trixie: “I beat a police lieutenant to death for forgetting what he was supposed to be doing when my partner’s life was at stake! Oh sorry, that’s what I’m about to do.
Lt. Sabien: *dryly* Roger that, resuming search.
After that exchange, I had to pause my iPhone because I was laughing too hard. Moments like that are what make this series so entertaining.
The series is episodic, which means that theoretically, you could listen to episode 14 or whatever first and not feel like you missed much of anything. While that is certainly true, I do recommend getting all the episodes and listening to them in order as there are elements from early shows that carry over into later shows. (I won’t mention them, as I am trying to prevent too many spoilers.)
Because the Decoder Ring Theater podcast feed includes Black Jack Justice, The Red Panda Adventures and other stuff, they alternate the series and release them in groups. A group of Black Jack Justice, then a group of Red Panda, and back again. They’ve just announced that their release schedule is now the 1st and 15th of every month.
Overall Score: 5/5 – Definitely worth a listen, even if you aren’t sure that hard-boiled detectives are your thing. Go! Download it! Listen! Now! :D The episodes can also be found on their website linked below to listen to it on your computer if you have an Mp3 player that’s not in iPod/iPhone or don’t have one at all.
Author’s Website: http://www.decoderringtheatre.com/index.htm
Story Website: http://www.decoderringtheatre.com/blackjackjustice/
Search “Decoder Ring Theater” on iTunes.
Please Stay Tuned for Part 2 – A review of Decoder Ring Theater’s other big series, The Red Panda Adventures.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Apologies
I won't have a review for this week. I've been sick for the last week and barely have the energy to keep up with my homework let alone extra stuff like this blog. :(
I apologize for this. I hope to make it up to you by having a double review next week of two different shows from the same podcast feed. The Red Panda Adventures and Black Jack Justice both from Decoder Ring Theater. They are not "completed" per say, but they are mini-stories in episodic form and there are several episodes of each out so that by the time I post the review, anyone wanting to check them out will have plenty to catch up on.
Anyway, it's entirely too late and I need to get my coughing butt to bed. Thanks for reading!
Jennilee
I apologize for this. I hope to make it up to you by having a double review next week of two different shows from the same podcast feed. The Red Panda Adventures and Black Jack Justice both from Decoder Ring Theater. They are not "completed" per say, but they are mini-stories in episodic form and there are several episodes of each out so that by the time I post the review, anyone wanting to check them out will have plenty to catch up on.
Anyway, it's entirely too late and I need to get my coughing butt to bed. Thanks for reading!
Jennilee
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