Reviewed by London Koffler
About the Podcast:
When Carly Parker’s friend, Yumiko, goes missing under very mysterious circumstances, Carly’s search for her friend leads her headfirst into an ancient, mysterious game known only as “Rabbits.” Soon, Carly begins to suspect that Rabbits is much more than just a game, and that the key to understanding Rabbits might be the key to the survival of our species, and the Universe, as we know it.
My Review: 4/5
Rabbits is a difficult podcast to review without spoiling any details, so I will remain vague. Through many plot twists and turns, each episode of this docudrama series raises new questions and reveals new information. Carly Parker is a determined, fearless host, unwaveringly searching for the truth and her missing friend. We see her development and discover more personal details about her throughout the series. She and the other voice actors put on a compelling performance that encourages listeners to completely immerse themselves in the production. As Samuel Taylor Coleridge said, an audience may suspend its disbelief concerning the validity of a fictional story as long as the creator injects some truth and humanity into the work. Although its premise is imaginative, Rabbits manages to convince the audience the game is real. When I first started listening, I will admit I had to conduct some internet research to assure myself that it is, indeed, fictional. In my opinion, detailed and vivid imagery in conjunction with realistic and convincing characters allows Rabbits to attain the goal of the Public Radio Alliance—to create “television for your ears.”
I gave Rabbits a four out of five rating only because of the ending. I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the podcast, but without going into too much detail, the end felt abrupt and unsatisfying. I would not recommend this podcast to a young audience because of some explicit language and intense situations. I would, however, highly recommend it to fans of mystery and suspense. If this appeals to you, I would also encourage you to listen to other docudramas produced by the Public Radio Alliance, such as Tanis and The Last Movie. All of these may be found on Spotify, the iPhone podcast app, or from the Public Radio Alliance’s website.
http://www.publicradioalliance.com/listen/
Edited by Emily Chance