S-Town (from Serial team)

Mr E · 14-03-2017 9:22pm #1

From the team behind Serial and This American Life, they are launching a new podcast on March 28th.

JOHN DESPISES HIS ALABAMA TOWN AND DECIDES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. He asks a reporter to investigate the son of a wealthy family who's allegedly been bragging that he got away with murder. But then someone else ends up dead, sparking a nasty feud, a hunt for hidden treasure, and an unearthing of the mysteries of one man's life.

3 minute preview on their website. If you are subscribed to Serial in your podcast client, you should get S-Town automatically.

https://stownpodcast.org/

steve_r · 15-03-2017 10:08am

So they are going back to True crime so maybe that's a reaction to the poor reception recieved by Season 2.

I'll check it out, thanks for the heads up

steve_r · 19-03-2017 8:31pm

I checked out the trailer, it's not Sarah Koenig but it sounds very similar to Serial Season 1, short snippets of recorded dialogue, unsolved murder etc.

All the episodes are released in one batch, which I prefer.

I don't really follow True crime podcasts (mainly because I've a lot of podcasts that I listen to regularly) but it appears from this forum that there are now a lot of true crime podcasts out there. It'll be interesting to see how S-Town does against the new competition.

Parchment · 20-03-2017 7:56pm

Thanks for the heads up - i really enjoyed Serial Season 1 but Season 2 not so much so glad to hear it will go back to the original formula!

CaoimheSquee · 21-03-2017 4:19pm

Preview gave away very little but will definitely give it a go

Homesick Alien · 23-03-2017 3:20pm

Why are they not just calling Serial Season 3? Just because Koenig isn't the narrator?

Kingp35 · 23-03-2017 3:36pm

Homesick Alien wrote: »

Why are they not just calling Serial Season 3? Just because Koenig isn't the narrator?

Because it's not Serial, this is a different podcast. Serial 3 is still in production.

Homesick Alien · 23-03-2017 3:42pm

Kingp35 wrote: »

Because it's not Serial, this is a different podcast. Serial 3 is still in production.

Right so it's a totally separate serialised podcast series about a true crime investigation. Nothing like Serial.

Next there'll be a new podcast brought to you by the producers of This American Life, Serial and S-Town.

steve_r · 28-03-2017 8:56am

Homesick Alien wrote: »

Right so it's a totally separate serialised podcast series about a true crime investigation. Nothing like Serial.

Next there'll be a new podcast brought to you by the producers of This American Life, Serial and S-Town.

I agree to a certain extent, but:

they got such a backlash after season 2 that the safer option is to re-brand this as a "new" show to avoid comparisons with Serial
Serial was a story told weekly, this is released all at once - today actually

But yeah, there's a lot of "If you liked Serial season 1 you'll like this but it's not Serial Season 3 in case you didn't like Serial Season 2".

ILikeBoats · 28-03-2017 4:13pm

It's live now

GeordieRebel · 28-03-2017 8:17pm

Have it on in the background while studying so onto the last episode. If you're expecting a Serial Season 1 style murder mystery, you'll be disappointed.

Lucas Hood · 28-03-2017 11:06pm

I love your man's accent.

optogirl · 29-03-2017 9:49am

On Chapter 3 - really enjoying this

Kingp35 · 29-03-2017 11:40am

Listened to the first two episodes. It's good so far but feels a little drawn out at times. I suspect the pace will pick up from this point on though.

Mr E · 29-03-2017 3:57pm

Finished the first one. It's a bit rambling, but I like it.

Will I Am Not · 29-03-2017 6:09pm

Just finished the 4th episode. I'm liking it. Aside from the mystery element of it all, John B is just such an interesting, eccentric character that it makes for good listening just hearing from him and about him.

The story itself is starting to pick up now too.

I honestly thought it was fiction at first and it was being voice acted in a studio. I've heard of a Southern drawl but he is something else

bobbysands81 · 30-03-2017 1:04am

Just finished this.

First three/four Chapters are good or great... but it goes seriously downhill after that.

What was the point of making this? Once the original story line wasn't adding up, and after the death in the story, it just felt like the story had to be completed because of the amount of resources the story sucked up.

In the end a very well made and polished podcast but a hugely disappointing story.

ED E · 30-03-2017 1:10am

Music at the end really gets my back up.

optogirl · 30-03-2017 9:09am

ED E wrote: »

Music at the end really gets my back up.

The Zombies! Love that album

brevity · 30-03-2017 10:36am

The benchmark of podcasting. Amazing stuff. It's hit me like a train...I can't stop thinking about it.

John Mason · 30-03-2017 11:21am

On EP 4
absolutely loving it.

John B. reminds me of Eugene from TWD.

It is in the back of mind for the last 2 days.

Really interesting

Kingp35 · 30-03-2017 11:31am

bobbysands81 wrote: »

Just finished this.

First three/four Chapters are good or great... but it goes seriously downhill after that.

What was the point of making this? Once the original story line wasn't adding up, and after the death in the story, it just felt like the story had to be completed because of the amount of resources the story sucked up.

In the end a very well made and polished podcast but a hugely disappointing story.

I completely agree with this. It grabbed my attention in the first 4 episodes but then it went nowhere and ended up essentially being a biography on John B.

Very well made but the story went nowhere. Disappointing.

GeordieRebel · 30-03-2017 12:15pm

bobbysands81 wrote: »

Just finished this.

First three/four Chapters are good or great... but it goes seriously downhill after that.

What was the point of making this? Once the original story line wasn't adding up, and after the death in the story, it just felt like the story had to be completed because of the amount of resources the story sucked up.

In the end a very well made and polished podcast but a hugely disappointing story.

Yeah that's exactly how I felt about it too.

ElChe32 · 30-03-2017 5:40pm

Yeeeeeaaaaaap! Yesss suh'!

Just finished it now, really enjoyed it!

ILikeBoats · 31-03-2017 9:49am

I don't know if I liked it or not, it's definitely not what I thought it would be!
I liked John B.

http://www.vox.com/culture/2017/3/30/15084224/s-town-review-controversial-podcast-privacy

FouxDaFaFa · 31-03-2017 2:16pm

I really enjoyed it. I think it helped that I hadn't read any press before listening so I wasn't expecting true crime, I was just going in blind.

I found it very moving. Yes, it did technically become like a biography but I thought it went beyond that. It was about human nature, the way the mind works, they way we treat each other, regrets in life.

The episode with Orlin (sp?) was a perfect example of a situation I can't relate to in a literal sense but I think we can all appreciate because everyone knows what it's like to regret not taking that chance, wondering what life would be like if things had gone down a different path.

I do think the series was slightly bloated, could have maybe lost an episode or two in terms of time and Reed's vocal quirk of rising the ends of his sentences did grate once or twice but overall, brilliantly made and observed piece of work.

BackforFPL · 31-03-2017 7:50pm

It was really a character study in the end.

I found it quite interesting but if you went into it expecting another Serial you'd be sorely disappointed.

Will I Am Not · 31-03-2017 8:31pm

BackforFPL wrote: »

I found it quite interesting but if you went into it expecting another Serial you'd be sorely disappointed.

I didn't expect it but to whip up the mystery in the first 4 episodes only to more or less abandon it for the remainder was a bit of a letdown.

Having said that I enjoyed it for what it was. The strength of the character of John was enough to carry it through.

david75 · 01-04-2017 9:48am

I finished this last night. I thought it was some really well produced radio drama. Then I read he was a real guy and all this actually happened? I'm totally flummoxed.
I do hate the way they just dropped the investigation aspect of it. It's strange but you could see the producer meeting brick walls in a small town and that mentality.

Really cool series though. Well worth listening to.

pc7 · 01-04-2017 9:34pm

I didn't have any expectations but really really enjoyed it. JohnB very interesting character. Wonder how Tyler will finish up

Ciaran_B · 02-04-2017 9:14pm

bobbysands81 wrote: »

Just finished this.

First three/four Chapters are good or great... but it goes seriously downhill after that.

What was the point of making this? Once the original story line wasn't adding up, and after the death in the story, it just felt like the story had to be completed because of the amount of resources the story sucked up.

In the end a very well made and polished podcast but a hugely disappointing story.

Totally agree. It was well made and edited but it felt like poverty-tourism at times.

WhiteMemento9 · 02-04-2017 10:37pm

Stories that go nowhere are sometimes the best kind? This is an incredible podcast which transcends the medium to some degree in my ears.

Rather than a story that needed to be finished even though its initial direction didn't pan out. I felt the interviewer stumbled across something far more interesting than a crime story which was obviously John B himself. From very early on he was the real mystery that I wanted to know more about. He is an incredibly fascinating and multilayered guy whom spending time in the company of himself and his story was compelling listening.

That all said the ethical questions around whether this should have gone to air really bother me as it was a very invasive character study of a man who never consented to any of his private life being exposed in this manner. A podcast of this nature was never discussed with John. It was especially uncomfortable when the interviewer decided to reveal details of a private conversation while citing an extremely weak argument related to John's after life beliefs. I felt uncomfortable at many points throughout the later episodes.

david75 · 02-04-2017 11:07pm

WhiteMemento9 wrote: »

Stories that go nowhere are sometimes the best kind? This is an incredible podcast which transcends the medium to some degree in my ears.

Rather than a story that needed to be finished even though its initial direction didn't pan out. I felt the interviewer stumbled across something far more interesting than a crime story which was obviously John B himself. From very early on he was the real mystery that I wanted to know more about. He is an incredibly fascinating and multilayered guy whom spending time in the company of himself and his story was compelling listening.

That all said the ethical questions around whether this should have gone to air really bother me as it was a very invasive character study of a man who never consented to any of his private life being exposed in this manner. A podcast of this nature was never discussed with John. It was especially uncomfortable when the interviewer decided to reveal details of a private conversation while citing an extremely weak argument related to John's after life beliefs. I felt uncomfortable at many points throughout the later episodes.

He clearly liked attention and possibly even planned all this though knowing that he was gonna do what he did.

Do a google search for his name. I didn't believe it wasn't just a story until I saw the pics of him. And his tattoos. And his maze.
I thought it was a radio drama/play.
This actually happened. It's bananas

Nerdlingr · 03-04-2017 9:51am

Nowhere near as good as Serial. First half great, second half just descended into a character study. Was waiting for a twist that never came.

finglashoop · 03-04-2017 10:35am

Unsubscribed bout half way through. Its rambling to nowhere.

miamee · 03-04-2017 2:18pm

Just finished this today. I wasn't hoping for another Serial because to be honest I lost interest in Serial before the end of series one.

This one started out really well and I think from the first few played conversations with John B I was hoping to hear more from him and for more of a character study of him which is what we got. However, it did get the feeling of meandering in the final couple of episodes introducing multiple new people and never really wrapping up any loose ends - though that's real life I suppose, presumably the situation with Tyler and the cousin is ongoing, for example.

WhiteMemento9 wrote: »

That all said the ethical questions around whether this should have gone to air really bother me as it was a very invasive character study of a man who never consented to any of his private life being exposed in this manner. A podcast of this nature was never discussed with John. It was especially uncomfortable when the interviewer decided to reveal details of a private conversation while citing an extremely weak argument related to John's after life beliefs. I felt uncomfortable at many points throughout the later episodes.

I didn't feel uncomfortable for those bits but I can see why you might.

John B was a highly intelligent man and spoke often of suicide knowing that that was going to be his end. It's hard to know if he'd have given the podcast any thought when thinking of the future after he was gone or not. I'd have expected him to have things well organised but his lack of a will says otherwise. I actually found that really hard to believe after how specific he'd been about the lads getting things when he was gone and expected to go back to that at some stage.

GalwayGrrrrrl · 03-04-2017 8:08pm

I really enjoyed it. I felt that John contacted the producers initially so that his story could be told, and that he would be well known. He sounds like a talented man and I'm glad his gifts have been shared widely.
If I had known what the story was about I probably wouldn't have bothered listening so I'm glad I went in with little knowledge and just got caught up in the drama.

Cienciano · 04-04-2017 1:36pm

I thought it was good, but the last 2 episodes were dragged out. It could have been 5 or 6 episodes long. Definitely worth a listen

Parchment · 05-04-2017 12:05pm

I still havent started listening to this - even though its on my feed....looking at the posts here i dont think ill bother!

8-10 · 05-04-2017 1:02pm

Parchment wrote: »

I still havent started listening to this - even though its on my feed....looking at the posts here i dont think ill bother!

Depends on what you're into really. 7 episodes aren't a big commitment and I'd say you'll definitely know after the 2nd if it's your thing or not.

I really enjoyed it overall but I can see how others might not. But I definitely think it's worth a listen to find out, it's well produced and the story is well told

david75 · 05-04-2017 11:36pm

Parchment wrote: »

I still havent started listening to this - even though its on my feed....looking at the posts here i dont think ill bother!

Give it a go. It's troubled but only as a representation of how its main focus was.
But it's definitely fascinating despite his troubles.

Carrie6OD · 08-04-2017 8:51am

I can't stop thinking about it. It's sad and complex but so interesting. Certainly made my commute to work easier this week!

david75 · 08-04-2017 2:54pm

Carrie6OD wrote: »

I can't stop thinking about it. It's sad and complex but so interesting. Certainly made my commute to work easier this week!

Exactly my take away from it.
Pics of him online and his maze and the FB page for the podcast has pics of his clocks and sundials he made for the teacher etc.

PropJoe10 · 09-04-2017 1:02am

People are entitled to their opinions but I thought it was a really interesting and thought-provoking story. Thought it did a really good job in showing the complexity of human life and how it's so important to make every day that we're around count towards something. Certainly got me thinking anyway.

Still Ill · 09-04-2017 2:42am

Really enjoyed it.. Maybe there wasn't the satisfactory ending that one would like to tie up all the loose ends, but that's how life is sometimes. John is definitely a fascinating and complex character. The part with his friend/potential love interest was particularly heartbreaking.. Can't help feeling if either of them had been brave enough, things might have ended up far better for both of them.. He seemed like a lovely guy. All in all, this is probably what Serial S2 should've been.

OldMrBrennan83 · 09-04-2017 6:49am

This post has been deleted.

09-04-2017 6:53am

I enjoyed the first half of it.
It lost its way big time in the last couple of episodes.

steve_r · 10-04-2017 12:05pm

I finished it at the weekend and I really enjoyed it.

The trailer made it our to be a true crime/murder mystery which wasn't really an accurate representation of what the show was about. It was more of an in-depth character study of John B and his surroundings.

I had issues with Serial Season 1, and felt that it was subjective where it should have been objective. I felt this was a lot more considered, Brian didn't take sides and where there was two conflicting accounts, he gave both equal scrutiny.

As regards the article above from Vox regarding the concerns about privacy, I would not agree. John contacted Brian to do a radio show on the story, agreed to be recorded and was very forthcoming with information.

There was only one real instance where Brian went beyond that, and I felt he explained his reasons. It's not like Missing Richard Simmons, where the whole thing crossed a line, it was more that one specific instance.

I really enjoyed the last few episodes for what they were, a very interesting personality which well considered thoughts on life.

I know some people would have been more interested in the earlier episodes and that's fine as well. The topic of the latter episodes is different and it's not for everyone.

Overall I'm very glad I listened to it and would recomend it highly. It's annother great example of the storytelling powers of podcasts.

19-04-2017 11:25am

I thought this was fascinating. Those who don't follow through because they only want a murder mystery are missing out.
Privacy issues? not in this case really. I'm pretty sure that John B. McElmore would be happy that he is out there in the internet ether.
The sequence of information reveals is skillfully done and builds up a compelling story.

threein99 · 20-04-2017 9:44am

Really disappointed with this, John B was a very interesting character but I don't get why his story was a podcast series

optogirl · 20-04-2017 9:46am

threein99 wrote: »

Really disappointed with this, John B was a very interesting character but I don't get why his story was a podcast series

could have been 1 or 2 very good This American Life episodes -they dragged the p*ss out of it

S-Town (from Serial team)

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