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http://www.serialpodcast.org/ What is Serial? The first podcast-only offering from WBEZ and the producers of This American Life, Serial is a weekly nonfiction narrative podcast doing long-form reporting on one story at a time. Season One - Season one thread The first season took the internet by storm and made armchair detectives out of everyone with the discussion of the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee - a high school student from Baltimore, Maryland. Her ex-boyfriend, a classmate at school named Adnan Syed was eventually convicted, thanks largely to the testimony of a former schoolmate, Jay, who testified that Adnan pressured him into helping with the burial of Hae's body. Season Two Season two is an exploration to find out why Bowe Bergdahl, a soldier with the U.S. Army decided to walk away from his post in Afghanistan, and how the consequences of that decision have spun out wider with this still ongoing saga. Bowe Bergdahl Video of Bergdal's release from the Taliban. Geekslinger fucked around with this message at 17:15 on Dec 10, 2015 |
# ? Dec 10, 2015 17:06 |
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# ? Apr 28, 2024 03:12 |
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Listening to episode one. It seems fine but if this had been the first season it would not have received near the same coverage. Koening is probably super interested in not making her show a whodunit despite what everyone else wants. Which explains why she picked this more open topic about war and the US military and whatever else it ends up being about.
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 17:24 |
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Hearing koenig's voice again made it move
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 17:26 |
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The last fifteen seconds made me laugh out loud. "That's me! Calling the Taliban!"
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 17:36 |
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ninjahedgehog posted:The last fifteen seconds made me laugh out loud. "That's me! Calling the Taliban!" This was fantastic. I listened to the whole thing this morning thinking, "Yeah, okay, this sounds pretty good," and getting marginally excited for the season to come, then she's calling the Taliban and it's like "oh that's right Koenig is a crazy person, this is going to be dope"
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 18:14 |
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This was a fun little episode, although they need to bring the funk to make it as interesting as season one. If I'm taking things at face value, though... Bowe's plan is dumb as gently caress and he got his head too far up his rear end about how much of a superman he is.
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 18:19 |
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How do you even do that? Do they have a hotline
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 18:19 |
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rotinaj posted:This was a fun little episode, although they need to bring the funk to make it as interesting as season one. If I'm taking things at face value, though... Bowe's plan is dumb as gently caress and he got his head too far up his rear end about how much of a superman he is. Yeah right now my issue is that at best Bowe is an idiot who watched too many movies then entered a war zone. At worst he is just a deserter which I am not mad about, but is exactly the story that already exists. And unlike last season it is hard to find evidence of intent. Adnan either did or did not kill that girl and those events could presumably be proven through outside investigation. Bowe's motivation are known only to himself. But hey there will probably he chills and thrills along the way so idlk.
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 18:53 |
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I dunno if I can listen to this season, being former army if you've been deployed you are intimately aware how stunningly, AMAZINGLY retarded on every conceivable level Bergdahl's plan is and how none of it makes any real sense. it sucks too because his stated reason is totally loving justified - leadership in combat zones can be and often is lethally poor, and there's very little recourse for actual grunts to point this out or whistleblow. its just he chose the single worst possible way to do it also the IED "gift" thing might be the single dumbest loving thing i've ever heard. oh, you ghosted out and had us scramble at least four separate militaries and two separate governmental organizations, with enough O-grades to court martial you ten times over, to look for you, wasting hundreds (possibly thousands) of man-hours and millions of dollars. But you found an IED, things that are loving EVERYWHERE in a combat deployment, so you know. All good
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 20:17 |
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It sounds to me like Koenig won't have a problem picking that apart, though. Especially since she's not talking to Bergdahl directly. It seems like the scale of this is far more ambitious than "was he right or wrong for doing what he did," which may or may not make for good listening.
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 20:32 |
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Toxxupation posted:I dunno if I can listen to this season, being former army I may be misremembering, but think he was just trying to find someone planting an IED and then follow them to their hideout, so he would have that intel to help his case when he showed up at the FOB. Of course, if anything this plan is even more retarded because it involves tracking someone (who wants to kill you) at night, completely unarmed, in unfamiliar and dangerous terrain without bothering to check your compass for hours at a time.
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 21:08 |
To me this is kind of... And maybe this isn't fair but it's how I feel. But this is all kind of underwhelming. After inventing the new media format of podcasting for the last season for this season to just be another podcast and not another new kind of Media feels kind of like... Not sure.
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 21:42 |
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Work Friend Keven posted:To me this is kind of... And maybe this isn't fair but it's how I feel. But this is all kind of underwhelming. After inventing the new media format of podcasting for the last season for this season to just be another podcast and not another new kind of Media feels kind of like... Not sure. I don't even know what's going on with this post.
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 21:47 |
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Wake_N_Bake posted:I don't even know what's going on with this post. You see they are inventing a new kind of post, it feels kind of underwhelming.
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 21:53 |
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Wake_N_Bake posted:I don't even know what's going on with this post. Anyway it's brave of them to not just do true crime again, I'll reserve my opinions until the whole season is done, although I do admit I kind of loved hearing those courtroom recordings. Such interesting stuff. If only Bowe was a wigger it'd be at least a little nostalgic.
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 22:20 |
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It's definitely interesting to get a deep dive on Bergdahl's story, even if the eventual conclusion is "Wow, this guy is a loving moron."
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# ? Dec 10, 2015 22:40 |
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Maduo posted:It's definitely interesting to get a deep dive on Bergdahl's story, even if the eventual conclusion is "Wow, this guy is a loving moron." This is essentially how I feel about the season thus far, too. I'm really enjoying it, it's entertaining and intriguing, etc., but holy poo poo was that an awful plan. I'm not sure what I feel would be stupider--his account of things being the absolute truth or a narrative he came up with to cover his rear end. I agree entirely that it's depressing how (provided his stated motives are sincere) he chose to go about bringing attention to such a serious issue. I've never served, but I don't think that's necessary experience for a person to be able to understand the potential danger, there. Lastly, regardless of how much I enjoy the podcast, one thing both I'm uneasy about and highly amused by is how nuts Sarah's methods can be. I mean, I absolutely understand why a journalist covering this story would want or even need to talk to the Taliban, especially in lieu of not having direct contact with Bergdahl. The way she presented her call seemed inappropriately gleeful, but that's not the issue so much as it is my misgivings about trusting her. Last season I got the strong impression--and I even think she admitted to it in an episode--that she was sort of charmed by Adnan. Still, I can get past that by reminding myself that she usually caught herself when she did that, this season (and future seasons, I assume) will have a larger team doing the research and writing, and she doesn't have contact with Bergdahl (though the counterpoint here is that she does have contact with other sources you know we can't trust, such as the Taliban). Thing is, I feel like my apprehensiveness actually adds some to the experience, enhancing the mystery. It may be questionable in terms of journalistic integrity/ethics, but I personally feel it makes for riveting listening. e: tl;dr version: Bowe's plan paints him as being dumb as a rock and Sarah's methods can be questionable sometimes, but I kinda love that and can't wait for more. Terra-da-loo! fucked around with this message at 00:23 on Dec 11, 2015 |
# ? Dec 11, 2015 00:19 |
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I also love how he evoked the names of characters like Bond and Bourne when talking about his plan to prove himself a heroic action hero-type super soldier by trekking almost 20 miles through a war zone riddled with dangers while not even armed with the ability to speak the local tongue. Whichever alternate reality gets to enjoy the books/films where those characters are stupid enough to make that a decent comparison is lucky. That'd be hilarious. I laughed when he explained the moment reality hit him again and he realized he wasn't going to be able to outrun motorcycles or take on more than half a dozen gun toting Taliban with just a knife. Bond and Bourne could have taken care of that situation in no time and come out of it with some guns and a bike to show up at the FOB on. Terra-da-loo! fucked around with this message at 00:52 on Dec 11, 2015 |
# ? Dec 11, 2015 00:47 |
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I'm into it. Also seems more in line with the kind of story she might bring to This American Life, though I suspect she'll lose a lot of listeners wanting a whodunit.
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# ? Dec 11, 2015 01:43 |
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I definitely can't see myself going back and forth like with season 1 since Bowe seems like a confirmed moron but I'm interested in hearing about his 5 years with the Taliban.
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# ? Dec 11, 2015 01:50 |
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He had me up until he altered his plan in order to get intel. I don't think he was a moron from the start, but I think his attempt to adapt his plans in order to lessen the magnitude is what did him in.
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# ? Dec 11, 2015 14:40 |
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4 RING SHRIMP posted:How do you even do that? Do they have a hotline They have PR people, mouthpieces, etc. What are essentially propaganda folks that give interviews and poo poo.
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# ? Dec 11, 2015 15:42 |
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It's an interesting story even if he's a moron/mentally ill/both...
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# ? Dec 11, 2015 16:06 |
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Loved season one so much, and I'm listening to season 2 with a guy who served in the 90's who's provided pretty decent insight already. Going week to week with this is going to suck whereas I was able to binge season one in a couple days.
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# ? Dec 11, 2015 18:28 |
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Any good podcasts about this season? Slate had a veteran give his perspective which was interesting, but 2 preroll and 3 mid in a 30 minute podcast? gently caress you.
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# ? Dec 11, 2015 23:02 |
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wow, so a few of you think berghdahl's plan was poorly thought out? glad we have some people on that side of the fence. make sure to repeat your same three teenager-level arguments hundreds of times itt, because we sure didn't have people doing that in the thread for last season
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 00:31 |
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Good call let's have it be an echo chamber for weirdo losers who's panties get soaked listening to adnan speak
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 00:36 |
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Lutha Mahtin posted:wow, so a few of you think berghdahl's plan was poorly thought out? glad we have some people on that side of the fence. make sure to repeat your same three teenager-level arguments hundreds of times itt, because we sure didn't have people doing that in the thread for last season What is your opinion, friend?
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 00:40 |
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Human posted:What is your opinion, friend? this is kind of controversial, but i'm excited there is a new season of this show because i enjoyed the first one. gonna listen to it. yeah, i know it's pretty out there, but that's how i feel
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 01:13 |
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Lutha Mahtin posted:this is kind of controversial, but i'm excited there is a new season of this show because i enjoyed the first one. gonna listen to it. yeah, i know it's pretty out there, but that's how i feel Pretty heady stuff.
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 02:11 |
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Lutha Mahtin posted:wow, so a few of you think berghdahl's plan was poorly thought out? glad we have some people on that side of the fence. make sure to repeat your same three teenager-level arguments hundreds of times itt, because we sure didn't have people doing that in the thread for last season It was poorly thought out. Source: Bowe Bergdahl.
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 03:23 |
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I'm already seeing tons of people online whine about this season and how it's not as interesting as the last one. I kinda feel like it's weird to take an actual real person's life and story and then complain "Ugh...this isn't JUICY enough! What a let down from last season!". Sorry you can't plan out elaborate fan theories and charts about a crime I guess?
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 04:00 |
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Wake_N_Bake posted:It was poorly thought out. you aren't doing it right. you need to write this as a five paragraph essay where you begin with another goon's quote and start out like you might actually address what they brought up, but then just shift to repeating the same 3 inane points you've been saying all along. make sure to do it dozens of times in the thread, even make a few posts where the quote at the top doesn't connect even tangentially to your pet issues
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 04:07 |
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OldTennisCourt posted:I'm already seeing tons of people online whine about this season and how it's not as interesting as the last one. Yeah, a lot of people (Especially on Reddit at the time) treated the real people in the first season as if they were characters in a god damned Agatha Christie novel. It was a little disturbing. This is also exactly why I suspect these people hated the ending, since it didn't end like a mystery novel does and have detective Sarah Koenig gather everyone into the parlor and confirm that Adnan really was the killer, or that Jay was the killer, or whoever else people were doing their theorizing about. That was never the point.
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 04:11 |
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The last one was immediately set up as a whodunit. This is more of a whydunit. Like, what the hell was he thinking? Like Sarah's 'Zoom' children's book analogy, I think the story grows as we zoom out and examine the greater and greater ramifications and systems that become involved. Serial isn't locked into a Law and Order format where Reddit detectives can go nuts every season. It's a long format story, and I for one am glad this season is a different approach. We'll probably need a few more episodes before we can really evaluate the quality and merits of this season, but I found it well-produced and engaging.
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 04:18 |
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Dude, stop posting.
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 04:23 |
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Raxivace posted:Yeah, a lot of people (Especially on Reddit at the time) treated the real people in the first season as if they were characters in a god damned Agatha Christie novel. It was a little disturbing. I actually saw a few people honestly complain that there wasn't 'a concrete ending'. It's really weird seeing people treat a real life murder like it's a case on CSI and then complain when real life isn't as cut and dry as TV. What cracks me up is the amateur sleuths being all let down. Oh no you can't pull out your super secret fan maps and theories!
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 05:51 |
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The first episode was quite good. I don't know a lot about what happened but I liked hearing the description of Meste - one thing SK is good at is painting a detailed picture. I agree that Bergdahl is (or was) a bit moronic in his choice of action, but still will be following the series with interest.
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 06:56 |
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I'm intrigued by the premise, but I have to say I find the involvement of that slimeball Mark Boal pretty gross. I guess if you loved Zero Dark Thirty you'll disagree.
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# ? Dec 12, 2015 09:10 |
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Toxxupation posted:I dunno if I can listen to this season, being former army To his credit, it seemed to me like Bowe was totally up front about this. Like he straight up said "I was a dumb kid who thought he was awesome and didn't know what the gently caress I was doing." OldTennisCourt posted:I actually saw a few people honestly complain that there wasn't 'a concrete ending'. It's really weird seeing people treat a real life murder like it's a case on CSI and then complain when real life isn't as cut and dry as TV. I do suspect Koenig thought she'd have a concrete ending when she started. At one point she says "once I found Asia McLane, it seemed like just a little more investigation would exonerate Adnan for good." When they first pitched Season One, I wonder if it would have been produced if they'd known there'd be no clear ending. It is interesting to me just how different the topic is from last time. Season One was focused on a story most people would never have heard of, while the Bowe Bergdahl story was huge.
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# ? Dec 13, 2015 06:34 |