A Review – The Cipher

It has been about five months since I last did a review of a podcast. I did not mean for this to happen, I just never started listening to a new one.

So, I picked this one (mostly at random) and started listening. It took me about a week of daily walks, listening to it, to finish. Unfortunately since I have neither started another podcast, nor gone for another long walk.

Anyway, that's enough of that, let's get this post going!

When 16-year-old Sabrina cracks the cryptic Parallax, she’s recruited to track down a serial killer... who might not be from this world. Starring Anya Chalotra and Chance Perdomo.

Apple Podcasts • Spotify


My Review!

There is nothing too out of the ordinary about Sabrina. Her mother passed away, her father makes umbrellas for a living. She goes to school, and hangs out with her best friend. She is really good at puzzles. And she has a recurring dream, that leaves her waking up with nonsense words coming out her mouth. The same words every time.

There is nothing too out of the ordinary about Sabrina. That is, until she solves a puzzle called the Parallax, a cryptic that had been going around the internet. One that no one else has solved. And after solving it, things start to change. Everything she ever knew falls apart, and things she never knew seem to become important in her life.

There is a serial killer, targeting scientists. Leaving their bodies destroyed. Sabrina is recruited to find the killer, but how can she possibly do that? She solved a puzzle, that didn’t make her a detective. Plus, she is not sure if she can trust any of the people around her.

Sabrina is a character who is very easy to like. She isn’t up for anything, she would rather have her normal life back than move forwards with the path put in front of her, but she doesn’t have a choice. However reluctant she may be, she has to keep going. Sabrina narrates the story, sometimes pausing the action to give some backstory in a very calm manner, as if she’s simply telling a story and nothing else is going on. Surprisingly, this doesn’t take away from the story at all, but adds to it in a way that meant I enjoyed the pauses, where everything faded away and Sabrina told me about this conspiracy theory, or that thing about that place. 

There are some very likeable characters in this. Sabrina being the main one, but Benny and Fergus also deserve a mention. Both end up joining Sabrina on her journey. It is difficult to talk about this without giving away anything, because there are some very big plot twists that would be very easy to accidentally spoil. Talking about anything that happens after episode one would end up as a spoiler, and I don’t want to do that. So, I will be annoyingly vague. I loved that Benny was not a stereotypical strong guy, able to deal with anything. Most of the time, Sabrina is the one dealing, while trying to pull him together as well. Fergus is absolutely amazing, and there is not much more to say on the matter. Listen to the story, and you will love him too.

Alongside likeable characters, there are some who are very easy to hate. Sabrina meets so many new people, all who are telling her different things, that it is hard to know who to trust. Do you trust the people you’ve been with for two episodes, or the newcomers? And then, once you trust someone else, did you make the right choice? Were the first people actually the ones you needed to believe? The mystery throughout this, as you try to place the good guys and the bad guys, keeps you on your toes, and does an excellent job of capturing your attention.

I have to mention Ernie. He isn’t actually a part of the story, but he gives an extra depth to the whole thing. He is a struggling actor, who has recorded messages for the start of each episode. The whole thing is scripted (unfortunately I can’t find out who voiced Ernie) but it’s great. He gives content warnings, while talking a little about himself. He is a character taking part in the production of the show. It’s great. 

This is a wonderful sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, semi action podcast. If you like any of those things, as well as sarcasm, for Sabrina is a sarcastic narrator, you can’t miss out on listening to this.

And done!

It's so difficult to write reviews when all of the things you want to talk about are spoilers. I want to talk about it all! The plot twists, the ending...

But I won't, because I hate things being spoiled, and I refuse to do so.

That's all for now...

Bye!