Welcome to Night Vale Recap: Episode 46 “Parade Day”
It’s going to be a big day, alright.
So, the episode right “before” this one is another one of the live shows, this time it’s “The Debate.” Once again, in order to encourage people to throw a few dollars to the makers of this mostly-free show, I’m only going to mention a few details from the live show that are particularly relevant to later episodes. Highlight the text below to see spoilers for “The Debate.”
Today Cecil is happy to talk about the parade that will be going through town. He insists that this isn’t the first time he’s mentioned it, but he also acts strangely vague about when and where it will be. In fact, as he speaks, we can also hear the sound of beeping. It’s actually a message in Morse code that says “Tamika needs you!” It soon becomes clear that this “parade” is actually a cover for an uprising against Strex. Further coded beeps tell Night Vale to rise up and meet at Radon Canyon in an hour.
In other news, oak doors have suddenly been appearing all over town. A few people have seen these doors open at different points and we get hints that Old Woman Josie and the angels are behind them.
After an ad for Irish Spring soap that questions if your hands are even your own we move on to a traffic report. During the report Cecil points out the fragility of human lives, but also the importance of risking harm when something is worth fighting for. Cecil is clearly ready for a revolution. Once again the Morse code tells listeners to go to Radon Canyon and destroy Strex.
Next we hear from Carlos, who is still investigating the house that doesn’t exist. All of the house’s doors have recently changed into the same sort of oak doors that are all over town. Carlos and his scientists have now discovered that time moves much faster within the house when going through the new door. Hours can pass inside while only minutes have passed outside. Also, no one can open the door to the house from inside, so any scientists who go in need someone to stay outside and let them out. This fact is emphasized enough to make anyone very nervous about Carlos’ future well-being.
Mayor Winchell also looked behind one of the oak doors today and was shocked to discover that angels are real. It results in this hilarious exchange:
“Angels are real! I am staring at one right now! They are real, OK?”
She began to open the door wide to show the press, but the figure – who was certainly not an angel – mouthed “Shut up, Pamela!” at Mayor Winchell.
The alleged angel added, “Shhhhhh! Geeeeeeez!” and slammed the door.
Now Cecil is ready to be open about his intentions. The Morse code repeatedly says “Now, Now, Now.” Cecil announces that Tamika Flynn is at the parade and her child army is accompanying it with the many helicopters they have stolen from Strex. As for Cecil, he has barricaded the door to his booth and is ready to report on the revolution. He encourages Night Vale citizens to rise up and overthrow their corporate overlords. With that, we go to the weather.
This episode’s weather is “Take Up Your Spade” by Sara Watkins.
When get back Cecil’s voice is much more hopeless. Tamika and her army did attack Strex, but they were not enough. Tragically, the other people of Night Vale did nothing to help (which, to be fair, is how they’ve been conditioned to act for centuries). Now Tamika has been arrested and it seems all hope is lost for Night Vale.
Cecil pauses in his sorrowful speech when he suddenly realizes that he is in danger now too. Strex employees have gotten through his barrier. He tries to appease them, but the episode ends suddenly as his voice is cut off in the midst of a struggle. For once Cecil’s subversive reporting has gotten him in real trouble, though we’ll have to wait until the next episode to see just how bad it is.
And let’s not forget the Conspiracy Tracker:
1. The angels have disappeared and the City Council still denies they exist.
2. There’s a house that doesn’t exist, but connects to a desert world and the Dog Park.
3. The Apache Tracker died to save Carlos’ life.
4. Time isn’t real in Night Vale.
5. Cecil may have died as a teen. It involved a mirror.
6. A city of tiny people underground have declared war against NV because people keep stealing their houses.
7. Literal five-headed dragon Hiram McDaniels wants to be the next mayor.
8. NV’s sister city Nulogorsk was both destroyed and not destroyed in 1983.
9. Night Vale has a surprising fixation on actor Lee Marvin.
10. Night Vale is prone to duplication and Desert Bluffs is one of the duplicates.
11. A dark planet is calling to people. It may be the radio station.
12. Old oak doors are appearing around Night Vale
13. Dana’s desert otherworld has a blinking light on a mountain.
14. Simone Rigadeau thinks the world ended decades ago.
15. Cecil can’t remember his past.
16. Earl Harlan thinks he and Cecil could have had something.
17. Mayor Winchell is retiring, possibly not by her own choice.
18. The Faceless Old Woman is running for mayor.
19. Something big and bad is coming from a desert otherworld.
20. Desert Bluffs/StrexCorp have a smiling god.
21. Tamika Flynn has been arrested by Strex.
22. Someone bought Cecil at an auction.
23. Dana is going to be someone important.
Alex Townsend is freelance writer, a cool person, and really into gender studies and superheroes. It’s a magical day when all these things come together. You can follow her on her tumblr and see her comments on silver age comics. Happy reading!
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