The Oyster

by The Paragon Collective
1,001
Science Fiction #220

In a not so distant future, due to overwhelming carbon emissions, The Earth is on the brink of becoming uninhabitable. These conditions are made far more horrifying because the available housing shelters (that can produce sustainable air quality) will only be able to house 80% of the world’s total population. To try and save the human race, every person has a government-mandated microchip implanted in their brains to attempt to facilitate the migration of a portion of the population to an underground shelter. In order to decide who gets to be protected and who must stay above ground, the government implements a value scale they have determined based on “usefulness” to future society. If you are valued at a 50 or above, you will be chosen to enter the bunker, and, if not, you must stay above ground and face the end of days. “Neuron” (which acts as both a prestigious brain implant and also a software company) is folded into a sanctioned branch of the government called, “The Ministry of Experience.” Their job now is to develop technologies and software that can replicate the human experience above ground. But what is far more pressing is The Ministry must find a way to reduce the use of resources, or they will run out of all survivable assets before being able to relocate to “Eden” - the one place above ground that might be salvageable in a few years time. Whether Eden will be ready in time remains to be seen, but its existence is literally the last hope for the human race surviving. In a drastic effort to cut emissions and resource usage, “The Oyster” is created. The Oyster is Nirvana - A state absent from the mind while being filled with complete pleasure and bliss. What, then, happens when reality begins to fade and The Oyster is all that remains?The Oyster stars Logan Browning (Dear White People and the Perfection), Mamoudou Athie (Jurassic World), Carla Gugino (Haunting of Hill House), Keith David (Greenleaf), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Constance Zimmer (House of Cards, UnReal), Andrew Santino (Dave) and more.Created by Alex Aldea and Adrienne Schaffler

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Recent Reviews
  • Roobie Lily
    Loved it
    I hope there is a season 2!!
  • ColleenNevada
    Loved this
    I loved this podcast so much and constantly check back to see if there is a season 2 in the works.
  • dingdongyourewront
    Season 2!!!
    The way I would sell my mortal soul for the second season
  • Santa Cruz Joe
    Weird audio production mars story
    Podcasts have really taken advantage of high production values, with lots of cool sound FX, high-quality acting and editing. And many seem to strive to utilize a wide spectrum of the audio range. BUT…. the result is that the quiet parts are REALLY quiet and the loud parts are REALLY loud. This one, The Oyster seems to be trying to compete for the most soft-spoken, barely audible dialogue that suddenly burst into shouts or action! Unless I listen to it in total silence, even minor ambient sound gets in the way, and I’m getting tired of backing it up to hear what I missed. It’s maddening! And this happens with MANY dramatic ‘casts. I *think* there’s an interesting story going on here (though the current-pop-culture flavor that runs through it gets old and frankly, won’t age well), but I’d love to hear an episode clearly all the way through. To the producers: try compressing the dialogue A LITTLE. It won’t hurt the soundscape, I promise!
  • Nick Burress
    A Decent Story with Some Technical Problems
    Like a few others, there is a large volume discrepancy between effects and dialog. So you’ll get blasted with effects when trying to understand what they are saying. Headphone users be wary. The story itself is pretty intriguing. People being forced underground. Different perspectives of what is happening. This is not for those that want a cohesive story and follows only a few people. There is an overarching story with a few major characters. The ads are a little on the longer side and try to integrate themselves with the world as to not break immersion.
  • Suede Hank
    Could be amazing
    Could be amazing if it wasn’t a podcast you could barely hear until an extremely loud noise happens causing your headphones or speakers to blow out cause you maxed volume trying to hear half the dialogue
  • kwheinrnr
    Session 2
    We need session 2 something fierce. Really enjoyed session 1, this is a great podcast.
  • Jd2683
    Season two
    OK so seriously it’s been over a year, and I’m Jonesing! I need a season two.
  • Mrs. Staffelbach
    Utterly Depressingly
    I love audio dramas. This, however, really let me down. It’s just one depressing episode after another—suicide, depression, self harm, addiction, metaphors for substance abuse, racial injustice, murder, forced abortion, familial anguish, pet death, broken hearts, broken government, broken spirits. I gave it two stars because the production quality and voice acting is good, but the plot is terrible and highly reliant on cheap emotional trauma to keep it afloat. Also, there are wayyy too many ads in it for the pace the story moves. The placement of the ads is also super choppy and poorly integrated. (They tried to do in-world, lore-friendly ads incorporated into a radio show. It didn’t work very well.)
  • Britdart
    Love it
    This is a very good work. I want a season two! I just have to know that there is more!
  • heath deloach
    White people bad
    This could’ve been so so good. The production and voice acting are great, but the story is a mess.
  • DarkStorm1657
    AMAZING.
    Cant wait for season 2.
  • Smarx88
    Great voice actors but terrible writing
    This podcast got chosen for a ‘book’ club group because the description had such promising topics like climate change and the future of humanity. Unfortunately, despite the great voice acting, the writing ruins it. It’s like season 8 of Game of Thrones: so much potential ruined by shallow writing. The romance that dominated the second half of the story sounds like it was written by someone with only an immature view of love. The ending made me think I just listened to some secretly religious cult propaganda. There was no twist. There is nothing to discuss for our book club meeting except how little was done with so much potential.
  • 🌺Hollis.
    The truth shall set you free
    This podcast is everything!!!!! Definitely is a show that is telling us how the world trust the govt. doesn’t think for themselves. I loved every character.
  • Bill ringo star mcgruder
    Nonsensical plot
    Great acting, but the writing for this is subpar.
  • Katy-Poo
    The best cast around!!!!
    The storyline is amazing. I was hooked in the first episode. It is definitely best to listen to with headphone. The final episode brought me to TEARS. I felt like I was apart of their whole journey. Might have to listen again until season two comes out.
  • Arayzzz
    The plot twists omg
    I’m obsessed. Whoever made this, thank you. You’re literally incredible.
  • Naty9917
    I love this podcast
    I hope you have more episodes coming out soon, I love this podcast and got hooked in the first episode
  • JasmineBaggins
    Intense
    This is a beautiful show in terms of acting, sound design and ideas though the ending felt a little melodramatic. Definitely still worth a listen, though be prepared for heavy subject matter!
  • spazmaticpyro
    Don’t bother
    I got caught up in the first few episodes. Fantastic voice actors, interesting premise, wonderful sound effects, with all that potential for greatness. Then the plot turns into a trope romance that doesn’t even make sense. I ended up losing all respect for any of the characters I appreciated previously, and any new characters I just ended up hating. The plot starts dragging and then randomly skips ahead, and a bunch of the basic premise ends up as a mash of nonsensical crud. Save yourself some time, and don’t bother with this mess.
  • Drifted88
    Interesting then it falls flat
    Production quality is really good. Story starts out interesting but falls apart towards the end. The false cliffhanger is boring because I have no connection or sympathy to any of the characters for the last 2-3 episodes. It’s worth a listen if you don’t have anything else going on
  • anonymous62881974892
    Story is cool, execution flawed.
    This is starting off like a really awesome story, BUT the intro is waayyyyyy too long. It is INCREDIBLY frustrating how the ads are embedded into the drama, because as I’m trying to listen and put together a storyline, I’m all of a sudden 15 seconds into an ad while trying to digest new characters and voices. Not cool at all.
  • SelfhealingwithSteph
    This was a beautiful piece of Art!
    From the story telling to the descriptive narration. This Podcast gave me life!! Although based in the future it still felt connected to the present day.I was able to immerse into each episode and be captivated and intrigued to listen to the next one. It allowed me to visualize in a new way. So I just had to state how much I loved this podcast! Kudos to the creators and the creatives that were a part of this project 👏🏾👏🏾
  • Askani02
    Great storytelling!
    Even though I thought the end was a mess, I enjoyed the entire ride. Great voice acting, sound design and a great premise.
  • jhu11
    Great plot and acting
    I enjoyed everything about this podcast. Great acting. Enthralling story. Only complaint is that it was too short. I think it was also pretty clever of them to work the advertisements into the story. I don’t skip them bc I worry about missing a bit of the plot. Highly recommended.
  • toriigoe
    Listen to this one
    This show is amazing. It’s extremely well written and extremely well acted. The production quality is very good and the entire sound design draws me into the story. I honestly don’t notice when one episode ends and the next begins. The highlights are recapped in such a way that if you listen to multiple episodes at a time it isn’t jarring while listening to individual episodes doesn’t leave you lost. I generally prefer anthology to serial podcasts, but this is a big exception. If I could give more than five stars I would.
  • Lentziewentzie
    Volume issues
    I love the story, and the acting is good, too. No complaints about the drama or fiction or anything like that. But I can’t overlook the fact that every time I listen to the show, I have to constantly adjust the volume. The guys who are making the podcast within the podcast, the ones who read the ads—they’re always way louder than whatever was just happening in the story, and they often star their spiel with an exclamation, like “Heeey!!” or similar. It’s jarring and physically unpleasant, considering that I have to turn the rest of the show up most of the time. Sometimes Hannah’s monologues are reeeeally quiet, esp compared to other characters, and sometimes they’re louder. These kinds of volume issues happen for almost all characters, across scenes and within the same scene (ie it’s not just Hannah who is too loud or too quiet). If these volume issues are production choices, I don’t get the choice. If I had my way, they would rerelease the whole thing with the volume balanced better. Sometimes I’m listening on a speaker as opposed to headphones, and maybe that’s the issue; they highly recommend listening on headphones, but if they sound-designed the show in a way that makes it an unpleasant chore to listen to without headphones....well...I think that’s a mistake. Like I said, I have no complaints about the storyline or acting, but I hate that I have to keep me finger on the volume button in order to listen.
  • Walter cp
    Amazing show
    Amazing show, my heart hasn’t stop yet.
  • Bubblez61494
    Love it!!
    Everyone is so good! It’s so poetic and real! Great cast, everyone I’m already of fan of and this was just amazing!!
  • Sci-fi luv
    Excellent sci-if, diversity and right on point with social and ethical medical issues
    Excellent sci-fi, diversity and right on-point with social and ethical medical issues‼️
  • Reiko Moss
    Not bad
    Not a bad podcast and I do like most of the cast. I just found myself getting confused and lost a lot of the times because I felt like not a lot of the characters and their intentions were explained. It has potential to be a great podcast but I think the writing needs some work.
  • Toosantos
    Not one to remember
    The premise of the podcast is great, the idea of a points based system to classify humans, scary but possible. It is the purge with less in the way of killing your neighbors because they parked on your grass. The story has episodes where you are in love with the rhythm of the story. The ads are well placed and allow you to still be immersed in the podcast. The voice acting and sound quality are brilliantly put to use in giving you the effect of ...spoiler....................living underground. The podcast takes a turn for the worse in its characters and plot, I’m not sure if it’s a love story inside of drug addiction inside of an overreaching government inside of a rogue agent? It doesn’t play well after a while. It is a marathon to finish. Disappointed as the first episode filled me with promise.
  • Avia6244
    Just what I wanted
    First of all, the pros. Great sound effects, brilliant casting and acting. I was able to hear the voices of actors and performers I love, but set in roles I’ve never seen them in previously. Kudos to whoever pulled this talent in. The crisp sound editing made me turn around/doubletake more than a few times. Cons. Slapdash love story, too much back-and-forth in the protagonist’s thought process, And unexpected relationships that came in the last 2 episodes. Who knew that she was so close with her boss? That threw me. I’m looking forward to season two but hoping that they take some of the critiques in the comments and better the writing. Maybe have the story told from different characters to help balance out the stream of consciousness overflow we get in season one? Otherwise, what an awesome distraction in a pandemic! Thank you for making this for the masses!
  • PatheticRomantic
    Meh
    Where did the love story even come from? All of a sudden the main character is head over heels in love, with no build-up. The apocalypse isn’t even explained, the goal of their underground world is very poorly explained. Voice acting is good.
  • opalimne
    Why are these characters doing these things?
    The actors are doing their best, I suppose, and the world-building is interesting enough, but the writing is uneven and flat. As such, I didn’t understand anyone’s motivations. Why is this character so warm and affectionate? We’ve barely interacted with her! Oh, but she says that she views the protagonist as a daughter. When did that happen? Do they even know each other? Why is this other character in love with the narrator? They’ve met like three times. Oh, but the narrator is also in love. When did that happen? They *definitely* don’t know each other. It’s all like that. Why is anyone doing any of the things they do? Unless the character takes the time to spell it out for us (which happens more often than you’d hope to be honest) we don’t know. The script feels like something written by a fifth grader and then polished by a production team; I won’t be back for season two.
  • Njtrapp
    Season 2 please!
    Trying to patiently wait for season two. Love it and can’t get enough!
  • ~ Violet ~
    Check CWs in Show Notes
    Super slow moving, very grim psychological SciFi thriller. There’s a bit of an unconvincing optimistic touch thrown on top, but nearly every other moment is a slow grinding description of layers and layers of threats, suffering, and violence. Lots of self harm, genocide, etc. Lots of discussion of racial issues early on, and this gets an extra star for bringing a Black writer onto the project. But there are also lots of holes in plot and character development. The audio work is interesting for playing with distance from mic to distinguish internal and external dialog, and lots of other 3D sound elements. So try headphones or something for at least some of it ... as far as I know the sound design is consistently done throughout, except a short song. There’s also droning repetitive background music throughout that takes the place of what I assume would be atmospheric sound design. That makes this feel super sleepy. Episodes are long, but not a lot happens, and much of the important action takes place at the very ends of the episodes, so playing it back to catch details (after you wake up and realize something important just happened) becomes complicated. There are also “in universe” style ads that really do not go with the rest of the podcast tone-wise, and are super long. The writers tried to tie them in, but it all just doesn’t work for me. Otherwise the voice acting is good. Some of the inner monologues are compelling. It just didn’t come together for me.
  • rhtjhbdbf
    Garbage
    Got sucked in due to a family well known cast. Complete garbage - narrator loves hearing her own voice too much
  • AliVega427
    A freshly shucked storyline
    Paragon Collective has served up a juicy fresh shucked storyline despite Deadly Manners having us on ice. This production team managed to learn from their mistakes and cracked open a thought provoking mystery (with actual answers along the way!) This surreal vision of the future is made morbid at times with several episodes referring to graphic violence, self-harm and suicide. However, listeners will slurp in the skillful acting and authentic sound design weaving together flashbacks and timeline changes without disorienting the listener. Although we didn’t feel there was a pearl-of-an-ending inside this podcast we still recommend plugging into The Oyster. Check out more of our reviews on Instagram @apodcastclub
  • Chaotik_lord
    Excellent Cast
    It’s a real pleasure to listen to this. I see a lot of whining that it’s like “this other thing,” but those lists of things vary quite a bit, because there are no totally new stories, just new recipes. And I like this one a lot; it isn’t too much of any one thing and it is told from a Black woman’s central perspective, which is a great choice. I enjoy laughing at the ads as they get worked into the story, too. (also, if your review was just you complaining about how you were not warned about the mention of the existence of a thing like self-harm or suicide but didn’t also point out the genocide, violence, or similarly trauma-evoking serious things, then you are insincere and selfish and should think about that),
  • Volfgang57
    Good actors, bad script
    Voice actors and sound design were great, but the writing was pretty bad. The complete 180s some characters made in their choices for no real reason was pretty jarring at times, and as some people have been stating, it’s super predictable.
  • shsmith1
    no one likes Logan's Run
    when you gather a bunch of the finest ingredients and a proven, excellent recipe...if your entrée turns out as flavorless milk-and-water, you don't serve it. you do not serve it because any of your guests may be connoisseurs of fine ingredients and genius recipes. as such, they might feel compelled to finish the dish either because "in for a penny, in for a pound" or because they want to see if its maybe the very last bite that makes the whole dish sing. its not and it doesn't. it broke my heart to listen to such amazing actors delivering pat, mawkish lines in rambling scenes equating to adolescent romantic fantasies. the sci-fi of it all was so ripe. the socio-political commentary of it all was so promising. this was a recipe for mole rojo produced as reheated four-cheese hot pockets. the writing alternates between predictable, maudlin, and momentarily tolerable. it's a vapid take on a good theme. Butler's Parables, brave new world, 1984, Jemison's Inheritance Trilogy...all available for inspiration. excellent use of sound. excellent acting. incompetent story-telling. i am grieving the loss of my time spent listening.
  • rkarr72
    Absolutely loved......
    This is by far one of my most loved podcasts I have listened to so far during this crazy mess of covid quarantine. I cannot wait for season 2!! Keep up the great work!!
  • ominousboop
    far too triggering
    i really want to like this. the voice acting is phenomenal and the storyline is intriguing and thoughtful. there is diversity in characters and honest conversation about race. but the self harm absolutely ruins it. i am recovering from self harm, and i can NOT stand listening. it’s so unnecessary. yes, i can fast forward it, but it shouldn’t be there in the first place. it’s not truly relevant to the story, and just causes trauma to resurface and triggers me so much i nearly throw up. please take it out. be considerate.
  • Mrewens
    Pulls you in
    This storytelling is amazing like the other stories they put on. So immersive and captivating. Actors are so good. Puts other podcasts to shame. I just wish the audio levels were better balanced. Some quiet conversations are hard to hear unless you’re in a very quiet environment. Then the ads will be at full levels.
  • Palangio
    Good premise that falls short
    Great idea ....I love science fiction....but I fear this story couldn’t decide whether to be a documentary about future technology or a love story in a strange place and time ....the story line was thin and there were lots of plot holes. I liked how the ads in this podcast stayed in character with the story line ..... but never explained if it was a totalitarian government… How would those two guys be able to have a podcast criticizing the government? Also the voice actors were very good... I was disappointed...in this podcast but not to the point where I stopped listening ...it is worth listening to ... but… The premise was so good the storyline didn’t deliver
  • freshtalent
    Excellent science fiction podcast
    Excellent science fiction podcast Nice to hear productions like this w good writing and good actors. By no means is it perfect, but considering how little good fiction is out in podcast form, it really stands out.
  • poetjo333
    Immersive
    I was immediately drawn in to the story. The acting was so good. This is what radio dramas in the old days must have been like. Thankfully I was able to stream instead of waiting for a new episode weekly. I am such a big fan of Giancarlo Esposito. Excellent cast
  • Mark Donahue
    Overdone
    Way too melodramatic. Corny writing. Story started ok but ends up boring. Supposed love story is lame. Had a lot of potential. Didn’t get there. Bummer.
  • Rick Moose
    I’m a big fan of audio dramas
    And this one is excellent. I thought it was going to be super woke and it ended up not being too much like that so I was pleasantly surprised. Classic tale of tyrannical government with too much control over how the individual must live his or her life. Great voice acting, too. Can’t wait for season 2!
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