The Magnus Archives
The Magnus Archives is a horror fiction podcast written by Jonathan Sims, directed by Alexander J. Newall and distributed by Rusty Quill. Sims narrates the podcast in-character as the main character, Jonathan Sims, the newly-appointed head archivist of the fictional Magnus Institute - an institution based in London centered on research into the paranormal. In 2018, BBC Sounds listed the show as one of the largest British dramatic podcasts, with an extensive fanbase on Tumblr having driven much of its success. As of April 2020, The Magnus Archives has reached a download rate of over 2.5 million downloads a month. The shows audience had grown to over 4 million downloads by July 23rd 2020 according to a press release first appearing on Podnews.net.
Production
The podcast is structured as a series of statements recorded or written and then recorded for internal research use within The Magnus Institute. At the beginning of each statement, the statement-taker provides a brief description of the statement and the name of the statement-maker. Those who give or record statements in the Magnus Institute tend to lapse into a trance-like state not unlike reliving the event.Cast and Characters
Main Cast
- Jonathan Sims as Jonathan "Jon" Sims, the head archivist at The Magnus Institute, a title with which he announces himself at the beginning of each statement he records. He is described as ‘prematurely greying’ and ‘looking older than he is’ in “A Guest for Mr. Spider”, and he has many scars incurred from the hazards of his job. In conversation he is often rude and short-tempered at first, but meets kindness with kindness. After the events of "Eye Contact", Jon refers to himself only as ‘The Archivist’, having undergone a significant change. As of "Dwelling" and perhaps before, he is in a romantic relationship with Martin Blackwood. He is asexual.
- Alexander J Newall as Martin Blackwood, an archival assistant at The Magnus Institute who obtained his job by lying about holding a degree in parapsychology. In "Colony" he is described as 'not exactly the smallest guy in the world' and in "The Masquerade" it is revealed that he looks exactly like his father. He is soft-spoken and generally gravitates away from social gatherings. As of "Dwelling" and perhaps before, he is in a romantic relationship with Jonathan Sims.
- Lottie Broomhall as Sasha James, an archival assistant at The Magnus Institute, mainly locating records that could set standard of proof for statements. She is described as tall and having long hair and glasses. In "Human Remains" she was replaced with by an entity known as 'Not-Sasha', which wore her identity with a different body.
- Mike LeBeau as Timothy "Tim" Stoker, an archival assistant at The Magnus Institute. He assumed the role when Jon was promoted to head archivist, having worked with him previously in the research department. He is continually described as being exceptionally attractive. He has been in relationships with men and women, as revealed in "Across the Street" when he courts two file clerks. At first, he is kind and cocksure, but comes to resent his position within the Institute, becoming more cynical and angry in interactions with his coworkers, mainly Jon.
- Ben Meredith as Elias Bouchard, the Head of the Magnus Institute. The only notable visual description given has been his own assertion of having 'only two eyes'. He is initially dismissive of the concerns surrounding active paranormal activity within the Institute, but is quick to reveal some degree of intentionally withheld information when confronted.
- Evelyn Hewitt as Not-Sasha, a paranormal entity that wears Sasha James' identity. It lives in the tunnels under the Institute when not performing the administrative tasks, and has a significant role in drawing Jon's attention to the paranormal happenings within the Institute's walls. It has issues with using technology.
- Sue Sims as Gertrude Robinson, the previous head archivist at The Magnus Institute. She was replaced by Jonathan Sims after going missing in March 2015. She is described as 'an elderly woman in her fifties or sixties with reading glasses and grey hair in a tight bun'. She appears in some episodes in past recordings of statements as Jon and the other assistants work to understand her role at the Institute. Her demeanor is brusque and she is very serious about her work.
- Frank Voss as Basira Hussain, an officer sectioned to work on 'weird' cases through Section 31. She becomes involved in an investigation surrounding a death in the Institute in "Section 31", and is quickly entangled in the Institute's mysterious happenings.
- Fay Roberts as Alice "Daisy" Tonner, a detective also sectioned to work on 'weird' cases through Section 31.
- Lydia Nicholas as Melanie King
- Sasha Sienna as Georgie Barker
- Alasdair Stuart as Peter Lukas
Recurring Cast
- Jon Gracey as Gerard Keay
- Paul Sims as Jurgen Leitner, a collector of books affected by the paranormal forces the Institute researches. He went into hiding in 1994 after his library was burned down, and resided in the tunnels underneath of the Institute until his death in "The Librarian".
- Luke Booys as Michael, a manifestation of a paranormal power. Its appearance is flexible, but its base humanoid version is that of Gertrude Robinson's assistant, Michael Shelley, who was a tall man with straw blonde hair and a round face. It was bound with Michael as a part of a ritual. Its distorted version, the same appearance but thin and limp with hands as large as its torso, can be seen in mirrors. It both resides in and is a realm accessible only by a door of its own conjuring. It preys on people by luring them into its door and trapping them within an inescapable labyrinth. It was killed by and became Helen in "Another Twist".
- Hannah Brankin as Jane Prentiss
- Imogen Harris as Helen Richardson
- Guy Kelly as Michael Crew
- Jessica Law as Nikola Orsinov, a plastic mannequin who was originally Joseph Grimaldi. Serves a paranormal power which she attempts, and fails, to summon in "Stranger and Stranger".
- Hannah Walker as Jude Perry, a member of The Cult of the Lightless Flame, a group dedicated to destruction and suffering, who encounters Jonathan Sims in "Twice as Bright".
- Russell Smith as Oliver Banks
Awards
- 2019 Discover Pod Awards – Audio Drama or Fiction Podcast
- 2019 AudioVerse Awards – Writing of an Audio Play Production – Jonathan Sims
- 2019 AudioVerse Awards – Vocal Direction of a Production – Alexander J. Newall
- 2019 AudioVerse Awards – Performance of a Leading Role in an Audio Play Production – Jonathan Sims as Jonathan Sims
- 2019 AudioVerse Awards – Performance of a Supporting Role in an Audio Play Production – Alexander J Newall as Martin Blackwood
- 2019 AudioVerse Awards – Audio Play Production
Critical Reception
Plot
Join Jonathan Sims, newly appointed head archivist of The Magnus Institute, as he attempts to bring a seemingly neglected collection of supernatural statements up to date by converting them to audio and supplementing them with follow-up work from his small but dedicated archival team.Individually, the statements are unsettling. Together they begin to form a picture that is truly horrifying because as they look into the depths of the archives, something starts to look back…
Over the course of 5 seasons the podcast, whilst initially presented as a horror anthology, has evolved a complex metaplot culminating with the events of Season 5.
Season 1
Season 1 of the Magnus Archives ran from March 24, 2016 to October 13, 2016.The eponymous Jonathan Sims is installed as the new Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute's Archives. Initially he is skeptical of the supernatural happenings detailed within the statements, though eventually Jon uncovers connections between the statements suggesting that the dark forces and horrors described within them are very real indeed.
Specifically, a woman named Jane Prentiss, a former New Age shop assistant, has become the host for a mass of parasitic worms that seem intent on attacking members of the archival staff and, eventually, the Archives themselves.
Notable Episodes:
- MAG - 1 - Angler Fish - Show debut streamed millions of times.
Season 2
In the aftermath of the attack Jane Prentiss mounted against the Archives, suspicion is everywhere. Jon is convinced that there is a greater conspiracy behind the murder of his predecessor Gertrude Robinson, and he investigates alongside the police to attain answers. The other archival staff begin to worry for both Jon's safety and sanity.
Other pieces begin to move between the mysterious "Powers", and Prentiss' attack has left the Archives significantly more vulnerable than any of its staff know. Jon has spotted a figure moving within the Archives at night, and Tim is struggling with his scars, mental and physical. At least "Sasha" seems unchanged...
Notable Episodes:
- MAG - 43 - Section 31 — A fan favorite
Season 3
Jon is a now a wanted man, a person of interest not only as a suspect in the murder of his predecessor, but also in the murder of a strange old man found in the many tunnels below the Institute. Tim and Martin struggle to hold themselves together following the disappearance of their friend Sasha. The newly hired Melanie is acting increasingly erratic, and it is beginning to dawn on the whole team that they are all far too involved with the Archives to leave now, if they ever or even could.
As a wanted man, Jon goes from hiding with his friends, to being kidnapped by a sinister circus, to travelling the world trying to piece together what information his predecessor had put together on the mysterious ritual of "Unknowing"...
Notable Episodes:
- MAG - 81 - A Guest For Mister Spider — A statement from the Archivist's own childhood
- MAG - 87 - Uncanny Valley
Season 4
The Archivist awakes in the aftermath of the Unknowing to find a changed team. As the Archivist makes ever-greater sacrifices in the name of knowledge and those left behind, he finds himself concerned about Martin and his relationship with the strange new acting head of the Institute.
More is changing than just relationships within the archival team - Martin is convinced that a new power is coalescing. One which, if it gets its way, could spell the end of the world.
Notable Episodes:
- MAG - 158 - Panopticon — Accompanied by a post-season special episode titled Building The Panopticon - The Making of Mag 158
- MAG - 160 - The Eye Opens — Generated significant press, including The Podcast Dragon, SYFYWIRE, and Sueddeutsche Zeitung
Season 5
The Archivist has changed. Martin is still by his side. They must come to grips with their horrifying new reality.
Season 5 will be split in to 3 acts.