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Residents of Proserpina Park isn’t just a hard to pronounce. Its knowledge of real-world mythologies is proof that the hardest things are often reap the greatest reward. The park houses a myriad of creatures in a safari-like environment. Hidden in plain sight from the outside world, the residents of the park offer both the characters and listeners a learning experience that is tonally similar to “Timestorm’s” premise of time travel and marginalized history.

Proserpina Park has rigid format with a frame at the beginning and end. The frame acts both a recap and “next time on …” that 90s anime used a bit too much. Functionally the same, but perhaps not that over the top like in Dragonball Z for example. The structure of each episode is episodic and serialized. It captures the pros inherent in the styles while ignoring the pitfalls.

Proserpina Park has both a season-long story and a mythical creature of the week. The show manages to hook you with the lessons while keeping you engaged with the season-long storyline about Alina and Sam. Once Alina introduces her friend Drew, you know it’s about to get hard for the characters. You aren’t sure when, but the darkest moment in season one comes in just the right place in the chronology. It’s not too early that it feels like a “shrug and move on” moment and not late enough that all the tension is gone. Savitar from season three of the “The Flash” TV show is the first example when done poorly.

Logic and Emotion in Proserpina Park

Alina and Sam are the emotional core of the story. However, that intellectual curiosity some people prefer in their stories won’t be disappointed either. Residents of Proserpina Park balances the thought-provoking with the gut-wrenching. You’ll come for the creatures, but stay for the drama between characters.

Overall, the first 10 episodes of Proserpina Park are a great introduction to this world. While having mythical creatures in it, it doesn’t detract from the human element that stories need to have in order to resonate. Those looking for an example of how to plot without twists and still keep it engaging, this and “Untold Virginia” are perhaps the two best podcasts at this.

9/10 Stars

Residents of Proserpina Park will release the first episode of their third season on May 15.