A high-concept audio drama, “Idiot Box” combines the tropes of TV watching with the real-world Milgram experiments aims low with its treatment of reality TV contest shows.

Produced by 19 Nocturne Blvd, this short audio drama is less controversial in subject matter than “Trophy Case“, but not as emotional as “The Rookie” and both written by Julie Hoverson herself. Granted

Non-Comedic Satire?

The disconnect between the watcher’s reasons for watching is a bit contradictory, but that’s kind of the point of the satire. Sadly a lot of the humor that often comes with satiric stories is missing. It tries too hard to be clever, but the sheer amount of characters watching makes the theme of “Reality TV is problematic for society” a bit diluted in its execution. On paper the concept is good and the performers do a great job at differentiating their voices, as is Hoverson’s grouping of characters.

With that said, it shifts focus far too often leaving some forgettable groups like the opening family and their son. Someone who can’t believe the collective stupidity of his parents and others watching. If he’s meant to stand in for the listener, why have the other groups like the bar gang or female couple? Sometimes a break is good for monotony. The only thing tying them together is the theme and not the story. Switching back and forth in this way gives the opposite effect.

Background and Realistic Deus Ex Machina?

For those unaware of what the Milgram Experiment entailed, it was a famous sociological test where subjects “shocked” other participants who answered questions incorrectly. An attempt to understand the horrors of the Nazis in WWII. The true purpose of the experiment was to determine how long people would follow orders, even if it was morally wrong.

The similarities between the experiment and reality TV are interesting, but the audio drama doesn’t go nearly as deep as it wants to be. For people who were already aware of the experiment, the way things are wrapped up wasn’t inevitable but it was surprising. In the same way that a deus ex machina can be. It’s more like the ending leaves a bad taste where you want more, but the thing you want isn’t what’s being served. It doesn’t quite ruin the beginning, but what occurred there wasn’t exactly groundbreaking.

7.5/10- Stars

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