The Penumbra PodcastThe Penumbra Podcast is a twice-monthly audio drama that I have absolutely fallen in love with. It was originally designed to be an anthology podcast, where every episode focuses on a different story and world, breaking the rules of that genre. However, a couple of stories in the Penumbra have since evolved into long-term arcs, and the writers have developed those worlds and characters in new and brilliant ways.
Junoverse
The first of the Penumbra's arcs follows Juno Steel, a private eye living in Hyperion City, Mars. Juno is everything you'd expect from a noir detective - he's sharp-witted and brooding with a tragic backstory. He's also canonically depressed, bisexual, and accidentally falls in love with the man he's trying to put behind bars.
I became obsessed with Juno instantly. He has a saviour complex but is also self-destructive, and throughout the series, he is forced to acknowledge that and how it hurts other people. His tragic backstory also has nothing to do with a dead woman but a dead brother, and even then, that wasn't what motivated him to become a private eye. The other characters are just as subversive. The femme fatale is actually a homme fatale, and the ditzy secretary is actually the smartest person in the room at any given moment. Gender norms are also non-existent in the Junoverse. Hyperion is a politically corrupt, crime-fueled city, but there everyone uses the correct pronouns and there are zero social stigmas about gender or sexuality. Juno himself is non-binary, often referring to himself as a lady whilst also using he/him pronouns.
The plot itself is thrilling. Juno faces crime family/entertainment corporations and murderous politicians, all whilst gradually accepting that there are people who care about him and that saving the world doesn't have to mean sacrificing himself.
Second Citadel
The Second Citadel is the second of the Penumbra's two main arcs. It is a high fantasy series that features a large cast of characters, centred on Sir Caroline as she leads a group of reckless all-male knights to defend their home against the monsters living in the surrounding forests. But as some of the knights learn, not all monsters are as monstrous as they were led to believe.
This arc deals with the sort of prejudices that the Junoverse does not. Being the only female knight and a queer woman, Sir Caroline has her authority constantly questioned. Sir Marc is an aspiring knight, but the Citadel's ableism has prevented him from reaching his goals. And then there's my favourite storyline of the anxious poet knight Sir Damien and his fiance and herbalist, Rilla, who both find themselves developing feelings for a monster.
I love the world of this story. I thought I was tired of the human vs monsters type of high fantasy, but Second Citadel manages to make it compelling with characters who are funny and charming and stubborn. The sexism and ableism within the Citadel aren't things to be accepted but are aspects that are constantly challenged, making it a refreshing take on the genre. Plus, like the Junoverse, the Second Citadel is very queer, with lesbian, asexual, and polyamorous characters. The plot isn't as addictive as Juno's, but still fantastic, and it is impossible not to be invested with such a wealth of well-developed characters.
Are you a fan of podcasts? What are some of your favourites? Are you a fan of The Penumbra Podcast too? Who are your favourite characters?
Check out my fanart for the Junoverse characters below!
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