With autumn finally here and winter slowly creeping in, commuting is becoming a much less enjoyable prospect. After all, most trips will soon be done in the cold or in the dark, leaving commuters with nothing to do but wish they had something to take their minds off of a long car ride or trip on a train.
Thankfully, there are many great podcasts and audio dramas that can take their minds off of things, without having to worry about squinting in the dark. Given how many excellent audio dramas have already been completed, there is truly something for everyone.
Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye
While Marvel fans certainly enjoyed the introduction of Old Man Logan, the company knew that there was more to be done with the older versions of fan-favorite characters. Thankfully, they have taken advantage of the medium of audio dramas. In Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye, after the death of all the heroes, Hawkeye is the last Avenger and living as a freak show.
The drama is one podcast that Marvel fans have to listen to. "I had no idea Marvel had made so many podcasts," says Reddit Attention_Found, but Wastelanders: Hawkeye should be the first that Marvel fans really pay attention to. While the subject is dark, the story is as fascinating as the characters.
Absolutely No Adventures
Most dramas tend to focus on the darkest parts of adventures and the heroes called to save the day from villains and monsters. Absolutely No Adventures, as the title suggests, is a clear exception. In fact, all that the hero wants to do is stay home and bake.
While it is interesting, Absolutely No Adventures is meant to relax more than anything. But that doesn't mean the story isn't engaging, as it often serves as an excellent comedy podcast, and "One episode contains the best send-up of the magic school trope ever!" says Reddit GentlyTurning.
Confessions From The Nocturne Nebula
A six-episode series that sees a wide cast of 25 voices, Confessions From The Nocturne Nebula offers a unique perspective of the entire noir genre. After all, "It’s an amazing noir sci-fi mystery adventure," says Redditor Jonbones42, which turns everything on its head.
Of course, the show itself is a twist on most depictions of noir, as the protagonist is far from a well-meaning figure simply trying to get to the bottom of things. While he will always justify himself, the audience is encouraged to doubt his every step, which makes it engaging and one of the best noir projects.
Blackout
A podcast produced by Rami Malek, Blackout certainly had potential from the start and met its potential with ease. "A lot of other shows get corny/too weird, or I get sick of the voices, but out of all the shows I’ve listened to, this one is still the best," says yaysiesss on Reddit.
Depicting a world that fell apart, thanks to a disastrous blackout that causes chaos across the country, Blackout features an engaging premise with even more fulfilling characters. While the second season sidelined many of the protagonists, the first continues to thrill fans even now.
Second Star To The Left
Another excellent science fiction audio drama, "Second Star to the Left is an amazing story about two people and the relationship they form with each other, and one of my all-time favorite audio dramas," says Reddit grifff17. The show certainly deserves the acclaim.
Featuring 10 episodes that showcase just how difficult it can be for a space explorer to survive on a foreign planet, the show also takes care to focus on the emotional weight of their journeys. Never afraid to shy from any element of the journey, the show is an in-depth look at a well-executed world.
The Alexandria Archives
Having enjoyed a 39-episode run, The Alexandria Archives delighted fans with its strange storytelling style. "It’s centered on a college radio that shares short creepy/weird stories with an overarching plot. It’s hilarious, kinda weird and the theme song is a bop," says Reddit Melissa9066.
Much like the Welcome to Nightvale podcast, the show features a slow descent into the surreal, as it slowly introduces its horror and fantasy elements. The show often leans on Lovecraft and other common traditional horror tropes, which can thrill any listener.
Archive 81
An audio drama that was later turned into a TV show, Archive 81 certainly deserved its shot at hitting the mainstream. "Currently it’s on my personal short list for number 1 full-cast multi-sub genre horror/thriller/sci-fi/surrealist podcast audio drama," says Reddit LivinLuxuriously.
A found footage horror podcast, the drama explores audio recordings left by an audio archivist as he uncovers a decades-old mystery. To make matters worse, the archivist himself is now missing, as the first episode reveals to listeners. It's a brilliant story packed with twists that can engage listeners anywhere.
Marvel's Squirrel Girl: The Unbeatable Radio Show
Another Marvel podcast, but one of a very different nature, Squirrel Girl: The Unbeatable Radio Show follows Squirrel GIrl's attempts to improve her representation among the public. In her six-episode series, Squirrel Girl managed to truly entice fans to love her.
Even fans who don't enjoy the character can still find the story interesting. "I've always been a Marvel fan but had no interest in Squirrel Girl until the podcast, and now I'm subscribed to Marvel Unlimited to read her series," says Redditor adoorabledoor. Given how much fun the podcast is, it's no wonder it can have that effect.
We're Alive
With the world falling apart, it's easy to fall into despair. But We're Alive focuses on the survivors of a zombie apocalypse and their desperate attempts to stay alive through it all. "It is very good; won several awards, has a few spin-offs and sequels and all that," says Reddit theMOESIAH.
We're Alive is one of the best zombie dramas, as it tends to dodge the typical urges of writers to pit humanity against itself. Instead, the survivors are forced to work together, proving just how resilient they — and humanity itself — can be in the face of adversity.
Wolf 359
A 61-episode sci-fi drama that follows a rugged band of misfits on their journey through space, Wolf 359 is a story that changes genres partway through and, somehow, truly sticks the landing. "It remains my all-time favorite!" says Redditor Attention_Found.
Having won many awards, Wolf 359 explored the nature of space travel, while also having massive twists along the way that change everything for the characters and audiences alike. It's a masterclass in creating an audio drama, and the characters are so engaging that it's hard not to click the next episode every time.