The Department of Midnight

"Dark matter makes up 85% of the universe. Recent scientific theory suggests dark matter is information—a fifth form of matter—and that we can wake it up. But waking it up can let dark things out.

James Callis is Dr. John Carnack. Five years ago, his dark matter experiments led to tragedy. His redemption is working for the Department of Midnight, investigating dangerous dark matter experiments, trying to prevent further disasters. But there’s a pattern.

And it all leads back to him."

'Department of Midnight' is a new series of one act, two hander audio dramas from writer Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan, Crooked Little Vein, Castlevania) and newly formed production company The Bellport Theater on the Air.  

I adore audio plays and so one written by one of my favourite authors revolving around the types of themes and settings we champion here on Wyrd Britain is a very good thing indeed.  Warren has never been shy of celebrating his influences and the shadows of 'Doomwatch', 'Quatermass' - Nigel Kneale himself the author of numerous wonderful radio plays - and William Hope Hodgson's occult detective Thomas Carnacki loom large here and those with a familiarity with Warren's work will feel the immediate kinship here with the 'Injection' comic series he does - note the present tense, I'm ever the optimist - with Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire that plays with classic British heroic archetypes and folkloric themes.

The cast are perfectly suited, James Callis (Battlestar Galactica) has that perfectly detached post traumatic British persona that mixes duty and weariness with a barely suppressed mania and Alicia Witt (Dune) - obviously I'm only talking about episode one here - is deliciously bonkers entirely inhabiting the role of being entirely inhabitated.

It's a really strong and intriguing introduction to this world, and I'm very excited to see where they take this. 

Episode One: The Cold Spot
Dr. John Carnack is an investigator for the Department Of Experimental Oversight.  Responding to a whistleblower call, he arrives at a lab to discover Dr. Sylvie Bestler’s personal experiment: to see what’s on the other side of the universe. Starring James Callis and Alicia Witt.

Episode Two: Jack in the Box
John Carnack’s old friend is being kept in a plastic cell.  There’s a contamination issue.   He tripped over something when he discovered his employer’s body.  But Carnack is concerned that something darker is going on…Starring James Callis and Gildart Jackson.

Episode Three: Song to the Siren
On the death of Carnack’s mentor, her daughter asks him to examine the death scene.  They find out too late that she died of very unnatural causes. Starring James Callis and Adrianne Palicki.

Episode Four: The Red House
The university bought a derelict house out in the middle of nowhere for this experiment.  When Carnack arrives to shut them down, everyone thinks he’s crazy, but he knows what the Red House really is. Starring James Callis and Nolan North.

Episode Five: The Devil Runs Out
A routine examination of a dark matter lab turns into a race against time, as Carnack is forced to pursue a face from his past intent on human sacrifice. Starring James Callis and Brett Dalton.

Episode Six: Judgement
In the season one finale, John Carnack faces the board of the Department of Experimental Oversight, interrogated by a prosecutor.  Now he must be held accountable for his actions.  And for the sins of his own past. Starring James Callis and Carla Gugino.

All six episodes are included in the playlist below.

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