19B - The Sandstorm

March 15, 2013 - A dangerous sandstorm threatens Desert Bluffs. Plus, baseball opening day, a look at financial news, and Kevin finds himself in a strange new place.
The voice of Kevin was Kevin R. Free.
Weather: "Eliezer's Waltz" composed by Larry Cardozo and Ron Fink, and performed by Disparition. disparition.info
Become a member on Patreon today to help us keep making Welcome to Night Vale and get cool stuff, like Director’s Notes, bonus episodes, and even a new character named after you.
/ welcometonightvale
Music: Joseph Fink
Logo: Soren Melville, sleepingbasiliskdesign.blogspot.com
Logo: Rob Wilson, robwilsonwork.com
Produced by Commonplace Books. Written by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor. Narrated by Cecil Baldwin. More Info: welcometonightvale.com, and follow @NightValeRadio on Twitter or Facebook.
HEY WHY'S THERE NO VIDEO? Welcome to Night Vale is a audio podcast. All standard episodes have no video component. To subscribe to the podcast, go to iTunes, Stitcher, or find our RSS feed at nightvale.libsyn.com/rss

[@AnvilPro100]

It starts out so nice, you think "Oh, Haha! Night Vale hates Desert Bluffs because they're nice and normal! How humorous". And then Cecil shows up and describes the room...

[@rochellewatson9833]

*hears the studio room being described*😱 For the love of God, Cecil, save me and take me back to Night Vale!😖

[@fandomtrashpanda350]

*is screaming becuse holy crap kevin sounds cute and then hes demonic and its perfect!* yeah...poor Cecil

[@cageybee7221]

i feel like you really have to fuck up when someones response to seeing your town is "i want to go back to nightvale!"

[@hiraunia]

You know, maybe we should've been tipped off when Kevin described Cecils desk as "Not covered in blood."

[@aformofmatter8913]

It seems Night Vale is under the iron grip of an authoritarian government, while Desert Bluffs is under the iron grip of authoritarian corporations. I think the people of Desert Bluffs might be constantly high on some sort of corporate hallucinogen (hence why they're so happy & don't see the blood). It's also possible the animal viscera is some type of strange magitek (hence why the Desert Bluffs host called the Night Vale setup old, because Desert Bluffs hasn't used technology as we know it in decades).

[@TheFearChannel]

So in Night Vale creepy things happen and people are super paranoid. In Desert Bluffs gory things happen and people smile like nothing is wrong. Kevin describes the meeting with Cecil as a hug. Cecil describes it as a fight. Blood was filling Kevin's shoes for the first twelve minutes of this, and yet you never would have known unless Cecil showed up to point it out.

[@marunalister5597]

The Fear Channel Though that does get better when the twist is revealed.

[@voodoovanderby3230]

And in America horrible things happen and we blatantly ignore them pretending because we eat processed foods and have iphones we should be happy

[@HTFFanOfFlaky]

Kevin's voice and Cecil's description of Kevin's studio, are both accurate descriptions of a psychopath, depending on whether you are looking at the appearance of one, or the mind. Cecil's voice and Kevin's description describes an empath well (empath in real life is the term for someone who is not a psychopath). The difference is, Cecil describes things exactly as they are on both ends. Kevin lies on the outside and, on the inside, tells falsities he believes to be the truth, without ever being phased in the slightest. tl;dr version: Kevin is real

[@miss.dannitiger]

Wow!!

[@theseashellqueenfandomgal9333]

I’m the 1,000 like...:D

[@kylegast5787]

Desert Bluffs seems like a cheerful place but it has horrible people. Night Vale seems like a scary place but it has wonderful people. I feel like this is some metaphor that I can't grasp.

[@avieee_]

Kyle Gast yes.. but Kevin is perfect.... Kevin..

[@beholdnonsense5100]

Kyle Gast maybe​ not a metaphor, but it is a very neat literary device called a Foil, where two things have similar circumstances but vastly opposite results and responses

[@ericward8459]

Night Vale IS great. If you don't count Steve Carlsburg!!

[@PreppyHeiress26]

"Nothing is as it seems", "dont judge a book by its cover", and "if it seems too good to be true, it likely is."

[@HTFFanOfFlaky]

It's reality. Guess what a psychopath is. Charming, charismatic, knows exactly what you want to hear, but remember that I asked WHAT, not WHO.

[@raen714]

The saccharine cheeriness of this place creeped me out. When Cecil came on and described the inside of the recording studio, I felt validated.

[@hellflameflowers3930]

Yep

[@_hazelnut.coffee_]

raen714 same

[@miniquiny999]

ive never trusted a man more than i trusted cecil this ep

[@jmanred]

EVEN MORE THEN YOU KNOW

[@markantonyrogers3067]

Nothing is that great without something underlying it that is truly terrifying

[@notasilentcreation7105]

I understand why Cecil hates Desert Bluffs. This is terrifying.

[@notasilentcreation7105]

hello

[@Therapist_Solarist]

+Cass Jenkins totally agree. Cant get the horrifying description out of my head. Good god.

[@spaceynerd9956]

Notasilentcreation ikr

[@marunalister5597]

I’m sure you know by now but, they get better, especially now.

[@astarothosullivan3099]

Don't worry. It gets better. Just believe in a Smiling God. 🙂

[@kimberlyadams2078]

I love how well the writing made us feel as a member of the Night Vale community so that whenever we hear Desert Bluffs, we recoil, even if we don't know why. It's great.

[@NovaStella_]

It's so great. XD kind of the same feeling of trying to be cool and suave in middle school, then you meet your aunt who still pinches your cheek, wears pink, and talks about kittens and rainbows.

[@shahdshabah5037]

Exactly! Like the entire time I was grimacing and waiting for it to finish, because of Cecil's talk on Desert Bluffs and how horrible it is. I felt like I suddenly understand his hate

[@sam-ds3nh]

I call this, the Dinkleburg effect

[@eliaszogby5228]

ikr

[@davidhale2682]

I heard the words Desert Bluffs and was filled with VISCERAL HATRED.

[@EarthlyMaidenLita]

"I hugged this man, and he hued me back!" So okay, for emphasis, a 'hug' in Desert Bluffs is performed by grabbing the other person's neck

[@astarothosullivan3099]

Well of course! In fact, I hugged my neighbor so much today he collapsed and hasn't moved since! 😀

[@QueerAndHunger]

@@astarothosullivan3099 You disgusting piece of garbage Desert Bluffs citizen

[@dr.romaniarchaman5426]

@@QueerAndHunger oh no, please do not insult our fellow Desert Bluffs citizens like that.

[@konniekon525]

End Creeper if not... I might have to hug you to 😃

[@kimititan2658]

@@QueerAndHunger So, do you need back up or what? Cause there's three of them, and as of right now, two of us and I don't know about you, but I don't like those odds.

[@nerdyespurr]

Honestly, I don't mind Kevin's voice, but I do feel quite wary and unsettled by how...cheerful and normal Desert Bluffs is.

[@nerdyespurr]

OKAY I WAS RIGHT TO BE SCARED

[@draco0rex]

+NerdyEspurr maybe Cecil can't see the real city due to how damaged he's become in Nightvale

[@kelly-bisson]

Yep, just your average corporate-cult controlled city with mysterious clone creating sandstorm and a radio station fit to be on the cover of Macabre Monthly. Sounds pretty normal to me.

[@draco0rex]

well, it's just another day in trump America

[@a.lampman2165]

I used to watch a lot of it, but now I sometimes wish The Daily Show had never happened... so people looking to crack political jokes would have to try a little harder than "herpaderp FOX News" or "derp dee dee republican nominee". **sigh**

[@emma-gk8np]

i find that kevin's voice is perfectly chosen for this; it's quite pleasant and friendly but it can sound rather disturbing, especially when we're so used to cecil's dulcet tones. but i think the music helps with the entire 'being too perfect it's too disturbing'.

[@seguaye]

I’m 99% sure that Kevin has the same voice actor as Carter Kane in the Kane Chronicles audiobook

[@buzzsawenthusiast1756]

No, check the description

[@ohheyitsjustine]

He kinda sounds like Elijah wood haha

[@Scarshadow666]

@emma scoular It's interesting you say that since Cecil sometimes sounds like that to me (an obvious cinnamon roll, but still a little bit off), so that by the time heard Kevin, my first thought was "…this makes sense". ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@dog2169]

Although how horrid and despicable Desert Bluffs is, I prefer the weather in Desert Bluffs than Nightvales weather.

[@Theawsumvamp]

Awh Desert Bluffs is so sweet. Kevin is such a sweetheart. They're all so much happieOH GOD ABORT ABORT NOPE EVIL DEMON HAPPY VOICE DEVIL NOPE I'M OUT

[@campyroll9588]

mounira IKR HE SOUNDED INNOCENT IN TBE BEGINNING THEN JESUS.

[@doodlekind2307]

tbh same

[@sknfmsmr]

Before i listened this i saw some fanart where Kevin had black eyes and everywhere was blood. I was waiting for some creepy stuff but it's just Kevin's lovely, soft, cheerful voice. Then i was like "are they mistakeNOOOO"

[@oreokitkat7992]

Oh god the whiplash I had when the tone changed--

[@pollylittle7568]

"I let him live!" "He hugged me back." Either Cecil is far weaker than he thinks he is, or in Desert Bluffs they use violence to show affection.

[@avieee_]

Polly Little punches = hugs

[@muds_1036]

or hes lying and really was trying to hurt him but covered it up

[@kagato23]

It's a Hellraiser/Cenobite situation. When all emotions and feelings are filtered into happiness, the strongest emotions and feeling are the most happy. Intense fear, hatred... PAIN. All very strong and much easier to achieve then conventional happiness. So when you smack your neighbor with a brick when the corners of his mouth dropped for a second, you are helping him.

[@lr-]

Why is everyone surprised? Literally last episode he said something along the lines of "There's no blood".

[@oranjedrurgen8934]

for reference "bloodless" also means "inane/boring"

[@gingershit6994]

idk about others, but I thought Cecil went to a place, where blood is just casually splattered here and there, not that people pretty much swim in it and shoes just soaks in it like sponge soaks with water

[@LivingBasement]

I was suspicious, but I didn't expect a literal pool of nothing but blood and viscera interspersed with human teeth and hair.

[@randomperson5791]

Why the blood? I thought at first desert bluffs was a good place, I should've been clued in by Kevin saying "this dry, bloodless desk."

[@imaducky2617]

"this equipment iis too...dry..."

[@OLeann-sr8hi]

This odd and... bloodless desk.

[@richardmcnamara8715]

Steve. Carlsberg. Listens to... DESERT BLUFFS RADIO? Yep. I agree with Cecil on this one. Steve. Freaking. Carlsberg.

[@emilyhudson1826]

hOW DARE YOU SPEAKITH OF THAT S T E V E C A R L S B E R G

[@kimititan2658]

I have literary just joined this fandom and I'm only on episode 20, but even I know we don't speak of He Who Shall Not Be Named.

[@AlmostMilk.]

@@kimititan2658 we do bot

[@AlmostMilk.]

Not.

[@kimititan2658]

@@AlmostMilk. I'm confused, do we speak his name or not?

[@ForeverRoseTyler]

I feel so bad for Cecil omg he sounds so scared

[@avieee_]

The Owl Tree He just doesn't understand Kevin's way of thinking

[@blundungus]

His way of thinking is psychedelically drug-induced hallucinations.

[@user-garnet]

I really just want to give him a hug my goodness

[@ThatTiredWriter]

No way am I ruining that like count

[@koolkat-hq5xc]

Something I realized is that Cecil has never lied to us. He absolutely always gives us the news and tells it like it is. Kevin here is sugarcoating everything, he won't really admit to what is going on, and it seems like he has some evil intent behind his cheery disposition. And you know, a liar who tells happy news is a lot scarier than an honest man telling us awful news. We grow to love nightvale, despite its many, many tragedies, because we love the characters. Desert Bluffs is an infinitely darker place because there are no friends there.

[@bluemagician9724]

I honestly don't think you even need the gore, or the cult, or le evil corporate dictatorship, the pure, condensed Stepford Smiler aura is enough to make the Desert Bluffs/Strexcorp people loathable beyond words

[@zofifi7549]

yeah, true Cecil seems to be a little too honest for his own good, he likes to blabbe out everything he sees, no filter even when it gets him in trouble with some eldrich horror (city council and the radio station's menagment)

[@NovaStella_]

I JUST NOTICED THAT THIS MUSIC HAS THE SAME MELODY AS LAST EPISODE'S WEATHER BUT IT'S NADE WITH TONES INSTEAD OF VOICES WHAT THE ACTUAL WHAT

[@wormonastring2544]

oh my god you're right

[@ketaminepoptarts]

oh my god you're right wtf

[@PreyfortheMad]

The music last time and this time are both called eliezer's waltz. One coin, two faces.

[@misteruncanny]

Im pretty sure its a metaphor. Nightvale seems terrifying, but the people are human, even if it gets strange and they seem extreme- its what they're used to. A sheep follows its flock. Desert Bluffs is the exact opposite. No one seems human. They're cheerful and positive, much to the point its unsettling. As Cecil has once said- "If everything seems too good to be true, it probably is." Desert Bluffs is something more unnatural than NightVale. Hugging is described, or could be described as choking, or fighting, but we wouldn't know. We arent Desert Bluff Civilians. We're Night Vale civilians. Not to mention, when naming the government's good deeds, Kevin mentioned behaviour. As if everything always has to be happy. A Utopia, almost. I know im probably late, but i couldn't help myself and im really new to the fandom.

[@NovaStella_]

@@misteruncanny Yo, it's been so long since I listened to this series, I might fuck around and start listening to it again. Thank you for bringing me back to it, newbie ^^

[@rainphee]

Oh god I thought Night Vale was a horrible place to live but in Desert Bluffs I would become a serial killer I'm not even joking

[@MySerpentine]

+The Rainbow Phoenix Art & Design Just like everyone else there, then?

[@seeingstarsyet2478]

+MySerpentine thank you. Someone gets it. Not a nice place. Thank you.

[@rainphee]

good point :/

[@MySerpentine]

Seeingstarsyet? There are people who think it's nice? I mean, I feel sorry as fuck for the people, but that just makes it worse

[@kelly-bisson]

You would fit right in then.

[@1marebear12]

WHAT THE HELL????? HE WAS SO OPTIMISTIC AND CHEERFUL??? AND TALKING ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS OUTSIDE???? AND HIS STUDIO IS COVERED WITH BLOOD AND TEETH!?!!??!?? I AM NEW TO THIS FANDOM AND I AM SO CONCERNED RIGHT NOW

[@kendromeda42]

+1marebear12 All I can say is....Welcome to Night Vale >:-)

[@snakehascake]

+Silver Charters More like Welcome to Desert Bluffs

[@miceky222]

And now the weather

[@niconico4962]

Basically this is the fandom

[@normanrobles6086]

Relax. Its all perfectly normal. Blood is just rain with some red food coloring. And clearly there is no need for concern.

[@bareakon]

Kevin likes Steve Carlsberg. That MONSTER!

[@EternalDevotion11]

My thoughts exactly!!! I was super creeper out hearing him call Steve Carlsberg of all people "a great guy".

[@memekid6475]

Kevin That MONSTER

[@Sephajinami]

Steve Carlsberg is an absolute sweetheart and a good father.

[@sharkydoesstuffandthings5014]

+Kira Suzuki Are you from Desert Bluffs??

[@WISH_2000]

Steve Carlsberg must be banished from existence

[@Kittymouth]

Dear sweet, merciful... WHY do I find his happy voice so obnoxious? But I like how both he and Cecil find the same cat video to be super-adorable. And Cecil's voice seems dark and jarring after listening to Kevin prattle on happily for 14 minutes. Especially since he sounds genuinely upset in a way that I haven't heard since episode 3.

[@Therapist_Solarist]

+A.M. I totally agree. Kevens voice is... sick. twisted in a way we all must dislike with our love for cecil. Its just Ug. And when cecil shows us the truth its even more horrifying. The eye description I cant get out of my head. God.

[@kimberlyadams2078]

I think the writing is just super effective. It's ingrained into us to have feelings of rivalry with Desert Bluffs. It made us feel as a collective as Night Vale, even if we are constantly confused by what the heck even. It's super cool. Also, Hatoful Boyfriend!

[@Kittymouth]

Kimberly Adams Coo!

[@kimberlyadams2078]

A.M. Coo coo!

[@justmatte8688]

Agreed. Cecil barely ever sounds distressed, unless he is talking about something he feels VERY strongly about.

[@alexandercolefield9523]

I've been watching this series, and by far, the Desert Bluffs is by far the scariest thing the series has put out. Its kind of shocking the difference, sure in one town all sorts of insanity happens with a tyrannical government, but everything is out in the open and up front. In this world, I swear they are all on drugs or something, and think a blood world is fantastic and that fighting is hugs. Its in many ways worse than night vale.

[@seeingstarsyet2478]

I agree, but, {note from my friend} cassette is supposed to be the scariest

[@coyotezzz]

Into The FUCKING Narrow Place. *Shuddering*

[@spaceynerd9956]

Alexander Colefield Yass

[@gormpus]

Right, in night vale everyone even knows about the sheriff's "secret police"

[@ClaeWilson]

It's funny how easily you can tell who commented before getting all the way through the episode.

[@kel9091]

ikr

[@raymckane1286]

This is too disturbing and eerily happy and it creeps me out I miss Night Vale

[@raymckane1286]

This is legit how I imagined America when I was like 9

[@raymckane1286]

Okay this was normal until the sand double bit I'm starting to freak out a bit

[@raymckane1286]

THE BOX CAT OML I LOVE BOX CAT

[@raymckane1286]

WTH HOLLOWED OUT RODENTS THIS IS LIKE THE RADIO VERSION OF DHMIS NORMAIL AND THEN WTF

[@raymckane1286]

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON

[@Samookely]

PETITION TO BURN DESERT BLUFFS WITH FIRE WHO'S WITH ME

[@abbyw5946]

I like ice cream CAN I USE MOLOTOVS?!

[@Samookely]

Arctic Wolf YES, MOLOTOVS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED

[@conqueroroffemalegenitalia8315]

IM IN

[@terezipyrope2800]

I like ice cream WH4T3V3R 4 D3S3RT 1S, 1M 1N T00!!! H3H3H3H3H3H3 >:]

[@Samookely]

Terezi Pyrope AW YEAH WE EVEN GOT TEREZI INTO THIS!

[@henazdenarion7594]

At first I thought Desert Bluffs was just a normal town that everyone in Night Vale hated for really no reason. I was so wrong...

[@thesandman1385]

Desert bluffs scares me...

[@juniarvidsson7755]

I fvcking hate Desert Bluffs

[@elvingearmasterirma7241]

To be fair, even before that I hated Desert Bluffs cuz its so saccharine sweet. So typical white suburban it makes me want to burn stuff down.

[@juniarvidsson7755]

@@elvingearmasterirma7241 Same i wanna burn Desert Bluffs down, it's so sickly sweet 👀

[@deerskewl]

Aww, Cecil and Kevin both love the cat who jumps in and out of boxes. If they weren't from Night Vale and Desert Bluffs they would totally be cat buddies.

[@seeingstarsyet2478]

NO NO THEY WOULDNT BECAUSE THEN... Censored by Strex Corp. Believe in a smiling god.

[@deerskewl]

Oh deer.

[@joelredacted2372]

no bc he likes Steve Carlsberg it wasn't meant to be

[@cayennelee5015]

Scourgey Cat well it was better when Cecil talked about it

[@healthcareforallfiftyseven3773]

I sense that the cat is Schroedinger's (sp?) cat. And Night Vale and Desert Bluffs exist at the point in the space-time-continuum where one can know about the cat.

[@trinityiwicki9823]

When I heard Cecil it was just like, "MY CHILD HAS RETURNED FROM THE WAR I MISSED YOU."

[@AimeeOliveira]

ME TOO BRO ME TOO

[@pizzapie08]

I finally understand why Cecil hates Desert Bluffs so much. It seems like a cheery alternate world. That would explain the portal. I think.

[@pizzapie08]

pizzapie08 Though the cheeriness doesn't explain why there's blood everywhere. WHY IS THERE BLOOD EVERYWHERE?????!!!!

[@calebcoble7468]

pizzapie08 kevin is brainwashed very badly so when the he is talking about the others getting along they are killing each other. AKA Hugging=Choking

[@pizzapie08]

Caleb Conle Oh okay that makes a lot of sense.

[@insertcleverusename8965]

I don't think you finished it when you wrote this because BLOOD IS EVERYWHERE

[@caleightilson8030]

I love that Kevin hugged cecil and cecil thought he was being attacked and tried to strangle him and Kevin's just like he hugged me back c:

[@MLGMInecraft09]

I'm pretty sure that Dessert bluffs is actually incredibly demented. He describes the entire series of events as the clones on his side cooperating... seems like either the clones on the other side acted differently... or desert bluffs has a very different view of "Cooperation"

[@theconfusedvampire]

His desk is covered in disembodied organs. I don't think that was a hug. I'm pretty sure Kevin is a overly cheerful sadist with no soul....

[@aloneandalowly]

From what i can tell, Desert Bluffs are all dopped up. They can't see whats happening. Only see the good StrexCorp desires they see. Kevin also suffers signs of Manic Depression.

[@Scp716creativecommons]

@@theconfusedvampire a psychotic hippie on solaroids could uproot a young sapling by hug

[@dr.altoclef9255]

In one of these Kevin says something like "I rarely feel anything. I rarely feel anything at all." He's not happy, not at all. He doesn't feel real joy (seemingly unless he's doing his job as radio host), but Strexcorp is all about how things should *appear* joyful and *appear* good. As long as he SEEMS happy 24/7 StrexCorp doesn't really care how he's doing.

[@HonorsBlog]

Night Vale: K I L L Y O U R D O U B L E Desert Bluffs: Befriend your identical coworker!

[@saigayatrivemuri9034]

So they seemed okayish, aside from their obsession with productivity, but then Cecil described the studio...... ohhh boy. At least Cecil at WTNV tells you just what is happening

[@andromedadywn9090]

Even if it means betraying anyone who talks to him lol

[@helencashwes]

I think the people are actually hurting each other... And Kevin is just insane.

[@MySerpentine]

Helen C C Ashbrook Kevin is horribly brainwashed.

[@spaceynerd9956]

Yess

[@kathycat4452]

Another be more chill fan, I see!

[@MySerpentine]

@Leviathan Oh god yeah. All the happy pills

[@shanesullivan460]

This reminds me of the time I was walking down the hall of my apartment building, and I met my neighbor's gaze. I felt the sudden, irresistable urge to hug my neighbor until their wasn't a breath left in his body! And I hugged him, and he squealed and convulsed and fell to the floor with delight--my neighbor hasn't said a word or moved an inch since that day. He just lays there in the hall, basking in the glow of our beautiful friendship, his head cocked at a wonderfully impossible 90-degree angle over his shoulder. Gosh, this little desert town is great!

[@mr2000s]

Shane Sullivan I cannot help but be reminded by this of an occasion when I was walking down the hall of my apartment building, and my eyes met the eyes of the man who lived next to me. In that moment, I understood that our meeting was no coincidence, and that it had been preordained long ago by minds that exist on a far higher frequency than my own, perhaps the hooded figures that are known to roam the streets whilst making sure all is in check with the quo that must be maintained lest reality as we understand begin to come apart at the seams we are all very well aware of despite our seeming ignorance of their existence. The man then tackled me, and we struggled for several minutes, a cacophony of the sounds of grunting and knuckle impacting harshly against skin. Finally, I was able to wrap my hands around his neck, and squeeze and squeeze until he let out a sound that wasn't quite a scream or a breath. His corpse has not been moved since that day for reasons only known to those that made sure the series of events that transpired to get it there took place. The things that we must do to keep our desert community afloat, Nightvale, the things we must do.

[@Damian-Hia]

[THIS COMMENT HAS BEEN CENSORED ON BEHALF OF THIS CITY COUNCIL. THIS COMMENT HAS NEVER NOR WILL EVER EXIST. CEASE ALL THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES OF THIS COMMENT.]

[@lucianchristinzio2630]

As a proud citizen of night Vale, all I can say is, STOP TALKING.

[@konniekon525]

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY GLOW CLOUD

[@lucianchristinzio2630]

@Leviathan you will be the night vale version of this comment if you keep that kinda talk up.

[@aeshaffer9152]

There was a single moment about three minutes in where I thought that there was a chance that Kevin would tell us the actual weather. The terror that I felt was indescribable.

[@doodleferp8158]

Me: I like Kevin and Desert Bluffs. Everything seems so positive! Cecil: “-teeth scattered across the floor... the window into the control booth is shattered and there is a fistful of bloodied clumped hair hanging from a-“ Me: NNNNNNNOPE

[@willudgens]

Its hilarious to hear kevin describe he and cecil hugging but cecil describes it as an attack on his life

[@sunnyfridayb3691]

I ship it

[@LivingBasement]

When hugs and strangulation are the same to you

[@a-bird-lover]

fun fact, "Cecil" means "blind", "kevin" means "kind/gentle/handsome", and "carlos" means "man"

[@pigeon.projects]

M A N

[@EmiPlayzMC]

*_M A N ._*

[@gormpus]

M A N

[@WhisperWorks]

M A N

[@user-eq8ou5ey7x]

M A N

[@samanthacomfort2887]

Night Vale meets their doubles: *War and violence* Desert Bluffs meets their doubles: Friendship!

[@jessl6820]

and strangulation.

[@justthings666]

Actually the people of deserts bluff were still hurting each other. Kevin's just on strexx drugs

[@strwbrychaee]

im so shook like Kevin sounds like the sweetest man but then Cecil described the studio...wtf....they seem like the type of place where they smile and laugh and giggle as they murder you.

[@ShinyMyuu]

Kevin and Cecil's descriptions of each other were practically the same other than the fact that Kevin pointed out that he couldn't tell if Cecil was smiling or not and Cecil pointed out his black eyes, but in Kevin's description "his eyes and nose are like mine." Does that mean that Cecil also has black eyes or possibly in Desert Bluffs itself they can only guess that their eyes are normal?

[@sweetdemonmelinda]

I believe kevin doesn't realize how he looks. For him he probably looks normal such as the desert bluffs looks normal to him. Because he is that much brainwashed .-. But thats just my thought ^-^

[@elv4165]

No no, guys Spoilers for 73 He says "have I gone back in time" And he sees the picture and says Cecil has his eyes "but I do not think he is me" Guys HIS EYES. Before STREX

[@cindygrotz5109]

After going back and re-listening to the whole series again, I think that Kevin is Cecil's brother--not his double. In "Cassette", Cecil talks about his brother having hollow eyes. In this, Kevin is described as having eyes black as obsidian, with hair and nose like Cecil's. But Cecil doesn't say that Kevin is his double. Just that they share characteristics, which is a very sibling-like thing. And since Cecil doesn't even remember having a brother (among a myriad other things), it is very possible that Kevin is his brother. Also, it seemed to me that there was a bit of jealousy on the part of Cecil's brother when Cecil started interning at NVPR. At the end of "Cassette", something really terrible happened to Cecil, I think something much more horrifying happened to his brother and he ended up in the blood soaked studio in Desert Bluffs. Just a theory.

[@LisaCohen]

Didn't realize you were a fan, too! :waves:

[@cindygrotz5109]

:waves: I love this show. I started listening to it in January, and I'm so hooked it's ridiculous.

[@LisaCohen]

I find it absurdly reassuring. Especially in the face of real life shit. Will you hate me, Cindy Grotz​, if I tell you I was at one of their first live shows and got a hug from Cecil?

[@cindygrotz5109]

Lisa Cohen that's awesome! I was going to go see them this month, but didn't have the funds. Envious is what I am.

[@xenoglossia8120]

Re-listening to WtNV now and I have to agree with this theory of yours.

[@ericopenscards819]

Desert Bluffs is worse than Night Vale and oblivious to it. All in all, they're just as horrid as Cecil let on.

[@gracet6533]

I think ur 100% right

[@eyrist1369]

I was right to be suspicious of Kevin. Also I'm proud of my son from Night Vale for staying committed to his radio host instincts before leaving.

[@isitspikey]

I now understand why kevin described cecil's desk as "bloodless" and his equipment as "much dryer than they should be" why kevin why

[@HexManiacQuinn]

New to the fandom, first time listening through the Sandstorm videos... part A I was interested in how chipper Cecil's double (Kevin?) seems to be in comparison. I heard the thing about the "odd bloodless desk" but didn't think much of it. Moved onto this one, his voice got annoyingly happy and then just Cecil's description of the place!! :O Omg, what the hell is wrong with that place?! Ok, umm, moving on...

[@MySerpentine]

+MoonSpider14 Everyone there is a brainwashed uber-corporate drone.

[@rayspecter3495]

Point is in Night Vale they are wierd, in Desert Bluffs, well, it's, insane, very very, insane.

[@thetricksterqueen1544]

I think the only difference between Desert Bluffs and Night Vale is that in Desert Bluffs they hide everything and are brainwashed completely by Strex, while in Night Vale everything is told flat out. Though I may be wrong idk

[@campyroll9588]

TheTricksterQueen I was literally thinking the exact same thing.

[@Em_Elizabeth]

Maybe they are oblivious to the carnage from whatever Strexcorp is doing to them.

[@xixotlx2708]

:( I feel sad for kevin and his voice actor... everyone talks so much trash about his voice...

[@TheCrimebaby]

+Francisco Ovalle Think nothing of it. His voice is actually really sexy, but the contrast is just too much to handle and our default is hatred.

[@xixotlx2708]

You might be right about this!! So easy to hate.... outsiders >:X

[@caketreeworld8431]

The first time I listened to Kevin I thought his voice sounded really sweet and I got confused why people hate his voice. He doesn't sound bad in my opinion.

[@Dominodude55]

+Francisco Ovalle it's mostly joking to thematically stay in the feel of Nightvale.

[@walterduncan6404]

+Francisco Ovalle I think kevin is cool. I just miss Cecil sometimes.

[@t.abby02]

not gonna lie, I really really like Kevin's voice

[@t.abby02]

its so creepy and happy

[@t.abby02]

... crappy

[@lilycat3983]

\\ Bllurplle // Oh my Godde I know I'm late but I just spit out my chocolate milk because I laughed so hard.

[@gabrielcadete4825]

Lily Cat chocolate milk is fine ...

[@inktonythekaonashigaster6631]

I thought I heard mrcreepypasta until I read the description

[@smartmouth4444]

Night Vale: Authoritarian Government Dystopia Dessert Bluffs: Corporate Plutocracy Dystopia.

[@t.abby02]

Whenever Desert Bluffs cheery, acoustic guitar, theme plays I can imagine the screams of the damned being heard in the distant background

[@Egalitariat-likesecretariat]

"And his smile-... No... That is not a smile." Everything else, kinda creepy. That, *_terrifying._*

[@ciaracorrea3]

Frickin, Desert Bluffs ಠ_ಠ

[@momisfaded2463]

Amiwrite?!?

[@fandomtrashpanda350]

....frick am i a part of the one percent that likes them?

[@horseenthusiast1250]

Kevin is awesome, but I hate how normal Desert Bluffs is. Do you have a telepathic baseball player? NO, YOU DON'T

[@horseenthusiast1250]

Though, I rather do like the way the doppelgängers are treated

[@HeidiSue60]

yes, the people of Desert Bluffs are trusting and kind. I like that...

[@seeingstarsyet2478]

NO KEVIN IS NOT AWESOME HES EVIL

[@seeingstarsyet2478]

+Seeingstarsyet? Spoilers: You work 24/7 the government covers everything up and every one who says anything is killed and there's blood EVERY WHERE

[@horseenthusiast1250]

I have listened to further episodes. Night Vale has rebelled, and Kevin has betrayed me.

[@darkeyedlegend]

Well, damn. Now I understand why he said "bloodless desk". That's really terrifying. I thought Night Vale was strange, but this place is just plain horrific.

[@gabrielletheriault7407]

The moment I heard Kevin's voice I swear to the Glow Cloud every muscle in my body tensed and I didn't know why . Now I trust my instincts more than I did before .

[@Ted_II]

This is one of the best comments I have ever read in my entire life

[@oliverdavid602]

this episode messed me up. Not just because of its terrifying qualities- the way it seems somehow more sinister than nighvale, the blood, the too happy quality of it- but also because it made me think so much about stuff and its existence and my place. I had to laugh out loud sometimes because of how it made me stop in the middle of what i was doing and just sort of stare off into the distance with what i am sure is an odd expression. existential crises abound in this

[@Jay-ih9jp]

I like Kevin. He's cute and chipper and happy. Naturally, I prefer Cecil since I'm used to him and his voice, but I like the change for a bit.

[@jennyramirez4957]

Exactly how I feel!

[@kismetfolly4954]

you won't say that when you watch 70a

[@seeingstarsyet2478]

You. You're evil

[@Jay-ih9jp]

Yeah I get that a lot.

[@merasmurry1460]

Cecil:"am i in hell?" me:"no much worse your in Desert Bluffs."

[@stevdawizard392]

.....theres some very very unsettling shit happening in deserts bluffs

[@EternalDevotion11]

Totally.

[@nateisking3347]

I just started listening to WTNV and so far I've found it extremely amusing. There have been parts where I would stop for a moment, say "What?" out loud, and then laugh and continue to listen. Nothing in the 19 episodes I've listened to has filled me with so much fear. Just hearing how terrified Cecil was and hearing his description made me stop completely and listen, horrified and sick to my stomach. When Kevin came back I actually burst into tears upon hearing how cheerful he was despite what we knew. I've never felt more sick over a character being revealed to be evil or false. All in all, this was an amazing episode.

[@NovaStella_]

What is this horrible place?! Cecil! Get out of there!! * starts rocking back and forth * I want my Night Vale back...

[@iamaunicorn1232]

Is Kevin some sort of Joy demon?

[@emmalee4074]

I am a Unicorn y e s

[@MySerpentine]

He's brainwashed as fuck

[@creamatory4631]

HOOOO BOY I JUST GOOGLED KEVIN AND DEAR GOD HES NOT AS CUTE AS YOU THINK I JUST HAD A HEART ATTACK

[@creamatory4631]

yeah seems like a nice enough guy

[@radcircles3642]

+Sebastian Michaelis HAHAHAHAHA nice joke

[@creamatory4631]

Ione Marren thanks

[@emilyhudson1826]

He's still cute though--

[@RobynRenarde]

You know when Cecil is freaked out, stuff's really bad.

[@KingSpyros]

Just realized Desert Bluff and Night Vale are complete opposites of each other! THE SANDSTORM WAS A PORTAL TO A OPPOSITE RELM!

[@skyethewolf]

the desert bluffs opening makes me uncomfortable

[@steviepeculiar2415]

you can hear the smile in his voice

[@danzig4814]

what i'm getting from this: Night Vale has a Turner complex. i'm just looking at them like neighbors and Cecil is poking his head up over the fence going "i'm onto you Dinkleber- i mean Desert Bluffs" and Kevin's Just chilling like "hey cecil!"

[@riri8007]

I thought Kevin was like a really happy a bright- kind of guy, but then... to know that Desert Bluffs is worse than Night vale, (together with the fanart of Kevin) Creeped the crap outta me.

[@m.orionyt]

... My name is Vanessa, and my sister's name is Deyna....

[@konniekon525]

Oof

[@hollingharris659]

i love how for the first few minutes it actually sounds like a somewhat normal town

[@Ted_II]

From the start I knew there had to be some fucked up undertone. I was not prepared for how fucked up.

[@hey-ln8uu]

Why are people calling Kevin creepy he is actually super cute.

[@hey-ln8uu]

*Oh dear God*

[@gothbotanist2376]

literally 90% of the comments right now xD

[@avieee_]

Alison Edwards Oh dear SMILING God**

[@LivingBasement]

But we've been conditioned by this series into expecting strange and unsettling things. Because of this, Kevin's light, happy demeanor and seemingly almost normal town feel wrong and out of place. It's unnerving and uncanny. TL;DR: he's TOO cute, TOO good.

[@raebaer8580]

I love that Desert Bluffs is like “make friends with your doppelgängers!” and Nightvale is like “try to refrain from murdering your alternate selves if possible”

[@cobaltblue711]

Starting the episodes: aw, Kevin is so adorable When Cecil described the room: abort, ABOUT

[@understandableparadox8685]

THIS IS THE BARE EQUIVALENT OF MR.ROGERS AND GAMZEES LOVE CHILD GETTING ON THE RADIO,HOLY SHIT I LOVE IT

[@walterduncan6404]

+because Deadpool (and Sans) GOOD SHIT THAT IS SOME GOOD SHIT RIGHT THERE

[@MunchkinJax]

TRUTH!

[@nearlypeanuts4726]

you MONSTER. How dare you enjoy this utter blasphemy! This is horrible, and you're only making life worse for yourself by "enjoying" it. We both know that this is nightmare fuel.

[@davepetacreates]

YES BUT WITHOUT NEAR AS MUCH CURSING

[@ravenparkhurst336]

HOLY F#CK KEVIN IS A RAY OF FREAKIN SUNSHINE

[@feverishnightmare6418]

That splatters blood all over their desk

[@iamspinelli6820]

So this entire switcharoo had blown my mind completely, I thought. So creative, funny, creepy. Another thought: I reaaaally enjoyed the Weather and suspected it had a tinge of disparition to it thinking "how funny would it be if they had him do the Weather. Haha!" My approval was in contrast to last episodes Weather where I literally thought "kinda hope this ends soon." IT WAS THE SAME SONG, IT WAS THE- THEY SWITCHED-THEY HAD THEM SWITCH AND DO TH- wow.

[@Msecrets24]

Cecil: And he attacked me! ( Strangled ) Kevin: And I hugged him! And he hugged me back. Is Kevin's definition of hug strangulation?

[@mychemicalbromance8865]

Queen Of Talks or is Cecil's definition of an attack a hug

[@TearsofaGhost]

I think the bluffs are hell and nightvale is purgatory

[@jennyramirez4957]

Oh god... I could get behind that theory...

[@harrystyles705]

It does make sense that there would be no heaven.

[@Eric-hf4ph]

+Tia Jaggi It would actually make sense. Heaven is all the other places. Apart from Night Vale, and Desert Bluffs. That's what i think. Sorry about my bad english, it's not my national language.

[@heathertulip2389]

Man, this whole time I thought Night Vale was the hilarious villainous force. NO, it truly WAS Desert Bluffs all along! Get us outta here!!!! It's a shame we didn't get to hear from Desert Bluffs' Carlos, though. Beautiful, perfect Carlos…

[@MySerpentine]

+Heather Tulip My theory is that they forced Kevin to murder him ages ago, and that's part of why Kevin is so fucked up.

[@Em_Elizabeth]

If everyone has a double, Carlos has (or had) one too.

[@logane_pera]

Omg, Kevin doesn't hate Night Vale. He thinks it's BEAUTIFUL. It's like, having an annoying hyperactive kid running after you wanting to hug you when really you just want to smash his head on a table.

[@davepetacreates]

except i kinda still want to hug him even if he's a monster lol im adhd too so yknow yknow

[@Scarshadow666]

Personally find it kind of interesting how Desert Bluffs and Night Vale both have horror elements, but expressed differently (so far, Night Vale sounds like a semi-Lovecraftian version of Twin Peaks in the desert, and Desert Bluffs sounds like a Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Jonestown combo).

[@dakotam5165]

Now I know why everyone hates Desert Bluffs so much.

[@micahconnor8954]

The moment i heard Kevin's voice, all I could think was: This is not my baby. This is wrong.

[@joelredacted2372]

this is the most unsettling thing I've ever heard... the thing about nightvale is that shit is crazy, but everyone is informed, unlike in desert bluff, where everything is secretive

[@Musshiss]

I don't trust this guy

[@Musshiss]

WELL THAT WAS QUICK, FUCK THAT GUY

[@avieee_]

Nekuro Shits Kevin is perfect! shhh

[@spaceynerd9956]

Nekuro Shits same

[@fandomtrashpanda350]

Diddly Davies YES HE IS

[@MySerpentine]

Not his fault. He fought to the last, poor bastard

[@SiesVE]

I’m still getting in to this podcast, and so far... that is the most scared I have ever heard ceicil be

[@Asterluna]

I love how Desert Bluffs is 95% normal with just a few unusual bits thrown in like the radioactive deer. Also, the sand being almost unfelt in NV but twice-felt in DB? Brilliant.

[@Dog-lg5ju]

No wonder Cecil hates this place, Kevin likes Steve Carlsberg!

[@lou626]

cecil sounds so scared and sad , yet his description of the room is perfect

[@DominationofProcrastination]

Its a strange thing when you hear someone happy and cheerful and you immediately think something sinister is happening or is going to happen.

[@CS-ku9mg]

I'm pretty sure Deserts Bluffs happiness and sunshine is just a front for Strex Corps' s greedy plans...

[@abracadabra3755]

+Cori Stockard I agree

[@sknfmsmr]

Strex Corps? More like Stress, Corpse All those blood and hair and teeth must be belong to someone

[@purplelemondoesstuff3044]

Desert Bluffs is so pleasant, I love it. Edit: Oh no.

[@GermaeAnne]

FUUUUUUKK It's JUST LIKE episode 19A but... HAPPY. I have never been more horrified.

[@steampoweredpines3485]

that moment when you know a person is evil and you still whisper "I love you" in that fangirl voice

[@tymakesart9555]

these episodes are probably the freakiest. i honestly am the most confused and disturbed by these episodes out of this whole messed up series.

[@Lunardivider24]

Isn't this an example of a true psycho? Someone that is does one thing thinking it's something else or has completely skewed or inverted morals? Like Kevin thinking that his encounter with Cecile being an embrace instead of them chocking each other and when he saw the encounter with the Vanessa's as them building a shelf. Or on the other side where he seems confused that the Nightvale studio was bloodless

[@MelissaKoczurMitchell]

Lunardivider24 What if they went into 2 different alternate dimensions? Cecil essentially went into a Desert Bluffs that would match his world view and therefore misconceptions about a town he intensely hates. While we don't know much about Desert Bluffs at this point, if you assume that they are super positive and happy, then their alternate universe could be created with a more positive emotional impact. By the way, this is based on me having spent the last several hours trying to figure out what I just listened to. I was kind of not registering the cooperation of the doubles Kevin described (which Cecil said were always fighting. That changed when Cecil finally took over Kevin's studio and described it physically. Not only was horrifying, but his description of Vanessa and her double was a bit different from Kevin's description. At first, I thought Kevin must be a complete psychopath and that this was probably an accurate description of the entire town. But, once I took into consideration the discrepancies in the towns' doubles behaviours AND the fact that both towns reported doubles at the same time, it seemed to me that Kevin and Cecil could not have actually gone to each other's towns. I will freely admit that I have likely overanalyzed this completely and maybe I just caught a slight error that needed to be accounted for that would allow for Desert Bluffs to be a bunch of psychos. However, due to the reasons I mentioned, I have to go with the idea that the two groups went to alternate universes, until proven otherwise, which is highly likely.

[@Lunardivider24]

Melissa Koczur-Mitchell hmm could be an oversight on the creators or it could be true.We don't know what kind of portal they stepped through exactly. That's what I also love about these, they give you alot of info yet leave out enough for interpretation. After I showed a few of my friends Night vale we can go for hours debating episodes

[@mickyyy5383]

Why is everyone hating on Desert Bluff? Kevin make it seem like the sweetest place ever. I love him and would die for him tbh

[@mickyyy5383]

Okay so I now realize my mistake. Excuse me while I scream into the vortex.

[@elizabethm4789]

Imagine two towns similar and yet so different. One keeps everything in the open no matter how crazy it is the other is a society with a government that forces you to be happy in the most creepy way.

[@FeliceJaganshi]

Relistening to this years later, i feel so much sadness and pity for kevin and what he could have been if not for strex...