221 - The Glow Cloud, Explained

The University of What It Is takes a special interest in a certain glowing cloud.
Weather: “Blackeyeblue“ by Shotgun Marmalade shotgunmarmalade.bandcamp.com/
The voice of Dr. Janet Lubelle is Janet Varney.
Original episode art by Jessica Hayworth www.jessica-hayworth.com/
Episode transcripts welcometonightvale.com/transcr...
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Music: Disparition disparition.bandcamp.com
Logo: Rob Wilson robwilsonwork.com
Written by Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor
Narrated by Cecil Baldwin
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A production of Night Vale Presents. nightvalepresents.com

[@i.wannabe.m.e]

I am genuinely, unironically, torn over this decision. I am looking at the makeshift glow cloud I have made myself, hoisted on an umbrella’s handle, to match my cosplay. This stupid cloud has made up the laughter of years I’ve had, and now it is gone. I know that’s the point of the episode, and I know this well. And yet, I am sad. The end of an era. How my heart aches. All Hail.

[@tavrosnitram1529]

im still holding out that shes actually preforming some sort of magic to tear down night vale and is going to go insane once she encounters the smiling god, cause desert bluffs is still in the area

[@kevinkaos8389]

Huntokar is now physically incarnate within the body of Susan Wilman. Hopefully the Ancient God that created Night Vale will decide to punish Dr. Lubelle's blasphemy in a way that her "science" cannot explain away. And Cecil will have to eat some crow when something that is and is not Susan saves the town.

[@i.wannabe.m.e]

@@tavrosnitram1529 that’s actually hilarious, because that’s what me and my friends are hoping for! We all miss Kevin so much, and she seems so cheerful in this episode. I wouldn’t be shocked, but I would be surprised if this does come to fruition!

[@i.wannabe.m.e]

@@kevinkaos8389 that’s right! With how long ago that episode was, I had almost forgotten.

[@PheonixStarsx]

CONGRATS CECIL ON BEING THE NUMBER 1 TUMBLR SEXYMAN !

[@MegamanXfan21xx]

Not bad for someone we've never seen (unless you count pictures of his VA).

[@wesleyhunt7599]

The first and foremost of his kind

[@PheonixStarsx]

@@MegamanXfan21xx indeed and cosplays

[@Q-werty30]

I am binging this entire series because of this….. Wow….

[@fauxclaws]

funny enough a few episodes before this the joseph fink thats stuck in nightvale confirmed once and for all that nightvale cecil *doesn't* look like his VA. wich is interesting@@MegamanXfan21xx

[@StevenvanDoorn]

I swear, if Dr Lubelle tries to explain Deb (the sentient patch of haze) next, I cannot be responsible for my actions.

[@lonelysith66]

She better not touch the woman from Italy, I’ll tell you that much.

[@portalknight1]

@@lonelysith66 Do you think the woman from Italy would even let her attempt to get close enough for an explanation? Because I don't.

[@galladegamerletsplays]

yeah I doubt she'd be able to and that's a good thing

[@realpsychic510]

This is the same thought that I had when I finished this episode

[@TheSkullivan12]

I think this Dr. Lubelle is owed an explanation herself.

[@jacobmendonca8571]

I think she earned herself and all expense paid trip to the abandoned mineshaft outside of town.

[@lolicanadian]

Well, I _think_ I can do that, by myself, right now. She is *colonialism* dressed up as science. Edit: This aged pretty well.

[@ariacorn7709]

In art class my sophomore year of high school we had to make surrealist sculptures that functioned like an everyday object, so I turned my desk lamp into the glow cloud with some pillow stuffing and LED lights. I didn’t even realize they could take anything from us, and I wasn’t expecting them to dare to kill one of the most iconic otherworldly beings in the series. I’m absolutely devastated

[@saferoundhouse5910]

Never thought I would ever mourn over a cloud. All hail.

[@iliketoeatbatteries8122]

My heart sank reading the title of this episode please huntokar don’t let it be true All hail the glow cloud. All hail. All hail the mighty glow cloud now and forever

[@rossricera7418]

I have the sense of finality emerging. Explaining away everything is sorta of giving us the ending we need..All Hail! All Hail.

[@iliketoeatbatteries8122]

@@rossricera7418 tears are streaming down my face because I know that you are right. All hail.

[@chaosthey3535]

First Sarah Sultan, and now the glow cloud... When will the destruction end?

[@ethanlivemere1162]

I hope this arc ends with Carlos, himself a professional scientist, explaining Dr. Lubelle (and perhaps explaining the other things back into existence? If that's possible?)

[@SirSadness]

My theory is that she'll try to explain Cecil and go insane in the process.

[@portalknight1]

@@SirSadness we can only hope

[@flareinc7413]

A L L H A I L ! I saw the name of the episode and shouted a very spontaneous and heartfelt "Oh Noo!" because latest Explained-episode was...traumatizing.

[@flareinc7413]

Nope. Wasn't ready for this. All hail.

[@jonclark8252]

The power of words created the glow cloud in our minds. That same power "explained away" the cloud. After so many years I am still in awe of the power of the writing for this show. ALL HAIL Nightvale. ALL HAIL

[@TemRio]

ALL HAIL. THIS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN, NOR FORGIVEN. ALL HAIL THE GLOW CLOUD.

[@infidel42]

All hail the glow cloud. ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY GLOW CLOUD

[@linzhatterxx]

I’m about to be caught up with the podcast for the first time in years, as I fell away from it for a while. When I first saw the title for Susan Sultan, Explained, I thought oh! That’s gonna be awesome, I can’t wait to find out more about her :) I was wrong. Then I saw the title for this episode… and I’m afraid. I’m very afraid for Night Vale. And for the first time in years, I don’t have the buffer of several episodes to calm my nerves.

[@eyrunoilivent5270]

It felt legit painfull to hear doctor Lubelle tearing the glow Cloud's existence apart. I'm heartbroken...all hail the mighty Glow cloud, you'll be missed.

[@quilyuit4700]

the glow cloud is explained, all honor the glow cloud.

[@noahg6024]

Dr. Lubelle went from sympathetic villain to just villain.

[@Dratchet]

She lost my sympathies the moment she kidnapped an innocent citizen and murdered that beautiful fist sized river rock

[@edwardoedwardo9905]

I’ve listened to this show since I was twelve, I listened with my dad and it got us into podcasts as a whole. He stopped listening to nightvale at some point, but I kept going because of what it meant to me. That cloud has been for a decade, 10 years. I remember listening to the second episodes ending that goes over the passing through of strangeness from parts unknown to destinations more unknown. I remember my younger self convinced by Cecil, to the point where I could smell, faintly, the scent of vanilla. It has been days and I have not lost this grief. It may take 10 years more to loose it. All hail.

[@Dawnslight16]

Over 10 years? Has it really been that long?

[@flinticusmaximus5687]

I couldn't believe it either

[@djquiles9789]

All hail to you, you terrifying beautiful bastard. May your precipitation reform through the atmosphere for eons…

[@FrequentFlyer815]

All Hail!

[@gamingvampireking1704]

ALL HAIL

[@0therun1t21]

I still ditch everything else I could be watching to listen to this. 💥

[@enemyghost2170]

Jared's message made me a little bit sad, Ioved it

[@stephenparkson3122]

all hail the glow cloud !

[@MySerpentine]

ALL HAIL, damn you.

[@NovaStella_]

After five years of being away for college, I'm back. :) Congratulations on the win, Cecil. It's just like coming home

[@dings215]

okay, i've been a listener for years, and that Applebees commercial.... best commercial you've done. Lol'd fer real.

[@i.wannabe.m.e]

CECILSWEEP.

[@honeybee8194]

CECILSWEEP!!!!!!!

[@allanna2100]

ALL HAIL

[@evildeathcuddles886]

All hail

[@gamingvampireking1704]

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY GLOW CLOUD

[@LaceNWhisky]

All hail the Glow Cloud!

[@chris999999999999]

I can't believe the Sheriff's Secret Police would let some just explain a former mayor of Night Vale like that.

[@gamingvampireking1704]

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY GLOW CLOUD I hope hes okay by the end of this

[@unlikelyspore1406]

ALL HAIL.

[@PantsAreTheBest]

ALL HAIL

[@annikat6793]

ALL HAIL

[@gabrielrossi853]

ALL HAIL

[@the_pipster]

screaming crying sobbing on the floor :(((

[@WobblesandBean]

ALL HAIL.

[@DarkWolfHyuuga]

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY GLOW CLOUD

[@zacwolfe6701]

Explaining Nightvale will bring doom to all. This is the end.

[@oldmanliver8301]

i saw the title. it cannot be. ALL HAIL

[@alyxgraff9121]

I'm holding the Glow Cloud Pillow I got from the Night Vale store on Christmas as I'm writing this. I can't believe one of the most iconic landmarks from this series that has been around since episode 2 is gone. Yes I know that some clouds glow because light shines through them & yes it's true in real life sometimes tornadoes pick up animals & make them fall from the sky but the whole point of this iconic landmark is that we didn't know why it seemed alive in a way. Now that it's just an ordinary cloud the makes tornadoes sometimes all the mystique of it is gone. That's what made it special. I know that's what the point of this episode was but it's still sad none the less. I hope that there is some sendoff to this iconic night Vale landmark but for now all I can say is All Hail.

[@alyxgraff9121]

Wait, I just realized. The Glow Cloud had a little cloud that Cecil mentioned is in college right now. If the same "explanation" applies to it as well does that also mean the other smaller Glow Cloud is just an ordinary cloud now too?

[@klltsun_2576]

@@alyxgraff9121 oh god I hope Jr is ok

[@alyxgraff9121]

@@klltsun_2576 So do I.

[@michaeltheredclown]

CECILSWEEP

[@crosshachii2659]

all hail!!

[@frankm.6816]

one of my all-time favourite episodes, from the capitalist existential horror of the applebee's and traffic segments to the malice in dr lubelle's voice, to everything else that i don't want to spoil for anyone reading the comments before listening. also some great weather!

[@vanessawallace3353]

I feel strangely sad. The loss of a cloud that’s trapped in a podcast hits harder than I thought it ever would. All Hail and fair well

[@KurasakubiSaurn]

Please don't kill the glow cloud...

[@FeatherVoid]

...all hail.

[@Disciple_of_Cthulhu]

We must give praise!

[@RMC123ify]

This genuinely broke mye heart... All Hail the glow cloud 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@SarahT153]

All hail ;-;

[@lonelysith66]

(Reads title) Well, this is going to be a complete and utter disaster. :/

[@Msliliheart]

I feel my heart break for every explanation episode. But I love the Professor's lines. It's ASMR along with Cecil's voice. Also, I also feel like I want for the professor to explain Cecil. Just for the angst really.

[@Spider-Dad40]

When i heard this i honestly felt like just lost a dear friend ....all Hail glow cloud

[@Pasha-dd7te]

ALL HAIL!!!

[@SiiriCressey]

Maybe if we all clap + say "I believe in the Glow Cloud!"?

[@davidlong1786]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO the Glow Cloud MUST get revenge!

[@TomMcMorrow]

I'm very excited to see the return of a season long Big Bad threat after so many episodes of relative inconsequence. This episode showed nothing is safe, the equivalent of killing a major character. Here's hoping there's something left of Night Vale by the end. Or maybe there won't be, and that's the point. Very curious for sure.

[@brendancahill4856]

ALL HAIL may the glow cloud never be forgotten

[@ashlingrey]

It’s time to explain Doctor Lubelle. Spare no excruciating detail.

[@kakorot84]

ALL HAIL ;_;

[@ArgentoNatsu]

I REFUSE TO UNDERSTAND

[@klltsun_2576]

...All Hail, the Mighty Glow Cloud...All Hail. And All Hail. Night Vale. All Hail.

[@DaemonInWhite]

Gonna throw hands with Dr Lubelle

[@Thermodynamic_Lawyer]

sobbing at this episode

[@Amizare1]

Does anyone else think this is setting up the end of the podcast? Once everything is explained, then what?

[@b1merio]

About time we got some ska in the Weather lol RIP Glow Cloud :(

[@cartoonking1789]

All hail the glow cloud, all hail nightvale 😢

[@tearmine]

안돼... 이 파멸의 끝은 어디인가 그만둬 nooooooo

[@felixcosm]

All Hail the Mighty Glow Cloud. Forever in our hearts

[@teresa_isei]

Not our All Mighty Glow Cloud! Oh my, this is sad,, ALL HAIL, Night Vale. ALL HAIL in honor of this icon now gone

[@jessicahanlon6742]

ALL HAIL!

[@ByronicBrit]

cecilsweep happens and then the glow cloud dies i cannot handle it right now

[@milonotsponsored]

all hail :(((((

[@trenthawkins]

I... Have a theory about what is happening, and what might happen. A theory I do not wish to share, because if I am right, it is not my story to tell. It has to play out exactly as they intend, and that includes our reactions. I think there have been clues. Some subtle, others that will only have been obvious in retrospect. If I am right? The writers of Nightvale are and always have been wonderful, beautiful, geniuses (I mean, they are even if I am wrong), but I am genuinely terrified. Please don't ask why.

[@user-garnet]

Cecil already addressed this but i want to give my own take on the difference between Carlos sciencr and Janet's. I think Carlos's science is considered respecting because he actually observes first, then draws conclusions later. E.g. i used this machine to show that there are seismic waves, but obviously i am not feeling any. I wonder why? This is a clear acknowledgement and hence respect of the mystery On the other hand, Janet just assumes all things bend to the laws of Physics, so she outrightly dismisses anything that isnt comprehensible. E.g. her murder of sarah where she outright denies sarah's sentience. God damn it IM STILL UPSET OVER THAT

[@vaalintine6148]

You know, if you make it turn out that everything in Night Vale was actually mundane all along it will legit shit on the entire series and make me hate all of it.

[@JohannesVIII]

Well, I kinda want to cry, now

[@galladegamerletsplays]

I haven't seen the end yet but the worst part is I know they woouldn't dare kill off the glow cloud but I also know they WOULD dare to kill off the glow cloud because they HAVE killed off big, important characters BEFORE!

[@matthewbooth8487]

ALL HAIL our friend.

[@hawk222]

Me seeing this episode show up in my feed: Oh cool, a new episode about the Glow Cloud! 5 seconds later: ...oh no.

[@dorrio8592]

All Hail

[@Dratchet]

All hail!

[@dracorex426]

NO. THAT TITLE. *NOOO!!!*

[@Jadedown]

All Hail ⛈

[@Biohazbird]

I'm not even fully caught up at this point, but I NEED for the feathered serpent to turn up and battle The University. A supernatural godly probably ancient mystery vs the cold insensitive destruction of wonder.

[@Dan__S]

🌥️❤️

[@Lozard2324]

But how does this explain huntokar talking about the glow cloud???

[@gatopreto9236]

I really wanted to understand what is being said. But Im not a good english-listener. Edit: thank you all for your comments helping me. 😊

[@saltypineapple8371]

there are transcripts online, i think on their website. I hope that helps.

[@infidel42]

The glow cloud appreciates your efforts. ALL HAIL THE GLOW CLOUD

[@chaosthey3535]

There's a link in the description of this video to where you can find transcripts of every episode online for free. There are also script books, if you prefer that.

[@gatopreto9236]

@@saltypineapple8371 thanks I will see that.

[@gatopreto9236]

@@chaosthey3535 thanks, it helps me.

[@kalishiva18]

Omg congrats

[@catglash]

ALL HAIL THE GLOW CLOUD

[@jonathanhaas9962]

I'm not crying, you're crying

[@rossricera7418]

Explain the Smiling God, Explain away Dessert Bluffs.

[@MMDNoroi]

🙏 ☁️ All Hail The Glow Cloud ☁️ 🙏

[@usernamesrtoostupid]

The glow cloud is dead. Remains dead. We have killed him. How shall we, cloud murderers, console ourselves? Who will wipe this blood (and rain?) off of us?

[@frankusmcjoe5943]

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@SirSadness]

Where's Huntokar? Someone needs to do something!

[@fauxclaws]

As sad as it is, i'm glad that the show s putting more at stake, that there's a real threat that has serious consequences. for awhile before this arc a lot of the episodes just felt very low stakes, and they were still enjoyable but this recent arc is pulling me in much more now. Though I am sad about the deaths, i'm interested to see what role carlos will eventually play here

[@galladegamerletsplays]

...huh...weirdly enough...I feel like I should be sadder...to be honest, I don't see this as the Glow Cloud being dead, I just see it as being...at rest. After all, Huntokar DID say the Glow Cloud was born as one of the old gods so clearly not all is explained. For instance, the cloud was IN THE BUILDING, not in the sky where clouds usually are. It's a full part of the student council and has made many decisions. Just like Sarah Sultan, the easiest way to unexplain the explanation is to say that it's clearly sentient. I hope it has a good rest for the time being. I will still hail. Just like it will one day hail again. Except the hail will be dead animals and not...pieces of ice

[@galladegamerletsplays]

oh yeah also I doubt Ms. Lubelle can explain away the fact that it HAD A CHILD

[@galladegamerletsplays]

oh and at the end it seems like the glow cloud might still have that power. That final "all hail" carried the EXACT same weight as it used to

[@mezzorosebane92]

......i.....all hail.....

[@Aster_druid]

All Hail. 😔

[@imgeniusish]

hoooo boy i never thought id tear up bc of the glow cloud but here we are. i hate this "scientist" i hope we can stop her soon before she explains our whole existence away

[@gabrielrossi853]

Why must you hurt us like this?