Part 1, Chapter 10: Thistle

Season finale. The end of one search, and the start of another.
This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Get your first three meals free (with free shipping!) at www.blueapron.com/alice.
Help us make season 2 by donating at www.aliceisntdead.com.
Alice Isn't Dead t-shirts & posters now available in our store:
www.topatoco.com/alice
Music & Production: Disparition, disparition.info.
Written by Joseph Fink. Narrated by Jasika Nicole.
Logo by Rob Wilson, robwilsonwork.com.
Part of the Night Vale Presents network.

[@marciaarenas7928]

"don't try to make poetry out of the blood in your hands" is such a powerful quote. And oh god do I love this podcast, that ending was incredible!

[@lilliansunshine7499]

Okay but that bit about channeling anxiety was just about the most liberating thing ever

[@scarman1675]

hell yes

[@MMDAMV]

I'm actually teary-eyed. She did it. She found her. She killed him. Our beloved unnamed hero. As a person with generalized anxiety disorder, hearing her story of power has empowered me to push on. I'm proud of her, if that makes sense. I'm very, very proud.

[@thewordywarlock7159]

her name is Keisha tho

[@MMDAMV]

TheWordyWarlock That's a nickname, not her proper one!

[@Kinslate]

+Professor JAJL Noooo, they said that was her name.

[@MMDAMV]

Kinslate HQ Huh! Must have heard wrong then!

[@Kinslate]

Professor JAJL That's why they talked about "calling your wife by their real name" for a few moments.

[@drewsherod6567]

So I'm still piecing this together. I'm still not sure what the exact message that I'm assuming their trying to get across here is but there is some sort of fantastic symbolism here in the ideas of both sexual violence and rape. These creatures, these Thistlemen, are of course embodiments of horrific crimes and violence and the heather is what gives it away. The heather is the key. Heather was believed by Druids to be a Goddess herb. It is carried specifically as a guard against rape and other violent crimes. I don't see any other reason why heather would be something of such importance. This is an absolutely incredible series and I can not wait to continue and see the rest of this series.

[@lilaboxx]

I know it's been years but I'm gonna reply anyway. I googled those flowers because I didn't know what they looked like and i realized that they're often planted on graves in Germany. I think it's more of a practical thing because they are kind of weather resistant that a symbolism thing but it's interesting anyway

[@sweeting6075]

The fight scene against the thistle man gave me chills, converting fear into strength I just fucking loved that so much

[@someoddusername5677]

I feel like part two is gonna be from Alice's perspective and the whole thing will make sense.

[@KieraBey]

+johnmburt1960 Really good. Like to see who thy get as Alice.

[@bliffity2692]

Probably the one who voiced her in this episode.

[@QueerChaosFrog]

As someone with anxiety disorder, this made me feel awesome!

[@Jnow796]

the mattress is so good you feel like dead when you lay down

[@MrDosenburg]

Who else sticks around for the music at the end?

[@shadowwatcher3957]

I do!

[@Goldfog]

I really like the "American roadtrip" theme, it reminds me of Neil Gaiman's American Gods

[@MrPigeoncat]

she has a name now!

[@zackfair1863]

nooot quite, just more nicknames lmao

[@TheLittlehopeful]

+Zack Fair no that was her real name

[@zackfair1863]

+Hope Romero Oh woop yeah you're right I just heard it wrong

[@TheLittlehopeful]

haha no worries, I thought it was another nickname for a second. :)

[@daniellalebron658]

I thought her name was chanterelle.... w0t

[@zoebroneer7370]

Amazing story, beautiful writing, a protagonist so human you can't help but fall a little in love with her... I can't wait to hear more of Alice Isn't Dead! Thank you for this incredible podcast.

[@jennasolomon3759]

I was fucking done whenever he said the chicken crossed the road to get to the other side

[@lilliansunshine7499]

Why can't she go with Alice? She killed a Thistle Man with her bare hands she's a total badass. Maybe Alice doesn't want her heart so close to her that it can be used against her but it sounded suspiciously like BS

[@lowrilock]

not that this episode wasnt amazing but i think my favorite part was " why did the chicken cross the road? to get to the other side" it just made me smile. i love this podcast from the deepest part of my being

[@TRZPYROP-ps7lf]

The voice at the end was either Alice or Sylvia. At least, that's my guess.

[@SalemSingsStuff]

as someone who suffers from anxiety, Quisha is my new hero. This was so beautiful.

[@WhaleManMan]

The Thistle Man got WorldStarred.

[@andymilliken520]

those towers she's talking about are the Nevada solar panels, and it is so hot that no species can survive next to them, it apparently gets upwards of 270 degrees, so it's basically like the oven she talked about.

[@haileenicolehenson4803]

Alice Isn't Dead is in fact my absolute favorite podcast of all the podcasts

[@codesneezes]

holy shit the ending music is so good.

[@MrDrworm]

How can Alice Isn't Dead be my favorite podcast ever when there is Nightvale?

[@zackfair1863]

I hope we hear more of/about Sylvia in the next part I'll see if I can donate a bit, too, this is a podcast I want to support :> Thank you guys for this fantastic story!!!

[@RiahGreen]

u seen nightvale or within the wires?

[@zackfair1863]

+Gabriel Green omg of course I've been into night vale since almost the beginning

[@RiahGreen]

nice i was there at about 50 and caught up at about eapisode 60

[@RiahGreen]

waht about wtw?

[@zackfair1863]

+Gabriel Green nice

[@loganisanerd5566]

Jesus, an extra commercial in the climax? The price to pay for such a good show, I guess.. As always, stellar episode, this is now officially my favorite podcast. I dunno how I'll get back into Night Vale, now, though.. again- the price to pay.

[@codesneezes]

14:07 her MCU bruce banner moment

[@ronniegeddes5072]

This truly is the greatest serial adventure that I know of to date.

[@rgp6686]

I thought that it was Alice at the end first. But now it just sounds threatening.

[@mayhapsashark2549]

Anyone else feel like the woman at the end who gave Keisha(?) her truck is Sylvia's mom? I mean, Sylvia and Alice are also supposedly dead, so why not Sylvia's mom?

[@lenniee4399]

I'M FREAKING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALGEBRA EVERYONE IS STARING

[@catinheels88]

Hmm, the name Chanterelle is a type of fungi. Not sure if this is on purpose but all the main characters so far have associations with plants/organic growth - Sylvia with her heather oil and Thistle man (obviously). Then 'Alice' makes me think of Alice in Wonderland, when she starts to talk to all the flowers. I may be over-thinking this though!

[@noixamyd]

That final line, though.

[@GegoXaren]

So she is freaked out by solar plants/furnaces? Right...

[@anguswallace8161]

DONT READ UNLESS YOU FINISHED THE EPISODE I really hoped that the soldiers symbol would say 'Sheriffs Secret Police'. Also: WHO IS THAT AT THE ENDDDD

[@TheLittlehopeful]

My guess it was Alice.

[@_-.-_-_.._--.-_-_----_-.--_._-]

I was disappointed when it wasn't...

[@myTrainline]

Bruh they're more likely to be those secret agents that got called into action whenever a code word gets broadcasted. either way fuuuuuuck this is so good holy f

[@anonymousdratini]

Possibly Alice, possibly someone new. I also hope we get some episodes narrated by Sylvia.

[@RiahGreen]

alice obviosly

[@kevincelentano5142]

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

[@rockmanananan]

This series was so wonderful from start to finish

[@Anuluxe]

"right... right..." isnt that vernacular similar to the guy from the factory by the sea?

[@laurencebrown3822]

Awesome, awesome stuff. This did not disappoint at all. Looking very much forward to season 2.

[@ellsbells2921]

oh my godddddddddddddddddd i need part 2 asap

[@threedeepinthewindow8715]

these podcasts are genius aaaaaaah

[@clippedwings225]

It took me until I was explaining the podcast to my sister that we never actually were told our protagonists name until here

[@zombiesockmonkey1336]

spoiler WHAT IF THE VOICE AT THE END IS ALICE? IS IT ALICE? ITS ALICE RIGHT? ALICE.

[@christinaovsepian1043]

+VuckoPingvin it said "yea yea right but you haven't heard from me yet"

[@alexthirdeye779]

I really love this episode. And I REALLY love the music from Disparition!

[@viktorja9896]

I like the answer to this week's riddle

[@JamesJohnsonthe4th]

Wow, great way to end the season! I'll definitely be donating come pay day, but I would love to buy a commercial free version of season one as well if that ever becomes available.

[@ishperson2580]

thanks night Vale presents I love this podcast so much!

[@jonjoreynoldsgranner7307]

I'm gonna miss it......can't wait for when part two starts.....don't take too long

[@CCW-wd9ez]

Wait, so they represent the down side to freedom and the power was inside her all along, she just had to believe in herself? Oh my god, it’s a politically charged anime!

[@hayleydoodle2001]

im SO HYPED

[@destinyallen7636]

I want my part two where is it night vale associates?!

[@mii5159]

This was amazing.

[@Hoshikage869]

Feels like we should know more about these Thistle people by now.

[@tresda2]

KIESHA

[@fockingreat1125]

Wait, I think I might have seen the towers Keisha mentioned! Or at least what they're based off of. On the drive from Las Vegas to California, I've seen massive towers with a really bright light reflecting off of them onto large, also reflective sheets. In the distance, yet still very visible from the road. I think they're for harvesting solar power, and it's odd to see if you don't know what it's for. Can only imagine how it looks at sunset.

[@odintalavera6144]

Was that Alice at the end? Who's behind the voice?

[@travisanderson399]

Sylvia? Alice? WHO WAS THAT?

[@andypalmer5095]

is season two going to happen?? did they earn enough to start putting it in production??? I'm new here I don't know these things and I NEED MORE ALICE

[@ArsenicPixieADollsHouse]

OH GOD ITS SOOOOO GOOOD

[@clippedwings225]

20:26 I like to imagine the diner as that from Nekrogoblikon's Welcome To Bonkers album

[@lexilou3418]

"FUCK the thistle man." Keisha is my queen.

[@Tauking1970]

Was anyone reminded of the SCP foundation by the armed people?

[@horsetarget123]

yep

[@am-180]

secure, contain, deliver paper towels.

[@RelativelyBest]

Considering the Thistle Men are obviously Keter class SCPs with human-level intelligence and enough influence to murder people in broad daylight with impunity, the Foundation wouldn't have stopped at just chasing them away. That town was the sort of thing they send the Mobile Task Forces to deal with. Also, they would have wiped Keisha's memories rather than just send her away with a pat on the shoulder. She did kill a keter barehanded, though, so they'd probably have taken her in for testing first just to make sure she wasn't an SCP as well. Maybe even try to recruit her, because damn. Either way, they would have been seriously annoyed at her tendency to openly talk about man-eating monsters and nightmare locations into her radio.

[@spacefacey]

alright guys, gimme your S2 theories...

[@maxpearce2308]

Guys, Part 2 is out, check out their facebook page for a link to the website that they're uploading their new stuff

[@KieraBey]

Finally!

[@PeaceLightning95]

Umm... that was slightly disappointing. I don't actually know what I was expecting, but... this seemed like a really anti-climatic finale when the episodes before hand had so much cool imagery and awesome twists. Even the confirmation of Alice felt like it was missing a necessary shock or some form of an explanation. I'm glad there will eventually be a season 2, because I sadly feel this would be very unworthy finish to such an awesome series.

[@bliffity2692]

At this rate it's going to come out at the same time as Half Life 3.

[@RelativelyBest]

18:00 - Oh my God! Fink! *Are you serious!?* You are destroying the pacing of your own narrative, man!

[@seanam4512]

YESSSS

[@christianwilliams3080]

I fucking love this podcast im sharing it with everyone I know thank you so much

[@bliffity2692]

7 months. 7 FUCKING MONTHS

[@ariel_haymarket]

WHAT THE WHAT AT THE END

[@dukeang9613]

SPOILER Is it a different voice actress at the last like 15 seconds? What's the actresses name?

[@paramini08]

what?no chicken crossed the road on this one?

[@debzzzz4415]

Best episode so far, wish Alice was voiced :/

[@Companion92]

She really did that with her bare hands

[@joeyreliford2597]

❤❤❤

[@Geassmaster55]

Nah how she killed the Thistle man feels kinda contradictory to how he was described. like unless she's a bodybuilder I don't really understand how she survived with "probably a broken rib".

[@sweeting6075]

Sazid _ he was already weakened by the heather oil making it easier to defeat him

[@Geassmaster55]

Sweeting hmmmm It still feels slightly cheap to me considering how he felt unstoppable in the beginning

[@sweeting6075]

Yeah I totally get it! We can agree to disagree

[@MidnightWolf150]

ohhhhhhhhhhh myyyyy god!!!!!!!!! oh my god!!!!!! o h my fucking god!!!!! well, you were right about one thing!! this being my favourite podcast!!! :"-) wowowowwowow !!!!!

[@michelechadwick3808]

❤

[@emyodera7628]

shit. that was good.

[@jooku]

wheres the next one..? its been two months :c

[@RelativelyBest]

They did say this is something they basically make on their spare time, and that it will be around when it comes around. Considering that they are also making Night Vale, which can go up to a month between individual episodes... ...Well, it will probably show up at some point, but I wouldn't sit by my computer clicking refresh while holding my breath.

[@bliffity2692]

*seven

[@SomeAHole]

Welp, I'm confused

[@actual_ghost]

oh shit who was that

[@Space_Gaucho]

So angry at these characters, dunno where this story is going but i stop here.