By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
“Picking up six months after the Season Two finale, Winter grows colder and Hope grapples with strange voices that insist she alone may hold the key to defeating it. But how can one mortal woman stand against such suffocating darkness — when that darkness is her own sister, Darcy?”
After the jaw-dropping Season 2 finale twist, it’s safe to say I have been eagerly awaiting the return of Impact Winter and its third season!
Before diving into the story and performances, I want to discuss the production quality. The show has consistently been of the highest quality. Whether it’s the quality of the atmospheric audio, the edit itself or the music used to close out each episode. Season 3 is no different, and Impact Winter continues to be one of the best-produced multi-cast audio dramas to date. I will always recommend listening with headphones, due to the immersive 3D audio nature of the audiobook.
With such a huge twist and character shakeup in the Season 2 finale, there were so many questions to answer and endless narrative possibilities to explore. I feel, that almost all of these avenues were explored with satisfying results, with plenty of great character development and story moments that ensured a compelling listening experience. I think a season that hasn’t had intense drama elements has yet to pass, but I feel these are taken to a new level in this third season. With the Winter tightening its icy grip on the world, you feel this in the writing, with the darker elements of the storytelling. You feel like you are experiencing the challenges with the characters, which is a testament to the quality of the writing. Despite the unrelenting darkness, the story is founded on hope, which comes across perfectly in the final act.
As for the cast, after three seasons, it goes without saying what an incredible job Holliday Grainger (Darcy), Esmé Creed-Miles (Hope), Caroline Ford (Penelope) and Sacha Dhawan (Felix) do. And it is no different here, as the performances are exceptional and continue to be one of the audio drama’s most powerful selling points. Joining this brilliant cast are show newcomers Christina Chong, Ali Ariaie, Imogen King and Eve Ponsonby, to name a few. Whether returning or newcomer, this talented ensemble cast delivers stunning performances from start to finish. The love, the loss, the pain, the hope… you feel all of these things to a great intensity, thanks to the level of performances showcased, it makes the entire listening experience truly rewarding.
With its phenomenal cast performances and engaging storytelling, this third season continues to showcase why Impact Winter is one of the best audio dramas around!
What did you think of Impact Winter Season 3? Let us know in the comments!
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