There’s a hole at the bottom of the sea.
Fathom review
Production company – Night Rocket Productions
Rating – 
This year I have been really spoiled for top class audiodrama. The best thing is, we aren’t even halfway through 2025 yet! I’m not sure how I came across this show, on Reddit probably (I get most of my recommendations from there nowadays). It seemed like a premise that I would enjoy, so I subscribed, downloaded the entire series and hit play.
So what’s it about?
An undersea research station is studying a gigantic, mysterious metal doorway, or at least what appears to be a doorway. A disparate group of scientists are trying to find out just what’s on the other side, and even how to open it. I mean, what could possibly go wrong opening an ancient metal door miles under the ocean?
As the story progresses, the humans realise just how much peril they are in. Literally miles from home and out of reach of any salvation, it’s up to them to try and survive against the odds.
And so begins a truly lovecraftian tale.
Is it any good?
Sound design and acting are very good indeed. This would have been an easy show to just pastiche all of its rather obvious inspirations, but the cast do a grand job of keeping everything feeling fresh. There are times when you really feel the weight of the decisions the characters made, and whilst not entirely believable story wise, on an emotional level they certainly are.
The feature length final episode ratchets up the tension as the story reaches its climax, and all the actors rise to the challenge. Despite it’s runtime, the episode zips by and never get to the “check your watch” stage when you wonder just how much more you have left.
Certain plot points bear similarities from some very well known sci-fi movies (I’m not going to tell you which films, I’m sure you’ll figure them out pretty soon). There’s even a nod to an old Judge Dredd storyline too, although it’s pretty obscure, so I’m not sure if that’s intentional or not.
Despite the very few shortcomings, this doesn’t affect the score. The positives so outweigh the negatives, that it’s still an outstanding show.
Final thoughts
I don’t tend to listen to a lot of sci-fi shows, but it’s always a treat when I find one that appeals to me. I have to admit though, the major Lovecraftian influence was a deciding factor in my subscription.
This was a gripping series from beginning to end. I can’t wait to start the sequel (entitled Derelict). If it’s as good as this then we are in for a treat indeed.
I appreciate that this review is being published rather late in the day (again), but my other extra curricular activities involving my band have finished for a few weeks, so from next Sunday you should be able to “enjoy” my writing with your elevenses as usual.
You can get Fathom here:
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