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* ShoutOut / TakeThat: One of the tapes describing a collection of artifacts includes an early 20th-century leather-bound book from Rhode Island, whose robust vocabulary is complimented even as the speaker describes it as difficult to read due to its habit of describing things as indescribable and its "even for the time, horrific racism." The exhibit code is [[Creator/HPLovecraft HPL]].
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Clarifying distinction between Netflix series and podcast, since most of the information on this page only applies to the latter.


''[[http://www.archive81.com/ Archive 81]]'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melody Pendras, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond. It began on April 5th, 2016. Creator/{{Netflix}} released a television show based on season 1 on January 14th, 2022.

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''[[http://www.archive81.com/ Archive 81]]'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melody Pendras, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond. It began on April 5th, 2016. Creator/{{Netflix}} released a television show based on season 1 on January 14th, 2022.
2022. It takes its broad premise and several names from the podcast, but otherwise [[InNameOnly has little in common.]]
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* ApocalypticLog: For reasons that are difficult to explain briefly, many entities in the setting thrive, grow stronger, and in some cases can only exist if they are being recorded somehow. This leads to countless examples of hapless victims inadvertently recording their own demise, [[FateWorseThanDeath or worse.]] The series is actually named for a cache of such recordings held by a corporation seeking to harness the power of the beings they record.

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* ApocalypticLog: For reasons that are difficult to explain briefly, many entities in the setting thrive, grow stronger, and in some cases can only exist if they are being recorded somehow. (The effect, unfortunately, grows stronger if people then experience the recordings.) This leads to countless examples of hapless victims inadvertently recording their own demise, [[FateWorseThanDeath or worse.]] The series is actually named for a cache of such recordings held by a corporation seeking to harness the power of the beings they record.



%%* GoMadfromtheIsolation: Dan's girlfriend believes this is what is happening to him.

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%%* GoMadfromtheIsolation: * GoMadFromTheIsolation: Dan's girlfriend believes this is what is happening to him.him in season 1, when he has to live at the extremely remote archive all by himself, because the tapes are supposedly too fragile to be moved anywhere he could, you know, see people. (And, to be fair, the strain ''is'' getting to him--he befriends Ratty the rat out of sheer desperation for another living being to interact with--just not quite the way she thinks.)
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''[[http://www.archive81.com/ Archive 81]]'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melody Pendras, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond. It began on April 5th, 2016.

to:

''[[http://www.archive81.com/ Archive 81]]'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melody Pendras, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond. It began on April 5th, 2016.
2016. Creator/{{Netflix}} released a television show based on season 1 on January 14th, 2022.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


''Archive 81'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melody Pendras, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond. It began on April 5th, 2016.

to:

''Archive 81'' ''[[http://www.archive81.com/ Archive 81]]'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melody Pendras, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond. It began on April 5th, 2016.
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%%* EvilVsEvil: Season 1 and 2 end with [[spoiler:LMG battling Simon and the Cult, respectively. LMG seems to get the worst of it both times.]]

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%%* EvilVsEvil: EvilVersusEvil: Season 1 and 2 end with [[spoiler:LMG battling Simon and the Cult, respectively. LMG seems to get the worst of it both times.]]

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Fix bad Example Indentation In Trope Lists. Comment out ZCE. Remove misuse.


* ArtifactTitle: [[spoiler:Dan escapes from the Archive 81 building at the end of season 1 and never returns. The title's relevance to the plot continues in the forms of the tapes themselves, which survive.]]
* TheBadGuyWins: [[spoiler:Season 1 and 2 have both ended with the primary antagonist getting what he wants. Samuel is able to complete his apotheosis thanks to Dan, and the Curator gets to keep Lou, who can never return home.]]
** Finally averted in Season [[spoiler:3]] where the season's [[BigBad Big Bad]] is soundly defeated.

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* ArtifactTitle: [[spoiler:Dan escapes from the Archive 81 building at the end of season 1 and never returns. ]] The title's relevance to the plot continues in the forms of the tapes themselves, which survive.]]
survive.
* TheBadGuyWins: [[spoiler:Season 1 and 2 have both ended with the primary antagonist getting what he wants. Samuel is able to complete his apotheosis thanks to Dan, and the Curator gets to keep Lou, who can never return home.]]
**
]] Finally averted in Season [[spoiler:3]] where the season's [[BigBad Big Bad]] is soundly defeated.



** [[spoiler:Daniel]] takes on this role in season 3, providing constant aid to Nicholas and Christine in the form of fresh tapes that contain clues for their ritual.
* BodyHorror: Season 2 takes a drastic dark turn into much more fantastical territory than the first season.
* TheBusCameBack: [[spoiler:Lou]], who seems doomed never to be seen again at the end of season 2, only to return for a substantial episode in season 3.

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** [[spoiler:Daniel]] takes on this role in season 3, providing constant aid to Nicholas and Christine in the form of fresh tapes that contain clues for their ritual.
*
%%* BodyHorror: Season 2 takes a drastic dark turn into much more fantastical territory than the first season.
* TheBusCameBack: TheBusCameBack:
**
[[spoiler:Lou]], who seems doomed never to be seen again at the end of season 2, only to return for a substantial episode in season 3.



* CreepyMonotone: Green, Dromen, the Boat Lady, and Payphone are all noteworthy examples. So is Suit, when she is not being filled [[spoiler:and before she regains her memories.]]
* EldritchLocation: The "city" where Dan ends up following the season one finale.
* EldritchAbomination: [[spoiler:Dan]] himself. He gets a tape recorder implanted in his chest by the company.
* EvilVsEvil: Season 1 and 2 end with [[spoiler:LMG battling Simon and the Cult, respectively. LMG seems to get the worst of it both times.]]

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* %%* CreepyMonotone: Green, Dromen, the Boat Lady, and Payphone are all noteworthy examples. So is Suit, when she is not being filled [[spoiler:and before she regains her memories.]]
* %%* EldritchLocation: The "city" where Dan ends up following the season one finale.
* %%* EldritchAbomination: [[spoiler:Dan]] himself. He gets a tape recorder implanted in his chest by the company.
* %%* EvilVsEvil: Season 1 and 2 end with [[spoiler:LMG battling Simon and the Cult, respectively. LMG seems to get the worst of it both times.]]



* GoMadfromtheIsolation: Dan's girlfriend believes this is what is happening to him.
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:Jacob, a.k.a. Rat.]] Although he never stops being a devoted follower of Simon, his affection for Dan and his friends turns out to be sincere.

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* %%* GoMadfromtheIsolation: Dan's girlfriend believes this is what is happening to him.
* %%* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:Jacob, a.k.a. Rat.]] Although he never stops being a devoted follower of Simon, his affection for Dan and his friends turns out to be sincere.



* MissionControl: Dan serves as this in season 2 [[spoiler:and 3]], using the tapes in various ways to help the other heroes complete their objectives.
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''Archive 81'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melody Pendras, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond. It was released April 5th, 2016.

to:

''Archive 81'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melody Pendras, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond. It was released began on April 5th, 2016.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Fixing misspelling of character names


''Archive 81'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melanie Pendra, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond. It was released April 5th, 2016.

to:

''Archive 81'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melanie Pendra, Melody Pendras, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond. It was released April 5th, 2016.



* BigGood: From the end of season 2 onward [[spoiler:Melanie herself]] fills this role, providing answers and assistance to the various protagonists as well as leading a community of survivors in the City.

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* BigGood: From the end of season 2 onward [[spoiler:Melanie [[spoiler:Melody herself]] fills this role, providing answers and assistance to the various protagonists as well as leading a community of survivors in the City.



* CreepyMonotone: Green, Dronen, the Boat Lady, and Payphone are all noteworthy examples. So is Suit, when she is not being filled [[spoiler:and before she regains her memories.]]

to:

* CreepyMonotone: Green, Dronen, Dromen, the Boat Lady, and Payphone are all noteworthy examples. So is Suit, when she is not being filled [[spoiler:and before she regains her memories.]]



* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler:Matt, a.k.a. Dronen]] who starts out sincerely wanting to help Dan, and over several years of using reprehensible means to do so, eventually becomes a high-ranking member of the Cult, albeit one who is reluctant to use lethal force.

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* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler:Matt, [[spoiler:Marc, a.k.a. Dronen]] Dromen]] who starts out sincerely wanting to help Dan, and over several years of using reprehensible means to do so, eventually becomes a high-ranking member of the Cult, albeit one who is reluctant to use lethal force.



* WasOnceAMan: [[spoiler:Dan]], Rat, Suit, [[spoiler:Samuel]], Static Man, and [[spoiler:Dronen]] are all just a few examples of humans in the series who are horrifically transformed into monstrosities through supernatural means.

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* WasOnceAMan: [[spoiler:Dan]], Rat, Suit, [[spoiler:Samuel]], Static Man, and [[spoiler:Dronen]] [[spoiler:Dromen]] are all just a few examples of humans in the series who are horrifically transformed into monstrosities through supernatural means.
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* NiceJobBreakingItHero: By listening to the tapes and obeying Davenport Dan enables Simon to [[spoiler:find the location of the archive.]]

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* NiceJobBreakingItHero: By listening to the tapes and obeying Davenport Davenport, Dan enables Simon Samuel to [[spoiler:find the location of the archive.]]
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** Finally averted in Season [[spoiler:3]] where the season's [[BigBad Big Bad]] is soundly defeated.

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* BigBadEnsemble: The story is set in a world of incredibly powerful organizations and entities all vying against one another for even more power. LMG, the Cult, and the Curator are three who directly menace the protagonists.



* {{Unperson}}: The fate of [[spoiler:Jesse]] after he gets caught spying on Simon and the Cult.

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* {{Unperson}}: The fate of [[spoiler:Jesse]] after he gets caught spying on Simon Samuel and the Cult.
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* TheBadGuyWins: [[spoiler:Season 1 and 2 have both ended with the primary antagonist getting what he wants. Simon is able to complete his apotheosis thanks to Dan, and the Curator gets to keep Lou, who can never return home.]]

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* TheBadGuyWins: [[spoiler:Season 1 and 2 have both ended with the primary antagonist getting what he wants. Simon Samuel is able to complete his apotheosis thanks to Dan, and the Curator gets to keep Lou, who can never return home.]]



* WasOnceAMan: [[spoiler:Dan]], Rat, Suit, [[spoiler:Simon]], Static Man, and [[spoiler:Dronen]] are all just a few examples of humans in the series who are horrifically transformed into monstrosities through supernatural means.

to:

* WasOnceAMan: [[spoiler:Dan]], Rat, Suit, [[spoiler:Simon]], [[spoiler:Samuel]], Static Man, and [[spoiler:Dronen]] are all just a few examples of humans in the series who are horrifically transformed into monstrosities through supernatural means.
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* CreepyMonotone: Green, Dronen, the Boat Lady, and Payphone are all noteworthy examples. So is Suit, when she is not being filled [[spoiler:and before she regains her memories.]]


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* OldMediaAreEvil: For reasons that no one really understands, the various horrors of the setting need some kind of sound recording in order to properly manifest in this world and cassette tapes seem to be their favorite method. It is flat out stated at one point that this is because evil loves older things.


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* WasOnceAMan: [[spoiler:Dan]], Rat, Suit, [[spoiler:Simon]], Static Man, and [[spoiler:Dronen]] are all just a few examples of humans in the series who are horrifically transformed into monstrosities through supernatural means.
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* KharmaHoudini: Villains rarely suffer for their crimes, which is appropriate given that most of them are powerful mages, massive mega-corporations, and [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations.]] Indeed, the only major villain to meet a satisfying onscreen death so far has been [[spoiler:Davenport.]]

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* KharmaHoudini: KarmaHoudini: Villains rarely suffer for their crimes, which is appropriate given that most of them are powerful mages, massive mega-corporations, and [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations.]] Indeed, the only major villain to meet a satisfying onscreen death so far has been [[spoiler:Davenport.]]

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* BadGuyWins: [[spoiler:Season 1 and 2 have both ended with the primary antagonist getting what he wants. Simon is able to complete his apotheosis thanks to Dan, and the Curator gets to keep Lou, who can never return home.]]

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* BadGuyWins: TheBadGuyWins: [[spoiler:Season 1 and 2 have both ended with the primary antagonist getting what he wants. Simon is able to complete his apotheosis thanks to Dan, and the Curator gets to keep Lou, who can never return home.]]


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* EvilVsEvil: Season 1 and 2 end with [[spoiler:LMG battling Simon and the Cult, respectively. LMG seems to get the worst of it both times.]]


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* PsychoForHire: Alistair: a mercenary sorcerer whose signature move is trapping people in inescapable rooms until they die.
* SadisticChoice: Payphone will give you any kind of help you require, but at the cost of one of these. Typically it involves either going through a [[LifeOrLimbDecision Life or Limb Decision]] or instead causing something terrible to happen to another person.

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* BadGuyWins: [[spoiler:Season 1 and 2 have both ended with the primary antagonist getting what he wants. Simon is able to complete his apotheosis thanks to Dan, and the Curator gets to keep Lou, who can never return home.]]



* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler:Matt, a.k.a. Dronen]] who starts out sincerely wanting to help Dan, and over several years of using reprehensible means to do so, eventually becomes a high-ranking member of the Cult, albeit one who is reluctant to use lethal force.



* GenreShift: Season 1 is a supernatural mystery with elements of [[CosmicHorrorStory cosmic horror]]. Season 2 keeps the cosmic horror, but has more of a straight-up science fiction feel. Season 3 keeps elements of both while showing more of the [[UrbanFantasy urban fantasy]] side of the setting, with various low-level magicians skulking about the real world while trying to gain more power and trafficking in supernatural substances and services.



* NiceJobBreakingItHero: By listening to the tapes and obeying Davenport Dan enables Simon to [[spoiler:find the location of the archive.]]

to:

* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:Jacob, a.k.a. Rat.]] Although he never stops being a devoted follower of Simon, his affection for Dan and his friends turns out to be sincere.
* KharmaHoudini: Villains rarely suffer for their crimes, which is appropriate given that most of them are powerful mages, massive mega-corporations, and [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations.]] Indeed, the only major villain to meet a satisfying onscreen death so far has been [[spoiler:Davenport.]]
* MissionControl: Dan serves as this in season 2 [[spoiler:and 3]], using the tapes in various ways to help the other heroes complete their objectives.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: By listening to the tapes and obeying Davenport Dan enables Simon to [[spoiler:find the location of the archive.]]
* SirSwearsAlot: Cynthia: an LMG executive who only speaks in profanity-laden streams of abuse.
* {{Unperson}}: The fate of [[spoiler:Jesse]] after he gets caught spying on Simon and the Cult.
* YearInsideHourOutside: [[spoiler:Christine goes on a dream quest to find an arcane component for the ritual. She is only asleep for five minutes, but she spends six years inside the dream world.
]]
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* GeniusLocii: Frighteningly common in the setting. Notable ones include Visser: [[spoiler:an [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abomination]] hiding in the form of a New York tenement building,]] and Curator: [[spoiler: a living, evil museum.]]

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* GeniusLocii: GeniusLoci: Frighteningly common in the setting. Notable ones include Visser: [[spoiler:an [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abomination]] hiding in the form of a New York tenement building,]] and Curator: [[spoiler: a living, evil museum.]]

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* AffablyEvil: Mr. Davenport. His folksy demeanor might be easy to see through, but he's still a downright teddy bear compared to the other managers.
* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: [[spoiler:After focusing on Dan for two seasons, the show's third season shifts the focus to newcomers Nicholas and Christine, who are attempting to complete a complex arcane ritual created by their late father. Dan appears in brief cameos to offer them assistance.]]
* ApocalypticLog: For reasons that are difficult to explain briefly, many entities in the setting thrive, grow stronger, and in some cases can only exist if they are being recorded somehow. This leads to countless examples of hapless victims inadvertently recording their own demise, [[FateWorseThanDeath or worse.]] The series is actually named for a cache of such recordings held by a corporation seeking to harness the power of the beings they record.
* ArtifactTitle: [[spoiler:Dan escapes from the Archive 81 building at the end of season 1 and never returns. The title's relevance to the plot continues in the forms of the tapes themselves, which survive.]]
* BigGood: From the end of season 2 onward [[spoiler:Melanie herself]] fills this role, providing answers and assistance to the various protagonists as well as leading a community of survivors in the City.
* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Seems to be the norm for inhabitants of the City, who are happy to help you as long as you let them steal the color from your hair or the memories of your tenth birthday (and other things that are far, far worse.) Of course, [[spoiler:the Leviathans]] take this to even further extremes.
**[[spoiler:Daniel]] takes on this role in season 3, providing constant aid to Nicholas and Christine in the form of fresh tapes that contain clues for their ritual.



* TheBusCameBack: [[spoiler:Lou]], who seems doomed never to be seen again at the end of season 2, only to return for a substantial episode in season 3.
** [[spoiler:Patricia]] from ''The Golden Age'' resurfaces decades later, likewise having a substantial role in the events of season 3.



* GoMadfromtheIsolation: Dan's girlfriend believes this is what is happening to him.

to:

* GeniusLocii: Frighteningly common in the setting. Notable ones include Visser: [[spoiler:an [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abomination]] hiding in the form of a New York tenement building,]] and Curator: [[spoiler: a living, evil museum.]]
* GoMadfromtheIsolation: Dan's girlfriend believes this is what is happening to him.him.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: By listening to the tapes and obeying Davenport Dan enables Simon to [[spoiler:find the location of the archive.]]

Changed: 741

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''Archive 81'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melanie Pendra, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond.

to:

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/archive_81_4.jpg]]
''Archive 81'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melanie Pendra, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond.
beyond. It was released April 5th, 2016.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

''Archive 81'' is a horror podcast about Dan Powell, an archivist who has just started a new job reviewing and cataloging recordings made by the Housing Historical Committee of New York State. Through a series of mysterious interviews carried out by Melanie Pendra, dark secrets are revealed about the building and beyond.

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!!Archive 81 contains examples of:

*BodyHorror: Season 2 takes a drastic dark turn into much more fantastical territory than the first season.
*EldritchLocation: The "city" where Dan ends up following the season one finale.
*EldritchAbomination: [[spoiler:Dan]] himself. He gets a tape recorder implanted in his chest by the company.
*GoMadfromtheIsolation: Dan's girlfriend believes this is what is happening to him.

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