BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 4, May 20, 2022

“I think this podcast might be making everything worse.”

This time it’s anyone with a certain form of OCD (there are many, as are the misconceptions around each) who is in the firing line to be triggered.

It’s also taken me until the third episode to realise something very meta – and very clever – about this podcast. I wasn’t sure initially what could be linking the case / victims in each episode, but… as Magnus says, “I think this podcast might be making everything worse.”

Even those with the kind of OCD that involves intrusive thoughts that can lead to ritualistic behaviours don’t always believe that ‘if they don’t do X, then Y (very bad thing) will happen… but it’s common. It’s OK though – how many of us have a job that involves life and death decisions, right? Unless you’re a surgeon or something! Oh dear.

It’s like a creeping realisation that we listeners have at the same time as Magnus. All these changes are the catalyst for the disruption to his rituals, leading to mistakes being made, his surgery success rate falling dramatically… Again it’s so chilling in its realism and it’ll send tingles – not the nice kind – down your spine.

Then Magnus is our narrator: is he locked behind that door now?

Verdict: The only certainty in life is change. Deal with it before it deals you a deadly hand! 8/10

Claire Smith

 

NB Episodes 4 and 5 are only available via BBC Sounds; the next broadcast episode is episode 6. Our reviews of the Sounds-only episodes will follow during the week.