Is anyone listening to Tracks?

[hauntedsemi]

Medical-conspiracy-thriller with a heroine who is intelligent and not craving approval, lots of philosophy about 'what is a human' and great sound editing.

Anyone listening with me?

Yes!!! Listened to series 1 and just finished series 3 on the iPlayer app. Cannot find series 2 anywhere

Loved it. What episode are you on? I promise no spoilers

At last, you are the first person I've found who is also listening!
I'm on the penultimate of Series 3 - don't tell me, don't tell me.
Series 2, in my opinion, didn't have the same magic.

Likewise hooray!

I was blown away by the first series of Tracks when it was broadcast a few years ago.

I also enjoyed the second series but I think it suffered a bit because of the absence of Helen - she's a great character so was glad when she was back for series 3 (sorry if that's considered spoiler-y!)

I think radio drama can be very hit or miss and when it's bad it's positively cringeworthy but Tracks is up there with the very best.

Ooh I'm into it too. Thought series 1 was completely gripping, couldn't get into series 2, but 3 is great too. Haven't listened to episode 5 yet as am trying to eke them out. I listen to them is bed at night so v creepy.

*in bed

Agree - Helen is vital. I think she's cleverly designed - she helps to ground you - there are hellish things going on, then she'll cut in with a self-knowing quip and it makes you feel safe again
even though you will never be safe again

LOVED series one. Haven't heard the others - could I go straight in to series three?

Have just found this series - and only in bits and bobs while driving. Loving it! Is the Hattie M character in the previous series too?

Helen is in series one but is played by Romola Gari iirc. Hattie M sounds very like her and plays it the same - I find it hard to tell them apart.

I agree haunted, there's a lovely steely calmness to Helen no matter what she's faced with and I love her quips.

I found myself thinking about the first series a lot when I first heard it, it really stuck with me for some reason.

It's fantastic radio drama.

turnoftgescrew I went straight from 1 to 3 and it was fine.

Yes, Helen is a fab lead character.

The audio background to the episodes is great as well, definately noticed more listening "headphones" on.

I think Tracks may have won an award for its sound Calm - I don't normally listen with headphones but I'm tempted do so for the next episode!

Do it!

I shall!

Didnt realise there was a series 3, off to download it. Thanks! It was a great series

Totally agree with all of you that it's a brilliant story. And the production qualities are superb. But it seems as if I'm the only one who's NOT a fan of Helen. I literally cannot stand her. Weirdly enough, probably for the same reasons that everyone loves her. What everyone sees as strong-willed, determined and forthright, I get rude and obnoxious with heaps of self superiority thrown in for good measure. And her constant habit of barking orders at people instead of asking really got to me.

I imagine all the listeners who like her as a fictional character, probably wouldn't be able to stand her in real life.

Maybe that is why Freddie is her only friend?

Dark and improbable I loved it

Well, I should have listened to myself ... Knew there'd be a ridiculously weak ending. After so much time spent.

I know this is a zombie thread, but I've just listened to series 1-3 over the last week. (All three are currently on Sounds.)

I'd heard series 1 before but had forgotten a lot about it. Not quite sure what to make of it now. Series 2 was extremely odd but finally made sense (of a kind) in the closing moments of the final episode. It's also very short, compared to the other two. The ending of series 3 was extremely weird.

Spoilers ahead, if you haven't heard series 3!**

Helen appeared to go almost straight to the Domesday Medical Research Centre from the hospital after giving birth and carried on with all the ridiculously physical stunts she has always done, even when heavily pregnant, so we had a post-partum woman climbing through a ventilation shaft and sprinting across the grass in the dark. Then a couple of days later she was breastfeeding at Freddie's wedding while giving her 'best man's speech', even though she hadn't been with the baby for at least 48 hours after the birth. Really?

It's a refreshing change to have a strong female lead and a male sidekick, but for a series which is looking so closely at birth this was a glaring error.

Anyway, I'll give it another chance and listen to series 4, which I gather is the Woman's Hour drama starting today.

All of Series 4 is on Sounds Gasp0de - I binged it on Monday. Would be interested in hearing your thoughts on the ending.

Also - I thought Garai was pronounced Ga Ri rather than Garry.

Oh good, thanks for that @SarfE4sticated! I'm expecting to be home alone tomorrow so I feel a binge coming on while I do some very tiresome admin.

If you do listen to it @Gasp0de, and want to discuss without spoiling, please feel free to DM me. I need to vent!

Binged it today. Absolutely love this series. I think the ending leads us open for at least series 5.