The Magnus Protocol Reviews: “Saved Copy”

“Saved Copy” Is All About One Important Plot Idea

“Saved Copy” is a setup episode. It’s clearly about one plot point, and plants ideas for that plot point—and that’s the whole point of it. There are barely any asides that don’t deal with the concept. I’m reminded of the pair of episodes “Distant Cousin” and “The Kind Mother” from Archives for several reasons, including how much they feel like opportunities for direct exposition.  

But that’s not really a complaint. Those two episodes are some of the scariest in Archives. And “Saved Copy” has similarly great delivery. It’s something Protocol needs more of: slow-burn horror that leaves you guessing at multiple points. Sure, some of the mysteries are obvious, but others aren’t. How did our main character end up where he did, and why did traveling leave him in such a state? And how does this apply to Celia’s whole “waking up in random places” thing?

This Episode Offers A Perfect Level Of Exposition

“Saved Copy” is also, for at least one scene, really scary and disturbing without relying on gore too much. The buildup is tense, partially because anyone who knows horror has an inkling of what’s happening—and then the confirmation is still awful. This episode is barely supernatural, all things considered, and that’s not something I want Protocol to focus on all the time, but between this and “Well Run,” realistic horror is an avenue Protocol can apparently utilize well.

There are a few places “Saved Copy” made me pause, though. It’s got a little body-shaming that didn’t need to be there, and I don’t know how well it represents anger issues as a general topic. Part of the horror of this scenario seems to be a commentary on how this person, given more wealth and power, channels that anger into something monstrous—an evil reflection sort of thing—but we’re given little justification for that cruelty other than the anger issues, and maybe parental abuse. And because this is an anthology series, I don’t think we’ll ever get anything else. And I don’t think I need to explain how all of that is problematic.

If this episode didn’t have that stuff, “Saved Copy” would be an all-time great for both series. The narration is delivered as fantastically as usual. It’s slow-burn without being slow-paced. There are multiple clues for future episodes that are there for the listener to notice, but don’t really overtake the storytelling experience. And it’s scary! It’s nice sometimes, as a horror fan, to still get scared. We were so close to greatness with “Saved Copy.” So close.

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