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The Magnus Protocol

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Fear takes many forms

The Magnus Archives 2: The Magnus Protocol is the prequel/sequel/”sidequel” to the internationally renowned Magnus Archives podcast.

The Magnus Institute was an organisation dedicated to academic research into the esoteric and the paranormal, based out of Manchester, England. It burned to the ground in 1999. There were no survivors. Now, almost 25 years later, Alice and Sam, a pair of low-level civil service workers at the underfunded Office of Incident Assessment and Response, have stumbled across its legacy. A legacy that will put them in grave danger.

If this intrigues you then it is our pleasure to welcome you to the Office of Incident, Assessment and Response. Make sure you pick up your badge at desk and report to your line manager before sitting down. Oh and stay away from I.T., seriously.

31 pages, Audible Audio

Published January 18, 2024

55 people are currently reading
104 people want to read

About the author

Jonathan Sims

27 books1,169 followers
Jonathan Sims is a writer, performer and games designer whose work primarily focuses on the macabre, the grotesque, and the gentle touch of creeping dread. He is the mind and the voice behind acclaimed horror podcast The Magnus Archives, as well as story-game design duo MacGuffin & Co., and some of your favourite nightmares. He lives in Walthamstow with the two best cats and an overwhelming backlog of books that he really should get round to.

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5 stars
100 (54%)
4 stars
62 (33%)
3 stars
18 (9%)
2 stars
4 (2%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for aylin.
233 reviews74 followers
May 26, 2025
sorry to those who didn't enjoy the first (!!) season of the magnus protocol but i personally am having a ball in this bitch
Profile Image for urwa.
355 reviews284 followers
November 6, 2024
initial thoughts from Season 1:
I enjoyed some episodes, especially the ones by the guest writers. Overall the characters seem weaker than Archives and I did not particularly care about them or the office drama/romance. Defintely less scary than Archives as well. The finale was interesting but still seems to lack the tightness of the plot from Archives. I hope its because it is a slow burner, but I found myself not as excited for the new episodes as i was for TMA.
Profile Image for jay.
1,070 reviews5,911 followers
November 18, 2024
five stars for the tattooist episode and the tattooist episode alone, i still think about that (mind you, it's only been like two weeks for me so that might not mean much)

debated between 2 and 3 stars but unfortunately i think giving it two stars is funnier (i have a weird sense of humor), also i only liked two episodes - and i don't even remember what the second one i liked was about.


i think protocol would be an alright and maybe even good podcast if archives didn't exist. but alas, archives does exist and also protocol only makes sense if you do indeed know archives but at the same time if you already know archives this is just a bland version of it so.

the characters are meh, the stories are meh, we focused on a clown for around five hundred episodes and i still don't really get why? archives had character, protocol has... ... ... can't really think of anything really.


unfortunately for everyone involved magnus just really suits my evening walks really well. like the way episodes are structured with only small amounts of actual dialogue and most of it being atmospheric monologues which really helps me calm down and just walk slowly while enjoying the cold night air. so i will listen to season 2. (unless one of you knows another podcast that is mostly statement-like, horror themed, and between 20-30 minutes per episode)


either way, i am getting an eye tattoo next week because magnus archives is life
Profile Image for lyn.
58 reviews
June 12, 2025
finally caught up !!

tmp is in the very unfortunate position of being the sequel to what was arguably some of the best horror fiction of the 2000s, inevitably casting every opinion i might have through a perspective that is unfairly skewed

yet, this has been an incredibly enjoyable experience. i didn't think i was going to like this – the first three episodes were quite difficult for me to get through, but these characters have grown on me so much and some of the "statements" in this show have been extremely memorable. episodes 10-40 flew by so fast i didn't realize i had caught up when it happened

tentative 4 stars with potential to increase as new episodes are released
Profile Image for Serena.
732 reviews35 followers
November 26, 2024
The Magnus Archives continues with The Magnus Protocol, available free to listen to on Audible or Youtube.

It's good to hear the return to the roots of a paranormal office horror comedy; Alice was by far my favorite -sorry to Sam, Colin, Gwen and Celia. I'm thinking the Web stole the voices for "Norris" (Martin Blackwood), "Chester" (Jonathan Sims) and "Augustus" (possibly Jonah Magnus?) via the tapes that were sent out into the universe via the Entities, perhaps playing on Dolls/AI.

It raises a interesting question too, if Sam balances Celia - what is the equivalent backlash "balance" of the Entities being released?
Profile Image for Sin Lin.
62 reviews
July 31, 2025
I actually haven't finished this yet since it's ongoing but it's lacking the SPARK from the OG plot + cast... I plan to give it another shot since it seemed like the conflict was going to come to a head soon and maybe OG cast will make a more significant appearance. The world isn't as fleshed out yet + I'm not sold yet on any of the dynamics/relationships so lore drops aren't that interesting. Also hoping the episodes get scarier. They've been pretty cartoonish so far but let's hope I don't regret this opinion later LOL.
Profile Image for Sofía.
56 reviews
April 19, 2025
💼🪡🧸📺🥇

Tenía las expectativas muy altas para esta esta secuela, precuela, au, whatever it is alexander. Y aún así me ha sorprendido para bien. Los personajes son todos buenísimos y los externals I was trembling every time.

✍️Historietas:

Nunca habría pensado estar pidiendo mas statements en vez de mas plot but here we are. THEY ARE YAPPERS, pero les amo igual aunque al principio me costara entrar en el mundo. Las historias de “escritores invitados” han sido una montaña rusa tbh, algunos se veía desde el principio que no eran de mis chavales por ser de miedos absolutamente horripilantes (please no more moms and people giving birth I swear I was HORRIFIED in a bad way). Mientras que otros se camuflaban entre los que escribían jonathan escritor y alex. Una de ellas ha sido de mis favs como la de “personal screening”… yep… disturbing to say the least (in a good way).

On another topix, Alexander I was NOT familiar with your gaaaaame. That was terrifying!!!! ¿Que el primero suyo sea “making adjustments”? Brilliant. Also, “mixed signals”????? Le odio me debe 10 años de vida. (Porfi que no lleven mucho tiempo en los silly little ordenadores)
And finally, Jonathan Sims… como le gusta un buen flesh entity (le odio, almost threw up) pero había otros que se sentía como volver a oír mis favs de los archivísticos así que le perdono.
Mi fav de todos creo que es “rolling with it” que está acreditado a los dos y les puedo escuchar giggleando mientras lo escribían porque what a masterpiece🙂‍↕️

En definitiva no sé si es porque son menos que los archivos o porque los he escuchado mas atentamente pero no hay statements que no vuelvan a pasar por mi mente, así que supongo que la parte del terror it’s covered.

🫂Personajes:

Todos son mi familia (not celia, definitely not Celia… yet?). Firstly, una pequeña amenaza, como le hagáis daño/matéis/torturéis/robéis la identidad/explotéis/descuidéis a alguna de estas pequeñas personitas me presento en londres yo misma.

Con esto aclarado, Alice perfecta, no tiene ningún tipo de fallo y nunca lo tendrá, even tho we are not enjoying the Tim foreshadowing… pero que me hayan hecho creer que era una silly little side kick en vez de la pedazo prota que es. I have failed you😞

Sam, no sé lo que pensar de ti mi niño, eres james potter variant y por ende ravi (agggtm) variant y por ende spiderman pero you were doing some suspicious things ALL season. Y por decir una cosa a su favor, I would be curious too about some key factor from my childhood if some computers are reminding me about it, I would had NOT took the hint jon😭. Anyway, I hope he is ok, I hope he gets to know the real basira and georgie and melanie etc etc (si es que tan si quiera está en el universo archivador😞).

Gwen is MY girl, moriría por ella, she only craves for academic validation OK? She literally did nothing wrong, apellidarse Bouchard? Well, forgivable🧘‍♀️. Escalar en su carrera sin importarle a quién pise? She is just a girl🤷‍♀️. Hacer que despidan a alguien through blackmail? Sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do☺️. Anyhow she is my baby, como le pase algo malo, como no se me cumpla el ship (🕯️), cómo se convierta en elias (who was not even that bad, we are losing track) I will NOT keep listening (i will).

Colin y Teddy mis dos reales, el final de temporada? I would take a bullet for them.

Las externals on the other hand…
Inksoul? Hell naur bro. I was terrified, the flesh y the haunt y utilizando las entidades en los símbolos/tatuajes, the desolation, the hunt, the eye?…
Needles? Terror pero funny me recordó a michael😔🤲
La señora hunter? simplemente me recordó demasiado a mi pobre gertrude so😭
Annnnnd… fokin bonzo? Les odio, menuda barbaridad, episodios de millones etc etc
Poor gwen tho give her a break!!!😭

💼Mis silly little ordenadores:

Les echaba TANTO de menos , y ni siquiera habían pasado dos semanas en el momento que me empecé los protocoleros. I wanted to scream the moment I heard their voices😭. Por favor que estén juntitos en un silly little folder lejos de Jonah (is he even jonah?).
Por cierto, escuchar pequeños fragmentos de los personajes a los que tenía mucho cariño teniendo su vida sin haberse conocido entre ellos, creo que no hay manera de hacerme mas daño que eso… and they did it. Anyway… cuándo vamos a oír a michael?😞

En resumen, me ha gustado un montón y si no me dan la siguiente temporada para ya sabré lo que tuvieron que pasar los primeros fans, they were the real heroes.

Posdata: alexander j newal, jonathan sims… give me another cannonically asexual character, you love asexual people so much, it can be anybody (even jon!!), you loooove to give crumbs to the community, we will consume aaaaaanything, you are doing amazing🧘‍♀️🕯️y si no se puede pues episodio especial españa🙂‍↕️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Bi Kai.
21 reviews
May 1, 2025
OMG ALICE I LOVE HER SHE IS MY SHAYLA
I also loved the stories but Harlens was so CREEPY shouldn't have expected any less from the creator of Malevolent
186 reviews
November 6, 2025
Podcast review:
[Seasons 1 & 2]
Magnus is back BABY! Oh I’ve missed it so much. It’s been 3 years since MAG ended and listening to the first episode of Protocol was like sliding into an old pair of slippers (In a good way). Also I somehow missed the memo that Rusty Quill had made a spin off so when I finally got to it, I could binge two seasons in one sitting. Yummy.

In the first season I really loved the simpler structure, back to the early seasons of Archives when it was more of a ‘monster of the week’ vibe with a slither of myth arc every episode.

The production value continues to amaze. Absolutely love the new cast and some visits from the OGs. The statements are also brilliantly written, already rivalling some of the most famous Archives statements for my top spot. There’s some incredible new monsters/ externals. Mr Bonzo is top tier.

As with Archives Season 2 got a little bit too convoluted for me by the end of it. So I just hope metaphysics, and world building mechanics don’t take up too much space as we go forward, especially due to the popularity of all the metaverse stuff out there, it’s at risk of being a little cliche. That aside I’m along for the ride and loving it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
39 reviews1 follower
January 8, 2025
Im not going to lie, it is very hard to view and review this as a separate thing to the magnus archives. And Im not really sure if it is meant as a sequel/spin of/ its own thing or continuation. I think it would be a lot easier to review the finished project after all three seasons, because I feel like this first season is almost entirely set-up for later seasons. But here are my thoughts so far:
It is really good! I like the set up for the mysteries, I like references to tma (though I am a bit anxious to see how far they'll go with it) and I like the new characters and their dynamics. My biggest problem so far might be the "statements". I really like how many new creative ways there are to tell the "short story parts" of an episode and I like most of the stories themselves. But they are by far not as scary to me.. I think Jonathan Sims has improved a LOT as a writer, but most of the stories fall into more of a "interesting but not scary" category. They are more mystery/ thriller than horror to me. Thats a bit sad imo. But Im still VERY excited for the second season
Profile Image for Lobo.
767 reviews99 followers
Read
December 28, 2024
Nowa odsłona w świecie Magnus Institut ma atmosferę fanfików do "The Magnus Archive": paranormalny romans biurowy, skupiony na relacji pomiędzy postaciami i ich sceptycznym podejściem do jawnego horroru, którego są świadkami lub uczestnikami. Gdzieś w tle dziwne spiski i przepychanki o władzę. Wciąż bardziej lubię "The Magnus Archive", styl pisania, monologowanie, zwarta fabuła - to wszystko zdecydowanie bardziej mi odpowiada. Ale "Protocole" ma własny styl, który doceniam, bardzo lubię postaci, a większość odcinków jest bardzo oryginalnym podejściem do horroru, niesamowicie pięknym i budzącym trwogę. Ulubione odcinki: Making Adjustments, Putting Down Roots (to jest moment, w którym uznałam, że naprawdę lubię tę serię, nawet jeśli nie zmieni mi chemii mózgu tak, jak "Archives"), Personal Screening, bo media horror, Running on Empty (chcę przeczytać pracę o liminalnym charakterze brutalistycznej architerktury), Mixed Signals, Raising Issues (niemowlęta są demoniczne).
Profile Image for léa.
70 reviews
June 3, 2025
five stars for the credits alone because GOD. GORGEOUSLY CREEPY.

loved meeting the new characters and loved being back in an awful workplace set-up. this reminded me so much of tma s1 i felt so nostaligic...

i LOVE how the statements are made like how the voices are neutral/computer-like at first and THEN it slowly changes the more you get into the story. well done again alex and johnny !

it's really interesting to see how this world works and how it's different yet similar to tma.

like. in every world curiosity is killing the cat. (and yet i can't help but want to know more.)
Profile Image for lou.
19 reviews15 followers
November 30, 2024
je voulais mettre 4 étoiles car overall c’était vraiment fun et intriguant, peut-être que le fan service me plaît on sait pas, mais je trouve que ça a la vibe de tma s1 en terme de confusion et de perplexité par rapport au monde même en connaissant celui des archives et donc je me suis dit que je mettrais la même note que tma 1 et c’était 5 j’ai du grandir en sévérité certainement
Profile Image for Abby.
284 reviews12 followers
November 15, 2024
I'm cautiously remaining optimistic -- overall not much happened in this season, but also, I feel not much happened in season one of TMA either. I'm inclined to believe that the first season will function similarly as a set up for more interesting plot threads later on.
27 reviews10 followers
December 3, 2024
It didn't quite capture my attention the same way The Magnus Archives did, but it maintains an interesting premise and the mystery building through the season was good. The experimentation in the writing format and style was also good.
Profile Image for Saffron.
53 reviews
January 11, 2025
definitely an experience, who knew the horrors could 'compel' me chuckle so often. anyways, ily sam and pls pls be...fine
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Emma Stewart.
38 reviews
January 13, 2025
every time the intro jump scared me

anyway 9/10 good set up and got better as the season went on
Profile Image for Julia.
Author 1 book5 followers
January 31, 2025
AHHHHHHH
They did it again.

I can't wait for the second season.
Profile Image for Julie.
111 reviews2 followers
March 3, 2025
Currently torn between taking away all pipes in Gwen's general vicinity or just handing her one and seeing where it goes from there.

But jokes aside this podcasts quality is through the roof!
Profile Image for Sel Caeyos.
23 reviews
March 21, 2025
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
sweating, screaming, crying, throwing up
we are so back istg, first season has me in SHAMBLES

also I am still not over the needle person from episode 6😭
Profile Image for Lauren.
71 reviews1 follower
September 29, 2025
Just because the final act probably won’t release until 2026. Overall a solid 3.5, I need to see more of where the plot is going before moving it to a 4 but I am loving the writing for Protocol.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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