Old Gods of Appalachia — Episode 90: "When the Darkness Comes"

Date: September 18, 2025
Host/Producers: DeepNerd Media, Steve Schell, Cam Collins
Special Guest Writer: Nita Jade

Episode Overview

The season five finale of Old Gods of Appalachia plunges listeners into the chaos and supernatural terrors lurking beneath the surface of a seemingly ordinary night in Knoxville’s Mercury music venue. Through intertwined stories of queer teens seeking belonging, ancient rituals, and violent clashes between hunters and vampires, the episode draws together storylines from the modern Appalachian goth-punk scene and the region’s darker, mythic history. Long-held truces are shattered, old powers resurface, and fraught choices must be made between death and a new, eternal existence.

Key Discussion Points and Story Breakdown

1. Scene Setting: The Mercury Music Hall & Introduction of Main Characters

Timestamp: 02:50–10:00

• Atmosphere: A lively underground music show in Knoxville; youth from rural Appalachia, Denise Ramey and cousin Micah, experience rare joy and acceptance.
• Character Dynamics: Micah, struggling with his sexuality and family judgment, finds safety with Denise and her found family.
• Quote:
  "Here in this seedy little box of a club, he could see his people all around him, and for once the skin he was born in actually felt like his own." — Steve Schell (07:40)
• Backdrop: Hints of the supernatural simmer under the surface as characters like Miranda Coffey — a vampire — watch and contemplate her precarious existence.

2. Supernatural Tensions Escalate: Introducing the Hunters and Vampires

Timestamp: 17:48–21:46

• Bird (Hunter) Tracks Prey: Bird, an experienced hunter, uses rootwork and ancestral techniques to dispatch vampires reminiscent of Appalachian folklore.
• New Breed of Vampires: Bird encounters an enemy who can rapidly regenerate from wounds, an alarming new trait.
• Grim Violence: The combat is described with brutal detail, invoking both horror and Appalachian justice.
• Quote:
  "Before the night ends, I will gut each and every one of you from asshole to appetite." — Bird (Nita Jade) (21:05)

3. Chaos in the Club: Unraveling Alliances and Power Struggles

Timestamp: 21:46–33:45

• Fight Intensifies: Bird faces multiple vamps and receives backup from the Ayers brothers (Roach and Bug), wielding enchanted weapons made by their witch grandmother.
• Club Evacuation: The hunters trigger the fire alarm to clear civilians, but Denise and Micah stubbornly search for missing friends amid the chaos.
• Special Item: The mention of witchwork weapons, notably Bug’s machete, merges folk magic with contemporary conflict.

4. The Vampire Coup: Miranda’s Fate and a Power Struggle Revealed

Timestamp: 38:47–47:30

• Miranda Confronted: Brought before the vampire leader Troy, who offers her power but reveals chilling plans for Denise and Micah.
• Transformation Display: Mobley Willett magically transforms into a giant raven, illustrating the new, darker magic infecting the vampire ranks.
• Sudden Uprising: The elders of Knoxville arrive in a sudden, violently effective counterstrike, executing those infected by the “dark under the mountain.”
• Quote:
  "We have such sights to show you, Miss Miranda. All you have to do is take my hand." — Troy (Cam Collins) (43:19)

5. Justice, Traditions, and Horrific Choices

Timestamp: 47:30–59:05

• Bird’s Despair: Bird is forced to kill Miranda, framed as both a mercy and tragic necessity.
• The Elder Council: The council’s grim deliberations weigh the fate of Denise and Micah—should they be killed, turned, or glamoured and returned?
• Ethics of Power: The elders debate responsibility and tradition in the face of children turned monster, and the dangers of unchecked supernatural power.
• Key Line:
  "A youngin's blood stains forever." — Bird recalling her father’s lesson (Nita Jade) (47:30)
• Resolution: Ultimately, the council offers Denise and Micah the choice: become vampires or die.

6. Aftermath and Personal Reflections

Timestamp: 61:48–66:09

• Bird’s Homecoming: Bird awakes safe but battered, haunted by the night's events and the supernatural responsibilities that bind her.
• Narrative Framing: The aftermath shifts to personal reflection, mourning, and an appreciation of the difficult choices and costs borne by all involved.

7. Behind the Scenes: Reflections and Announcements

Timestamp: 63:34–70:41

• Creators’ Insight: Steve Schell and Cam Collins discuss the season’s personal relevance, especially for Gen X goths, weirdos, and those who felt out of place in Appalachian communities.
• Memorable Quote:
  "This season most closely reflects the actual lived experiences of its Appalachian creators...as Appalachian as it gets, fam." — Cam Collins (64:10)
• Music Shoutouts: Love for collaborators, including Jacob Danielson Moore (Neon Dracula) and Jason Sturgill; tribute to musician Brad Centers.
• Season Six Announcement: The show will return in January 2026; fans encouraged to join "The Holler" for bonus material during the hiatus.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bird’s Threat During a Vamp Battle:
  "Before the night ends, I will gut each and every one of you from asshole to appetite." — Bird (Nita Jade) (21:05)
• Confrontation with Troy:
  "We have such sights to show you, Miss Miranda. All you have to do is take my hand." — Troy (Cam Collins) (43:19)
• Elder’s Lament to Troy:
  "My poor Troy. You always were my favorite." — Ms. Rosalie (Karen Stobie) (53:21)
• Youngin’s Blood:
  "A youngin's blood stains forever." — Bird’s father’s lesson (Nita Jade) (47:30)
• Micah’s Desperation:
  "Dee, I don't want to die. I'm not ready." — Micah (Andy Marie Tillman, as Micah) (61:18)
• Cam’s Meta Reflection:
  "This season most closely reflects the actual lived experiences of its Appalachian creators...as Appalachian as it gets, fam." — Cam Collins (64:10)

Important Episode Timestamps

• 02:50: Main story begins (music hall scene)
• 17:48–21:46: Bird hunts and confronts regenerating vampire
• 24:35: Bird faces vampire leaders, reveals of deeper conspiracies
• 33:40: Hunters pull fire alarm; panic and evacuation
• 38:47: Miranda and the Ramey cousins captured; coup among vampires
• 43:19: Troy displays new powers, offers Miranda a pact
• 47:30: Elder intervention; Bird kills Miranda
• 53:21: Ms. Rosalie executes Troy
• 59:05–61:48: Elders debate fate of Denise and Micah; given grim choices
• 63:34: Creators' behind-the-scenes discussion and farewell to Season Five

Tone, Language, and Thematic Observations

• The language moves fluidly between poetic Appalachian storytelling and visceral horror.
• Themes of chosen family, generational trauma, queer identity, and community run parallel to supernatural dread.
• The undercurrent of grief, responsibility, and ambiguous justice weaves through the entire episode.

Summary Conclusion

Episode 90: “When the Darkness Comes” delivers an emotionally charged, narratively dense finale that closes several key storylines while setting the stage for future conflicts. With raw violence, heavy pathos, and social commentary rooted in lived Appalachian experience, it confronts the listener with difficult questions about tradition, power, belonging, and survival — both in the supernatural world and our own.

For archival enrichment and further supernatural chills, listeners are invited to join "The Holler" and watch for the show’s January 2026 return.