07 November,2023 09:53 PM IST | Mumbai | Devanshi Doshi
Neuschwanstein castle in Germany. Pic courtesy/Wikimedia Commons
Crime and fairy tales are not two words one would use in the same sentence. But when we came across an episode of the video podcast Rotten Mango by Asian-American podcaster Stephanie Soo, it opened up a never-ending rabbit hole of mysteries.
This week's podcast is all about real-life crime. One of our favourite episodes involves, quite surprisingly, a Disney princess. Why did Disneyland in Tokyo shut down its Cinderella castle? And what does it have to do with the 19th century Neuschwanstein castle nestled in the foothills of the Alps in Germany? Episode 304 of the video podcast has the answers. While the story is not supernatural, it certainly is thrilling.
A still from the movie Cinderella (2015). Pics courtesy/Instagram
The story follows the sinister attempt on the lives of two American women who were visiting the Neuschwanstein castle - the inspiration for Disney's Cinderella castle, according to Soo. Fortunately, one of the women survived against all odds, and thus, the story of the mysterious killer comes to the light. While this story was covered by many newspapers across the globe, it's Soo's build up and the uncanny parallels she draws between the famous fairy tale and this narrative that fascinated this writer.
Stephanie Soo
Her stories are backed with research, and the podcaster makes a clear demarcation between alleged stories, rumours and facts. The video podcast is a visual treat with relevant images that helps one imagine the narrative and flow through the story. If a video podcast is not your cup of tea, you can also switch to the audio version of the episodes. We love that most of her stories have Asian references, and that she tries to breaks down the thought processes of the criminals at every step. If genres like crime and thriller help you escape the mundane, we suggest you add this podcast to your bedtime playlist.
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