Chapters.

*Chapters.* is a web series created by Mike Barkhoff, inspired by similar structures such as The Twilight Zone.

## Chapters.

### Language

English

Three seasons in, Chapters. has been a critical darling and rating juggernaut for Barkhoff. Season One premiered in 2018 on Barking Vans, with episodes being released individually. Shortly thereafter, Barkhoff announced a second season but explained it would release in 2020 due to his schedule for 2019. Regardless of his creative hiatus, it so happened to work out that Season 2 arrived in 2020 (though initially not planned to continue as late as November 2019). Season Two, subtitled Atrocity Exhibitions, released on Live Free, with episodic releases every month, aside for May and September (May due to the release of "Windfall" and September due to "Invasion" being designed as an October horror short).

Season Three was again released with little to no marketing, though it was confirmed in 2021. Again, it aired on Live Free, and also carries a subtitle. The release for Season 3 has been a lot less of a scheduled one, with two episodes occurring in April and breaking the 'Friday morning release' pattern that formed in the season prior. The third season, initially announced as being subtitled "Broken Stars", is called "Bad Things Happen At Noon". In 2020, Barkhoff confessed he had written up until "about Season 5" but that the "future, being untold, makes us not for certain for much beyond 3." A fourth season was confirmed, however, but was given an unexpected release of 2023.

In December 2022, it was announced that the fourth season would indeed release in 2023, being given a month window of February.

## Release Info

### Season 1

101 - "Spree"

102 - "Shrink"

103 - "Silence"

104 - "b&w"

105 - "TBD"

106 - "The Typewriter"

### Season 2: Atrocity Exhibitions

201 - "www.cell.society"

202 - "Need"

203 - "Every Decision Matters"

204 - "The Affair"

205 - "Entry"

206 - "Nightmarish"

207 - "The End Of The Tunnel"

208 - "Invasion"

209 - "Doppelgang"

210 - "H.A.A.M."

### Season 3: Bad Things Happen At Noon

301 - "Room 4"

302 - "Ebb"

303 - "16:35"

304 - "Mixed Bags"

305 - "Food Poisoning"

306 - "Alone In The Circle"

307 - "Sozzy"

308 - "Your Broadcast To..."

309 - "Limbo"

310 - "Vent Sess"

311 - "Drip"

312 - "The Communicator"

313 - "Revisitor"

### Unknown

The following episodes are unreleased, having been confirmed to varying degrees but remaining unseen:

Barkhoff teased an episode of Season 3 titled "The Syringe" alongside the back half of the season in a now deleted tweet. It never released as part of the third season, however. It remains to be seen if it was scrapped or will be used in a future season.

## Reception

Season 1 received critical acclaim, particularly for "Spree" and "TBD", both of which are regarded amongst the best of Barking Vans' work. Season 1 also held high viewership up until it's finale episode, excelling all comedic skits released during the similar timeframe.

Season 2 received unanimous acclaim for Barkhoff's threading of a theme through each episodes narrative. "Nightmarish" is considered to be one of his best short films, and Episodes 3 and 4 were met with studies for how they follow the same characters in differing circumstances. Darla Barkhoff's role in "NEED", and the subliminal hints at Season 2's overall image that he hinted on in the "Chat With Creators" was subject to good feedback, with many considering it akin to filmmaking greats David Fincher, Denis Villeneuve, and more. "Doppelgang" received attention for it's usage of a 4D shot and made Barkhoff the youngest filmmaker to employ such a tactic. Episode 8, "Invasion" was regarded as 'fulfilling' after the film it came from never came to fruition, though it was announced.

Season 3 has been met with acclaim for it's simplistic nature in comparison to Season 2, with many audience members calling it the series' most similar to it's inspiration "The Twilight Zone". Barkhoff's use of employing half a season with filmed but never released material and all new material was met with positive reception due to his flaw of holding onto stuff and deciding against releasing them.

For the latter two seasons, Clarke Film Accloades has been highly supportive of the effort, even asking Barkhoff via personal email to sum up the reflective nature of the show in a more direct and affirmative light.

## Analysis

Season 1 has been analyzed as Barkhoff's way of tying a story together through unforeseen 'knots' by many. Interestingly, he admitted that Season 1 happened by coincidence, and that "The Typewriter" finale was planned but never intended to relate all episodes together.

Many viewers have seen the series as his way of allowing himself to be political, as he tends to not be in the rest of his works, and aims more towards being contained. In Season 1, he reacts to a therapist who doesn't believe his innocence regarding sexual assault and deals with the topic of a neglectful babysitter. In Season 2, he uses the platform to discuss drug addiction among other problems such as cell phone addiction, the action of night terrors, writer's block, violence upon others, and more.

### Atrocity Exhibitions

Barkhoff stated during the Chat With Creators segment for 202, "NEED", that the episode contained a hint regarding the season as a whole.

At the end of the season, it is revealed the first eight episodes are all episodes within Barkhoff's collective and knowing catalogue within the show - the last two episodes are in his 'real life' while the first eight are him acting in a show in 'real life' (in universe).

Barkhoff used Atrocity Exhibitions to discuss his own addictions in a nearly mocking way before exerting that regardless of them, whether sober or not, he still has to live with his mistakes and hates himself for that. Which results in his death at the end of 'Doppelgang' and moreon after that when he realizes he doesn't want to die as he performs a rendition of Saba's song 'Heaven All Around Me'.

When asked about his usage of the song, Barkhoff admits that if he hadn't heard the song he wouldn't have had the idea and Season 2 would've been "bland with little (or no) payoff". Barkhoff moved an episode, done in 2018 following Season 1, from lineup due to it not fitting with themes - this became the premiere of Season 3.