Keys to the Kingdom
5.0/5
Critic Rating
Keys to the Kingdom is an unprecedented, eight-part docuseries exploring the peculiar backstage life of theme park characters, performers, and fans. Hosted by recovering theme park employees Matt Gourley (Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, Superego, Drunk History) and Amanda Lund (Earios Co-founder, The Complete Woman, New Girl), each installment promises insider secrets, stories of absurd guest interactions, and fascinating tales of workplace minutiae. Brought to you by Earios in conjunction with Tradecraft Media. Get 8 full-length, bonus companion episodes featuring numerous extended and unheard interviews and more at https://plus.acast.com/s/keystothekingdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...
Critic Reviews
Score: 5
Brendan Menapace • Esquire • Mar 13, 2024
"...they swing it back in the other direction and tell stories of the human connections that are made there—often with children. I have to admit that I felt a sense of the magic, even as a Disney-cynical adult."
Score: 5
Mara Davis • Paste Magazine • Nov 17, 2023
"From awkward guest interactions to accidentally eating edibles while on the job – you’ll never see these characters the same way again."
Score: 5
Lauren Passell • Podcast The Newsletter • Oct 30, 2023
"This is my dream podcast. Matt and Amanda are delightful, funny, and they are not holding back."
Score: 5
Clair Woodward • The Times UK • Oct 29, 2023
"This eight-part docu-series looks at the strange world of theme-park characters, performers and fans...They offer insiders’ views on the world of pretending to be a fictional character all day, every day."
Score: 5
Miranda Sawyer • The Guardian • Oct 21, 2023
"Lund and Gourley are witty and warm, and I laughed out loud on several occasions. There’s a lot of work in this series; great use of music, good interviews and research, an excellent script. Yet it’s all presented as though it’s as light as a feather, as if that delight and joy comes naturally, as opposed to being meticulously prepared. A bit like the theme park characters themselves. …"
