August 6, 1938. The Mississippi Delta. The Badlands… In this hauntingly melodic episode of The Passage, the Ferryman, voiced by the enigmatic Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, The Walking Dead), finds himself aboard a steam engine train, its whistle echoing through the twilight of the afterlife. As the train slows to a halt, a figure steps into the dim light, guitar in hand, a shadowy silhouette against the misty backdrop—Robert Johnson, voiced by Tristan Mack Wilds (The Wire / Red Tails), the legendary bluesman whose music was said to be born at the crossroads of despair and genius.
There's not much left of Robert Johnson on Earth, just a handful of records and a legacy shrouded in mystery. But here, in the liminal space between worlds, his story unfolds, a tale as haunting as his music. The Ferryman listens to his presence a silent invitation for the soul of the blues to sing its truth.
Johnson's life was a symphony of sorrow and longing, his music the voice of a nation's grief, suffering, and aching need to belong. He speaks of rejecting the life of a working man for the existence of a wandering spirit, a choice that led him down a path lined with loss and lament. The tragic death of his wife while he was away haunts his melodies, a reminder of the price paid for the life he chose.
As the train chugs through the ethereal landscape, the conversation turns to the legend that has immortalized Johnson—the tale of selling his soul to the devil at a dusty Mississippi crossroads in exchange for unrivaled mastery of the blues. The Ferryman, a collector of stories, is intrigued. Is this myth the key to Johnson's otherworldly talent, or merely a metaphor for the sacrifices and dark bargains made in the pursuit of greatness?
But Robert Johnson has a proposition of his own, a final tune to play in this twilight journey. His fingers dance on the strings, the notes a whisper of light and shadow. What does a man who's already gambled with the devil offer to the Ferryman of souls?
This episode of The Passage delves into the depths of the human spirit, where pain and artistry intertwine, and the crossroads represent the eternal choices that define us. Join us as we ride the rails of fate with Robert Johnson, his life a testament to the power of music to capture the heart of a nation's soul. Written by Steven Williams.
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