If “Where the Stars Fell” takes a serious, yet charming look at cryptozoology. Murphy plays it straight all the way through, adding an epic feel to an often laughed at field of study. It’s blend of non-horror X-files with some non-romantic urban fantasy elements make for an interesting counter example of how to treat cryptozoology with a modicum of respect.

The first episode, titled “Pilot,” is exactly that. It sets up the premise and characters and either keeps the listener wanting more or boring them for a little less than an hour. While I enjoyed episode 1, there were plenty of moments that I wish could’ve been sped up or skipped entirely. In the behind the scenes episode that premiered in between episodes three and four, one of the writers said it was their first audio drama script.

Law and Order, created by Dick (Were)Wolf

Werewolf puns and “Law and Order” jokes aside, the second episode involves a werewolf. That may be a spoiler, but suspicions are placed in the first scene. There are two suspects, Peter Bourdot and Phillis Burger. Both are up to no good. Phyllis slithers his S-sounds like a snake and Peters accent is either French, Eastern European or both. It’s inconsistent if you’re paying close enough attention.

Both fortunately and unfortunately, if one does gives their utmost attention, they’ll find some plot holes in the form of why shoot a bullet at someone if you’re just going to blow up the building? One doesn’t leave a bullet for forensics to find unless the writer needs that to move the plot along. This is what I feel happened the moment I gave this my full attention on second listen. Questions that a constable in the UK would think a little suspicious.

Jack’s refusal to believe that Peter or Phyllis might be a werewolf isn’t the irritating part. I won’t say who the werewolf is, but the episode makes it clear that Murphy thinks it’s one of them. The frustrating part that didn’t bother me until a second listen was the questions of why someone reopened the case if it was closed, and they had a confession. Add in the fact that Jack and Murphy’s digging reveals the truth about the killer being a werewolf and could’ve been avoided by not assigning them, or anyone else for that matter, to the case. A lot of things didn’t add up that were outside the confines of the story’s world. There may be a reason given that I missed. But it’s either mentioned so briefly or not at all that it seems like an afterthought.

Murphy 3: With “Blood” in the Title, You Know There’s Vampires

If Murphy episode two was a Jack-focused story, then episode three is all about Murphy and her past. Episode four, according to its description, sees the group travel to Ireland to handle an Elliot-based story. At least I assume, as I haven’t listened to it yet. I’m hoping episode five gets into the meat and potatoes of the series as a whole. Here in episode three, we learn more about what Murphy was trained to do.

Like the episode before, I have questions. This time they’re more about blocking than inconsistencies in the plot. That is where things are in relation to other people. The problem didn’t start at the beginning. Rather it happened toward the end when Murphy’s former monster hunter teacher mentions her parents. Someone exits the car. I thought it was the teacher. Yet later he’s driven the car into a pond and committed a quadruple murder-homicide. I had no idea what was going on until someone mentioned it a bit too late for my taste.

Despite the complaints that may have answers to them, the sound design and music are what make this audio drama stand out. It’s up there with shows like We’re Alive in terms of production quality. For their first time creating an audio drama, this was more than a simple turn on the microphone and start recording. Props to everyone involved. Even if I have problems with how the story is unfolding doesn’t mean the story itself is bad. It’s just noticeably neutral, which is also the rating.

7/10 Stars