Where the Stars Fell is crowdfunding its third season. It’s also the first submission we received on our Audio Drama recommendation form.

Where The Stars Fell was Recommended By…

Milo Katz recommends this audio drama for its take on gay and neurodivergent representation. Something the show does “exceptionally well.”

Inclusivity and Conflict

In storytelling, it’s often said that conflict is king. People are interested in clashes both big and small, external and internal, and range from interpersonal to multi-personal consequences. By that logic, it would seem that being inclusive implies less conflict. A writer can remove conflict from a character’s journey because they don’t want bad things to happen to them. Often times the result is an easy and simple path to the character’s desire at their story’s end. That’s not what creator Newt Schottelkotte does with their audio drama. Inclusivity and conflict is handled well in the first episode. It’s miscommunication and a character quirk combined that feels more like characterization than something from TV Tropes.

Instead of treating this urban (rural) fantasy with mythical creatures as something like the myriad of children’s literature, Schottelkotte goes the more realistic route. There are mythical monsters of the week, but the source of tension comes from the interpersonal conflict between Dr. Edison Tucker and in-world fantasy author Lucille Kensington who are constantly butting heads. It’s an odd couple situation and full of typical sitcom drama that it got old during the middle episodes. Some moments shined brighter than others. Particular those around stereotyping having the potential to harm someone, not just black and white. By the second to last episode, I was still waiting for something big to happen, even if it was only big to the characters in the story.

Where the Stars Fell Climax: A Motivational Twist?

To say I enjoyed the the last couple of episodes would be an understatement. Episode seven more so than eight. I’ll do my best to avoid spoilers, but the best way I can describe what happens near the end of the first season is to call it a twist in motivation rather than plot. Character motivations don’t change in the sense that the listener never knew the characters motivation at all. That can be done, but it helps to have a red herring motivation for it to work at all. Even then, it’s hard to pull off well.

One scene took this audio drama to the next level. The roughly three pages of monologue about Edwin’s past left me speechless. Engrossed in every word, like reading a good book you can’t put down, I thought I missed my flight at the airport listening to it for the first time. I was in the zone and Schottelkotte’s performance was seamless. Whether there was editing involved, the flow of the monologue is smooth, yet bumpy when it needs to be for emotional value.

Characterization and Eccentricities

I applaud Newt and their sensitivity reader for not equating autistic quirks with eccentric behaviors. It would have been so easy to make Lucille a carbon copy of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. Something that is a point of contention for many people on the spectrum and those who support them.

The character interactions between Lucille and Edwin are almost funny at times. Yet the humor doesn’t detract from the serious issues raised about mental health. The only thing keeping this first season from a 10/10 are the middle episodes. Even still, the last two episodes definitely have qualities of a “Repeat Listen” rating.

9.5/10+ Stars

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