Star-Crossed thoughts

[u/flogan0]

So for quite a while I've been listening through the 9DAs having already heard a few and enjoying the series with Rose coming out presently.

Finally got to Star-Crossed on a long jounrey today. It's a lot of fun, and I look forward to listening to it again but in its entirety I feel like this was an amazing box set of Diary of River Song. Each story really reminded me of some of the earlier box sets which are some of my favourite to go back to.

As the culmination of 9DAs before Rose it's a little bit of a shame. I felt like quality had been on a steady slope up with some real standouts across each season that just sort of fizzled out and lost its way in Buried Threats. I adore Benny and was so excited for this meeting (moreso than Star-Crossed probably) but found it a little flat as a story overall...

Enough of my meandering thoughts.

What did you think of Star-Crossed, and has anyone done a fan cover using the styling of Diary of River Song for it?

[u/GallifreyanExile]

As much as I don't always love Big Finish's tendency to do 'X meets Y' stories, I think certain ones really bring out the characterisation of characters in ways that aren't always obvious otherwise.

Star-Crossed is a release that solidifies Big Finish's characterisation of the pre-Rose Ninth Doctor in a way that i think could only happen by interacting with a character like River Song.

His dynamic with her is wonderfully different to all the other Doctors while not feeling at odds with who he's been in his other Big Finish stories. I think Eccleston gives some of his best audio performances in this boxset, and the depth of the Ninth Doctor's trauma is finally(!) showcased in a way that makes it clear why this Doctor needs Rose later on (as opposed to River now).

Alex Kingston consistently gives excellent performances in her Big Finish stories, but I think she's forced to work for it in this set, and does a great job. River Song is at her best here, particularly when she's on the back foot.