Welcome to the Horizon 2.10: The Astral Sea

Midnight Burger is a scripted fiction podcast that presents itself as a narrative audio drama. Episode 2.10, titled 'Welcome to the Horizon: The Astral Sea,' is part of an ongoing serialized story set in what appears to be a speculative or fantastical world. The episode features an ensemble cast of characters including Trinkett, Leif, Frank, Eldin, June, Doug, Verge, Deidre, Steve, Celeste, and Shenzo, alongside additional characters like Even Older Leif, Caspar, and BertBert. The show notes reference 'the Triad' and suggest some uncertainty about what the setting or group is currently called, implying narrative complexity or world-building in flux. The episode runs 2 hours and 30 minutes, indicating substantial content. The production credits show significant effort: multiple writers and directors (Joe Fisher and Finlay Stevenson), custom music from Third Person (DasFonkyBeats), and original compositions including a song titled 'Das Schwebe-Fahrrad Fantastisch' with lyrics by Fisher and Xen. The show notes reference bar music and blues tracks, suggesting atmospheric scene-setting. The episode appears to be part of a larger narrative universe with a wiki, merchandise, and Patreon support, indicating an established fanbase and ongoing story arc. Without access to the actual episode content, the show notes suggest this is a polished, professionally-produced audio drama with attention to music, voice acting, and world-building. The title 'Welcome to the Horizon: The Astral Sea' suggests a significant location or thematic shift within the story.

Verdict: Midnight Burger shows professional production polish and an established narrative universe, but the show notes provide insufficient detail to confidently assess writing quality, plot engagement, or whether the episode delivers on its title.

Fiction rubric

• Writing n/a

  No script excerpts or dialogue samples provided in show notes; cannot assess dialogue quality or narrative structure

• Performance and production 4/5 100%

  Large ensemble cast with named actors, custom original music by Third Person, and credited directors suggest professional production values and attention to sound design

• Plot momentum n/a

  Episode number 2.10 indicates ongoing serialization, but actual plot details and pacing are not described in available materials

• Substance n/a

  2.5-hour runtime suggests substantial content, but show notes provide no information about narrative density, filler, or thematic depth

• Delivers on its title n/a

  Title references 'Horizon' and 'Astral Sea' but show notes contain no details about whether these locations or concepts are central to the episode

• Value for time n/a

  2.5-hour length is significant, but without content details, cannot assess whether pacing justifies the runtime

There wasn’t enough detail to score most criteria, so the score is an overall estimate.

How we score Fiction

Worth it if you're already invested in the Midnight Burger universe or enjoy scripted ensemble audio dramas with substantial production values and world-building.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.