The first "Out of Time" isn't as strong as the third, but it is a solid story. It is exactly what you'd want from the idea of "the 10th Doctor gets the multi-Doctor stories that he didn't get in his run." Sure, he got " Day of the Doctor", but that was Matt Smith's run and one of the Doctor was created the episode prior for the special.
The idea is basic: both the 4th and the 10th find themselves in a time nexus, art piece. Both have come at different points in their own timeline. 4th is there to help paint it whereas the 10th is there to help prepare himself for his prophesied death. Due to the 10th meddling with a faulty wiring, he meets his 4th incarnation behind the temporal meant to keep people from meeting their former selves. Not too long after, the Daleks invade with the hopes of taking over the facility and using it to win The Time War.
Overall, it's the second best of the trilogy. It rides heavily on the fact that this is the first time the 4th and 10th Doctor has ever met. As such, the story itself is very basic. There isn't a lot of timey-wimey inventive stuff like in "Out of Time 3." However, it is actually right to assume it can survive on that premise alone.
The meeting is a strong hook that entices you throughout the narrative. Tom Baker and David Tenant play nicely off each other. The choice to make this sometime between the ending of Series 4 and the "End of Time" special gives it an emotional hook as the 10th wrestles with his impending ending as the 4th seems unphased by the reality that his own death is certain if the 10th exists.
The Daleks aren't in it very much, but they work well as villians. The good thing about the Daleks is, even as almost a background element at times, there is enough stories of their competency and threat that we just know they're dangerous, they'll hurt anyone, and that the Doctors are in trouble.
The side characters are acted well, as always, but this is all about the 10th and the 4th. You could cut out the side characters and miss very little. Which is not something I can say for "Out of Time 3."
Overall, another great one-off from Big Finish. If the premise entices you, you won't be disappointed. This is one of those crossovers that actually focuses on crossing over.
