Responding to a desperate summons from the Doctor’s future self, he and Peri find themselves on a sailing ship in 1492, where the crewmen are gripped by superstitious fear.
They say the Devil walks among them, stalking and striking them down. Even though they have landed in paradise, they fear that ‘El Diablo’ himself will drag them over the edge of the world and into the depths of Hell.
When the Doctor and Peri meet the captain of the ship, they both discover that heroes can sometimes behave unheroically. Peri’s reaction leads her into deep water, and soon the Doctor fears not only for her life but also for the existence of the ship, the paradise island, and the universe itself…
TROUBLE IN PARADISE
The sixth release in Big Finish and AudioGO’s anniversary series “Destiny of the Doctor,” Nev Fountain’s “Trouble in Paradise,” reunites the traditional team of the sixth Doctor and Peri in a pseudo-historical story involving Christopher Columbus. Typical of a Nev Fountain story, it’s comedic on the surface with a serious undercurrent, and unusually for this series it’s not a direct pastiche of its era.
I’d expected a visceral, violent story with a thick coat of dark humor, but it’s obvious from the start that it won’t go in that direction. The Doctor is gleefully expecting an adventure with Christopher Columbus, but Peri immediately punctures his enthusiasm with some much-needed historical information about the American hero. I’m actually delighted that someone took the time to destroy this myth – and perhaps the most unbelievable thing about it is the suggestion that Peri learned the truth about Columbus while still in high school! The story doesn’t let up: Columbus is portrayed as a pompous idiot, consumed with a desire to be the world’s greatest explorer but let down by the inescapable fact that he doesn’t know what he’s doing. His journal entries in this vein are hilarious, especially his abrupt decision about what to do with the Doctor. Less effective, though, is the philosophical debate between the Doctor and Peri about the importance of “little people” in the historical narrative. Peri’s accusations fall flat, and the narration even points out that she acknowledges her mistake – but then she flies into hysterics and threatens (and succeeds) to throw herself off the ship! It fulfills the necessary plot function, but it’s head-scratchingly out of character and mars an otherwise enjoyable experience.
The time-travel intricacies of the plot hold up quite well, especially since the explanations are given in one rapid-fire shot at the conclusion of the story. I also enjoyed the introductions of the natives and the threat of the Devil himself – Fountain never lets the story drag, introducing new twists at appropriate moments. The idea of a “queen bee of buffaloes” is ludicrous, but no more so than a hundred other Doctor Who ideas – and the way the Doctor outsmarts his foe is predictably entertaining.
Nicola Bryant narrates, doing an admirably effective job. Since she adopts her usual American accent to voice Peri’s lines, it’s almost like having two different performers, as her natural accent is so unusual in this context. She also expertly captures Colin Baker’s tone and diction, and while the voice is obviously dissimilar it’s still immediately recognizable as the sixth Doctor. Even her Matt Smith impression is spot on, easily capturing his babbling thought processes. Cameron Stewart, meanwhile, provides the supporting voice as Columbus, making him every bit the bumbling idiot the script demands. John Ainsworth’s direction is up to the usual high standards of this range, and Simon Hunt provides effective sound design, though I’ll be damned if I can remember anything about the score.
Overall, “Trouble in Paradise” is one of the better releases thus far in the “Destiny” range. It’s a welcome tonal departure from its era, entertaining without becoming silly or horrifying. This, coupled with effective narration from a veteran companion, makes it a release well worth having.
Recommended.
7/10