Trouble in Paradise

Destiny of the Doctor #6

Released: 1 June 2013

Listened: 5/7/20

This is one of the 50th Anniversary stories featuring each Doctor. This time, the Eleventh Doctor’s appearance is quite overt, and a bit babbly, even for him. He sends the Doctor and Peri to find an “omni-paradox,” which happens to be hanging around Christopher Columbus just as he’s discovering the New World. Columbus, as it turns out, is cruel, vain, and stupid, all of which Peri knows from her history lessons (probably not accurate, if she grew up in the 70s). The story is written by Nev Fountain, which means Peri is more clever than usual, and has a number of sharp lines. There’s also plenty of absurdity, like a goat swallowing the TARDIS key, and the Doctor holding it up to the doors to gain entry. There’s also a ridiculous amount of timey-wimey paradox plot, which it’s best not to worry about. Nicola Bryant is the narrator, so she gets to use her natural accent for that, which only highlights Peri’s tones. In fairness, Bryant has gotten quite good at an American accent, although she still can’t quite say “Maryland” properly. This one is reasonably fun, as part of the specials.