Approaching the latter half of The Lost Stories range’s first series, the fifth story invites listeners to a space-age slate of disappearances. Written by P.J. Hammond and Andy Lane, Paradise 5 finds The Doctor and Peri in search of several guests, including an old friend, who’ve gone missing aboard one of the universe’s most luxurious resorts.  

The Doctor and Peri visit the planet Targos Delta to check in on old friend Professor Albrecht Thompson, only to discover that he has vanished. He was last sighted taking a shuttle to the holiday resort of Paradise 5, then never seen again.

The Doctor’s curiosity is piqued. They must investigate, but they must do so stealthily… Peri will go undercover on Paradise 5, while the Doctor hides in the shadows. Because paradise holds a terrible secret beneath the white marble and golden trimmings. The mute Cherubs have a story to tell. And the Elohim are coming.

Beware.

Big Finish Synopsis

Among the adventures featured in the Lost Stories range so far, Paradise 5 is unique compared to its compatriots. With every possible positive connotation, the story diverges from the conventions of Classic Series storytelling, ultimately creating an engaging adventure.

These diversified narratives begin from the very outset of The Doctor and Peri’s latest dalliance. The story chooses to keep the mystery of Paradise 5’s disappearances at a distance during the first episode. Instead, we’re treated to scenes that contextualise the resort’s popularity and exclusivity on the nearest homeworld, Targos Delta. This planet, unlike the harmonious setting of the Paradise 5 space station, is an industrial world literally drowning in its own administrative tickertape. The stark contrast between the two worlds highlights the allure the resort brings and, later in the story, why the antagonists are so easily able to bring their preferred victims aboard.

Once onboard the Paradise 5, the worldbuilding central to the first episode makes way for the central mystery to unfold. Despite being a slow burner set across four parts, the writers have layered its pace with engaging storytelling that focuses on characters and companion development.

For the majority of the story’s mystery, The Doctor and Peri find themselves separated from one another. Undercover in different departments to aid their investigation, these scenes alone create an opportunity to explore Peri’s continuing journey. During her time as a member of Paradise 5’s staff, we get a much-needed moment of reflection from her character, as she considers her time with The Doctor and ultimately how much agency she has wrapped up behind his technicoloured coat. Moreover, we get to see the confidence that she’s learnt from The Doctor over their many adventures together, as she turns the tables on a logical computer program.

In addition to these maturing dynamics, the adventure also offers a fantastic roster of side characters. Of particular highlight are the central human antagonists helping to disappear guests. Masterfully performed by Alexander MacQueen and James D’Arcy, this duo of suave and rational makes life tough for both The Doctor and Peri. Always within a hair’s breadth of catching the TARDIS team, there is more than one tense moment to be found throughout as they cotton on to being investigated.

The only slight shortcoming of this story are the alien masterminds behind the disappearances. Their sequences throughout the story are short, and we never really learn much about their wars in the higher dimensions.