Paradise Towers

"No funny business with the rulebook."

Writer: Stephen Wyatt
Format: TV
Broadcast: 5-26 October 1987
Season: 24.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Mel

Synopsis

The Doctor and Mel decide to visit Paradise Towers, a residential complex that promises a peaceful life to its residents. However, the establishment is far from what its name suggests. A conflict persists among the Kangs, human-esque, multicolour beings who gather in opposing gangs based on which colour of the rainbow they bear. Furthermore, killer cleaning robots prowl the halls, and a secret in the complex's basement poses the greatest threat of all...

Verdict

Paradise Towers was a terrific story to continue my BritBox jump around! I enjoyed this one a lot more than my first viewing eight years ago and I have to say that this another example of a massively underrated adventure. I thought part one in particular was outstanding in establishing the scene and the setting of Paradise Towers itself was magnificent. I thought it was a really effective environment and it being some time since it was the paradise we would see in the advertisement through the Doctor's eyes worked very well. Things had deteriorated big time with the Kangs running wild from the Caretakers in charge of the place. I thought it was quite interesting to find out that the Cleaners were a late addition to the script because John Nathan-Turner found that there was a monster lacking. I don't think they filled too much of a void, but they looked pretty impressive I have to say resembling something of a War Machine. The Caretakers seemed suitable villains to me with the Chief Caretaker a great enemy to the Seventh Doctor. They contrasted their styles wonderfully, but to me the best guest character was the Deputy Chief Caretaker. The way the Doctor utilised the rulebook against them to escape as being prisoner was absolutely marvellous. That was a real highlight of the serial. Sylvester McCoy was on top form as the seventh incarnation and I also really loved Mel in the companion role. I thought the way she was used in the part two cliffhanger was incredibly disturbing and I'm pretty surprised it was allowed to go ahead. Tabby and Tilda definitely didn't hold back in their grip! As if that wasn't enough for Mel, she was then nearly drowned in part four by a weird machine within the water. She had a lot going on that's for sure. The fate that befell Tabby and Tilda was quite horrifying as well. Pex was a humorous character and I felt quite sorry for him when he was made fun of by the Kangs. The different Red and Blue factions of the Kangs were great, with Fire Escape of the former being a standout character. She really was tremendous. The way they spoke was also really good and showed the devolution of those within Paradise Towers really well. I particularly liked the way death was referred to as being unalive. The Doctor being mistaken as the Great Architect was very good and I liked how he was trying to defend himself even when it seemed helpless. The emergence of Kroagnon as the Great Architect and what it had evolved into was brilliant and an unexpected revelation. It worked well for the most part and his taking over of the Chief Caretaker was really good, even if the staggered walk and drained personality was a little off. The performance was outstanding though! The way Pex sacrificed himself to take out the Great Architect of Paradise Towers was good and admirable, even if the directing was a little poor in that moment. The quick transition to him being honoured by the Kangs at his funeral was fantastic. The TARDIS having been graffitied by the Red Kangs is also something I should mention which was excellent. This definitely had more of a modern series feeling which suited it. I was a big fan. Overall, a great serial!

Rating: 8/10