DW 6x12 - Closing Time
Sep. 24th, 2011 11:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
caz963I've been looking forward to this one since I heard that James Corden was returning to DW to reprise his role as Craig. I thought The Lodger was one of the best episodes of S5 and I've enjoyed Gareth Roberts' work on both DW and SJA, so I was predisposed to like Closing Time anyway.
And like it I did.
Matt Smith and James Corden have great chemistry and as before, their interactions were a delight, and some - such as the "are you going to kiss me?" scene - were hilarious. Also, there was some nice "circular" continuity as we learn just where Eleven got the stetson and the dark blue envelopes he used to send out his invitations.
Other good bits:
Eleven trying desperately to talk himself out of staying to investigate the power fluctuations
Stormageddon
Craig owing that the Doctor ALWAYS needs someone, but doesn't like to admit it
"I'm the Doctor, I work in a shop now. I'm Here to Help." - and the showing of the badge!
Eleven talking to baby Alfie about his own childhood and showing him the stars - he, at the end of his life, and Alfie at the beginning of his
Cybermen!
As for the rest...
Although the Cybermen are on my "good things" list, because I'm always pleased to see them - that part of the plot did feel a bit flimsy. But then I suppose there had to be something nefarious going on for the Doctor to investigate and something to place Craig in peril, so I can live with it. Although it has to be said, the concept of Craig being able to fight off the conversion and destroy the Cybermen through the power of luuurve was dreadfully cheesy.
I'm a bit uneasy about the whole "I'm bad for my companions so I must send them away" thing that's going on - not because I don't like the angstyness or it, or because it's not true, but because I'm not sure how much further they can take it. The Doctor has always known that - long before Ten decided he was going to travel alone - and yet he's taken lots of them along with him anyway. As far as I can see, the Doctor has two options: travel solo or accept that his companions (for the most part) choose to go with him of their own free will and allow them to make that decision for themselves.
And finally, a scene at the end to set up next week's finale. Kovarian and the Silence pay a visit to the newly qualified Doctor Song and stick her in a spacesuit in the middle of a lake. (I think we all knew it was River or some version of her in the suit, right?). Given her reaction to the appearance of her "owners", it's obvious that this River is the one we saw at the end of LKH - the one who, having tried to kill the Doctor, decided to save him (I still can't fathom what occasioned that turnaround).
My eldest was shrieking at the end that she couldn't wait a week to find out what happens, but I have to admit to a degree of apprehension. From the trailer, and the set of 20+ publicity photos I saw the other day, I think that the finale is going to be as much of a mess as LKH because it looks as though there's just too much to pack in.
So... I liked Closing Time although I didn't think it was as good as The Lodger.
And like it I did.
Matt Smith and James Corden have great chemistry and as before, their interactions were a delight, and some - such as the "are you going to kiss me?" scene - were hilarious. Also, there was some nice "circular" continuity as we learn just where Eleven got the stetson and the dark blue envelopes he used to send out his invitations.
Other good bits:
As for the rest...
Although the Cybermen are on my "good things" list, because I'm always pleased to see them - that part of the plot did feel a bit flimsy. But then I suppose there had to be something nefarious going on for the Doctor to investigate and something to place Craig in peril, so I can live with it. Although it has to be said, the concept of Craig being able to fight off the conversion and destroy the Cybermen through the power of luuurve was dreadfully cheesy.
I'm a bit uneasy about the whole "I'm bad for my companions so I must send them away" thing that's going on - not because I don't like the angstyness or it, or because it's not true, but because I'm not sure how much further they can take it. The Doctor has always known that - long before Ten decided he was going to travel alone - and yet he's taken lots of them along with him anyway. As far as I can see, the Doctor has two options: travel solo or accept that his companions (for the most part) choose to go with him of their own free will and allow them to make that decision for themselves.
And finally, a scene at the end to set up next week's finale. Kovarian and the Silence pay a visit to the newly qualified Doctor Song and stick her in a spacesuit in the middle of a lake. (I think we all knew it was River or some version of her in the suit, right?). Given her reaction to the appearance of her "owners", it's obvious that this River is the one we saw at the end of LKH - the one who, having tried to kill the Doctor, decided to save him (I still can't fathom what occasioned that turnaround).
My eldest was shrieking at the end that she couldn't wait a week to find out what happens, but I have to admit to a degree of apprehension. From the trailer, and the set of 20+ publicity photos I saw the other day, I think that the finale is going to be as much of a mess as LKH because it looks as though there's just too much to pack in.
So... I liked Closing Time although I didn't think it was as good as The Lodger.
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Date: 2011-09-26 10:20 pm (UTC)No. Although weren't we told in DotM that it was the little girl in the suit? I don't think I'd have been able to remember if the series had run straight through, but spreading the series over six months has made it even harder to remember what happened earlier on!