Who Review: Closing Time

I have come to the conclusion that it is too hard to write “Who Reviews” without giving away any spoilers. Perhaps more talented writers/reviewers can–not me. Sorry. So, my policy from this point on is, if you haven’t seen the episode (and it’s already Tuesday, so if you’re in the UK or the US, you’ve had a few days to see it already), then bookmark this post and come back to it when you’ve watched it. What follows is a discussion of the episode, assuming that you have seen it.

The Doctor’s on his own for the first time since the 2009 specials. And like the specials, while he doesn’t have any “official” companions, he is helped by the lovable Craig, returning from last season’s The Lodger (also written by Gareth Roberts, who also wrote The Shakespeare Code, one of my favorites from Season 3, and The Unicorn and the Wasp, one of the best of season 4). Only this time Craig is married and has a baby to look after. Add Cybermen to this mix, and you’ve got the potential for laughs, scares, “awww” moments, and tension too.

For me, the first laugh of the episode was the Doctor poking his head around Craig’s door and saying, “You’ve redecorated–I don’t like it.” Of course, as one who has watched much Who, and is a fan of the Second Doctor, this line brought back memories of The Three Doctors (Second Doctor comments to the Third Doctor on the new TARDIS interior), and The Five Doctors (Second Doctor critiques The Brigadier’s redecorated office). An excellent comic moment for the fans that was not lost and much appreciated. It also shows that Matt Smith has been studying the show since he played the line just like Troughton.

The Doctor’s interaction with the baby again reminded us that this man is not of this world. In fact, throughout the episode the Doctor acts in ways that continue to show on the one hand his awkwardness around social customs, and yet his ability to charm simply by being himself, quirks and all. This seems to be one of the main ways this Doctor shows his alienness.

The Cybermats were introduced to the show in 1967’s The Tomb of the Cybermen. They were last seen in 1975’s Revenge of the Cybermen, but they didn’t have teeth and didn’t look quite so vicious. Oh what an extra few thousand pounds budget can do! Now, maybe I missed it, and here’s where observant commenters can help me out, but I didn’t catch any explanation as to how the Cybermen ended up there. Aren’t they supposed to be in an alternative universe? And did you notice if they had the Cybus Industries branding on them? Is it possible these are the same race of Cybermen last fought by The Seventh Doctor in Silver Nemesis, and not the creation of Trigger–I mean, John Lumic? I hope so.

The show’s climax, where Craig nearly gets turned into a Cyberman, was good in that we actually see the start of the process for the first time–and he very nearly succumbs. And then his desire to prove himself able to be a good father to his son is fulfilled when the baby’s cries enable him to break free of the machinery, and help save the day for the sake of his boy. Ahhh! I know die-hard fans of the classic series shudder at this kind of sentimentalism (forgetting Delta and the Bannermen), but this is a new series for a new audience–young and old, male and female. Times have changed, and the show needs to balance humor, drama, action, scares, and heart. The best stories are the ones that do this well. In my opinion, Closing Time is one of these.

Rory and Amy make a cameo appearance, where Amy is now a celebrity cosmetics model. As much as a certain family member would love this to be the last we see of Amy, I really don’t think it is. First, we haven’t resolved what happened in Utah, and that’s coming next week. Second, there’s been no announcement of Karen Gillan quitting, and there would have been by now. So, I expect however things work out next week, she and Rory will be back in the TARDIS.

So… next week… season finale. All will be explained! Since they’ve already started filming the Christmas special, and Matt Smith is playing The Doctor, we know that The Doctor really isn’t dead (as if that was ever seriously in question). However, it will be interesting to see how he did it, and why. I have a sneaky feeling his “Flesh” self has something to do with it, but perhaps that too easy an explanation. I guess we’ll have to wait and see!