Closing Time

"Cybermats are infiltrators. Very small, very deadly. They collect power like bees collect pollen."

Writer: Gareth Roberts 

Format: TV

Broadcast: 24th September 2011

Series: 6.12

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Craig

Synopsis 

Craig Owens is having enough trouble trying to care for his child. The last thing he needed was the return of his old friend the Doctor. And it looks like he's not alone as trouble seems to have followed him into Colchester, bearing a familiar silvery shine. 

Verdict 

Closing Time is an excellent penultimate episode of this high in quality sixth series of the revived Doctor Who. I'll start straight away with the enemies of the episode and I'm glad that after they were embarrassed in A Good Man Goes to War they've quickly been given a chance to redeem themselves! Despite a lack of appearance, I thought the Cybermen were terrific. Knowing that they were in town was more than enough of a fear factor present which was used highly effectively. After his success in The Lodger, it was inevitable that Craig would make a return to the series because he's just superb! I think he's created a debate whether he can be considered a companion or not, I personally would say yes because the Doctor does acknowledge him as his partner (something he considers as a new word for the more traditional companion). I loved how he didn't realise that it was referencing the fact that it appeared the Doctor and Craig were in a relationship! The Doctor's arrival at Craig's house was tremendous. After Craig and Sophie had had a child together, this was the first time he'd been left to look after baby Alfie on his own. Sophie had left ridiculously basic instructions and ensured that her parents and Craig's parents would call to check in also. But he wasn't expecting the Doctor to show up! And he certainly hoped he wasn't wearing his noticing face. That moment was sublime! The Doctor's attempts to convince himself that he would just leave and not save the human race was brilliant. Of course he wasn't going to leave. He'd noticed almost immediately that something was wrong. Funny how he can notice that but not realise at first that Craig and Sophie had bought a new house! A new house he didn't like the redecoration of even though it was the original interior design. Moments after he claimed he was leaving, the Doctor ended up working in a toy shop. What better job for the Doctor? He got along splendidly with the kids which was nice to see. But what was lovely was how the Doctor comforted Alfie, or as he seemingly preferred to be called, Stormageddon. When the Doctor mentioned once again that he could speak baby, it struck me that we've never seen him attempt to physically speak it. Now that's something I would enjoy seeing! Craig's reaction to learning the Doctor could communicate with his newly born child was hilarious. Matt Smith and James Corden are perfect for each other. The comedy they brought to the episode bouncing off one another was sublime, it really was. The predominant setting of the shop was very good and I liked how the Cybermen were camped underneath after being dormant for centuries. Finally technological advancement had meant the council provided them with newfound power and slowly but surely shop staff were being converted into Cybermen. I liked how they had a teleport device hidden in the out of order lift and also a tunnel hidden behind a changing room mirror. Very subtle I must say and very good. I liked how this episode was very much about the Cybermen attempting to rebuild themselves into a force once again. This group had been stripped down to the very core but they were getting back on their feet. The return of the Cybermats was marvellous and it's about damn time the little shifty menaces made a TV return! We haven't seen them since Revenge of the Cybermen and I'm not entirely sure why. I think they're terrific. I wasn't struck on them having proper teeth and I didn't quite buy that they could get Craig off of his feet but the Doctor jumping through an unlocked door made up for that. Oh, Doctor. For someone so incredibly intelligent you aren't half an idiot sometimes! The attempts of the Cybermen to convert Craig into their Cyber Controller were fantastic. I loved the irony of them saying he was intelligent yet the Doctor's shushing seemed to hamper that theory somewhat. For the second consecutive episode he's appeared in, I liked how Craig defeated the enemy at hand with love. His love for Sophie worked expertly in The Lodger and now hearing the crying sound of his son allowed him to reverse Cyber conversion. If anything could defeat the emotionless Cybermen, it's the loving bond between father and son. I loved how the Doctor acknowledged that his days were coming to an end. But he'd spent his final hours tidying things up for Craig to ensure Sophie wouldn't get too mad at him. It was wonderful seeing the Doctor acknowledge Craig as a mate. The Doctor and Craig were incredible friends and together, they'd defeated the Cybermen with love. But then, after the whole series arc of the Doctor's looming death had been kept quiet in recent episodes (something that I'm a fan of), River was face to face with Kovarian. The Silence were back and we learned who the women in the spacesuit who kills the Doctor was. Tick tock goes the clock, till River kills the Doctor. 

Rating: 9/10