NuWho Rewatch: Closing Time

[purplecat]

I've actually been back and read my previous review of Closing Time because I was interested in seeing how I reacted to the reappearance of Craig. I wrote "I'm glad I don't know who James Corden is" and that sentiment prevails. I still haven't a clue about Corden beyond the confines of Doctor Who and, given other people's comments about him, have no wish to. I think Craig works really well as a character. Hanging a second story from his "ordinary bloke with an ordinary life" schtick is, perhaps, stretching things a bit. But the character and set-up are likeable enough, and the episode sufficiently undemanding that one can forgive it being a little repetitious thematically.

NLSS child was very concerned about Stormageddon and had to be reassured that he would be fine. That done she particularly enjoyed the Doctor's fish-out-of-water moments with the baby. She didn't recognise Lynda Baron as Val, but then I don't think she was ever that fond of Come Outside (a pre-school kids programme which was mostly like the "through the window" bits of Playschool only without the windows and with the addition of a dog and an aeroplane). There was also a lovely moment early one when the doomed shop assistant was checking the changing room. NLSS child became increasingly agitated until the point where she pulled aside a curtain to reveal a Cyberman at which point NLSS child said "OK, so it's a Cyberman, but it could have been someone changing!"* - such are the anxieties of the pre-teen. Interestingly she was less affected when the Doctor did precisely the same thing only to find a woman changing, I suspect the framing of the moment as comedic made the difference.

Closing Time is a nice little episode with few pretensions. It's not as good as The Lodger who's basic set-up it recycles and is deliberately less significant than many companion-lite episodes. However it has plenty of charm and the wisdom not to pretend to be more than the filler it is.

* Sadly, and this from a child who frequently complains about the prudishness of her own contemporaries in changing rooms.

Comments

[arcanetrivia]

I liked "Oh, you've redecorated! You don't like it" although it was cheesy, and the bit about the badge with his name on in case he forgets who he is.

You know, now that I say this, I wonder if it's true that most Moffat-driven stuff plays better as short scenes, rather than as full episodes and especially than long season arcs...?

[purplecat]

"Oh, you've redecorated! You don't like it"

That's quite cute, I'd forgotten that, and presumably a shout out to the second Doctor who said it in one of the multi-doctor specials (The Five Doctors, I think, but I could be wrong).

I'm not sure. I think he has a problem with long arc plotting that he doesn't have with self-contained episodes, and I also think his more character driven arcs (Amy and Rory over the second half of season 6 and the first half of season 7) and all of season 8 work much better than his more showy, plot-driven arcs. But why he has a problem with big plot-driven arcs when he can write solid complex plotty episodes is a bit beyond me.

[arcanetrivia]

Five Doctors, I should think, yeah. ("I" don't like it, of course. Mistyped.) Of course that showed up in Day of the Doctor again too. Running gag by this point, really.

[purplecat]

I just saw a gif from The Three Doctors with it in as well, so very much long-running gag!!!

[bunn.livejournal.com]

OK, I have to ask. What's *wrong* with James Corden? He'd always struck me as a reasonably innocuous comic actor but it sounds like you feel there's something awful about him?

[purplecat]

I have no idea what's wrong with him but enough people have said things like "I can't enjoy this episode because of James Corden" so I've been assuming he's a kind of divisive figure. I think I was picturing him as a bit like Ricky Gervais tbh, but I'm literally working on nothing beyond his appearances in Dr Who and people's reactions to them.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Ah! He seems to have a rather laddish persona, perhaps it's that.

Pp said: 'I daren't ask! What if it's another Rolf Harris Scenario and everyone knows but us!!!!'

so I thought I'd check :-D

[bookwormsarah.livejournal.com]

I first encountered James Corden in Fat Friends, and again in History Boys. I like him so much more in that sort of thing (and in Who) than the presentery stuff, which admittedly I've only seen a few minutes of.

[purplecat]

I must say, I think his character hear is very likeable if a little "stereotypical slightly useless bloke" but it's hard to imagine having strong reactions to him based on this stuff.

[bookwormsarah.livejournal.com]

If you get the chance to see History Boys I thoroughly recommend it.

[daniel-saunders.livejournal.com]

I can empathize with NLSS child's vicarious embarrassment. I have to say that I tend not to watch The Curse of Fenric so much despite its many virtues because I get too embarrassed in the scene when Ace implies Kathleen is a single mother. I just share both characters' embarrassment too much. (Well, that and the fact I find story's political priorities problematic.)

[purplecat]

It must be said I'm not a fan of The Aztecs (I've read the book and watched one episode) because I find it embarrassing.

[daniel-saunders.livejournal.com]

What did you find embarrassing, if you don't mind me asking?

[purplecat]

I think I feel both Susan and Barbara act with way too little caution and appreciation of the dangerous situation they are in.