Doctor Who, The Matt Smith Box Set Season 1 Episode 31

Ep 31. Season 6, Episode 12, "Closing Time"

  • September 24, 2011

The Doctor is once again forced to confront his mortality in "Closing Time," the twelfth episode of the sixth season of Doctor Who. With darkness looming on the horizon, the Doctor returns to Earth for some last-minute shopping, only to be sidetracked by a series of alien attacks and an old friend.

As the Doctor wanders through a department store, he meets Craig Owens (James Corden), who he previously encountered during a visit to Earth in "The Lodger." Craig is now a father, struggling to balance parenthood with his new job. The two men quickly fall into familiar banter, but their happiness is short-lived when an otherworldly threat emerges.

A series of shoppers are being kidnapped by Cybermen, who are using the department store as a staging ground for a sinister plot. With time running out, the Doctor and Craig team up to track down the missing people and put an end to the Cybermen's machinations. Along the way, Craig finds himself questioning his own abilities as a father, as he watches the Doctor struggle with his own mortality.

The chemistry between the Doctor and Craig is one of the highlights of "Closing Time," with their easy rapport and playful banter serving as a welcome respite from the darker themes of the episode. James Corden brings a certain charm to the role of Craig, imbuing him with a sense of warmth and vulnerability that makes it easy to root for him, even as he faces seemingly insurmountable odds.

But while the Doctor and Craig's relationship is certainly a bright spot in "Closing Time," it's the Doctor's struggle with his own mortality that gives the episode its emotional weight. As the Time Lord faces the possibility of his own death, he finds himself reflecting on his life and the people who have been a part of it. It's a poignant reminder that even immortal beings can experience moments of doubt and fear, and that even the Doctor is not immune to the ravages of time.

Overall, "Closing Time" is a satisfying episode that does a good job of balancing humor, action, and emotion. It's not the strongest entry in the series, but it's still worth a watch for fans of Doctor Who, and the chemistry between the Doctor and Craig alone is worth the price of admission.

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Description
  • First Aired
    September 24, 2011
  • Language
    English