NuWho Review: Series 5 Episode 11 "The Lodger"

By: Gareth Roberts

**Spoilers**

If you have not yet watched this episode, please go and do so before proceeding.

         Can I just kiss whomever had the idea to put Matt Smith and James Corden in an episode together? Can I? Because this was brilliant. I'm not usually a James Corden fan (finding his comedy style grating and hard to listen to) but here he's kept on a pretty tight leash and plays off of Matt Smith so well that I'm willing to forgive him.

        This is a light, fluffy episode that really contributes nothing to the overall series arc...it's just good fun. I'll admit that the story is cheesy in places and that the day is saved by the Power of Love, but the performances and chemistry of the characters really carries the narrative through those sticky patches. And we get to see The Doctor play football. That's always a plus.


Favorite Moments & Random Thoughts:




 - One of the key elements about this story that makes it work so well is the characters. I'll be the first to admit that the story is rather weak, the mystery quickly loses its appeal, and the only saving grace of the episode that keeps it from going the same way as Fear Her or The Idiot's Lantern is the charisma and likability of the characters. Craig and Sophie, in particular, are absolutely adorable.

- Although, I can't watch that hallway scene without obsessing over how utterly HIDEOUS that portrait is.

- I really wish we could have met that Melina character. She sounds like a riot. A nervous, hypochondriac mess along the lines of Mrs. Bennet from Pride & Prejudice.

- One thing that was interesting was the way The Doctor says that Amy left the note for him, directing him to Craig's flat. This timey-wimey scene is never shown in this episode, but it will feature again during the 'rewind' sequence of The Big Bang.

- Where did The Doctor get all that cash? Did he use the Sonic to rob another bank?

- Also, the way The Doctor keeps greeting everyone with French-style air kisses is hilarious. Calls back to mind Ten's manic grin and shoulder-dislocating handshakes...I love subtle touches like this that remind us The Doctor isn't human. His reaction to Craig's assertion that Sophie is nothing more than a friend also makes me laugh. "Oh, that's completely normal. Works for me."

- This episode got a lot of flak for the shower scene (where 11 gets in touch with 2's musical tastes) for some reason. I don't understand why...it's not like we see anything. And besides, it gave us the hilarious moment when The Doctor mistakes Craig's toothbrush for the Sonic.

- Why was The Doctor wearing his earpiece in the shower? I really hope it was waterproof not just water resistant...

- I love Sophie's reaction to The Doctor (now thankfully dressed in a towel) giving her the air-kiss greeting. She looks torn between amused and a little scared, though she quickly warms up to him.

- Also...did anyone else notice him chugging milk out of the carton? Bad form, Doctor! You don't do that when guests are around!

- I find it rather funny that Craig's only requirements for The Doctor staying is that he's weird and can cook. Oh Craig, you adorable, naive man!

- The Doctor's question about football ("Is it the one with the sticks?") is a reference to Five's obsession with Cricket.

- Matt Smith just had WAY too much fun with the football scenes. Look at him. You can just tell he's having the time of his life filming these!

- I know I have the time of my life watching them. Especially whenever he starts lecturing the team leader about 'Annihilation' in a hilarious tribute/parody of The Doctor's usual 'over my dead body' speeches.

- I have heard some people complaining about The Doctor playing matchmaker for Sophie and Craig, but again, I honestly don't understand why. Quite moments like that in his story are hilarious and help us to see the person behind the hero. Besides, it's interesting how he helps both of them to define their personalities and desires outside of just pushing them together. The character inter-play in this episode is just a treat to watch.

- And, of course, Craig touched the 'dry rot' on the ceiling. Honestly, I don't want to know what was causing it...I just know that I would never touch it without my rubber gloves. It just looked nasty.

- Not quite as nasty as whatever The Doctor brewed up as a cure, though. Did he pull those paper towels out of the trash?!

- I find it funny that The Doctor is now doing his 'Vulcan Mind Meld' thing-y via headbutts. Priceless!

- And the montage of all the Doctors? Oh...I could watch that forever. It's interesting, though, that now Craig has been literally inside The Doctor's head and knows his memories, thoughts, and everything else. Why didn't he burn like Donna? Is it because he didn't have a literal bit of Time Lord DNA? Or was her memory wipe even more pointless than we all thought?

- I'm a bit annoyed by the way Amy is just left in the TARDIS to play the shrieking maiden this time, even if she does act as a bit of The Doctor's go-to research girl. Just felt like she was shoe-horned in for personal stakes for The Doctor. As if losing the TARDIS wouldn't be stakes enough!

- I'll admit that the climax to this episode is a little bit weak. Saved by true love? Really? But, for what the story is, it sort of works. Yes the alien subplot and mystery is weak...but that's okay because this story was really about the characters. I think the space-ship bit could have been stronger, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the episode.

- So the day is saved, the malfunctioning repair pilot is shut down, Craig and Sophie are together (embarrassing The Doctor with their snogging), and Amy is saved. But then that pesky crack comes back and Amy finds the engagement ring from the lost-and-erased Rory. The plot begins to be put in motion for the series finale...!

               The Lodger is a light, fluffy episode based off of a Doctor Who comic that gives us a funny little breather before the mind-bending and epic series finale. It's not particularly deep and runs more like a sitcom with a bit of sci-fi spliced in than a general episode of Doctor Who. Yet those are all strengths. It is light-hearted and ridiculous, but that makes it enjoyable. The Lodger is a 4/5.




What did you think? Do you agree with my rating? If not - what would you say differently?