Episode Title: Closing Time
Series: Doctor Who
Episode No.: 6.12
Genre: science fiction

Doctor Who 6.12 “Closing Time”

 

I liked this little break away episode from Rory and Amy. Don’t get me wrong, I like them as well, but this was a much needed episode I think to give the Doctor some perspective and closure on some things he’s gone through recently. From what I’ve seen at some board I suspect I’m in the minority in loving this episode precisely because it was a standalone that had such depth hidden within the humor of a deceptively formulaic plot.

 

So basically we have an old Cyberman ship had crashed on Earth where centuries later a mall was built on top of it. When said power grid to mall was improved, it woke the Cybermen up and they started to rebuild their ranks with whatever they could find and some poor hapless retail workers they caught. Meanwhile, the Doctor visits his old pal Craig, who as it turns out is home alone with his baby son. Suspicious of some activity the Doctor cuts his plans to stay. After getting a job, dealing with cybermats (yay for Classic Who), and using Craig’s parental love of his child destroying the Cybermen the Doctor is off to face his final day. River Song is captured and placed in an Astronaut suit under water, presumably to become the Impossible Astronaut that kills the Doctor.

 

Perhaps one of the most poignant scenes is that of the Doctor talking to Alfie about himself: his age, his legacy, and such. Matt Smith played this just right making you truly feel that despite the appearance of youth and vigor, the Doctor truly is ancient and perhaps finally tired of his life’s burdens.

 

I thought the baby, Alfie, naming himself “Stormaggedon, Dark Lord of All” was awesomely funny along with the Doctor’s ability to speak baby and the side comments that resulted. Perhaps even more amusing is the baby’s first word at the end: doctor.

 

I also liked the brief scene of Rory and Amy and the sign as the Doctor realized they had moved on and made a life as he hoped.

 

Rating: 8.0/10.0