|
BBC The Lodger |
|
| Story No. | 229 | 
|
| Production Code | 1.11 | |
| Dates | June 12 2010 |
|
With Matt Smith,
Karen Gillan
Written by Gareth Roberts Directed by Catherine Morshead Executive Producers: Steven Moffat, Piers Wenger, Beth Willis. |
|
|
BBC The Lodger |
|
| Story No. | 229 |
|
| Production Code | 1.11 | |
| Dates | June 12 2010 |
|
With Matt Smith,
Karen Gillan
Written by Gareth Roberts Directed by Catherine Morshead Executive Producers: Steven Moffat, Piers Wenger, Beth Willis. |
| Synopsis: The Doctor is forced to pass for a normal human while he investigates an alien who can scan for technology. |
Doctor in the House by Gavin Smith 28/6/10
Right, here we are: the low point of Series 5. Total SciFi that said something to the effect of "it's no Love & Monsters but still... 5/10", I'm inclined to agree. While The Lodger isn't as horrifically appalling as that travesty with Peter Kay, it certainly derails the consistency of an otherwise very good series.
My main problem with this episode is its focus, trying so hard to do one element that it ignores others. Essentially the story explores how the Doctor, a nomadic misfit, can (try to) fit in with regular, human society. This involves him moving in with Craig Owens (James Corden). Admittedly, I like James Corden and his performance here is definitely the highlight of the episode (as oppossed to Peter Kay's). Owens is the Doctor's opposite and foil; their chemistry is, at points, genuinely funny - though sometimes a little cringing - and it's not giving much away to say that Owens has a love interest. All this gives the episode a sense of normality which, to be fair, is what it appears to be aiming for.
However, this comes at the expense of the remaining storyline with the sci-fi element left looking like a hollow extension. Though well introduced and quite creepy, at least to begin with, the villain/threat is absent for much of the story. It is only properly explored in the last ten minutes, in which it is explained and diffused much too easily. I love episodes that keep me thinking throughout, stories where I can't predict the ending and this one gives up in the last quarter.
Amy is kept in the background throughout with Owens taking on the role of companion. This is a welcome mixing of the show's dynamics; it's only temporary but it works quite nicely. Each new season attempts an episode towards the end that is, by the show's usual standards, dysfunctional - Love & Monsters, Blink, Turn Left - and this is the same pedigree. While it isn't as scary as Blink or as thought-provoking as Turn Left, this episode certainly doesn't crash and burn like Season 2's "funny" episode.
Looking back on it, The Lodger really wasn't a bad episode at all; in fact, it was a fun, light-hearted romp. But compared to the rest of this season it does struggle.