Closing Time (TV story): Difference between revisions

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* In ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'' the different versions of the Doctor give their ages as 909, and 1103. Writer [[Gareth Roberts]] confirmed in an interview that this is indeed two hundred years after ''[[The God Complex (TV story)|The God Complex]]'' for the Doctor and that he spent these years "waving" at Amy and Rory through history books. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]'')
* In ''[[The Impossible Astronaut]]'' the different versions of the Doctor give their ages as 909, and 1103. Writer [[Gareth Roberts]] confirmed in an interview that this is indeed two hundred years after ''[[The God Complex (TV story)|The God Complex]]'' for the Doctor and that he spent these years "waving" at Amy and Rory through history books. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]'')
* Part of the nursery rhyme that was heard in ''[[Night Terrors (TV story)|Night Terrors]]'' is sung by Madame [[Kovarian]], with new lines.
* Part of the nursery rhyme that was heard in ''[[Night Terrors (TV story)|Night Terrors]]'' is sung by Madame [[Kovarian]], with new lines.
* ''Closing Time'' is the first episode produced by Denise Paul, who had been Associate Producer for several Eleventh Doctor stories.
* This was the first episode produced by Denise Paul, who had been Associate Producer for several Eleventh Doctor stories.
* This is the first time since the series revival in 2005 that episode 12 has not been part of a multi-part story written by the head writer. The end does set up the series finale.
* This is the first time since the series revival in 2005 that episode 12 has not been part of a multi-part story written by the head writer. The end does set up the series finale.
* This is the first television story to feature a [[Cybermat]] since the [[Fourth Doctor]] story ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]''. They had been redesigned, with biological teeth and gums.
* This is the first television story to feature a [[Cybermat]] since the [[Fourth Doctor]] story ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]''. They had been redesigned, with biological teeth and gums.
* This is also the first regular-season episode since the series revival in which the Doctor does not have an ongoing companion with him at some point.
* This is also the first regular-season episode since the series revival in which the Doctor does not have an ongoing companion with him at some point.
** Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill were credited in the opener as they had been during the rest of the season. This is the first time in the series that any actor's name has appeared in the opening credits for less than one minute of on-screen appearance.
** [[Karen Gillan]] and [[Arthur Darvill]] were credited in the opener as they had been during the rest of the season. This is the first time in the series that any actor's name has appeared in the opening credits for less than one minute of on-screen appearance.
** The BBC America and Space broadcasts retained the opening sequence narrated by Amy Pond.
** The BBC America and Space broadcasts retained the opening sequence narrated by Amy Pond.
* A case can be made for Craig to be considered a companion.
* [[Gareth Roberts]] said in an interview that he was considering bringing Craig back when he saw [[James Corden]]'s performance in ''[[The Lodger (TV story)|The Lodger]]'', saying that "it already felt like he was one of the ''Who'' family".
* The "app" for disabling the Cybermat used one of the "bonus sounds" found on the toy version of the Eleventh Doctor's sonic screwdriver, unheard on the show until now.
* The "app" for disabling the Cybermat used one of the "bonus sounds" found on the toy version of the Eleventh Doctor's sonic screwdriver, unheard on the show until now.
* During one of the scenes, BBC Radio 1's [[Greg James]] was visible behind Craig. Greg James named his character "Carlos".
* During one of the scenes, BBC Radio 1's [[Greg James]] was visible behind Craig. Greg James named his character "Carlos".
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* The date on Craig's newspaper is [[19 April]] [[2011]].
* The date on Craig's newspaper is [[19 April]] [[2011]].
* This is the third time that the Cybermen have appeared in the penultimate episode of a series.
* This is the third time that the Cybermen have appeared in the penultimate episode of a series.
* This is the first and only televised episode in which [[River Song]] appears in that wasn't written by [[Steven Moffat]].
* This is the first and only televised episode in which [[River Song]] appears in that wasn't written by [[Steven Moffat]]. However, Moffat did write her scene, albeit uncredited.
** However, Moffat did write her scene, albeit uncredited.
* [[Steven Moffat]] was pleased with ''[[The Lodger (TV story)|The Lodger]]'', an episode he called "quite close to my heart", and wanted to bring Craig back. He commented that it was a change of pace for [[James Corden]], who usually was cast as "[[Double act|the funny one]]"; as Craig he is "the straight man to the wacky Doctor".
* Keen for the Doctor and Craig's escapades to continue taking place in a mundane, everyday environment, [[Gareth Roberts]] considered settings such as a [[hospital]], a [[police station]] and a [[supermarket]] before finally settling on a department store.
* Sophie's role was minimalised due to [[Daisy Haggard]]'s commitment to the play ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becky_Shaw Becky Shaw]'' at the Almeida Theatre in [[London]].
* [[Gareth Roberts]] was instructed to include only a fleeting appearance for Amy and Rory, because the episode would be in production alongside ''[[The Girl Who Waited (TV story)|The Girl Who Waited]]''. This was necessary to ensure that there was sufficient time to record all thirteen episodes of the season, as well as the preceding Christmas special.
* [[Steve Hughes]] compared the Doctor and Craig to famous comedic duos such as [[Laurel and Hardy]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbott_and_Costello Abbott and Costello], and [[Simon Pegg]] and [[Nick Frost]].
* It was [[Gareth Roberts]]' ide to include the Cybermen. He felt that the personal nature of the storyline would benefit from a familiar foe, and he was also aware that, with the exception of some cameo appearances, the season otherwise featured only brand-new enemies, and he thought "there should be a sense of history about the Doctor's final battle to save Earth before he heads off to meet his death". He felt that this was consistent with the theme of "death and lingering darkness" that had run throughout the season.
* [[Gareth Roberts]] decided that the Cybermen should lurk in the background for much of the episode in the manner of Sixties stories like ''[[The Moonbase (TV story)|The Moonbase]]'' so that they would not detract from the interplay between the Doctor and Craig. As such, he also decided to resurrect the Cybermats.
* [[Steven Moffat]] proposed that the new Cybermat should sport fangs, making it more of a physical threat.
* Craig and Sophie's child was originally a girl, first named Grace and later Tess.
* Sanderson & Grainger, was partly devised as an homage to an influential teacher from [[Gareth Roberts]]' youth whose surname was Grainger.
* Originally, the disappearances were not a new phenomenon, but occurred every few decades, to be accompanied by strange graffiti. Various electronic and mechanical components were also going missing, and it was this trail which led the Doctor to the store.
* Alfie was portrayed by seven different babies, usually paired in twins, because of strict rules about baby hours. Several dummies were used as well. [[James Corden]], who was about to become a father, learned tips from the mothers.
* The first draft was much different - the disappearances were not a new phenomenon, but occurred every few decades, to be accompanied by strange graffiti. Much was made of the history of a market which had been held for centuries on the site of the shopping centre; the Cybermat would have been found entombed within its foundation stone. It transpired that the being responsible for the kidnappings was a Cyberscout (referred to as "the Guardian"), which had operated on automatic for centuries, with the graffiti part of its reconnaissance procedure. Over the years, the Guardian had gradually replaced its defective parts with human limbs and organs when it periodically awoke from dormancy. Now nothing was left of the original Cyberman, and it was protecting Colchester from the other Cybermen which lay underground in suspended animation. After an ending in which Craig destroys the Cybermen with a wrecking ball was dismissed, the climax subsequently hinged on the Doctor transmitting the Guardian's personality into the reactivated Cybermen, overwhelming them.
* The Doctor being able to "speak baby" was added late in development. [[Steven Moffat]] came up with the idea while writing ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]].''
* The episode comprised Block Six of season six (actually the seventh to go into production).
* [[Beth Willis]] picked [[Steve Hughes]] to direct based on his work on ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Girls_(TV_series) Land Girls].''
* Since the regular producer, [[Marcus Wilson]], would be overseeing ''[[The Girl Who Waited (TV story)|The Girl Who Waited]]'', line producer [[Denise Paul]] was promoted to producer for this episode.
* When a check was performed on the Cyberman costumes originally created for [[Series 2 (Doctor Who)|Series 2]], it was found that many were now in a dilapidated state. Fortunately, this ideally suited the script, which meant that they would eke out one more appearance before being retired.
* Much of the episode was filmed in Howells department store in [[Cardiff]]. As the store had to be closed, they filmed over four or five nights, sometimes going until 6:00 in the morning. [[Steve Hughes]] said it was a "drain" on the production team, while [[James Corden]] recalled it made the cast and crew "lightheaded" and "hysterical".
* Craig and Sophie live on the fictional Sheckley Street, in reference to American science-fiction writer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Sheckley Robert Sheckley].
* On the first day of filming, [[Matt Smith]] broke one of the Cybermat props when he hit it with a frying pan in the scene where Craig is being attacked, and it was subsequently repaired with tape.
* The couple who owned the house used for Craig and Sophie's new home allowed the filming to take place in order for it to be an experience for their two young boys. Production at the house also went into the early hours of the morning.
* The window of the sliding door in the house that the Doctor jumps through to save Craig from the Cybermat was too small, so the production team built another one. The new door was too big for shatterglass; instead, glass that breaks into chunks was used, wired with a small explosive that would crack the glass when [[Matt Smith]]'s stuntman jumped through it.  [[Steve Hughes]] wanted it to look as if the audience was crashing through the window with the Doctor; he spliced together shots of Smith filmed running up to the door, the stuntman jumping through it, and Smith landing with shards of glass thrown over him.
* A scene in the stock room in which a warehouseman is killed by a Cyberman while assembling a mannequin was cut.
* The Cybus Industries logo, which had been used on the Cybermen since their redesign for the revived series was covered up for the Cybermen in this episode, as well as the ones which had previously appeared. This is because the Cybermen in the modern series originated from a [[Parallel universe (fiction)|parallel universe]], while the prime universe has its own Cybermen from the planet [[Mondas]], as seen in the classic series. As the Cybermen that feature here were barely surviving, the production team made them look broken down and as if they had been cannibalising parts to survive. The suits were already worn to an extent, as they had been used so often in the five years since they were made.
* The Cyber Controller conversion equipment was built around [[James Corden]].
* The Cybermats were redesigned to appear more high-tech. The top was designed to recall the head of a Cyberman, and piranha-like teeth were added to suggest that they were converted animals, just as Cybermen were converted humans.
* Three versions of the Cybermat were made. The first was simply a "stunt double" which did not have teeth and was meant for being thrown around or laid still. The second was a cable-controlled "close-up" version that had teeth and thrashed, and was used for when the characters handled it. The third was radio-controlled to dash along the floor. [[The Mill]] created a computer-generated Cybermat that leapt up to attack Craig.


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===

Revision as of 18:58, 22 December 2023

RealWorld.png

You may wish to consult Closing Time (disambiguation) for other, similarly-named pages.

Closing Time was the twelfth and penultimate episode of series 6 of Doctor Who.

A huge time gap in the Doctor's personal timeline is implied to have taken place between this story and the previous. It's also shown how the Doctor got his stetson and TARDIS blue envelopes.

It also saw the return of the Cybermats, and the final time the Cybus-like Cybermen serve a major role in a television story until 2017's The Doctor Falls. It also continues the theme of having Cybermen in the twelfth episode of a series, something that continued through Steven Moffat's tenure as showrunner, which started back in The Pandorica Opens.

Further, it answered the question of who is inside the astronaut suit that kills the Doctor at Lake Silencio. It's also shown that more than one Silent managed to avoid being killed in Day of the Moon.

The episode is notable for being more humorous than serious, much like The Lodger. In both stories, the comedy comes from the Doctor and Craig's interactions.

Synopsis

Craig Owens is having enough trouble trying to care for his child; the last thing he needs is the return of his old friend, the Doctor. But, as ever, trouble seems to have followed the Doctor, this time with a silvery shine.

Plot

At a Sanderson & Grainger store in Colchester, two saleswomen ring up the final customers of the night. When one of the saleswomen, Kelly, laments being late for her date, the other, Shona, offers to cash up and clean out the changing rooms for her. The lights in the department store flicker ominously as Kelly leaves. Shona is left annoyed by the clothing and lingerie scattered in the changing room; Kelly had better be thankful she's doing this for her. Shona begins picking up the clothes, noticing someone still using the stall at the far end. After repeatedly warning that the store is closing, she pulls back the curtain and screams in terror; a Cyberman faces her.

At the same time, Sophie prepares to leave for a weekend holiday. She expresses unease at leaving Craig in charge of the house; however, Craig tells her that she needs this time to rest, as she is completely frazzled. Sophie tells him nervously that their respective parents, and "innocent people" may call to check up on him. She leaves and Craig begins calling everyone Sophie phoned to check up on him, telling them that he can handle things on his own. He then hears someone knocking on the door; thinking Sophie came back, Craig opens the door, saying he is coping on his own. In a humorous sense of deja vu, the Doctor is the one at the door instead of Sophie. With a smile, the Doctor says, "Hello, Craig, I'm back!"

Craig is left dumbfounded by the Doctor's appearance, asking how could Sophie get ahold of him. The Doctor claims he's just popped around to say hello, making a house call is something he's never done before. He comments that Craig "redecorated", saying he doesn't like it; Craig laughs, telling the Doctor that he lives in a house now. Since they've exchanged pleasantries, the Doctor turns to leave but notices the porch light is flickering. His suspicions raised, he forces himself into the house. The Doctor begins scanning the house with the sonic screwdriver, noting that there are increased amounts of sulpher emissions and that the stairs are a mess. Craig tries to silence the Doctor, who ignores him upon noticing the sonic picked up a life signal. The Doctor rushes upstairs and swings up a door, demanding the occupant leave the planet; however, he discovers a crying baby — it is Alfie, Craig and Sophie's son.

The Doctor sits in the kitchen, watching as Craig tries to calm the crying Alfie; the Doctor's blunder woke Alfie. Craig admits he can't cope on his own; Alfie cries all the time. Craig even wonders if babies have "off switches"; the Doctor quips, "Human beings? No; believe me, I checked." The Doctor remedies the problem by shushing Alfie, who immediately quiets. Craig continues to request parenting hints, so the Doctor — who speaks baby — informs him that Alfie prefers to be called Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All; that he refers to Sophie as "Mum;" Craig as "not-Mum"; the Doctor as "also not Mum"; and everyone else as "peasants." Craig wonders why the Doctor has come, refusing to believe that he's merely making a social call; the Doctor explains he thought he might try one out since he never has. Craig explains that he checked the upstairs when they moved into their new house, and his next-door neighbours on both sides are humans; he then jokingly asks if aliens are in his fridge.

The Doctor, however, is merely on a bit of a farewell tour and Craig is his last stop. Nevertheless, as they converse, he is troubled by a story in the newspaper. Craig comments that the Doctor has his "noticing face" on, which he has nightmares about. The Doctor insists he is not noticing anything, and even if he did, would not get involved this time. The Doctor departs with another goodbye, preparing to go see the Alignment of Exodor — which is locked in a Time stasis field, preventing him from making more than one attempt at seeing it. As he returns to the TARDIS, he continues to notice the flickering lights and taking scans with the sonic, but again tells himself that he will not get involved and is leaving.

The Doctor shows Craig a robot dog.

The next day, the Doctor has started a job at Sanderson & Grainger's toy department. He demonstrates a toy helicopter to excited children, explaining that while nearly 50 Pounds is a lot to pay for it, it's their parents' cash, which would be wasted on boring things like "lamps and vegetables." Craig arrives with Alfie, and is accidentally hit by the helicopter; the Doctor greets Craig before sending his crowd away. Craig is naturally confused and asks why the Doctor is still around, thinking the Doctor went to see the Alignment of Exodor (which he mistakenly calls the Alignment of Exeter). The Doctor explains that he impulsively decided to get a job. The Doctor is happy to have been given a nametag, as he does tend to forget his name. Craig accidentally kicks a toy dog, which the Doctor picks up; he reminisces about robot dogs, claiming they're not as fun as he remembers. Bidding them farewell, the Doctor places the toy on the ground as he notices a small robotic gadget whiz around the shop. He quickly begins inspecting the area it went past.

Craig persists with the idea that the Doctor is in town to investigate something. The Doctor finally relents, explaining that recent disappearances of people have coincided with power fluctuations; Craig is left confused as the incidents haven't been in the news. The Doctor shows Craig a newspaper, explaining the public's attention is more focused on Britain's Got Talent; the disappearances are listed on other pages, therefore nobody sees the pattern. He escorts Craig and Alfie out of the store into a broken lift, which he repairs with the sonic screwdriver. Boarding the lift with them, the Doctor explains that someone has been using a teleport relay inside the shop and that the CCTV footage has been wiped, preventing any evidence. Suddenly, the elevator appears to dissolve around them.

Craig is not immediately aware of it, thinking it another power issue. The Doctor, however, can see that they have stumbled upon the aforementioned teleport and are now onboard an alien spaceship. He tries to distract Craig by claiming to love him, but Craig turns and notices the ship just as a Cyberman approaches. The Doctor quickly explains that he doesn't actually love Craig, except as a friend, quickly reversing the teleporter and returning them to the lift. Explaining what a Cyberman is, the Doctor goes outside with Craig and attempts to scan space for a Cyber-ship; there is no positive result. The Doctor orders Craig to take Alfie and leave Colchester, but Craig knows the safest place for him and his son is next to the Doctor. Flattered by Craig's trust in him, the Doctor allows him to stay and help investigate.

He tells Craig to look around, notice everything and ask questions. He suggests that people will be more open to him because he has a baby; this is why the Doctor usually brings a human companion with him, he says. They separate to cover more ground. The Doctor talks with Val, a chatty perfume saleswoman, who has mistaken him and Craig for romantic partners. Getting their wires crossed, the Doctor thinks she means the word in the professional sense, wondering if "partner" is a better word than "companion". Equally off the same page, Val says the wording is old-fashioned; there's no need to be indirect these days. Val then goes on to talk about a scandal going on with two other employees.

Seeing that he's getting nowhere, the Doctor decides to leave and ask someone else. As he leaves, Val mentions a silver rat with glowing red eyes; this prompts him to turn around in shock, as he saw it as well. She takes him to the toy department, explaining that she wanted the "silver rat" for her nephew, but the stock room says they don't have such a thing; she's not considered the possibility that it could have been brought in by a child from a different store. The Doctor, with a net to capture the suspicious "toy", sourly says, "I bet they do."

In the meantime, Craig is less successful, poorly choosing lingerie as his investigation spot. His attempts to talk to Kelly, due to trying to act cool, are misconstrued as harassment and he accidentally knocks over a lingerie display while trying to escape the wrath of George, the burly security guard. He compliments George's uniform to try pacifying him but is unsuccessful. At the same time, the Doctor hears the commotion and runs over to help. He is warmly greeted by Kelly and George. He introduces them to Craig, ending the tension; the Doctor compliments George's uniform, but, unlike Craig, is thanked. Kelly mentions Shona didn't turn up for work, complaining about having to work harder to cover for her. The Doctor suspects Shona has gone missing as well.

The two men look through the changing rooms where Shona was last seen. Craig is furious; following the Doctor's orders humiliated him in front of his son. The Doctor tells Craig that Alfie thinks he should believe in himself more. He uses the sonic to scan the changing room and deduces that a Cyberman took Shona the night before. The "silver rat" that Val saw is a Cybermat, an infiltrator that's been responsible for the electrical fluctuations; it's harvesting power. The Doctor doesn't understand why the Cybermen would target a shop as opposed to a nuclear power station. To answer his questions, the Doctor decides to capture the Cybermat.

Increasingly distressed by these recent events, Craig wonders why aliens only turn up in Colchester when the Doctor is around. The Doctor claims that it's merely a coincidence, which is "what the universe does for fun". As Craig goes to change Alfie, the Doctor then notices Amy and Rory walking in his direction from across the shop, unaware of his presence. A little girl named Allie stops Amy and asks for her autograph. As the Doctor hides so they don't see him, he notices Amy's photo on an ad for a perfume called "Petrichor", for "the girl who's tired of waiting." The Doctor can only smile and think of the irony in the tagline.

That night, the Doctor and Craig remain in the store after it closes and wait for the Cybermat. Craig laments telling everyone that he didn't need their help as leaving Alfie with a babysitter would be safer; Alfie wishes it would be a hot one. Because Alfie wants to be attached to Craig, the Doctor gives them a papose. The Doctor captures the Cybermat easily enough. Meanwhile, in the basement, George is inspecting the fuse boxes when he is attacked by a Cyberman. The Doctor and Craig hear his screaming. The Doctor immediately rushes to his aid but is knocked out by one of the Cybermen. On regaining consciousness, the Doctor finds Craig looking over him. The Cyberman did not kill him, because it was weak and made of spare parts. He expresses confusion as to how the Cybermen have travelled there, given that he shut down the teleport relay and it should've taken them days to repair it.

They return to Craig's house. As the Doctor examines the Cybermat, Craig tells him he's going to get more milk, leaving the Doctor in charge of Alfie. Alfie begins crying as soon as Craig leaves and the Doctor leaves the Cybermat unattended to go comfort him. The Doctor tells Alfie to save his tears for later as there's a spiritual emptiness of adulthood waiting for him; however, the Doctor realises it's his old age talking, going on to say that he gave everything 110%.

The Cybermat, which has reactivated itself, sneaks up behind the Doctor. He is able to stun it with the sonic and escapes outside with Alfie. However, as he moves to go back into the house, he realises that the door has locked behind him and he has dropped his sonic screwdriver inside. Craig returns home, not realising the danger, and is attacked by the Cybermat. The Doctor hears Craig's cries for help, crashes through the back window and rescues him. Trying several times to hold down their adversary, the Doctor has Craig pin the Cybermat under a baking tray while he fries its memory with the sonic to make it benign.

Later, as the Doctor reprograms the Cybermat, Craig wonders about its presence. The Doctor doesn't understand why the Cyber-ship needs so much power and why the conversions of the missing people are incomplete. He continues to feel guilt for letting Craig stay to help him, referring to himself as a selfish man who puts people in danger. Craig reminds the Doctor that, if not for him, the entire planet would be in ruin, leading the Doctor to tell him sadly that he will not be around for much longer — his time is running out and he is set to die tomorrow. However, when he turns back, Craig and Alfie have fallen asleep and apparently not heard a word he's said. He only smiles sadly.

The next morning, the Doctor returns with "Bitey" the Cybermat to the shop. When Craig wakes, he finds a message from the Doctor that he's gone to stop the Cybermen. Sophie calls and leaves a message, saying she will be home soon. Craig readies himself and Alfie to go help the Doctor because, as Craig explains to Alfie, he wouldn't have him or Sophie if not for the Doctor. The Doctor always needs someone to help; he just can't admit it.

At the department store, the Doctor deduces that secondary transport must exist. He runs into Val, barely paying attention to her. She says that he's found the silver rat; the Doctor retorts, "But where are the silver men?" Continuing his search, he finds a passageway behind the mirror in the changing room where Shona was taken. He follows it down to a crashed Cyber-ship. While he investigates the control room, he is confronted by one of the Cybermen.

The Doctor explains what happened. The Cyber-ship crashed centuries earlier with a single, dormant survivor. The town council began laying cables. The Cybermat activated and tunnelled to the surface to salvage power for the ship's systems. The Cyberman announces they will reemerge when they are ready and convert the planet; six Cybermen are sufficient. The Doctor offers them a choice: deactivate willingly or be deactivated by force. As he prepares to make good on this threat, a second Cyberman appears and holds him in place.

At the same time, Craig arrives in the shop and leaves Alfie with Val, warning her not to follow him; unfortunately, she misunderstands the reason entirely. He finds the entrance the Doctor used and searches for something he can use as a weapon; seeing a price gun, Craig reasons that the Cybermen won't know what it is and he can bluff.

In the ship, the first Cyberman claims the Doctor will be their new leader, the second recognises that his binary vascular system makes him incompatible. Instead, they will use him for parts and discard what they don't need. Craig appears and threatens the Cybermen with his price gun. The Doctor orders Craig to leave. One of the Cybermen recognises Craig's compatibility and declares him their new leader. They begin preparing him for conversion, despite his protests, explaining that they take Craig's fear from him. The Doctor pleads with Craig to think of Alfie and finally declares that he is going to die tomorrow but he doesn't mind that if Craig can "prove him right." However, Craig is unable to escape or resist. The Doctor can only watch as the Cyber-armour assimilates Craig entirely.

Above, Alfie seems to sense the danger Craig is in and begins to cry. This sound is picked up on the Cyber-ship and heard by all onboard. As the Cybermen declare that Craig's conversion is complete, something changes. Craig's emotional systems begin to reboot themselves after hearing his child crying. His face plate splits down the middle, springing open to reveal Craig. He fights his way out of the armour to get to Alfie. The Doctor realises Craig's rejection of the conversion triggered a feedback loop. The Cybermen begin to feel everything they cut out of themselves and suffer from an 'overload'. This will lead to a very big explosion. As they realise that the way they came in is cut off, the Doctor remembers the teleport and fuses it back together. As they dematerialise, the Cyber-ship explodes.

In the shop above, the lift doors open and Craig runs out, calling for Alfie. The Doctor informs Craig that Alfie has given him a "ten out of ten." Craig boasts about blowing the Cyber-ship up with love. The Doctor begins to explain the exact process in its technical terms but ultimately concedes that Craig indeed blew it up with love.

Later, as Craig converses with Val — who has wrongly concluded that Craig and the Doctor are a couple — he realises that the Doctor has disappeared. He returns home to find the house spotless and the Doctor preparing to leave; the Doctor has made the place spotless. The Doctor reveals that Alfie prefers the name Alfie now and is calling Craig "Dad" instead of "not Mum." Craig realises that something is wrong and offers to help the Doctor in any way he can, but the Doctor is certain that no one can help him. He asks only if Sophie will mind if he helps himself to some of her TARDIS blue envelopes. Hearing he is going to America, Craig also gives the Doctor a Stetson before leaving.

Sophie returns home to find the house spotless. Although Craig insists that nothing happened all weekend, Sophie is astonished as Alfie happily calls out the word "Doctor who". She then questions Craig again, now very sure that something had happened while she was away.

The Doctor returns to the TARDIS, passing a trio of school children playing in the street. They stop their game and stare at him in wonder. He introduces himself, telling them that he was there to help and they're very, very welcome.

At the Luna University in the 52nd century, River Song reads accounts from these children of the Doctor's last days. She opens her diary to a page that contains only the date and time of his death. Madame Kovarian steps out of the shadows chanting a mysterious nursery rhyme that she claims has to do with the Doctor.

River under Lake Silencio, waiting for the Doctor.

As River tries to remember who the woman is, Kovarian orders her not to bother because they've been far too "thorough" with her memory. Two of the Silence appear behind River. Kovarian introduces them as River's "owners", and calls her "Melody Pond". River is astonished, prompting the woman to declare that she made River who she is: the woman who kills the Doctor. As River protests, two members of the Church enter the library with an Apollo astronaut's suit. They inject River with a sedative, and she loses consciousness.

When River awakes, she finds herself submerged below the surface of Lake Silencio in the Apollo astronaut's suit — awaiting the Doctor.

Cast

Uncredited cast

Crew

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics

Movement

Casting

General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.


Uncredited crew

Millennium FX

Worldbuilding

The Doctor

  • Val believes the Doctor and Craig are in a romantic relationship.
  • The Doctor mentions that a robot dog is "not as much fun as I remember", referring to K9.
  • The Doctor can make people quiet by simply saying, "Shh!" Craig suggests this is hypnosis.
  • The Doctor acknowledges that he and Craig do not have mammary glands.

Earth businesses

Cybermen

Culture from the real world

Fashion and clothing

  • The Doctor buys Craig a papoose to carry Alfie in.
  • Craig gives the Doctor a Stetson as a parting gift.

Individuals

  • Sean and Melinda are mentioned.
  • Atif Ghosh mysteriously disappeared on a Friday in the department store and Tom Luker mysteriously disappeared on a Sunday.

History

Story notes

  • Working titles were Carry-On Lodging, Everything Must Go, The Last Adventure and Three Cybermen and a Baby. (REF: The Brilliant Book 2012)
  • In The Impossible Astronaut the different versions of the Doctor give their ages as 909, and 1103. Writer Gareth Roberts confirmed in an interview that this is indeed two hundred years after The God Complex for the Doctor and that he spent these years "waving" at Amy and Rory through history books. (TV: The Impossible Astronaut)
  • Part of the nursery rhyme that was heard in Night Terrors is sung by Madame Kovarian, with new lines.
  • This was the first episode produced by Denise Paul, who had been Associate Producer for several Eleventh Doctor stories.
  • This is the first time since the series revival in 2005 that episode 12 has not been part of a multi-part story written by the head writer. The end does set up the series finale.
  • This is the first television story to feature a Cybermat since the Fourth Doctor story Revenge of the Cybermen. They had been redesigned, with biological teeth and gums.
  • This is also the first regular-season episode since the series revival in which the Doctor does not have an ongoing companion with him at some point.
    • Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill were credited in the opener as they had been during the rest of the season. This is the first time in the series that any actor's name has appeared in the opening credits for less than one minute of on-screen appearance.
    • The BBC America and Space broadcasts retained the opening sequence narrated by Amy Pond.
  • Gareth Roberts said in an interview that he was considering bringing Craig back when he saw James Corden's performance in The Lodger, saying that "it already felt like he was one of the Who family".
  • The "app" for disabling the Cybermat used one of the "bonus sounds" found on the toy version of the Eleventh Doctor's sonic screwdriver, unheard on the show until now.
  • During one of the scenes, BBC Radio 1's Greg James was visible behind Craig. Greg James named his character "Carlos".
  • This is the first television story since the series revival in which the Cybermen are not armed with any type of weaponry. The Cybermen who are seen have visible gaps in their forearm armour where they would normally have blasters and they are not seen electrocuting anyone.
  • This is the second time where Craig's affection for someone has saved the day. In The Lodger, Craig's love for Sophie motivates his desire to stay where he is, enabling him to destroy the alien time machine. In this case, his love for his son enables him to defeat the Cybermen.
  • The date on Craig's newspaper is 19 April 2011.
  • This is the third time that the Cybermen have appeared in the penultimate episode of a series.
  • This is the first and only televised episode in which River Song appears in that wasn't written by Steven Moffat. However, Moffat did write her scene, albeit uncredited.
  • Steven Moffat was pleased with The Lodger, an episode he called "quite close to my heart", and wanted to bring Craig back. He commented that it was a change of pace for James Corden, who usually was cast as "the funny one"; as Craig he is "the straight man to the wacky Doctor".
  • Keen for the Doctor and Craig's escapades to continue taking place in a mundane, everyday environment, Gareth Roberts considered settings such as a hospital, a police station and a supermarket before finally settling on a department store.
  • Sophie's role was minimalised due to Daisy Haggard's commitment to the play Becky Shaw at the Almeida Theatre in London.
  • Gareth Roberts was instructed to include only a fleeting appearance for Amy and Rory, because the episode would be in production alongside The Girl Who Waited. This was necessary to ensure that there was sufficient time to record all thirteen episodes of the season, as well as the preceding Christmas special.
  • Steve Hughes compared the Doctor and Craig to famous comedic duos such as Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.
  • It was Gareth Roberts' ide to include the Cybermen. He felt that the personal nature of the storyline would benefit from a familiar foe, and he was also aware that, with the exception of some cameo appearances, the season otherwise featured only brand-new enemies, and he thought "there should be a sense of history about the Doctor's final battle to save Earth before he heads off to meet his death". He felt that this was consistent with the theme of "death and lingering darkness" that had run throughout the season.
  • Gareth Roberts decided that the Cybermen should lurk in the background for much of the episode in the manner of Sixties stories like The Moonbase so that they would not detract from the interplay between the Doctor and Craig. As such, he also decided to resurrect the Cybermats.
  • Steven Moffat proposed that the new Cybermat should sport fangs, making it more of a physical threat.
  • Craig and Sophie's child was originally a girl, first named Grace and later Tess.
  • Sanderson & Grainger, was partly devised as an homage to an influential teacher from Gareth Roberts' youth whose surname was Grainger.
  • Originally, the disappearances were not a new phenomenon, but occurred every few decades, to be accompanied by strange graffiti. Various electronic and mechanical components were also going missing, and it was this trail which led the Doctor to the store.
  • Alfie was portrayed by seven different babies, usually paired in twins, because of strict rules about baby hours. Several dummies were used as well. James Corden, who was about to become a father, learned tips from the mothers.
  • The first draft was much different - the disappearances were not a new phenomenon, but occurred every few decades, to be accompanied by strange graffiti. Much was made of the history of a market which had been held for centuries on the site of the shopping centre; the Cybermat would have been found entombed within its foundation stone. It transpired that the being responsible for the kidnappings was a Cyberscout (referred to as "the Guardian"), which had operated on automatic for centuries, with the graffiti part of its reconnaissance procedure. Over the years, the Guardian had gradually replaced its defective parts with human limbs and organs when it periodically awoke from dormancy. Now nothing was left of the original Cyberman, and it was protecting Colchester from the other Cybermen which lay underground in suspended animation. After an ending in which Craig destroys the Cybermen with a wrecking ball was dismissed, the climax subsequently hinged on the Doctor transmitting the Guardian's personality into the reactivated Cybermen, overwhelming them.
  • The Doctor being able to "speak baby" was added late in development. Steven Moffat came up with the idea while writing A Good Man Goes to War.
  • The episode comprised Block Six of season six (actually the seventh to go into production).
  • Beth Willis picked Steve Hughes to direct based on his work on Land Girls.
  • Since the regular producer, Marcus Wilson, would be overseeing The Girl Who Waited, line producer Denise Paul was promoted to producer for this episode.
  • When a check was performed on the Cyberman costumes originally created for Series 2, it was found that many were now in a dilapidated state. Fortunately, this ideally suited the script, which meant that they would eke out one more appearance before being retired.
  • Much of the episode was filmed in Howells department store in Cardiff. As the store had to be closed, they filmed over four or five nights, sometimes going until 6:00 in the morning. Steve Hughes said it was a "drain" on the production team, while James Corden recalled it made the cast and crew "lightheaded" and "hysterical".
  • Craig and Sophie live on the fictional Sheckley Street, in reference to American science-fiction writer Robert Sheckley.
  • On the first day of filming, Matt Smith broke one of the Cybermat props when he hit it with a frying pan in the scene where Craig is being attacked, and it was subsequently repaired with tape.
  • The couple who owned the house used for Craig and Sophie's new home allowed the filming to take place in order for it to be an experience for their two young boys. Production at the house also went into the early hours of the morning.
  • The window of the sliding door in the house that the Doctor jumps through to save Craig from the Cybermat was too small, so the production team built another one. The new door was too big for shatterglass; instead, glass that breaks into chunks was used, wired with a small explosive that would crack the glass when Matt Smith's stuntman jumped through it. Steve Hughes wanted it to look as if the audience was crashing through the window with the Doctor; he spliced together shots of Smith filmed running up to the door, the stuntman jumping through it, and Smith landing with shards of glass thrown over him.
  • A scene in the stock room in which a warehouseman is killed by a Cyberman while assembling a mannequin was cut.
  • The Cybus Industries logo, which had been used on the Cybermen since their redesign for the revived series was covered up for the Cybermen in this episode, as well as the ones which had previously appeared. This is because the Cybermen in the modern series originated from a parallel universe, while the prime universe has its own Cybermen from the planet Mondas, as seen in the classic series. As the Cybermen that feature here were barely surviving, the production team made them look broken down and as if they had been cannibalising parts to survive. The suits were already worn to an extent, as they had been used so often in the five years since they were made.
  • The Cyber Controller conversion equipment was built around James Corden.
  • The Cybermats were redesigned to appear more high-tech. The top was designed to recall the head of a Cyberman, and piranha-like teeth were added to suggest that they were converted animals, just as Cybermen were converted humans.
  • Three versions of the Cybermat were made. The first was simply a "stunt double" which did not have teeth and was meant for being thrown around or laid still. The second was a cable-controlled "close-up" version that had teeth and thrashed, and was used for when the characters handled it. The third was radio-controlled to dash along the floor. The Mill created a computer-generated Cybermat that leapt up to attack Craig.

Ratings

  • UK Overnight: 5.3 Million
  • UK Final: 6.93 million[4]

Myths

  • Craig Owens may travel in the TARDIS. [5]This proved false.
  • Craig Owens has had a baby. [6]This proved true.
  • The events in the department store, etc. take place on or about 21st April 2011. A blow-up of the newspaper seen in the episode has the date of April 19, 2011.

Filming locations

Production errors

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.

to be added

Continuity

  • The perfume "Petrichor" bears the slogan, "For the girl who's tired of waiting", a reference to the Doctor's description of Amy as "The girl who waited". (TV: The Eleventh Hour, TV: The Girl Who Waited)

Prequel

A brief prequel was filmed featuring Craig, Sophie and Alfie. However, unlike other Series 6 prequels this one wasn't released online prior to the episode. Instead, it was given the title Up All Night and released as the fifth chapter of the DVD/Blu-ray exclusive mini-episode Night and the Doctor in the Series 6 DVD/BD box set in November 2011.

Home video releases

Series 6, part 2 DVD cover

DVD & Blu-ray releases

  • Closing Time was released in Series 6 Part Two on DVD and Blu-Ray in region 1/A on 8 November 2011, in region 2/B on 10 October 2011 and in region 4/B on 3 November 2011.
  • The episode was later released in the Complete Sixth Series boxset on both DVD and Blu-ray, in region 1/A on 22 November 2011, in region 2/B on 21 November 2011 and in region 4/B on 1 December 2011.

Digital releases

  • In the United Kingdom, this story is available on BBC iPlayer.

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ http://guide.doctorwhonews.net/role.php?code=5050&detail=listing&pg=dwm
  2. ↑ CON: "'Open All Hours
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 DOC: Monster File - The Cybermats
  4. ↑ Doctor Who Ratings - UK final
  5. ↑ http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/little-shop-of-horrors-16182.htm
  6. ↑ http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/hello-cyber-matt-16302.htm
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For the purposes of this list, a "Cyberman story" is one in which one living, authentic Cyberman plays a part within the confines of the story, outside of flashbacks to previous stories and cliffhangers that lead into the following story. For this reason, stories such as Dalek are absent due to only featuring deceased Cybermen on display. Stories like Carnival of Monsters, A Good Man Goes to War and The Vanquishers are also not included due to the Cybermen's appearance being of little consequence to the plot of the story.
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