Unearthly Times

The Eleventh Doctor: Matt Smith
2010-13

The Lodger

Story
211

N.B. there might (or might not) be spoilers in this article!

James Corden may be the proverbial Marmite, but he, Daisy Haggard and especially Matt Smith are great in The Lodger. Actually, Matt Smith is much, much better than great as Craig’s “ancient amateur” lodger.

“I’ll fix it. I’m good at fixing rot. Call me the Rotmeister. No, I’m the Doctor. Don’t call me the Rotmeister.”

Doctor, The Lodger

He gets to shower, show off his footballing skills (in much the same way Peter Davision did with his cricket back in Black Orchid), act like a gooseberry and work in a call centre (as well as saving the day, o’course). The Lodger may be light, but it’s tremendous fun.

The best thing James Corden has been in remains the first Carpool Karaoke sketch he did for Comic Relief, but The Lodger isn’t a bad second place. It’s funny, touching, a bit sentimental, has a simple plot and that terrific performance from Matt Smith.

With Vincent on the fridge, a crack behind it and Amy in the TARDIS puzzling over the engagement ring in the Doctor’s jacket pocket, the nods to the season’s continuity are nicely woven in too.


Dec
21
2024
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