Written by Gareth Roberts
Directed by Catherine Morshead
“D’you know, this is going to be easier than I expected.”
The Lodger is many things…
(1) The Lodger is Doctor Who as sitcom. The natural evolution of Steven Moffat’s legacy to television (even if written by an acolyte), this is one of the most genuinely funny episodes in the canon. It’s proper farce, and proper slapstick…beautifully choreographed, wonderfully played by the cast, and comes with a proper happy ending that isn’t cloying or sickly sweet. Doctor Who does Coupling…and does it one better!
(2) The Lodger is one of those perfect examples of how an ordinary life can become extraordinary, after exposure to the Doctor. The Doctor himself doesn’t know the first thing about how to be a “normal” bloke, but he understands why it is VERY repulsive to ever aspire to be nothing BUT normal! Craig and Sophie have the Doctor enter their lives, and it’s transformed for the better…all via his kooky, crazy, frustratingly magnificent methods. This is one of Doctor Who’s occasional stabs at a life-affirming mission statement…and it does the job exceedingly well.
(3) The Lodger is the ultimate budget saver. It’s not hugely epic, it’s not an effects showpiece, it’s not a production designer’s magnum opus. It’s an exercise in efficiency — letting the story and the actors do all the work — proving once again why no other show has mastered this skill better than Doctor Who. Need other examples? Check out a long history, stretching from The Edge of Destruction to The Sontaran Experiment to Midnight.
(4) The Lodger is Amy-lite…
(5) …but it allows for another screen-blazing, can’t-take-your-eyes-off-him Matt Smith showcase. Seriously…what CAN’T this man do? This entire season has been a revelation…and there are two episodes to go!
The Lodger is sweet and wonderful. It will never be remembered as a top ten classic, but it’s a breath of experimental air at just the right time…and it’s blisteringly funny!
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