History Recap / DoctorWhoS31E11TheLodger

'''Original air date:''' June 12, 2010

'''Production code:''' 1.11

Written by Gareth Roberts. Based on the short ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'' comic strip of the same name, which featured Ten and Mickey.

Then another shifty loopy time jump happens all around the Doctor, as another unfortunate is lead up those stairs, this time by a little girl...

Back in the TARDIS, the Doctor prepares to tie up the loose ends by [[TimeyWimeyBall rewriting the will which enabled him to stay in Craig's flat]], and leaves Amy the instruction of writing the note for the newsagent. She rummages in the Doctor's pockets for a red pen... but discovers a red box instead. It contains an engagement ring. Ominous tinkling infects the background music as Amy takes a pause when her mind skips a beat and she feels a sense of unexplained pain and unease.

** The van Gogh postcard on Craig's fridge.

...and there's a crack in the wall behind Craig's fridge.

This is ''Series/TheLateLateShow with Creator/JamesCorden'', and tonight, we've got Carpool Karaoke with Creator/MattSmith!

[[quoteright:334:[[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou //https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crack_in_the_universe_5801.png]]]]

Hello...? [[RetGone Hel--]]

[[quoteright:334:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crack_in_the_universe_5801.png]]

[[quoteright:334:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crack_in_the_universe_5801.png]]]]

[[quoteright:334:[[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crack_in_the_universe_5801.png]]]]

Modern-day Colchester. The TARDIS arrives in a park, the Doctor noting by the presence of a [[http://www.ryman.co.uk/ Ryman's]] that this definitely ''isn't'' the fifth moon of Cyndacalista. He's immediately thrown out of the door by a sudden surge of energy that causes the TARDIS to dematerialise (much faster than usual) without him, and Amy still on board.

* ApocalypseHow: The Doctor says that if the time ship tries using ''him'' as its pilot, the ship will blow up and ''take the solar system with it'' in a ApocalypseHow/ClassX2.

** The psychic headbutt, once in a vain attempt to summarise ''everything'' by speeding through the past ten Doctors, and another one that just handles the episode thus far.

* CallBack: The Doctor gives Craig (and Sophie, and Sean (from Craig's football team)) "air-kisses" on both cheeks because "that's how people greet each other nowadays, right?" He saw Vincent greet Dr. Black in the last episode that way.

** Eleven's other catchphrase "Geronimo" is also used, but by ''Craig''. Perhaps he picked it up from the Doctor during the "psychic headbutt".

** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS19E5BlackOrchid The Doctor, played by the youngest actor so far, wears nothing but a towel and gets the chance to participate in a popular British sport]] and proceeds to kick ass.
** The Doctor refers to his [[TheNthDoctor eleven lives]] and we see them flashing on screen.

* CounterfeitCash: Averted. As Craig is talking on the phone to Sophie about the Doctor's sudden arrival, he is going through the 3,000 pounds, holding it up to a light. For those not familiar with British currency, he's checking for the water-marks on the bills.

* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Even the ''Eleventh Doctor'', awkward-at-romance and occasional [[FailedASpotCheck misser of the obvious]], very easily notices that Craig and Sophie fancy each other. The only ones who fail to see it are Craig and Sophie themselves.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* IDontWantToRuinOurFriendship: Craig and Sophie for most of the episode; they eventually decide to "[[RelationshipUpgrade ruin their friendship]] ''completely''".
* ImprobableAntidote: The Doctor cures Craig after he has been infected by the "rot" spreading from the ceiling by feeding him "agitated tannin molecules". He does this by stuffing every teabag he can find, including those in the bin, into the teapot and pouring the resultant brew down Craig's throat.
* InfoDump: The Doctor gives one to Craig by ''psychic-headbutting'' him. Twice.

* MarySue: [[invoked]]Deconstructed. The Doctor has a lot of the traits you'd expect from a Mary Sue for this episode, but he drives Craig nuts because of them and after three days he can't stand the guy anymore. Basically, it shows how a normal person would find the Doctor if they didn't know he was a centuries old super-smart alien — they'd think he was just an overly-clever, really annoying person.

* MoodWhiplash: The episode itself is very funny and optimistic, but it ends fairly abruptly on Amy looking upset and confused at her and Rory's engagement ring, which the Doctor had kept. More minor, but right before Amy describes the Doctor as quite the matchmaker as they wrap the episode up as a definite win, the world safe, the couple happy, etc., Amy then asks "Why can't you find me a man?" Your smile should be gone now. In the end: There. Is. A. Crack. In. The. House. And it is ''growing'', remember what they do? All three of these things happen in quick succession, throwing any warm and fuzzy feeling out the window.

* NakedFirstImpression: The Doctor has '''got''' a towel — a slippery one — when Sophie steps in to meet him.
* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: The Doctor's been established to have psychic touch abilities, but this is the first appearance of the psychic ''headbutt''. Note the writers covering their butts on future fans saying "Why doesn't the Doctor do this thing again" in unwritten episodes by having the Doctor clearly say how much he regrets doing it and how painful it is, as well as saving it as a last resort.

* OhCrap: The Doctor and Craig are at the top of the stairs to the upstairs flat when Amy tells them via earpiece that ''there is no upstairs'', prompting the two of them to slooowly look back down the stairs in sudden apprehension.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Subverted; the Doctor appears to be giving Sophie one of these, to which she reacts angrily... except that he's ''actually'' provoking her in order to draw her out of her shell and realise for herself how much potential she's got.

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: The Doctor cements his place in the flat via a [[BriefcaseFullOfMoney paper bag filled with £3000]]. It's downplayed in that the Doctor just withdrew a lot of cash and can't be bothered to check if it's the right amount.

** While talking to the hologram, the Doctor delivers a deadpan [[Series/StarTrekVoyager "Please state the nature of the emergency"]]. Bonus points for quoting the only other fictional "doctor" most people would know of and extra bonus points for quoting ''another'' "Emergency Hologram".

* SupremeChef: The Doctor shows his skill at making a palatable omelette from eggs, cheese, bacon and ''salad cream'' (or, as North Americans would call it, "salad dressing").

* TrueArtIsIncomprehensible: Invoked. The Doctor tries to pass off his time scanner as a piece of modern art. "''It's a statement on modern society! [[TrueArtIsAngsty Oooh... ain't modern society awful?]]''"

-->'''The Doctor:''' For God's sake, ''kiss the girl!''

* UnwantedAssistance: The Doctor's attempts to help Craig (joining his football team, filling in for him at work when he's sick, trying to get Sophie to admit that she loves him, etc.) just make him look like AlwaysSomeoneBetter, driving Sophie away.

* WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong: The Doctor has to act like a normal human when the ''most'' normal thing about him is the bowtie.