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"Doctor Who" Hell Bent (2015)
| Page 1 of 3: | [1] [2] [3] |
| Index | 23 reviews in total |
This episode caps off the best series of NuWho so far, in my opinion.
Author: Austin S. Russell from Blandon, PA
5 December 2015
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Man, what a whirlwind of a finale. The return of Gallifrey, the return
of Clara, the return of Ashildur/Me, a female Gallifreyan, the capture
of Rassilion, the end of the universe, the diner from The Impossible
Astronaut... it's all very insane and very well done.
People are going to be disappointed with this finale. People aren't
going to like how Clara gets to live (even though she will eventually
face her death). People aren't going to like how Gallifrey wasn't the
main plot. People aren't going to like how things were easily
explained, or how the majority of the episode was simply between Clara
and the Doctor and the Doctor's attempts to save her.
I did, however.
It all worked for me. For the past 11 episodes, it had been hinting at
the Hybrid, the Confession Dial, the attempts of Clara to become the
Doctor, and everything was fulfilled by the end of it. Does it cheapen
Clara's death in Face the Raven? A little bit. On a rewatch, you
wouldn't become so emotional about it. But, I think it still works as
Clara is going to eventually have to face her death, and now she's
running, much like the Doctor does. (P.S. Clara and Me spin-off? Hell,
yes, please!)
The music was stunning, the effects were stunning, everything was
stunning and everything worked. I was pleasantly surprised by the
ending, and I'm EXTREMELY excited for the Christmas Special and Series
10. Come on, Doctor Who, bring it on.
An emotionally stunning finale that concludes Doctor Who's best season yet
Author: ryanjmorris
6 December 2015
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Of all the ways I expected Doctor Who's ninth series finale to open,
that certainly wasn't it. After that unspeakably dramatic ending to
last week's Heaven Sent, rather than immediately resume with the Doctor
marching towards the Gallifrey Citadel we begin in a small American
diner, where the Doctor stumbles in and finds a waitress who looks
identical to Clara. We don't know it yet, but Moffat's trademark games
begin now. And so does the emotion. The Doctor sits down, sparking up a
conversation with the waitress, and strums a tune on his guitar:
Clara's theme. "Is it a sad song?", the waitress asks. The Doctor
replies "Nothing's sad until it's over, then everything is." "What's it
called?" "I think it's called Clara." "Tell me about her...". And so he
does, and only then do we cut back to Gallifrey and resume where last
week's monumental cliffhanger left off. We're yet to even see the title
sequence, and Hell Bent is ready to drop some major emotion. We can
only assume the Doctor has found his long lost companion, but she has
no idea who he is.
From that moment it became immediately clear: This episode was never
going to be about Gallifrey or the Timelords or the Doctor seeking
vengeance. This is an episode about the Doctor and Clara, and the
lengths that he would go to when he just might be able to save her.
That said, the Gallifrey stuff all works terrifically well. After the
title sequence, a silent Peter Capaldi wanders around the barn we
flashed back to in Listen, before having one lonely meal at a table
surrounded by onlooking villagers as the Timelord army approaches.
President Rassilion (played this time by Donald Sumpter) orders the
Doctor's execution, but the army sides with the Doctor, and instead he
banishes Rassilion before heading to the Citadel to discuss this
ominous Hybrid that we've been teased about all season. But, again,
Hell Bent sidesteps giving us a real answer. We know that the Hybrid
was never a Dalek-Timelord combination as many speculated, but Moffat
simply offers us a few theories, and leaves the rest alone. Sometimes
solid answers don't work, especially in a show like Doctor Who where
not everything absolutely needs to be wrapped up in a neat little
package. We hear the Doctor's beliefs, and we hear Ashildr's beliefs,
but which is true?
Many, I presume, will be disappointed about Gallifrey's minimalist role
in this finale, but I'm fine with it. After being trapped in that
confession dial for four and a half billion years just because he
thought he could save Clara, I think the Doctor is perfectly justified
to avoid the big Timelord confrontation today and focus instead on
saving his best friend. There's still quite a bit more I could say
about the incorporation of Gallifrey, but I'd much rather talk about
what, in my eyes, made this the best series finale to Doctor Who's best
series: all of that emotion. Look at the Doctor's sorrow as he first
plays Clara's tune on his guitar. Watch Clara's face as she discovers
the Doctor was trapped in the confession dial for over four billion
years. After we discover that the waitress is the real Clara, note how
her whole face drops when the Doctor tells her, unbeknownst, that he
would know Clara the minute he saw her, yet has no idea she is standing
directly before him. Smile amid tears as the Doctor warns Clara not to
eat pears because they're too soft as he gives her all of his final
pieces of advice while he says his final goodbyes to her before his
memory is wiped and he forgets everything. Steven Moffat has been hit
and miss with how he handles emotion, but he hit the nail on the head
here. This was all sad, beautiful and poetic writing that acts as a
perfect encapsulation of everything this series has offered us.
I will miss Clara, I really will, and whoever acts as our new companion
next year will have enormous shoes to fill by following Jenna Coleman,
who has proved across her tenure that the companion character shouldn't
be sidelined and treated simply as a question- asker. Coleman has
delivered excellent performances in every way possible; she's been
funny, she's excelled in fear, she's packed in the drama and ripped our
hearts out with her emotional scenes. It's genuinely tough to imagine
anyone alongside Peter Capaldi in that TARDIS besides her. And speaking
of Capaldi, there's not much left to say that I haven't already said
across the previous eleven reviews. This man is an utter revelation; he
will be remembered as the Doctor from the 21st Century no matter how
long this show lives for. I've always been a big fan of Steven Moffat's
Doctor Who writing. He doesn't always get it right, I know, but when he
does he can make something genuinely remarkable, and I believe that is
exactly what he's done not only with Hell Bent, but with series 9 as a
whole. I adored this show last year, but in 2015 it reached levels I
never thought it capable of. Steven Moffat, Peter Capaldi and Jenna
Coleman have, together, elevated Doctor Who from a bloody good sci-fi
series into something beautiful this year. We may never have another
series quite like this one, and these three will always be my wonder
trio for Doctor Who, but no matter where the show takes us next year, I
already cannot wait to work my way back through series nine all over
again. I've always enjoyed this show a great deal, but I feel this is
the first time I can think of it as something truly, truly special.
What a year it's been.
Divided Opinion
Author: ewaf58 from United Kingdom
5 December 2015
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Well looking at the message boards some like it some don't - others are
stuck in the Twilight zone.
As for me? Well it wasn't what I was expecting from last week's lead in
but I still really liked it. Having watched the first ever episode back
in 1963 it's nice to see that my longtime 'companion' is still around.
Clara looked radiant (yes genuinely pretty) and I don't begrudge her
being given a second chance for some fun. Clara and her new companion
should take the diner back to the 60's and serve Elvis (they'd better
have plenty of meat and cheese though).
Am I cross with Mr Moffat for a slightly anticlimactic conclusion?
Given time I'll forgive him.
Concluding a 2 parter of such size and immensity, is very hard to land
Author: thomassounness from Melbourne, Australia
6 December 2015
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I rate this as excellent and worthy of a 10/10.
Excellent because the multitude of threads are held together - and
there are a multitude - at this stage of the Universe that is Dr Who,
there are so many threads that it is impossible to trip over massive
issues and obstacles - yet this episode manages to dance it's way
through a very complex back-story fairly well. The threads that are
feints, or distractions, are relatively consistent from the start of
the season to now - that the confusion or holes are beautifully
rendered and where imperfectly visible, they only slightly mar the
experience of watching Capaldi perform a Prime version of a completely
classic Dr Who (with some darn fine rock chords).
The few cries I had of disappointment were echoed by my household
fellow whovians cheering - so my view of these discontinuities clearly
were not entirely right. But - meh, it's a small thing.
Snippets are:
Ashilder/Me clearly was sitting in the ashes of Gallefrey still
immortal and still circling around the legacy given by the Doctor.
Surely that is an example of the Prophecy being correct? What else
would an immortal do at 5 minutes to the end of the universe.
The prophecy of the Hybrid is only heard from other's saying it (Davros
etc.,), so the direct statement is never heard, only other's statements
of it. I sense an opportunity to send in a lawyer to prise apart
exactly who said what when. Also, the gestation of the hybrid is never
explained, just that the rumors and the speculation remains sound, and
the validity of this rumor is based on the time lords own crypt
thinkers all concurring with this. It's an unfinished issue.
Missy in setting up Clara/The Doctor as a union through time and space
is cute, but it does not cut it for me. The ego of the Master/Missy is
far too self centered to be only an observer of the chaos created by
the hybrid of the Doctor (a warrior race leader of time-lords) and
Clara Oswald (a warrior race leader of ... um ... yes, just what
please?) Unfinished, but not unsatisfyingly so.
The Doctor fires a gun to save Clara - breaking one of the longest
lasting rules in Dr Who - and the reason for this, that Clara is
between heartbeats - that's not enough for me. The Doctor never fires a
firearm. Never harms another and never panics. He panicked here, now
and it does not feel right. Why is Clara so bloody important other than
the fact that the Doctor considers it so.
This is presumably the first time that Me/Ashilder has been able to
travel through time - and if Me/Ashilder has been walking through 4.6
billion years of the universe to get to Gallifrey then the remaining
billions of years of the universe to get to the final moments, then
surely there would be more glee at doing this unforgivable thing, or
less glee at having done the standard thing. The plot that is
Me/Ashilder is much MUCH less clear now, and stands as a massive
Chekhov gun. It feels like a spin off series is now able to be played,
two spunky girl sidekicks spinning through the universe in a chameleon
circuit stuck 50's diner ... and that prospect excites me and shudders
me. But, Ashilder has her hair down and what does that mean for the
oldest living entity in the universe?
Take home issue - the Master/Missy deserved to be part of this story,
and it was a shame that our most loved/hated Gallifreyan was not there.
The Doctor goes to the end of time in an attempt to save Clara
Author: Tweekums from United Kingdom
6 December 2015
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This, the conclusion to a three part story arc and the current season,
follows two separate time lines. In one The Doctor goes into an
American diner in the desert and finds Clara serving; they act as
though they don't know each other and The Doctor starts telling her a
story about a girl named Clara. The other time line takes us up to his
arrival at the diner. The Doctor isn't welcomed by the leader of
Gallifrey but manages to persuade others that there is a way for them
to learn about the dreaded hybrid; to do that they must snatch Clara
from the moment before she dies. She is told that for her time is
frozen just before her last heartbeat and she will have to return and
die… The Doctor has other ideas. He has an escape route planned and if
it works he will wipe all of her memories of her before returning her
to Earth.
I found this to be one of the best episodes of Doctor Who as is
constantly confounded my expectations. The best twist being the whole
diner plot line which appears to be the Doctor visiting Clara after she
has had her memory wiped when in fact it is the other way round. This
was of course a bit of a cop out as it meant Clara's death wasn't very
permanent but it was done in such a satisfying way I didn't mind one
bit. Before we get to that revelation there were a series of really
good scenes; the Cloisters were particularly creeps and it was great to
see several old foes, including a Dalek, a Cyberman and a few Stone
Angels, in there. There is also some fun to be had when the Doctor and
Clara escape in a stolen Tardis; inside it isn't like The Doctor's
current Tardis; instead it is the 'classic' design of the old series.
There is also another appearance from Me/Ashildr who the Doctor and
Clara find at the end of time… I was pleased that in the end she turned
out to be one of the good guys! The acting was really good; Capaldi was
on top form as The Doctor and it was great to see Jenna Coleman back as
Clara for what I assume will be the final time although the way she
left does leave open the possibility of a guest appearance at some
point. Maisie Williams was also really good as Me/Ashildr. Her 'Game of
Thrones' co-star Donald Sumpter also puts in a good performance as The
President although he wasn't in for as long as I'd have liked and their
characters don't meet. Overall a really good season finale with a fine
story, some decent scares, unexpected twists and a bitter-sweet ending.
Hell Bent that this series has been amazing
Author: Harvey Penson from United Kingdom
6 December 2015
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
The biggest episode in Doctor Who history since Smiths regeneration, I
will be hell bent on making sure this episode is always a huge 9.
The Doctor is on Gallifrey and making a final confrontation on behalf
of the death of his faithful companion, and is willing to stop at
nothing to save her. This is surly a side to the twelfth Doctor we have
not seen yet.
The series has been on a huge high, with the Capaldi as the Doctor, the
mysterious Hybrid, great stories, and now the finale. The story starts
with a brilliant performance from Capaldi as he remains silent for the
first five minutes, but after turning an army around by just standing,
he becomes the Liam Neeson of sci fi as stops at nothing to save his
friend.
I found that as usual the finale of a Doctor Who series makes the
viewer feel like watching the end of a show entirely, but there is so
much more left to see. Filled with emotion, and adventure and sure
suspense Hell Bent enters a whole other universe where the Doctor is in
control, and he chooses what will happen.
Unfortunately, it's the last quarter that sadly lets it down for me.
I'm not devastated that Clara's is going, but I still think they should
have just killed her off then making an excuse for a whole spin off
show. I mean I know they said Clara is going to face the raven at some
point but, why the long way round. It also felt like they were putting
the Doctor to the side slightly, and that he just needs to carry on,
and don't mind them, of course he has forgotten her.
Although the lasts minute is very exciting as we see a new sonic
screwdriver born, and the Doctor basically getting his grove back. Hell
Bent is 9, with a few rough edges, but I am now buzzing for Christmas
special.
Maintains Series 9's Status Quo (Consistency)
Author: Stephen
5 December 2015
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Here is the thing, last week's Heaven Sent was a masterpiece (easily
the best episode of Nu-Who); however, it shouldn't mar your perception
of this week's episode. I went into the episode with a slate wiped
clean. Though I did retain extremely high, especially for Doctor Who,
expectations, I wasn't expecting the Magnum Opus that was Heaven Sent.
I do agree with a few other reviewers that death (in this case Clara's)
within the world of Who has been cheapened a great deal; I did
,however, think that Clara's semi-return was written in a clever enough
way as to allow me to still enjoy it (if it happens AGAIN though, I
will be on Moffat's back faster than you can say the Face of Boe (like
every RTD fan boy)).
To get to the point more, the end made me giddy. It did what only
Series 5 and 6 managed to do, in my opinion, make me dying to see the
next series. It gave Clara a respectful send off, and the doctor a new
start (and a new sonic!).
The episode reminded me of the Time of the Doctor.... if that episode
had been written almost perfectly.
Yes, I said ALMOST perfectly. There are issues, mainly ones of pacing,
though they are easily forgiven once the credits roll. This is not the
best episode of Doctor Who (I would give that to Heaven Sent), but it
is my favorite episode: one that marks the end of the greatest run in
the show's history.
To series 10! Fantastic! Allons-y! Geronimo!
Very good for what it is.
Author: Guy2026 from Canada
5 December 2015
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
For the first time in a while, Moffat has spun out a second part that
isn't a total disappointment. The episode was an incredible conclusion
to the running emotional themes, but I wish they had wrapped up the
technicalities of the hybrid storyline more coherently. Is it still
going to destroy Gallifrey? Is time still unravelling? The episode was
also quite low on action. Now, back to the good.
Throughout the episode there is a dreamlike experience of the Doctor
chatting with Clara in a diner that seemed like something out of
Breaking Bad. This actually ends up leading to a twist. When they first
start unveiling it, I was NOT okay with it. Then, it seemed to just be
a rip-off of a previous companion's departure, which I was doubly not
okay with. But in the end, they used it in an unexpected way which
challenges the Doctor for giving in to temptation in the last two
episodes.
Ultimately, this episode is the beautiful end to some character arcs,
even if it's action light and slightly confusing as an end to the
story.
How far would you go to save someone that matters?
Author: Paul Evans from Swansea, United Kingdom
5 December 2015
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Having escaped the trap of his own Confession dial, the Doctor is on
Gallifrey, as are the Sisterhood of Karn. The Timelords extract Clara
just prior to her death, she's effectively a ticking time bomb, The
Doctor defies the rules in a battle to keep her alive and save her from
facing the Raven.
I'll start with the positives, the visuals were utterly brilliant, the
scenes of Gallifrey, the special effects, the costumes, a visual feast.
Capaldi is literally moving up the Doctor's list for me week by week,
he is unbelievable in the role, I truly believe that his Doctor would
do anything for Clara. Capaldi and Coleman's scenes were once again
exceptional. The scenes in the Classic TARDIS set looked brilliant, so
retro, and overdue an appearance.
On the downside, Face the Raven and Heaven Sent literally left me
speechless, this didn't quite live up to the standard of those. Moffat
has used the cheating death theme once to often, Clara's 'living'
cheapened the bravery and hard hitting scene of Face the Raven. How
many times can he use the not really dead concept, it was tired a few
seasons back, it's now desperate.
It was a very dialogue heavy episode, what was done was done
brilliantly, I'm just left a little flat by Clara, she'd been given an
awesome send off, and now it all feels divisive. Also a little lacking
in terms of action.
7/10 it was good, I just hoped for a bit more.
It was decent, but definitely not as good as heaven sent.
Author: nextgen-31115 from Hull, Engeland
5 December 2015
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I have mixed feelings about this episode. Not everyone loved Clara obviously, but I was really sad to see her go. She really grew more on me than any of the other characters. Especially Rose and Amy pond, Gods those were useless. That the doctor was going to try to bring her back was obvious, which, sadly, made this plot a bit predictable. I sort of feel betrayed for the doctor not standing in Gallifrey's ashes, wiping away the caste system and bringing justice to his home planet. He didn't do anything but run away and escape the consequences AGAIN. I also feel a lot was left unexplained again and I'm afraid we aren't getting any answers.. ever... so her we go fanfiction. A finale is supposed to tie things up, after last week's fantastic episode - this one feels mediocre. Will the doctor always be a scared little boy - running away in his Tardis? It starts to get really annoying... I thought this doctor would finally face the consequences. "RUN, you 'clever' boy"... He seemed a broken man ready to do anything to avenge his loved one. Even if you wipe away Clara... won't those billions of years of torture do something to you? Isn't there still anger burning in his heart? he punching through bloody diamond to get some time with her?!? - oh and I honestly thought blink was rubbish, how about the empty child huh>\?
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