Doctor Perseus Reviews: "Hell Bent" *SPOILERS* · 11:42pm Dec 5th, 2015
In this week's Doctor Who Series 9 finale, the Doctor has returned to Gallifrey and has a score to settle with his fellow Time Lords. But what is the Hybrid? What happens when the Doctor goes too far? And how will the story of the Doctor and Clara Oswald ultimately end?
I had no idea what to expect going into this finale. There was so much to think about and anticipate that I could hardly even begin to try putting together any theories. So, how did the finale of Series 9 turn out? I honestly have so many feelings coursing through me right now that I'm not sure where to begin. But I do believe that I'm confident in saying that, in my opinion, this was one of the most boldest, complex, and surprising finales Doctor Who has ever given us.
I'm going to go ahead and start with our two leads, as that is the topic that requires a lot of discussion. Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman gave absolutely spectacular performances in this episode. Their interactions with each other throughout were perfect. From making me laugh with their banter to making me tear up from their emotions, they kept me hooked for the entire ride. It was certainly interesting and quite suspenseful to see the Doctor break so many of his rules in order to save Clara and get his revenge on the Lord President.
Anyway, I might as well skip straight to the elephant in the room: Clara's departure. I already have a feeling that opinions are going to be all across the board about this departure (and the episode in general) due to the nature of it. Heck, even I myself am not entirely sure what to think of it. I'm left with a very odd mixture of sadness, satisfaction, joy, confusion, and many more emotions. But, that in itself is probably why I mostly found it to be an incredibly fitting and satisfying departure for Clara. I know a lot of people will probably say that this undermined Clara's death in Face the Raven, but, personally, I don't agree with that. The emotions seen in that episode and the words shared between the Doctor and Clara still remain as far as I'm concerned. And Clara's death still hasn't changed. She's still destined to ultimately return to that moment and perish. I was definitely surprised seeing the Doctor reach into that moment and save Clara. But it was a pleasant surprise as far as I'm concerned because I'm happy that we were able to see the Doctor and Clara embark on one final emotional journey together. And I also think it's fitting that Clara was able to make it to Gallifrey along with the Doctor given her involvement in the Doctor's timeline, the 50th anniversary, and the Doctor gaining his new regeneration cycle.
Having the Doctor forget his memories of Clara at the very end was a very shocking and saddening moment. But I'm at least happy that it appears the Doctor still partially remembers his travels with Clara and her impact on his life. It's not the case of Donna Noble where she can't remember the Doctor at all. The Doctor knows he traveled with Clara and was close to her. That makes me happy. But, thinking about it, I think it makes sense why this had to happen. It's clear that the Doctor would stop at nothing to save Clara. To keep her with him. He broke every major time law in his book just to bring her back and continue traveling with her. Him losing most of his memories of her prevents him from continuing to go to those extremes. His drive to break his laws is gone. He can return to being the Doctor; which is ultimately what Clara wants. I think Clara would prefer the Doctor mostly forgetting her and staying the Doctor than trying everything to keep her with him and ultimately stop being the Doctor. I liked the final moments they shared together (both before and after the Doctor lost his memories). Clara getting her own TARDIS with Me as her companion was a very interesting way to end this. Some people may think that Clara leaving the Doctor like that devalues their friendship but I don't think so. I think Clara's happy to move on, go on a few adventures, and ultimately return to her death because she's happy about where the Doctor is. The Doctor's been put back on track and she has complete confidence that he won't stray from the path again. The somewhat open-ended ending of where Clara is going from here on out is a bit annoying. But, at the very least, we all know where her story ends. As I said earlier, her death is still in place and, one day, she will have to return to Gallifrey to be placed back in that moment. And I like to believe that this is something she wouldn't wait too long to do. I believe that, after a few adventures with Me, she would be ready to move on and accept her death due to her having now lost her Earth life and the Doctor. Because of this somewhat open-ended departure, do I think that we'll ever see Clara again? I'm not really sure but I'm mostly leaning towards "no" on this one. At least, I don't think we'll see the present Clara ever again. An echo? Perhaps. A past version traveling with Eleven or Twelve in a future anniversary special? Maybe. But I think the present Clara we just bid farewell to has completed her story. At the very least, I do hope that the Doctor regains his memories of Clara one day. Maybe during Capaldi's final episode. I think it would be very poignant if Twelve remembered Clara during his final moments. But I suppose we'll just have to wait and see how that plays out.
The return of Ashildr/Me was an interesting touch and I think this episode really brought her story full circle. Honestly, if we never see her again after this I'll be fine because I was completely satisfied with this outing. She waited until the end of the universe and now, finally, she has a TARDIS and is free to explore all of time and space free from the trap of a linear eternal life. Along with Me, we also saw the return of Gallifrey and it looked gorgeous in this episode. Granted, Gallifrey slid into the background once the conflict with the Doctor and Clara came front and center but I'm actually fine with that because Series 9 wrapped up all of its main plot threads. This wasn't a conclusion to Gallifrey but rather to beginning of something else entirely. I'm sure we'll be seeing it again in the future. It was nice seeing Ohila again but she didn't get too much room to shine. The General's regeneration into a woman was quite a surprise. I know that a lot of people have passionate opinions about this, but I believe the show is leaning towards us having a female Doctor after Capaldi (which I'm personally fine with). Returning to the barn from The Day of the Doctor and Listen was a good homage. Seeing Weeping Angels and a Davies era Cyberman in the Matrix was also a nice throwback. Heck, there were a lot of throwbacks in this episode "She knocks four times" was a major one as well was the Doctor mentioning Amy and Rory. The message Clara put on the chalkboard at the end of "Run you clever boy and be a Doctor" was also very heartwarming, as was the Doctor literally playing "Clara's Theme" on his guitar. And how cool was it to see the Doctor and Clara inside a modern version of the original 1963 TARDIS console room? It's clear from those scenes just how far the effects and production design have come since the show began all those years ago. Though, I must say that I am a bit disappointed in how the "Hybrid Arc" was concluded as it was never really confirmed what the Hybrid was. Was it something made up by the Doctor? Is the Doctor really half-human? Was it really the Doctor and Clara. Was it Missy (who also got an interesting reference)? I dunno. I'm still left with a few questions buzzing around my head. On a quick final note, I LOVE the Doctor's new sonic screwdriver now that I've taken more of a look at it. It's cool that it's shaped like a miniature TARDIS. The shades were an interesting addition for Series 9 but now it's time to return to basics. Besides, it's about time Twelve got his own unique screwdriver.
Overall, Hell Bent was a very bold, complex, and surprising finale. It had big moments, quiet moments, funny moments, and emotional moments. It brought Me's story full circle, saw the return of Gallifrey, and was an intriguing and strangely satisfying conclusion to Clara's time on the show. I'm sure this is an episode people are going to be debating about until Series 10 starts.
And, now, Series 9 has finally drawn to a close. It was certainly an interesting ride from start to finish. Expect my overview of it soon. But, thankfully, we won't have to wait too long to get our next Doctor Who fix. The Doctor will return alongside River Song on Christmas Day in The Husbands of River Song!
What did the rest of you think of Hell Bent?
Wait doesn't it not come out until later today? Or do you live in a different time zone?
3595896
I watched it online. It aired at 7pm in England, which is around 2pm my time. I was able to find it online by a quarter past 3.
3595941
I looked online and I couldn't fined it. I'll just have to wait till 9:00 to watch it.
3596182 You can always watch it an hour after it airs at 2pm at Tvids
Also about the episode, I can FEEEL the fandom crying out. Personally I think both 9 10 and 11 would go to these length for their companions if they were to die with them. I believe this was completely within the character of the Doctor, no matter the face.
3595941
With that, I could figure out where you are.
3596664
That's still a pretty large time zone to look through.
3596674 I'm pretty sure you're in North America at least.
Mark my words, I will find you. One day you'll wake up in the morning and go to the kitchen and there will I be. Making pancakes. You like pancakes right.
That is a joke. I do not plan on doing that. Or am I?
No, it's a joke.
Yeah, I didn't really expect that either. I'm kind of in the camp that it takes away from Clara's death in "Face the Raven" since it was such a perfect end for her, but as you pointed out it still has to happen and so it still will happen and has happened.
First, the Master regenerates into a Time Lady. Then, this Time Lord general regenerates into a Time Lady. I have no doubt that the Doctor will regenerate as a Time Lady even as soon as after Capaldi's tenure. Imagine if he regenerates as a red-haired lady. Then, the Doctor would finally be a ginger and a woman. I'd like to reiterate that I think Emma Watson would make a good doctor, though she is not a ginger.
I could almost see it now.
I actually disagree. I think the open-ended ending means we will be seeing this Clara again. And the Doctor still won't remember her. He'll be like "Who is this woman, and why does she have a TARDIS?" It's like the Impossible Girl all over again.
In the end though, the way things come to an end with Clara here emphasizes the point about her that as been made throughout this series. Clara has been becoming more and more like the Doctor. She's become reckless. She always thinks she's going to make it out in the end, and now that is kind of true. She ended up erasing the Doctor's memories of her like he did to Donna Noble, and now she's flying around in her own TARDIS with her own companion. You can't get more like the Doctor than that.
I almost forgot about "Run you clever boy and remember." That was a nice callback.
I'm pretty sure you're familiar with the uproar that followed when the Eighth Doctor declared in the Doctor Who movie that he was half-human on his mother's side. That's the first thing I thought of when Me suggested the Hybrid was half-Time Lord, half-human. I don't think they'd want to go through that again.
Overall, I didn't think much of this "Hybrid arc." It didn't have the weight of some previous arcs. So, it doesn't really bother me that it ended on such an unclear note.
Yes, the screwdriver! I like to think that somehow Clara is responsible for it. Good for her.