Doctor Who - Heaven Sent - Advance Preview + Dialogue Teasers

© BBC Pictures
It’s been a season of experiments. We’ve had an abundance of two part episodes and a new recurring character in Ashildr – who may or may not turn up in later seasons, but with a tie-in book about her escapades due out next month, I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of that tricksy young madam yet. We’ve also lost the longest running companion of the new era in a gut-wrenching death; some see it as Clara’s death wish coming to its natural end, but the Doctor will only ever accept that he failed in his duty of care.

And now he’s angry, and even though he promised that he wouldn’t take revenge, we all know that it’s not easy to compartmentalise when emotions take over. Being whisked away to a strange castle in the middle of a wide ocean has done nothing to placate his fury either, he’s in no mood to play games, yet that is exactly what is in store for him. The puzzle box like fortress he is trapped in is constructed to outwit him, to prey on his fears, in his own words “this whole place is designed to terrify me.” As he explores the various rooms, each uniquely created with either a task or a riddle that requires solving, he is followed by a creature known only as the Veil.

You won’t recognise him under his guise, but it’s Jami Reid-Quarrell who played Colony Sarff in the opening two episodes who’s responsible for the macabre critter that seeks out the Doctor at the end of every corridor. His arrival is always announced in a very particular way, which deliciously ramps up his scare factor and is guaranteed to get the younger viewers on the edge of their seats before his every appearance. The Doctor being scared of him, in a way that we’ve never seen him afraid of anything before, also adds to the Veil’s intimidating eeriness.

But this is the Doctor we are talking about, and he always finds a way to win in the end, even if it takes the memory of a past companion to get him there. So it’s a good thing that although he’s alone, there is a reminder of Clara in the castle in order to help him get through this dreadful maze of horrors. As an audience, we are also reminded of why the Doctor needs a partner to travel with, as someone to help bring him prospective and who challenges him to do the right thing.

Despite the ghoulish nightmare setting, Moffat has written a surprising amount of humour for Capaldi to deliver, although it’s more of along the lines of cynical witticism than joyful whimsy for the most part, obviously. Without it though this could have easily become a dull fifty three minutes, but instead it lures you in from the off and then holds you spellbound as you follow the mystery to its conclusion. The ending possibly won't be that big of a surprise, but it’s the journey that is remarkable, and will have far reaching consequences for some time to come.


Heaven Sent airs on Saturday 28th November at 8.05pm on BBC 1 and BBC 1 HD in the UK, and at 9pm on BBC America. Below are a few dialogue teasers to see you through until then, if you want to have any guesses on who said what I will fill in any correct answers before the episode airs. Don't forget to come back to vote in our poll after the episode and let us know what you thought.


“It’s funny, the day you lose someone isn’t the worst. At least you have something to do. It’s all the days they stay dead”

“I’ve just watched my best friend die in agony, my day can’t get any worse. Let’s see about yours!”

“Long before the Time War, the Time Lords knew it was coming”

“This is my storeroom. I always imagine that I’m back in my TARDIS, showing off”

“Why is it always me? Why is never anybody else’s turn? Can’t I just lose? Just this once?”

“Well that was another close one. Or it will have been, once I’ve been and gone and got myself out of it”

“Are there birds here?”

“Whatever path you take, it will follow. Ever faster, ever slower. Always coming. You will run, it will walk. You will rest, it will not”

I am in 12

“If they’re going to threaten you with death, show them whose boss. Die faster”

“I’m not scared of hell. It’s just heaven for bad people”

About the Author - Sandi

Sandi is part of the Senior Staff at SpoilerTV having been a contributor from back in the Lost days of DarkUFO, and who now writes previews for Banshee, The Musketeers, Poldark, and other UK shows. She also enjoys watching and commenting on other shows such as Vikings, Orphan Black, Game of Thrones and The Flash.

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