Directed by: Rachel Talalay
Written by: Steven Moffat
Air date: 28 November 2015
Reviews so far:
Episode 9.01 - "The Magician's Apprentice"
Episode 9.02 - "The Witch's Familiar"
Episode 9.03 - "Under the Lake"
Episode 9.04 - "Before the Flood"
Episode 9.05 - "The Girl Who Died"
Episode 9.06 - "The Woman Who Lived"
Episode 9.07 - "The Zygon Invasion"
Episode 9.08 - "The Zygon Inversion"
Episode 9.09 - "Sleep No More"
Episode 9.10 - "Face the Raven"
This week's all about the Doctor. The entire plot of the episode can be summarized in a few sentences. The Doctor is trapped in the castle with his biggest nightmares. While he's trying to grieve Clara, he's being chased by the deadly Veil forcing him to reveal his deepest secrets in exchange for his life. The Time Lord figures out there's no way out of the castle, apart from one passage, seemingly to the TARDIS. However it leads through the Azbantium wall which the Doctor is only able to break a little piece at the time before he dies and uses the teleporter chamber (which resets to the moment the Doctor first arrived there) to copy his younger self and repeat the cycle. Over and over again, for more thantwo billion years... The episode that is mostly set in just one place with one character could easily be a one to forget, yet thanks to the marvelous work by Peter Capaldi and the crew, the hour ends up being of the best ones in Twelve's entire run. Absolutely brilliant. I can't possibly be more impressed with the wonderful work Capaldi is doing as the Doctor. All the monologues, the angry speeches, heartbreaking confessions, grief, pain and loss - all completely spot on and memorable.
1. The Confession Dial turned out to be a prison for the Doctor. What did you think about that twist?
2. Did you miss the adventure, the travelling, the people, or is the hour just with the Doctor exactly what you were hoping for? Any wishes to have more episodes like this one in the future?
3. What would you like to see in the finale? Any returns, reveals or references? Where are you thinking the story might be going from him?
4. First "the Doctor will see you now", then "Assume you're going to survive" and finally "home, the long way around". Small things like that are what I always love about the continuity on the series.
5. A shout-out to Peter Capaldi!
Memorable quotes:
1. "The Hybrid is not a half-Dalek, nothing is half-Dalek. The Daleks would never allow that. The Hybrid, destined to conquer Gallifrey and stand in its ruins... is me."
2. "If you think because she is dead, I am weak, you understand very little. If you had any part in killing her, and you are not afraid, then you understand nothing at all. So for your sake, understand this: I am the Doctor, and I'm coming to find you. And I will never, ever stop."
3. "Rule one of dying: don’t. Rule two: slow down. You’ve got the rest of your life. The faster you think, the slower it will pass. Concentrate. Assume you’re going to survive. Always assume that. Imagine you’ve already survived. There’s a storeroom in your mind. Lock the door and think. This is my storeroom. I always imagine that I’m back in my TARDIS, showing off. Telling you how I escaped—making you laugh. That’s what I’m doing right now. I am falling, Clara. I’m dying. And I’m going to explain to you how I survived. Can’t wait to hear what I say. I’m nothing without an audience."
4. "It’s funny. The day you lose someone isn’t the worst. At least you’ve got something to do. It’s all the days they stay dead."
5. "I can’t keep doing this. I can’t, I can’t always do this. It’s not fair! Clara, it’s just not fair! Why can’t I just lose! [NO!] But I can remember, Clara. You don’t understand. I can remember it all. Every time. And you’ll still be gone. Whatever I do, you still won’t be there."
What did you think about "Heaven Sent"? Any favorite scenes, quotes or theories? Feel free to let us know in the comments. Check out the trailer and episode info for the season finale "Hell Bent" here & the preview here. As always, thanks for reading!
