Heaven Sent / Hell Bent
Dec. 6th, 2015 11:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dbskylerI just finished watching "Hell Bent" for the second time, and I am full of all the feels. ALL THE FEELS.
First, I should mention that BBC America reran "Heaven Sent" last night, and I watched it, and wow. I mean, I loved the episode the first time, but I wasn't sure if I would love it on a rewatch. But if anything, I loved it more. Knowing that the Doctor was going through that loop over, and over, and over? If anything, it was more horrifying the second time. People have been heaping praise on Moffat's script and Capaldi's performance, and I totally agree, but I also have to give major props to the director, Rachel Talalay. Basically, the Doctor was running around a castle getting chased by a thing in a veil for an hour, but her direction kept it all tense, and focused, and fascinating.
And then came "Hell Bent." And now we learn that the Doctor didn't spend 4 1/2 billion years in hell to protect a secret; he spent 4 1/2 billion years in hell to rescue Clara. THE FEELS. The Time Lords were responsible for her death, and he was going to make them give her back to him. And yes, I know there are some people out there in internet-land who are disappointed that we didn't get a big epic story that was all about Gallifrey and its return, but I'm not one of them. I love that this story was all about the Doctor and Clara. That's exactly what it should have been about. (And what I still wish "Time of the Doctor" had been about.) We can get the big, all-about-Gallifreyan-politics story some other time. Or not. (In my opinion, Gallifrey has actually never been all that interesting, and Gallifreyan politics even less so.)
And OMG, what an ending. The Doctor was the hybrid! Or maybe it was Ashildr? Or maybe it was the combination of the Doctor and Clara together? We don't exactly know, but we do know that the prophecy of some combination of them chatting in the ruins of Gallifrey did come true, and it wasn't a big deal. Except for the fact that possibly all time will come to an end because Clara was extracted before her death. But there's some wiggle room in the meantime.
I'm sad that the Doctor forgot Clara, but glad that Clara didn't forget the Doctor. It feels right.
And now I need to go back and rewatch "Heaven Sent" for a third time, because now we know the true meaning of the Doctor imagining Clara writing on the chalkboard "How are you going to WIN?"
This was just a really, really good finale, and a very fitting end to Clara's tenure on the show.
First, I should mention that BBC America reran "Heaven Sent" last night, and I watched it, and wow. I mean, I loved the episode the first time, but I wasn't sure if I would love it on a rewatch. But if anything, I loved it more. Knowing that the Doctor was going through that loop over, and over, and over? If anything, it was more horrifying the second time. People have been heaping praise on Moffat's script and Capaldi's performance, and I totally agree, but I also have to give major props to the director, Rachel Talalay. Basically, the Doctor was running around a castle getting chased by a thing in a veil for an hour, but her direction kept it all tense, and focused, and fascinating.
And then came "Hell Bent." And now we learn that the Doctor didn't spend 4 1/2 billion years in hell to protect a secret; he spent 4 1/2 billion years in hell to rescue Clara. THE FEELS. The Time Lords were responsible for her death, and he was going to make them give her back to him. And yes, I know there are some people out there in internet-land who are disappointed that we didn't get a big epic story that was all about Gallifrey and its return, but I'm not one of them. I love that this story was all about the Doctor and Clara. That's exactly what it should have been about. (And what I still wish "Time of the Doctor" had been about.) We can get the big, all-about-Gallifreyan-politics story some other time. Or not. (In my opinion, Gallifrey has actually never been all that interesting, and Gallifreyan politics even less so.)
And OMG, what an ending. The Doctor was the hybrid! Or maybe it was Ashildr? Or maybe it was the combination of the Doctor and Clara together? We don't exactly know, but we do know that the prophecy of some combination of them chatting in the ruins of Gallifrey did come true, and it wasn't a big deal. Except for the fact that possibly all time will come to an end because Clara was extracted before her death. But there's some wiggle room in the meantime.
I'm sad that the Doctor forgot Clara, but glad that Clara didn't forget the Doctor. It feels right.
And now I need to go back and rewatch "Heaven Sent" for a third time, because now we know the true meaning of the Doctor imagining Clara writing on the chalkboard "How are you going to WIN?"
This was just a really, really good finale, and a very fitting end to Clara's tenure on the show.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2015-12-07 07:08 am (UTC)And I confess, I'm ready for the Doctor!Clara and Companion!Ashildr/Me spin-off show...
(no subject)
Date: 2015-12-07 07:17 am (UTC)I am also totally ready for that spin-off!
ETA: I should mention that I do think "Face the Raven" was a good episode; I just can't quite bring myself to watch it again. I'm with the Doctor; there was too much sad to appreciate the beautiful. I prefer my Companion send-offs to be things I can bring myself to re-watch.
(no subject)
Date: 2015-12-07 08:12 am (UTC)(I still can't watch Donna's last ep.)
(no subject)
Date: 2015-12-07 07:52 am (UTC)Especially this: Basically, the Doctor was running around a castle getting chased by a thing in a veil for an hour, but her direction kept it all tense, and focused, and fascinating.
(no subject)
Date: 2015-12-07 08:00 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2015-12-07 06:33 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2015-12-08 12:35 am (UTC)(I don't really like tragic. Can you tell? *g*)