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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2023
- First time watching Heaven Sent - Doctor Who Reaction - Peter Capaldi
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This episode is basically "What if grief was the enemy?"
Absolute masterpiece. My favorite episode of Doctor Who
One of the best hires Moffat ever made was Rachel Talalay, and one of the best things RTD has done since taking back over is to rehire her again for the 60th specials. She's a fan, she understands the character of the Doctor, the show, and she is a fabulous director. The perfect combination.
Oh? That's great to hear, she has a great style
One special for the 60th, Episode 1, The other two are directed by Tom Kingsley & Chanya Button respectively but it's fantastic to have Rachel back in New Who!! 😍
Rachel is my favourite director on Doctor Who and I’m really excited she’s back for the 60th. I hope we see her work again in future series.
Did you ever imagine you’d have this much respect for the person who directed Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare?
@@Sentient_Zee Everyone starts somewhere! lol I bet she learned a lot about using effects however, and don't forget Tank Girl too, which despite that movies many production issues it has more of her creative stamp on its directing than the Freddy movie (and as a fan of the Tank Girl comics is a guilty pleasure of mine).
This episode isn’t just the best Dr Who episode. For me, it’s up there as one of the best episodes of television I’ve seen. As much as I love the previous incarnations of The Doctor I really believe no one could have pulled off this performance quite like Capaldi. This is a masterpiece ❤️
*Absolute Masterpiece!!*
*Also, the toughest Doctor Who edit ever, by far. Gave it my best shot, hopefully it’s enjoyable.*
Great edit. How hard to edit that brilliantly edited sequence especially at the end as the story is understood and is being told. “Hell of a bird” is the only line missing. For me this could be the alternate name of the episode.
This upload makes me want to watch Dr who for the first time lol
This is my favorite episode in the series!
I just KNEW you’d love this episode! For me, it’s a work of art…
Have started it and no regrets 😁
“Sadness because I’m never going to experience that for the first time ever again, never” Gosh, summed up my feels about Doctor Who and the whole reason why I watch reactions. The show is so FREAKING good and watching the episodes (especially the best ones) for the first time is a feeling like no other.
Yep, that feeling is part of why reactions are so popular; as a way to recapture the feelings you first had when you watched it. Interestingly, it's a similar reason why the Doctor takes on mortals/humans as companions, to see the universe through their eyes to see it fresh again for the first time.
@@lucasdolding6924 Exactly! Love that 😌
Essentially, this episode is close to an hour of Capaldi talking to himself. Even with the great script and production quality, the fact that you and I and so many other people can come out the other side feeling like we've just watched one of television's greatest episodes is truly a testament to Capaldi's superior acting talent.
Probably my most anticipated Doctor Who reaction.
Over Murray Gold’s 10+ years of composing music for Doctor Who he has produced a lot of tracks that I bloody love and “The Shepherd’s Boy” and “Same Old Day” that play throughout this episode are right near the top.
And I already loved Capaldi before, but this episode reinforced my love for him as The Doctor. I love the rest of them, but I think he’s the only one that could pull off a solo episode like this so well.
Steven Moffat at his best and Rachel Talalay’s directing in this episode is downright stunning. So happy her and Murray Gold are coming back for the 60th anniversary specials and beyond.
"Have I just watched the greatest episode of Doctor Who?"
Yes. Yes you did.
Yep, this is one of the greatest episodes in all of Who, just Capaldi by himself for an episode, absolutely acting his heart out.
Anyone who doesn't love Capaldi's Doctor is wrong. As much as I love every other version, he's the best actor to ever play the role.
Wrong to not love something lol.
@@theblackswordsman9951 Yes, you are.
@@jthomann71 I hope you're joking.
@@theblackswordsman9951 Another swing and a miss.
@@jthomann71 It's subjective. You can't be "wrong"
I’m not normally a weepy person, but that five minute montage had me bawling my eyes out. (And continued to do so for a long time.)
The scene had me emotionally ready by the slow anticipation of the Doctor choosing an excruciating death. Then the roller coaster of emotions created by music and thoughtful editing.
Curiosity - as all the pieces are finally showing the assembled puzzle.
Hubris - when the Doctor gives that initial threatening speech, and the “bet you never saw this coming”
Futility- as the loop continues, and that mountain of skulls gets larger
Sadness - of the pain happening to the Doctor over and over
Hope - seeing the progress into the wall
Despair - million years… billion years…
Relief - when it was over
Horror - at the Doctor.
Wasn’t expecting this one. He is monstrous to put himself through that. Like he said, is this price worth it to just not lose? The Doctor’s tenacity and stubbornness are heroic qualities, but here we are shown the other side of the coin.
This is my favourite episode. The strength he shows in it is just incredible. When he asks why he needs to go on, why can’t he lose, it just hits my heart so much. He is in pain, grieving, tired and broken, and he keeps going on, for Clara.
I didn’t like Capaldi when he first became the Doctor, but he quickly became My Doctor. This episode just cemented the idea.
There's two kinds of people, those who've been refreshing the channel for about 10 days hoping the reaction would drop any moment, and those who lie
First video I’ve ever seen from this channel, but this guy is the most perceptive reactor I’ve ever watched. Just light years ahead of where the audience usually is, I can’t believe he figured out the twist so early.
The wait for the Season 9 soundtrack to be released was TORTURE. It was eventually a multi-CD release, with this episode getting it's own full CD.
Maybe now that Murray Gold is back with Who, we'll finally get a Series10 soundtrack released!
There is so so much to say about this episode in terms of cinematography, music, editing, etc., but what stands out the most to me is its exploration of grief. It is something the show has done well in various ways throughout the years, but it's a theme that's even more prominent in the 12/Clara era, and that is especially well crafted in this episode. That probably makes it one of my all time favourite episodes of TV.
Someone on another channel put it really well: Grief is the same pain beating the life out of you over and over and over, day after day, until you finally break through and can function normally again.
This episode is the best. Peter Capaldi is by far the best Doctor in the rebooted series. Beautifully directed, scored and acted, just a stunning piece of television. Great reaction.
The skulls were modeled on the prosthetic mold of Peter's head. There's a subtle moment where one of the skulls is on the battlement and they do a slow fade to Peter's face and you can see that it it is his skull. Murray Gold's music here is amazing!
This is easily the greatest doctor who episode in my opinion, the Shephard's boy is one of the best music pieces I've ever heard in my life, it's so well done thanks to Murray Gold!
It's so nice to see your appreciation for the incomparable Rachel Talalay. She came back to direct the 60th anniversary episodes and I am so excited to see more of her work! She, Moffat, Capaldi and Murray Gold were all at the absolute top of their game in this one.
i think my favourite music que in this is the scene with Clara's painting it took me straight back to 80's Who
I was so looking forward to that review, I knew it would be amazing for you to watch it, and I've found myself in the same state as for the first time (in tears mainly) as all the time I've wateched it ever since... I have to say that watching someone watching it for the first time isn't the same feeling at experiencing oneself, sure, but it's quiet close. Thank you for that!
Most part of the filming happened at the Caerphilly Castle and Cardiff Castle, which I visited when going in Wales (mainly for the very reason it was the location of filming, and well, i love castles what can I say, anyway...)... both landmarks are amazing, I recommend you to put them on your bucket list if indeed you come and travel in Europe
This is definitely one of the best episodes of Who, top 5 I'd say. Capaldi did an amazing job here. I don't think there are many actors that can carry an episode on their own, and he goes beyond that, to keep you engaged the whole time. The work done in every area for this episode is so good that it feels short and neverending at the same time.
So fun fact, that skull that the doctor was carrying was actually modelled after capaldis bone structure
The fact that Rachel Talalay and Murray Gold are coming back to direct and score the 60th anniversary specials this year makes me very excited.
I think everyone recognises that the past few seasons of the show have been written poorly, but I don't see anyone talk about how the music and directing was a monumental drop-off from the Capaldi era.
Oh, I've carried the torch of "Murray Gold going was Chibnall's biggest problem" for the entire era! And it's with no disrespect to Segun, who took over, but it's the *style* as well as the quality that matters.
Season 11 started well and then went to shit. Season 12 was a lot better. I thought 13/Flux was great in places and a fun experiment overall. I thought Power of the Doctor was actually fantastic. Recognise that the 13th Doctor's era was a step down overall, sure, but let's not pretend it was all bad.
One of the best episodes of Doctor Who, hands down. It's my favourite of Capaldi's era.
Time loops? Masterful storytelling, editing and acting? Count me in. Endless love for this masterpiece of an episode.
Loved you reaction and review.
Since watching your channel and your appreciation of the film technique... I've been waiting for you to hit this story. Yes it is worthy of all the greatness hat is heaped upon it. It's worth noting that Moffat said this was written in response to the departure of Amy.. He was unhappy that he couldn't show the effect of loss on the character, as the story had to move on. So in writing this he was taking the time to show how the loss of someone is felt by the Doctor. Greta work as always
The greatest episode in doctor who history with the greatest doctor to ever be put on our screens
wow - you summed this up perfectly. I did not think I would watch the full hour of your video but I couldn't stop - you explained why everyone loves this episode completely. One of the best pieces of media of all time...
Ah yes, one of the greatest episodes of Doctor Who.
13:45 Yes, yes you did, nobody could have done it better than Capaldi.
I'm glad you weren't completely hyped up about this episode beforehand, as much as so many people tried to spoil that a big one was coming up.. I was lucky to come to this episode without any preconceptions or expectations too and it hit me for six. It was truly a special feeling.
Finally ! I waited actual years for you to react to this, I'm so hyped !
This, combined with the Zygon Inversion, and the Husbands of River Song is why Capaldi is my favourite doctor. He really gets to work his acting chops in these.
the way its shot, the story, the colours, peter capaldi, the music, everything. its a masterpiece.
When the doctor asks “how long cam I keep doing this burning the old me to make a new one” it has double meaning he’s talking about regeneration as well as the loop it’s nice writing
I also love how all 5 billion doctors had to get it exactly right to pull it off, different versions (or maybe just the first version came up with the plan) leaving small clues along the way. He had to have a LOT of faith in his self/selves to not give up !
I don't say much in these comments, but I'll say this:
Five years ago, when the YT algorithm made me see your reaction to "Parting of the Ways", I thought: "Ooooh, I want to see THAT guy react to Heaven Sent!"
So I subscribed.
Took a while. Didn't disappoint.
Finally time for Heaven Sent, I've been waiting for so long
This episode and "Blink" keep fighting for being my favorite episode... far beyond all other episodes in my top 15. But you still haven't seen all episodes in my top 15, so please continue this awesome journey. Thank you so much for all these great reactions!
World enough and time and the doctor falls🤭
It's a very daring piece of television. I remember watching it when it aired and being shocked by its effectiveness and it depended on everything being right but especially Peter Capaldi's performance.
Yes. It is here.
You mentioning how people don't typically have an issue with Jodie, it isn't exactly true. She doesn't have that Doctor feel. She can't portray the age or wisdom this character needs to work. She was hired by Chibnall not through audition, but through previous connection, and it shows. And as you said, the writing lets her down too. She's written like a parody that doesn't understand what makes The Doctor The Doctor. Not to mention all the stuff around her hire, like an advert showing a glass ceiling literally breaking above her, and her initial reveal being essentially about "wow, look guys, female Doctor!" without any reason to care beyond that. Missy was a subtle recast of The Master, the change allowing Moffat to write a totally different kind of Master. They never really were like "oh wow, look guys! We did it! We made the Master a woman!" They just did it, and it feels natural as a result. For someone like The Doctor, you really need a story reason why he would suddenly change into a woman. Give us maybe some new perspective he needed, or maybe the new regeneration cycle is more varied than his first. But no. They just made the change without thinking of a reason for doing so. It isn't exactly Jodie's fault, but her depiction of The Doctor is widely considered the worst we've ever gotten.
Essentially, the way they handled this change to The Doctor was the worst way they could have possibly gone around it. Instead of learning from the success of Missy, where they don't make a big thing out of it outside of the show, and where they use the opportunity to give us an entirely new version of The Doctor we've never seen before, they do the complete opposite: make it a huge deal outside of the show, but don't do anything with that fact in the show. The handling of the situation was honestly so poorly handled, to the point the BBC even went after the fan response, deliberately trying to portray the response as purely positive... It's not something I think the show can come back from, at least not without some olive branch from the BBC (which I doubt they will ever do). That response from them, the handling of it by them, has forever made people see anything other than a white man Doctor as a message and not a story. And it's a real shame. Before they did this, I heard people talking of Olivia Coleman or Idris Elba as The Doctor. The fans were for the change. Those same people nowadays just want the status quo back.
Just wanted to explain this, as the entire situation is very complicated, and the media doesn't portray the reality of the situation.
True. Olivia Coleman or Adrian Lester as the Doctor would be so fire btw.
This is definitely my favorite episode of television ever
So glad you appreciate this episode so much. It truly is a masterpiece! Some people take it for granted as being a “Groundhog Day” episode, but my gosh it is just a masterclass in videography, editing, writing, etc. So so good
I have never seen anyone figure out the twist to Heaven Sent before the reveal, especially so fast
you.....have a great mind sir
Peter Capaldi is my favourite doctor
The soundtrack for series 9 had another disc just for this episode
Definitely one of Moffat's best, and that is saying something. Watching your reaction makes me think I need to rewatch it properly. Great analysis and review.
We are only a minute into this video (early in the actual episode), and he already asked the key questions: "is this the Doctor's prison?" and "are there any other prisoners?"
Man.. You have no idea how long I've wanted you to check out this episode. This is the peak of Doctor Who for so many.
for me this is the best episode of doctor who ever made, cinematography, acting and music all firing on all cylinders
Everyone can have their favourite, but objectively, as a piece of art, Heaven Sent is by far Doctor Who's greatest creation.
It's already been said SO many times in the comments, and will most likely be said ad infinitum, but this is the BEST episode of Doctor Who and Capaldi is the BEST Doctor!
Definitely agree, one of - if not THE best - Doctor Who episode of all time.
Have you ever considered watching in your own time or reacting to Legend of the Galactic Heroes? From your reactions, from FMA: B to DW to EVA to Monster it seems you like powerful philosophically explorative stories with meaningful, multifaceted themes and commentaries. LotGH just seems perfect, I would love to hear your discussions on all of the ideas the series puts forward.
I waited for this for so long! Thanks for your amazing reactions!
I'm so glad you loved this as much as I did. I am in full agreement with your assessment of it as the best DW episode ever made. It's a sad but beautiful exploration of grief and the Doctor's character. As for what you said at the end, all I suggest us just watch her first episode and see what you think. Every reactor is told "you're going to hate this," and then goes on to be deeply confused about what they were supposed to hate about it. Is it my favourite era? No, but it's all part of the story.
Even though the Twelfth Doctor had his own theme ("A Good Man"), for me his theme will always be "The Shepherd's Boy". It crops up later as well (no spoilers!) Just Murray Gold perfection.
Glad you enjoyed it! Probably my favourite episode since Doctor Who returned.
What is sad is that he is just one day into his grief. Keep this in mind going into the next episode.
This is a really good episode and it'll be interesting to see your view on the finale. I feel like a bunch of people don't really understand it or maybe were expecting something else but didn't like it didn't go that way. I'm not saying it's wrong to hate the episode, because it actually isn't, but still...
Trust me, I had those on it upon the original broadcast. I found the episode ok, but it was quite a bit of a letdown after the two proceeding episodes. However, after rewatching the Capaldi era before the 2016 special, I ended up seeing 12 and Clara's arcs in a new light and not only how many seeds were planted but also how much it makes sense that 'Hell Bent' went the way it did.
Finally. The finest Doctor Who episode in all of time and space is here.
The music for this episode is one of my top tracks. Murray Gold magic. Capaldi brilliance.
Brilliant review of a masterpiece of an episode.
I watched this episode when it first aired and it is still my favourit episode. There is no other for me not even close.
Yes it’s here!! 😁
Love this episode. I think it deserves the reputation it receives.
YESSS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!! GREATEST EPISODE OF ALL TIME
Just woke up and I see this notification! Oh boy!
Here we go, just about to watch, this is the (imo) best episode of Doctor who to air.
Some people see punching the wall as a metaphor for overcoming grief, while the episode is undoubtedly about grief, I dont interpret it as overcoming it, rather the opposite. Imagine having to relive a loved ones death countless times and never being able to come to terms with it. Like grief impacted. I think the doctor punching the wall is just his sheer dogged determination to avenge Clara's death and a kind of self imposed punishment for the guilt he feels over it. Amazing episode and a great reaction btw.
Couldn't say it better. So many people applaud this episode for reasons that aren't true and yet are angry when the next episode acts like he didn't just overcome grief. Er, that's because he actually didn't. Plus, both episodes are written by Moffat, so I'm pretty sure he knew what he was doing.
That’s exactly what I thought too!
This episode is my favourite episode of the show. I used to say Midnight or Turn Left were my favourite, but this episode is truly amazing. Truly Moffat's magnum opus, a perfect feat of writing, performance, directing, production, and some of Murray Gold's best work. This one of those episodes you don't hear about unless you follow the discussions of the fandom a lot and don't mind spoilers, but it isn't one you tend to hear beyond Day of the Doctor. So glad you got so caught off guard by this episode, because it is exactly what you were saying you hoped for after Face the Raven - Capaldi on his own, grieving Clara, outdoing every other performance in the show's history. Perfection is the only description this deserves
I loved seeing this for the first time on tv:)
I've waited two billion years for this reaction. Haha jokes aside, this is one of the greatest episodes of Doctor Who. It's an incredible piece of television. From the writing, directing, acting, music, everything is perfection IMO. This is no doubt a top 3 episode for me!
I didnt think I would feel the way I did after watching this episode for the first time again but I did. There's one more episode that gave me a very similar feeling so you have that to look forward to.
could it be the doctor falls by any chance?🤔😂
the one before that. @@alexford4755
Great reaction, so much so that i have immediatly become a patreon and will now watch all your DW reactions :)
yep every aspect of this is the show at its best. i go back and forth between this and the next one as the best of the show. maybe sad to say but i think the show will never top the end of the series 9.
Exactly. Although I do love the Series 10 finale and there's a nice amount of good/great episodes in 12 and 13's eras, 'Face the Raven/Heaven Sent/Hell Bent' is outstanding.
One of my favourite episodes and have to say your predictions and commentary were spot on throughout!
An amazing episode, one of my favourite episodes, if not the favourite...the acting, the score, the cinematography, the story, just brilliant!!
One of the greatest hours in the history of television.
Absolutely with out a doubt my favorite episode of Doctor Who.
RE your feelings of not experiencing this like you did for the first time:
You are not alone. It's one of the reasons I watch reactions at all: to vicariously experiance something close to my own.
RE the cycles:
there is a little bit of a friendly debate on whether the Doctor experiances the full breadth of the time he was stuck. I'm curious, with your analytical take, how do you interpret the breadth of time.
For my own part, I do think he eventually remembers each loop. There's a moment near the end where he is breaking down wanting to just lose and he says something like, "I can remember it all. Every time. And you'll still be gone. Whatever I do, you still won't be there.".
The wording of it, while it didn't register at the time for my first time watch, makes me think that he eventually remembers, like something of his memory gets transferred. Either by the burning or maybe because how the confession dial works?
Idk how but it really works for me.
EDIT: nvm, you did share your thoughts on it. (I jot down my thoughts when I have then in the video so I don't forget).
RE are you able to watch the 60th specials without seeing Jodie's run:
In honesty we don't know yet but it's highly unlikely.
I can't say why or say for sure, but it's unlikely.
You could choose to watch it but it might spoil some things. Which imo is Valid, I am not a cannon purist. But I don't think you'll be able to for your purposes.
you certainly watched the best capaldi episode, and to me (so far) the best doctor who episode, even though there are some episodes that came close.
About Jody's run, if you skip it, fine by me, but I hope you'll find one hour and a half, to watch the last episode 'The Power of The Doctor', just to get the taste of what Jody was like, and also - for me - she got the most beautiful/unique regeneration (not meaning of what happens next cause thàt you already do know) and I'm glad she got at least that.
Love to all my Doctors but fact is, Peter is the GOAT.
I'd say:
1. Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead
2. Blink
3. Heaven Sent
Vincent and the Doctor is beautiful.
imo
1. Heaven Sent
2. Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways
3. Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead
4. The God Complex
5. The Doctor's Wife
I HAVE WAITED FOR THIS EPISODE FOR SO LONG
I don't watch / haven't seen Doctor Who except for a few episodes here and there, but I still always watch your reactions to it cuz of how much I like your content. However, I watched this full episode after watching your reaction and hearing what you had to say. I must say even with knowing everything, it was a really fantastic experience ^^
Makes me want to go back and actually fully check out some of the episodes you mentioned in your discussion ^^'
In your reaction to the series 8 episode "Listen", I mentioned Moffat challenged himself during the Capaldi era to push for one experimental episode per series. Listen was that episode for series 8, Heaven Sent was that episode for series 9. But even then Heaven Sent stands above the rest. There's so much to unpack it's hard to know where to start.
I definitely recommend looking up "The Shepherd's boy" which is the name of the track which plays over the montage of the continuous looping. When you rewatch the episode, you may notice parts of the score in the rest of the episode is hinting at/building up to that specific track.
I just saw this episode for the first time a few days ago. As much as I enjoyed the episode, I wish I wasn't spoiled about the Doctor and the Confession Dial. At first I had another place in mind, but as soon as he said 'confession' I remembered what I had heard about the Confession Dial. Still didn't dissipate the sadness I felt towards the Doctor
I wouldn't say it's the best, there are sooo many good episodes with great moments at the end like this one. But this is one of the most badass ones, when you realize. Every loop is about a single day long, cause we seem him sitting and eating once for 1 meal, but no more nor sleeping if I remember, so each loop is like, only a few hours long. But he's done SO MANY of those loops, that millions, and BILLIONS of years have past inside of the prison. But every single loop he keeps moving on, no matter that it's been long.
Has to be longer than one day. Besides having to explore the many rooms (to find 12) , when he is dying he thinks it will take him a day and a half to (painfully) crawl back to the top of the tower.
@@mmattson8947 Even if it's a single week, it's still a LOT of reincarnations to do. for 2 billion+ years to have passed in that world.
Just amazing. And a great, great reaction!
Personally, I think that's a hell of a bird.
With regard to the TARDIS being home - many people consider home to be the place where their family resides, where they have lived the most of their experiences, not necessarily where they were born. So to me it makes sense that the TARDIS is home. He loves the TARDIS, and the overwhelming majority of his experiences have taken place inside that he couldn’t think of home as anywhere else.
With regard to the 60th… I missed most of the next season as I felt the writing really dropped off. I watched the first few episodes of Jody’s run, but again, the writing just wasn’t there. But I am looking forward to the 60th, and I imagine that since viewership was down for Jody, the story won’t revolve around anything that happened during her run. David will draw in the viewers and the last thing the producers want will be to have viewers being confused as to what is happening with the story.
But if we think about it, the specials are always standalone stories that don’t need further explanation. Yes, a viewer can delve further into the story, but within each episode the story itself makes sense for a person who has never seen the show. That in and of itself is quite impressive given the level of storytelling involved.
you guessed it so quickly! :-)
My favourite story in Doctor Who with nobody in it except my favourite Doctor this Episode was perfect from the music editing the actor the storytelling just beautifull. But my favourite Capaldi season is still to come I know it's not a popular opinion but next season just did something to me which i will explain once youre there cause I don't want to spoil anything
This one is an utter masterpiece, and a joint favourite episode of the show for me - not that there isn't more to enjoy, there are episodes to come that astound me and impress me almost as much.
My favourite thing about all of Murray Gold's work is the genius use of leitmotifs that span back years and work their way up to this point. Listening to these tracks in order really shows the genius storytelling going on in the music...
1. Altering Lives: There is a track called 'Altering Lives' that is first heard in The Waters of Mars titled 'Altering Lives', which is heard as the Doctor and Adelaide discuss fixed points/saving someone when you can't save everyone - the Doctor directly refers to Pompeii, which was of course when Donna spurred him into saving a certain Capaldi-faced man.
2. This Time There's Three of Us: A variation on the track titled 'This Time There's Three of Us' plays during The Day of the Doctor, over the barn scene where Clara helps to convince the Doctor to save what is left of his people and his home. The first half of this track is distinctly a retread of 'Altering Lives'; we're then given a middle segment that would later be the opening bars of 'The Shepherds Boy', and the remainder of the track is a variation of 'I Am The Doctor'. So this scene is another all about saving someone when you can't save everyone, and incidentally it's the very first time we get a (very brief) glimpse of the Twelfth Doctor.
3. In A Way She's A Hybrid: The 'Altering Lives' leitmotif recurs in a track called 'In A Way She's a Hybrid', which plays over the closing moments of The Girl Who Died. Once again this is about the Twelfth Doctor saving someone - it's where he has his big revelation about where his face came from, he remembers Pompeii vividly, and explicitly remarks that he's the Doctor and he saves people. This piece plays as he saves Ashildr, then over the timelapse sequence where we see a visualisation of her immortality. The relevance of this? Saving Ashildr is what eventually leads to Clara being killed, leading into Heaven Sent.
4. The Shepherd's Boy: the 'Altering Lives' motif is completely gone here, which narratively makes sense - it's a theme about saving people, and in Heaven Sent the Doctor is consumed by the grief of having lost Clara. 'The Shepherd's Boy' instead starts with that tiny little segment heard back in 'This Time There's Three of Us'... which was a special moment for the Doctor where Clara convinced him to save Gallifrey. The track then uses this as it's entire baseline, escalating into the dramatic and climatic piece that it is.
Listen to Altering Lives, This Time There's Three of Us, In A Way She's A Hybrid, and The Shepherd's Boy, and you go on the journey of the Twelfth Doctor and everything he stands for. Amazing stuff (and there's a bit more to this musical narrative that crops up a bit later which I won't spoil).
I can't even count the amount of times that I have gone back and rewatched "Face the Raven", "Heaven Sent", and "Hell Bent" as their own perfect trilogy. Even the non-fans of Doctor Who that I've shown those episodes to have raved about the storytelling, acting, and overall production of those three episodes. I genuinely think that those three as a whole (and I truly believe that they need to be talked about as a whole) are absolutely the best that Doctor Who has to offer as a self contained story as well as a culmination of everything that had come before.
Yeah, I very much agree and I don't understand why these episodes are classed as 'standalone' when they're not. To me, it feels like the Series 3 finale, where we have a typical adventure for the Doctor (Utopia-Face the Raven) yet its final moments reveal the episode to be connected to the final two in a surprise twist (The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords-Heaven Sent/Hell Bent).
I usually skip hell bent because i don’t like it but it’s clearly meant to be a three parter
When this first aired, I missed the crucial piece of dialogue explaining when he remembers during each iteration. Confused and irritated me no end until I eventually caught it during a rewatch. I also missed the beginning, I came in just as he materialises. 😂
This is for the ppl who disliked Capaldi as the doctor…sure Tennant had a more consistent run of episodes or seasons, sure Matt smith hit the ground running with a great first season…but Capaldi’s era nailed the characters, Capaldi is the best written version of the doctor in nuwho, things ppl forget is that story writing isn’t the same thing as character writing and while David’s era was more consistent when it came to the episodes, Capaldis era was a lot better with the character writing, they nailed the character of the doctor, he has a damn character arc for Christ sake as well as some of the most character defining speeches in nuwho plus he’s the best actor to ever play the role. Missy also has a great character arc as well as Clara(I know alot of ppl don’t like her but she’s well written) and Bill
My personal favorite episode
I'm not sure if you're aware, but your Doctor Who playlist is in reverse order (except that 1x1 is second to last instead of last). I enjoyed this reaction and decided to watch the rest, and discovered the order problem. I'll probably still watch them but it means I'll have to manually pick each episode after watching the previous one, which adds friction and might turn away some potential viewers.
It’s a beautiful episode
Favorite episode of Doctor Who right there 🥹