2nd Opinion: Hell Bent
David Selby and Connor Johnston give their verdicts on the Series 9 finale.
David’s Verdict
My initial impressions are that I sense that almost everyone who was conflicted about this episode is going to end up loving it. It is the default position of uncertain fans to opt for a positive stance. And why not? It makes perfect sense. I’ve done the same for many similar episodes, such as last year’s Kill the Moon, which these days I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate despite its flaws.
Unfortunately, I will not be one of those people with regards to Hell Bent, because I have not been able to reach a position quite as generous as uncertainty. I will never be able to sit through this episode comfortably as long as I watch it, and it was a deeply unsatisfying end to an otherwise superlative series of Doctor Who.
With that said, I’m not so blinkered as to be unable to see what the episode did well. Thematically speaking, it was solid, continuing with the idea that Clara is becoming increasingly like the Doctor and bringing it to a literal end where they both form a hybrid and end up, essentially, as the same person. It should also be noted that none of the issues here are because people are out of character. Clara’s ending is very in-character. The Doctor’s decision to save her is in-character. And Me is, as ever, eminently watchable.
No, the real issue here is that the narrative should never have let the characters reach this point in the first place. What was the point in returning to Gallifrey for a story not even remotely concerned with it, in the end? “Get off my planet” was, hands down, spine-tingling. Leaving Gallifrey for the entire second half wasn’t.
Why did the Doctor have to forget Clara? If Moffat were opting for a happier, more uplifting ending, it didn’t work – for me at least. As Me highlighted, Clara’s death in Face the Raven was at once beautiful and sad. Clara will still have to face this death eventually – one element of the episode I actually appreciated – but now the Doctor won’t remember her. He won’t be able to talk about her for years to come and about how she saved him. It’s heart-breaking, but in a less poignant and more crushing way than it was before.
So to be absolutely clear, the issue isn’t that Clara got her own TARDIS, or even, fundamentally, that the Doctor had to forget her. It’s that the entire thing undercuts the final moments between Clara and the Doctor in Face the Raven. One of two things should have been different about this series. Either Clara should not have died in Face the Raven – thus making Hell Bent less of a retcon and more of a straightforwardly satisfying companion departure without the baggage of what came before – or Clara should have not returned from Face the Raven and Hell Bent should have been about the Doctor conquering Gallifrey as promised.
And of course I’ll understand why people love this. I can see why this might be your cup of tea. But for me it’s a nuisance of an ending that undercuts my favourite companion exit story ever, and nothing can be done to change it. And again I’m left with the frustration that, whatever wonderful poetic intentions and potentials for meta-writing come out of this, Moffat just cannot leave a good death in peace.
But hey, at least the Doctor is keeping the velvet jacket.
Connor’s Verdict
Per Aspera, Ad Astra… Through hardships, to the stars.
It’s no secret that Steven Moffat’s Doctor Who finales have differed quite dramatically from his predecessor’s in the fact that they’ve always been more reflective and character focused. “Heaven Sent” and “Hell Bent” are no exception, once again not circling around an invasion or specific villain to overcome – but more specifically on the grieving process of the Doctor. From its premise to the execution the story is incredibly intimate while still achieving the level of scale and consequence one would expect from a finale, revolving around the concept of ‘A Duty of Care’ which motivates both the Doctor’s actions but also that of his best friend: Clara Oswald. While the episode is brilliantly decorated with Gallifrey’s return and the mystery of the Hybrid, ultimately the aim of the plot was never to attempt tackling something such as triumphant and significant as the Time Lords’ re-emergence into the universe because the narrative understands that such a plot requires a level of investment over time. The finale carries the sophisticated, gritty and unpredictable method of storytelling that has become somewhat of a norm all series; and consequentially produces one of the strongest and most rewarding conclusions to a series in the last decade
From a construction point of view, the creation of the episode is totally without fault. Rachel Talalay truly has been Heaven Sent when it comes to directors, and much like her previous credits for the show, “Hell Bent” effortlessly pulls of the scale of a cinematic masterpiece fuelled firstly and foremost by an intense atmosphere. Visually she captures the scale of Gallifrey with ease to produce an epic result, as well as appropriately recognising to adapt a more intimate approach for the episode’s character focused moments. The entire episode is realised beautifully, and unlike some other episodes this year feels and looks completely new in terms of environment. Murray Gold admittedly takes more of a conventional role in scoring the episode after his standout contributions to both “Face the Raven” and “Heaven Sent” – but still presents a solid and reliable soundtrack with particular highlights including a stunning variation of the Ninth Doctor’s theme and the return of the energetic “Kill the Moon” theme – striking parallels to another episode where Clara and the Doctor’s future together revolved solely on an impossible choice.
Ashildr’s role throughout the series has continued to evolve with each appearance, with “Hell Bent” offering yet another dimension to her constantly developing character. Despite not being born biologically immortal like the Time Lords or the Sisterhood of Karn, I couldn’t help but reflect on how fitting Ashildr’s survival as one of the last women in the universe suited her character’s journey so well. Where the Sisterhood of Karn or the Time Lords observe the universe from a distance, Ashildr in her endless life is forced to engage with it; living through battles and famine and gaining real experience – and as such the means of which to outlive and survive. In addition, the finale shines in being the initial steps towards Gallifrey’s complete resurrection and is extremely rewarding. I mentioned before how the atmosphere of the episode relied so heavily on the intensity of the Doctor’s dynamic with his fellow Time Lords, and it’s a testament to the entire creative team and specifically the performances of Capaldi, Sumpter, Miller, Bones and Higgins that it works so well. The Doctor’s overthrowing of Rassilon’s power using only his reputation and confidence is a remarkably powerful scene and remains one of the strongest of the episode.
The regeneration of the General is one that works on so many levels. On one hand it works perfectly to illustrate how the extent of which the Doctor has lost himself and his values to his grief, and on the other it further canonised the unbiased and gender fluid nature of Gallifrey’s society. The notion of being gender fluid or going through a transitioning of genders isn’t a foreign idea in the world of Doctor Who – and more importantly it’s not a foreign idea in our own modern society. In refusing to accept it, what one is actually doing is refusing to accept it as a reality both internally and externally of the show. Doctor Who has always been used as a tool to mould public perception to the side of just causes, here depicting a society who we can only hope to mirror in its understanding and value of equality and understanding. It’s definitely quite refreshing that though there are those who would seek to hold our society back with their conservative and often discriminative viewpoints, it seems that both Doctor Who and the modern world are leaving them behind.
The revelation behind the Hybrid being a product of the Doctor and Clara’s dangerously close relationship is incredibly original and refreshingly unconventional in terms of major arc reveals. The twist bases itself on the emotional trauma of the Doctor and Clara up until this point and is made apparent though a striking revelation regarding the precautions that, for the sake of the universe and the Doctor’s maintained morality – need to be taken. While some may contend that the memory wipe strikes strong parallels to the demise of Donna Noble in Series 4, it’s important to note the key differences including the way the Doctor’s respect for Clara remains untouched as he elects never to force her into said situation without her consent. Furthermore the extent to which the memories are forgotten are not as extreme – with the Doctor still remembering the adventures and impact Clara Oswald has had on had on his life, the wipe only necessary in softening the pain the Doctor has been foreshadowing the entire series. With the revelation that it is Clara who has maintained her knowledge the entirety of the Diner scenes become so much more profound and powerful in hindsight. For the departing companion, the narrative allows her one last opportunity to save the Doctor from his own destructiveness, after doing so in “Name of the Doctor”, “Day of the Doctor” and countless other examples.
Of course this leads discussion towards the main emotional crux of the episode being the true nature of Clara’s exit. As someone who felt utterly rewarded with both the circumstances of and actions leading to Clara’s death, I can safely say that I had approached any extension to said conclusion with a decent amount of hesitation and caution. In spite of this worry however, I found myself leave “Hell Bent” surprisingly feeling even more fulfilled and rewarded than before.
The impact the events of “Hell Bent” have on “Face the Raven” will undoubtedly vary from person to person, but ultimately it depends on one’s personal interpretation as to where the value and tragedy of Clara’s death originated. Admittedly an aspect of her death that is altered is the fact that she had died with so much life left to live, with the conclusion of “Hell Bent” offering her an extended opportunity for adventure. However this remains one of the only factors her pseudo-return slightly diminishes. The shock, brutality and poetic irony of her demise still remain as much for the audience who had to witness and absorb it as it was for Doctor himself. Her actions leading to her death remain as reckless, compassionate and brave as they ever did in “Face the Raven” as too do the character development her decisions bookend because they were never made with the knowledge of what comes ahead. Above all the inescapability of her death also endures, as does the sense of consequence given that it remains one of the key reasons that she is separated from the Doctor indefinitely.
The extension to Clara’s adventures is uplifting in the way it ends her appearances on a triumphant note, but also is bittersweet in the fact that no matter what, her journeys are limited and will always conclude with her death on Trap Street. Furthermore it establishes a perfect final dimension to the ongoing character arc of Clara becoming alike the Doctor – now strengthening that comparison in the way that Trap Street has become Clara’s personal Trenzalore. Like the Doctor she takes advantage of her opportunity of a farewell tour without denying the reality of her situation. “In the book of Clara’s life, she continues to write an infinite story between the two final words, just before her final heartbeat. A finished tale and a never-ending journey through space and time…. Of course the story of Clara Oswald would be bigger on the inside.” Perhaps the most moving element of Clara’s complete departure is that whether it be in “Face the Raven” or “Hell Bent” – her final message to the Doctor still withstands: Be a Doctor.
And so we reach the end…
Series 9 has officially come to an end – but what a series it has been! Throughout 12 episodes we have laughed, cried (A LOT) and been totally immersed in the continuing adventures of the Doctor and Clara Oswald. We’ve fought the Daleks on Skaro, stunted a Zygon revolution on Earth, outsmarted a ghostly threat from across time, discovered trap streets, saved a frightened young girl from death, witnessed the toll immortality takes on a woman, battled against the Sandmen in deep space and finally returned to Gallifrey; only to steal a TARDIS and run away again. Driven by profound storytelling and exceptional performances; this series has been one of the boldest, most ambitious and utterly rewarding line up of episodes we’ve ever seen. In my personal affection, Peter Capaldi’s second series has claimed the top spot among its predecessors in terms of strength and quality – and will not be a run seldom forgotten. Congratulations to the Doctor Who team – specifically Steven Moffat, Jenna Coleman and of course Peter Capaldi – on yet another extraordinary series, with the slate wiped clean just in time for Christmas!
Per Aspera, Ad Astra!
