Face The Raven was certainly a momentous episode and while it wasn't the penultimate episode of Doctor Who series nine, it followed the grand tradition of stories like Utopia and Turn Left, which started as self-contained episodes before leading directly into the series finale. Even on its own it stands as a great episode; a Neverwhere-meets Harry Potter secret Trap Street in the heart of London, filled with aliens all seeking sanctuary. The return of Ashildr / Me, more mysterious than ever. The deadly Raven sent to steal your soul when the numbers on your neck counted down to zero. And of course the dramatic death of long-serving companion Clara Oswald a whole two weeks earlier than her expected departure. And with Ashildr's trap for the Doctor and Clara's death there are many questions going into Steven Moffat's latest series finale. Just what does this episode mean for the ending of Doctor Who series nine?
9. Who Is Ashildr / Me Working For?
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Ashildr or Me as she now goes by dissapeared from sight in the 1800s and either founded or worked her way up to become mayor of the secret alien sanctuary in the heart of London. For two centuries it appears to have lasted; aliens finding sanctuary from persecution (and the Doctor). We saw an ice warrior, a Judoon, a Sontaran and even a Cyberman living out their lives in peace. But something must have changed that of late to make to make Mayor Me work for the person or thing seeking to control the Doctor. Something or someone must have threatened the sanctuary, forcing her to set a trap for the Doctor. She couldn't overtly call him, she needed a mystery to entice him and that was where poor Rigsy came in and inadvertantly how Clara met her grisly fate. But who was she working for? We have a 45-minute solo performance by Peter Capaldi in next week's Heaven Sent so we probably won't get the answer into the series finale Hell Bent.