10 Greatest Modern Doctor Who Episodes

Heaven Sent is one of the most unique episodes in Doctor Who's 60-year run. All the usual hallmarks of the show are stripped away. No TARDIS. No companion. No campy alien or colourful planet. And yet, it works.

It's important for shows that have run for as long as Doctor Who has to experiment and push their boundaries. This might result in something divisive like Sleep No More, but it can also result in a diamond. Many will argue that Heaven Sent is Steven Moffat's magnum opus, and that's because he was bold enough to take a swing with the show he adored.

It's much darker than audiences have come to expect from Doctor Who, but this allows for an exploration of grief and loss that's both compelling and harrowing in equal measure. Peter Capaldi carries the episode on his back and gives one of his greatest performances as the Doctor, and one of the greatest performances of any Doctor ever.

The Groundhog day structure could've got really old really fast, but accompanied by Murray Gold's clever score that ramps up as the episode progresses, plus Moffat's ability to drip-feed you just enough answers and new information to keep you hooked, it never does.

This culminates in a staggering montage sequence that, fun fact, was comprised of several minor variations of the same shots in order to make each cycle feel slightly different (more about that in the video linked above).

Heaven Sent had already secured its place as an all-timer Doctor Who episode, but its barn-storming final reel elevated it to a great piece of sci-fi television, full stop.