Doctor Who - In Defense Of Hell Bent: Why It Doesn’t Ruin Face The Raven And Heaven Sent
After the one-two punch of Face the Raven and Heaven Sent, Hell Bent was more than up to the task.
Series 9 finale Hell Bent is possibly the most polarising episode of Doctor Who to have aired during the 2005 revival.
Hot on the heels of the fantastic one-two punch of Face the Raven and Heaven Sent – which explore the death of companion Clara Oswald, and how the Twelfth Doctor handles this loss – the finale had a tough act to follow. Take a look at any forum and you'd find fans who would argue that in traditional fashion, the finale was a masterpiece until a certain showrunner ‘Moffated it up’. Whilst writing impactful, satisfying finales has never been Steven Moffat’s strong suit (see The Wedding of River Song, The Name of the Doctor, and Death in Heaven), I firmly believe that Hell Bent is not just a fantastic finale, but also the perfect culmination to Twelve and Clara’s two series arc. Here’s why.
Over the course of these three episodes, Twelve transitions through the seven stages of grief. He does not complete this journey until the closing moments of the series, meaning that by removing Hell Bent, his recovery would be incomplete. The events on Gallifrey don't undermine Clara’s death, but rather punctuate it, giving a realistic and refreshing perspective on what a man who wields as much power as the Doctor would do to save those he loves. Let's explore each stage.