Same here... God, if Moffatt would put this same sort of skill into EVERY episode he writes, the he would be the GREATEST showrunner in ALL of Doctor Who's history. He USED to write this good every time... What happened? THIS is the kind of episode we need MORE of! :D
+Christopher Althouse Heaven Sent was a perfect episode that shows that Moffat still can write good stories and Capaldi was amazing in this episode. Just a shame Hell Bent kind of ruined it a bit. I've got a notion that Steven Moffat is the Frank Miller of Doctor Who and Heaven Sent and Hell Bent are the best examples of this notion of mine.
I feel that 'Keep It Simple, Stupid!' should become the new motto for Doctor Who. 45 min episodes do not provide enough run-time for the complex plots that Classic Who used to do at times, Colin Baker's first season should be proof enough of that. Russell T. Davies had some of the most simplistic episodes ever during his run and a lot of them were just BEAUTIFUL! Let's go back to simple, simple WORKS! 'Heaven Sent' will go down in history as the BEST episode of NuWho EVER and it's simplicity is why that will be the case... :)
+Christopher Althouse "45 min episodes do not provide enough run-time for the complex plots that Classic Who used to do at times, Colin Baker's first season should be proof enough of that". I don't follow - Colin's stories were all multi-parters.
This is honestly one of my all time favorite episode, and even IF I was in the camp that hated Hell Beng (which I'm not) I don't think it could've made THIS episode work any worse even if it only tried, this one works so well in a vacuum. I actually think I like it MORE than Scherzo. Scherzo was one of those things that's brilliantly written, but just less my personal cup of tea.
Don't get me wrong, I'd still give Scherzo a 10/10, but something about the fact that it's all set in a white featureless void and involves self-cannibalism and has so much melodrama and is so long makes it too much morosity for me to completely enjoy in one sitting.
Thanks for the rabbits, however Singing in the Rain had me imagining the rabbits bursting into my home and beating me up for no good reasons. Can't wait to see your take on Hell Bent.
Giorgio 1998 Hell Bent pissed all over the rest of the season, what little Clara ever had as a character and most if not all of established Doctor Who canon
Also....I think you'd be surprised to what kids can handle - or rather, how much better they are at accepting stuff like this than adults. I mean, both the Brothers Lionheart and Moomin novels are for kids. It's not kids that fear grief or death, mainly because (as I recall) it's so goddamn abstract in that point in life, no matter how clearly the reality of it is explained. So I wouldn't worry about this one. It's all down to how it's done.
I can't believe that Moffat spent 5 years writing progressively worse drivel, only to come out with this master piece, and then immediately return to writing drivel.
The reason people got pissed at "Don't cremate me" was because the idea is worth its own universe or story collection, simply throwing it into an episode of the show that'll be resolved within 40 minutes just feels shallow and morbid for its own sake. Heaven Sent here is the culmination of two Seasons of build-up and resolved in a way that makes perfect sense and creates a brutal, horrifying, and yet uplifting piece of fiction- on the other hand, "Missy used magic to do a shittier version of Miracle Day somehow" is definitely not satisfying or thought-provoking. Being dark for the sake of being dark is not admirable and there are times watching through these old reviews where I feel like Stu just wants to watch a SAW movie starring the Doctor. I hated Moffat's Dracula for the reasons I listed above btw, just teenage tier slasher movie shenanigans.
I scrolled all the way down to find this comment. I knew I couldn't be the only person. I secretly hope that it is sneaky bit of snark that Stubagful intentionally included (so us morose and depressing types could be amused in our own weird way).
I'm watching this one before your Hell Bent review and thinking how much you are going to hate it because you are literally complaining about everything that Hell Bent is and praising everything that Hell Bent is not. I hate Hell Bent.
8 years later I still think it’s probably the best episode. Probably also one of the most entertaining and interesting things I’ve seen on tv in years.
Part of Hell Bent sucking so much is how awesome this one was And now we are at the threshold of what i believe will be my favourite TV episode of yours review (cause i have a knack for the Big Finish ones)
I preferred this one, because every other time Moffat has written the Doctor doing something impressive it has always been because he is so great and powerful and smart; he could just wink at a Dalek army and they'd run away; whereas with this one he was only able to achieve his goal through billions of years of perseverance and sacrifice. This feat was impressive, not because of the feat itself, but because of what was required to achieve it.
I enjoyed this one, too. I liked that the format & tone was very much like the Myst PC games. The only problem is, it's a repeat of last season - Moffat writes a somewhat decent to good story for part 1, when totally flops with part 2.
I loved this one so much, not even the atrocity that was Hell Bent could ruin it for me. If Moffat could just write an episode half as good as this next season, I'd be satisfied. Just one please, since asking for a whole good season is too much apparently.
@@mr.randomguys7629 Agreed, I also really loved most of the Doctor Falls, I think it sort of falls apart in the last 10 minutes, but everything up until, SPOILERS: The Doctor nearly dies in the forest, is perfect
I always wondered how the doctor put that big hole in the wall he must have started punching in one spot then started hitting really high above him and maybe kicking under him (so the veil can get through)
Im really glad you enjoyed the episode! I thought it was amazing when I watched it, such a breath of fresh air, in that a Steven Moffat script didn't suck ahha
i hope 1 year we get a full season with just the doctor. like some other cast but i mean, the doctor without a companion. really the companion is just there so that instead of the doctor looking directly at the camera and saying what he did, the companion asks him what he did, and the doctor tells him/her. but honestly they broke the wall several times before. The Dalek Master Plan: the first doctor wishes the viewer a merry Christmas at the end of the episode. The Invasion Of Time: the fourth doctor looks directly at the audience and says that the sonic screwdriver won't be able to help him in the current situation. Remembrance Of The Daleks: when the seventh doctor and Ace are in 1963 (the year doctor who started), we hear a voice in BBC studios saying that it's time for the new si-fi tv series: "do-" before we cut to thee next scene. Attack Of The Grask: the tenth doctor invites the viewer on board and sends him/her on a mission. Music Of The Spheres: the tenth doctor makes a portal to the real world. Before The Flood: the twelfth doctor tells the viewer a story about the bootstrap paradox before playing the doctor who theme song on his guitar at the beginning of the episode. and at the end of the episode he shrugs at the audience when Clara seems confused about the bootstrap paradox. Heaven Sent: the twelfth doctor says he's nothing without an audience while glancing at the audience. not to mention a gazillion other times characters glance or stare or wink at the camera. and also they can just have the doctor talking to himself the whole time.
while i respectfully disagree on what you said about Listen, you NAILED this episode. i know u made this video a while back, but keep up the good work. glad to see someone reviewing DW who doesnt just moan for the sake of it, your grievances more often than not have ACTUAL REASONING behind them. too many videos are just OMG THATS AWESUMBALLZ or THIS IS SHIT COS I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT OMFGZ. good stuff.
*sigh* This episode was the best of the season. But sadly I knew where it was going basically from the get go (the old painting and the person dying before he teleported in were dead giveaways. The skulls just confirmed my thoughts. I still loved the, acting, writing, and theme/mood.
I do agree completely though with this sentiment that Doctor Who should be dark and mature, and it should be moving forward. One of my biggest issues with the new series (which I call the reboot series as it is a more apt name) in general is that it seems to be rebooting itself every few years, and too often it tries to emulate Tom Baker's era, as if that is the only kind of Who era possible. That is why I really love this second Moffat golden era as I call it, aka Series 9. First of all, it doesn't do the normal route of rebooting for a new doctor and new companion just so that it's easy for newcomers to jump into the show. It's clearly a continuing narrative from Smith's era, in spite of the change in tone. Secondly, most of the plots are complex. It's not just Doctor vs. monsters; it has some complex time travel or ethical dilemma that must be solved by the Doctor actually doing something intelligent, as opposed to technobabble/sonic screw driver creating an easy conclusion. The fact it has complex storytelling and addresses mature issues makes it imo some of the best Doctor Who ever. These are the qualities that made Terrance Dicks my favorite script editor and the Jon Pertwee years, imo, the best era of Doctor Who, and it is amazing to see Moffat incorporate them into his own style. I haven't seen Series 10 yet as I plan to finish watching classic who first (just saw Time and the Rani, hence my profile pic), but I hope he continued the trend for Series 10. I have seen some spoilers unfortunately so I know Classic Cybermen come back and John Simm does, but that's about it. I am excited for it, as unlike you, I genuinely believe Moffat is a brilliant writer and for the most part has written awesome stories.
I loved this episode sooooo much like this episode was so good I loved the entity and it was such a clever ending not to mention the ending showing us Galifrea for it was amazing and then hell bent came around
Not really sure if we were ever supposed to think the Clara in the mind palace was a ghost? I mean it's not like we've ever had genuine ghosts before anyway.
RTD wrote Midnight, The Parting of The Ways and Turn Left... all of them truly amazing stories. Midnight and Turn Left, in particular are fantastic stories much like Haven Sente itself... Also, Moffat wrote some of the dullest New Who episodes as showrunner, specially in season 5... both had their higher and lower moments, but they did create beautiful Doctor Who stories And yes is been 5 years, but it would still be a wrong statement in 100 years...
Love these reviews, and I agree with almost all of them. One thing about this episode. You've talked a lot about the lazy use of music to create a mood the writing is unable to produce, which I think is spot-on. But in addition to the great writing, direction, editing, etc., in this review, I think the music was fantastic, too, and a big part of why I enjoyed it. While I'm at it, at some point you discussed what makes a good mystery, that it's not just "ooh, I've got this piece of information that I'm not going to tell you about yet." I think it's more than that, though--it's when the main characters themselves don't know. And that really undermined this episode for me. So, okay, the Doctor knows what the hybrid is, but he's not going to tell us...but then at the very end of the episode he reveals the piece of information he just went through billions of deaths not to reveal? Seems like it was thrown in to create hype for the next episode, not to serve the plot of this one.
shame about the memory room that he had to use, to make the viewer go "Ah, a Moffat script". That said it was pretty good. Not midnight but definitely one of the best episodes for a fair while.
The Doctor literally breaks through hell. Like you said how could the stakes and thematic weight be any bigger than this and not be completely ridiculous.
Also, color me an idiot, but I wasn't expecting Gallifrey to be back in this particular episode. I wasn't exactly gasping in shock when it showed up or anything, but I didn't do into the story expecting we'd see it by the end.
+The Ponderer Me to. I thought they were going to come close and pull the rug out as usual. I knew Gallifrey would be the topic but bringing it back all the way, not so much. The biggest SURPRISE of next week's is the Doctor had nothing to do with them solving their own problem. Outside of that - BACK TO MOFFAT LAND!
The only thing I didn’t like in Heaven Sent was when the Doctor said the reason why he left Gallifrey wasn’t because he was bored, but that he was scared... I’m sorry but I just think that’s insulting to the character. It makes sense why he leave because of being bored.
This was my favourite episode in NuWho! The only bit that annoyed me was that is all the rooms reset, why didn't the crystal wall reset and undo the work? Seemed like a bit of a plot hole, but since it was preceded by average, and followed by appalling (in my opinion), I'm willing to let him get away with ONE thing
While I thought that there should have been an explaination for that, it didn't bother me too much. The only problems I have with heaven sent is for 1 the doctor saying he left Gallefrey because he was bored was a lie, it takes a way a main part of his character (his love to explore and admire the universe) just to insert the hybrid profercy as a replacement origin story. It's also another case of Steven Moffat rectoning doctor who lore to insert his own mark all over the show. 2 the cliffhanger, Stuart discussed this in the review, it's rather lame for a "whopper", plus why would the doctor reveal the identity of the hybrid, after keeping it so secret that he spends billions of years trapped in a castle. 3, hell bent really was a lacklustre follow up. Besides that I really liked heaven sent, an experimental episode that pays of (almost) perfectly and shows Capaldi is a brilliant actor and doctor.
Oh yeah singin in the rain is definetly gonna make me feel better and not remind me of some old genius but also deeply depressing movie with some automated fruit in the title...
The episode PLODDED for me... in a good way. Did not know where it was going or trying to accomplish. Very interesting ideas. Can we have 2 Doctor Who shows. One can be G Rated and the other one PG-13 that challenges the older viewers?
I watched this episode on TV when it aired. It was one of the first episodes my dad ever saw of the show because he just happened to not find anything more interesting at the moment so he watched it with me. Now you can guess three times who the morose hipster and who the cynical realist is. Him: So, um... This is that show you told me you really like, is it? Me: *nearly crying tears of joy because of how much i loved this episode after 4 years of not really being able to give two shits about my once favorite show anymore* YES!!! Dad:... What the fuck. Me: What did you say. Dad: Well, I didn't get it and thought it was fucking boring really. Why did you like this so much again? Me: It's an incredible, surrealist character piece about the main character grieving the death of his companion. Dad: Huh. Yeah I really should have watched that game that was on. Me: Get out. Dad: On it.
I was 7, though since it doesn't appear on our channels, I didn't get into the show until 2013 with the exception of The Big Bang, which I saw somewhere around 2010, so that's really the only nostalgic episode of Doctor Who for me.
This could be one of the greatest episodes of nu who,hell all of who but this episode is the second half of a three parter and face the raven was boring and hell bent can burn in hell however it's still a really good episode
@@frazzlesreviews5379 i think its definitly etter than any other episode in the chibnall series, but would be a very average episode if it was any other good series
*season 9 spoilers* Honestly, I think this episode was just okay. It was really well shot and had a really interesting concept, but it was weighted down by Moffat's writing and the "ghost of Clara" having such a major part. I already dislike Clara as a character, so the fact that she continued to dominate the plot of the TWO episodes to follow her death really took me out of them.
It now seems canon on the interent for doctor who fans to rant about doctor who having to have a darker side, which, for the most part, I understand. We have already seen mr space man running around and saving people from the big bad aliens which can get boring for people who want to see the expanded universe. yet for some other people, they would prefer to see mr space man running around, splerting techno babble every where and the doctor having a relationship with the conpain in question. but, instead of having these two sides of what fans want, what I want is to see these two things together. doctor who episodes now a days seems to not balance these very well as one could be fun and querky, then in the next minute, dark and mysterious. The reason why I don't go for doctor who being dark all the time is because o the scream of the shalka. this was a dark and mature thing with doctor who in it, when I thought we really should have doctor who with a dark and mature thing rapped around it. I fear most people want mr dark and mature side so much is because tv and movies are doing it to attract bigger audiances. but doctor who was never dark and mature in the first place. Its a fun sci fi drama. if doctor who balances querky and dark better in most episodes in the new series, it would make it a lot better.
I was told by one of my subscribers to watch this, purely because I made a "cynical" review of this episode. I'm going to disagree that this episode was extremely repetitive and, but you make some very good points. Your comment about verbal diarrhea is very true. I also think that the Sherlock unoriginality does frustrate me, because it makes it obviously apparent which one is superior in contemporary TV. You are also a fan of the classic series and I can't really comment because I have no interest in it. Funnily enough you are only 5 years older than myself but that's still 5 years additional to watch classic who. I find your little animations rather funny too, you look like you put a considerable amount of effort making this stuff. I don't want to be a "Please check out my content" kind of guy, but after watching this video I'd really appreciate it if you check out some of my videos, as I think we could have some interesting discussions about this kind of thing.
If inaccurate physics of Storm Trooper aiming automatically makes a Doctor Who story bad now. Does that mean Heaven Sent is automatically bad for its inaccurate physics of it is physically impossible to break a 20 feet thick barrier wall 400 times harder than diamond with bare hands? Diamonds don't corrode or decay over time and can't be broken with bare hands, so something 400 times harder than diamond won't even break for zillions of years. The only possible way to break a 20 feet thick barrier wall 400 times harder than diamond with bare hands is that you have to be stronger than the Hulk. The main problem with Heaven Sent is that everything good about it got undermined by Hell Bent. Trying to keep Heaven Sent on any best of pedestal after Hell Bent is like trying to keep Game of Thrones on the best TV show of all time pedestal after season 8.
+whovian125 I thought it could be interesting seeing how 12 and River could grieve together (River's appearance is directly after Angels Take Manhattan and 12 just lost Clara), but Hell Bent kind of ruined that so yeah.
Thank goodness you're at least capable of realizing just how good this episode was. I find all your Doctor Who reviews, even this one, far more irritating and annoying than I find even the worst episodes to be. Given that you're SO critical of everything, one might get the idea that you must be one of the greatest writers alive today, but I bet if you were to try and write an episode yourself it would turn out to be complete and utter shite Still, it can't be much fun being such a difficult guy to please, for you or anyone else.
I'm going to be 100% honest, I hate Heaven Sent. Were credit is due, the plot of trapping The Doctor to physiological torture him is a good plot, but here are My reasons why Heaven Sent is a overrated piece of shit: Reason 1) It doesn't feel like the Doctor is being physiological tormented. It feels like I'm watching a 12 year old refusing to take a math test in a castle that looks like a set for Macbeth. Reason 2) it's part 1 to the worst episode of all time Hell Bent Reason 3) The forced sympathy for Clara like a brick to the face. I didn't buy the sympathy for Clara because I found Clara to be a irredeemable bitch after Listen. Reason 4) The veil is the worst monster in Doctor Who history. A slow dead old lady cover in white towels that never stops following you unless you tell all your confessions is just stupid. The Doctor could of easily hit the veil with a shovel or a chair (The doctor is non violent crap was started by Davis). A creature that never stops following you only works if it's a stalker (like SpongeBob). The veil could of work if it was shown to have a deformed face like Magnus Greel from The Talons of Weng-Chiang. The veil could of work even better if We never seen it completely or it was a creature like Mimikyu. Reason 5) Has the problem of being over dramatic about secrets and confessions. Reason 6) Show continuity errors and things that were never clarify. Is the Doctor's worst fear the veil of that crack in Amy's bedroom? How strong is The Doctor? Reason 7) horrible slow pace and it's boring to watch Reason 8) Thought the 4 billion year thing was stupid, it's even more pointless now thanks to Hell Bent. Reason 9) The episode made itself pointless by reviling that the doctor didn't know the info that the Time Lords wanted from him. The episode became even more pointless thanks to Hell Bent. If you want to see the plot of someone being trapped and physiological tormented done much better, then watch the Farscape episode Won't get fooled again.
I know, I wrote a glowing review of a 2015 Moffat episode, I was shocked too.
Same here... God, if Moffatt would put this same sort of skill into EVERY episode he writes, the he would be the GREATEST showrunner in ALL of Doctor Who's history. He USED to write this good every time... What happened? THIS is the kind of episode we need MORE of! :D
+Christopher Althouse Heaven Sent was a perfect episode that shows that Moffat still can write good stories and Capaldi was amazing in this episode. Just a shame Hell Bent kind of ruined it a bit. I've got a notion that Steven Moffat is the Frank Miller of Doctor Who and Heaven Sent and Hell Bent are the best examples of this notion of mine.
I feel that 'Keep It Simple, Stupid!' should become the new motto for Doctor Who. 45 min episodes do not provide enough run-time for the complex plots that Classic Who used to do at times, Colin Baker's first season should be proof enough of that. Russell T. Davies had some of the most simplistic episodes ever during his run and a lot of them were just BEAUTIFUL! Let's go back to simple, simple WORKS! 'Heaven Sent' will go down in history as the BEST episode of NuWho EVER and it's simplicity is why that will be the case... :)
+Stubagful 2:15 Stu is Jesus confirmed
+Christopher Althouse "45 min episodes do not provide enough run-time for the complex plots that Classic Who used to do at times, Colin Baker's first season should be proof enough of that". I don't follow - Colin's stories were all multi-parters.
Your review of Hell Bent is going to be classic
This is honestly one of my all time favorite episode, and even IF I was in the camp that hated Hell Beng (which I'm not) I don't think it could've made THIS episode work any worse even if it only tried, this one works so well in a vacuum. I actually think I like it MORE than Scherzo. Scherzo was one of those things that's brilliantly written, but just less my personal cup of tea.
Don't get me wrong, I'd still give Scherzo a 10/10, but something about the fact that it's all set in a white featureless void and involves self-cannibalism and has so much melodrama and is so long makes it too much morosity for me to completely enjoy in one sitting.
The first minute of this episode sets the atmosphere perfectly.
Thanks for the rabbits, however Singing in the Rain had me imagining the rabbits bursting into my home and beating me up for no good reasons. Can't wait to see your take on Hell Bent.
Gorgeous piece of work. One of the greatest stories that Doctor Who ever did. And Capaldi deserved an Oscar.
Its so good to hear a heavily positive review from you Stu. Shame about Hell Bent though...
Oh dont worry Stu. Well get to see Claras face A LOT next episode (sarcasm mode off)
Hell Bent pissed all over this and Face the Raven in a really bad way.
Giorgio 1998 Hell Bent pissed all over the rest of the season, what little Clara ever had as a character and most if not all of established Doctor Who canon
Does anyone else just flatly ignore Hell Bent and have this and the Raven episode as the series finale?
My biggest grip with this episode to this day is i think heven sent and hell bent should have swaped episode names
When you showed the bunnies, I expected a sudden clip from Watership Down...
I'm broken.
Also....I think you'd be surprised to what kids can handle - or rather, how much better they are at accepting stuff like this than adults.
I mean, both the Brothers Lionheart and Moomin novels are for kids. It's not kids that fear grief or death, mainly because (as I recall) it's so goddamn abstract in that point in life, no matter how clearly the reality of it is explained.
So I wouldn't worry about this one. It's all down to how it's done.
I can't believe that Moffat spent 5 years writing progressively worse drivel, only to come out with this master piece, and then immediately return to writing drivel.
That analogy of the thoughts taking time to get through his massive brain was pretty amusing, even if I'm less Moffat negative
best season 9 episode
Denzy best Peter Capaldi episode
Quintessential Madness Agreed
its been 4 years and i still feel the same about this episode
The reason people got pissed at "Don't cremate me" was because the idea is worth its own universe or story collection, simply throwing it into an episode of the show that'll be resolved within 40 minutes just feels shallow and morbid for its own sake. Heaven Sent here is the culmination of two Seasons of build-up and resolved in a way that makes perfect sense and creates a brutal, horrifying, and yet uplifting piece of fiction- on the other hand, "Missy used magic to do a shittier version of Miracle Day somehow" is definitely not satisfying or thought-provoking. Being dark for the sake of being dark is not admirable and there are times watching through these old reviews where I feel like Stu just wants to watch a SAW movie starring the Doctor. I hated Moffat's Dracula for the reasons I listed above btw, just teenage tier slasher movie shenanigans.
'Singing in The Rain' is not that happy, anyone whose seen 'A Clockwork Orange' will know why.
I scrolled all the way down to find this comment. I knew I couldn't be the only person. I secretly hope that it is sneaky bit of snark that Stubagful intentionally included (so us morose and depressing types could be amused in our own weird way).
I'm watching this one before your Hell Bent review and thinking how much you are going to hate it because you are literally complaining about everything that Hell Bent is and praising everything that Hell Bent is not.
I hate Hell Bent.
When I first watch this I was in love, hellbent... WHY, just WHY. Okay back to Inferno.
8 years later I still think it’s probably the best episode. Probably also one of the most entertaining and interesting things I’ve seen on tv in years.
As someone who doesn't watch Sherlock the mind palace doesn't matter to me.
Part of Hell Bent sucking so much is how awesome this one was
And now we are at the threshold of what i believe will be my favourite TV episode of yours review (cause i have a knack for the Big Finish ones)
I preferred this one, because every other time Moffat has written the Doctor doing something impressive it has always been because he is so great and powerful and smart; he could just wink at a Dalek army and they'd run away; whereas with this one he was only able to achieve his goal through billions of years of perseverance and sacrifice. This feat was impressive, not because of the feat itself, but because of what was required to achieve it.
I enjoyed this one, too. I liked that the format & tone was very much like the Myst PC games.
The only problem is, it's a repeat of last season - Moffat writes a somewhat decent to good story for part 1, when totally flops with part 2.
I loved this one so much, not even the atrocity that was Hell Bent could ruin it for me. If Moffat could just write an episode half as good as this next season, I'd be satisfied. Just one please, since asking for a whole good season is too much apparently.
Well, you got your wish. World Enough and Time was great.
@@mr.randomguys7629 Agreed, I also really loved most of the Doctor Falls, I think it sort of falls apart in the last 10 minutes, but everything up until, SPOILERS:
The Doctor nearly dies in the forest, is perfect
I always wondered how the doctor put that big hole in the wall he must have started punching in one spot then started hitting really high above him and maybe kicking under him (so the veil can get through)
11:00 I'd say they did the snake - in Girl Who Died, the hallucinated snake looked SO much like the basilisk in HP&CoS
I wonder if my more tame opinion on Moffat is due to the fact I started watching earlier this year.
All of this good cheer will be spoiled by The Husbands of River Song.
Im really glad you enjoyed the episode! I thought it was amazing when I watched it, such a breath of fresh air, in that a Steven Moffat script didn't suck ahha
i hope 1 year we get a full season with just the doctor. like some other cast but i mean, the doctor without a companion. really the companion is just there so that instead of the doctor looking directly at the camera and saying what he did, the companion asks him what he did, and the doctor tells him/her. but honestly they broke the wall several times before.
The Dalek Master Plan: the first doctor wishes the viewer a merry Christmas at the end of the episode.
The Invasion Of Time: the fourth doctor looks directly at the audience and says that the sonic screwdriver won't be able to help him in the current situation.
Remembrance Of The Daleks: when the seventh doctor and Ace are in 1963 (the year doctor who started), we hear a voice in BBC studios saying that it's time for the new si-fi tv series: "do-" before we cut to thee next scene.
Attack Of The Grask: the tenth doctor invites the viewer on board and sends him/her on a mission.
Music Of The Spheres: the tenth doctor makes a portal to the real world.
Before The Flood: the twelfth doctor tells the viewer a story about the bootstrap paradox before playing the doctor who theme song on his guitar at the beginning of the episode. and at the end of the episode he shrugs at the audience when Clara seems confused about the bootstrap paradox.
Heaven Sent: the twelfth doctor says he's nothing without an audience while glancing at the audience.
not to mention a gazillion other times characters glance or stare or wink at the camera. and also they can just have the doctor talking to himself the whole time.
while i respectfully disagree on what you said about Listen, you NAILED this episode. i know u made this video a while back, but keep up the good work. glad to see someone reviewing DW who doesnt just moan for the sake of it, your grievances more often than not have ACTUAL REASONING behind them. too many videos are just OMG THATS AWESUMBALLZ or THIS IS SHIT COS I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT OMFGZ. good stuff.
I think Moffat may have seen the film Triangle, which is fine, it's a fun film.
Also, Ariosto is not a playwright - but he is wonderful.
*sigh* This episode was the best of the season. But sadly I knew where it was going basically from the get go (the old painting and the person dying before he teleported in were dead giveaways. The skulls just confirmed my thoughts. I still loved the, acting, writing, and theme/mood.
OMG, I was not expecting this at all!
Can you reupload your face the raven episode?
I wish he did I like face the raven would like to know what he thought about it
I do agree completely though with this sentiment that Doctor Who should be dark and mature, and it should be moving forward. One of my biggest issues with the new series (which I call the reboot series as it is a more apt name) in general is that it seems to be rebooting itself every few years, and too often it tries to emulate Tom Baker's era, as if that is the only kind of Who era possible. That is why I really love this second Moffat golden era as I call it, aka Series 9. First of all, it doesn't do the normal route of rebooting for a new doctor and new companion just so that it's easy for newcomers to jump into the show. It's clearly a continuing narrative from Smith's era, in spite of the change in tone. Secondly, most of the plots are complex. It's not just Doctor vs. monsters; it has some complex time travel or ethical dilemma that must be solved by the Doctor actually doing something intelligent, as opposed to technobabble/sonic screw driver creating an easy conclusion. The fact it has complex storytelling and addresses mature issues makes it imo some of the best Doctor Who ever. These are the qualities that made Terrance Dicks my favorite script editor and the Jon Pertwee years, imo, the best era of Doctor Who, and it is amazing to see Moffat incorporate them into his own style. I haven't seen Series 10 yet as I plan to finish watching classic who first (just saw Time and the Rani, hence my profile pic), but I hope he continued the trend for Series 10. I have seen some spoilers unfortunately so I know Classic Cybermen come back and John Simm does, but that's about it. I am excited for it, as unlike you, I genuinely believe Moffat is a brilliant writer and for the most part has written awesome stories.
“holy crap that was awful”
“sorry force of habit. holy crap that was awesome”
Massive snake was already done in "Girl Who Died." Also, Peter Capaldi was in every episode this series.
**Snickers**
I loved this episode sooooo much like this episode was so good I loved the entity and it was such a clever ending not to mention the ending showing us Galifrea for it was amazing and then hell bent came around
the doctor has always been based off sherlock even the master was based of sherlock (the books)
@ 9:21 ‘Cold Clammy hands’, your talking about the hands that burnt his fucking face off!
Most of the castle is set in Cardiff Castle.
Not really sure if we were ever supposed to think the Clara in the mind palace was a ghost? I mean it's not like we've ever had genuine ghosts before anyway.
"Why the fuck did you have to go and write something fucking beautiful?"
Because he's not RTD! :)
RTD wrote Midnight, The Parting of The Ways and Turn Left... all of them truly amazing stories. Midnight and Turn Left, in particular are fantastic stories much like Haven Sente itself...
Also, Moffat wrote some of the dullest New Who episodes as showrunner, specially in season 5... both had their higher and lower moments, but they did create beautiful Doctor Who stories
And yes is been 5 years, but it would still be a wrong statement in 100 years...
@@antoniocarlosgoncalvesfilho Yeah, I became an RTD fan in the five years since I wrote that comment, lul. He's actually better than Moffat.
Love these reviews, and I agree with almost all of them. One thing about this episode. You've talked a lot about the lazy use of music to create a mood the writing is unable to produce, which I think is spot-on. But in addition to the great writing, direction, editing, etc., in this review, I think the music was fantastic, too, and a big part of why I enjoyed it.
While I'm at it, at some point you discussed what makes a good mystery, that it's not just "ooh, I've got this piece of information that I'm not going to tell you about yet." I think it's more than that, though--it's when the main characters themselves don't know. And that really undermined this episode for me. So, okay, the Doctor knows what the hybrid is, but he's not going to tell us...but then at the very end of the episode he reveals the piece of information he just went through billions of deaths not to reveal? Seems like it was thrown in to create hype for the next episode, not to serve the plot of this one.
shame about the memory room that he had to use, to make the viewer go "Ah, a Moffat script".
That said it was pretty good.
Not midnight but definitely one of the best episodes for a fair while.
The Doctor literally breaks through hell. Like you said how could the stakes and thematic weight be any bigger than this and not be completely ridiculous.
8:20 Watch Gravity Falls all the way through. It's not perfect but it is more or less what you just said Doctor Who could be.
Heaven sent is my favorite episode!!!
Sad how Midnight wasn't so positively received.
4:18 - *PLEASE, EVERYONE TELL THEM THAT WE ALL LOVE IT!!!*
Also, color me an idiot, but I wasn't expecting Gallifrey to be back in this particular episode. I wasn't exactly gasping in shock when it showed up or anything, but I didn't do into the story expecting we'd see it by the end.
+The Ponderer Me to. I thought they were going to come close and pull the rug out as usual. I knew Gallifrey would be the topic but bringing it back all the way, not so much. The biggest SURPRISE of next week's is the Doctor had nothing to do with them solving their own problem. Outside of that - BACK TO MOFFAT LAND!
I love the TV listings.
6:53 Nope, that will be the next story.
Over the mountains tops we go, just like all the other GI Joes.
then next week, Hell Bent...
For a "glowing" review of an episode already universally recognized as one of the best ever, you seem to be trashing Moffat. A LOT.
Also, the music is amazing
Is this not the usual as I'm new to this channel
Goddamn now I'm psyched!
the castle/dementor really reminded me of azkaban
The only thing I didn’t like in Heaven Sent was when the Doctor said the reason why he left Gallifrey wasn’t because he was bored, but that he was scared...
I’m sorry but I just think that’s insulting to the character. It makes sense why he leave because of being bored.
Heaven Sent is an odd parallel to Midnight
This was my favourite episode in NuWho! The only bit that annoyed me was that is all the rooms reset, why didn't the crystal wall reset and undo the work? Seemed like a bit of a plot hole, but since it was preceded by average, and followed by appalling (in my opinion), I'm willing to let him get away with ONE thing
While I thought that there should have been an explaination for that, it didn't bother me too much. The only problems I have with heaven sent is for 1 the doctor saying he left Gallefrey because he was bored was a lie, it takes a way a main part of his character (his love to explore and admire the universe) just to insert the hybrid profercy as a replacement origin story. It's also another case of Steven Moffat rectoning doctor who lore to insert his own mark all over the show. 2 the cliffhanger, Stuart discussed this in the review, it's rather lame for a "whopper", plus why would the doctor reveal the identity of the hybrid, after keeping it so secret that he spends billions of years trapped in a castle. 3, hell bent really was a lacklustre follow up. Besides that I really liked heaven sent, an experimental episode that pays of (almost) perfectly and shows Capaldi is a brilliant actor and doctor.
Oh yeah singin in the rain is definetly gonna make me feel better and not remind me of some old genius but also deeply depressing movie with some automated fruit in the title...
Easily the best in the series (though the end makes it seem like a filler ep a little, just a little)
great reviews, 🏆
It's obvious Stuart has grown morbid and twisted due to past experences with the evil 50 shades book.
headcanon confirm~
+Saya chan im sacred to think that is actually real
The episode PLODDED for me... in a good way. Did not know where it was going or trying to accomplish. Very interesting ideas. Can we have 2 Doctor Who shows. One can be G Rated and the other one PG-13 that challenges the older viewers?
I watched this episode on TV when it aired. It was one of the first episodes my dad ever saw of the show because he just happened to not find anything more interesting at the moment so he watched it with me.
Now you can guess three times who the morose hipster and who the cynical realist is.
Him: So, um... This is that show you told me you really like, is it?
Me: *nearly crying tears of joy because of how much i loved this episode after 4 years of not really being able to give two shits about my once favorite show anymore* YES!!!
Dad:... What the fuck.
Me: What did you say.
Dad: Well, I didn't get it and thought it was fucking boring really. Why did you like this so much again?
Me: It's an incredible, surrealist character piece about the main character grieving the death of his companion.
Dad: Huh. Yeah I really should have watched that game that was on.
Me: Get out.
Dad: On it.
I want Dr Who to get darker again I'm only on season 10 and there's like 13 seasons in new Who
doom hunter Um... season 10 is the latest season...
So, you just want Doctor Who to be like Torchwood, then? ;-)
Wow is very much right with Heaven Sent. And nice that you snuck in a little of the demographic discussion.
the only episode that was great was also the only one that didn't have clara. not a surprise at all
I was 6 when nuwho started
So was I! Watched since day one of new who. When did you get into the classics? I was 8.
I was 7, though since it doesn't appear on our channels, I didn't get into the show until 2013 with the exception of The Big Bang, which I saw somewhere around 2010, so that's really the only nostalgic episode of Doctor Who for me.
Luke Palmer I was 2 holly shit
I was 3
This could be one of the greatest episodes of nu who,hell all of who but this episode is the second half of a three parter and face the raven was boring and hell bent can burn in hell however it's still a really good episode
SWANS !!! Yay !!!
Anyone else watching now and having a sad moment in the knowledge that doctor who will never be this good ever again.
Charlie Douglas *ahem* haunting of villa diodati *ahem*
@@frazzlesreviews5379 wasn't that good
@@PencilThief170 it was. And still is
@@frazzlesreviews5379 i think its definitly etter than any other episode in the chibnall series, but would be a very average episode if it was any other good series
@@PencilThief170 I massively disagree
*season 9 spoilers*
Honestly, I think this episode was just okay. It was really well shot and had a really interesting concept, but it was weighted down by Moffat's writing and the "ghost of Clara" having such a major part. I already dislike Clara as a character, so the fact that she continued to dominate the plot of the TWO episodes to follow her death really took me out of them.
16:06 - ALL matter has a gravitational field, even subatomic particles. Do you even science, bro?
It now seems canon on the interent for doctor who fans to rant about doctor who having to have a darker side, which, for the most part, I understand. We have already seen mr space man running around and saving people from the big bad aliens which can get boring for people who want to see the expanded universe. yet for some other people, they would prefer to see mr space man running around, splerting techno babble every where and the doctor having a relationship with the conpain in question. but, instead of having these two sides of what fans want, what I want is to see these two things together. doctor who episodes now a days seems to not balance these very well as one could be fun and querky, then in the next minute, dark and mysterious. The reason why I don't go for doctor who being dark all the time is because o the scream of the shalka. this was a dark and mature thing with doctor who in it, when I thought we really should have doctor who with a dark and mature thing rapped around it. I fear most people want mr dark and mature side so much is because tv and movies are doing it to attract bigger audiances. but doctor who was never dark and mature in the first place. Its a fun sci fi drama. if doctor who balances querky and dark better in most episodes in the new series, it would make it a lot better.
Oh god, are you becoming Christian Grey?
I was told by one of my subscribers to watch this, purely because I made a "cynical" review of this episode. I'm going to disagree that this episode was extremely repetitive and, but you make some very good points. Your comment about verbal diarrhea is very true. I also think that the Sherlock unoriginality does frustrate me, because it makes it obviously apparent which one is superior in contemporary TV. You are also a fan of the classic series and I can't really comment because I have no interest in it. Funnily enough you are only 5 years older than myself but that's still 5 years additional to watch classic who. I find your little animations rather funny too, you look like you put a considerable amount of effort making this stuff. I don't want to be a "Please check out my content" kind of guy, but after watching this video I'd really appreciate it if you check out some of my videos, as I think we could have some interesting discussions about this kind of thing.
I liked for the bunnies. Bunnies make everything better!
Rabbit stew lol
If inaccurate physics of Storm Trooper aiming automatically makes a Doctor Who story bad now. Does that mean Heaven Sent is automatically bad for its inaccurate physics of it is physically impossible to break a 20 feet thick barrier wall 400 times harder than diamond with bare hands? Diamonds don't corrode or decay over time and can't be broken with bare hands, so something 400 times harder than diamond won't even break for zillions of years. The only possible way to break a 20 feet thick barrier wall 400 times harder than diamond with bare hands is that you have to be stronger than the Hulk. The main problem with Heaven Sent is that everything good about it got undermined by Hell Bent. Trying to keep Heaven Sent on any best of pedestal after Hell Bent is like trying to keep Game of Thrones on the best TV show of all time pedestal after season 8.
I’ve always loved Moffat, I don’t see why people don’t like him .
You are a lovely, morose, gothy shit, and that's why I keep coming back to your videos.
who thinks the Christmas special will be awful 🙌
"Thinks?"
I KNOW it will be awful.
I'm just going to Gordge in. Big Finish Audios
***** Doctor's Wife, though.
I mean, I'm not its biggest fan, but it's universally adored.
+whovian125 I thought it could be interesting seeing how 12 and River could grieve together (River's appearance is directly after Angels Take Manhattan and 12 just lost Clara), but Hell Bent kind of ruined that so yeah.
My problem goes as follows: I´m scared of bunnies....
I actually think I'm the only person who doesn't like this one
+Eddie Davey No but I think you might be in the minority :)
Well that definitely seems true
+Eddie Davey nah your in the group with the over protective mums
+Eddie Davey Well it's better than Hell Bent
I honestly think Heaven Sent is a overrated piece of shit.
Thank goodness you're at least capable of realizing just how good this episode was. I find all your Doctor Who reviews, even this one, far more irritating and annoying than I find even the worst episodes to be. Given that you're SO critical of everything, one might get the idea that you must be one of the greatest writers alive today, but I bet if you were to try and write an episode yourself it would turn out to be complete and utter shite Still, it can't be much fun being such a difficult guy to please, for you or anyone else.
I'm going to be 100% honest, I hate Heaven Sent. Were credit is due, the plot of trapping The Doctor to physiological torture him is a good plot, but here are My reasons why Heaven Sent is a overrated piece of shit:
Reason 1) It doesn't feel like the Doctor is being physiological tormented. It feels like I'm watching a 12 year old refusing to take a math test in a castle that looks like a set for Macbeth.
Reason 2) it's part 1 to the worst episode of all time Hell Bent
Reason 3) The forced sympathy for Clara like a brick to the face. I didn't buy the sympathy for Clara because I found Clara to be a irredeemable bitch after Listen.
Reason 4) The veil is the worst monster in Doctor Who history. A slow dead old lady cover in white towels that never stops following you unless you tell all your confessions is just stupid. The Doctor could of easily hit the veil with a shovel or a chair (The doctor is non violent crap was started by Davis). A creature that never stops following you only works if it's a stalker (like SpongeBob). The veil could of work if it was shown to have a deformed face like Magnus Greel from The Talons of Weng-Chiang. The veil could of work even better if We never seen it completely or it was a creature like Mimikyu.
Reason 5) Has the problem of being over dramatic about secrets and confessions.
Reason 6) Show continuity errors and things that were never clarify. Is the Doctor's worst fear the veil of that crack in Amy's bedroom? How strong is The Doctor?
Reason 7) horrible slow pace and it's boring to watch
Reason 8) Thought the 4 billion year thing was stupid, it's even more pointless now thanks to Hell Bent.
Reason 9) The episode made itself pointless by reviling that the doctor didn't know the info that the Time Lords wanted from him. The episode became even more pointless thanks to Hell Bent.
If you want to see the plot of someone being trapped and physiological tormented done much better, then watch the Farscape episode Won't get fooled again.
Casual CraftMan Your reasons were all either because of Hell Bent or how you don't like think pieces.
This is really late but what did Clara do in Listen?