Now the day bleeds into nightfall And you're not here to get me through it all
On the heels of the Rick Grimes tribute video, we have another video starring someone extraordinarily talented, whom I have not had the opportunity to gush about for a really long time. "Someone You Loved" has been out for many months now, but I kept putting off watching it until I then forgot about it, which is a shame. This one is not fan-made, but an original work from an artist I've heard but I'm not too familiar with, that somehow ended up being exactly what I've always needed from an actor I adore: a very intimate portrait of the heart and loss and second chances.
Oh my, what is this? A published post? Not a draft? I almost can't believe it. I made two posts in the entire month of February and nothing in March, so I'd like to shout it from the rooftops that I'm still here. But then I'd probably slip and fall and most certainly injure myself since we've had snowstorms for the past two days...in April! It's been far too long since I've talked about anything in more than 140 characters. It's just been too hectic around here with Mom in the hosptial twice this year already and me trying to start a business, among many other things.
But I had to carve out some time to talk a bit about Series 9 of Doctor Who seeing as how the
boxset is out today. I would jump for joy, but I would probably twist an ankle or slam my hand into and break the overhead fan light, sending shards of glass raining down upon me. Let's not have that. Instead, I am celebrating by writing about it; that's my usual way.
It's been quite a wait for the complete series. I finally pre-ordered mine on Friday when the price suddenly dropped significantly. I had put off getting the first part of this astounding second outing for Peter Capaldi with great difficulty. It became even harder to pass on when the second part, with undoubtedly some of the most powerful episodes in the history of the series, became available. Then the Christmas special arrived and came full circle with a character we knew the fate of since she first appeared during Tennant's tennure, and more tears were wrung. But I told myself April was not really that far off, because I wanted the complete series to make sure I got all the extras that are usually missing from rushed (lol*), incomplete half-season sets.
*Why did I laugh just then? Because that reminds me of a scene I just saw with Tom Baker's wonderful Doctor.
Unless we work very closely together, we could be caught here until the crack of doom... Oh, what's the use? Can I have one of your pickles? I had a rushed lunch.
By the way, if anyone here is a fan of The Blacklist, how fun was that when Aram said Baker was amazing? Though, apparently the scriptwriter mixed up the fourth Doctor with the fourth season, which I missed until I looked up the quote.
Getting back to what I said before I so rudely interrupted myself, I was okay with the wait. I had all but one episode on the DVR, and Whovians are quite familiar with waiting. Ahem, series 10 sometime, eventually in 2017. To survive that, I'll fill the void by refamiliarizing myself with everything in the last decade. I rewatch episodes here and there when BBC America plays them, especially ones like "Midnight," "A Good Man Goes to War," and "Listen." But I haven't yet broken out all my boxsets I got as presents over the years. I've been wanting to for so long, and now that I've finally gotten into the classic series, I'll be finishing that first.
I'm six episodes away from saying goodbye to Tom Baker. I don't want him to go. I know he did a very long time ago - I turned 2 only 5 days before the first part of his final story started - but still, he is so much fun. (Update: I finished with Tom. Wanted to cry. But I moved on immediately and now I'm enjoying Peter Davison.) Then I have to get the episodes on DVD that Hulu never had. Maybe Amazon has those now that they're exclusive...*checking*... Nope. They have the new series, but the Classic is still woefully underrepresented and not available on Prime.
Then life will move on and take over, movies will come and go, one or two maybe becoming favorites, and a brand-new television season will start and then end again. Around that time, we'll all be really anxious to get back to our favorite Doctor, and the premiere will still be months away. But maybe by then I'll have done what I've wanted to do for far too long. That could mean anything, but I'm talking about writing. Life has been unordinary lately, so I never got to finish a post about "Heaven Sent" and "Hell Bent." Here's a small excerpt from that, so you can see where I wanted to go with it. I just spent quite a bit of time rewriting just that little bit. I also wanted to share thoughts from a few other posts I was able to finish this season.
HEAVEN SENT and HELL BENT
The moments where the Doctor is shattered and grieving, unhinged and desperate to put things right, to do everything he can to save someone, to save himself from all the loss and pain, are moments where the best stories are told, the deepest emotions are felt, and the most astounding acting is realized. The final episodes, "Heaven Sent" and "Hell Bent," have those qualities in spades. No one could have asked more of Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman, both completely invested heart and soul in the Doctor and Clara, and in making the most intimately epic, blindingly brilliant, achingly beautiful hours of television possible.
Intimately epic. I have described only a few things this way before. Those two words together encapsulate the unthinkable scope of time coupled with the extraordinary heartbreak and determination of one man to save one woman. Billions of years. Eons in the life of the universe compared to the infinitesimal nature of the outcome, just one life resurrected, added a very heavy weight to the emotions. It had a stunning impact and quite clearly demonstrated the awe-inspiring capacity for love and care, bordering on the infinite, that the Doctor possesses.
SERIES 9
The love I feel for series 9 may be unmatched. It has this nearly perfect synergy of every element needed to make the stories far more than just memorable. The acting is nothing short of flawless, feeling completely real at any of the many moments that demand wrenching of the viewers' emotions. Capaldi's talent allows for an intimate vulnerability... Read more // Doctor Who's Incredible Series 9 Ends Tonight
HEAVEN SENT
I'm trying to get things ready for Christmas around here and so haven't gathered all my thoughts about the eerie beauty of the penultimate episode yet. I also need to rewatch it since it deserves multiple viewings to make sure I didn't miss a moment. "Heaven Sent" was just too good, one of the best episodes ever in a season full of best episodes. There is not even a slight bit of exaggeration when I say that. If you haven't seen it yet, don't delay any longer.
I have said it before with other favorite series that have had those perfect moments to capture and interpret in artwork, but the overwhelming sadness, incredible determination, and gorgeously haunting imagery of "Heaven Sent" I seriously think will be what finally gets me back into drawing.
Read more // Doctor Who's Incredible Series 9 Ends Tonight
FACE THE RAVEN
It's inevitable that every companion and every Doctor leaves, so you might think it would get easier. But the writers and actors are relentless when it comes to wringing every last drop of emotion from a moment. You think you can prepare, and then they do something like this, something that was somehow even more poignant than expected, because they did the unimaginable: neutralized the Doctor and gave Clara no way out.
"Face the Raven" was amazing. Haunting and beautiful and devastating.
Oh my God, Capaldi's eyes and face in this scene, especially the sadness in his voice when he says, "What about me?" Ouch. His entire body language is spot on. He's slightly trembling with a grief that's about to overwhelm him, not able to do anything else but accept the inevitable, hardly able to look at Clara, trying not to break down. Could Capaldi be any more unerringly brilliant? Read more // Doctor Who: Face the Raven
THE ZYGON INVERSION
I could probably write about this episode for days, but it's late. I need sleep. It's my Mom's birthday. Busy day ahead. So, I just wanted to leave you with the best speech I've ever heard on war or anything. The best speech the Doctor has ever had. The most beautifully acted and deeply felt speech I've seen. Peter Capaldi was so emotional it's like he pulled his heart out and showed it to us. He was utterly invested in the scene and was incredibly affecting because of that. He needs to win an award for this.
This is a scene where you just stare enrapt, wrapped in tension, stilled by the raw emotion, stunned at the power of the impassioned words that are truth without being preachy, as Doctor Who does so well, so often. To be able to think about those words and Capaldi's indelible performance over and over again for the rest of my life will be a privilege. Read more // Doctor Who: The Zygon Inversion
THE WOMAN WHO LIVED
The Doctor saying he didn't know Ashildr's heart would rust will likely be my favorite line of the season... It elegantly describes what could happen to someone if their life was so long, and the lives of their loved ones so fleeting, that the mountain of loss was too much to bear.
It was a memorable moment in an unforgettable episode. The torment in Ashildr's words and what the Doctor felt for her was beautifully portrayed by Maisie and Peter. Earlier, the Doctor had insisted he knew Ashildr wasn't as cold and uncaring as she was pretending to be, and here he seemed stunned to find out he had done so much damage by saving her. Read more // The Girl Who Died and the Woman Who Lived
THE GIRL WHO DIED
Things don't always go the way the Doctor hopes. The final scene of "The Girl Who Lived" starts with a happy Ashildr getting another chance at life. Sadly, though, she's the only one of her kind and the Doctor has left her behind. As the years pass and the centuries turn, signified by innumerable sunsets as she remains the same age, her face turns from happy to be alive to grim with the understanding she will always lose those she loves and forever be alone. Read more // The Girl Who Died and the Woman Who Lived
IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, all of my Doctor Who thoughts can be found HERE and Series 9 is available below.
Phone cases: Another way to show your love of, or complete obsession with, a thing. RedBubble has some beautiful cases and I had to look through some because they're 15% off with code GETENCASED until December 30. Code also works for laptop skins and sleeves. If I had an iPhone, it would be terribly hard to choose between even this small selection of Doctor Who, Breaking Bad, Firefly, The Walking Dead, Psych, Supernatural, Harry Potter, and Star Wars.
Those are just some of the ones that caught my eye on the first few pages. There are millions of other designs for practically anything you can think of, like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Sherlock, Guardians of the Galaxy, Big Hero 6, Game of Thrones, James Bond, Pokemon...and it's too early for me to think of more, but I'm sure you have something in mind.
Or buy one of these beauties. All images link to RedBubble and each case is around $25 to $27. Designs are also available on t-shirts, mugs, and more than a dozen other types of products.
The hybrid will stand in the ruins of Gallifrey and destroy a billion hearts to heal his own.
I had seen the "Next Time" trailer after the last episode, but I missed this one. I wish I hadn't, because then I would have known about this fantastic quote six days days sooner. I am overwhelmed with quotes lately. How wonderful! I am also overwhelmed with the greatness of Doctor Who this year, maybe this year more than any other. I have deeply loved this series and the previous Doctors. Maybe it's just the thrill of a new actor in the role that has hit his stride and become comfortable, but not complacent, combined with fantastic storytelling and ideas, but that "maybe" and "just" I think takes away from the accomplishment of Peter Capaldi and series 9.
I loved Doctor Who immediately when it captured my 8-year-old imagination in the '80s. Thank you, public television. I loved it even more when it returned when I was 27, because then I could truly understand and appreciate every emotion and the wonderful dialogue...and it all now doesn't feel like a half remembered dream. I have adored the new Who, and every actor in the main role brings something fresh and exhilarating, all of them masters of their craft, and every series has had defining episodes and best moments, something to laugh about, cry about, and fall in love over again and again.
But the love I feel for series 9 may be unmatched. It has this nearly perfect synergy of every element needed to make the stories far more than just memorable. The acting is nothing short of flawless, feeling completely real at any of the many moments that demand wrenching of the viewers' emotions. Capaldi's talent allows for an intimate vulnerability, one that has this palpable feel of a beating heart: his heart, the Doctor's hearts, the heart of the series. There were fewer stories to tell, as most were two-parters, but that allowed for a greater depth, a depth that's almost enough to drown in. There has been a tighter focus on the endgame and all the smaller but no less important moments in between, and as a result there has been even more poignancy than usual.
There are things the Doctor has done that have haunted him, but now judgment is coming, and Moffat promised the end would leave fans a little bit devastated. I can see that from the preview, but still I can never really anticipate the effect of it. Even when things are alright in the end, when time and luck and the universe can be manipulated to save the day, Doctor Who can always, always manage to devastate in the most delightful - no, not the most delightful way, that's just Missy's "malevolent Mary Poppins" talking. What I meant to say was in the most effective way. So, as the season ends, no matter how it ends, I'll be content until the next time, knowing just how brilliant it was. And it surely was. Just how brilliant? Read my past posts. I haven't said a thing about "Heaven Sent," though, except for all the things I just said, because I was thinking I might just combine that post with the one for "Hell Bent" after I see it tonight.
Tonight. Where did the last twelve weeks go? By the looks of it, and knowing all that's come before in this emotionally-charged, incredibly-imagined, beautifully-written, and superbly-acted series 9, "Hell Bent" is going to be one hell of a story, with the Doctor facing all he's done and facing it alone. He's still aching from the loss of Clara and I'm thinking won't be getting a new companion just yet. For sake of story, he has to go through some stuff, probably turn into or almost turn into that monster that Clara was afraid he would become in her absence. But maybe he'll heed her words, remember her kindness, remember his promise, and not be vengeful in her name.
And maybe I'll get to talking about both "Heaven Sent" and "Hell Bent" before the Christmas special. I'm trying to get things ready for Christmas around here and so haven't gathered all my thoughts about the eerie beauty of the penultimate episode yet. I also need to rewatch it since it deserves multiple viewings to make sure I didn't miss a moment. "Heaven Sent" was just too good, one of the best episodes ever in a season full of best episodes. There is not even a slight bit of exaggeration when I say that. If you haven't seen it yet, don't delay any longer.
I have said it before with other favorite series that have had those perfect moments to capture and interpret in artwork, but the overwhelming sadness, incredible determination, and gorgeously haunting imagery of "Heaven Sent" I seriously think will be what finally gets me back into drawing. Prior to this, I would have said "Face the Raven," prior to that, "The Zygon Inversion." There is so much to inspire. I used to have a lot of fun drawing, and it required far fewer words to get a feeling or point across.
And now, some more videos! Can't get enough videos.
One of the most dramatic things is that the Doctor has to face himself and face his own actions and make a decision, which is not an easy one.
She's my friend.
What 'she'? Is he talking about Clara? Or is he protecting Ashildr even though Clara died because of her actions? This would be in keeping with Clara's orders to not let her death turn him into a monster, if he could overcome his sorrow and rage to help the person he hates most right now. But maybe Clara's story isn't quite over. She did appear after her death already as a helpful manifestation in his mind in "Heaven Sent." Maybe there's a bit more. He is, after all, answering for his life, and Clara was a big part of it and the most recent and quite devastating part of it. Or he's just having a dream or memory where Clara isn't referred to in the past tense.
I'm starting to think Steven Moffat likes making us cry. Trying to decide if he's evil and feeds off of our collective tears. Nah, he's wonderful. He couldn't write such beauty otherwise. Still, there has to be a small mean streak.
Even though she bears responsibility for Clara's death, I still love Ashildr. Maisie Williams is fantastic in the role, playing her at drastically different times in her long life whenever she returns.
That's the end of the fantastic previews. I can hardly believe the season is about to come to its end. But at least I can watch it many times over before the next. And there's the Christmas special to look forward to.
Where to Watch
"Hell Bent" will be on BBC America tonight at 9 PM Eastern. "Heaven Sent" and previous episodes are available on Amazon and various other places, like iTunes, or streaming on AMC.com and BBC America's OnDemand cable and satellite channel. For more options, please see BBCAmerica.com.
Trapped in a world unlike any other he has seen, the Doctor faces the greatest challenge of his many lives. One final test. And he must face it alone. Price: $1.99 SD, $2.99 HD Runtime: 54 minutes Air Date: November 27, 2015
The Doctor and Clara, with their old friend Rigsy, find themselves in a magical alien world, hidden on a street in the heart of London. Price: $1.99 SD, $2.99 HD Runtime: 46 minutes Air Date: November 20, 2015
Bonus Videos -
Fantastic fan edited speculative trailer of past hybrids, to fit the theme of the episode.
Are we really getting Peter Jackson to direct an episode (or hopefully a two-parter) next year or is is all just an elaborate joke? Either way, this was great. https://www.essential.tv/post/view/185
Images and video belong to the BBC. Check out more images from "Hell Bent" at BBC America.
TFCM20 - Valid Monday, November 30 for 20% off at TeeFury TFCT15 - Valid Tuesday, December 1 for 15% off TFCW10 - Valid Wednesday, December 2 for 10% off
TeeFury is having a sale for the next three days on everything! Well, almost everything. The daily t-shirts are excluded, but they're already at a very low price. Use the codes above to get 10% to 20% off all other tees, hoodies, posters, shoes or leggings that your heart desires. My heart has wanted a Doctor Who hoodie for a long time.
I've always loved hoodies, but I've always had them plain, no designs whatsoever, very boring. I have four in my closet right now. The cuffs on my little grey one are stretched out and no longer wash clean. The forest green one is very big and kind of blech. Yup, blech. Also, not very soft. And the maroon suddenly developed holes! That leaves only the black one that's actually in a condition I can wear in public and not have strangers come up to me and drop change in my cup.
So, I am going to get either 'All of Time and Space' or 'T4RD1S'. I think I tweeted both of them when they premiered as the daily tee, T4RD1S not that long ago. No idea why I didn't order it then, except maybe to save money. But now I'm buying them anyway. Not only that, but I have to get at least '12' as a tee so that I can wear Peter Capaldi on my chest...in a non-creepy way.
And since this is a Cyber Week sale, I must include some more can't miss Doctor Who designs from the fantastic Whovian Style Collection. There are plenty of other designs from innumerable TV series and movies, but I'm on a Doctor Who streak lately. In his first season, I thought Peter Capaldi was a great choice for the role, and he nailed being the Doctor. But his heartbreaking performances this season, along with the beautiful stories and writing, have gone far beyond that. And that's why I chose here a couple tees with Twelve on them, one or two of which I think I need to buy. Capaldi and Twelve will never be forgotten.
Did you hear Twelve's worry about losing people in The Girl Who Died or his conversation with The Woman Who Lived, whose heart he didn't know would rust if he saved her life and gave her back eternity? Did you see Capaldi's emotional anti-war speech in The Zygon Inversion and the impeccably acted goodbye between him and Jenna Coleman in Face the Raven? Did you experience the 4 billion years of the Doctor's loneliness and terror and confusion in Heaven Sent? If you haven't and you're not a Whovian, I suggest you start right here, right now.
It's really best, of course, to start at the beginning of new Who or the first episode of the actor you're most interested in. You can go classic Who if you want, but that's quite a committment. If the imagination, poignancy, and flawless acting of any of the episodes I mentioned can't get you interested then it may not be the right show for you. If that's the case, you can check out What's Trending or Shop All for something more your taste.
Sometimes what I write could be considered sort of a hybrid of review and recap, but more often it's like impassioned reactions to the best, most traumatizing moments. So, what you will see here today are a lot of words about basically one scene.
Spoilers from here on!
I knew "Face the Raven" was going to be a sad one; Peter Capaldi confirmed it, and I do assume that most episodes will have some emotionally piercing moment. But I thought Clara would face her end in the finale, which is usually when a series would decide to off a main character or leave on a cliffhanger for the next season. I was quite sure I would need a few tissues. I was certain beyond all doubt that this departure would stick with me. If my experience with Doctor Who has taught me nothing else, it has taught me to expect change and brilliant heartache and to accept and embrace them.
It's inevitable that every companion and every Doctor leaves, so you might think it would get easier. But the writers and actors are relentless when it comes to wringing every last drop of emotion from a moment. You think you can prepare, and then they do something like this, something that was somehow even more poignant than expected, because they did the unimaginable: neutralized the Doctor and gave Clara no way out.
Clara, there's nothing special about me. I am nothing, but I'm less breakable than you! I should have taken better care of you.
"Face the Raven" was amazing. Haunting and beautiful and devastating. Ashildr - now going by Mayor Me - set a trap for the Doctor, a trap that works all too well. She knows he cares so much for others that he will always put himself in harm's way for them. Ashildr counted on the Doctor's selflessness, to do what he always does, to save people even when he knows something is up. She needed to exchange the Doctor for protection for her people. So, she tricked Rigsy, last seen in "Flatline," into thinking he killed a woman, which is a crime punishable by death by Quantum Shade, which takes on the form of a raven and destroys from the inside. Of course Rigsy didn't hurt anyone, so his memory had to be altered. A countdown tattoo was placed on his neck to draw the Doctor into the mystery and eventually to get the Doctor to use a TARDIS key to free the supposedly dead woman, trapping himself with a teleport bracelet in the process.
Though Ashildr's plan was elaborate, the outcome should have been simple: the Doctor would sacrifice himself, and Rigsy's countdown would be stopped. But Clara did something Ashildr never imagined and she was genuinely shocked by. Clara thought she had it all worked out, that the raven wouldn't come for her because she was under the protection of Ashildr, who had given the Doctor her promise that Clara would be safe. But taking Rigsy's fate upon herself broke the contract, and the raven could not be stopped by Ashildr or the Doctor, leading to another scene that will always be remembered as one of Doctor Who's most poignant.
You don't be a warrior. Promise me. Be a doctor.
What's the point of being a doctor if I can't cure you?
Heal yourself. You have to. You can't let this turn you into a monster.
It was the saddest goodbye ever, because they actually got to stand there and say goodbye. The dawning realization on his face that he really was losing her, saying that this wasn't happening, was unbearable. Then Clara ordered the Doctor to not seek revenge, lovingly touched his face, and he gently kissed her hand for the last time. And the raven cried out. If your eyes were dry throughout this, or if you felt nothing else, then you might be dead inside.
This is another episode that will stick with me forever. No matter how it happened, it would have been sad, even had Clara just left, which would be wildly out of character, or been lost to time and space. I had hoped for an ending where she could live on. Instead it was the most devastating it could get, especially considering her life has ended before...in other times, before we and the Doctor knew her. I dreaded that happening again, but it seems inevitable it had to happen this way. It was just such an awful moment knowing Clara was about to do something that would lead to her death. An even more awful moment when the Doctor understood that this time he could do nothing. After all he's done, nothing could be done. With all his knowledge and brilliance and luck, he was powerless to save his best friend, his Impossible Girl.
You will not insult my memory. There will be no revenge. I will die and no one else here or anywhere will suffer.
What about me?
If there was something I could do about that, I would. I guess we're both just gonna have to be brave.
Oh my God, Capaldi's eyes and face in this scene, especially the sadness in his voice when he says, "What about me?" Ouch. His entire body language is spot on. He's slightly trembling with a grief that's about to overwhelm him, not able to do anything else but accept the inevitable, hardly able to look at Clara, trying not to break down. Could Capaldi be any more unerringly brilliant?
I love this scene for being exactly what I had hoped it would be, that Clara would make the Doctor promise that, through his pain, he would change not for the worse but for the better, that he wouldn't be out for blood. A scary, emotionally raw Doctor is an amazing one, but so is a forgiving and kind one. Either way, his hearts will still be broken, but he can choose whether that will make him less willing or more willing to let people in.
I loved this scene for being the the one where the Doctor needed a hug the most and, as at the end of The Zygon Inversion, didn't shy away from it. I loved this scene for being equal to his war speech in terms of the beauty and truth of the emotion, but surpassing it because the crisis could not be averted, only faced with bravery. I loved this scene for Clara's farewell to the clever boy who will want to run from his emotions but will forever remember her. It was terrible and beautiful and delicately handled.
And this is all okay. Everybody knows that everybody dies. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those days in a million where everybody lived. Clara will be missed deeply. Her character grew and grew until she was indispensible. She saved the Doctor on numerous occasions throughout his existence as a time meddler. She was fun and funny. Coleman played her so well and was eminently likable. I can't say they should have given her a nicer end. Acting and thinking like the Doctor was always going to get her into trouble she couldn't get out of. Clara was so important to the Doctor that he would have found a way to keep her by his side if it were possible, so a death impossible to run from was the only way that was genuine for her to go, and it gave us one of the greatest gut-wrenching moments ever in the series.
This is as brave as I know how to be. I know it's gonna hurt you, but, please, be a little proud of me... Goodbye, Doctor.
If you're distraught (or even a little miffed) and don't understand how they could possibly do something like this to you, Doctor Who is a story about change and loss as much as it is about imagination and adventure. Without the pain, or the threat of it, how could you appreciate the good? Clara was always going to leave and she wouldn't have done so willingly. I'll let Capaldi and Moffat explain why Clara faced the raven.
That sorrowful music was just perfect. Did you hear the emotion in Capaldi's voice? He didn't expect her to die. Aww.
It is in keeping with the character that Clara would only stop running with the Doctor if she could no longer physically do so. The series wouldn't compromise its integrity by taking the easy way out and have Clara suddenly be who she isn't just for a happier ending. This will resonante with the Doctor for a long time to come, and I hope he heeds her words! If not immediately, because of his pain, then eventually, honoring her memory by being better. One thing's for sure, this will be one of the most memorable, remarkably acted and emotional moments ever in the entire series. And I can't say I would ever want to change it if I could to make the fans not feel these emotions. It's better with them than without.
The final two episodes, "Heaven Sent" and "Hell Bent," will let us delve even deeper into the hearts of The Doctor as he deals with yet another loss, and one so very personal. He could do nothing but impotently threaten Ashilr as Clara told him to stop. He could only stand there once he realized there was no going back, no way around it, no controlling what was coming, no negotiation, no talking his way out. He could only stand there with tears in his red eyes as Clara hugged him in the most beautiful embrace they've ever had, as she told him to not seek revenge, to not become a monster and taint her memory. And now the Doctor faces his emotions alone.
It was all quite intense and I wouldn't want it any other way. If a drama doesn't make me cry and feel for the characters then it's completely wasted my time. Doctor Who has never wasted my time.
To cheer you up after that depressing episode, just watch this blooper.
I would love to see Peter and Jenna working together again.
Just the sweetest words.
Listen to the Nerdist podcast if you need support. Someone tweeted that it was cathartic, like an episode of The Talking Dead. I haven't had the chance yet because of work this week and distractions and Thanksgiving and trying to finish this post before the new episode. Speaking of new episode...
Where to Watch
"Heaven Sent" will be on BBC America this Saturday night at 9 PM Eastern. "Face the Raven" and previous episodes are available on Amazon and various other places, like iTunes, or streaming on AMC.com and BBC America's OnDemand cable and satellite channel. For more options, please see BBCAmerica.com.
The Doctor and Clara, with their old friend Rigsy, find themselves in a magical alien world, hidden on a street in the heart of London. Price: $1.99 SD, $2.99 HD Runtime: 46 minutes Air Date: November 21, 2015
"Spoilers!" If you haven't seen "Face the Raven," do that first and then come back.
If you think because she's dead I am weak, then you understand very little. If you were any part of killing her and you're not afraid, then you understand nothing at all.
Wow, what a scene. This series has so many quotable moments that have emotional resonance.
I promised myself that I would get everything done that I needed to today. Then, of course, the BBC released a preview of the penultimate episode of this undoubtedly fascinating season of Doctor Who that's been overflowing with tremendously beautiful acting and writing. "Heaven Sent" picks up where "Face the Raven" ended, after one of the saddest character deaths ever on television, let alone Doctor Who. We will never be the same, and it will surely be very hard on the Doctor. Not only does he have to deal with the loss of Clara, but at the same time he has been kidnapped/taken prisoner by someone or something called the Veil.
Thanks a lot, Ashildr. Bet the Doctor's not too happy he saved her anymore. But remember, Ashildr never wanted anyone to get hurt. She offered up the Doctor in exchange for her own people's safety, and she did not count on Clara taking on someone else's burden. It's just an unfortunate thing that Clara was so gung-ho about being more like the Doctor and such a good person that she would risk her life for someone else the way she did, ignoring her own mortality because she was sure the Doctor could find a way out. Ashildr never wanted Clara to get hurt, and so I blame her, but I don't hate her. And you can't hate Maisie Williams! She's been brilliant.
It's a sad fact that companions never get to stick around for too long, and it's terrible Clara's fate was to die, but her goodbye was a perfect scene and her death will give some more incredible material for Capaldi moving forward. And we start moving forward by keeping the Doctor in one place, to face his loss instead of trying to run from it. From the images I saw the other day, it looks like he'll be emotionally and psychologically tortured while in the Veil's company or under his/her/its influence or control. And the Doctor's having none of it. He's kind of in a bad mood at the moment. I'm going to really enjoy watching Peter Capaldi give another top-notch performance.
After these pics and videos, these next few days of waiting for this episode are going to feel like weeks.
Where to Watch
Heaven Sent will be on BBC America this Saturday night at 9 PM Eastern. Previous episodes are available on Amazon and various other places, like iTunes, or streaming on AMC.com and BBC America's OnDemand cable channel. For more options, please see BBCAmerica.com.
The Doctor and Clara, with their old friend Rigsy, find themselves in a magical alien world, hidden on a street in the heart of London. Price: $1.99 SD, $2.99 HD Runtime: 46 minutes Air Date: November 21, 2015
Once again I have lost sleep over this series and the episode hasn't even aired. Here it is, folks. We have come to the end of Clara Oswald. I'd much rather it was a joke or something she could come back from in the future for at least a brief time, but that's highly unlikely, I would think. I had hoped Jenna Coleman would finish out this season of 12 episodes, but Capaldi confirmed that "Face the Raven" will be her last. It will be followed up by "Heaven Sent" and "Hell Bent." Those are two intriguing titles. Obvious that it's another two-parter. I love those. Even though there's an overall arc to the season, as usual, and this is a series where characters grow and past events influence the future (or even vice versa), I do adore stories that take longer to resolve and delve deeper.
I wonder who or what is Heaven sent. Will it be the Doctor who is Hell bent? On revenge? On trying to get Clara back? He won't succeed if that's the case, so that's a devastating scenario right there. It's always sad to see a great companion go, and I keep reading that it certainly is not a happy time, but you only have to look at their eyes in the trailer to see how devastating it will be for both Clara and the Doctor. Whatever happens, I wouldn't be surprised if it matched the series high point of Twelve's ardent speech about war, which happened quite recently in "The Zygon Inversion." Can I dare hope that this mostly excellent season have another episode to remember? Bitter but still so sweet with the emotion that comes through from Capaldi and Coleman? Yes, I think I can.
Any time I think of ravens, I of course think of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven." So, even if this sure to be devastator has no hint of inspiration from or tribute to that Gothic poem, I'm sure I'll feel a tug forevermore whenever I read it, hear mention of it, or watch that Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episode. I'm not going to delve deeper in to any synopsis of the episode, because I'd like to go in as fresh as possible. I would rather have not even known which was Clara's exit, though I and everyone else knew for a long time that it was coming this season, but it just popped up in my Twitter notifications from @Superhero Feed yesterday afternoon and I just had to share a thought or two.
I don't doubt this will be a proper farewell for Clara. She was a highly enjoyable, smart, strong, capable companion, and I can't see the Doctor getting over her any time soon...or ever. She'll likely be mentioned now and then in passing for a while, then on down the road at random vulnerable moments for this Doctor or even the next. Theirs is a deep friendship, one that was strengthened immeasurably when Clara lost Danny, and she was so desperate to get him back she threatened the Doctor outright rather than take the chance that he would refuse. She didn't know if she could trust him to do something so massive for her, so outside the realm of possibility. She didn't really know his new incarnation at all, but Twelve cares for her so much that he forgave her betrayal without a second thought.
I can't see anything other than him being devastated by this, after everything they've been through together, and everything he's been though before, like when Amy and Rory were zapped to the past by Weeping Angels, when he had to wipe all of Donna's memories of him, when Rose was pulled into another dimension, and many other devastating things. He's lost everyone he's ever loved and that will only continue. Farewell to the Impossible Girl and I wish Jenna Coleman luck in her new role. If you'd like to say a few nice words, you can find her on Twitter, @Jenna_Coleman_.
Where to Watch
If you missed Sleep No More, The Zygon Inversion, or any other episode, you can buy them on Amazon and various other places, like iTunes, or stream them on AMC.com and BBC America's OnDemand cable channel. For more options, please see BBCAmerica.com. And don't forget to watch "Face the Raven" Saturday night at 9 PM Eastern.
P.S. Bring a box of tissues. We're losing a valued companion here, which would be a poignant enough moment on its own, but we also have to see the dawning realization on the Doctor's face and the brokenhearted aftermath of this parting of the ways, whether that be through distance or death. And this just after he finally started getting used to hugs, too.
Look at that smile. *swoon*
I hope this experience doesn't shut him down - not for too long anyway - but instead bolsters his insatiable love of life and makes him hold onto his relationships that much tighter. And not just the characters themselves. No matter how great they are, remember that these are two actual people that work closely together in intensely emotional scenes and seem also to have a lot of fun and enjoy each other, and now they're saying goodbye. The feelings and tears are always real and truly conveyed, because Capaldi and Coleman are consummate actors, but there will be an extra layer of palpable pain there.
Okay, what is up with all my favorite series being so incredible all at the same time? I have never written a blog post so quickly before. That's how much I loved, loved, loved this epsiode. And because of one scene, it will be absolutely unforgettable. It's hard to believe that was the eigth episode of Doctor Who already. I liked "The Zygon Inversion" more than "The Zygon Invasion," but I think that's been happening with all these two-parters. Usually it seems the most emotional moments come in the second half, while the first half is the set up. But they do set them up brilliantly, so then I take them as a whole.
I could probably write about this episode for days, but it's late. I need sleep. It's my Mom's birthday. Busy day ahead. So, I just wanted to leave you with the best speech I've ever heard on war or anything. The best speech the Doctor has ever had. The most beautifully acted and deeply felt speech I've seen. Peter Capaldi was so emotional. It's like he pulled his heart out and showed it to us. He was utterly invested in the scene and was incredibly affecting because of that. He needs to win an award for this.
And so does whoever wrote the speech. Both Peter Harness and Steven Moffat are credited. They did an amazing job, too, because without the words it would have just been Capaldi standing there, making faces, and throwing his arms about. That would have been more funny than gut-wrenching, a miming Doctor.
When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken! How many lives shattered! How much blood will spill until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning - SIT DOWN AND TALK!
And because it was so hard to choose one section of this to quote, here's a bit nearer the end. This is the moment that goes with the image I used. I'll have to replace that one when the episode is available, because I got it from my TV, so it doesn't look that great.
You're all the same, you screaming kids, you know that? 'Look at me. I'm unforgiveable.' Well, here's the unforeseeable. I forgive you.
After all you've done... I forgive you.
Again, hard to choose. Needed this part, too.
Do you call this a war, this funny little thing? This is not a war. I fought in a bigger war than you will ever know! I did worse things than you can ever imagine, and when I close my eyes...I hear more screams than anyone could ever be able to count!
Though Capaldi has been exceptional all along, this right here proves like nothing before that he absolutely deserves to be the Doctor, is the Doctor, and that there could have been no better choice in this time, for these stories. He just keeps proving himself and it culminated in a ten minute-long, desperate plea for two people on the brink of destruction, thinking they hold the destiny of billions in their hands, to think before they act, to realize what they are about to do, to understand that there are living beings on each side who have done nothing to deserve their fate. Just...WOW.
I adored the previous Doctors and so many other superb episodes, but if I had to choose one scene to show someone who had never seen the series, I think this would be it.
Oh, and Clara and Osgood were also in this episode. But Capaldi! Come on, he was spectacular. This may now be my favorite episode of the season, of Capaldi's run so far, and one of my all-time favorites. I guess I have to give you a little something about the ladies, though. They were both wonderful: Clara being able to control her Zygon doppelganger, Bonnie, while she was still asleep in a pod; and the lovely Osgood being a great companion while Clara was away. It's another beautiful bit of writing that Osgood kept saying she was herself, never revealing to the Doctor whether she was human or Zygon, and would keep that secret until it didn't matter anymore. And just love when an actor has to completely change their personality and play two, or more, people in the same scene. Terrific work by Jenna Coleman. Reminded me of Anna Torv in Fringe and Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black.
Tweets and More Quotes
Well, that's all the time I have. I'll leave you with my reactions and some more great quotes, all of which I actually tweeted.
What an amazing scene for Peter Capaldi. He couldn't have been better. I felt every emotionally charged word. #DoctorWho#TheZygonInversion
This series has way too many fantastic quotes to keep up with.
The Doctor: "Don't look at my browser history."
Osgood: "Whoa."
The Doctor: "Yeah, I said don't."
The Doctor: "London! What a dump." I really didn't expect that line.
The Doctor: "I'm dead now. And I think I might be a bit more dead in a minute."
The Doctor: "I'm over 2,000 years old. I'm old enough to be your messiah."
Bonnie: "We've been left to fend for ourselves."
The Doctor: "So has everyone."
The Doctor: "The only way anyone can live in peace is if they're prepared to forgive."
The Doctor: "I let Clara Oswald get inside my head. Trust me. She doesn't leave."
[Edit] Oops, forgot this one! Don't know how. It's one of those quiet, poignant moments that fits a universe of feeling and character into a small package.
Clara: So, you must have thought I was dead for a while.
The Doctor: Yeah.
Clara: How was that?
The Doctor: Longest month of my life.
Clara: Could only have been five minutes.
The Doctor: I'll be the judge of time.
Oh, the moment where he paused before he said that last was so full of pain. And if I could never watch anything else until the end of time but for the Doctor saying "yeah" then I could console myself knowing that just that one word conveyed so much.
[Update, 11/8/15] I rewatched the war speech scene the next morning. Remember how I said that would have to be what I would show to someone who hadn't seen the series? There have been countless scenes that could do the job, but this now is the definitive moment of who the Doctor is, a lengthy and intense bit of brilliance, and it worked. I don't know if my brother will ever get a chance to start Doctor Who. He's seen bits of episodes here and there, but he picks his shows carefully since he has little enough time to watch what he already does. Work and chores just demand too much. This new season he's already 6 weeks behind on everything and that includes Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Walking Dead! But my brother stood quietly in the doorway for the entire ten minutes that Capaldi was pouring his heart out into this performance. It was like a miracle. So, good news; if you have someone in your life who's on the fence about trying Doctor Who, they won't be anymore after this.
[Update, 11/14/15] So, I had a bit more to say when I went to
Pinterest...
Peter Capaldi was sheer brilliance in #DoctorWho's The Zygon Inversion. He gave us all of his heart for ten uninterrupted, emotionally-piercing minutes. This is the scene to play for the uninitiated if they only think they might want to watch the series eventually, some day, when they have nothing else to watch. This is the scene to sneak attack with, to play louder than normal, so the person you've been wanting for years to start watching this beautifully imaginative and poignant series will stop in the doorway and quietly stand there, no joking around or commenting, for the entire scene. This is a scene where you just stare enrapt, wrapped in tension, stilled by the raw emotion, stunned at the power of the impassioned words that are truth without being preachy, as Doctor Who does so well, so often. To be able to think about those words and Capaldi's indelible performance over and over again for the rest of my life will be a privilege. If one of you gets the chance to meet Capaldi, please give him a hug from all of his fans...especially me. ;-) But only if it's appropriate, of course.
Missed the Episode?
Did you miss this episode or want to see it again? I will no doubt, 100 percent be rewatching this as soon as I can. If you feel the same, you can buy The Zygon Inversion on Amazon. The Zygon Invasion and the previous 6 episodes and seasons 1 through 8 are also available. And don't forget, it's on BBC America on Saturdays at 9 PM Eastern and their OnDemand channel soon after. For some reason AMC.com also has new episodes the Monday after they air. They seem to keep only two new episodes at once, plus some from the previous season, so they disappear quickly. I'm not sure if AMC's cable channel actually airs the series. BBCAmerica.com has more links where you can watch.
And if you haven't seen the episode, I don't know why you kept reading after the spoiler warning, but here's a trailer and a preview. Now please go watch it.
Until the series ends, I'll always be behind adding to this playlist. I had to stop for quite a while, so there's a big gap. Still, there are 170 songs to enjoy.
This is the essence of The Blacklist. Probably my favorite is Disturbed's cover of "Sound of Silence." The scene it played over was one of the most devastating ever in the series.
. I would jump for joy, but I would probably twist an ankle or slam my hand into and break the overhead fan light, sending shards of glass raining down upon me. Let's not have that. Instead, I am celebrating by writing about it; that's my usual way.
, 
, or any other episode, you can buy them on Amazon and various other places, like iTunes, or stream them on AMC.com and BBC America's OnDemand cable channel. For more options, please see BBCAmerica.com. And don't forget to watch "Face the Raven" Saturday night at 9 PM Eastern.
[Update, 11/14/15] So, I had a bit more to say when I went to
on Amazon. 
and the previous 6 episodes and seasons 1 through 8 are also available. And don't forget, it's on BBC America on Saturdays at 9 PM Eastern and their OnDemand channel soon after. For some reason AMC.com also has new episodes the Monday after they air. They seem to keep only two new episodes at once, plus some from the previous season, so they disappear quickly. I'm not sure if AMC's cable channel actually airs the series. BBCAmerica.com has more links where you can watch.
