Heaven Sent: Doctor Who's Ultimate Masterpiece 

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I fully believe that no other Doctor could have done this episode, at least not in the same way. And I’d say Peter Capaldi might actually be the best actor to play the Doctor outside of John Hurt (that’s no slight on anyone, they’re all wonderful, and Capaldi isn’t even my favourite, but I just think he is just that good an actor). This definitely one of the greatest episodes in all of Doctor Who’s history. I also feel like any other Doctor would have had some other clever way out, but 12? He’s just such a stubborn Scottish bastard that he’s going to punch through it for billions of years.

Habo explaining how and why only the doctor could pull off monologuing for an hour straight in Habo's hour long monologue.

For me, Capaldi treated his run as the Doctor as a play. His inflections and acting show a great arc for the doctor. My favorite Doctor so far!

And to think that My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic’s *The Cutie Map* was nominated alongside Heaven Sent for the Hugo Award of Best Dramatic Presentation in 2016. *That’s no joke!* 😅

i think you got the skull part wrong but otherwise a great review. the doctor never died from the impact on the water because he couldnt have restarted the loop if that was the case. his final breath is always in the teleporter room starting it all over again before turning to bones and ash.

I never thought it was the Doctor who painted the portrait of Clara in the Castle, I just assumed it was the Timelords that put it there to tease him of what he had lost. And the the fact that The Sheppard's Boy is based on a Brother's Grimm story also blew my mind in terms of how much the show takes from outside sources to get inspiration for some of its best work. Heaven Sent is a masterpiece. The Doctor going through everything he does to escape, on his own terms, never giving in either to his grief, or to the Timelords. I like to think that it could only have been Clara that he would have gone through that hell for 4½ billion years for because he loved her so much. She was always there to save his past selves when she splintered herself into his timestream, and she was there again to inspire and help save him again in his mind even after her death. She truly was the Impossible Girl because she did it here and because they cared so much for each other that not even death could totally seperate them, at least until the next episode. One last thing, you don't make stupid videos Harbo, they are great, detailed, informative and entertaining to watch! Only you can go into these super deep dives into Doctor Who and make all of us so much wiser and appreciate it that much more. I am really intrigued how you will analyze and critique Hell Bent next. That will truly be fascinating. Excellent work! 👍👏👍👏👍👏💐

So glad to see it voted most popular episode of all time by DWM readers. By a long way too, over 30% of the vote

My favourite Doctor in the best episode of Doctor Who in its entire 60 years. A genuine contender for the best hour of television ever made. I couldn't believe how good it was first time I saw it, and it hasn't diminished one bit with age or foreknowledge. Just sublime.

Not sure how you came to the conclusion that The Doctor sometimes died in the water, because another version is only teleported to the castle by The Doctor himself. The events are the same each time, until he gets to the last room - and save for the first times he was leaving all the clues (and one of them had to leave their clothes). Regardless, you summed up the episode so well.

honestly the it's all the days they stay dead thing really got to me when my grandparents died. the day they died (and the next 2 or so) were very eventful. we had to make arrangements and call people and set everything in order. and then it was suddenly all over. and there's nothing left to do apart from just. to be sad. it's genuinely such a good episode because it deals with grief in a very REAL way

I think the real reason this episode is so popular is because of the structure. It all just progresses smoothly from one plot point to the next without feeling rushed or dragging. It's constructed in such a way that there is no wasted dialogue, everything is focused and relevant, and due to the way the information is dispensed to the viewer it's actually better on a second watch. The diamond wall is not just a metaphor for grief, but for overcoming any obstacle.

This episode has a very unique place in my heart. I absolutely LOVE the 12th doctor, but this is just peak television in general. It truly desrrves the apreciation it has from people inside and even outside the fandom

That image of Capaldi is not only his most iconic image but might be one of the definitive iconic images in the shows history.

This episode has such a special meaning to me. It aired quite literally the day my grandmother died, and I've often revisited it as a way of processing various griefs. It is a true collaborative work. Great video breaking it down. It's a testament that even with an hour long video about an hour long TV episode, there are still things that I could've added on.

Such a beautiful and sad story. Capaldi was already in my top 3 Doctors before this episode, but Heaven Sent put him firmly in the #1 spot. This isn’t just one of the best Doctor Who episodes, it’s some of the best television ever produced in my opinion

Best choice to release this on Doctor who day. The story that cemented Capaldi as my favourite incarnation ever! 🎉

Capaldi is such an excellent actor, he was definitely the perfect doctor to be placed in this story

By far my fave Capaldi era episode alongside The Doctor Falls and one of my all time fave episodes of TV The writing and directing are just absolutely spot on and fires on all cylinders, it explores grief so masterfully and Peter Capaldi of course puts in an amazing performance as always, as usual he can say so much just by his face alone and him talking to himself is always great to see. He really can carry an episode on his own and this episode utilises his acting expertly Plus yeah, Rachel really is probably my fave Doctor Who directors, her work on this episode is just perfect and so many beautiful shots And the twist is so well done too and all the hints and bread crumbs spread throughout makes it really cool on a rewatch, and it just really shows how strong the doctor is mentally and his never give up attitude despite the odds

Honesty this is one od the best reviews youve ever put up for doctor who especially to a unique story like this Great job

Hey Harbo, Only recently discovered your channel. I was a doctor who fan growing up and it was my entire childhood, and i've recently become addicted again. Over the past roughly 4 weeks i have watched every single episode review that you've put out to revisit all my favourite stories. They are all marvellous and i was disappointed to see that many of the recent ones have less views, so i thought i'd leave a comment to let you know how much they're appreciated. I hope my compliment is made as clear as possible when i say that you have reinvigorated my love for a show that I had moved on from and that i'm going to be a little bit lost having to wait for your new uploads instead of just having an entire season already there. I think you are a great creator and i wish you the best - thanks for entertaining me the past few weeks - what a perfect episode for me to finally catch up on.

Ever since I was a Film Student I always wanted to make a movie that was disguised as a horror film, but was actually a symbolism-filled journey that explored intense despair and misery. Watching Heaven Sent, I actually felt like Steven Moffat had turned the movie I always wanted to make into a Doctor Who episode, and did it better than I ever could have myself. I absolutely love it! A few things I particularly loved -- When The Doctor sees the closed Room 12, and sees the light on inside, and begins to talk into it, not only asking if someone is there, but almost hopelessly pleading for someone to be there. The line: "Or maybe I'm in Hell -- That's okay, Hell doesn't scare me. It's just Heaven for bad people." When Clara's shadow writes on the board, asking him how he is going to win, only for him to break down and plead to, just once, have it be okay for him to lose. The moment of music where Capaldi looks at the painting, as it sounds like music from the very late Tom Baker era. And I absolutely love when we see him burn himself, and then we cut back to him, one last time, on the TARDIS floor, beginning to cry, saying "How much longer can I do this Clara?! Burning the old me.. to try again.."

This is the episode that rekindled my love for doctor who. I stopped watching after Capaldi thinking the show had just gone too big budget Hollywood sensibilities, but oh my God this episode reminded me why I liked the show to start with and encouraged me to watch the classic series from the very start. This episode is a culmination of decades of art.

The best possible review you could have released on the 60th anniversary

For me, 12 is The Doctor, my Doctor. And this episode is absolute gold. Pure Capaldi gold for neigh on an hour.

3:44 'and no, that doesn't mean it's a River Song episode.' I... 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Just watched this yesterday for the first time in years. Blew me away again, more than the initial watch. How interesting that you posted this since it’s so fresh in my mind now. Thank you!

one of my favorite things about this episode is showing how after death how much we can keep our loved ones alive by remembering what they taught us, thinking about what they’d say. it’s the best way to honor them. and you’re absolutely right clara made 12 better and seeing him “keep her alive” in that sense was so powerful. that’s how we ensure the ones we’ve lost mattered, by living as if they’re still there. this episode makes me sob it’s absolutely beautifully done

I heard something about the first face a regeneration sees being precious to them. Clara was the 12th Doctor's first face. Much like Amelia Pond was the 11th's.

I actually talked to Peter about this episode at awesome con in DC about 7 or 8 years ago. I told him by far I believe that heaven scent is some of your best work on Doctor who and a superbly written episode. I asked him how it was for the most part acting completely by yourself and monologuing for the most part the entire episode. He agreed with me that he thinks that this is one of the best episodes in his run. And he said that it came down to the writing and how well it was written that it was so much fun to do if he said even though I was by myself. It was great talking to him about the episode and hearing how much he loved it and it was really nice to sit and talk to Peter capaldi he was very kind and just a wonderful person.

This episode needs a S+ rank it's that good

I wonder if after all those years the Veil was even paying attention or if it was just another Tuesday. Like, it's zoning out and just trudging along 😂

Great review of Heaven Sent! This is the best story out of Post High School and this is my favorite story out of the Peter Capaldi Era. I will admit I think this story deserved an Emmy back then. I have to say I think this story does a great job exploring grief and having no other actors in this story makes this an interesting watch. I will admit I was really surprised to see Gallifrey and I was like no way. I really love the soundtrack by Murray Gold, and it is outstanding and the direction by Rachel Talalay is amazing and outstanding.

It's not mocking him; it's restoring and raising the stakes. It's reminding us that the Doctor does have limits, and it gives us back the drama that the show tends to lose when our hero seems too superhuman.

I feel Capaldi didn’t really get the material to work with most of the time, but the occasions he did were brilliant. Other example being World Enough and Time, also directed by Rachel Talalay. You need a sense of real risk. This is without doubt my favourite episode of Doctor Who.

I went through a BIG breakup & lost my father this summer, I re watched heaven sent and connected with the doctor on a totally different level, (im doing better but still havent broken through the wall) this is such a special one. Thanks for another great review harbo ♡

Peter gave it all on this episode. He was the best when it comes to speeches, he puts so much emotion behind every word that it's stunning. I just love 12th.

I just rewatched the episode for the first time in years, it was a masterpiece, best episode of the show hands down

This will always be my absolute favourite episode of Doctor Who. I've watched a lot of episodes multiple times but this episode tops the list for the amount of rewatches I've done. There's just something so special and so unique about it that makes me gravitate to it so heavily. Absolutely phenomenally good episode.

I want to believe that one day I will be surprised, but deep down I know, there is never going to be an episode as good as this one. Everything that comes after is just fighting for second place. It's not just because the script, direction, acting and oh god that music is all perfect. It came at a very crucial point in my life, I never look to see myself represented on screen, but it did represent all the feelings I was going through at the time. The only difference being I am still punching that wall inside my very own prison from hell, and I know I won't have the time to break through it. So it was cathartic to see someone get out.

Still my favorite episode of Doctor Who ever. I don't think it'll ever be surpassed.

Perfect timing. Happy 60th birthday Doctor Who! The sixtieth second of eternity has passed! :D

I’ve really loved returning to the Capaldi era alongside your reviews! Revisiting such great episodes can only be improved by following them up with a solid review each time!

This is the most beautiful episode of doctor who and maybe one of the most beautiful episodes of any show ever. I love this episode more than anything

When I first watched this episode I hated it, didn't understand it whatsoever and thought it was dull and boring. But then on the first ever rewatch it hit me how amazing and thought provoking the episode was. I think going through loss between the first and second viewings really made it that much more relatable and so beautiful, truly a perfectly crafted episode

It will always be a timeless masterpiece .It can not be matched .

I haven't ever really followed Doctor Who, but got wind of this episode the other day. I know it's part of a trilogy, but it's actually fantastic as a standalone. I've just been sitting here thinking of all the things I could say about it, it's just brilliant.

I don't comment on many video's but you definitely earmed a very well done from me, i can imagine this took a while for you to write/record/edit and I'm looking forward to the next 1. 👍

I just want to say this episode was great and I love how if your paying attention you can predict where the doc is along side him. Sure he’s running thousands of calculations in his head at the same time but you can’t tell me as soon as he got to the teleportation room he knew it was galifreyan in orgin. It screams Timelord tech

I always felt Dr Who opponent not only represented death ☠️ but an allegory for depression. When you are going through the thickness of the seven stages of grief that is the embodiment and weight of true depression. I loved your analysis 🎉on this episode it was well thought 💭 out and explained. Thought provoking as 🎉well

Lets not forget, capaldi is just amazing af

I'm not a big fan of the way Moffatt handles season-long narratives (or female characters!), but when it comes to episodes like The Empty Child or Heaven Sent, I've really got to give it up to the man 👏🏼 He is a talent

One of my most fondly remembered 12 episodes. I think it's definitely one of the best of the show

Heaven Sent is, quite possibly, THE best episode of Doctor Who I've EVER seen! Aaaand it's near impossible to recommend to friends who aren't already Who fans because of how much context is kinda... required? Like, individual moments aren't what's needed. The ENTIRE Clara arc is practically required because otherwise you don't understand the Doctor's pain and grief!

I don't think he would have given up and died in the water, as it was his body that provided the matter for his next iteration. If he died in the water, there would have never been a "Next" doctor.

It's a funny joke about naked doctor but I don't think it's right , I think the point was the skull in the water are always the one that the doctor leaves on the battlement that falls . Which is why they show it a few times in the montage , every skull in there is from the doctors sacrifice to load a previous version of himself

You mention that some of the skulls must have been from Doctors who drowned, they can't be. The implication of the episode is that every sequence plays out pretty much exactly the same. Otherwise there wouldn't be another Doctor. He *must* end the sequence with burning himself to power up the teleporter to make a new version of him. He never dies anywhere other than right there by the teleporter.

HAPPY WHO DAAAAAY

Thank you for this video. I couldn't agree more that this is not merely (arguably) the best episode of Doctor Who, but possibly the best television episode that's ever been made. It was certainly the best I've ever seen. It was the reason I started watching Doctor Who--I'd seen little snippets from it in RU-vid videos, hunted down a sort of bootleg place I could watch it, visually reversed, and was completely blown away. I immediately went to Amazon and bought Series 1 and then when I finished that, Series 2, and then after that, Series 3, and then...well, you get the idea. And yesterday, I watched The Star Beast, so, I have not lost my interest in the slightest. And of all the people who discuss Doctor Who or react to episodes, your reviews and discussions are the most thorough and deep and thought-provoking and interesting that I have found. Even on those rare occasions when I disagree with your opinion on something, I deeply respect your thoughtfulness and care and knowledge. Bravo.

This episode hit me like a wall of azbamtium when I was randomly binging doctor who munching on some snacks one afternoon

Thank you for such an amazing review of my favourite new era Doctor Who story. Best review I've seen.

You know its a good episode when the review is almost equally as long

Great episode indeed, though i can't stop thinking about the fact that all these billions of years don't make much sense. Because as doctor gets constantly rebooted, his memories don't transfer to new version. Sure, we as viewers can perceive this spiral and billions of years, but from doctor's perspective - he finds 12th room and finishes already broken enough wall from first try, instead of struggling for insane amount of time. It's actually his master mind that shines here, as his original version manages to design and start the spiral.

There is literally only one bad thing I can say about Heaven Sent, and that is that it is slightly ruined by the ways that Hell Bent undercuts it. Once again, insisting on how important Clara is wrecks things.

Especially in the better Doctor Who stories by Moffat, the Doctor _is_ basically a fairytale character. Of course he can outwit and outthink his enemies and make psychic links with wooden doors, he’s the Doctor. The struggle for him lies in the mental and emotional damage he has to endure, the question of “Can he still keep going despite everything that’s happened to him?” Doctor Who is a show where main characters are almost guaranteed to make it through the day…9 times out of 10, So the stories _should_ revolve around the emotions and internal situations the characters are going through, represented as physical obstacles. Doctor who is really good at this sort of thing because of how versatile it is and stories like Heaven Sent will always be right up my alley.

Nearly 10 years and Heaven Sent is locked in my head

9:55 - The Doctor said the day after the death WASN'T the hardest

Eleven and Twelve are particularly special for me because in 2019 I had lost my gf to murder and both helped me heal. Twelve's grief was far too relatable for me. So Heaven Sent holds a very very special place in my heart for the lessons it taught me

24:20 it’s impossible that any version of twelve wouldn’t make it out of the water cause otherwise there would be no energy to produce the next version

Your timing is top-notch! This was the PERFECT episode to review on the PERFECT day!

I remember watching "The Zygon Inversion" and thinking "Wow! This is an amazing monolog! Capaldi can really act!!!".....little did I know what was in store with this episode!

Idk if anyone else has noticed this but there's a VFX spoof on the DVD idk if it's in other versions but in a scene where Capaldi is talking to the veil on the tower there's a scene where the veil's hand looks like someone made a mistake in the greenscreen editing, it's slightly see through on the edge

Like you said, I've been waiting for this one since you started the series. This was worth the wait, thanks for the content!

Peter Capaldi was incredible as The Doctor. OK some episodes were ropey and badly-written (especially the very next episode Hell Bent...) but look back at Tennant and Smith - they had awful episodes too. I feel in the long run Capaldi's high points were higher and more memorable - nobody could deliver a speech like 12. I don't doubt we'll have some great Doctors to come, but I feel for many years 12 will always be up in the top three of any poll of Best Doctor Ever

I remember when this aired. When the montage happened and we saw the cycle all sped up, I just sat there thinking "this is incredible".

Been doing a rewatch of Doctor who since we got the 14th and 15th Doctor. So its good to see these breakdowns of where the character is at an emotional and story level. Since your caught up with a lot of expanded media, and are very well versed, more easter eggs please!!

I don’t know about all time best, but it’s definitely a top 5 for me. This episode is what happens when you bring the phrases “do a lot with very little” and “show, don’t tell” to life in its purest form possible. This entire episode along with the speech in “Zygon Inversion” are what stole my silver medal from David Tennant and moved to Peter Capaldi.

I was relatively disconnected with the opinions of the fandom when I first saw this episode and it has still remained my favorite ever episode of the series because it was just a great character study of The Doctor. Through talking to others, I only found more things to enjoy about it. Moffat has a lot of problems with his run as head writer (infinitely less than Chibnall did tho. It's just sad that he was the head writer for the first female doctor bc we deserved WAY better for that for the first woman to every play the role. Praying for the 2nd woman doctor to get an amazing run because the fans deserve that), but despite all that he wrote the episode I have revisited the most. Also this video was the first time I realized the monster was called "The Veil"

I'd make an S+ rank just for this one. It's in a league of its own.

I think you said early on the doctor probably drew the picture of clara but then later you talk about how the rooms reset and the doctor can't leave a mark, so how did he leave behind the picture? or the clothes and skulls for that matter? Somethings get left and some dont? Who or what decides what gets left behind and why those specific things?

they filmed a lot of those scenes in Cardiff Castle and honestly actually being there gives you shivers, the episode doesn't do the architecture justice.

Heaven Sent is really one of the episodes that makes me really have to think if Twelve is actually my favorite of the New Doctors and not Ten. Just a really fantastic episode.

And there we are! Been a while now, what a grest series! (Your reviews are also alright)

Capaldi is so underrated as the doctor, like damn

What to say, it's heaven sent.

I cried several times throughout this episode. Coming off the heels of a terrible episode and a relatively weak season I wasn't ready for such a masterpiece.

Brilliant Work.

Even though I started watching DW with Matt Smith, I must say Peter Capaldi is the best doctor ever ✅

I’ll definitely have to watch both again, but after your review, “Heaven Sent” really reminds me of the Adventure Time episode “Hall Of Egress”

Heaven sent is the dr who episode that deserves Peter Capaldi. Its the only episode in his run that makes full use of the overwhelming potential of his incarnation of the doctor and his acting talents. And how good it is is probably a big part of why i hated season 10 so much.

Peter Capaldi really had his chance to shine as an actor in this episode. he did an amazing job. this episode only worked because Peter Capaldi is such an amazing actor!

Imagine trading your life for a drop kick like Rigsby. Heaven sent is a great episode.

Not only did this come up as im dealing with grief after losing my (super) senior cat Molly and been struggling to want to keep going for multiple reasons already It's another thing that makes me go oh wow he's way more relatable than I'm comfortable with lol

An absolutely beautiful episode and easily a Top 10. I also love how the title sequence has to hold on "Peter Capaldi" for like 15 seconds. Very jarring but badass

Always love your videos and break down. This is truly an S+ episode of Doctor Who.

You didn’t feel like giving it a 4/10 then? 😏

Gotta love the 12th doctor.

He never died in the water. If he did, he wouldn't have been able to recharge the teleporter.

“For once Rose, EVERYBODY LIVES!!!”

Seeing the snail from your window...