Reaction, Doctor Who, 9x12, Gallifrey Gals Get Wibbly Wobbly! S9Ep12, Hell Bent 

jenna coleman saying "four and a half billion years" will never not wreck me

I love this episode because it is such a contrast to the previous one. The Doctor imagines Clara telling him to get up and win, but the next episode the *real* Clara is horrified and asks why he would do that to himself. It's such a brilliant reversal of scenes, and absolutely highlights that, being so bad for each other, they are both so similar and yet don't understand each other.

I love the subtlety of the writing here too. In Heaven Sent, the Doctor realizes at the end of each time through the loop that he's been repeating it, and WANTS to give in, to quit. And he's told by Clara to stop feeling sorry for himself, to get up off his ass, and win. But that's not the real Clara; it's the one in his mind palace. From a kind of dream analysis perspective, that's not really her, it's how he thinks of her. In this episode, the Real Clara is *horrified* by what he did, what he put himself through, just to save her, and after she'd demanded he not take vengeance on whoever it was that provoked that entire situation.

I've heard many fans complain about Clara's death (in Face the Raven) being Yet Another fakeout, but I think the Doctor not being able to let her go, and essentially snapping after 4.5 billion years makes.. a lot of sense. Yeah, Clara died because of her own decisions, like Me said, but at the core of it, it was quite senseless. She died as a seemingly almost unrelated consequence of the Time Lords trying to coerce information out of the Doctor, that they believed was critical to their survival, *just* because they couldn't be bothered to try just asking him. No wonder he kinda lost it..

I kinda expected you guys to hate this episode but I’m glad you didn’t, I’ve always thought this episode was widely misunderstood. Series 9 is one of my favorites. Great vid you guys :)

"We're all ghosts to you." Moffat talked about this in a heartbreaking way in an interview. I can't remember the exact wording, but basically: The Doctor has adventures and on the good days goes and out and has fun with people from the distant past and far future, but sometimes, on the bad days, they sit in the TARDIS and think about how everybody outside the doors of the police box is, and always has been and will be, dead relative to their timeline. So Clara, like all companions, has always been dead, from the first moment we saw her to the last, and she's known it ever since Hide. The only distinction is that unlike most examples, we and the Doctor then see it happen.

I think you guys just hit upon in this episode why theres a disconnect with clara from some fans including yourselves on ocassion. "Clara's just a bad companion for the doctor." Thats the whole point. Every companion up to this point has been able to rein in the doctor and keep him grounded. I think that because of that theres a belief among doctor who fans that all companions must serve that function and i think thats just short sighted. I think its very interesting to give the doctor a companion that encourages him just as often as they rein him in. A toxic relationship for the doctor is a different direction and not bad writing. Here's my interpretation of the ending. Its clara still trying to be the doctor. She made the decision to travel at the end. The doctor didnt do that for her. Its like martha becoming a soldier like we see in end of time part 2 when shes married to mickey. Its just clara is more like the doctor than anyone else so its completely in character for her to make that choice.

I always liked this finale, the stakes are much lower compared to others, but I like the more personal aspect of it. It shows that a Doctor Who finale doesn't always have to be about the End of the World, it can just be an interesting character drama and it's just as compelling.

Hell Bent is a beautiful episode that needs so much more appreciation than it gets and I will die on this hill.

Clara was split across the Doctor's timeline when she jumped into it to save him in Name of the Doctor. Though I do quite like the idea that some of Clara's echoes are actually her traveling in her TARDIS across space and time.

This is one of my favorite season finales! I love Clara and this felt like a much more fitting send off for the impossible girl. I do wish that there had been a reveal that Clara took the sonic sunglasses with her in the end.

As Rassilon said, the Doctor could have left the confession dial at anytime - all he had to do was confess what he knew about the hybrid. But the Doctor refused to confess for four and a half billion years because he was furious at Rassilon for being the one who orchestrated this entire thing and killing Clara. Hence, "Get off my planet.", bringing Clara back and escaping Galifrey.

12:40 I said sort of the same thing in a comment on your Angels Take Manhattan reaction, but now I can explain in more detail without spoiling anything: The way I see it, 11 was on the verge of doing similar (i.e. ripping apart time and space) for Amy [and by extention, Rory] but through the letter in the last page of the book, she was able to tell him that she didn't actually need saving. Whereas for Clara, by the time she was able to say the same thing to the Doctor, he'd already saved her.

Eleven explained it before he regenerated... that every Time Lord gets to regenerate 12 times, and he had used all of his up. And then the Time Lords somehow gave him more through the crack in time.

i will never understand the hate for this episode, i think it's amazing and although i do understand that her 'face the raven' ending is better for her story arc, 1) that's still her chronological ending, 2) it's doctor who, all companions have to have somewhat of a happy ending (other than donna woops), and 3) it's well worth it for the scenes we get between 12 and clara and the charcter pieces of both characters this episode. it's interesting to see the doctor snap, he had no right to do what he did but he was acting out of anger and emotion and it's interesting to see! so many great scenes here, the diner scenes and the cloister scenes specifically, great acting moments, from jenna specifically, clara's face when she finds out it was 4.5billion years and her face when the doctor says "if he met her again he would absolutely know", heartbreaking and incredible. also love clara's line of "tomorrow is promised to no one, but i insist upon my past, i am entitled to that" also thought paula's comment of clara being a 'bad companion' for him because they encourage each other and she doesn't ground him is very interesting as i think that's exactly why people either love or hate clara. i personally love her and their relationship because it's interesting and new, but i suppose other people might hate that anyway rant over, i'm very passionate about this episode because i think it's great and overhated, i would've loved to hear katrina talk about why she doesn't like it as much but i guess i understand holding back when some people in the comments can't seem to grasp that different people have different opinions lmao. great reaction, sad series 9 is over!

Two favourite moments of this episode. "I had a duty of care" - the Doctor being unable to even comprehend how Clara doesn't understand why he would relive the same few weeks over and over just to save someone. And then the scene where he meets Ashildr in the fragment of Gallifrey's Cloister as the universe dies - he TOLD her the universe is a very small place when he is angry with you

The ending scene with 12 and the TARDIS is so beautiful

When Clara says: "These have been the best years of my life, and they are mine. Tomorrow is promised to no one, Doctor, but I insist upon my past. I am entitled to that. It's mine." -- it always makes me think that Moffat is making up a bit for the BS that was Donna's mind-wipe (which I'm still pissed about, tbf).

Literally the end of Clara and Me was an homage to hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy restaurant at the end of the universe

My favourite finale! Absolutely adore this story.

I think Clara is different to the Doctor. She is his impossible girl throughout his entire lifespan. Sure, he cared for all of his companions in different ways but... Clara knows him like no other. Like on River's level. She has seen every face of his and has been with him through everything regeneration helping him win. She knows him like no other and she has been with him all along. We don't get to see all of it, but the Doctor remembers it all. So after billions of years of course she would be the one person he will tear himself apart to save. She means more to him than people give her credit for. In my opinion, at least.

I never had a problem with this finale and was in fact surprised about the vitriol it attracted (even though vitriol was to become something of a recurring, nay persistent them amongst the fandom, or at least some of them). It does pale a little in comparison with the preceding episode, but I think that expecting it to top ‘Heaven Sent’ was at best unrealistic and at worst, just greedy!

Clara did the Impossible girl stuff in Name of the Doctor. That was it.

Paula: 12 regenerations, for a total of 13 incarnations, laid down in the classic serial "The Deadly Assassin". Subverted by the Time Lords themselves in "The Time of the Doctor", where they gave 11 a brand new set of regenerations. I like that the New Who producers didn't ignore the limit, set by the Classic series, but took some pains to provide an in-Universe explanation for its transgression.

While respecting the opinion of anyone who doesn't like this episode, personally I absolutely love it. A perfect ending to possibly the best series of NuWho, always of course IMHO. I'm very glad you didn't hate it 🙂

Paula’s is going to miss Moffat’s writing for what’s coming. And btw, River’s timeline makes perfect sense if you follow her timeline in a nonlinear way. After all, it’s a time travel show.

The thing that gets me about the goodbye scene? The Doctor wasn't giving her a goodbye speech. He was giving her instructions: "You're the Doctor now. here are the Rules of being The Doctor." Because when he says "You're just like me", it's not a compliment. Seeing this reaction, the moment that gets me is Me talking to The Doctor: "Clara died, billions of years ago. It wasn't because of me, and it wasn't because of you. She died because of who she was, and who she loved." Knowing that Clara and Me could have run around the universe for a billion years first? It makes me wonder how the adventure ended, and when Clara finally came the long way round. Whatever they did together, it was enough that Me made sure she remembered it, billions of years later; and kept that appointment. Me can't remember her own kids, but she made sure to stick around to the last moments of the universe to give The Doctor that talking to.

The last embers of the universe. Or as I like to call it: Last orders at Millyways!

Paula’s likely about to be very angry in 3… 2.. 1.. Hmm I stand somewhat corrected. I will say this though, I don’t get the fixation some bring up on previous companions when 12 attempted to save Clara. Donna wasn’t dead; there’s nothing he could do for her. In fact 10 chose for her to wipe her memory against her protests to keep her alive. 11 tried desperately to convince Amy to stay with him; but as we know she made her Choice about that along time prior, there’s nothing that could have been changed there. Clara was the only (modern) companion he could have done something, and like you said in reaction, his hyper fixation on that caused the decisions he made. Also he didn’t have access to Gallifreian tech any of those times. LOL about that last bit Paula said about missing a certain someone what timing HAHAHA

Clara goes back in time and convinces everyone that she's Queen Victoria for 2 or 3 seasons

I actually think Clara eventually went back to Gallifrey to be put back sooner rather than later. While she had the benefit of time standing still she knew that she can never be fully alive ever again. I don’t think she would want the Doctor carrying the burden of her dying/ being between her last heartbeats even though he can’t remember.

"I broke all my own rules. This is right..."

Oooohhh, I can't wait for Paula's reaction to next weeks episode now!

Clara actually became the impossible girl in "The Name of the Doctor" when she jumped into his time stream. T

Important fact about this episode - Clara is still dead, she will be dead, she stays dead, this is just a vestige of her going "long way home". But at the end of the day - she has to face the Raven, as she already did it in the past. And when she does it - her soul will get ripped out and consumed by the Raven. One of the worst ends for any of the companions. Especially, if you consider thousands of lifes spend to save the Doctor. Which is kinda like what just happened to Doctor - a billion lifes to "save" Clara and Hmself. 9:45 Reminder this is the dinner from episode where River kills the Doctor. 12:45 Wait... Husbands is next. That will be amazing.

I feel like this episode gets a bit of unfair hate. It has its problems sure, but I think overall it’s a decent finale. Having it immediately after the amazing last episode certainly doesn’t help it.

#12:20 "the time line with river doesn't make any sense"... and Katrina's poker face activated. Though she looked at the camera twice as if... can you believe her... oh well... nothing I can do about that. :)

Ohhh I've been waiting for the next episode since August ahhhh

I like to think that The Doctor knew the device would backfire. That he knew that Clara would go off with Ashildr and have their own adventures before doing the right thing. This way, Ashildr gets what she wanted and Clara would still get to be who she truly is. That's how I accept this story, and it allows for so much to be written from it.

“If I met her again, I’d absolutely know.”

It’s implied the doctor have a special connection to the first person he sees when he regenerate.

four and a half billion years of torture has to have an effect

It's a mirror to that scene where Clara held the Doctor hostage over Danny. First companions imprint on a Doctor. The 12 Doctor is Scottish because Amy was. Her he is becoming like Clara just as the Clara had previously begun acting like the Doctor.

Wow, Paula actually turned me around on this episode. The whole Clara is a bad companion (story-wise, not character-wise) because she encourages The Doctor’s worse impulses. It’s probably why Missy put them together. Also great, Katrina’s reaction to Capaldi’s new Sonic. It’s my favorite one.

Can't wait for you two to get into series 10. I quite like that season.

I've watched you both since the beginning! Thank you so much for making this journey. Looking forward to joining you on the specials and series 10.

The BEST episode ever is next.. I cannot wait to see it. I watched it Xmas day with my mom, it was beautiful and sad and happy

Here in the UK, Jenna Coleman has done a Christmas advertisement/commercial for the Boots store. It's a sort of mixture of Clara and Mary Poppins. You should hopefully be able to find it on RU-vid as many Americans have reacted to it.

WHAT!! Clara in this Episode. I was shocked and stunned. Can you believe I was stunned and shocked. Ha! Ha! More Great Reactions girls. By the way did I tell you about the time I visited BBC Wales when they were making Series 9 . I was standing in the corridore when Jenna appeared eating something from a paper bag. She saw me looking and handed me a dried Date. You could say I had a Date with Jenna.

I thought you would hate this episode tbh. I think you are forgetting some story from Matt Smith’s final series though. 11 was the last regeneration of his cycle so was given more regenerations by the timelords. And Clara went into The Doctor’s timestream in his grave which split her among all of his life.

I just assume that Clara wraps up lose ends and checks a couple things off the bucket list and goes back. I don't get the feeling that she's off having a allot of adventures.

Clara has no heartbeat. I can only imagine that the lack of adrenaline rush would lead her to quit travelling quite sooner than you'd think and she'd go back to the raven. She doesn't really get to enjoy her time and is not really better than what the other companions have. We saw with Ashildr what accidental immortality can do, and immortal Clara with no heartbeat is not a nice existence.

As much as I love this episode, the next one is the one I’m waiting for

Great work, keep it up. Makes me feel ok about getting emotional :)

So this episode finally gives us a clue on how the Orson Pink paradox from season 8 can be resolved. Remember when Clara and the Doctor rescued Orson Pink and he looked a lot like Danny Pink and said that Clara looked a lot like his grandmother, who had told stories about her life as a time traveler? At the time we thought that this meant that Clara and Danny would hook up, have children and that granny Clara would tell her grand kids about her travels with the Doctor. But then Danny got killed without Clara having become pregnant and even though they teased a resurrection for Danny, that never materialized. So Orson Pink was left as a sort of paradox at the end of season 8. So that could have been resolved through some time travel shenanigans just before Clara left the show or through a earlier deposit of Danny's in a sperm bank. Bu then Clara died and any chance of a Orson Pink paradox resolution seemed impossible. But with Clara getting her hands on a TARDIS, she is actually now a time traveler in her own right and has the option of visiting Danny before his death, somehow getting pregnant (the stopped body clock is a possible roadblock though) and thus resolving the Orson Pink paradox. Since Orson never said anything about his grandfather, we can assume that Clara left the death of Danny alone. I'm not sure that Moffat had this planned out from the start, or this is just some housekeeping he had to do in order to fix the paradox he created with the Danny Pink death. He probably knows, but I'm sure that he wouldn't reveal this.

It's amazing how many people miss the glaring romantic subtext to TwelvexClara. The man literally had a giant painting of her inside his confession dial. He canonically wrote "Clara's Theme".

Hell Bent tears...yes I've shed a few of those too

For a between-seasons watch, have you considered the Paul McGann TV Movie? It takes place over New Year’s 1999, so it’d mesh well with the calendar…two Xmas specials, and then a New Year’s one.

Even though it only lasted one season the first episode of the Class should be next.

The Doctor became President of Gallifrey during an old "Classic" Who story called "The invasion of time".

Oh, I ready to see the reaction for the next Christmas episode!

Well, with this video I've caught up where I left the series originally, I'm going to have to start watching the episodes now before continuing the reactions. Thanks for giving me a reason to do so!

Two cool women watching a great series, why wouldn't we watch!

"I think Clara might actually be dead by the way"

The reason a lot of people love 12 and Clara is because unlike other doctor companion stories, there’s is so toxic yet beautiful. There destined to never be compatible even though both will it to be so. It’s beautiful and tragic at the same time and capaldi and Coleman are so wonderful together. 12 and Clara are my favourite doctor companion and the fact that they both realise it’s toxic and decide it’s best to part ways always gets me, we’ve all had toxic friendships, relationships, imagine if they ended like that with both parties agreeing to remember the good but acknowledge the bad and part ways. We would have more healthier and happier people in the world. Also let’s not forget this partnership was arranged by missy the lover of chaos, and people wonder why so many of the fan base can’t agree on Clara. Moffat did so good so bloody good. Clara might have started out with 11 but my god was she 12s companion in the end

Before we start watching this I think we all know how pissed of Paula is going to be to see Clara alive haha

"Run, you stupid old man. And forget me."

you now have my favourıte Christmas special coming up!

This was the reverse Donna. Memory wipe.

I just realized ya'll are going to be watching christmas specials at christmas time.

I always thought because it was a time lord memory-eraser it got rid of his memory’s across all time, that’s why the old doctors never remembered seeing her until the dalek asylum and things get wibbly 🤔

Paula's new eyeglasses are in IMAX aspect ratio, perfect for a movie reactor!

Yay! Gallifrey Gals: season ender! Woo hoo!

This show is literally my happy place. I've really enjoyed watching you guys react to the show!

i am rly confused katrina not answering the "did they only get a certain number of regenerations" question and of paula asking it xD matt smiths doctor ran out of regenerations cause you only have 12! and then he got gifted 12 more by the timelords via the rift come on it was the huge finaly of a season guys xD

Katrina's face when Paula brought up River lol.

I like Paula's idea that this is actually the start of Clara's time traveling adventures. And we should remember this isn't the first time Clara has died while with The Doctor. Always laugh at the part about stealing a T.A.R.D.I.S. and running away.

I think you make some good points, that the show echoes, about how Clara as a companion is someone who enables The Doctor as opposed to reigning him in. And of course that's what Missy wanted; that's why she chose Clara. That's why Clara is both the Magician's Apprentice and the Witch's Familiar. Looking back at that one you can see that Missy wants to know how The Doctor will take Clara's death and how extreme that can make him. All the other near-deaths throughout Series 9 are kind of ominously foreshadowing what this will do to him. And that's Missy's endgame, as stated in Death in Heaven, she wants him to realize that he's not so different from her. I always thought "Lady Me and the Impossible Girl" would've made a good title for a spinoff. Maybe they can do an audio drama or comic about it someday.

It's always been my headcanon (based on absolutely nothing but my own hopes and dreams) that at some point on their adventures Clara an Me run into Jenny (yk, the Doctor's daughter) and they become this travelling trio of cool badass women who do essentially what the Doctor does, travelling through time and space, running and saving people. And then at some point, somewhere, during some crisis, the Doctor (ideally 13 or later) and some new companion(s) arrive and the Doctor starts doing their thing, taking charge (or trying to at least), idk trying to get people to evacuate or something, and in comes Jenny, already on it, directing people to the exits and the Doctor just stops and stares. The companion(s) is/are like 'wth, do you know her?' and right when the monster of the week bursts in Jenny grabs the Doctor's hand and just shouts 'RUN!!' And once they've escaped the immediate danger, she walks them back to their Tardis and the Doctor is too stunned to speak the entire time and Jenny's chatting away with the companions about whatever the current crisis is and eventually they get there and Jenny is like 'hey Clara! Me! I found some people who're not from around here!' and they turn around and are like 😲 and the Doctor gets to have a reunion with his daughter and Clara and Me and it's amazing. Oh and they save the day together or whatever. If anyone wants to make a fic out of this, feel free, I don't have the writing skill to do it well myself.

I understand people being annoyed that Clara was brought out before death, but she does actually die. She must return to that point. I am okay with it because it allowed all the rest of the amazing stuff to happen. Four and half billion years! I had a duty of care. Wow.

Another quality cat video!

I assumed she took the long way round just to ready the tardis then go back to gallifrey. Earlier in an episode the Doctor said you don't know if something is an addiction until you give it up. Well 4 and half billion years later he still couldn't handle her loss.

I really enjoyed Clara this season. She grew into an incredibly strong character. Next season has by far the best companion of the Capaldi era and some of his best stories too.

If Jenna Colman ever agrees to do big finish audios the there will definitely be a Clara spin of box set given that ending and the fact that Rose, Dona, Martha, Christina de Souza, Missy, the War Master, River and The Paternoster Gang all have there own spin offs already.

“Run you clever boy, and be a doctor.”

I'm so glad that you enjoyed this one. I saw that smile, Paula... you liked it! 🙂I was a little worried you'd not like it - what with another Clara death revival. I think the story and writing these last 3 episodes was really good though so that's probably why. Moffat really pulled back around with Clara and I loved seeing it. Clara is actually my favorite companion (or, at least my favorite duo companion. my favorite grouping though is The Doctor, Amy, Rory, and River - the family element makes it so much more special, imo) but I was disappointed by the choices made for her character in series 8. I think he really brought it back around with her. OMG, Face the Raven had me sobbing the first time I watched it. It was beautiful, though. I would have been satisfied with that being her death and final scene in DW. There was so much emotion and power in her talk with the Doctor and then in her acceptance of her death. It was really powerful and I think was rather fitting for her character to die in someone else's place. But even in this episode after being pulled from time and saved from death again, just about every time she was on screen it felt so powerful and emotional. Couldn't be upset by yet another Clara revival. It was all just too beautiful. This is the Moffat I know and love!

Love the reaction definitely looking forward to the special Paula will probably have mixed feelings about it from beginning to end

This is my 2nd favorite Doctor Who episode. I cry every time.....

How did I never realize that 12’s goodbye to Clara was the Doctor’s Oath, she really is a little mini Doctor

Katrina's subtle looks to camera at certain 'points' during Paula's waffling give. me. LIFE!

Awesome episode. I just wish the Doctor/Gallifray stuff could have been it’s own thing. How epic was it when The Curator revealed to Matt Smith’s Doctor that Gallifrey is still out there. How many years have we been waiting for The Doctor and Rassilon to meet again since Season 4. How great would it be to really explore Galifray. Does The Doctor have family? Now it finally happens and it’s all about Clara….again….

if going for a classic i would suggest Ghost Light

While I'm not a huge fan of Heaven Sent. I FREAKING LOVE Hell Bent. Not only because of Capaldi's acting against Maise and Jenna. Not only for the Gallifrey stuff(the return of Rassilon, the return of the General from Day of The Doctor, The Doctor as Lord President of Gallifrey), and not because WE FINALLY have a unique Tardis interior for 12(and he has a Sonic). But because for me, this is where Capaldi finally started to be comfortable as the Doctor(ik people like myself have been loving his past 2 series, but this is where he started to claim the Doctor as his). That is a good head canon that you have Paula, I never actually considered it in that way. I can't wait for Paula to experience the specials(they are as pointed out in the gift vid my favorite episodes of the Who reboot)

So Clara is dead, sort of, kind of, perhaps. Well, So that's that the end of series 9. Interesting explanation Paula, when I first watched this one I was shaking my fist at Moffat because I thought Clara's "death" was wonderful, then it turned out well, she was in this kind of strange not alive but still "living" as such thing. Don't get me wrong I like the episode over all it's just the death fake out thing although to be honest while I was shaking my fist at Moffat I thought to myself that I shouldn't be too mad, it was to be expected and is just a show but still when Clara's "death" was so wonderfully written it is a shame, that being said this episode is still allot better then others that I won't mention due to spoilers for both classic and new who.

RE. an Ashlr/Me + Clara spin-off series: don't count out Big Finish audios . . .

The issue I have with Moffat he doesn't let his characters stay dead if Clara wasnt brought back and he actually kept her dead I would have had an emotional impact unfortunately I don't for Clara.

Did you notice how much Ashilda's memory improved in 4&1/2 billion years? She must have taken Luminosity. Anyway, Peter's got a new sonic in Tardis Blue!

The rebuke of Rassilon . . . so good.

4:20 This is one reason why I love this episode so much. I will remember this dialogue until the next family member dies. And in case, I'm ever gonna have kids (🤞 38 and still no potential wife in sight 😭), I will remember this until the day I die.....

They should have done a spinoff with Clara and Ashilda