Hell Bent- The Extraction Chamber Scene

We are in the 8th anniversary of the Doctor Who episode Hell Bent. I hope to eventually write about Heaven Sent and Hell Bent together and really go into the themes of the Doctor/Clara arc. However, right now, I want to talk about certain scenes within Hell Bent that I love. These scenes really stand out to me, personally, and I want to make a post about each of them.

The first scene that I want to discuss is the Extraction Chamber scene. The Twelfth Doctor uses the extraction chamber to pull Clara to Gallifrey a second before her death.  He does this under the guise of needing information for the Hybrid.  Clara is very confused when she comes through the chamber door, and she starts to notice something very funny about her hearing. The General pushes Twelve to tell Clara what is happening, and Twelve eventually tells Clara that she's not hearing her heartbeat anymore.  The General proceeds to tell Clara that her death is a fixed point in Time, and therefore, it can't be changed.  You can start to see the anger in Twelve starting to boil over as the General is speaking to Clara. He then punches the General and takes his gun.  Twelve stares down the General  and declares:

"I will not let Clara die."

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Clara slowly approaches him, because she can see that he's on the edge. She takes his hand and tells him that she doesn't want this from him. However, he's not listening to her.  He has such a look of anger and determination on his face as he stares at the General.

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The General has a look of resignation on his face as he knows the Doctor is going to do it.  Then Twelve does it and pulls the trigger.  I love this scene, because you can see his anger building up before he goes into action.  He doesn't want to hear or face that Clara's death has to happen. The Universe needs her death to happen.  It's wonderfully acted by Peter Capaldi.

A Doctor Who Golden Moment: A Student Confronts Her Teacher

     The relationship between the Doctor and his Companion is the cornerstone or heart of Doctor Who. I think some of the strongest and most enjoyable seasons have a good Doctor/Companion relationship at its center.  I am a firm believer that one of the key facets of that relationship is a good confrontation scene. It really makes sense if you think about it, because we have individuals with vastly different life experiences. One member of the relationship has lived multiple lives and is over 1000 years old, and if we stick strictly to Revival Doctor Who, then the other member of the relationship is a human most likely under the age of 50. They shouldn’t see eye to eye in every situation.  The Companions shouldn’t always agree with the decisions the Doctor makes as their own biases, beliefs, and experiences would inform their perspectives.  These confrontations push the relationship forward.  It changes their relationship and brings a depth to it, because it creates understanding between the characters.  There have been quite a few great confrontation scenes, and I have chosen such a scene as my Golden Moment.  It’s from the S10 episode “Thin Ice.”

    Bill and the Doctor are in Victorian England where she has just witnessed someone die for the first time.  It wasn’t simply that it was the first death that she witnessed, but it was also the death of a child.  This shocking experience was compounded by the fact that her teacher and mentor appeared completely unfazed by what happened.  She wonders how many people he must have seen die that one more death is inconsequential to him.  He explains that he does care but he moves on.  Noticing a certain look in his eyes, she then goes deeper and asks if he’s ever killed anyone. After he tries to beat around the bush, she insists upon a simple yes or no answer.  He replies ‘yes,’ and she asks how many.  The Doctor doesn’t answer. He just stares at her, and she responds derisively “Let me guess. You’ve moved on.”   He tells her that if he doesn’t move on then more people will die. There are children still in danger that need their help. This argument between them helps Bill understand that it isn’t that the Doctor doesn’t care. It’s about the Doctor not wasting time wallowing or rending his clothes in anguish when he can do something productive to stop whatever is happening and at least save others.

    This scene, this argument, this confrontation helped make the relationship between the Doctor and Bill feel more real. There is more of an understanding between them, a connection, a common goal. It’s an important step in the growing depth of this relationship.  This is the reason it’s a golden moment for me.

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A Doctor Who Golden Moment: A Hug Between Friends

    The Twelfth Doctor was often described as grumpy during his first season.  He could appear very harsh on a surface level with attack eyebrows to round out the picture.  Physical affection was not within his comfort zone, and yet, the affection between the Doctor and his companion, Clara, was clear to see.  Scattered throughout the season were moments that highlighted the closeness of their relationship, and the episode ‘Listen’ contains such a moment.

    Listen is written by showrunner Steven Moffat, and it’s a very interesting and unique episode. It is entirely about the Doctor in search of a dream. Or nightmare.  The villain or monster of the episode isn’t an alien or a human.  The villain of this episode is fear. What’s hiding underneath your bed? That’s the question the Doctor is trying to answer.  The end of the episode finds Clara staring at the Doctor with a little bit more understanding due to the events of the episode. She slowly approaches him and gives him a hug.  Since physical intimacy is not in his comfort zone, the Doctor does not reciprocate the hug.  He bunches up and says:

“Not the hugging. No. No. I’m against the hugging. Please.”

    However, what is wonderful about this interaction is Clara’s response to the Doctor’s protestations.  She holds on tight while smiling and laughing as he tries to back away. It’s such a great moment because it is a glimpse into their friendship and relationship.  I believe you act this way with your best friend.  You act the way Clara does when you are very comfortable with the other person.  This moment shows there is affection and a bond between them even though the Doctor is uncomfortable with physical affection.  An unspoken love that can’t be denied. This is why this scene is a golden moment for me.

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