WATCH ALONG | DOCTOR WHO | 9x10 | Face the Raven

"Clara... she'll blow away like smoke" - Me to The Doctor in The Woman Who Died She literally died with smoke coming out of her

Tommy

I haven’t been able to watch with you recently as I’ve been suffering from a relentless set of migraines (I know you get it lol, and I give you major props for managing to film ANYTHING with a migraine) but I managed to work my way through this episode :,) It’s not my favorite set up of all time but I truly adore the “realization” scene when everyone finds out what Clara had done and what it means. Capaldi and Coleman both gave incredible performances and nothing breaks me more than his little “what about me?”

Otso Casey-Stewart

This episode absolutely wrecked me, even though I'd been spoiled for it in advance. The absolute tragedy of Clara wanting so desperately to be like the Doctor, but being too 'breakable' to get away with being as reckless as he can be. Urgh! 💔 As a side note, I really hate the editing of the final scene. It just feels gratuitous and jarring to me. Such a shame after the stunning performances by Capaldi and Coleman in their last conversation.

Lois Lane

Had the tissues on standby for this episode for sure. The reaction of denial is so relatable though you were asking for angry Doctor so ask and Doctor Who shall provide 😁

Crystal

Urgh this episode. It's great but it breaks my heart. Clara's my favourite companion so this is a tough one for me. Still after all these years I have to cover the screen with my hand as the raven gets to her. And that final conversation between Clara and The Doctor was incredible. The way he grabbed her hand and kissed it was really moving. Jenna said that originally Moffat had written in a kiss there and an "I love you" confession but her and Peter felt that it wouldn't be right for their characters. The Doctor and Clara are in love but they're both scared of it, they're both so aware of how short and fragile life is and they're both so bad at expressing their feelings. So they thought that Clara telling The Doctor not to say anything because she already knows shows that they don't need to verbally say "I love you" because they both already know, their love is deeper than words. And the hand kiss is in a way much more intimate and means more than if they'd kissed on the lips. And I agree completely, I'm so glad that Peter and Jenna talked to Moffat and changed that because it's the perfect scene and it fits their characters. And it's crazy how this episode starts like any other random filler episode and then turns into one of the most important. I remember at the time we never expected a three part finale and definitely never expected Clara to die here. As for what happens next? You'll see next week of course. But I can't wait to see your reactions. That's really all I can say for now without spoiling things. 🙊

Siobhan Linehan

It was so great seeing you react to this completely unspoiled — the BBC put a few hefty spoilers in the trailers for both this season and next. For this episode, they included “Let me be brave,” which definitely softened the impact of that scene a bit. Your slow realization of what’s happening is priceless!

Nonna Nono

That's a bit of an expectation spoiler, be careful ;)

Clara Gros-Louis

Nonna Nono

There's a brief post-credits scene at the end of this episode that you should probably check out before you watch the next two episodes, in order to avoid some momentary confusion later... :-) I loved the ambition of this story -- it aims to make Clara's end a proper tragedy in the literary sense, meaning that end must come about as a direct consequence of a flaw in her character, namely the overconfidence and recklessness that has been growing during her time with the Doctor. There are some rough edges in the scripting, though: it's a bit too obvious that the long sequence with the man being executed for theft is there solely as exposition, to make sure we understand the raven's nature and power. (He's not even given a name, being credited only as "Chronolock Guy", so the attempted pathos at his fate falls rather flat.) More importantly, the plotting at the end is a little too arbitrary in the way the story contrives to ensure that Clara has no way out. For rather vague reasons, she can't now pass the death-mark to someone else even if they volunteer, and neither can Ashildr remove it now that its original victim no longer has it, since the change in the raven's contract has somehow "cut [her] out of the deal." As seen in previous companion departure stories like "The Angels Take Manhattan", the Doctor is such a powerful and capable character that the show sometimes strains to find a believable way to permanently separate a companion from him. But if we go along with the story's contention that there is no other possible outcome, then Capaldi and Coleman shine in that amazing climactic scene. Part of the reason the ending is so powerful is Murray Gold's music -- I think his work on these final season 9 episodes must rank at or near the top of his entire time with the show. Apart from obvious (but beautifully done) touches like the wistful melody of Clara's theme making a couple of telling appearances in a quiet rendition for piano, I loved his treatment of the inexorable slow march that accompanies Clara's final moments and soars to a climax as the raven strikes her (mercifully covering her dying scream). Ingeniously, this theme had been introduced earlier in the scene (at the point where she finally accepts her fate and begins looking beyond her imminent demise, ordering the Doctor not to take revenge) in a subdued, half-speed version, thereby giving the whole long sequence a musical progression alongside the dramatic one. Also very fine is the last poignant harmonic change, as the music resolves to a moment of quiet peace over the final shot looking down at her body lying on the ground.

Steven Cooper

Clara helped to save Ashildr's life and the lives of everyone she loved, and this is her reward? And for what, just so Ashildr / "Me" can remain "mayor" of her little street? This is so wrong on so many levels. Clara's death made me unbelievably angry at "Me". Like, physical rage that I felt crawling under my skin. She should have known better than to hand out a death sentence so casually, ESPECIALLY after her last story where she rekindled her care for the lives of others. What a fantastic story to get that reaction from me.

David Blau

As much as hate Clara dying I actually like that it wasn't during the finale. At the time we knew Jenna Coleman was leaving so we expected her departure, but we didn't expect it to happen this episode.

SeeJay

Yes that is who Rigsy was and I think most of us were thrown by this episode when it first started. I didn't remember who Rigsy was and was expecting a part 2 to Sleep No More so I had that same "am I watching the right episode" moment when I watched it

Patrick Killian

Here come the tears

Clara Gros-Louis

Rigsy was from the Flatline episode last season. There was also a post credit scene that you missed if you want to check it out.

Tommy