Doctor Who: ‘Hell Bent’

(Suggested by @GirlyLetters)

Pressed to pick a favourite Talalay who moment, our Whovian Twitter friend @GirlyLetters turned to the second part of what’s essentially a two-part story following on from ‘Heaven Sent’ – ‘Hell Bent’. Specifically, a scene they felt typifies why they like her work so much.

“It was difficult to choose a moment of Doctor Who Rachel Talalay directed that I like best, because I like so many of her moments. I will say that Talalay always takes care with her cinematographer, arranging lighting and angles to film Peter Capaldi in the most flattering way.

No other Doctor Who director does this to her extent, in my opinion. I say this as a big fan of Peter Capaldi.

Based on that premise, I would choose the scene Talalay filmed in Fuerteventura of the Doctor eating soup outdoors at a table outside the barn when he’s interrupted by a hovering Sky Tank with a voice demanding for him to come to the capitol.

Talalay and her cinematographer, Stuart Biddlecombe, used the natural dessert lighting and camera angles to full effect to make the Doctor look radiant and heroic. This is the scene where the Doctor quietly draws a line in the sand and turns his back on the Sky Tank. I don’t think another director would have filmed this scene more effectively and beautifully, portraying the tension of the scene and the Doctor’s quiet determination.”

Far from being the tour de force’s predecessor was in terms of concept and script, ‘Hell Bent’ is still extremely watchable on look and feel alone. The reddish hue of Gallifrey gives it a distinctive look that allows it to be easily picked out from the crowd. What’s more, as the earlier comments explain, it’s essentially the definitive fan statement in terms of Peter Capaldi’s on-screen persona in the role. The last two minutes, especially so.

You can read our full episode guide for Doctor Who season 10, including details on Rachel Talalay’s ‘The World and Enough Time’ and ‘The Doctor Falls’  here.