Hell Bent Trailer Breakdown
Connor Johnston and Mark McCullough take an in-depth look at the trailers for the Series 9 Finale.
It’s that time already! 11 episodes down and we’ve mourned the loss of a companion, revisited the home planet of the Daleks, saved the life of a frightened Viking girl, regained the morality of a troubled Highwaywoman, calmed an internal Zygon rebellion, battled the arrogance of the villainous Fisher King across various timelines, fought against an unknown but sandy threat and finally, found Gallifrey. Series 9 culminates in the epic hour-plus finale “Hell Bent” next weekend.
So let’s waste no more time and take an in-depth look at the epic and overwhelming “Next Time” and “TV” trailers which premiered at the conclusion of last night’s “Heaven Sent”.
Disclaimer: The following will be based on casting, filming, rumors and plain old speculation. In other words if you’ve been reading our “What We Know” post all year, you can safety read on. References to popular theories and points of speculation may be touched upon. In addition: obviously the breakdown will also feature spoilers for ‘Heaven Sent’ – please be advised not to read on if you haven’t seen the episode.
Note: As this breakdown will be simultaneously tackling both the Next Time trailer and the TV trailer for Hell Bent, the article will not be following a linear order of both of them given so many scenes connect across the two videos. Rest assured however, despite the wibbly wobbly ordering ALL scenes will be explored.
The first trailer opens with a spectacular view of the Galifreyan citadel from above. Honestly it’s so remarkably rewarding and satisfying to see a fully fledged, non-war torn landscape of Gallifrey after all these years of cameos and flashbacks. It goes without saying the CGI team really need to be commended, not just on this magnificent visual – but on the cinematic quality of the whole ninth series so far. Our opportunity to admire such an amazing landscape is cut short however, as are swept straight into the action and mystery of the plot. “The Hybrid….” begins Ashildr….
“Hello…. It’s Me”
Though somewhat of a logical assumption given the conclusion of “Face the Raven”, it still came as a substantial surprise to see Maisie Williams’ Ashildr making another return in the finale. Notice that she’s sitting on a leather armchair conversing with the Doctor, which links the clip to its environment showcased in the next frame. “I think it’s time to tell the truth” she continues, implying that the audience haven’t been given the full story, lending weight to the theory that the Doctor might have been referring to ‘Me’ not ‘me’ in the closing moments of “Heaven Sent”. The questions remain however: What is Ashlidr’s involvement with the Hybrid? How does she know so much? How has the Doctor refrained himself from strangling such a brilliant character to death in a violent revenge for Clara’s death?
The location of the Doctor and Ashildr’s standoff (sit-off?) is a glowing gold environment, hidden within the crumbling echoes of an ancient city or street – possibly Gallifreyan or a future version of the trap street. The passage is adorned with… (you guessed it!) Comfy Chairs!
“I know I went too far” confesses the Doctor, obviously (like myself) regretting spending too much at IKEA.
The Doctor and Ashildr continue their conversation among the ruins. “Is it true?” Ashildr asks. “She’s my friend” replies the Doctor – but who exactly is he speaking of? Missy? Clara? Adele? Chloe Webber?
We open up to yet another magnificent shot of Gallifrey, with the Doctor walking towards the outset of the main city. The visual is made up of an incredible effort by both the CGI department and the on location filming at Fuerteventura, detailed in this behind the scenes featurette.
“What’s he up to” we hear Donald Sumpter ask (whom many will recognise from Game of Thrones as Maester Luwin), credited as “The President” – but more on him later. The Doctor’s trek continues until he reaches his destination…
…The Barn! That’s right, you can hear the simultaneous jaws of Whovians around the world drop as we revisit the mysterious barn featured in both “The Day of the Doctor” and “Listen”.
Returning for the series finale is reoccurring Sisterhood of Karn priestess Ohila, played by Claire Higgins. Ohila previously appeared in “The Night of the Doctor”, the “Series 9 Prelude” and “The Magician’s Apprentice.” “I heard the Doctor had come home. One so loves fireworks” utters the high priestess – whom one can assume is addressing the High Council of Time Lords. Are we looking at a Inter-Galactic Security Council? Yes please!
It’s Back to the Barnyard™, with the Doctor now joined by a congregation of locals in the outskirts of rural Gallifrey. Honestly you have no idea the joy I have in being able to write words like ‘Rural Gallifrey’ for the first time in 10 years, it’s an addiction one could very much get used to. There’s no question as to why the the first quarter of the episode has been branded by Moffat as “very much like a Western” – with these opening shots giving off strong sheriff-esque vibes.
The Gallifreyan ship narrows its target on the Doctor and the ‘Rural Gallifreyans’ (Oomph Mummy do it again!). Last year Rachel Talalay cited that one of her biggest struggles in transforming the script to the screen was working with a much smaller budget – but all constraints and struggles aside, in viewing this trailer it seems once again she’s done achieved the impossible. This scene especially impressed, giving the illusion of a luxurious blockbuster movie budget.
We open once again to yet another magnificent shot of the main citadel. Take specific note of the mountains in the distance!
Here we have returning character “The General” portrayed by Ken Bones – who previously played the same character in “The Day of the Doctor”. One of the first things one notices is that the the chairs in the High Council room appear less comfy than the Doctor and Ashildr’s… Score 1 Rebel Time Lord.
“The Hybrid is a creature thought to be cross-bred from two warrior races.” Notice the specific wording here…. CROSS-BRED – not fused or merged from two races, implying that the Hybrid has been that way since birth giving some weight to the speculation that the Doctor’s human origins may be canonised.
Following this we have an extended first look at Donald Sumpter’s ‘President’ adorned in Gallifreyan robes and Presidential armour. Is Sumpter’s president a regeneration of Rassilon last seen in “The End of Time” (and played by Timothy Dalton)? Let’s explore the evidence: In the promo pictures Sumpter’s character is wearing ‘Rassilon’s Gauntlet’, in a later clip he is holding the ‘Staff of Rassilon’ and embedded in his shoulder plates is the Presidential Seal of Gallifrey… also known as the ‘Seal of Rassilon.’ Who could possibly make an educated guess either way… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Here we see the Doctor enter what seems to be a Gallifreyan dungeon, a sort of underground prison – which has no doubt seen better days, given the array of house-guests it’s currently hosting….
Firstly we see a Dalek, chained and plugged into various chords and cables. The fact the Dalek’s headlight is on is suggestive that it is having a conversation with the Doctor – perhaps discussing Dalek involvement in the creation of a hybrid?
We then cross to a fully formed Weeping Angel, angry at the possibility of having more of its intrigue revealed. A rather unexpected cameo from one of Moffat’s most successful creatures, their involvement automatically casts our minds back to Rassilon’s mention of the monsters in “The End of Time” being that of ‘rebel Time Lords standing like the Weeping Angels of old’. Could a hint of their origin be on the cards? On a slightly more terrifying note for arachnophobes: are those spider webs around it?
Here we see the Doctor’s horrified and confused reaction, not to his grisly room-mate but rather the continued existence of “The Mirror.”
We then return to Ohila who warns the Doctor of the consequences of his actions. “You have broken every code you ever lived by.” Given that she’s already appeared more in this trailer then she has in all her past appearances combined, it seems she’s playing a far more substantial role in the episode than originally believed.
Nodding her head ferociously, Ohila karnt be arsed with the Doctor’s latest shenanigans.
As the camera pans out it’s revealed that she’s standing guard to a TARDIS capsule… could it be that the Doctor has finally repaired the the shambolic state of the chameleon circuit? Not the band FYI, the TARDIS competent – though I guess that statement does pretty much work for either interpretation.
Speaking of TARDI (plural?), we can see the capsule flying through deep space. Has the Doctor taken to running away again or are we due for another flashback into the dark abyss of the Doctor’s early adventures?
