DW s9 non-spoiler review: Where do I even begin, this season IS the magnum opus of Doctor Who. From start to finish, this is one of the most consistent season of TV ever created. Moffat cooked so hard with everything. This is The Doctor’s best season by far with the deepest character study in tv imo. 9th to 12th Doctor is such amazing development and it really shines in this season. What also shines is 12th’s companion. CLARA ❤️‍🩹. Clara is THE best companion by a long shot. Easily the best Doctor and companion dynamic. And one of the best in TV. I will never forget Clara for however long I live. I’m still in disarray from The Hybrid arc 😭. She completely transformed these past few seasons creating some of the most memorable moments and peaks. Ffs Moffat why do this to me 😭 Speaking of The Hybrid arc, wow. What a shocking trilogy of episodes. 9x10 was a normal episode until half way through. The switch up was immaculate. Streams of tears down my face after that (I changed after that). 9x11… Heaven Sent. Wowow. What an hour of TV. Grabs the best elements of Doctor Who and influence from other similar eps of tv to create one of the greatest conceptual, emotional, characteristic, piece of Television of all time. masterpiece. 9x12 was also perfection. The Doctor was insane (valid crashout). Such an amazing conclusion to 12th & Clara’s dynamic which totally didn’t make me cry to sleep 😎. Truly solidifying their dynamic as one of the greatest to ever do it. Now, I’m reluctant to even start s10. I’m not gonna go into detail with themes and allat (some of the greatest) but I will say that this season has the greatest dialogue in any season I’ve ever watched (maybe besides Hannibal s2). The amount of amazing monologues were uncountable. The cinematography was impeccable. Honestly some of the best in tv (especially in HS). And some, if not, the greatest character writing in a singular season of tv. Now… it’s time… the final season. I’m not ready to finish this show and tbh, I’m scared because there’s no Clara 😢. But times change and so must I. I really hope 10x11-10x13 arc lives up to the hype. Bill seems cool too. But… I don’t want to go. (Placements and rankings at the bottom) spoiler review: Season 9 of Doctor Who marks a significant evolution in the show’s narrative and emotional depth, exploring more complex and mature themes. The relationship between 12th and Clara Oswald reaches its zenith, pinnacle of male/female dynamics. Offering a blend of high-concept sci-fi adventures and deeply personal, character-driven moments. Throughout Season 9, we witness Clara at her most compelling with her sharp intelligence and fiery independence sometimes matching, sometimes clashing with the Doctor’s gruff demeanor and philosophical musings. Their relationship is totally unique with far more than a mentor-student or companion-hero dynamic; it’s a delicate balance of equal parts admiration and tension, shaped by a shared desire to face the universe's mysteries and an unspoken dependency. The Doctor, still grappling with his identity and the darker aspects of his character, is at once a figure of profound wisdom and unyielding ego, and yet, his vulnerability is palpable this season. Peter Capaldi’s performance continues to showcase the layers of his incarnation. A man who is both a compassionate protector and a force of moral ambiguity. His “madman with a box” persona is now tempered by the weariness of someone who has lived for centuries and whose moral compass is increasingly tested by the chaos and consequences of his actions. Clara, on the other hand, finds herself in a turbulent arc, shaped by her growing self-awareness and the burden of her relationship with the Doctor. Her evolution over the season is particularly poignant since she is no longer just a companion in the traditional sense but has become a force in her own right. She is, in many ways, the Doctor’s equal, even pushing him toward self-reflection and more empathetic choices. Their relationship is shown as an unconditional love, yielding to connect, but can’t. Just like two ends of opposite magnets. You could tell in this season they wanted to go the extra step with their relationship but paradoxical destiny and ambiguous desires keep them aside one-another. Yet, this evolution also becomes her undoing, as her growing obsession with being like the Doctor leads her into increasingly dangerous territory, testing the boundaries of her morality and her humanity. The season’s written by Steven Moffat who delivers some of the most complex and multifaceted DW stories. The storytelling is ambitious, with some episodes venturing into high-concept philosophical questions about time, fate, and morality. "The Magician's Apprentice" and "The Witch's Familiar," the season’s opener, are particularly notable for their bold, intricate plotlines. These episodes offer a thrilling exploration of the Doctor’s past, notably his complicated history with Davros, the creator of the Daleks. The narrative deftly balances action, emotion, and high-stakes drama, while also digging deep into the Doctor’s psyche and his moral dilemmas. Namely, the extent to which he will go to protect those he loves. Perhaps the most memorable and thought-provoking episodes of the season are those that explore the Doctor's own failings and imperfections. "Under the Lake" and "Before the Flood" exemplify this, offering not only a compelling mystery but also an exploration of the Doctor’s relationship with the inevitable. The Doctor's struggle to reconcile his cosmic sense of justice with his personal guilt and moral reckoning is displayed by the notion of fixed time and its inescapability. Equally, the season explores the consequences of the Doctor’s actions on those closest to him. Clara's role in this dynamic is especially crucial. Her arc in "Hell Bent" marks a pivotal turning point, as she begins to step into the more dangerous, even reckless, aspects of the Doctor’s mindset. This shift is mirrored in their shared journey throughout the season, with Clara at times becoming a reflection of the Doctor's darker impulses, even to the point of being willing to risk everything for one more adventure, one more life-changing experience😢. In terms of visual and atmospheric tone, Season 9 excels. The show has truly embraced a darker, more mature aesthetic where one that reflects the more serious and introspective narrative being told. From the haunting alien landscapes to the striking cinematography, the visual storytelling complements the high stakes of the plots. The season’s direction, particularly in episodes like "Heaven Sent," makes strong use of suspense and tension, creating an environment where the Doctor’s internalisation is placed under the microscope. "Heaven Sent" is a masterclass in storytelling, offering a profound and emotional exploration of the 12th Doctor's psyche. The episode, largely a one-man show with Peter Capaldi delivering an extraordinary performance, follows the Doctor as he finds himself trapped in a mysterious and seemingly castle. He is forced to repeatedly face his own trauma, guilt, and grief. The Doctor is pushed to the brink of his physical and emotional endurance serves as an allegory for his long-standing burden of loss and the weight of his moral decisions. The minimalist setting allows for a deep dive into the Doctor’s character, particularly his resilience, intelligence, and capacity for self-sacrifice. Moffat weaves a gripping narrative full of tension, clever puzzles, and philosophical musings on time, death, and the human condition. The ending, which reveals the Doctor's true motive and his emotional breakthrough, is both heartbreaking and triumphant, marking a significant moment in the Doctor’s journey. "Heaven Sent" is a stunning episode and emotionally resonant, intellectually challenging, and a testament to the power of DW to tackle complex themes with elegance and depth. The season finale, "Hell Bent," offers an emotionally charged and dramatic conclusion to the Doctor and Clara’s journey together. Clara’s fate being sealed in a tragic but inevitable moment of sacrifice and defiance of a caged-life whilst The Doctor is free in that endless cycle of sacrificial livelihood enforcing enternal loneliness is amazing Juxtaposition. The episode tackles the idea of free will versus destiny in ways that resonate not only within the context of the series but also with broader existential questions about life and death, choice, and consequence. Overall, DW Season 9 stands as one of the show’s most rewarding and ambitious seasons. It is a celebration of the complexities of its central characters, most notably the Doctor and Clara, who evolve throughout the narrative in surprising, sometimes heart-wrenching, ways. The season masterfully blends the thrill of time-traveling adventures with deep, personal storytelling, creating a narrative that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. In its exploration of the Doctor’s darker impulses, the fragility of human existence, and the lengths we go to for those we love, Season 9 is an outstanding chapter in the legacy of Doctor Who. Best characters: 🥇The Doctor (now T1 in TV) 🥈Clara Oswald (T1 female character in TV) 🥉Ashildr Best episodes: 🥇 Heaven Sent (T3 in TV) 🥈 Hell Bent (T3 in the show so far) 🥉 Face the Raven Best moments: 🥇Breaking the wall (T2 Doctor peak so far) 🥈Clara’s conclusion (T1 female TV conclusion) 🥉a) Mercy sequence 🥉b) 12th Doctor forgets Clara Overall: Solid 5/5 9.4/10 Top 4-7 TV season Absolute cinema 🙏