Face the Raven ( TV story ) Significantly , the climax of this episode marked the death of companion Clara Oswald . The situation that led to her demise dealt with the consequences of what happens when a companion starts thinking and acting too much like the Doctor , jeopardising herself by imitating his self - sacrificial actions . Clara had been shown to act more recklessly throughout this season , ever since the death of her boyfriend , Danny Pink , in the previous series . The Doctor having to face the loss of Clara would set the stage for the final two stories of Series 9 . Upon discovering the root cause of the events that led up to her demise , the Doctor would shift into a quiet but insurmountable fury , seeking answers and justice for his companion . In " Hell Bent " , it ' s later revealed that Clara ' s death was caused not only by her recklessness , but also by Rassilon ; due to the mad Time Lord fearing the coming of the Hybrid , and believing that the Doctor would have the knowledge of it , he forced Me to set up this entire situation to draw in the Doctor and have him tortured for information . Synopsis . The Doctor , Clara and Rigsy are trapped on an alien street in London , that is hidden from the rest of the world . Ashildr , the immortal hybrid - girl , is taking care of some of the most dangerous creatures in the universe . Not everyone will get out alive ; one of them must pay the price and face the raven . Plot . The Doctor and Clara enter the TARDIS after an adventure when they get a call from Rigsy , who said that a mysterious tattoo has appeared on the back of his neck and is counting down to zero . They arrive at his flat finding out he has a fiancee and a newborn daughter . He tells them he has no idea on how the tattoo got there and that he doesn ' t remember any events from the previous twenty - four hours . His mobile phone ' s screen is cracked and Clara can ' t find any evidence of any activity . The Doctor scans him and discovers that Rigsy has been in contact with alien life and that he will die when the countdown gets to zero . The Doctor and Clara attempt to help him by trying to piece together his movements over the last twenty - four hours . Looking at maps of London in the Great British Library to find where Rigsy may have been , Clara mentions something called a “ trap street ” ; a street invented by map makers to catch people who would copy their maps without giving the proper credit . They search for the street , finding it when Rigsy drops his phone and begins to remember what happened . Entering the alley that contains the street , they find that it is occupied by " refugees " of various aliens species who appear human to each other by use of a telepathic field . Soon , they encounter Ashildr , who is “ Mayor Me ” of the street . She explains that the street is a refugee camp and that Rigsy is being sentenced to death for killing Anah , a two - faced Janus female . He had been retconned and given time to say goodbye to family . She also reveals that the tattoo is a chronolock that leads a Quantum Shade , which appears normally as a raven , to find him at the predetermined time ; killing the victim when the countdown gets to zero . The Doctor and Clara believe that Rigsy did not kill Anah and has been framed for the murder . Me allows them to investigate the case and to convince everyone that he did not commit the crime so that the truce in the street is at peace and there will be no rivalry . Later , a man had a chronolock on the neck for stealing medical rations and his wife tells him to pass it on to her . Ashildr announces that she " can " remove the chronolock , but she will not as peace on the street must remain absolute . The man is soon killed by the raven , and Clara soon learns that she can do this to Rigsy as she has absolute protection over herself from being in danger . Clara takes Rigsy ' s chronolock and she has now got the tattoo counting down on her . When asking questions to others , The Doctor discovers that Rigsy tried to call the Doctor when he had found out he was in the trap street and believes Me was trying to get him to come here . Clara also discovers that everyone except Anahson , the " son " of Anah , was looking at Rigsy in a different way to everyone else . The Doctor and Clara find out she is really a girl and is dressed up as a boy to stay safe and to hide her ability to find the past and future in someone . She tells them that Me had made up a mystery to bring them here . They all go to where Anah ' s body is and find out she is alive and put inside a stasis chamber and can be only unlocked by the TARDIS key . When he opens it , his wrist is trapped and a teleport bracelet is wrapped around his arm . Me arrives and tells them that the Doctor is to be teleported away to keep peace on the street . Me asks for his confession dial and what it is before she activates it . When she goes to remove the chronolock from Rigsy , they discover Clara has it and that she cannot take it off her . Me had arranged to use the chronolock on Rigsy and that she would not kill him or anyone . Clara broke that contract by accepting the chronolock from Rigsy and Me can not take it off her . She is stunned and horrified at this , protesting that she never meant to harm anyone and Clara is doomed to die . The Doctor is furious with Me and threatens to unleash hell on her for all of time unless she saves Clara . Clara is horrified by the Doctor ' s anger and tries to calm him down . She makes him promise that he will not harm anyone who will come in his way of this and will not take revenge on what has happened , reminding him why he became the Doctor . As the Doctor starts to speak , Clara silences him with a hug , telling him that everything he is about to say she already knows . Clara touches the Doctor ' s face in sadness , who in turn tenderly kisses her hand . When the chronolock counts down to zero , Clara goes outside to face the raven . The Doctor follows and watches her from afar . She stands there waiting for the raven and asks herself to be brave . The raven strikes Clara , causing her to scream in pain . The black mist of the Quantum Shade comes out of her mouth , and she drops to the ground . The Doctor returns inside and tells Me that what Clara had said was not to save him , but to save the Mayor . He says that he will do what he can to follow Clara ' s wishes , but advises her to stay out of his way , saying that the universe can be a small place when he ' s angered . He is soon transported away . Sometime later , Rigsy is seen putting the finishing touches on his latest bit of graffiti - a mural dedicated to Clara on the front entrance of the now empty TARDIS . He then walks away , leaving the abandoned TARDIS with no Clara and no Doctor . Home video releases . DVD releases . " to be added " Blu - ray releases . " to be added " External links . Transcript of " Face the Raven " at " Chrissie ' s Transcripts Site "