Written by: Nicholas Krzykowski
Image from Conversationsabouther.net
(Spoilers for Series 7 – 9 of Doctor Who)
Let me take you back in time for a moment, back to when the internet was obsessed with the color of a dress and One Direction was still together:
Ah, yes, good old 2015.
But, while all that was happening, thirteen-year-old Nick was curled up on the couch—a bag of cheese puffs in hand—watching the finale of Doctor Who’s ninth series. And with a few uncontrollable sobs, he said goodbye to his favorite companion, Clara Oswald.
For those who don’t know, Doctor Who is a renowned science fiction show produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It follows the Doctor—a time lord from the planet Gallifrey—and his many companions as they explore time and space.
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However, unlike other television shows, Doctor Who does not have a fixed cast. Every few years, it changes actors. This could mean anything from a beloved companion leaving to the introduction of a new side character or the Doctor himself “regenerating,” allowing new faces to step into the role. Whatever the case, this ability to embrace change has allowed the show to succeed for over sixty years.
With such a long history, the show was bound to experience some controversy. Recently, it has been about showrunner Russell T. Davies returning to the series. Before that, it was about the divisive “timeless child” plot line. And even before that, it was about Clara Oswald.
Clara’s journey in the TARDIS began halfway through Series 7, as did the controversy surrounding her character. Many fans, myself included, felt she was severely underdeveloped; Her personality fell by the wayside in favor of a mysterious backstory. She had a ham-fisted romance with the Doctor. Heck, she didn’t even have a career or aspirations. This combined with the poor writing of Series 7 caused many people to give up on Clara outright.
Image from Screenrant.com
But all that changed with Series 8. First, we got a new incarnation of the Doctor—brilliantly played by Peter Capaldi—that was more serious and less sociable. This allowed Clara to escape her status as a generic love interest. She became a teacher, developed a relationship with another character, Danny Pink, and became increasingly addicted to her time and space adventures.
While many fans were still not on board with Clara, for me, she became possibly the most captivating and unique character in the show.
Typically, the characters in Doctor Who follow a Sherlock Holmes format. The Doctor, like Holmes, is a strange and quirky genius. The companions, on the other hand, are similar to Watson. They are meant to focus the viewer and bring an emotional, human aspect to otherwise alien settings.
A human companion has not been on equal footing with the Doctor in the show’s history.
And that is what makes Clara so brilliant.
While she may have started as the stereotypical companion, her character evolved into something truly special. She began challenging the Doctor in ways no other companion had done, whether it be her outburst at the end of Kill the Moon or her betrayal in the Series 8 finale. The pair felt like real, genuine friends who pushed each other in drastic, often unhealthy ways. And in Series 9, this desire to maintain their friendship despite its harmful effects resulted in its tragic conclusion.
Now, is Clara a flawless character? No. Despite what I’ve said here, she is a victim of the “everybody lives” trope and, infamously, has three or four “send-offs.” But in spite of that, she managed to become, at least for me, an unforgettable part of Doctor Who.
Image from Screenrant.com