Clara’s 20 Best Episodes (Part 1)
K-Ci Williams begins the list celebrating Jenna Coleman’s top episodes.
Imagine this – a glorious and breathtaking wooden box; painted a striking, vivid blue. An interior of unparalleled beauty, a mechanic’s realised dream. Luminescent yellows, flashing oranges and an immense feeling of emphatic euphoria. What appears stunning is the possibility that this seemingly ordinary blue box can hold such infinite potential. For once however, the eye is not drawn within. Imagine this – a glorious and breathtaking wooden box; painted in a kaleidoscope of colour, full of memories and stories, or perhaps both. Imagine this – soft pinks and bright yellows, intricately branching out across the exterior, flowering into beauty as the eye is caught on the image of a young woman. In an instant, reality dawns. We are in mourning.
I must confess, I dream about the days where I am half as good as the Doctor; where I have no need for weapons, when I can resolve an issue with a consultation with intellect. If there was any trait I share with the Doctor, it is the inability to accept endings. Any notion of a goodbye seems an idiosyncratic characteristic that has neglected to gain presence in my life. Time is relative for Time Lords, but for us as humans we have been gifted months to prepare for Clara’s departure. This did not soften the blow. As I have always done as a character exits the show, I have reflected on the best of times. Jenna Coleman has never risen higher than her performance this series. What a way to bow out. In celebration of her time on the show, I present the first of three articles examining twenty of my favourite episodes from her tenure. Clara may not be remembered in the Doctor’s memory, but she will always be remembered in mine.
Asylum of the Daleks
“Rescue me Chin Boy and show me the stars.”
In what was a surprise appearance from the announced actress to be cast as the Doctor’s next companion, Jenna-Louise (as she was professionally known that year) burst onto our screens in a way synonymous with explosive. I had to double take upon first seeing her in the Dalek Asylum; I thought it couldn’t be the new companion. If nothing else could peak my excitement for this story, it was Oswin Oswald. She spoke to the Doctor in that way very few people could get away with. I remember vividly, the day I wrote an article about the standout guest performances of Series 7. Back then I had no idea Jenna Coleman would grow in skill to attain such a prestigious placing in my mind. To look back and see all she has come from makes the point at which she leaves us even more breathtaking. Moffat must be applauded for his ability to create such a surprise, but must also be commended on his script. I was ready to have Oswin board the TARDIS and travel forever, until the revelation that she was a Dalek. Moffat and Coleman had me totally invested in Oswin’s character, that it became difficult to see her go. As first appearances go, what a superlatively written and scored entrance it was for Jenna Coleman.
The Snowmen
“The Doctor doesn’t help people. Not anyone, not ever. He stands above this world. And doesn’t interfere in the affairs of its inhabitants.”
This is perhaps one of my favourite Christmas specials, mixing comedy and tragedy, sorrow and joy together to form a Christmas hybrid. What I praise the story for is that it treads new ground for the post-companion departure storyline that has happened before. It would have remained a sad tale had the Eleventh Doctor treated his next companion after the Ponds in the way that the Tenth had treated Martha. Instead, we see a Doctor lost in the ruin of him, backed into a universe of loneliness, with isolation in preference of company. Jenna Coleman diversifies her performance to rival that of her initial surprise and ticks all boxes for what I require in a Doctor Who companion. Miss Montague is a figment of imagination, a name created by Clara to live multiple lives. Lying is an essential part of who Clara’s character becomes, but it does not define her. The ability to lie and twist the truth is one of the many character facets that make her more believable. I am still stunned at my empathetic ability to still feel the anguish as the Doctor loses another friend, albeit one whom he barely knew. Murray Gold is deserving of endless praise, but here his spectacle is nothing short of admirable. Gold’s score has embodied the way I view the show, especially in the spiral staircase scene, as the leitmotif of Clara’s theme echoes as her curiosity increases.
The Bells of Saint John
“Do you just crook your finger and people just jump in your snog box and fly away?”
I was sceptical upon the introduction of yet another Jenna Coleman character. Any doubts were briskly dealt with throughout this episode as it unfolded though. Forget story potential, the sheer wealth of character work Moffat achieves in this story alone is praiseworthy. Clara lost many of those closest to her: her mother and her best friend. In a selfless act, she puts her life on hold to care for the Maitland children – who perhaps don’t appreciate her sacrifice as much as they should. Clara is defined here as the girl who will not run out on the people she cares about, a characteristic the Doctor comments on as being one he wished he possessed. Something that gets bandied about is the criticism that Moffat does not write female characters properly. The way I see it, he writes characters as they are – people, and mostly human. Clara is flawed by her inability to let people go (a flaw because it takes away from her personal agenda) but this is her greatest strength. She is selfless. Interesting is the line of dialogue, “whoever’s after us spent the whole night looking for us. Are you tired? Well, then imagine how they feel – they came the long way ‘round,” which is one of the earlier uses of the ‘long way round’ line. Taking control of the situation, she tells the Doctor to come back tomorrow and she might agree to travel with him. This is powerful for both Clara, as a woman who will make time accordingly but also gives the Doctor a wake up call to realise the TARDIS doesn’t hold infinite allure.
The Rings of Akhaten
“The most important leaf in human history. It’s full of stories. Full of history. And full of a future that never got lived. Days that should have been and never were.”
This is a story that I believe is criminally underrated; a hidden gem if you like. Boasting character potential and chilling dialogue, it’s a partial masterpiece. I can understand the lacklustre use of the villains, but I appreciated delving into the culture of another world. It is rare in Doctor Who that we travel to an alien world rich in culture and abundant in sacred traditions, save for Gallifrey of course. Clara’s role here is nothing short of spectacular; with her travel book and a keen sense of adventure, we see a young woman not bound by loss and a duty of care, but an unrestrained person worthy of a TARDIS key. If you look deeper, notice how quickly Clara gives up her mother’s ring to the Doctor, a piece of jewellery to him, but a ring full of memories and history for Clara. Notice how selfless she is to save the people of Akhaten. Notice how she realises that her leaf is full of infinite potential; a life that never got lived. Life is unfair, sometimes death is boring and unexciting, but most of all it is full of things that never were. Clara has always been full of stories; according to the Doctor, this is what becomes of the memories we forget. I could never forget you, Clara. This was a standout story for Clara Oswald.
The Name of the Doctor
“I don’t know where I am. I don’t know where I’m going or where I’ve been. I was born to save the Doctor. But the Doctor is safe now. I’m the Impossible Girl, and my story is done.”
After spending over half the series speculating about Clara and her relation to what we now know are echoes, it was interesting to see what Moffat had concocted. It’s become his trademark to sometimes introduce an element of canon that causes a major twist right before it becomes vital; such as the stasis cube in The Day of the Doctor, but I feel this does not hinder Clara’s characterisation. It has taken much further rewatches, but it does become clear that it is difficult to agree with claims that Clara is a flat, bland character. If her mother taught her anything, it was that matters of the heart tend to build up courage. Just like on Akhaten where she sacrificed her ring, she sacrifices herself to save the Doctor. What a kind and caring character, especially since she became the foundation for the Clara Prime we have come to know. What makes this episode such an outstanding Jenna Coleman contribution, is her level of performance (which only grows) but the consistent writing that finally presents her as an actual human being, rather than a living cardboard copy. Murray Gold’s piece Remember Me is probably my favourite from this story’s score, highlighting the soft, magical tones of Clara’s theme and the enigmatic character she becomes throughout the Doctor’s time stream.
The Day of the Doctor
“We’ve got enough warriors. Any old idiot can be a hero…do what you’ve always done. Be a Doctor.”
In a story with such scriptwriting flair and acting that is full of conviction, it would have been easier for Clara to be cast aside as a character in favour of more Doctor-to-Doctor moments. However, keen on breaking new ground for the character, Moffat gave her a sizeable amount to do. Of course Clara would be the one to convince her Doctor that destroying Gallifrey was wrong. If anything, her time with him taught her to never walk away and to always be kind. Jenna Coleman took Clara to new heights with her performance, adding a more layered quality than the cardboard cutout of her first series. Don’t get me wrong, I have always loved the character, but the level of acting here is more outstanding than before. In her apparently infinite wisdom, Clara reminds the Doctor of who he is and why he chose the name he did. The Warrior, the Hero and the Doctor. Each one needed and indeed were eventually given their own version of Clara; a companion to ground them in humanity.
The Time of the Doctor
“And now it’s time for one last bow, like all your other selves. Eleven’s hour is over now, the clock is striking Twelve’s.”
Companions always play a large part in the swan song of their respective Doctor; nobody more than Clara’s wall side, fireplace chat with the Time Lords through a bright crack in the interior design. Seriously though, only Clara could have convinced the Time Lords in such a way. She seemed to understand his pain and his troubles; while not shown on screen, this is something noticed only through small script features and stellar acting from Jenna. What a horrible way to spend Christmas though, am I right? For starters her family dynamic was not the least bit touching; the only thing that united them was the Christmas special of Strictly Come Dancing. She flew through the time vortex holding on to the exterior of the TARDIS. In the end though, her final moments with the Doctor were touching. Helping him pull a Christmas cracker and standing in alarmed confusion as he spoke his final words. What a way for Matt Smith to bow out, but also what a way for Jenna Coleman to prove she had well and truly earned her place as the companion.
That marks only a small fraction of Jenna Coleman’s outstanding performances in contribution to the show. Join next time to continue the list, looking at some great moments from Series 8 as we explore the teacher side of Clara and the dynamics that change with Peter Capaldi.
