Clara’s 20 Best Episodes (Part 2)
K-Ci Williams continues the list celebrating Jenna Coleman’s top episodes.
In memory of what has been a glorious golden era of this show (at least for me), let us continue this Clara Oswald retrospective with some amazing contributions to Doctor Who, this time from Peter Capaldi’s first series as the Doctor. Filled with rich characterisation and a tonal divergence from previous episodes, Clara Oswald became a mainstay in British television. This is largely down to the acting performance from Jenna Coleman as she became accustomed to the talent of Capaldi; to create the Doctor-Companion team that I regard as one of true and pure friendship.
Deep Breath
“I know where he will be. Where he will always be. If the Doctor is still the Doctor, he will have my back.”
With Peter Capaldi, it became the first instance since Rose travelled between the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, that the companion stayed beyond regeneration. A change could not have come sooner. Whether or not the newly regenerated Doctor in the form of Capaldi acted as a catalyst, we will never determine, but it is clear that Jenna Coleman stepped up her game and acted her heart out. From the off, Clara is confused and rejects the notion that the Doctor could be anyone other than the one she travelled with for so long. Jenna’s ability blew me away; her confrontation with Vastra, the scene where she attempted to hold her breath and countless others. Most eyes were on Capaldi in his first adventure, but I was already focused on Clara Oswald. It became clear that as friends they would have to learn to trust each other again, which established a new tone for the Doctor-companion relationship. Who could forget though, the moment when Strax tossed up the newspaper and knocked Clara out? This was a true highlight. Altogether a strong start to a strong series.
Listen
“Fear makes companions of us all.”
This is a story that features Clara quite prominently; it is just as much about her relationship with Danny as it is about the Doctor’s inner paranoia, but mostly Clara’s involvement with the Doctor’s history. As a companion Clara had been built up to have been an enigmatic figure across the Doctor’s timeline, however this story takes it to a whole new level. Common complaints surrounding the final scene involve the fact that once again Clara is made to be important. I think given the circumstances of course she would try and console a child, especially after she potentially became the ‘thing under the bed.’ Fear doesn’t have to make you cruel or cowardly, she says, fear can make you kind. This is such an important piece of monologue. The Doctor will from that day become the peaceful man he is, but only because he taught Clara those virtues first. What a testament to the Doctor, that his own kindness saved himself. That’s how I like to think of it anyway.
The Caretaker
“I trust him. He’s never let me down.”
I rather enjoyed the contrast between Doctor-life and Danny-life; it’s an interesting concept to explore, one that was touched on just a series before in The Power of Three, except this time Clara received more than she bargained for when both lives collided directly – when the Doctor meets Danny Pink. As was touched upon in the previous article, Clara relies heavily on lies and half truths. Lies have become an art form for her. When the Skovox Blitzer initially attacks Coal Hill, knowing full well that Danny saw everything, she still attempts to lie. I found this a source of comedy rather than a serious piece of writing, because watching her fail at covering up her secret life was far too funny. While the villain was not as threatening as I had hoped, the slower, more earthbound story felt homely and inviting. It was more of a character piece to develop Clara’s inability to control her life with the Doctor and life on Earth. It soon became apparent that she could only have one.
Kill the Moon
“You walk our Earth, Doctor. You breathe our air. You make us your friend when that is your mood to and you can damned well help us when we need it.”
What a superb episode in terms of character work; this means, placing all criticisms for scientific validity aside, it was a great script performed by accomplished actors. Morality plays into this scenario a lot, especially with the notion that the citizens of Earth would rather kill an egg and save themselves, than give it a chance. It recalls the similar situation of The Beast Below, although I found Amy’s scenario to be rich in pathos. This version evokes mixed feelings, but one I did enjoy was the Doctor stepping out to let Clara make a decision. Clara: the woman who could always depend on the Doctor, the woman who just an episode prior said that she trusted him, the woman who was now left an impossible choice. I’m generally more inclined to take the side of the Doctor in any battle, but this was one in which I was compelled to disagree with him. Clara was, in my opinion, justified in her anger. Jenna Coleman acted her heart out with that script and for once I believed the tension and the conflict. I believed that, even for a second, the Doctor and Clara Oswald, were done. Plus Clara got one of my favourite lines in the form of “tell me what you knew Doctor or else I’ll smack you so hard you’ll regenerate.”
Mummy on the Orient Express
“This is why I’m leaving you. This. Because you lied. You lied to me again. And now you’ve made me lie. You’ve made me your accomplice.”
The primal focus of this episode for me has to be Clara’s gradual evolution to become like the Doctor. Here though, she uses the most intelligent skill she has gained from both her personal experience and the Doctor’s influence on her: lying. What would the Doctor do? He would lie and do everything in his power to give Maisie hope, in any way possible. Clara takes up the mantle of the Doctor she sees before her, and is not cruel or cowardly – just a pathological liar. However, I’m entirely convinced that this is a positive development for her character. Jenna plays the role with effortless conviction, capturing the essence of the Doctor as he leads characters to their death, without their knowing. Something I observed was just how successful the wardrobe department and costume designers had been while working on Clara’s second series. Her outfit aboard the Orient Express is stunning; I find it difficult to believe there is any hairstyle Jenna can’t pull off. Rich in accurate characterisation, this story was one of the highlights of the series for me.
Flatline
“Fine, I’ll tell you who I am. I am the one chance you’ve got of staying alive. That’s who I am.”
There is a reason why this is one of my favourite stories from all of Doctor Who; Clara essentially becomes the Doctor for an episode. It is bursting with character moments that will always be remembered, such as when she claimed she was the Doctor (much to the Doctor’s dismay), her dialogue with Fenton from above and her quasi-companion Rigsy. In a singular narrative, Jamie Mathieson manages to devote the story to Clara in her quest to become like the Doctor, but also gives major plot relevance to the Doctor, just in time for him to swoop in at the end and save the day. Jenna Coleman was on mighty top form here, in what is one of my favourite Clara episodes. In terms of her characterisation, it’s interesting to see her growing dependency on praise from the Doctor, almost as if she wants him to be proud of her for becoming like him. She is right, because that’s what the Doctor does. He makes you want to be like him. Like he says at the very end though, she made a mighty fine Doctor. Goodness had nothing to do with it.
Dark Water/Death in Heaven
“I don’t need an army. I never have, because I’ve got them. Always them. Because love, it’s not an emotion. Love is a promise.”
Let’s get the one thing I was not too keen on out of the way first: the Clara and Danny factor. I genuinely enjoyed Danny’s time on the show, I really did. I did however, feel that the relationship could have been developed better. For what it was, it was pretty damn good. Clara went through so many emotions in this two-parter (as did I). First of all, what in Rassilon’s name were you thinking when you killed Danny? It was shocking that he died but what I found rather fantastic was the normality of it all. In a series where the characters travel through time and people are killed by metal men and toilet-plunger menaces, the most odd and horrible death was for Danny to be hit by oncoming traffic. I agree with Clara’s sentiments, it was boring. Clara would do anything though, and Steven pitched the emotional scenes just right. I may not have appreciated them at the time because I wasn’t totally invested in their relationship (as I was during the Winter Quay scene for the Ponds), but since it has grown on me. Clara went to hell and back, literally, to find Danny. She threatened the Doctor and destroyed his TARDIS keys in the process, stating she would do it again. She turned his inhibitor on. But what a testament (rather symbolic) to their relationship that Danny was not totally overrun by Cyber-technology and defended Clara until his last breath. As an added bonus, Clara also got to hijack the credits. An amazing end to an amazing series.
That marks a majority of the epic and emotional performances from Jenna Coleman in Series 8. Join us next time to finish the list, looking at some great moments from Series 9 as we explore the demise of Clara Oswald.
