9.10 Face The Raven Is Clara dead for good? Who knows. Doctor Who certainly has form in bringing back deceased characters, and it’s not as if there haven’t been other versions of her dotting around. But right here, right now, Clara is dead. It’s no secret that Jenna Coleman has left the show. It certainly feels final. “Go to the TARDIS. Pick up all my most annoying stuff” Take the start. The Doctor has, arguably, been without a companion for most of the series, with episodes kicking off with him traveling alone in cases, and seemingly picking Clara up en route. Here, the pair start an episode in the TARDIS together for the last time, both having clearly enjoyed their latest adventure. Not weighed down for a minute by their memories, simply loving traveling together. Long-time Doctor Who fans will know that it’s a myth that companions don’t die in the show, although it’s rare. But it’s worth also noting that many who are left living aren’t always in a much happier place than when the TARDIS first picked them up. Had Clara left the show with her heart still beating, that would have surely been the case. And that day was today. “He’s making an effort to be nice” Several times throughout this particular series run, I’ve made note of Doctor Who’s confidence in putting away an action sequence in favour of people having a chat. I think it’s an important, intelligent feature of the show, and where it works particularly well is in the third act of a story. That when all the explosions are supposed to kick in, Doctor Who is increasingly at its stillest. In the midst of a 45 minute episode, debut Who writer Sarah Dollard found space – without making it feel squeezed – for a slow, emotional, beautifully pitched farewell, whilst also not making that the exclusive focus of her story. But still, we have to finish talking about that ending first. With superb audio accompaniment from Murray Gold (and it really was something special), as the episode clocked past the 35 minute mark, both Jenna Coleman and Peter Capaldi earnt every penny of their fee. What’s more, this wasn’t Adric, god bless his soul, pegging it to try and save Earth. This was Clara, ultimately knowing her death was coming. Facing it. Having to be brave, and hearing her fate flying towards her. The material this series hasn’t always served Coleman well, but – as with The Zygon Inversion – when you give her something to work with, she makes it look effortless. It’s not, of course. Here’s a woman damaged by the death of Danny Pink, wanting to be the Doctor and follow his life, and realising that it’s killed her. With time to process that. Sarah Dollard, take a bow. “Whatever happens next, wherever she is sending you, I know what you’re capable of”. As do we all. Then the raven came. Then Clara dropped. One observation: what makes this particularly work for me, and what makes it all the more heartbreaking, is that the relationship between Capaldi’s Doctor and Clara has never been about romance. It’s been about the Doctor needing Clara, and Clara wanting to be the Doctor. That they care for each other, they’re both brilliant and lonely, and they both make each other better. But no more. A spellbinding ending to their story. “You’ve been ret-conned” Rigsy – welcome back Joivan Wade – now has a child, but he’s clearly also got this tattoo. That tattoo is not good news, and the Doctor swiftly concludes that aliens are hiding in London again. The Doctor is, of course, correct. Here, then, is the initial mystery that, on another day, may have fuelled an episode in its entirety. If we were back in the four-part story days, the search for the trap street would have comfortably eaten up part one. It’s a lovely idea for an episode, a street that’s hidden, that can’t be found on regulation London maps. But still: just that core idea of a missing street had me intrigued. You could argue that Doctor Who inadvertently tips its hat to The Wire here in having a street effectively outside of the laws of the city in which it’s located – as Ashildr – Maisie Williams – reappears. Another quick aside here: it’s a shame that her return was revealed weeks ago. I do accept that’s part and parcel of the modern spoiler culture, and indeed, we ran the story ourselves on this site. Yet I think most of us knew she was coming, and might her return have been even better had we not? Certainly Ashildr’s role going forward in Doctor Who is going to be intriguing. Peter Capaldi – in his slightly-spoiler Graham Norton interview – dodged the question as to whether she would be his companion going forward, although Steven Moffat has also suggested we’re going to get an entirely new character. Either way, she’s clearly the focus of the Doctor’s rage, anger and guilt for the foreseeable future. “I guarantee the safety of Clara Oswald. She will be under my personal protection. That is absolute” We thus get the instant rage of Capaldi’s Doctor, another spine-tingling piece of dialogue aimed at Ashildr. But the truth is – as the Doctor will surely realise –this one is on him. He put, as he frequently does, a companion in the line of fire. And unlike something like The Caves Of Androzani, he couldn’t take the proverbial bullet for them. What’s perhaps even more spine-tingling: there are still two episodes left. The demise or departure of a companion is generally ample to round off a series on a dramatic high. But what on earth has this excellent series of Doctor Who got in store for its final 120 minutes? And just where is that confession dial going to fit in? Rest in piece, Clara Oswald. And the early signs for next week: good grief. Book the telly out now. Our review of last week’s episode, Sleep No More, is here.
