If you haven’t watched “Face the Raven” and don’t want anything spoiled, then I’m going to ask that you stop reading this post right now.
Seriously, don’t let your eyes wander below this line because you’re not going to like what you see.
I hate spoilers so I’m giving you one more chance to, like Chicago, look away.
Before I had watched “Face the Raven” my sister texted me and told me to let her know when I had watched it. After I watched it I I sent her this text:
“I feel like I got punched in the stomach.”
I have loved Clara since her first appearance as the impossible girl in “Asylum of the Daleks.” She was smart, funny, courageous, reckless and always brought the best out of the Doctor. I knew that Jenna Coleman was finishing her time on the T.A.R.D.I.S. but I didn’t think her end would come so suddenly. I was caught off guard. I felt like I was punched in the stomach.
I knew Clara would leave the Doctor but I didn’t think she’d leave via her death. I didn’t want Clara to die; I wanted her to leave the Doctor, finally having had enough excitement and adventure. I wanted Clara to always be there, with the potential to come back or go on was last trip through time and space. Obviously Doctor Who is a work of science fiction so anything is possible, but Clara’s death seems more final than that.
Here are some other thoughts I had while watching “Face the Raven.”
Companions
Clara was the first companion that I watched week to week. I didn’t catch up with Doctor Who until the seventh series. Before then I was binge watching Rose, Martha, Donna, Amy and Rory. I liked all of those companions, but I liked Clara the most. I thought she had the most interesting relationship with the Doctor, perhaps because she spanned regenerations. The Doctor always cares about his companions, but there was something about Capaldi’s intensity that added something extra to the Doctor’s relationship with Clara. I know there will be many more companions to come, but Clara will always have a special place in my nerdy heart.
Sacrifice
The most upsetting part about Clara’s death is that it was a result of her recklessness. This season has really highlighted Clara’s need for adventure and danger; that desire finally came back to get her in the end. I’d like to think, though, that her choice was less about recklessness and more about selflessness. Clara knew how desperate Rigsy’s situation was and wanted to do what she could to get him out of it. Even though Clara thought she would eventually outsmart Ashildr, she took the Chronolock because Rigsy needed to be around for his new daughter. Clara was reckless, but she acted recklessly because she was thinking of someone else. She didn’t give herself enough time to be selfish; her initial response was to help someone else and she went with it. Perhaps we can model that aspect of Clara’s character without embracing too much of her recklessness.
Vengeance
I’m not a vengeful person and I’ve never really thought about taking revenge on anyone. At this point, though, I would love to see the Doctor get his revenge. I got so fired up when the Doctor told Ashildr everything that he would do to her; I wanted to see him rend the heavens in order to get his vengeance. But Clara knew better; she knew that the Doctor would want to seek vengeance but asked him not to. At that moment I knew that we weren’t going to get to see the Doctor going on a rampage and I was a little disappointed. I want Ashildr to suffer for what she did to Clara, but Clara knew that violence only begets more violence. I certainly hope that my response to a fictional opportunity for vengeance won’t mirror my response if an actual opportunity ever arises.
I knew Clara was leaving but that doesn’t make her death any easier. We’ll have to carry on without her, though, because there are still two episodes left this season. Once I get over Clara’s death, I’ll have time to think about who had Ashildr set up the Doctor.
What did you think of “Face the Raven?”
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