According to reports from the Mirror UK, Clara Oswalt’s time as a companion is nearing an end.
As anyone even remotely versed in Who lore would know, the show has made a fifty year legacy of its rotating cast. A good portion of the fun has always been the “who’s next?!!?” game, even when we’re incredibly sad to say goodbye to our favorite Doctors and companions. But the news that Coleman will depart, probably during 2014’s Christmas epic, does seem a bit sudden. It’s hard to believe that by then she will have been a companion for 18 months, one of the longest spans for that particular role. It doesn’t seem like she’s been around that long.
With no offense intended towards Ms. Coleman, I’m not sad to see Clara take a new path. Clara’s presence always seemed a bit “Pond-lite,” and has been one of the least original personalities in the reboot. I’m incredibly excited for the opportunities this vacancy brings – namely the prospect of a companion who doesn’t flirt with The Doctor. Maybe this one could be a dude! Maybe even – dare I say it? – a not white dude?
Undoubtedly the new companion will be a fresh face, but since the timey wimey of the Whoverse is nice and wibbly wobbly, one certainly can’t rule out past friends making new appearances. We don’t really know anything about 12’s personality, but based on his few lines in “The Time of the Doctor” and some of Capaldi’s recent works, I’m gonna assume “gruff.” Unfortunately, the two who I would earmark as favorites to match wits with a grumpy Doctor are not bloodly likely to rejoin the timeline anytime soon. Donna’s head would explode, and the River we last saw was her first appearance after the events of “Silence in the Library” which certainly implies that she’s, well, spoilers.
I think it’s easier to communicate what I don’t want in a companion. There are literally infinite possibilities, so I don’t want another flippy young woman who stares in wide eyed wonder. I’d much rather have a scientist who can keep up with the Doctor’s physics jive. Or a personality that can help the Doctor after the absolutely monumental events of the last few episodes, which are sure to alter him beyond even what a regeneration would do. And Mr. Moffat? Please, in the name of all that is holy, please, don’t make the next companion a kid.