Hi there. Ā Thanks for the thoughtful discussion on series 10. Ā I wanted to reply because Iāve noticed this series has been particularly tough for Clara fans. Ā Itās a trend across many of my favorite fandom sites and your post has triggered some thoughts for me. Ā
While I really liked Clara, it was the 12th Doctor that intrigued me enough to start watching Doctor Who and taking it seriously. Ā He is the character I like most of all no matter how much I enjoy the companions. Ā Perhaps thatās why is have a much different view of things in s10 than many of my online friends. Ā
Starting with Bill, I donāt see her as having any less of a backstory than Clara did in her first series with 11. Ā And I really enjoy how 12 was interested enough to pick her out of a crowd of students with the intent of bettering her education. Ā I absolutely love the platonic teacher/student vibe between then. Ā Even though I liked Clara, I didnāt like the uneven relationship between she and the Doctor. Ā From the second 12 became aware and saw Claraās face, he knew she was rejecting him. Ā 12 always loved Clara far more than she ever did him and that always rankled with me - as did her decision to stay with him only after his younger, cuter self asked her to. Ā But I digress... Ā Bill is refreshing for me because 12 found her interesting and Bill eventually found him interesting (and eventually amazing) too. Ā I can relate to that.
And I felt there was much unseen in the 12/Bill relationship development - perhaps too much. Ā But itās obvious they spent quite a bit of time getting to know each other before the arrival of Heather and the sentient puddle. Ā By the time she finally sees the TARDIS, 12 had already gone out of his way to make her happy by taking pictures of her mother. Ā That made me like Bill even more and y affection only grew through Smile, Thin Ice and Knock Knock. Ā Then Oxygen was an amazingly original story of Capitalism running amuck yet still managing to show how 12 was willing to risk all to keep his student safe. Ā Yes, heās still putting her in danger too but thatās just what the Doctor is all about. Ā :o)
For me, this is where the series really takes off (and crashes a bit). Ā I absolutely LOVED Extremis. Ā Seeing Steven Moffat display his cleverness has never bothered me and I found him particularly brilliant and hilarious (the Pope) here. Ā And I really loved the Pyramid story too. Ā The idea of a worldwide apocalypse starting accidentally was chilling and the ending dilemma compelling. Ā I disagreed with Billās choice but was impressed with her making the choice that was setup in Thin Ice when 12 told her he worked for her. Ā
I agree Lie of the Land was a disappointment. Ā Not for the ending but for 12ā²s horrible behavior toward Bill. Ā His fake support of the Monks went way too far when Bill was standing right in front of him expressing her support. Ā And the fake regeneration was pure crass marketing done for trailers only. Ā It was truly awful and took me completely out of the story. Ā I had no trouble with Bill shooting 12 under those circumstances because heād really earned it by then. Ā And it further displayed her maturity and speed in making tough decisions.Ā
For Empress of Mars was even worse than Lie of the Land because nothing much happened to further the 12/Bill story. Ā They hardly did anything in the episode Ā Even worse, Gatiss inserted the new mystery of why the TARDIS suddenly decided to fly off on itās own without any intention of ever explaining why or connecting it to the larger story. Ā That was kinda sad because it was a pretty good episode story otherwise - just a waste of the Doctor & Billās time. Ā And their barging in on NASA was kinda childish and annoying.
However, the next few episode were simply divine. Ā I loved Eaters of Light because it started with an intellectual debate over the 9th Roman Legion and finished in beautiful Scottish Lore about Crows. Ā Who saw that coming?! Ā And in between Bill displayed more of her survival instincts and learnings from the Doctor while he was delightfully back to series 8 levels of blunt and impatient. Ā I loved seeing my grumpy 12 return after that poor kid shattered the last of his patience. I really loved seeing his tough love conversations with Kar, too. Ā People have always mistaken his gruffness as being uncaring but this episode put the lie to that with his willingness to guard the portal thru his last regeneration. Ā Again Bill (& Nardole) were right in stopping him but I loved his attempt at noble self-sacrifice while in full series 8 mode. Ā
I wonāt go on and on about how much I loved the finale episode except to say, I loved The Doctor Falls more than World Enough and Time. Ā Both are excellent but we get to see more of the Doctor in the last episode. Ā Again we see 12 push Bill to go on an adventure of his choosing and again it goes horribly wrong in a way heās not able to fix. Ā Heās defeated by the sheer physics of the situation and is forced to face the consequences of his folly. Ā The fact that the final episode leaves him believing heās failed on every front is just emotionally crushing for him. Ā He never gets to see Bill rescued by Heather Puddle or Missyās attempt to stand with him. Ā For me, it increases the pathos to an unbearable point and reminds me of how awful I felt when Clara faced the raven. Ā And how angry I felt when she happily flew off with Lady Me who arranged the scenario in which she died and 12 was imprisoned for billions of years. Ā Admittedly, this greatly reduced my love for Clara. Ā Iāve rewatched Hell Bent several times but that moment angers me every. single. time.
Yet I still miss Clara very, very much. Ā I thought she and 12 were amazing together and hated the sudden development of them being toxic for the universe if they stayed together. Ā For me, theyāre still the best Doctor/companion pairing in the showās history. Ā And Iād be happy to see her return to see 12 thru his regeneration.
Anyway, I really enjoyed Billās ending for the most part and all of her travels with 12. Ā I donāt believe Pearl Mackie is the 2nd coming of Merryl Streep but I believe sheās a find actor and deserves to have a wonderful career in better and better roles. Ā
For me, the Clara fandomās dislike of her comes down to an unwillingness to welcome another companion. Ā I believe this also explains the strange hatred of The Husbands of River Song. Ā That episode is a wonderfully funny romp with some truly heart tugging moments. Ā Iāve enjoyed watching it more than 6 or 7 times and it leaves me smiling every time. Ā But if you are so dedicated to Clara that no other companion will do, I can see where the episode I enjoy would bother you.Ā
And thatās just fine because I feel the same way about Peter Capaldiās 12. Unless Chibbers does something interesting like cast a woman or a non-white male, Iām sure I wonāt be watching Doctor Who any further after Christmas. Ā I will absolutely NOT appreciate easily predictable fan adoration of the inferior Tennant/Smith clone Chibbers will most likely be casting. Ā I will be just as stubborn and closed minded about ever watching that actor try to fill 12ā²s shoes.
In fact Iāll be the worst among us because you at least gave Bill a chance by watching her before judging her. Ā I wonāt be extending the same courtesy. Ā
Sorry for my long rambling response. Ā I hope it made sense to you and youāre open to further discussion on this. Ā Peace.
jacobvanloon
blakekathryn
theartofmadeline
