Does Clara Oswald Ever Return to Doctor Who? Exploring the Impossible Girl’s Fate
The question of whether Clara Oswald ever returns to Doctor Who is a complex one, steeped in time travel paradoxes, emotional farewells, and the unique nature of her character. The short answer is: Yes, in a way, she does return, but not in the conventional sense of a full-time companion or in the same way as a typical regeneration or resurrection. Let’s delve into the intricacies of her story to understand her unique return and ongoing impact on the Doctor’s life.
Clara’s Multiple “Deaths” and the Time Stream
Clara’s journey with the Doctor is marked by numerous near-death experiences and even actual deaths that she somehow manages to overcome. She is, after all, known as the “Impossible Girl” precisely because she appears repeatedly across the Doctor’s timeline, defying the usual rules of time and space.
“Face the Raven” and the Second Chance
Clara’s apparent final death occurs in the episode “Face the Raven,” where she sacrifices herself to save Rigsy, accepting the touch of a Quantum Shade. However, this is not the end for Clara. Using Gallifreyan technology, the Twelfth Doctor manages to extract her from her time stream a split second before her death, effectively freezing her between heartbeats. This action allows him to keep her in stasis and escape to the end of the universe, providing a temporary reprieve. This is not a typical return, it is a preservation outside of time.
The Diner TARDIS and a Continued Journey
Following her rescue, Clara and the immortal Ashildr (Me) embark on adventures in a stolen TARDIS, modified to resemble an American diner. This offers Clara a chance to continue her travels through time and space, albeit separated from the Doctor. This adventure is a form of return to the narrative, showcasing her independent adventures and growth beyond the Doctor’s influence.
The Fixed Point and the Inevitable Return
It’s revealed that Clara’s death in “Face the Raven” is a fixed point in time. Eventually, she must return to that moment to fulfill the predetermined course of events. This journey back to her ultimate demise is a narrative arc of its own, marked by Clara’s acceptance of her fate while still living her life to the fullest. This also implies that while she has had her return, she cannot return from her death without breaking the universe.
Why Clara’s Return Is Different
Clara’s return is not a standard resurrection. Her rescue before death means she exists outside of time and space to a certain degree. She is not the same as before her “death”. She has no heartbeat, and therefore, is technically immortal. Her return isn’t about coming back to a previous life or erasing her death, but about preserving her existence and her journey. She gets to continue being her own Doctor and adventuring through space and time, an existence she always wanted.
The Impact of Clara’s Departure
Despite not making a traditional return as a full-time companion, Clara’s impact on the Doctor is lasting. Her relationship with the Twelfth Doctor forced him to confront his own actions and mortality. She left a permanent mark on his life and character development. She is never completely absent from his mind, and her advice continues to guide him, as highlighted by her famous “Run you clever boy, and be a Doctor”.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Clara Oswald’s Return
1. Was Clara ever brought back by the Eleventh Doctor?
While the Eleventh Doctor encountered versions of Clara across his timeline due to the Great Intelligence’s meddling, he did not bring her back to life in the way that the Twelfth Doctor did. The scattered instances of Clara’s presence across his timeline led him to call her the “Impossible Girl.”
2. Does Clara return to Gallifrey?
Yes, in a way. It is implied she must return to the moment of her death, and because it is a fixed point, it is linked to a return to Gallifrey. Before this, she and Ashildr have their own adventures in the diner TARDIS.
3. What was Clara’s last official episode as a regular companion?
Clara’s last official episode as a regular companion is “Hell Bent”. Here, her time stream is extracted, effectively saving her from her death at the cost of the Doctor’s memory of her.
4. Why was Clara called the Impossible Girl?
Clara is called the Impossible Girl because she appeared multiple times throughout the Doctor’s timeline, each time with no memory of the previous encounter, as if she were a fragment. This was caused by the Great Intelligence scattering her fragments.
5. How many times did Clara actually die?
Clara technically dies multiple times throughout the Doctor’s timeline and her own. Her “final” death in Face the Raven was the point from which she was extracted just before her death.
6. Did the Doctor and Clara have a romantic relationship?
While there was significant emotional intimacy between the Doctor and Clara, they did not have a traditional romantic relationship. Their connection was one of deep love and friendship.
7. Was Clara the child of the Doctor and River Song?
No, the idea of Clara being River Song’s and the Doctor’s child is a fan theory. There is no evidence in the series supporting this claim.
8. Why did Clara become reckless?
After the loss of Danny Pink, Clara became reckless because she was more determined to live life to the fullest and she felt as though the Doctor would always find a way to save her.
9. Who replaced Clara as the Doctor’s companion?
After Clara’s departure, the Doctor’s next companion was Bill Potts, played by Pearl Mackie.
10. Did Clara ever kiss the Doctor?
Yes, Clara kissed the Doctor, but it was not a romantic kiss. It was a spontaneous action that highlighted the often-awkward nature of their relationship.
11. Who was Clara’s boyfriend?
Clara’s boyfriend was Danny Pink, a mathematics teacher at Coal Hill School. Their relationship played a significant role in her character development.
12. How did Clara betray the Doctor?
Clara didn’t intentionally betray the Doctor. She threatened him after Danny’s death by planning to blackmail the Doctor into saving Danny. Her desperation came from deep grief.
13. What was the meaning behind Clara’s last words to the Doctor?
Clara’s final message to the Doctor, “Run you clever boy, and be a Doctor,” is a message of acceptance and support for the Doctor and his way of coping with loss. It is not a message of reprimand for his actions.
14. How old was Clara when she died?
Based on her headstone, Clara was 26 years old when she died in the 19th century, born on November 23rd, 1866 and dying on December 24, 1892.
15. Does Clara get her own TARDIS?
Yes, after being extracted from her timeline, Clara acquires a stolen TARDIS, which she modifies to look like a diner. She uses this TARDIS to travel through time and space with Ashildr.
Conclusion
Clara Oswald’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and the complexities of time. While she does return after her “death”, her return is not a traditional one. Her experiences made her a stronger individual and changed the Doctor as well. Her final adventures alongside Ashildr add to her already legendary place in the history of the show. The Impossible Girl’s legacy remains a fascinating exploration of mortality, time, and the enduring bonds that form across the cosmos. Her return is not about undoing her fate, but rather about ensuring her story continues, even outside the conventional rules of time.