Clara Oswald, companion to the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors, met her apparent end in the episode “Face the Raven,” but her actual demise and the ultimate resolution of her fate occurred in the series nine finale, “Hell Bent.” While “Face the Raven” depicted her fatal encounter with the Raven, “Hell Bent” explores the Doctor’s desperate and ultimately destructive attempts to save her, blurring the lines of death and ultimately changing her destiny in profound ways.
The Death and Beyond: Understanding Clara’s Journey
Clara Oswald’s story is one of resilience, resourcefulness, and a touch of reckless abandon. Her initial encounters with the Doctor were shrouded in mystery, as she appeared as “Impossible Girl” echoes across time. After untangling her timeline, she became a steadfast companion, deeply impacting both the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors. However, her desire to be “more like the Doctor” ultimately led to her undoing.
The Raven and “Face the Raven”
In “Face the Raven,” Clara willingly takes the death sentence meant for Rigsy, a graffiti artist and friend of the Doctor. The Raven, a quantum shade, is transferred to her, marking her for death. Knowing the severity of the situation, Clara faces her fate with courage and acceptance, reminding the Doctor not to seek revenge. This act solidified her status as one of the Doctor’s most impactful companions. However, as “Hell Bent” reveals, this was not the end of her story.
“Hell Bent”: A Doctor’s Desperate Measures
The Doctor, driven by grief and guilt, spends four and a half billion years trying to reach Gallifrey and reclaim Clara. In a dramatic confrontation with the High Council of Time Lords, he uses a extraction chamber to pull Clara from the moment of her death, effectively making her a “time anomaly.” This act has massive consequences, threatening the stability of time itself.
The Unintended Consequences
The Doctor’s actions, though driven by love and loss, highlight the dangerous potential of interfering with fixed points in time. By extracting Clara from her death, he inadvertently puts her in a state of “being dead, but not dead.” They ultimately realize that one of them must lose their memories of the other to prevent further damage to the timeline.
The Diner and the Memory Wipe
In a poignant scene in a diner reminiscent of his past lives, the Doctor attempts to erase Clara’s memories of him using a device provided by the Time Lords. However, Clara, using the device herself, alters the outcome. The result is that the Doctor loses his memories of Clara, while she retains hers. This selfless act allows the timeline to be restored while preserving Clara’s agency.
Clara’s Second Chance and the Heartbreaking Ending
Clara, effectively unbound by time, embarks on a journey through the universe with Me, (Ashildr), in a stolen TARDIS. She is, essentially, stuck between life and death, traveling to her appointed time to face the Raven, whenever that may be. While not a traditional “death,” her fate remains sealed, but she gets to choose when and where that happens, experiencing more of the universe in the meantime. This ambiguous ending grants Clara a form of agency while acknowledging the permanence of death.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Clara Oswald’s Fate
FAQ 1: Did Clara really die in “Face the Raven”?
Technically, yes. The Raven killed her. However, “Hell Bent” complicates matters by showing that the Doctor essentially rewrites her ending, pulling her out of that moment before it becomes permanent. Thus, her ultimate fate becomes more about accepting her inevitable death rather than avoiding it.
FAQ 2: How did the Doctor save Clara in “Hell Bent”?
The Doctor used a Time Lord extraction chamber after taking control of Gallifrey. This device pulled Clara out of the final moments of her death, creating a time paradox and preventing her passing.
FAQ 3: What happened to the Doctor after Clara left in “Hell Bent”?
The Doctor, having lost his memories of Clara, continues his adventures, though he feels a sense of something missing. He retains his personality and skills but no longer remembers his intense connection to Clara. This memory loss is a crucial sacrifice to stabilize the timeline.
FAQ 4: Why did Clara decide to travel with Me (Ashildr)?
Clara chose to travel with Me to continue experiencing the universe and to delay her return to the moment of her death. They are both, in a sense, living outside of time, bound together by their unique circumstances.
FAQ 5: Will Clara ever come back to Doctor Who?
Given the nature of Doctor Who and the complexities of time travel, it’s always possible. However, showrunners have generally avoided undoing permanent deaths. Therefore, while a cameo or brief appearance might be conceivable, a full return to the main cast seems unlikely.
FAQ 6: What does it mean that Clara is “between heartbeats”?
This phrase describes Clara’s state after being extracted from her death. She is no longer bound by the constraints of a normal lifespan, effectively suspended in time until she willingly chooses to return to her destined moment with the Raven.
FAQ 7: Did the Doctor’s actions in “Hell Bent” change the established rules of time travel in Doctor Who?
Yes, arguably. While the show has always played fast and loose with time travel rules, “Hell Bent” pushed the boundaries significantly by suggesting that even fixed points can be manipulated, though with dire consequences. This made the Doctor’s actions a major moral and ethical dilemma.
FAQ 8: Is Clara still alive?
Not in the conventional sense. She’s not actively living a life with a natural timeline. She is, however, existing outside of time, travelling and having adventures, knowing that her time will eventually come. She is more accurately described as being in a state of suspended animation with awareness.
FAQ 9: What was the significance of the diner in “Hell Bent”?
The diner represented a connection to the Doctor’s past lives and a sense of familiarity in the face of uncertainty. It was a place where he could reflect and make crucial decisions, providing a symbolic backdrop for the memory-wiping process.
FAQ 10: Why did Clara manipulate the memory-wiping device?
Clara manipulated the device to protect the Doctor. She knew he couldn’t bear the burden of remembering her death and his near-destructive actions to prevent it. By taking away his memories of her, she spared him further grief and allowed him to move forward.
FAQ 11: Was the High Council of Time Lords justified in their reaction to the Doctor’s actions?
Yes, from their perspective. The Doctor’s actions threatened the integrity of time itself. The Time Lords, as guardians of time, were obligated to intervene, even if it meant confronting the Doctor. His actions were perceived as a dangerous transgression.
FAQ 12: What is the overall message of Clara’s storyline and her “death” in “Hell Bent”?
Clara’s story highlights the complexities of grief, the allure of defying fate, and the importance of acceptance. Ultimately, it’s about acknowledging the finality of death, even when given the chance to escape it, and about the sacrifices we make for those we love. It explores the idea that even in death, there can be agency and a form of peace.