All signs definitely point to Time Lady Clara – I’ve written posts about it before because it’s ridiculous how heavily it seems to point to that end for her – and honestly, I would love to see some people’s blood boil if they did it.

randomthunk:

Yeah, I admit that part of me wants it to happen out of pure spite.

But more of me just logically thinks, this is where the story threads are going and it would be a waste if they didn’t. What point is there to build up Clara’s increasing departure from normal human life, her adapting to situations as “Doctor Clara”, and the give-take both 12 and Clara have with each other, if you’re just going to kill her off dramatically? It’s a waste of build-up (which is, in general, how I phrase my main beef with Donna’s finale, but that’s for another essay) and a waste of time.

By introducing the concept of “theoretically it isn’t just Gallifreyans who can become Time Lords/Ladies” – aka, an idea that was supposed to be executed with Ace but didn’t get to happen ‘cause cancellation – you would be doing yourself a few favors. Clara being a Time Lady means she can go off on her own shenanigans across the universe. Jenna is going to depart eventually but it gives her a positive reason to come back (see: Martha) should the show ever want to do that. The Doctor wouldn’t have to deal with yet again causing a companion to die, and Lord knows he could use something positive every once in a while.

I don’t want a character punished for having growth in an unexpected area. Why would Clara ever think she’d be able to take on the role of a time traveling alien? But she handles it with flying colors. If she died, what would that accomplish? Her echoes already saved the Doctor’s lives numerous times over, and her actual self gave him renewed life. At this point, her dying would just further the manpain, because unlike the Ponds, there would be nothing for the Doctor to take comfort in, and if it was a sacrifice, he would further be hammered with that guilt. Seriously, he doesn’t need more guilt.

If, however, Time Lady Clara happened, it would not only re-introduce Gallifrey to the story, but it would give him faith and the knowledge that yes, he can do good, which was a struggle he had the past season, and yeah, maybe his dickish people can be brought around. By uh, introducing new blood to them.

Clearly this is something I can talk about for hours and should probably do so when I’m not half-asleep.