astudyinimagination:

Also, I typically avoid posting opinions like this, but it astounds me how somebody can watch Twelve and Clara’s last conversation in “Face the Raven” and still think that they’re not in love with each other. Yes, romantic love. Yes, I know that they’re best friends (and isn’t that the strongest, best kind of romantic relationship? the kind where you’re best friends?).

I mean, it’s like watching the beach scene in “Doomsday” and saying, “oh, there was nothing romantic between Ten and Rose, it was all platonic.” The Doctor doesn’t say “I love you.” He doesn’t say it to Rose, he doesn’t say it to River, he doesn’t say it to Clara. He almost does. He comes close. He says it in just about every other way possible, and we don’t need to hear him say it to know that he feels it towards Rose and River (yes, I know, he marries River, but he still never actually says those three little words), so why not with Clara also?

The Doctor’s relationship with Clara has been coded as romantic right from “Asylum” when Oswin flirts with him, continues in “The Snowmen” very strongly, and then the appearance of “Clara Prime” does nothing to discontinue the trend. Even “Deep Breath” does nothing to actually dismantle the coding, from Clara claiming that she could flirt with a mountain range to the Doctor telling Clara that he’d made a mistake in trying to be her boyfriend (”I’m not your boyfriend. I didn’t say it was your mistake.”).

Ten says, “Rose Tyler.” We all know what he would have said if he’d had a couple more seconds.

Twelve says, “Clara.” Clara cuts him off:

“Everything you’re about to say, I already know. Don’t do it now. We’ve already had enough bad timing.”

There is no possible platonic thing that the Doctor could say that could hurt Clara like that. Bad timing. They were already best friends. Bad timing is not for friendships; there’s never a wrong time to be a friend or to tell someone that they’re your best friend. Bad timing is for lovers. Bad timing is for lost chances.

Bad timing is for saying, “You are my universe. You are my heartbeat. I love you.” Because the first time you say that should never be your last.

If there was ever any doubt that Clara and the Doctor were (are?) in love with each other, “Face the Raven” shouldn’t leave any doubt. You would have to ignore what’s said, and you’d also have to ignore what’s left unsaid but is clear nonetheless.

And, dang, if Sarah Dollard didn’t hit the nail on the head.