Clara and the Doctor

Clara and the 13th Doctor

Just started watching Season 8 of Doctor Who with the new Doctor, Peter Capaldi.  At first I wasn't quite sure but the episode grows on me the more times I rewatch it.  I think Capaldi will be a good doctor, a good change from the recent past.

I wasn't really into the Matt Smith era all that much.  The whole Amy Pond era was just too much mind-fecking, who-begat-who, turning on your own self and eating your own Canon, ongoing non-stopping story arcs for me.  Turned me right off.  I thought things picked up though with Clara Oswald joining and getting rid of the Ponds.   

I've been watching Doctor Who since the mid 1970s when Tom Baker was the Doctor, so I've been with this show for some time.

There are rumors that Jenna Coleman, who plays Clara, wanted to leave the show.  These rumors are now being downplayed.  But I think this might be a good thing.  Yes, Clara is very attractive and very good as a companion, but she just isn't a fit with the grizzled grumpy old man that the Doctor has become.  She was a great fit with the preppy Matt Smith and the near-romance between them was almost understandable.  Clara is a happy shiny person and so was Matt Smith's doctor.  Capaldi is back to some good old 1st/4th Doctor complaining, snarky, in your face action. 

That sort of thing just isn't a good fit with a happy shiny preppy type.  Its like Peri and the antisocial 6th Doctor.  It will just make you feel bad for the pretty Clara always getting snarked at and make the 13th Doctor look like an asshole being mean to a lovely preppy chirpy young girl.  Capaldi's doctor needs someone more snarky, someone who will push back in more of an aggressive way.  

The perfect companion for him would be someone like Sara Jane Smith, or even Leela or Ace.  Not necessarily a warrior maiden blowing things up, but a scrapper.  Someone who takes it on the cuff and isn't afraid of mixing it up with friends and enemies then can laugh about it afterwards.