‘Doctor Who’: Our spoiler-free verdict on Clara

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Doctor Who returns on Christmas Day for a festive special, introducing Jenna-Louise Coleman as new companion Clara.

Christmas Eve 1892 and the falling snow is the stuff of fairy-tales. When the fairy-tale becomes a nightmare and a chilling menace threatens Earth, an unorthodox young governess, Clara, calls on the Doctor for help. But the Doctor is in mourning, reclusive and determined not to engage in the problems of the universe. As old friends return, will the Doctor really abandon humankind or will he fight to save the world – and Christmas – from the icy clutches of this mysterious menace.

‘The Snowmen’ airs at 5.15pm on Tuesday 25 December on BBC One and the CultBox team were lucky enough to watch the episode this week. Here are our first impressions of Clara (look out for some slighty cryptic clues; we’re not just drunk and typing total nonsense)…

 

Cameron K McEwan: “Most of us were blown away by just how good Jenna-Louise Coleman was in ‘Asylum of the Daleks’ and just how quickly the actress stole our hearts. But here? Forget about it. She ramps up the love-o-meter tenfold with one of the best introductions for a companion in the history of Who.

“Within seconds Clara will be your new favourite; she chases after The Doctor, she’s smart and asks all the right questions. (And, yes, that question is one of them.)”

 

Alex Mullane: “Jenna Louise Coleman and the character (or is that characters?) that she plays are the best thing to happen to Doctor Who in a long time.

“Entirely convincing in all aspects of her character, JLC lends warmth and humour to The Doctor’s new assistant. Spirited rather than spiky, child-like rather than childish, she already feels like the most engaging partner the show has seen in a long time.

“That her character is so shrouded in mystery definitely helps in that regard, and Moffat – who often comes under fire for his convoluted, twist-turny plots – must be praised for writing a character with such an intriguing back-story (or is that future-story?), who will not only drive you insane speculating, but who’s also personable enough to keep us enthralled however long it takes the mystery to unravel.

“JLC’s first two appearances have been the best two episodes for a while, and that’s not a coincidence. She’s injected new life into both The Doctor and Doctor Who, and it’s a creative upswing that looks set to continue into the new year. It’s time to get excited again!”

 

Malcolm Stewart: “Clara is utterly sensational. The scene where she first encounters the TARDIS is unlike any such scene in the show’s history.

“There are added layers of magic and fairy tale, but why not? It’s Christmas! And no one else on screen is twinkling quite as brightly, or as knowingly, as Jenna-Louise. Welcome aboard, you bloody lovely girl!”

 

David Lewis: “Like a celebrity on Strictly Come Dancing when Brucie is struggling to read the autocue, Jenna-Louise Coleman – whom we’d like to call JLC but unfortunately cannot, thanks to certain disgraced West Country comedians – has now been introduced to viewers twice: first as a Dalek with a penchant for soufflé and now as Clara, a girl from 1892 who switches at will between prim-and-improper governess and cockney barmaid – Mary Poppins one minute, St Mary-Le-Bow the next.

“Yet while the Doctor’s latest sidekick has all the feistiness, sharp wit and instinctive heroism of Amy Pond, she’s no mere facsimile of her forerunner. In fact, given that Amy’s life revolved around the raggedy man in a blue box, Clara is exactly the opposite…”

 

Are you looking forward to seeing Clara? Let us know below…

> Buy Series 7 Part 1 on DVD on Amazon.

Watch the Christmas special trailer…