Doctor Who Series 9: No New Love Interest for Clara

Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Michelle Gomez, and Steven Moffat spent so much time giving press interviews at San Diego Comic-Con earlier this month, some of the more interesting tidbits and quotes are still surfacing. One story making the rounds this week is from an interview Jenna Coleman gave to YouTube star Yael Tygiel on the Comic-Con press line.

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Tygiel had a lot of good questions for Coleman, including whether we’d be seeing any new or interesting monsters this year (we will), and whether Clara would be putting her own angry eyebrows to work (she won’t).

Related: Doctor Who Series 9: Five Burning Questions That Remain Unanswered

Possibly the most interesting questions, though, were in regards to Danny Pink and Clara’s future love life. When asked if Danny would return this year, Coleman said that Danny was flying around as a Cyberman, and we should just “watch [the new series].” Then, when Tygiel asked Coleman if Clara would have a new love interest this year, she had this to say:

"“I think what [Danny’s death] has done to Clara is kind of changed her whole perspective on life. She’s no longer got the ties to Earth that she had before. She just wants to be in the TARDIS and just wants to hang out with the Doctor and just wants that to be her world and makes it so.”"

Mostly, I’m happy hearing this news. It seems more and more that Series 9 will focus on the Doctor and Clara just out having adventures and put some of the melodrama aside. Coleman does say in the same interview this year is very “adrenaline-fueled” and all about “living in the moment.” However, I do worry that not giving Clara an outside love interest could lead to some sort of forced affection for the Doctor — something Peter Capaldi was explicitly against when he first took on the role.

Also of note is Coleman’s answer when Tygiel asks whether Clara will be around for the full series, after two almost-goodbyes last year. Coleman responds with a long “uhhhhh” and two words: “Watch it.”

Related: Doctor Who Rumors: Could Jenna Coleman Be Leaving?

Interesting stuff. Personally, the lack of an answer on the full-series question leads me to believe Clara will be departing at the end of Series 9, but they’ll likely play coy up until the episode airs.

For the full interview, check out the video below:

What do you think? Are you happy to see the show focusing less on Clara’s love life? Sound off in the comments below!

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