There is nothing quite like a good mystery. It is what makes Sherlock such a successful program, and why the novelizations of his adventures have had such an enduring legacy. Even on a non fictional level, there is something compelling about that mysterious person that one meets at a bar or at a party. It is an element of the unknown that grips the imagination and refuses to let go. Even the Doctor, the mysterious being that he can be, can be quite the enigma for others on Doctor Who.
Perhaps that is why there is such a desire to shroud the companions, and female characters in general, in a cloak of mystery. We have seen Steven Moffat use this device numerous times with virtually every recurring female character. Clara, before she became a companion, was a mystery to the Doctor as she was everywhere, leading to her being called the ‘Impossible Girl.’ Missy kept making appearances before her true identity was revealed, much like Kovarian before her. River Song, despite her numerous appearances, is still somewhat of a mystery, especially given her notebook of spoilers from future adventures with the Doctor.
This device works. With River Song, the mysteries were compelling. We wanted to know more about her, to find out who she really was and what that notebook contained. The brief appearances of Kovarian, before her identity was revealed, were the topic of much speculation. Even prior to Moffat’s time, there were the mysteries surrounding Bad Wolf, Mr. Saxon and Torchwood, to name just a few examples. Mysteries are simply a staple of Doctor Who.
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Yet, for as much as we all enjoy these various mysteries, one has to wonder if the pattern is wearing thin. The question of how Clara was able to appear so often, even before this version became a companion, had worn thin by the time she stepped into the Doctor’s time stream. Even now, mystery still surrounds Clara, as there is still the question of why she was set up with the Doctor in the first place.
And what about Missy? We know she is the Master regenerated, but how did she survive? Oh, another mystery! And look, the same set up as with Kovarian, where there were brief glimpses of her prior to the big reveal, happened again. It was fun the first time, but now that we have seen this again, it is not close to the same effect.
Mysteries are truly great plot devices, and can be quite engrossing. However, that does not mean that everything on Doctor Who need to be a mystery.