Doctor Who: Silence on Jenna Coleman’s Future
By David Hill
Last year, prior to Series Eight of Doctor Who, the biggest questions of the series swirled around Jenna Coleman. There had been rumors that she would be leaving her role as Clara Oswald at various points during the season, and again after the Christmas Special. Instead, she returned after much deliberation, rejoining Doctor Who for Series Nine since she felt that Clara’s story was not finished.
This year, that chatter has not occurred. There has been complete silence from Coleman in regards to her future on the show. Instead of the constant questions of whether or not she will remain throughout the season, or when she will leave, the focus has been on the upcoming season and speculation as to the adventures that Clara and the Doctor will have this time through.
Perhaps this silence in regards to her future is a sign that we are not going to be seeing the end of Clara. As unthinkable as it may have been even a few months ago, could Clara actually be returning in Series Ten, furthering her stay as the longest running companion on Doctor Who?
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It is certainly interesting to think about. Doctor Who, which is a show that is predicated on change, could well have a companion that may last longer than most of the Doctors in the show’s history. It is especially interesting that the companion that has lasted the longest, of all of the companions to pass through the Doctor’s life, is the one that has had the most speculation as to when her tenure will end.
That speculation is likely fueled not just by Coleman’s wavering on whether or not she will remain on Doctor Who, but the polarizing nature of her character. Clara, perhaps more than any other companion, has managed to divide fans of the program into factions either for or against her character. There just does not seem to be a middle ground.
Whether or not one is a fan of Clara, having this level of continuity on Doctor Who is certainly a unique experience. It may be debatable as to whether or not this is a positive, especially for a show that has almost constant change, but getting to see Clara and the Twelfth Doctor truly have a chance to connect with one another is something that we all want to see.
Perhaps her story will be over after this season of Doctor Who. Perhaps she will remain through Series Ten. One thing is for certain – it is great to focus on the upcoming year and not have to worry about the ongoing speculation of whether or not Clara will be returning.