Clara and Me: the Doctor Who Spin-off that We Deserve

Class is all well and good, but here are some thoughts on why a show featuring Clara and Me would be a better Doctor Who spin-off at this point.

“The main criticism directed at Moffat is that he writes women in a way that ties them very closely to the men around them”

As I watched Me/Ashildr and Clara Oswald’s 1950s diner-styled T.A.R.D.I.S. traipse past the Doctor’s classic blue T.A.R.D.I.S. in Hell Bent, I became convinced of two very real truths: One, I was desperate for one of those retro milkshakes, and two, for the sake of the Doctor Who Universe, a Me/Clara spin-off must happen.  It most likely won’t happen, but it needs to in order to address the one pernicious criticism of the show that has dogged Steven Moffat’s critically acclaimed run at the helm — Sexism.  Not only would investing in Clara and Me demonstrate to Moffat’s critics that he took their concerns to heart, but it would also give Doctor Who‘s rabid fan base a chance for more adventures with two of the series’ most popular characters.

In 2014, Versha Sharma of The Guardian wrote:

"“The main criticism directed at Moffat is that he writes women in a way that ties them very closely to the men around them: they don’t, or can’t, exist without a male presence in place to guide them.”"

A Clara/Me show would give us precisely that — two heroines who “can” and “do” without the need of any male guidance whatsoever. When Me asked Clara where they were headed, Clara didn’t look around for a male when she said, “Gallifrey… the long way around.” The fact that these empowered female characters were created during Moffat’s tenure as head writer is a testament to his modern instincts.

Clara Oswald – credit: bbc.com

What I am saying, however, is “in for a penny, in for a pound, Steven.” Double down on what you have started and shake up all the tropes. A Clara and Me show would be revolutionary by boasting an all female TARDIS crew, a human “Doctor” (complete with sonic screwdriver), and an immortal companion — all firsts for the Whoniverse.  

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In a 2015 interview with Radio Times, Moffat vehemently denied these sexism claims saying, “Those women he knows are not like James Bond girls.” and “When the Doctor ends a friendship, it tears him apart.” — failing to see that, perhaps, attempting to define a female character’s worth by how she makes her male counterpart feel is part of the problem. If created, this spin-off would deal with how better to integrate the concepts of powerful women/women in power into traditionally male dominated roles, as our societies are wrestling with how to do the very same thing.

Me in ‘Hell Bent’ – credit: bbc.co.uk

The true brilliance of Doctor Who is that it constantly shifts and evolves with the times; It’s a sci-fi Rorschach test for the day and age. Hopefully, the good Doctor will shift and evolve in a way that will allow these women to keep the keys to the time machine for a bit longer.

Next: Doctor Who: Rakhee Thakrar Sort of Addresses Companion Rumors

Do you think that a Clara/Me spin-off is needed? Let us know in the comments.