Discussion: Did Clara's attitude toward Time and Space make the opportunity seem less special?

[betawho]

Clara was the only Doctor Who Companion who seemed to view the opportunity to travel in time and space as slightly less interesting than babysitting, going to work, or going on a prosaic date

Comments

Good thought

[ed_rex]

Personally, that kind of blase arrogance isn't why I didn't care for Clara, but now that you've pointed it out, it certainly gets added to my list.

But note: I blame the writer, not the actor. I thought she did really good work with really bad material.

Re: Good thought

[meneleth]

Arrogant is a good adjective for Clara.

[cynthia2015]

I think Moffat was trying to make Clara's perspective towards traveling through time and space different to the RTD era. But unfortunately this compromised Clara's characterization. At least to me it did.

Amy was ignorant of her upbringing during series 5 because of that stupid "Crack" taking away everyone that mattered to her. Not including Rory.

[meneleth]

What put me off Clara was her bossiness. Even other geniuses who traveled with the Doctor didn't order him around like a lazy busboy. She treated the bratty kids she babysat better than him. And she never seemed particularly surprised or amazed to find herself suddenly in a submarine or on another planet. As you say, she sucked the "specialness" out of the whole experience. Of the companions we've seen, I think Donna would have been the best match for 12.

[shivver13]

It might be more applicable to the modern show than the classic show, but we see the Doctor and the adventures through the companion's viewpoint. If the companion isn't interested in the Doctor or the adventures, that attitude is going to rub off on us. Clara told us, right to our face, that traveling with the Doctor is less interesting than the lives we're living right now.

[c_carol]

Nah, I just don't see it. I mean, I can see how you _could_ draw those kinds of conclusions about Clara, but that's not how the stories feel to me. I didn't exactly agree with Clara's decision to travel part-time (it's certainly not what I would have done in her place), but I think it's perfectly in keeping with her characterization, and doesn't feel to me like a lack of enthusiasm or appreciation. I'm not in the least bored with the show, and I'm kind of baffled by all the people who are. But YMMV and all that.

As for the ratings, I don't think this has anything to do with them, and I don't place much importance on them anyway. If ratings are down, it's probably mostly because TV viewing habits are changing in general, as broadcast TV slowly dies out and everything goes more and more Internet. And also possibly because this last season wasn't a "special" one introducing a new Doctor or Companion. That's my guess, anyway.