The woman who is apparently splintered across time isn't realistic, shock horror.

They'll be complaining the Cybermen aren't realistic next...

Exactly. Its the sacred truth that will never be spoken by many a Classic Who fan (of whom I am one) but the fact is TV has moved on. It was fine back in the day but the acting and characterization of most of Classic Who would be laughed off the screen into oblivion if it was repeated now. That is not to devalue the original- it stands up for many reasons. But lets be honest here- the companions were mostly one dimensional and very poorly acted- and yes that includes Sarah Jane, beloved as she might be.

It isn't 1977 anymore.

In some of my novels that contain fantasy elements, I use name origins to create protagonists and antagonists. I looked up name origins of Clara, Oswin & Oswald.

Clara – bright or famous
Oswin – God’s friend
Oswald – God’s power

The God in The Rings of Akhaten was colloquially known as Grandfather, whilst the Doctor referred to his Granddaughter in the episode (he’s therefore also a grandfather).

Referring back to the name origins, Clara Oswin Oswald is the Doctor’s (i.e. Grandfather’s) bright friend/famous power.

Perhaps this could in some way explain her ‘God-like’ power that enabled her to defeat the parasite in this episode.

It might also indicate that Clara will somehow be responsible for saving the Doctor in some way in the finale – maybe resulting in her being split across the Centuries with no memories of what happened.

A wild theory perhaps, but no wilder than others.

That ties in rather nicely with my new theory that Clara has been created specifically with powers that allow her to take his memories away before he can reveal anything at Trenzalore. Hence saving the universe but destroying the Doctor.

Of course, being Clara she's not just going to let that be the end of it and will help him get them back.

Spot on.

As above for the Daleks, The Doctor-Donna, The Master, The Great Intelligence, Alpha Centauri, the Dreamlord, Bad Wolf Rose, The Slitheen, all the TImelords, The White and Black Guardians, The Weeping Angels, River Song, The Silence etc.etc. etc.

This is Sci-Fi/Fantasy, not Eastenders or something.

I like that idea. 'Run you clever boy, and remember' suddenly makes some sense.

Yup. As does the significance of the 'I will always find you, every time' line. She uses that once more as her motivation and decides that she WILL go and find him.

And of course River was the one who reunited them in the first place (the woman in the shop) even knowing what Clara was made to do. River would most certainly take that tough decision even if she knew it was essentially killing the Doctor she knows.

Unfortunately for you, I think you'll be hard-pressed to find a modern television drama which doesn't deal with characters' back stories. People nowadays like to know about the characters in the shows they're watching and like to see that their stories have a bit of depth; that they themselves have a story to tell.
I can't think of a single modern show where nothing was revealed about the main characters' pasts

Anyway, I haven't warmed to Clara yet. I don't find her annoying or unbelievable or anything like that; my feelings are mostly completely neutral towards her.
On the other hand, I really liked her when she was Oswin ("Soufflé Girl") and I am looking forward to finding what she's all about (all the "twice dead" stuff)

- I haven't seen that episode in ages. In her second episode she did however question if it was ok to be in the past considering the racism back then. Clara in her first trip was just like yep and pretty much accepted everything already.
- At least not treat it like a typical marketplace in London.
- It's not the 'kindness'. It's the ignorance. She didn't really question anything about her. Was just like yep this is a human best treat her as such. But when it comes to Dr Who humanoids with a slight bit of difference are considered 'alien'.
- She gave it a go? Come on... She was dodging floating rocks like it was easy despite learning 5 minutes max.
- So she worked out that her leaf held infinite power and would be the source to kill the God? Let that sink in for a second. It's actually very bizzare and rather funny. Oh, and if it was common sense why didn't The Doctor work it out with all his experience and intelligence?
- It's hilarious when we're first introduced to her character she knew nothing about the internet but she can now kill a God in outta space and stuff. Talk about progression in 2 episodes for flawless Clara.

I just think she's way OTT compared to the other companions. Maybe Clara will grow on me but she needs to calm down IMO. (just incase you mistake it as fact again)

The Doctor told her earlier that all the other aliens were giving gifts and that the currency on this planet was objects of sentimental value. Surely we were all immediately thinking of the leaf, Clara included.

The Doctor travels with companions so the viewer has someone they can relate to.

Clara just doesn't give a shit about anything and it's bloody annoying. There's nothing there to connect with on an emotional level.

"Bigger on the inside? Cool."

"You're an Alien? Whatevs."

Everyone on these DW threads watch the show because it is something they find enjoyable. As such the companion is an integral part of the show. Of course people are going to care if they can't relate to a companion. The chemistry the companion has with the Doctor can, for some, make a huge difference as to how they feel about what they're watching. I am pleased that you find her (Clara) believable. I don't find her unbelieveable but I do feel Moffat is over complicating the companions role and in a way it does detract, at least for me, from the concept of what the show is meant to be about.

Yet for some bizzare reason The Doctor couldn't work it out? The same guy who's defeated Satan etc.

Again, why couldn't he work out on something that should be child's play to him? Why did Clara have to shoehorned in?

Also, you're telling me the 'queen' didn't have a clue either? Or any of the aliens who most likely carried infinite value if something like a leaf could?

I always thought that the companion was there to show how remarkable ordinary humans can be, so I'm a bit puzzled by the specialness of some the recent ones. Ironically in the last episode the Doctor gave a wonderful speech about how unique each and every being in the universe is to the little girl and yet here we are embarking on another quest to find out what's extra special about someone travelling with the Doctor, this time it's the human (?) known as Clara.

She does have an appropriate catchphrase though. A version of 'Oh my stars..' was uttered at least three times, first by her mother. So there is that...

I always consider The Doctor the best character of the show over the companions. I'm really enjoying 11.

Clara for me though is like the female equalivent of The Doctor. There's just no balance. I can't believe this is just her second episode. Just imagine what she'll be like in her second series.

I can't remember if he was even aware she had it with her, but either way it would've been quite rude of him to ask her to give up something that meant so much to her. Besides, he clearly thought his timelord memories would do the trick.

Does anyone remember the long, long thread about Amy when she first became companion?

People were saying they didn't like her for the very same reasons that people are are now saying they don't like Clara - unrelatable, not impressed enough, smug, thinks she knows it all etc.

Funny, really.

To be fair I never really warmed up to Amy. I like Clara though.

And let us not forget all the bitching about Rose, Mel, Adric, the sixth, seventh and eighth Doctors, Love and Monsters etc. that still goes on til this day...

God forbid someone doesn't like every single character on Doctor Who.

Amy never grew on me. As a character she was contrived and as such I felt detached from her in a way I never did with RTD's companions. The way RTD wrote his companions was superior to Moffat's creations because we saw the effects of travelling with the Doctor from a personal, human perspective. Rose and Donna especially were easy to relate to because they were ordinary people with ordinarily real backgrounds. Amy though had such a hugely complicated life, we knew virtually nothing about where, why or when that she became like a cardboard figure carried around by the doctor in order for him to have someone to talk to! Rory was more relateable and with the inclusion of his dad in his latter episodes, made him more believable as a character.

At the moment, with Clara, while Jenna is playing her superbly, I am of the "Oh no, here we go again. let's make her so complicated so no one cares" camp. But I am willing to give her a chance. I didn't instantly dislike her like I did with Amy.

That's the point. I very much doubt that any single character is liked by every single fan. Except Sally Sparrow.

I despise Sally sodding Sparrow!

I'm finding the OPs protestations "unrealistic."