Killing a companion as grimly as that, in an episode not even the finale. Bold move indeed. But is it that simple?

This could be nothing, but there was something that got my suspicions whirring in the episode that makes me ponder if it really was the end.

That thing was the lights. The strange little alien lights that altered your perceptions to see what you expected. How many people saw Clara die? Just the Doctor - everyone else merely heard it. What did the Doctor go out expecting to see? Her death. What did he see? Her death. But is it possible that something else happened? And he simply saw what he expected?

Just a theory. Likely wrong. But you can bet I'll be back smugly if I'm not!

Thoughts?

Very good point.
I know that some felt that it was all wrong and didn't feel right, but not for the reason you describe.

Well spotted, you may be onto something there.
Not forgetting that they were going to call the episode 'Trap' Street, but changed their mind.
Yes it was a trap for the Doctor, but as you say all may not be as it seemed. We don't know for sure what was illusion and what wasn't.

What you bring up there strikes me as a very big clue which now you mention it sounds like the sort of little clue this show sometimes slips in there in the writing without you paying much attention to it.

The scene where Clara was hugging Dr for the second time. She told his not to speak as she knows anything he would say...
There was a shwoosh sound effect, and I think it's the same one that transferred the chromacon tattoo from Rigsy to Clara. Or am I imagining it?

Even though I picked up on that, I am going with Dead is dead, this time.
I had to come back to the forum just to say "wow". But now I'm leaving this Dr Who forum again until the end of the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching tonight's episode. And you can't Retcon that away from me!

She's dead.

As much as I'd probably like to be able to dissect the show so much as to those little details, it usually amounts to nothing. When Missy telported away from the Daleks at the start of the series, we clearly saw her skeleton which implies she actually did get hit by the Dalek...but we know it isn't so.

It is one small gripe I have. Typically I wouldn't complain at all about such minor inaccuracies, but then this is the same show that also sneaks in a timeline-crossing Eleventh Doctor who can only be identified by the fact we saw the sleeve of his jacket in the corner of a shot, or harks back to brief bits of conversation from two series ago to fill in plot gaps.

Just guessing ,but they introduced a life support devive in the s/l ... I think Claras body will be saved so the Dr can get her essence back from the crow..then she will leave with the new bloke and we the viewers get stuck with the new brat companion.

We know she appears in Hell Bent in one form or another.
Remember she was the "impossible girl" there could still be splinters of her around the universe.

Plus Danny Pink was mentioned for the second time this series.
Until we see Clara's grave I will believe there is hope.

The line "don't run they, they always run" said by the alien before the man was killed (and then the man ran) stood out to me. When Carla was then "ravened" she didn't run made me think, to me it really stood out as a possible hint at something being amiss.

Maybe it was a Zygon?

Loved the Retcon reference (Torchwood).

Hated the use of Clara using US phrase "I'm good" instead of the UK expression "I'm fine"


Good is a statement of a philisophical state ie opposite of bad

Fine is a statement of wellbeing.

Several times in this series, they have pandered to the US (eg Zee instead of Zed for Z).

Dr Who is British series - do not contaminate it with Americanisms!

You're right. Why would that line be written in if it didn't mean something?
Usually when writers insert lines like that into a script they are usually there for a reason. Otherwise why would they be written in the first place?

they have been hinting this throughout the series (clara in the dalek, Clara in the zygon pod, clara in the sleep machine) plus the doctor has to go back to pick up the tardis key from the statis machine

Kabel: Don't run. Stay with her.

Kabel: Why do they always run?


The Doctor (to Clara): Don't run. Stay with me.


Got to mean something surely

It's getting boring now. Rory's dead, then he's back, Missy is dead then she is back, osgood is dead then shes back, Clara's dead then she comes back. Just don't care either way anymore.

I agree. That was definitely significant. I don't think she's properly dead.

How can you not be properly dead?

I just presumed it meant die with dignity as running will not prevent it from happening.

Yes, running away like a "coward" is pointless as the raven will get you anyway.

I assumed the Doctor said "Don't run. Stay with me" because at that brief moment he was the emotional "human Companion", it was like Clara begging 11 to "Please don't change" before he regenerated.
Maybe he wanted Clara to die in his arms? Clara wouldn't put him though that, but took her fate with majesty, nor running from it.

Shes not dead!

There are still pics of Clara and the doctor in the finale so no the character isnt dead!

Jenna could be

in episode 12

No there are pics of Jenna Coleman in the finale.

Since Jenna has been seen to play around 10 different characters so far in the show and we know there are millions more she could play then it's far more likely she's playing one of these other characters than one we have just seen die.

Just a question.

Why did no one think of using the Stasis machine to house Clara so that the Doctor can have more time to come up with a solution to save Clara?

Seems bizarre to ignore that completely

It's a very good question. I'm thinking it wouldn't have made a difference once the Raven was unleashed. Time was already up.

(Facetious answer: It was Clara's last story (possibly) so they didn't write a get out!)

Don't even get me started on the existential implications of scousers telling each other that they're made up.

Why would maker of the show advertise that Clara is in the finale? Is it the DrWho magazine cover that people are referring to? Could just be a photo shoot why must it mean she is in another episode?