Doctor Who and Clara Oswin Oswald: Season 7: Part 2 Impressions So Far

Doctor Who (Matt Smith) and Clara Oswin Oswald (Jenna-Louise Coleman)

With the departure of Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) from the last part of Season 7 of Doctor Who, here comes a new companion for the Doctor, the Impossible Girl, Clara Oswin Oswald. Although her deaths are fixed, she continually exists throughout time. In a way, she is much like the Doctor minus the transforming part. With the Christmas special The Snowmen and the episodes The Bells of Saint John, The Rings of Akhaten, and Cold War under our belts, this new season has started out with a roar and a whimper.

Matt Smith has excelled in his role as The Doctor after the departure of David Tennant from the show. He plays it with liveliness and childfulness unlike the sometimes somber David Tennant and mostly somber Christoper Eccleston. Matt Smith definitely has an appeal — for those long-time viewers and for the next generation of viewers. Despite his great acting skills, the scripts have been mediocre mostly. With the most recent The Rings of Akhaten being one of the better episodes so far, this season has been lackluster. The aliens have been boring at best and a snoozer at worst, even through the funny parts. By the way, the music in The Rings of Akhaten has to be one of the best ever in Doctor Who.

Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara Oswin Oswald has the potential to become one of the better companions. So far, she has demonstrated the intellect of Martha Jones with the beauty and charm of Rose Tyler. However, again, the scripts so far have her playing the helpless maiden in distress most of the time. In my opinion, she should be one of the stronger characters in the Doctor Who universe, but so far, she hasn’t been portrayed as one. Maybe it will take a full season before Clara Oswin Oswald will take the reigns much like Rose Tyler did in the second season of Doctor Who. In all honesty, Clara should play the lioness instead of the lamb.

Perhaps in the future, they need to interject some real humor back into Doctor Who. John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness would be a great choice, if he wasn’t otherwise preoccupied with Arrow as Malcolm Merle. Or some intrigue in the form of Harkness’ companion, Captain John Hart, played by James Marsters. This series need a rejuvenation of its own pretty soon. Otherwise, it may lose viewers gradually, including myself.

What do you think of the seventh season of Doctor Who so far?