Doctor Who Review: Before The Flood – 6 Ways The Water Rises And Falls

By Mary Ogle /

3. Going Through The Motions

Grief is not something we often experience in Doctor Who though there is much cause for it. Clara, however, is turning out to be a character that is defined by her grief and her inability to come to terms with it. She understands what Bennett is feeling after the loss of O€™Donnell and encourages him to continue on with his life but her delivery of these platitudes feels rote and insincere. It€™s like she€™s reading off the cards she gave the Doctor. She knows this is what she should say in this situation but she€™s not feeling it. Does Clara blame the Doctor for Danny€™s death? It€™s interesting that when she is afraid the Doctor is going to die she rails against him not out of concern for his welfare but more out of her own sense of entitlement. She has stuck with the Doctor even in the face of a grievous loss and he owes her. This sentiment might also come out of her sense of guilt at lying to Danny about the level of her involvement with the Doctor.