Doctor Who: The Name Of The Doctor Review – 8 Ways Steven Moffat Defined The Heroine’s Journey

By Mary Ogle / May 19, 2013

3. Make A Choice

Clara cannot become the heroine without choosing to. The potential is there but it cannot exist without a conscious decision to accept the role. She is aware of the personal consequences of her actions should she jump into the Doctor€™s time stream €“ River has made sure of that. By informing Clara, River is giving up her own role as the Doctor€™s savior €“ passing the torch to her apprentice. As the GI passes through the Doctor€™s life he chooses the path of destruction while Clara chooses the path of salvation €“ good and evil are sharply defined. The John Hurt Doctor, however, is more ambiguous. The Doctor calls him a breaker of promises and treats him with contempt. But the John Hurt Doctor maintains he had no choice €“ that he did what he must for peace and sanity. What happens when there are no good choices? Is an act of evil absolved if good comes out of it?