Doctor Who: 5 Opportunities Afforded By The Newest Companion

1. Ordinary Could Be Extraordinary Again

From what we've been told, it looks like Danny Pink is just an ordinary schoolteacher who's going to get swept up in the adventures of Clara and the Doctor. Frankly, this is great news. What was so wonderful about Davies-Era Doctor Who for so many people (and what I'd argue the Moffat-era has forgotten), is the lessons it taught us about ourselves. Characters like Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith, Martha Jones, and Donna Noble were a mirror of the ordinary people who tune in every week (or every six months, these days). They weren't magically gifted people chosen or pursued by the Doctor for his own ends, they were just plain old people who learned to unlock the inherent extraordinary qualities they already possessed. That's what made them important, wonderful, and relatable. It's also what brought out the human side of the Doctor - a side we've seen less and less of in recent years, and a side that's dearly missed. With Danny Pink, the show has a chance to return to that superior model of characterisation for both the Doctor and his companions. It's a reasonable bet that the search for Gallifrey will be a major part of the overall Series 8 arc €“ so how incredible would it be to see the skills, knowledge, and plain old humanity of two simple schoolteachers be the things that helped the Doctor find his way home? Not "Impossible" people or secret plots to cheat death, not shattered timelines and the 'all-important' Doctor we've seen recently. Just ordinary people, seizing their chance to become extraordinary alongside the man in the battered Police Box. What do you think? Is the new casting announcement a welcome addition? Will it do anything to change the course of the series? More importantly, should it? Sound off in the comments, and if you like what you've read, please click the share button for Facebook, Twitter, or Google+!