2. Clara To Die?
We've been teased with a companion's death before. In Nu Who Rose died in 'Doomsday', a companion was destined to die in 'Journey's End', Amy and Rory died of old age in 'The Angels Take Manhattan'. With each companion's passing the threat of death rears its ugly head and rightly so. In terms of the dramatic implications of what the Doctor faces every day, what could be worse than the death of his companion - a man or woman who has followed him blindly into danger time and time again? That's why Adric's death in the Fifth Doctor's 'Earthshock' was so powerful. Sure he was a bit of a brat, but killing him off so suddenly, just when it looked as if the Cybermen had been defeated? It was cruel and unexpected. And indeed, death has only come knocking a handful of times, the first two most notably in 'The Dalek's Master Plan' - though neither companion had been around that long. For Clara, her death would be too horrible to bear. Clara Prime's certainly. After her actions helped ensure every single one of the Doctor's victories. Not just Eleven's, but the First through Tenth. If after all that, after saving the universe countless times, she died in battle...it would be a powerful conclusion to this dynamic and important character. And one to horrible to think about. Except that I just did.