Doctor Who Series 10 Finale: 7 Big Questions We're Asking After 'The Doctor Falls'
2. So The Doctor Hasn't Forgotten Clara After All?
Fighting back the inevitability of regeneration has brought
about some disturbing psychological effects in the Doctor, including the
involuntary blurting out of some of his predecessors' first and last words. But
that’s not the only nod to past regenerations. The transition from Peter
Davison to Colin Baker, arguably the best of the lot, had a swirling montage of
past companions pleading with him to regenerate, before ending with the Ainley Master shouting
“You must die Doctor, die Doctor.” That scene was clearly in mind when the unconscious
Doctor is woken by a similar collection of voices, before also ending with the latest
incarnation of the Master. Interestingly, the Master (as Missy) is on their side for once (a possible indication that the Doctor's hopes were not misplaced after all).
The fact that the companion montage start with Rose Tyler is an indication that we are saying goodbye not only to Capaldi and Moffat, but to Doctor Who’s entire 2005-2017 run. Talk of Chibnall rebooting the show for a new generation may not be an exaggeration after all, and the continuity between Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat’s time is rarely acknowledged.
Clara Oswald's appearance was potentially more significant than others. Following the events of Hell Bent she shouldn’t have been in the Doctor’s head at all. Following his memory wipe to protect the universe from the hybrid, the Doctor should only be able to talk about his adventures with Clara as if they were somebody else’s. As we were reminded in The Pilot, the Doctor can only sense her presence in a song.
The trauma of regeneration may well be restoring those memories, but if so then can be expect a surprise appearance from Jenna Coleman at Christmas? One final leg in her roundabout journey back to Trap Street, to help the Doctor complete his regeneration?