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In response to
"You know, other than the Doctor, Time Lords seem like a bunch of jerks. -- nm"
by
David
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From the BC 50 thoughts (a repost) spoils
Posted by
Spawn
Nov 25 '13, 08:48
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7. MARCUS AND CLARA
Clara is awfully important in altering the Doctor’s, and Gallifrey’s history, but then again, she has existed at all points in time and is fairly special in that way. The episode opens with her teaching Marcus Aurelius’ quote, “Waste no time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one”. This, of course, is what happens with the three Doctors arguing about the nature and outcome of their action in personal terms, and once they agree to all do it together, they are capable of agreeing not to do it all together.
But Clara’s instrumental. She’s the outside observer who can help them get outside their own heads enough to see their predicament and consider their own psychologies. She convinces the 11th and 12th Doctor to help the War Doctor in one way or another, and she stops them from destroying Gallifrey long enough for their reconsideration of the issue. Why? Is she just a convenient foil to their decision-making? Well, on one level she suggests the improving role of humanity on the Doctor far, far from a human context in this case. You might argue that humanity saved Gallifrey, or perhaps the Doctor’s acquired humanity gained over centuries. Maybe that’s the real problem his mind’s been working on through 11 regenerations, how to humanize himself to the point of empathy and right decision making based on it.
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