The Ultimate Character Exit: Uncovering Peter Capaldi's Astonishingly Similar Farewell Moments for Two Doctor Who Companions!

Summary

Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor had similar endings for both Clara Oswald and Bill Potts, with ethereal females saving them despite the Doctor's failure to do the same.

Bill's ending outshines Clara's, devoid of any moral dilemma and seamlessly bringing her story full circle to its inception in her initial episode.

Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor embarked on adventures with Clara Oswald and later with Bill Potts as his primary companions in Doctor Who. However, the ending for both characters was duplicated by Steven Moffat. Despite an initially strained connection between Clara and the Twelfth Doctor, their bond evolved into one of the closest friendships between a Doctor and companion in the history of Doctor Who. Following Clara's departure, Capaldi's Doctor then embarked on new escapades alongside Bill Potts, who remained in the TARDIS until Twelve's regeneration.

Clara & Bill Have The Same Doctor Who Ending

- A Bittersweet Tradition: Departures of Doctor Who Companions

Doctor Who companions bidding farewell has always been an emotional affair, but it has taken a particularly heartbreaking turn in the modern era. Unlike their classic counterparts, who would willingly part ways with the Doctor on amicable terms, recent acquaintances of the Time Lord have suffered tragic destinies. Whether it is Rose Tyler being trapped in a parallel universe or Amy & Rory being displaced in time by the sinister Weeping Angels, Doctor Who seems to continuously concoct increasingly sorrowful ways to separate the Doctor from their loyal aides. Nevertheless, in a strange twist of fate, the Twelfth Doctor's primary companions exited the stage in remarkably similar fashion.

The Twelfth Doctor's time with Clara was abruptly cut short when she tragically met her end at the hands of the Quantum Shade. Despite the Doctor's valiant attempts to defy the constraints of time, Clara's fate was inevitable. To soften the blow, Doctor Who allowed Clara to delay her demise by embarking on intergalactic adventures alongside the enigmatic Ashildr in a makeshift TARDIS. With Bill, the Twelfth Doctor's companionship also came to a forced conclusion when she was untimely transformed into a Cyberman. Despite the Doctor's tireless efforts to reverse the process, Bill's humanity could not be fully restored. In order to ease the pain, Doctor Who permitted Bill's departure to be postponed, allowing her to traverse the cosmos alongside a sentient puddle of oil named Heather, existing as ethereal beings.

Why Bill's Doctor Who Ending Works Better Than Clara's

: The Twelfth Doctor's companions met different fates under the guidance of Steven Moffat, the then-showrunner of Doctor Who. However, Moffat cleverly devised a solution that granted them a happy ending, despite their inability to be saved by the Doctor. For Clara Oswald and Bill Potts, these resolutions involved enigmatic and somewhat immortal women - Ashildr and Heather, respectively. These extraordinary individuals came to their aid, whisking them away to the cosmos. Uniquely, even in the timeline of Doctor Who season 14, Clara and Ashildr continue their exploration of the universe from their American diner, while Bill and Heather embark on adventures in their liquid form, traveling to other worlds.

Undoubtedly, there are undeniable similarities between Clara Oswald and Bill Potts' conclusions in Doctor Who, especially considering that Bill follows immediately after Clara. However, Steven Moffat's recurring theme of "companion dying and being partially saved by a timeless girl" seemed to work even better for Bill. While Ashildr's significance had been heavily foreshadowed, Clara's decision to "take the long way round" undermined the central message that the Doctor was wrong to undo Clara's demise. In essence, the disparity between the Twelfth Doctor's actions and Ashildr delaying Clara's death for an outing together is merely a technicality.

There was no moral conflict for Bill. Despite being transformed into a Cyberman, the innocent companion of the Twelfth Doctor played a crucial role in saving the day. Although restoring Bill to her original self was not an option, Doctor Who ingeniously utilized Heather to give Pearl Mackie's character a more uplifting farewell, devoid of any ethical dilemmas regarding the rightness or wrongness of saving Bill. Furthermore, Bill's conclusion in Doctor Who cleverly connected back to her initial appearance, as Heather's return brought the companion's entire journey full circle in a satisfying manner.