The Clara Theory That Would Change Everything On Doctor Who
Since its debut in 1963, "Doctor Who" has fascinated and entertained audiences with its many exciting adventures. Following a mysterious alien simply called the Doctor, the series has taken viewers into far-off places, dangerous planets, and even alternate realities.
While the Doctor is extremely important — their knowledge and wits come in handy when it's time to save the day — the companions who travel alongside the Doctor have much to offer as well. From Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford) to Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill), each of the Doctor's friends is unique, utilizing their own skills to fight off enemies and bring about peace. Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman), also known as the Impossible Girl, was introduced in the first half of Series 7 and traveled with both the Eleventh (Matt Smith) and Twelfth (Peter Capaldi) Doctors. Clara is a mystery and a challenge, someone the Doctor tries very hard to figure out. Many on Reddit have speculated about who Clara is — some believe she's connected to Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) because her mother died on the day of the Auton attack — but there is one theory that changes the series, as well as her relationship to the Doctor.
She is Susan Foreman's mother
This series-changing theory actually started with the teaser trailer for "Doctor Who's" 50th-anniversary special titled, "The Day of the Doctor." The trailer, released about a month before the episode aired in 2013, features several moments of history, animated together to show the series' impact and the way it has changed over the years. About 30 seconds in, an image of the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) transitions into a crystal ball, which Clara is looking into. Instead of seeing her own reflection, however, Clara gazes into an image of Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter.
This snippet had fans wondering if Clara has some connection to Susan, more particularly that Clara is actually her mother. Lightchildofthespring on Tumblr posted about it on their blog, supporting the idea while offering more to explain its plausibility. They suggest that The Doctor and River Song (Alex Kingston) have a son who marries Clara, eventually having Susan together. They also mention that River implies she "has a connection with Clara," further supporting the theory that they are related.
Clara and the Doctor are rather close, and there are some romantic connotations between them. It is even confirmed in "The Time of the Doctor" that Clara fancies him. If Clara is indeed Susan's mother, this would change their relationship. Though Clara wouldn't know she's related to the Doctor, it would definitely make those moments awkward. However, it would also strengthen their bond and reinforce the idea that Clara will always save him.