(no subject)

So a delight of listening to fannish podcasts is hearing different perspectives and recontextualising stories in a new light. A few nights ago I realised Clara was Twelve's version of Barbara&Ian(&Susan). Clara taught him how to human and how to care and be less alien.
If you want to get fan wanky about it, Twelve is the first body of a regeneration cycle, so it's a giant character reset button. It makes Missy's inclusion in his narrative interesting, as the Master has never learnt & perhaps even relates better to a Doctor that's prickly.

Last night, listening to #81 of VerityPodcast, it was the observation on how the Doctor stayed with Amy & Rory and let them have their lives and the way it let him allow Clara hers that made me look at what's happened since then in a new light. Because the patience learned from those periods obviously helped with, or was the cause of, those 24 years spent with River and the 70 at the University with Missy.
The Doctor's learnt patience and to manage their time with their loved ones better.
It's a lovely message about relationships and the spaces they need.

(I know I say that & referenced the long periods spent with River & Missy. But I don't for one second think either was non-stop sex against all the surfaces.
The Doctor asks if he can come into the Vault. That implies the Doctor gave Missy space & did the same with River too.)