Clara Oswald and Danny Pink’s relationship timeline was a huge aspect of Doctor Who’s season 8 as it showed how damaging and difficult it can be for the Doctor’s companions to balance their two lives. Clara Oswald first entered the show in season 7, episode 6, "Bells of Saint John", where the Eleventh Doctor was obsessed with her seemingly impossible existence. When the Great Intelligence threatened to destroy the Doctor in season 7, episode 13 "The Name Of The Doctor", she successfully spread multiple versions of herself through his timestream to save him. From there, the two developed an extremely close bond that continued even after the Doctor’s regeneration into a new body.
Clara had a great relationship with the Doctor throughout her time on the show, but it never progressed any further than friendship despite there initially being hints that it could have developed into something more. Eventually, Clara fell for fellow school teacher Danny Pink, though she often struggled to balance her adventures in the TARDIS with her personal life. This caused some serious conflict between Danny and the Doctor, both of whom saw the other as a distraction for Clara. The pair never had an easy relationship, but despite the several heartbreaks that they faced along the way, they were still one of Doctor Who’s more powerful couples.
Season 8, Episodes 2-5: Clara And Danny Meet & Begin Dating
Danny Pink first appeared in season 8, episode 2, “Into The Dalek”, where his shy and awkward personality immediately captured Clara’s attention at work. He was clearly interested in her, but his confidence and trust issues prevented him from working up the courage to ask her out. Many of Clara’s best episodes flirted with this entertaining dynamic between her and Danny, but after a while, the pair finally began dating. In spite of their clear affection for each other, their relationship got off to a pretty rocky start as Clara struggle to balance her two very different lives. They continued this dynamic until episode 5's “Time Heist” three episodes later.
This relationship was a breath of fresh air for Doctor Who, particularly for the character of Clara Oswald. She’d sacrificed so much for the Doctor throughout her appearances in the previous season, and it was comforting to see her finally living a safer, more conventional life. And yet, Clara remained enamored by the life that the Doctor had offered her. She found herself unable to sacrifice the wonders of the universe, and that prevented her from really giving herself completely to this relationship. The Doctor and Clara were a perfect team, and she couldn’t quite figure out how to fit Danny into her life.
Season 8, Episodes 6-10: Danny Meets The Doctor & Tensions Rise As Danny And The Doctor Fight Over What Is Best For Clara
When Danny met the Doctor in episode 6's “The Caretaker”, the pair got off to a bad start. His military history was a huge red flag for the Time Lord, who’s always been clear that he doesn’t approve of warfare or violence - partly due to his own experiences in the Time War. Although Danny tried his best to win the Doctor’s respect, he was extremely hesitant to welcome a soldier into his TARDIS. The pair’s conflicts only continued to grow, with the Doctor refusing to accept Clara’s new boyfriend - much to her dismay. This dynamic continued right up to episode 10's “In The Forest of the Night”.
These arguments marked the first instance of Clara and the Doctor not being friends. Since the character’s introduction, she’d always gotten along brilliantly with the Doctor thanks to her friendly personality and obvious sense of comion. She initially didn’t understand why the Doctor would be so cold and heartless about something that made her so happy. However, she also struggled with Danny's objections about her adventures since she enjoyed having traveling and saving several worlds. It was hard to watch, especially since no one since the Doctor and Danny were not really thinking about how their grudge would affect Clara.
Season 8, Episode 11: Danny Is Suddenly Killed, Leaving Clara Heartbroken
It took a long time for the Doctor to finally accept Danny and give his blessing to his relationship with Clara, but before long, it was too late. At the beginning of episode 11 “Dark Water”, Danny is unexpectedly killed after he was knocked down by a car. It was one of the saddest things to happen to Clara on Doctor Who, and her immediate reaction was fueled by anger and frustration. Wrongly blaming the Doctor for her boyfriend’s death, Clara betrayed her old friend and forced him to travel back in time and prevent the accident.
Her plan didn’t quite work, but it finally proved to the Doctor just how much Clara loved Danny. Throughout Doctor Who season 8, Clara had been forced to choose between the two important men in her life, constantly trying to balance her two identities and experience the best of both worlds. Danny’s death forced her to recognize that this was no longer possible - and she chose Danny over the Doctor. This was a shocking decision that might’ve initially seemed out of character for Clara, but it was a hugely important moment in the character’s journey. It proved that her relationship with Danny was stronger than even she’d initially realized.
Season 8, Episode 12: Danny Is Revived By Missy As A Cyberman
Although Clara should’ve lived happily with Danny in Doctor Who, her dangerous lifestyle had torn this possibility away from her. She recognized that she was partially responsible for Danny’s death, and that’s why she went to such extremes in her quest to bring him back. Her plan was ultimately unsuccessful, and Danny found himself brought back to life in episode 12, "Death In Heaven", as part of Missy’s new Cyberman army. Although it was tragic to see Danny’s life fall apart so suddenly and unfairly, this gave Clara the opportunity to say goodbye to her boyfriend and begin her journey of forgiveness and self-acceptance.
Ironically, it was Danny’s military strength and mental fortitude that allowed him to overcome the Cybermen’s programming and betray the species from the inside. Rejecting Danny for his background as a soldier was ultimately one of the worst things the Doctor did - and by bringing him back as a Cyberman, the show gave the Doctor an opportunity to face his own flaws and recognize that he’d been too harsh and cold. He never forgot that important lesson, even warning his future self to “never be cruel” once he reached the end of his life.
How Danny's Death Affected Clara After Season 8
Despite the tragedies and heartbreak that her adventures had caused her and Danny, Clara made the decision to continue traveling the universe by the Doctor’s side. However, in the episodes that followed, Clara was more reckless as she didn't seem to think about the consequences and dangers around her. The trauma of losing Danny never really left her, and though she began to move on from the experience, it did seem like she felt as if she had nothing to lose anymore.
Clara was the Twelfth Doctor’s true companion, and despite the fractures in their relationship that had been caused by her love for Danny, she recognized that everything had happened because of their platonic love for one another. The loss of Danny was a necessary step in Clara’s journey, transforming her from the naive girl that stepped into the Eleventh Doctor’s TARDIS to the comionate and brave adventurer that eventually exited the Twelfth’s. Doctor Who never fails to torture its characters with emotional turmoils and hard life lessons, but there’s always a purpose to the show’s most compelling relationships.