‘Doctor Who’ season 9 spoilers: Peter Capaldi on The Doctor, Clara’s relationship, evolution

For all who love “Doctor Who” out there, there are many things to look forward to today, starting of course with the simple fact that the show is back on BBC One and BBC America with new episodes! “The Magician’s Apprentice” is the launching-off point, and it is also the first of a two-parter that will really investigate some different characters and situations for some of your favorite characters this time around.

While we do enjoy a little bit of Doctor / Companion drama here and there, one thing that we do like about the upcoming season is that it feels like Twelve and Clara are going to be getting along, at least for the most part, rather swimmingly. They have been infused with a spirit of adventure, and they also are driven in their task of solving the many mysteries and dangers of our universe. Also, they just want to have a little bit of fun.

We are going to get serious here for a moment, though, because we feel like Peter Capaldi’s explanation on the relationship between the two characters (per Entertainment Weekly) is one of the most pointed and brilliant ones that we have heard to date:

“I think they’re very bonded. The Doctor’s quite a tricky part to play because, if you go back to Chris Eccleston’s first episode, he says that he could see all that ever was and all that ever is and all that ever will be and that drove him mad. I took that to mean that he could see the future and the past, so he knows the fate of his companions, and that’s quite a difficult knowledge to have. So this season especially, he’s decided to enjoy what good times are available to him. You only live once, even if you’re 2,500 years old. So grab it and embrace it and hold it tight, because it’s dark outside.”

One of the reasons why we have particularly enjoyed Capaldi’s performance over this run is mostly because of the fact that he seems to understand the darkness of this character in a way better than most. Sure, at times he can be a goofball and say some things that are wacky, but this is an individual who has seen death, destruction, and some ways his reactions to things are a ways to shield himself from the pain he knows so well.

In the end, we really do have to hope to enjoy this season, largely because of the fact that there is not going to be another with Jenna Coleman afterwards. You can head over here to read more on that subject, and also be sure to sign up over at this link to have even more TV news on everything we cover sent to you, courtesy of our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: BBC.)