I agree with pretty much what you’ve said RG. I don’t mind the love story between McConnell and the other guy because essentially it was the love story that was never to be, he never told her he loved her and now he never can. And that was the push the translator needed to confess his love for the deaf girl. It was clear they both had feelings for each other, but both were to afraid to tell each other.
I definitely prefer the episodes where, as you put it RG, the doctor does the heavy lifting. I think you can start seeing how Clara’s leaving is going to come about. What’s interesting is Clara’s line about how the doctor can die with the person after her but not with her. It seems to suggest that Clara is aware of the fact that she won’t be with the doctor forever, that there will inevitably be a replacement. It’s just interesting in the fact that we know Clara will be leaving but the character doesn’t.
All magic comes with a price!
Keeper of Felix