Danny Pink
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Danny Pink is a
fiction Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying character (arts), individuals, events, or setting (narrative), places that are imagination, imaginary or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are thus inconsistent ...
al character created by
Steven Moffat Steven William Moffat (; born 18 November 1961) is a Scottish television writer, television producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his work as the second showrunner and head writer of the 2005 revival of the BBC sci-fi television ser ...
and portrayed by Samuel Anderson in the long-running British
science fiction television Science fiction first appeared in television programming in the late 1930s, during what is called the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary ...
series ''
Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...
''. He is a supporting character in the eighth series of the programme, first appearing in the second episode, "
Into the Dalek "Into the Dalek" is the second episode of the Doctor Who (series 8), eighth series of the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. It was written by Phil Ford (writer), Phil Ford and Steven Moffat, and directed by Ben Wheatley, ...
". He appears alongside
Peter Capaldi Peter Dougan Capaldi (; born 14 April 1958) is a Scottish actor, director, singer and guitarist. He portrayed the Twelfth Doctor, twelfth incarnation of the Doctor in the science fiction series ''Doctor Who'' (2013–2017) and Malcolm Tucker i ...
's
Twelfth Doctor The Twelfth Doctor is an incarnation of The Doctor (Doctor Who), the Doctor, the protagonist of the British Science fiction on television, science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by Scottish actor Peter Capaldi in three ...
and his storylines stem primarily from being the colleague, and later boyfriend, of companion
Clara Oswald Clara Oswald is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. She was created by series producer Steven Moffat and portrayed by Jenna Coleman. Clara was introduced in the seventh series as a new travel ...
, portrayed by
Jenna Coleman Jenna-Louise Coleman (born 27 April 1986) is an English actress. She began her television career by playing Jasmine Thomas in the soap opera ''Emmerdale'' from 2005 to 2009, followed by a recurring role in the BBC school-based drama series ''Wat ...
. He appears in ten of the twelve episodes of Series 8, except for the series premiere " Deep Breath" and the third episode "
Robot of Sherwood "Robot of Sherwood" is the third episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. It was written by Mark Gatiss and directed by Paul Murphy, and was first broadcast on BBC One on 6 September 2014. ...
".


Appearances

Danny Pink is first introduced in Series 8 Episode 2, "
Into the Dalek "Into the Dalek" is the second episode of the Doctor Who (series 8), eighth series of the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. It was written by Phil Ford (writer), Phil Ford and Steven Moffat, and directed by Ben Wheatley, ...
". He is a new Maths teacher at Coal Hill Secondary School in London, and is reasonably new to the profession having spent a number of years in the past serving with the
British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...
. A dark past is hinted at when he avoids answering a question from one of his students on whether he has ever killed someone who wasn't a soldier, with a tear rolling down his cheek. He is instantly attracted to his new colleague,
Clara Oswald Clara Oswald is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. She was created by series producer Steven Moffat and portrayed by Jenna Coleman. Clara was introduced in the seventh series as a new travel ...
(
Jenna Coleman Jenna-Louise Coleman (born 27 April 1986) is an English actress. She began her television career by playing Jasmine Thomas in the soap opera ''Emmerdale'' from 2005 to 2009, followed by a recurring role in the BBC school-based drama series ''Wat ...
), an English teacher at the school, and attempts to ask her out on a date, which is at first disastrous, but she eventually asks him herself. Their first date is seen in the fourth episode of the series, " Listen". Clara is offended when Danny presumes that she will not understand his career in the Army, knowing that she is anti-war, and she storms out. At the same time, the
Doctor Doctor, Doctors, The Doctor or The Doctors may refer to: Titles and occupations * Physician, a medical practitioner * Doctor (title), an academic title for the holder of a doctoral-level degree ** Doctorate ** List of doctoral degrees awarded b ...
(
Peter Capaldi Peter Dougan Capaldi (; born 14 April 1958) is a Scottish actor, director, singer and guitarist. He portrayed the Twelfth Doctor, twelfth incarnation of the Doctor in the science fiction series ''Doctor Who'' (2013–2017) and Malcolm Tucker i ...
) is attempting to explore the possibility that everyone has a constant companion, like a shadow, that is always with them, relating back to the recurring dream of the monster under the bed. Wanting to explore Clara's past experience of the dream, the
TARDIS The TARDIS (; acronym for "Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space") is a fictional hybrid of a time machine and spacecraft that appears in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and its various spin-offs. While a TARDI ...
taps into her mind to return to her childhood but, as she is distracted by Danny, it takes them back to a children's home in Gloucester where they meet Danny as a child, whose real name is actually Rupert. Clara inadvertently inspires him to be a soldier. She then returns to the present and goes back to the date immediately after she stormed out. She attempts to reconcile things with Danny, but he becomes suspicious when she reveals she knows his real name. This time, ''he'' storms out. Clara is then stunned when the Doctor takes her to meet Orson Pink, a time traveller from 100 years in the future who has become stranded at the end of the universe. Orson bears a striking resemblance to Danny (both are played by Samuel Anderson). Clara realises that Orson is Danny's descendant, and she contemplates the idea that he is also hers after he remarks that he is descended from a time traveller. Realising that her future lies with Danny, she visits him and they reconcile by sharing their first kiss. In the season's sixth episode, " The Caretaker", a Skovox Blitzer is drawn to the school by the Doctor, who is posing as Coal Hill's caretaker. He clashes with Danny, mocking his past in the Army and refusing to accept that he is a Maths teacher, believing he is more suited to the role of a P.E. teacher (to the point of nicknaming him "P.E."). Clara struggles to balance her life with the Doctor and her relationship with Danny, especially as neither one knows about the other. However, when Danny becomes suspicious of the Doctor's activities, he discovers the truth about Clara's time-travelling activities. Although he initially struggles to come to terms with the idea, he gives Clara his blessing to continue travelling, but warns her that there may come a time when the Doctor pushes her too far, remembering similar individuals from his time in the army. Danny makes brief appearances in subsequent episodes in the series, and he supports Clara when she decides to stop travelling with the Doctor after he puts her in a vulnerable position in "
Kill the Moon "Kill the Moon" is the seventh episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 4 October 2014. The episode was written by Peter Harness and directed by Paul Wi ...
". However, Clara is unable to resist the temptation of time travelling and resumes her trips with the Doctor without telling Danny. Her deception is exposed in " In the Forest of the Night", when Clara, Danny and a group of special needs students become stranded in an overgrown central London and are forced to call on the Doctor for help. While inside the TARDIS, Danny discovers a pile of recent student papers Clara has been marking, proving she is in regular contact with the Doctor. He is unhappy with her dishonesty, and this creates a strain on their relationship. Clara decides to declare her unending love for Danny in " Dark Water", but her phone call to him is cut short when Danny is hit by a car. She is devastated when he dies of his injuries, but Danny's consciousness is brought to the Nethersphere, an artificial afterlife created by Missy (
Michelle Gomez Michelle Gomez (born 23 November 1966), is a Scottish actress. She gained recognition for her roles in the comedy series '' The Book Group'' (2002–2003), '' Green Wing'' (2004–2007), and '' Bad Education'' (2012–2013). She went on to app ...
), a female version of the long-standing ''Doctor Who'' villain the
Master Master, master's or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles In education: *Master (college), head of a college *Master's degree, a postgraduate or sometimes undergraduate degree in the specified discipline *Schoolmaster or master, presiding office ...
. Danny's past is explored when he is confronted with a young boy he killed while serving in Afghanistan. Upset over this and Clara's reaction to his death, Danny is encouraged to delete his emotions, but does not do so before seeing Missy force the consciousnesses trapped in the afterlife back to their bodies, which have been "upgraded" to become
Cybermen The Cybermen are a fictional race of cyborgs principally portrayed in the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. The Cybermen are a species of space-faring cyborgs who often forcefully and painfully convert human beings ...
. Danny rescues Clara from other Cybermen and asks her to turn on his emotional inhibitor to stop the pain he is under, both emotionally and physically, now he is a Cyberman. Clara convinces the Doctor to help her with this when Danny suggests he can access the hive mind of the Cybermen and discover Missy's plans for the Earth. He does so, but, due to his strong love for Clara, continues to act against Missy. With the Doctor's aid, he uses a bracelet that previously belonged to Missy to take control of the other Cybermen and, under his command, they all fly into the sky and self-destruct. Still possessing Missy's bracelet, which has the power to make one trip out of the Nethersphere back into the real world, Clara begs him to come back, but he instead sends back the boy he killed, making Clara promise to return him to his family. It is never revealed, with Danny's death, what happens to his descendant, Orson Pink. Danny next appears in the 2014 Christmas special, "
Last Christmas "Last Christmas" is a song by British pop duo Wham!. Written and produced by George Michael, it was released on 3 December 1984 via CBS Records internationally and as a double A-side via Epic Records with " Everything She Wants" in several Eur ...
". Having been put in a dream state, Clara is reunited with Danny for an idyllic Christmas Day. The Doctor enters the dream to convince Clara to wake up before the creature that induced the dream kills her, but she refuses, unwilling to let go of Danny. "Danny" then reveals that he is aware of his 'reality' as a dream. He tells Clara that, while she can still miss him, she must move on and encourages her to live her life without him. Finally accepting his death, Clara agrees to wake up from the dream. Danny is occasionally mentioned in the ninth series. In " The Magician's Apprentice", Missy asks Clara about her dead boyfriend, referring to Danny. When Clara realises she is about to die in "
Face the Raven "Face the Raven" is the tenth episode of the Doctor Who (series 9), ninth series of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 21 November 2015, and was written by Sarah Dollard and directed ...
", she states that if Danny Pink could face his own death, then so can she.


Casting and development

On 24 February 2014, Samuel Anderson was announced as having been cast alongside
Peter Capaldi Peter Dougan Capaldi (; born 14 April 1958) is a Scottish actor, director, singer and guitarist. He portrayed the Twelfth Doctor, twelfth incarnation of the Doctor in the science fiction series ''Doctor Who'' (2013–2017) and Malcolm Tucker i ...
and
Jenna Coleman Jenna-Louise Coleman (born 27 April 1986) is an English actress. She began her television career by playing Jasmine Thomas in the soap opera ''Emmerdale'' from 2005 to 2009, followed by a recurring role in the BBC school-based drama series ''Wat ...
for Capaldi's first series as Danny Pink, a teacher at
Coal Hill School ''Class'' is a British science fiction drama programme and a spin-off of the long-running programme ''Doctor Who''. It was created and written by Patrick Ness, who also produced alongside ''Doctor Who'' showrunner and lead writer Steven Moffa ...
alongside companion
Clara Oswald Clara Oswald is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. She was created by series producer Steven Moffat and portrayed by Jenna Coleman. Clara was introduced in the seventh series as a new travel ...
. Coal Hill School was the workplace of original companions
Ian Chesterton Ian Chesterton is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and a companion of the First Doctor. He was played in the series by William Russell and was one of the members of the programme's first r ...
and Barbara Wright. Following 2013's 50th anniversary celebrations, head writer
Steven Moffat Steven William Moffat (; born 18 November 1961) is a Scottish television writer, television producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his work as the second showrunner and head writer of the 2005 revival of the BBC sci-fi television ser ...
decided that he would bring in another teacher to work alongside Clara in exploring the school's roots. Anderson said that he was "excited" about joining the show, and could not wait to see how his character would be involved with the Doctor and Clara. Despite it not being confirmed until shortly before Series 8's airing, it was commonly speculated that Anderson would be playing Clara's love interest. Coleman and Anderson had previously closely worked together on the
ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: Television TV stations/networks/channels ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network and company, including: **ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network in the United Kingd ...
soap opera ''
Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British television soap opera that is broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a List of fictional towns and villages, fict ...
'', where they played
Jasmine Thomas Jasmine Thomas is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'', played by Jenna-Louise Coleman. She made her first screen appearance in the episode broadcast on 30 June 2005 and her last appearance on 26 March 2009. C ...
and Ross Kirk respectively. Anderson confirmed that Danny would be Clara's love interest in August 2014, but made it clear that Danny would not be a companion but rather the stay-at-home boyfriend providing Clara with the stability she needs after time travel. He also described Danny as "lovable and huggable". Danny's first appearance aired on 30 August 2014 in the second episode of the series, "
Into the Dalek "Into the Dalek" is the second episode of the Doctor Who (series 8), eighth series of the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. It was written by Phil Ford (writer), Phil Ford and Steven Moffat, and directed by Ben Wheatley, ...
". Moffat described Danny as a "competitor" of the Doctor, saying that he had a better chance of winning Clara than previous companion boyfriends such as
Mickey Smith Mickey Smith is a fictional character in the BBC One science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by British actor Noel Clarke and was the show's first televised black companion. The character is introduced as the ordinary, ...
and
Rory Williams Rory Williams is a fictional character portrayed by Arthur Darvill in the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Having been introduced in 2010, at the start of Series 5, Rory joins the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Sm ...
, who appeared weak compared to their Doctors. The series finale two-parter " Dark Water"/"
Death in Heaven "Death in Heaven" is the twelfth and final episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 8 November 2014. The episode was written by showrunner Steven Moffat ...
" saw Danny's character killed off, not once, but twice. His past was also explored from The Nethersphere, an artificial afterlife where Danny was confronted with a child he killed while serving in the Afghanistan war. As part of the Mistress' plans, Danny was reincarnated as a
Cyberman The Cybermen are a fictional race of cyborgs principally portrayed in the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. The Cybermen are a species of space-faring cyborgs who often forcefully and painfully convert human beings ...
along with the other dead on Earth, but saved the day by taking control of the other Cybermen and leading them into the sky to explode and burn away clouds of Cyber spores meant to convert the living as well. Moffat was quoted as saying that the event "cemented" Danny's place in Doctor Who history.


Reception

Despite some initial outcry against another romantic interest for a companion, the character of Danny Pink and Anderson's portrayal of him were mostly positive following his first appearance. Malcolm Stewart of CultBox praised Danny for being starkly different from the characters of
Rory Williams Rory Williams is a fictional character portrayed by Arthur Darvill in the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Having been introduced in 2010, at the start of Series 5, Rory joins the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Sm ...
and
Mickey Smith Mickey Smith is a fictional character in the BBC One science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by British actor Noel Clarke and was the show's first televised black companion. The character is introduced as the ordinary, ...
, who he claimed were "defined in relation to their girlfriends and... kept on a leash by their better sassier halves", and commented that, unlike them, Danny did not feel "emasculated" and was a more "straightforward, unassuming proposition". The initial reception to his death in "Dark Water" was also positive, with the episode receiving five stars from the ''
Telegraph Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages where the sender uses symbolic codes, known to the recipient, rather than a physical exchange of an object bearing the message. Thus flag semaphore is a method of telegraphy, whereas ...
''. Michael Hogan of the paper said that Danny Pink was "finally coming into his own", and called Danny's flashbacks to the war as "joltingly emotional, lump in throat moments". However, his continuation of story and permanent death in the following episode "Death in Heaven" received mixed reviews, with Doctor Who TV commenting that how Danny kept a grip on his emotions with his inhibitor enabled was "saccharine" and "hackneyed", and criticising that Danny's backstory was not given sufficient screen time for emotional impact. Following his death, some fans campaigned to "keep Danny dead" in light of Steven Moffat's trend of resurrecting fallen companions including Clara and
Rory Williams Rory Williams is a fictional character portrayed by Arthur Darvill in the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Having been introduced in 2010, at the start of Series 5, Rory joins the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Sm ...
. In 2015, Michael Hogan of ''
The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...
'' criticised the general portrayal of male companion figures in ''Doctor Who''. He described Danny, alongside 2005-2006 character
Mickey Smith Mickey Smith is a fictional character in the BBC One science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by British actor Noel Clarke and was the show's first televised black companion. The character is introduced as the ordinary, ...
(
Noel Clarke Noel Anthony Clarke (born 6 December 1975) is an English actor, writer, director and producer. Rising to prominence for playing Mickey Smith in ''Doctor Who'' (2005–2006, 2008, 2010), he received critical acclaim for writing, directing, and ...
) and 2010-2012 character
Rory Williams Rory Williams is a fictional character portrayed by Arthur Darvill in the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Having been introduced in 2010, at the start of Series 5, Rory joins the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Sm ...
(
Arthur Darvill Thomas Arthur Darvill (born 17 June 1982) is an English actor, composer and musician. He is known for portraying Rory Williams, a companion of the Eleventh Doctor in the television series ''Doctor Who'' (2010–2012), as well as Rip Hunter in ' ...
) as all "basically soppy, sappy, slightly annoying plus-ones to far superior females".


References


External links


Danny Pink
at the
BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television b ...
''Doctor Who'' website {{DEFAULTSORT:Pink, Danny Television characters introduced in 2014 Fictional schoolteachers Fictional soldiers English male characters in television Recurring characters in Doctor Who Fictional Black British people