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“NORMALITY – THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF NORMAL”

Normality is a short, surprisingly introspective slice of Doctor Who that manages to say more in a few pages than many longer tales do with twice the word count. Set during Clara’s time at Coal Hill School, it places the spotlight squarely on her inner world as she momentarily steps away from life in the TARDIS – only to find that "normality" isn't all it’s cracked up to be.

We begin in space, as Clara encounters the majestic Tonnchenform – a cosmic relative of the Earth tardigrade, blown up to an interstellar scale. These gentle, floating behemoths capture the wonder of the unknown, reminding us that even the smallest lifeforms on Earth have awe-inspiring counterparts elsewhere. It’s a lovely bit of science fantasy laced with genuine education, especially for readers unfamiliar with the real-world tardigrades (a.k.a. water bears).

CLARA THE TEACHER, CLARA THE DREAMER

The bulk of the narrative is refreshingly grounded, following Clara as she returns to her post at Coal Hill and tries to lead a so-called “normal” life. But the story deftly captures how difficult that is when you’ve seen the stars. Even as she teaches her students about tiny water-dwelling organisms, her mind drifts to Tonnchenforms and time travel. She tries to walk the path of a regular human life, but her soul is still skipping across galaxies.

And yet, what emerges is a rather sweet realisation: that even in the confines of a chaotic classroom, there’s something extraordinary. The story subtly but effectively shows how Clara applies what she’s seen out in the universe to her life on Earth—how seeing wonder out there has helped her spot wonder down here, in the form of the unruly but bright students she teaches.

NORMAL IS OVERRATED

This is ultimately a story about perspective—about how our experiences shape us, and how even the most seemingly mundane settings can shine when seen through the right lens. It’s also a poignant reminder of why Clara chooses the TARDIS life. Normality is fine, sure. But why settle for fine when there’s a whole universe out there?

The writing is gentle, evocative, and emotionally attuned to Clara’s character. It paints her as someone caught between two lives, and it makes her eventual decision not to be normal—at least, not in the conventional sense—feel satisfying and earned. The story doesn’t need monsters or danger to be compelling. Instead, it offers a window into what makes Clara tick and reminds us that everyone, even Time Lord companions, need a break to reevaluate from time to time.

📝THE BOTTOM LINE: 7/10

Normality is a charming, low-stakes but thoughtful character piece that offers insight into Clara’s worldview while championing the idea that the extraordinary can be found in the everyday. Sometimes, all it takes is a tardigrade—microscopic or massive—to remind us that there’s magic all around.

Clara having a fear of heights feels a bit out of nowhere, don't think it's mentioned in her TV stories (though I could be misremembering).

Other than that weird point though, this characterisation for Clara is great, it's really a shame we dont' see more of Teacher Clara, especially towards the start of her teaching tenure, most of what we do see is from when she's already well settled into it.

Seeing how she views the kids is great, she really enjoys teaching and sees something in these kids that she wouldn't've without The Doctor. It's just really sweet, and the kind of thing that really works in this collection of kids stories.

Normality is a sweet and nice character piece for Clara, giving us a glimpse into her early teaching days at Coal Hill while she's still with Eleven. We have part adventure in space and then part normal school day with some meaningful reflection on life and purpose. One of the better short stories collected here.