'Doctor Who' Preview: New Footage, Episode Details and Posters

Who, exactly, is Doctor Who's new companion, Clara Oswald?

Who, exactly, is Doctor Who's new companion, Clara Oswald? That's the question that leads the Doctor (Matt Smith) on his first adventure (previewed in the trailer above) of Season 7's return, which premieres on BBC America on March 30.

"The impossible girl … the only mystery worth solving," Doctor Who calls Clara in the trailer, later asking if she's a "trick or a trap." Fans of the series, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, have speculated that Clara is a Time Lady, River Song (the daughter of Amy and Rory Pond), or even an avatar of the universe.

Fans have already seen Clara -- or versions of her -- twice this season, in the season premiere, "Asylum of the Daleks," and in the Christmas special "The Snowmen." Known as Oswin Oswald in the season opener, the character was a Dalek cyborg who ultimately died at the hands of the Daleks. And she died (again) in "The Snowmen," this time playing a barmaid and governess who accompanied the Doctor in the TARDIS but was killed in an attack by a former governess.

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The Doctor, remembering the character and intrigued by a woman who lived in two time periods, sets off looking for her, which, in the March 30 episode, titled "The Bells of Saint John," leads him to modern-day London.

Once there, he finds out that it's a very Wi-Fi world, but with a danger lurking in the Wi-Fi, one that wants to control people's minds and imprison them. When Clara becomes a victim of the Wi-Fi monster, it's up to the Doctor to save her, and humanity.

BBC America has released details, and very cool episode posters (check them out in our slideshow below), for the next three entries in Season 7's second half, too. Official network descriptions:

"The Rings of Akhaten" (Episode 7)

"Clara wants to see something awesome, so the Doctor whisks her off to the inhabited rings of the planet Akhaten, where the Festival of Offerings is in full swing. Clara meets the young Queen of Years as the pilgrims and natives ready for the ceremony. But something is stirring in the pyramid, and a sacrifice will be demanded."

"Cold War" (Episode 8)

"The Doctor and Clara land on a damaged Russian submarine in 1983 as it spirals out of control into the ocean depths. An alien creature is loose on board, having escaped from a block of Arctic ice. With tempers flaring and a cargo of nuclear weapons on board, it's not just the crew but the whole of humanity at stake!"

"Hide" (Episode 9)

"Clara and the Doctor arrive at Caliburn House, a haunted mansion set alone on a desolate moor. Within its walls, a ghost hunting Professor and a gifted psychic are searching for the Witch of the Well. Her apparition appears throughout the history of the building, but is she really a ghost? And what is chasing her?"

Executive producer Steven Moffat describes "The Rings of Akhaten" as being a modern thriller, à la James Bond, but adds, "The Doctor can never be Bond or Bourne, but if he tried, it might look a bit like this."

Moffat also offers a hint about Clara. "You've sort of met her, but you sort of haven't," he says. "[She has] the same shed load of attitude you saw before, the same rapid-fire banter with the Doctor, but this time, she's living in modern London with no memory of the Time Lord!

"It's all new for the Doctor … this time the greatest mystery in the universe is standing right next to him."

 

"Doctor Who" Season 7, Part 2 premieres March 30 at 8 PM on BBC America.