New Who Review #130

The Husbands of River Song ❄️

This Story was mid. I didn't really like it or get entertained by it. This being rivers final on screen appearance feels wasted by the fact she doesn't know who the doctor is for the most of it. So you don't really get the feel that you should knowing that she's about to go to her death after this. King Hydroflax is an interesting villain but is done too comically which doesn't quite work. It's nice to have a chill lay back story after the stress Fest that was series 9. I really like Nardole and love that this is his debut story. He will be a full time companion in series 10. The Singing towers scene was brilliant. We finally see river getting the sonic that was in the Library. We see the singing towers and at that point we realise that this is her final adventure which is sad. In 2015 I really thought this was the final doctor who story because it ended on what seemed to be a final goodbye to the show backed up by a gap year so I really thought it was over. I was so glad to see a trailer for series 10 in end of 2016 though. Overall an ok story that Wraps up rivers story and gives us a nice Christmas treat. 6/10

Probably the best out of all the Christmas Specials. Call me a stick in the mud but I’ve never been a fan of the Christmas Specials, they’re far too cheery and panto-esque, they’re mostly written as an excuse to get a good ratings boost as there’s nothing else to watch on Christmas Day and so rarely they get any effort put into them. There’s also the fact that for whatever reason the specials have to be written by the showrunner, and there’s only so many ideas one guy can have for a Christmas themed episode, Moffat in particular having written eight during his tenure and a ninth one just recently.

While The Husbands of River Song does have a lot of the things that drive me nuts about the Christmas Specials, it does also have some strong heartfelt moments what with it being the supposed closure to the Doctor and River Song’s relationship onscreen. In spite of the grating running joke that River (someone who boasts knowing the Doctor better than anyone) can’t seem to work out the obvious, Alex Kingston and Capaldi do make for one of my favourite Doctor/River pairings.

My thoughts on River’s story arc in the show has been mixed to negative, especially with how her character ended up being completely underwhelming compared to what was promised back in 2008, but here we get probably the best conclusion you could get out of her. The ending sees the Doctor finally close the circle on their complicated history by taking her to the Singing Towers, the place where River told him was their final meeting before her death. Now of course in the Doctor Who universe, there’s always the opening for her to come back onscreen, in fact I’d say the more years go by, the more likely it gets in building her up as a major returning character to generate some buzz around a future series. But personally I’d be happy with this being her swansong onscreen, I think it’s as good an exit as you could hope for.

A really fun romp, full of screwball comedy moments. After the seriousness of season 9, it's a relief to see The Doctor having fun. Capaldi is so terrific here, his version of a person seeing the TARDIS for the first time is incredible. All of his little expressions are gold.

This is the closest we'll ever get to having River Song be the main character (aside from her Big Finish adventures). Really puzzling why they wouldn't give her a spinoff series.

Dare I say Alex Kingston had better chemistry with Peter Capaldi than she did with Matt Smith?

The ending was bittersweet. I hope that 24 year long night on Darillium was well spent. If you know what I mean. ; )

I have to say the last five minutes totally ruined the beautiful relationship between the Doctor and River...what do you mean by making River beg for the change of the inevitable end while the twelfth rejected her outright, especially when thinking of what he had just done yet...is 24-years a LONG time for two of the Timelords?