River Song and the Doctor have a complicated relationship. Appearing for the first time in 2008’s brilliant two parter, Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, where she told the Doctor she was his wife and new his real name, her story continued once Steven Moffat became showrunner in 2010. She was a mainstay of the Matt Smith era, their stories intrinsically linked, but for me the more screen time she got the less I cared about the character. I was happy to see her finally go when she appeared as a data ghost dispersing into the ether in The Name of the Doctor.
But don’t get me wrong. The character has a rabid fan base that will be pleased to know she’s coming back in the 2015 Christmas Special. Somehow. This will be her first time meeting her husband’s newest regeneration, played brilliantly by Peter Capaldi. Alex Kingston had this to say about her reappearance:
“To be honest, I did not know whether River would ever return to the show, but here she is, back with the Doctor for the Christmas special. Steven Moffat is on glittering form, giving us an episode filled with humour and surprise guest castings. I met Peter for the first time at Monday’s read through, we had a laugh, and I am now excited and ready to start filming with him and the Doctor Who team. Christmas in September? Why not!”
Steven Moffat commented:
“Another Christmas, another special for Doctor Who – and what could be more special than the return of Alex Kingston as Professor River Song? The last time the Doctor saw her she was a ghost. The first time he met her, she died. So how can he be seeing her again? As ever, with the most complicated relationship in the universe, it’s a matter of time…”
Doctor Who returns on September 19th. Filming for the Steven Moffat scripted as-yet untitled Christmas special begins this week for a December 25th airdate. The line-up of guest stars will be announced soon. Until then, why not watch River Song’s timeline in reverse.
Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey, stuff…
[Source: BBC]
