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WATCH ALONG | DOCTOR WHO | 2015 Christmas Special: The Husbands of River Song

A Few Notes:

*****

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WATCH ALONG | DOCTOR WHO | 2015 Christmas Special: The Husbands of River Song

Comments

It's very interesting to see the series from your perspective. And I have to say that I completely agree about Capaldi. The way he acts as the doctor is simply incredible. I love all the actors from the new who era. But when I watched Doctor Who for the first time I had and still have this strong passion for David Tennant's Doctor. And I remember that when I arrived at the Capaldi era, I didn't know what to expect. Because even avoiding spoilers, I had already heard feedback about all the doctors and they were all positive except Peter Capaldi. I didn't see anyone talking about it. And as I got to know him and went through the episodes. I was simply shocked by how incredible this actor is. and how he acted as the doctor with so much intensity. I really love Capaldi's doctor. And finally... so, it's kind weird knowing that people don't like River. I always liked her. And I really loved this episode. I remember the first time I saw it. I watched him smiling. It's just great to see the doctor happy after so many sad moments.

JJ.C

This episode hits me in all the feels. I love the Doctor and River Song so much. Their story arc is convoluted and plays out across time, but that's just how a love story with the Doctor should be. I admire Alex Kingston's acting chops--she's had to play the same character against three different incarnations of the Doctor, each with their own regenerated personality, and she pulls it off flawlessly each time.

David Blau

You're not the only one. :)

Ian Smith

i think the video you were talking about is "doctor who: the timeline of river song" by the youtube channel the confession dial. It puts all the events in order (from river's perspective). You've seen everything from it with the exception of some audio clips from some of the river song big finish audio dramas (as well as some fan made visuals to accompany said audio clips) but i wouldn't worry too much about that. edit: i would love to see a reaction to it.

WerewolfF14

Unlike everyone else here and unlike you, I'm not a fan of this episode simply because I've never been a fan of River or of her relationship with The Doctor. I tend to skip this one on rewatches. I know I'm the only one who feels this way. Sorry. ๐Ÿ™ˆ

Siobhan Linehan

Remember that Matt Smith's Doctor was supposed to be the final incarnation. She doesn't realize at this point that the Doctor got a new set of regenerations which is why she wasn't making the connection when he kept saying he was the Doctor.

SeeJay

4/5, my second favourite Christmas special. It's ranked 23rd/140. I love how for the most part it's a comedy episode but there are those scenes on the ship and in the restaurant which always brings tears to my eyes.

Jade Ellis

I've been waiiittiiinggg for this one <333 i love this episode so much. The beginning is campy and kinda silly but the moments between river and twelve later on are so touching and impactful. I felt like this episode was an apology in some way from moffats for how he wrote river treated by eleven. I love their relationship but there were many times where eleven acted incredibly insensitively or without considering how river was being affected. On the rewatch, you realize how many times he took his anger out on her and how rivers life truly seemed to revolve around him in an unhealthy way. I felt like the scene with the diary ("he sounds awful") and river's speech (the look on twelve's face) showed that the doctor was really truly considering for the first time how his actions affected her. It seemed never to have occurred to him that she might think he didn't love her. This is one of the reasons twelve is my favorite doctor. I feel like you see him take responsibility and make commitments more than any previous nuwho doctor has been able to. The man who could barely spend a few hours in rory and amy's house without going insane chose to COMMIT to twenty four years with his wife. No running away, no avoidance, knowing that she was going to die in the end, he stayed with her. I think that shows so much growth and maturity on his part. And, while the non-monogamy/fluidity of the doctor's relationships and affections has never really bothered me, I do agree that this would've given me whiplash if he hadn't forgotten clara. Thank you for a lovely reaction as always! and I second those recommending a rewatch of the library episodes and/or one of the youtube videos people have made of river's story arc from her pov!

Otso Casey-Stewart

Love this episode, same as you, especially for their interactions of the doctor and River and not for the story. Well, as you said in the beginning, there are videos with Rivers complete timeline in order and as we have now gone full circle with this episode, I would suggest one (e.g. I would recommend this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srC5HglwYwY). Also, and if this is interesting to you, you might watch it also in private: this is Alex Kingston reacting to Rivers most iconic moments, which I think is really nice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIDeOUsULhw. As usual, it is up to you, if you want to watch them.

Michael Oswald

This is a really emotional old edit someone made combining Husbands with River's death in the Library: https://youtu.be/t-wgLFj6bbI

DSJ.

You should rewatch Silence in the Library & Forest of the Dead two parter again after seeing this. She describes this adventure in it. Great continunity. RIVER: "Funny thing is, this means you've always known how I was going to die. All the time we've been together, you knew I was coming here. The last time I saw you, the real you, the future you, I mean, you turned up on my doorstep, with a new haircut and a suit. You took me to Darillium to see the Singing Towers. What a night that was. The Towers sang, and you cried. You wouldn't tell me why, but I suppose you knew it was time. My time. Time to come to the library. You even gave me your screwdriver. That should have been a clue." The moment when Capaldi's Doctor scans her with the screwdriver saves her in the library when Tennant's Doctor realizes the future him would have found a way to save her.

Tommy

This is definitely one of my favorites. And it will hit much harder on a rewatch I think. There's a few connections to past episodes you've seen that I think you missed that really help this episode along - especially their date at the towers of Darillium (if you go back to Forest of the Dead, River talks about this date being the last time she saw him in her "final" speech and how he was crying but wouldn't tell her why). It's definitely easy to miss since that episode was so far back but I'm glad the episode sort of explained it too so there was still some impact there. As always, love the reactions and look forward to seeing more/watching along with you!

Patrick Killian

Canโ€™t wait to watch after work! One of my favorites

Michael T


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