**Spoilers** Series 9 Christmas Special: 'The Husbands of River Song'

pixelburp

With the climax & its fallout still fresh in mind, it seems like a big fat anticlimax to have a 'frivolous' Christmas Special so soon after. Doubly strange to watch the trailers and see what appears to be an overtly playful, comedic tone; stark contrast with the emotional rollercoaster of series 9.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88ovIXviAws

Stark

Thus far it seems this year's Christmas Ham is being served by Alex Kingston.

ebbsy

Good episode because of the strength of the acting.

I thought that was LOVELY

props for the Wilde quote

And they finally tied up the singing towers bit. And then it turned out it was 24 years. Brilliant

Manach

It was entertaining fluff special, albeit the Doctor's "surprise" at the bigger inside than outside of the Tardis was an excellent scene.

The_Valeyard

I liked it.


The talking head reminded me of Murray the talking skull in monkey Island 3.

Eugene Norman

Given the Christmas episode is always fluff, this was good fun. And filled in part of the canon.

jasonb

I found it rather light at first, though it had some nice scenes (like the Doctor entering the Tardis for the first time, as said above). But the ending was really good, very sweet, Capaldi and Kingston were excellent together and it tied up some loose ends in a really nice way. Don't know if it was the two main actors being of closer age than Smith or Tennant were to Kingston, but it felt to me that it was the first time that the Doctor was 'in charge' or 'equal' to River, whereas in previous episodes she's always had that cocky nature and he was playing the slightly bumbling husband who's keeping up...

Note sure when the next season is (middle of next year?), but it looks like it's really starting fresh, no more Clara, I'm guessing we won't see River again (that really was a perfect goodbye for her) so that just leaves Capaldi and new stories/adventures. Wonder who the new companion will be?

J.

Eugene Norman

We still have to see River in the Jim the Fish episode.

McLoughlin

I have to admit I found it a bit of a coincidence that River Song is on the telly and we have her spin off series with the 8th Doctor released at the same time

Sonics2k

Eugene Norman wrote: »

We still have to see River in the Jim the Fish episode.

I suspect we'll never see Jim the Fish, I reckon they'll leave that to our imagination.

The_Valeyard

Face of boe and Jim the fish. Got to be a detective story adventure in there somewhere.

flazio

Eugene Norman wrote: »

We still have to see River in the Jim the Fish episode.

I believe that was covered in the "Good Night" short on the series 6 dvd, the Doctor thought he got the Queen who had been turned into a goldfish, but he turned out to have the wrong fish.
Speaking of those shorts, the two which featured River Song on Camera, First Night and Last Night, were referenced in last night's episode "Remember when there was two of you " in that it was implied that he brought her to that dinner. But obviously, he cancelled. Nice writing.

pixelburp

Well that was all exactly as goofy and silly as i expected it to be; after the drama of the series 9 finale it felt the wrong side of lighthearted after everything that happened, but hey ho, that's Dr Who and it's ever shifting tone. Murray Gold even got to go back to his loud, overbearing styles.

A nice, poignant final 20 minutes though, and a fitting enough send off for River, if indeed it's her last appearance.

jasonb

Watched Silence In The Library and The Forest Of The Dead last night, great to see them again with The Husbands of River Song fresh in my mind.

Just like I hope we don't see Clara again (as much as I like her) as it would just dilute her goodbye even more, I feel the same way about River. Very fond of the character, but she got a great goodbye, so let's leave it that way...

J.

Very odd problem (not asking for a link, mods) but I was somewhere with out TV at Christmas, but thought I'd just get it from the usual suspects. I can't find it anywhere.

Was there a big crackdown regarding Who?

smacl

Deleted User wrote: »

Very odd problem (not asking for a link, mods) but I was somewhere with out TV at Christmas, but thought I'd just get it from the usual suspects. I can't find it anywhere.

Was there a big crackdown regarding Who?

BBC player is set up to exclude certain geographic areas where they can make money selling re-runs, Ireland being one such place. Leaving torrents and other dodgy stuff aside, I'd keep your eyes on BBC3 and BBC4 for the inevitable repeats.

corkie

jasonb wrote: »

Watched Silence In The Library and The Forest Of The Dead last night, great to see them again with The Husbands of River Song fresh in my mind.

Just like I hope we don't see Clara again (as much as I like her) as it would just dilute her goodbye even more, I feel the same way about River. Very fond of the character, but she got a great goodbye, so let's leave it that way...

J.

About to watch them 2 episodes as well.

jasonb

I just went old school, I had them on DVD!

J.