But as a Christmas Special, I look at this special as a special gift for fans who enjoy the character River Song.
Click here to watch “Doctor Who: Christmas Specials” on Amazon
TITLE: Doctor Who Christmas Special: The Husbands of River Song
FILM YEAR: 2015
DURATION: 60 Minutes
COMPANY: BBC
Directed by Douglass Mackinnon
Written by Steven Moffat
Producer: Nikki Wilson
Executive Producer: Brian Minchin, Steven Moffat
Co-Executive Producer: David Tuohy
Line Producer: Steffan Morris
Producer: Felicia Ferrara
Music by Murray Gold
Cinematography by Suzie Lavelle
Edited by Adam Green
Casting by Andy Pryor
Production Design by Michael Pickwoad
Set Decoration by Adrian Anscombe
Costume Design by Ray Holman
Starring:
Peter Capaldi as The Doctor
Alex Kingston as River Song
Matt Lucas as Nardole
Greg Davies as King Hydroflax
Phillip Rhys Chaudhary as Ramone
Rowan Polonski as Flemming
It’s Christmas Day on a remote human colony and the Doctor is hiding from Christmas carols and comedy antlers. When a crashed spaceship calls upon the Doctor for help, he finds himself hurled into a fast and frantic chase across the galaxy.
As mentioned a few days ago, I intend to watch (and literally catch up) on “Doctor Who” Christmas specials and with this latest special, was the 2015 “The Husbands of River Song”.
Now, River Song is probably one of the coolest characters that has been featured in “Doctor Who”. The wife of the Doctor, who is like the female time traveling version of Indiana Jones.
The character was introduced back in 2008 and the last appearance in 2015.
But I’m not going to reveal the reason why the character was important, but let’s just say that she has managed to seen most versions of the Doctor, except the 12th version (featuring Peter Capaldi).
For this Christmas special, Nardole has brought the galaxy’s most well-known doctor to operate on King Hydroflax as requested by his wife, River Song.
The Doctor (Capaldi) is shocked to see that River married Hydroflax, but in truth, she married him because of a jewel that is embedded in his head. Naturally, the Doctor tries to see if River would know who he is but she hasn’t seen the Doctor in his 12th incarnation and with King Hydroflax’s head separated from is ironed body (who has a mind of it’s own), the two must escape together from King Hydroflax’s body, while holding on to his head.
So, through this adventure, the Doctor realizes that River has married other men but her one true love is the Doctor. And the 12th Doctor tries to see if she will know who he is, he joins her on the adventure.
For the most part, those who are wondering if this is actually about Christmas, not quite. It takes place on Christmas Day but the Doctor is getting away from the Christmas spirit to join his adventurous wife (who doesn’t know she is with him).
In someways, it plays like a tragedy, because the two have love for each other, but because he is a Time Lord, he is often traveling and for River, she is also a time traveler, adventurer and always after the most precious things in the universe as an archaelogist. But she always yearns to be together with the Doctor.
This special features one of the most romantic, yet adventurous storylines to feature the two, because if there is a beginning, there must be an end. And if this is the last we will see of River Song, then this special is quite fitting.
Granted, since 2015, River Song still continues in Doctor Who audio play and comic book storylines [note: whether or not it’s canon, who knows..].
But as a Christmas Special, I look at this special as a special gift for fans who enjoy the character River Song. That ending between the Doctor and River Song for this special, was no doubt… special.
Click here to watch “Doctor Who: Christmas Specials” on Amazon
