"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."
When Moffat originally wrote this he was expecting it to be his final episode, and it shows, because the ending is one of the most beautiful things he's ever done. He revisited the tragedy that spanned his entire run on the show, and somehow healed it without changing the outcome.
@@usualblokeluke yeah, there was a few times he was planning to leave before Twice Upon a Time. When he first took over he had a rough plan to leave after four series with Matt Smith. He decided to stay longer when Matt left after three. He was then going to leave after this episode but the BBC couldn't get anyone to take over at the time so he agreed to come back for series 10 after finishing Sherlock season 4. Both he and Capaldi were going to finish with the Doctor Falls but Chibnall didn't want to start with a special so they both agreed to do one last Christmas special.
Moffat could definitely be hit and miss, but when he was at his best, it showed. He was responsible for some of the best and worst of his era, but it seems that when he put his heart into it, Who in general also got a lot of heart too.
10th Doctor: "Time can be re-written!" River Song: "Not those times! Not one line! Don't you dare! You'll see me again. You've got all that to come! You and me, time and space, you watch us run!" We. Had. No. Idea! Epic run. River will be missed.
Actually I don‘t think so, because then CAL!River wouldn‘t know who Miss Evangelista and the others were and what happened in the Library. She only would have known the things she knew the moment he scanned her. She wouldn‘t even have remembered him crying because that happened later at the balcony.
I love how we all thought that River's Doctor was Eleven, but no. River's Doctor, "the real you, the future you, I mean" is Twelve, and they had twenty-four uninterrupted years. Eleven was just the beginning. (It also means that that kiss wasn't River's last kiss with the Doctor; I image there were a very large number of them during those twenty-four years.)
Not just that. 24 years of being on the same page. Before, she knew him more, he knew her less, but for that long night on Darillium, they knew each other the same.
@@mrandmrsduquette1904 24 years...with access to a time machine and a proclivity for going on random adventures during the middle of what is supposed to be a relaxing vacation.
Fun fact for all you River Song fans, I was watching a vid of Alex Kingston (River) reacting to her best river moments, and she casually dropped the info that the Diary prop ACTUALLY HAD ALL THE STORIES WRITTEN IN IT
I totally forgot about Brian and his trowel, or rather not forgot but didn't make the connection. It works both ways, with River being an archeologist too.
I only just noticed a cool subtle hint at the end of this to Forest of The dead in the script: "when the wind stands fair and the night is perfect, when you least expect it but always when you need it the most there is a song" - The Doctor in this episode. "Now and then, every once in a very long while, every day in a million days, when the wind stands fair, and the Doctor comes to call" - River Song in Forest Of The Dead.
Notice when he gives her the screwdriver he scans her for the tenth doctor to be able to save her in the library. "Thing is, future me had years to think about it. All those years to save her and what he did was give her my screwdriver. Why would I do that?"
I found 'The Husbands of River Song' to be one of the most underrated Xmas specials. It was a charming story about two people who love each other yet aren't sure if the other loves them back, the moment when she recognises the Doctor and the ending on Darillium are both my favourite scenes, and it proved to be a fitting farewell for River (In fact, I thought she got a better farewell than Clara got in 'Hell Bent').
It's heartbreaking, though. As this is the last time River and the Doctor meet before Forest of the Dead, where she meets the 10th Doctor and, well, dies.
It is a bittersweet resolution for the Doctor and River. Both know about River's impending fate but both are given one last night together, 24 years, and they both lived a happy life to their fullest in that time, which remains theirs and not ours to know. I'd like to leave it that way.
I just lost it when you caught it. “She just came from Manhattan” .... So this is the River right after losing her parents. And losing her parents is the last adventure she has with the doctor
I love the idea that's there's a whole 24 year chapter of The Doctor and River's story on Darillium that we'll probably never see. But maybe Peter and Alex will eventually do some Big Finish audio of their adventures during that time. Wouldn't that be fun?
Disagree! Leave those years unheard, and give them that time together in peace. Our imagination will be much more fulfilling and perfect than anything the best writers can come up with.
And the circle is now complete. This is where you should go back and re-watch Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead. Re-watching those two episodes now will hit so much harder.
Gosh this episode is so beautiful. From a mad dash caper to something so heartfelt and blissful. It makes you appreciate those you've got. I like to think so anyway.
Makes me think of Redbeard. I remember watching his reaction to this and him saying that he had not planned on watching because he didn't think it was gonna be any good. He said that he was so glad he did because he hadn't been feeling well for awhile and this episode made him feel better. I miss that dude and his reactions. He was one of my favorites.
Rewatch the balcony scene - note the reprisal of the score from Forest of the Dead during the Doctor and River’s “one last run” - albeit a vocalised version - it’s a subtle and classy bit of reverence for the epic span of these characters’ arc through the show 😊
"Loving the doctor is lile loving the stars themselves, you don't expect a sunset to admire you back!" Followed by Capaldi's face of realisation is utterly heart breaking scene to watch.
I’m not sure how river would end up going to the library after this from her point of view. 24 years end, ‘ok doctor got to go now, nice to know this was our last night together, I accept I’ll never run into you again’ and then all of a sudden she expects 10 to know who she is when she goes to the library
+Obiwan Kenobi, well, "last night together" doesn't _necessarily_ mean "I'll never run into you again", does it; the script has one but not the other - WE know that the last time River saw the Doctor before the Library was indeed at Darillium, because she says so in _Forest of the Dead_ . But the River at Darillium can't know this for sure: 'last night' means exactly what it says on the can, and no more. But there is a definite logic puzzle around this, because _Husbands_ does seem to imply that River does have some kind of foreknowledge, or strong suspicions, when she goes to the Library. The script tells us that she knows of the 'last night' stories about her and the Doctor at Darillium, and it also twice draws our attention to her awareness of the almost-full diary. I'd say that the 'logic' just about gets away with it, but it is creaking a little. There's story potential there, about what happened to River between the 'last night' and the Library. To my mind, Big Finish would have done better to explore this than pulling the kind of story tricks they had to get into to have River 'interacting' with Doctors before the Tenth. But whenever I find myself puzzling over something like this, I eventually fall back on one of Harry Potter's lines in one of the movies (the sixth, I think) - _"Actually, Professor, after all these years, I just go with it."_ :)
Elder Wraith it’s Jenga logic where the tower is buckled but just hasn’t quite fallen over yet so Moffatt can get away with it XD I understand they had to play on our emotions but I wonder what the scene would have been like here if Riversong just seemed to be having a great time, not aware of what the night ending would mean for her and all of our sorrow and emotion was coming from the doctor, holding back tears and not telling river why he was crying. So we had the doctor in turmoil and river completely oblivious
What a lovely ending this story has. Who would have thought that the oldest, grumpiest Doctor of New Who would turn out to be the most mesmerisingly romantic? Peter Capaldi really is a brilliant actor, and Alex Kingston is one of the best ever companions.
This was hands down my favorite 12 story and God I wish they could have had more storylines with River, like I know people like her with 11. But her and 12 just seem right. They look like a really happy couple.
I love River. I definitely gravitate towards her. I love how she comes full circle here. She and the Doctor are so darling here. Alex and Peter were brilliant. I’ve been an Alex fan since she was in ER.
One of my favourite moments in this episode is an otherwise throwaway line, where Twelve mentions getting a new haircut and his best suit, right as he's about to see River. This is exactly how she described him on the Library story.
First half of the episode is campy in the best way possible, but the second half is just straight up good Doctor Who. Peter and Alex play off each other so well.
Ah yes, such a beautiful episode to come back with. I don't mind saying that I cried a lot at that ending, which made that Christmas Day something special that year. "When you least expect it, but always when you need it the most, there is a Song" Yes and that Song's first name is River.
Bob Dallas No i didn't, we already know from River's first appearance that the Singing Towers Of Darillium is the last place she saw her Doctor before The Library
Zak Rosenfeld Yes, but we don't know if she will going to appear somewhere along the line in the future with her being younger... With River and a time-travelling show we don't know what to expect.
This episode is the perfect coda to Series 9. After so much angst and loss for the Doctor, this chance to get him smiling again was just brilliant. "When you least expect it, but always when you need it the most, there is a song" - I love the meaning in that line. The last time the Doctor was grieving the loss of his closest friends, River had left him to it and he went into isolation. This time though, she's there for him when he needs it most. It just helps to lift that heavy cloud that Series 9 left and finishes on a far happier note.
Watching this during night shift crying my eyes out thinking of My Grandad who sadly passed away on the day this first aired, Such a beautiful ending for river, as much as I would love to see a spinoff with 12 with during their years on Durillium
In case someone didn't point it out, the singing towers of derillium are a perfect metaphore for River and The Doctor. And the music is their relatioship, partly. Because it can only work with the precise distance betweeen the two of them, never too close but never too distant, but, "when the wind stands fair and the night is perfect, when you least expect it, but always when you need it the most, there is a Song." It's the two of them, never too close, never too far, but, at the perfect moment, they are there for each other, and everyone in the universe can benefit of that.
It's funny... I didn't even realize this is my favorite christmas special until one day it came to me that I have seen this episode sooo many more times than any other episode of Doctor Who. I just instinctively bring it up on netflix every few months, or when I need to feel happy.
I imagine it's because they're not familiar with his UK TV work. I think us Brits loved Nardole right off the bat (although he does become BETTER later).
24:06 When River walks up to the railing, the look he gives her from behind reminds me so much of David Tennent, head down, almost looking through his eyebrows.
12 is the Doctor where you can see the influence of past incarnations most clearly IMO (Capaldi builds a lot of nods to the past into his performance).
The thing is, that means she KNEW it was going to crash on Derillium. And by extension, that the diamond's reward was used to build the restaurant. So she had to know that she'd not keep the diamond. I think she was trying to make sure the restaurant got built there so they could have their last night there.
Tyler Bailey me too, theres a brief deleted scene in season 10 where capaldis talking about when he got stevie wonder to sing for her at the last great frost fair and how he had to get the piano down onto the ice, and its just adorable, you can totally see him doing that rather than matt
Doctor Who had a whole year off after this episode. It's a shame the BBC didn't make a whole series with Alex and Peter having adventures over the 24 years. Missed a trick there BBC! It was actually BBC Worldwide that insisted that Moffat concentrated on filming Sherlock and drop Who for a year.
The best part of that scene is that there aren't any words - Alex's facial expressions as it begins to dawn on her that the doctor is indeed "standing right next to me".. is a tribute to a great actor's talent - they don't need words to let you now what they are thinking or feeling.
Doctor Who December meant ALOT to me. It was exactly what i needed to get me through a tough time. The opening of this made me cry from remembering the joy you have been giving my family for YEARS. Thank you so much, miss.
This is one of the few doctor who episodes I basically consider to be perfect. Every story there's usually one thing that irks me or something but this one is basically flawless. Amazing it manages to be funny and sad without giving any tonal whiplash
Yes, I think it is fantastic how his character progresses. It seemed to me that the intention to make his character develop and change was far more present in 12 than in previous regenerations, at least since the reboot. My memory of the original series is too hazy to remember if that was as much of a trait in any previous regeneration. Maybe 5?
John Tate The 6th doctor becomes much more charming and warm near his end. 10 does the opposite IMO by becoming more jaded and maybe a bit self-obsessed
You’ve got to remember there were 2 and a half years between the Name of the Doctor and the Husbands of River Song, it was such a welcome surprise when it aired. Great episode, love the reaction
2:29 Antlers?? I’ve never asked you to cheer me up with holo-dramatic antlers! 😂😂The Tardis playing a joke on the doctor 😂😂😂 showing they are still interacting. ❤
I really hope River doesn't come back. This was a perfect ending for the character, but also it'd cause a major plothole, 'cause in this, she discovers that the Doctor had faces after 11. If she meets 13 or another Doctor, that story would have to take place before this, but then by Husbands she would already know that 11 wasn't the last Doctor. I think this is a beautiful ending on its own, and also with the possibility of plotholes, I really hope they leave her story be.
They’d have to do what big finish does whenever she meets a Doctor, which usually ends with some sort of mind wipe or the Doctor not retaining the memory, but for River instead. However, I think it’d ultimately feel forced no matter what they did, unless they met in extended media.
She has to have met 10 at least twice, given that in Silence in the Library she didn't know just from seeing him that he'd not met her yet. There's room, then, for the 60th anniversary to be her final appearance, where a version of her that hasn't been to Manhattan yet meets a version of 10 from 2009. I'd like to imagine the 60th will involve all the characters travelling back to 1963, where she will be visiting Amy and Rory in their mid 50s.
I'm a long time Doctor Who fan I'm 68 I'm watching the doctor watching River Song telling him" you can no more love the stars and expect the sunset to admire you back", and it still makes me cry even now
Perfect end to River Songs story. I know lots of people want her to come back to meet future Doctors, and yeah, that would be interesting and fun. Buuuuut, also, I kind of want them to leave it. I feel like anymore will kind of take away from this story
I pretty much agree but we also have to remember the River in the 'Name of the Doctor' was the one from the Library Data Core so The Doctor(11) has already met a version of River from after her time with 12. It was possible that meeting in 'Name of the Doctor', and remembering the personality storage devices from the Library, gave the Doctor the idea to fit one to the sonic screwdriver that 12 gives River. We have no onscreen confirmation it was 10 or 11 who did the modification. Given how we have seen 12 is about always saving at least one (hence the face) and he is a tinkerer (2-Dis device etc) it would fit his personality to do it. Just a theory but it works for me. Anyway if the current or future Doctor had to visit the Library again for some reason (it is a large repository of knowledge after all) it would be a good excuse to see THAT River again.
Oh yeah, it could happen. But I just mean from a storytelling stand point, this puts a nice bow on things. As her last episode, in respect to the way we watch the show, I think anything extra in the show will kind of ruin it
Little tidbit, in Doctor Who season four, silence of the library/forest of the dead when David Tennants 10th Doctor first meets River for the very first time, this is what she was talking about: “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.”
River is my ABSOLUTE favorite characters on "Dr Who" and I LOVE this episode SO MUCH!!! I've seen it over and over and it always packs an emotional punch for me. Your reactions to it are wonderful and now I'll check out your channel and see what else you have to say. Thanks!
One of the rarest, and most precious, experiences in life is seeing something for the first time twice. All those years ago when I first saw the season 4 episode "Silince in the Library" I had the same thoughts as the 10th Doctor & Donna Noble. Who is this woman? How could she know so much about the Doctor? The very next day after I watched "The Husbands of River Song," on Tv is "Silence in the Library" followed by its second part as well. I truly was gifted with a second first viewing. No longer was I viewing from the perspecive of Donna and the 10th Doctor. I saw the events through River's eyes. So many details that initially made no sense fell right into place. I had my second first viewing because this time I got to "Silence in the Library" as they say: The Long Way Round.
One of things tha makes the Doctor's "Hello Sweetie" so awesome, is not just that this was her favorite way of saying "Hello" - it was because it was coming from the 12th doctor - as he said when Clara hugged him "I don't think I'm the 'hugging sort" anymore". That line, coming from a gruff personality like 12's, makes it even better! And then he goes on to tease her about comp[aring him to the sun moon and stars.. haha
By far my favorite Christmas Special. So funny and so emotional at the same time. I love River, I love 12; I love them together. They have a fantastic chemistry That's also the only episode that makes me cry. The last scene gets me everytime; I can't help it even though it's kind of a happy ending for River with 12 offering her 24 years with him Amazing reaction Jess! (As always^^). It was nice to have someone to cry with me for once x) Hope you'll enjoy season 10 😊
Something just while rewatching Angels in Manhattan and remembering it being mentioned here. In River's timeline, she's just been to Manhattan, and it's the first time her character has red hair instead of blonde/strawberry blonde. She must have dyed it in honor of her Mother...
I adore this episode (and your reaction to it) so much! It's as if they've dropped the Doctor into one of River's Big Finish audio dramas, where he's more companion to her than the other way round. He gets to see just what she's like when he's not around and what kind of adventures she gets up to. It's funny, cuz he keeps her close to his chest when she's not around, only mentioning her when he needs to, but it turns out she does the same thing with him. Theirs is a marriage unlike any other, yet the love they so obviously display when they're finally sure of each other's affection is so tender and heartwarming. I love them so much.
Is this heresy to say? but I get the chemistry between River and 12 so so much more. Maybe bc he's my doctor? Idk it just MELTS my heart in this episode whereas in say The Wedding Of it was only emotional bc the writing was telling me I was supposed to care, not bc I really saw the 'love' idk?
Yeah probably cause the age difference between Matt Smith and Alex Kingston is twenty years while the age difference between Kingston and Capaldi is only five. I only wish that Capaldi and Kingston had more time together cause I love their chemistry.
It's also a context of narrative perspective: from *our* POV, 11 and River are "the couple"; *he* is "our Doctor" for *her*, from *our* POV. But in-narratively, from *her* POV, 12 is _her_ Doctor -- the one she spends the most time with and actually has a "proper" relationship with... just one we don't get to see as it occurs off-screen during the "meanwhiles" and the "never-weres"... ;) (Kingston did an excellent job over her years on DW of hitting _just the right_ contextual note/tone for when/where she was on River's personal timeline relative to each incarnation of the Doctor; the chemistry with each of them was fantastic...)
She does go to the Library after this, but there's something else. When he gave her the sonic and then "jokingly" scanned her with it... remember what's inside that screwdriver?
I just noticed that 12 is kinda breaking the fourth wall sometimes - when he looks in camera and talks to us, or just gives us one of his scary looks as in his first episode, when the robot man fell from the tardis. Maybe other Doctors did that too, but 12 is much more obvious to me
He's done it a few times now- besides the ones you mentioned, there's the monologue at the start of Before the Flood, a few scenes in Listen, and a little glance at the camera during Heaven Sent (which I think is one big fourth wall break anyway). As much as I love those little interactions I kind of hope Chibnall doesn't do the same with 13, as they seem like a Capaldi thing to me
thegentleassassin yes, yes, I remember now. And about all this wall-breaking thing I feel the same, it's somehow fits 12 perfectly, maybe 'cause it was shown right at the start and kept popping up here and there :) And i got so used to it, I even didn't noticed. Fascinating. And i'm really sorry if my comment makes no sense, my english is still not good enough, hope you got my point
One, Four and five did it too a few times. One wished everyone a Merry Christmas, Four had the audience as a companion for half an episode, and Five looked at the camera at the end of a few episodes.
The Christmas specials are always a bit more cooky and it's because of an old british tradition. British Christmas stories are usually big on camp. It's a thing that all British Christmas specials or shows do. It'll be slightly over the top and Doctor Who does that same. I love it! I've been waiting for this reaction for a while and I'm so glad you loved it!!
I watched this episode last night and I was so upset about last night , I didn't cry. Then, in the middle of the night I realised how sad I was and cried for an hour.
"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 one episode you had no clue how sad the ending really was, until you saw the following seasons.
He even scan her with it, to set it too.
Woah woah woah! Emotions are forbidden! *a tear rolling down my cheek*
Crazy how it took 7 years for that line to be paid off.
ua-cam.com/video/t-wgLFj6bbI/v-deo.html
When Moffat originally wrote this he was expecting it to be his final episode, and it shows, because the ending is one of the most beautiful things he's ever done. He revisited the tragedy that spanned his entire run on the show, and somehow healed it without changing the outcome.
He expected it to be his last?
@@usualblokeluke yeah, there was a few times he was planning to leave before Twice Upon a Time. When he first took over he had a rough plan to leave after four series with Matt Smith. He decided to stay longer when Matt left after three. He was then going to leave after this episode but the BBC couldn't get anyone to take over at the time so he agreed to come back for series 10 after finishing Sherlock season 4. Both he and Capaldi were going to finish with the Doctor Falls but Chibnall didn't want to start with a special so they both agreed to do one last Christmas special.
Moffat could definitely be hit and miss, but when he was at his best, it showed. He was responsible for some of the best and worst of his era, but it seems that when he put his heart into it, Who in general also got a lot of heart too.
10th Doctor: "Time can be re-written!"
River Song: "Not those times! Not one line! Don't you dare! You'll see me again. You've got all that to come! You and me, time and space, you watch us run!"
We. Had. No. Idea! Epic run. River will be missed.
So, the doctor could have saved Melody Pond when she was captured.... but accepted River Song’s promise to never rewrite her timeline.
God damn it now I am crying... again
River to 11 at Lake Silencio: “Time can be rewritten”. 11 to River: “Don’t you dare”.
@@AndyStarzs1 we all saw what happened when he changed a truely fixed event it broke space.
When The Doctor scan's River at 23:40 after giving her the screwdriver, That's him saving her data into the screwdriver for the library.
OMG CLEVER THANK YOU
oh frick that's clever!
Actually I don‘t think so, because then CAL!River wouldn‘t know who Miss Evangelista and the others were and what happened in the Library. She only would have known the things she knew the moment he scanned her. She wouldn‘t even have remembered him crying because that happened later at the balcony.
I'm assuming it was less of scanning her *current* data into the save bar and more like calibrating it to her for when she does kick it.
@@Nefertari442 He doesn't mean for the library, he means connecting her consciousness to the save bar in the screwdriver.
I love how we all thought that River's Doctor was Eleven, but no. River's Doctor, "the real you, the future you, I mean" is Twelve, and they had twenty-four uninterrupted years. Eleven was just the beginning. (It also means that that kiss wasn't River's last kiss with the Doctor; I image there were a very large number of them during those twenty-four years.)
The Name of the Doctor kiss is the last in her timeline (after upload at the library), but not the last in the Doctor's timeline.
Not just that. 24 years of being on the same page. Before, she knew him more, he knew her less, but for that long night on Darillium, they knew each other the same.
It occurs to me that 24 years is long enough to raise a child.
@@mrandmrsduquette1904😮
@@mrandmrsduquette1904 24 years...with access to a time machine and a proclivity for going on random adventures during the middle of what is supposed to be a relaxing vacation.
Fun fact for all you River Song fans, I was watching a vid of Alex Kingston (River) reacting to her best river moments, and she casually dropped the info that the Diary prop ACTUALLY HAD ALL THE STORIES WRITTEN IN IT
Grandpa Brian would had been proud that River had a Sonic Trowel.
Do not say things like that! Now I want them to meet.
I totally forgot about Brian and his trowel, or rather not forgot but didn't make the connection. It works both ways, with River being an archeologist too.
They almost certainly met. River was best friends with Amy and Rory as kids! :)
@David of Yorkshire she would of known her granddad she grew up with Amy and Rory as their friend Melody
@@Ugnutz there is a comic where Brian and Mels talk about how Rory and Amy made a lovely couple
‘Nardole what have you bought to my doorstep?’
Forest of the dead - ‘you turned up on my doorstep, with a new haircut and a suit’
*Silence of The Library (sorry for the lateness)
@@theamericanyoutuber Silence in the Library (sorry for even more lateness!)
@@theamericanyoutuber no he’s right
@@FahadAyazSilence in the Library (a bit more late i hope thats okay)
I only just noticed a cool subtle hint at the end of this to Forest of The dead in the script:
"when the wind stands fair and the night is perfect, when you least expect it but always when you need it the most there is a song" - The Doctor in this episode.
"Now and then, every once in a very long while, every day in a million days, when the wind stands fair, and the Doctor comes to call" - River Song in Forest Of The Dead.
IZathrus I didn’t notice that! The Doctor is talking about her and she kind of reuses his words when talking about him. So sweet 😭💕
*"Everyone lives!"*
"You turned up on my doorstep with a new haircut and a suit"
"I've had a haircut, this is my best suit"
Notice when he gives her the screwdriver he scans her for the tenth doctor to be able to save her in the library. "Thing is, future me had years to think about it. All those years to save her and what he did was give her my screwdriver. Why would I do that?"
tconlon251 timey wimey
Who really wrote Beethoven's 5th?
Bookq36 whodve guessed?
@tconlon251 yup its a paradox, bootstrap paradox
I found 'The Husbands of River Song' to be one of the most underrated Xmas specials. It was a charming story about two people who love each other yet aren't sure if the other loves them back, the moment when she recognises the Doctor and the ending on Darillium are both my favourite scenes, and it proved to be a fitting farewell for River (In fact, I thought she got a better farewell than Clara got in 'Hell Bent').
It's heartbreaking, though. As this is the last time River and the Doctor meet before Forest of the Dead, where she meets the 10th Doctor and, well, dies.
@???
She does meet the 11th doctor again after her death tho in digital form
It is a bittersweet resolution for the Doctor and River. Both know about River's impending fate but both are given one last night together, 24 years, and they both lived a happy life to their fullest in that time, which remains theirs and not ours to know. I'd like to leave it that way.
The way Capaldi looks at River KILLS ME! 18:06 So Capaldi said "Hello sweetie" first!
You know Capaldi had been SO looking forward to that moment. Learning that Capaldi got so emotional in this episode made me love him even more.
She wields a trowel, just like her grandfather. *Cries face off*
Jason Talks never realised that. Runs in the family it seems.
Curse you and your making of feels!
I thought i was the only one who saw that 😭😭😭
:O oh gosh!!!
Poor Brian doesnt even know he has a grandaughter
"I hate you." "no you don't." I legit threw something out of sadness at that moment.
Watch good omens. Samesies.
"Loving the Doctor is like loving the Sun, you don't admire a sunset expecting it to admire you back." This was so great, it's hard to explain.
It's a good cautionary tale about taking the people you love for granted.
The scene where River finally recognizes Twelve always gets to me :(
"Hello sweetie "
Me too. makes me cry every time.
Peter Capaldi has wonderful facial expressions. The way he looks at her 😭❤️
"There is a song" - all the meaning that Capaldi puts into that line is just... man it's too much. That's the part of that scene that gets me.
I just lost it when you caught it. “She just came from Manhattan”
....
So this is the River right after losing her parents. And losing her parents is the last adventure she has with the doctor
I love the idea that's there's a whole 24 year chapter of The Doctor and River's story on Darillium that we'll probably never see. But maybe Peter and Alex will eventually do some Big Finish audio of their adventures during that time. Wouldn't that be fun?
Disagree! Leave those years unheard, and give them that time together in peace. Our imagination will be much more fulfilling and perfect than anything the best writers can come up with.
And the circle is now complete. This is where you should go back and re-watch Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead. Re-watching those two episodes now will hit so much harder.
Yeah. Made that mistake. The most gut wrenching part was when River realized the Doctor, her friend, her lover , her husband did not know her face.
Gosh this episode is so beautiful. From a mad dash caper to something so heartfelt and blissful. It makes you appreciate those you've got. I like to think so anyway.
Aunchient Pistol hahahaha burn
TB?
I totally agree, TB. The transition from comedy to heartfelt is done well. When the doctor said "Spoilers", my heart was like.. 'Oh my."..
Well said, Torchwood boy. Appreciating those friends and family while you have them, keeps us from regrets later on!
Makes me think of Redbeard. I remember watching his reaction to this and him saying that he had not planned on watching because he didn't think it was gonna be any good. He said that he was so glad he did because he hadn't been feeling well for awhile and this episode made him feel better. I miss that dude and his reactions. He was one of my favorites.
Rewatch the balcony scene - note the reprisal of the score from Forest of the Dead during the Doctor and River’s “one last run” - albeit a vocalised version - it’s a subtle and classy bit of reverence for the epic span of these characters’ arc through the show 😊
I love how he sneakily scanned her so that the 10th Dr could save her.
"Loving the doctor is lile loving the stars themselves, you don't expect a sunset to admire you back!"
Followed by Capaldi's face of realisation is utterly heart breaking scene to watch.
Ah, The Husbands of River Song. Here we are at last.
Zerofever my sentiments exactly, also good reference and I'm not crying
I’m not sure how river would end up going to the library after this from her point of view. 24 years end, ‘ok doctor got to go now, nice to know this was our last night together, I accept I’ll never run into you again’ and then all of a sudden she expects 10 to know who she is when she goes to the library
+Obiwan Kenobi, well, "last night together" doesn't _necessarily_ mean "I'll never run into you again", does it; the script has one but not the other - WE know that the last time River saw the Doctor before the Library was indeed at Darillium, because she says so in _Forest of the Dead_ . But the River at Darillium can't know this for sure: 'last night' means exactly what it says on the can, and no more.
But there is a definite logic puzzle around this, because _Husbands_ does seem to imply that River does have some kind of foreknowledge, or strong suspicions, when she goes to the Library. The script tells us that she knows of the 'last night' stories about her and the Doctor at Darillium, and it also twice draws our attention to her awareness of the almost-full diary.
I'd say that the 'logic' just about gets away with it, but it is creaking a little. There's story potential there, about what happened to River between the 'last night' and the Library. To my mind, Big Finish would have done better to explore this than pulling the kind of story tricks they had to get into to have River 'interacting' with Doctors before the Tenth.
But whenever I find myself puzzling over something like this, I eventually fall back on one of Harry Potter's lines in one of the movies (the sixth, I think) - _"Actually, Professor, after all these years, I just go with it."_ :)
Elder Wraith it’s Jenga logic where the tower is buckled but just hasn’t quite fallen over yet so Moffatt can get away with it XD I understand they had to play on our emotions but I wonder what the scene would have been like here if Riversong just seemed to be having a great time, not aware of what the night ending would mean for her and all of our sorrow and emotion was coming from the doctor, holding back tears and not telling river why he was crying. So we had the doctor in turmoil and river completely oblivious
ObiWan Kenobi i think i would like to see that alternative
What a lovely ending this story has. Who would have thought that the oldest, grumpiest Doctor of New Who would turn out to be the most mesmerisingly romantic? Peter Capaldi really is a brilliant actor, and Alex Kingston is one of the best ever companions.
This was hands down my favorite 12 story and God I wish they could have had more storylines with River, like I know people like her with 11. But her and 12 just seem right. They look like a really happy couple.
I love River. I definitely gravitate towards her. I love how she comes full circle here. She and the Doctor are so darling here. Alex and Peter were brilliant. I’ve been an Alex fan since she was in ER.
The Doctor basically saying 'you were always there when I needed it most.' messes me up good 😔
One of my favourite moments in this episode is an otherwise throwaway line, where Twelve mentions getting a new haircut and his best suit, right as he's about to see River. This is exactly how she described him on the Library story.
This is in my opinion, the BEST Dr Who Christmas special
Kevin O'Grady I agree so much
Yep and Christmas carol is second place
That slow realisation after River recognises that planet is just *chef's kiss* Beautiful.
From Silence in the Library to The Husbands of River Song the whole story arc came around and was completed beautifully. Very impressive Dr Who!
The way your face lit up when you realized it as River!
Forever 💜 our Doctor Song
First half of the episode is campy in the best way possible, but the second half is just straight up good Doctor Who. Peter and Alex play off each other so well.
Ah yes, such a beautiful episode to come back with. I don't mind saying that I cried a lot at that ending, which made that Christmas Day something special that year. "When you least expect it, but always when you need it the most, there is a Song" Yes and that Song's first name is River.
And now everything has come full circle with River :)
And now the timeline is closed.
And now you spoiled.
not really
Bob Dallas No i didn't, we already know from River's first appearance that the Singing Towers Of Darillium is the last place she saw her Doctor before The Library
Zak Rosenfeld Yes, but we don't know if she will going to appear somewhere along the line in the future with her being younger... With River and a time-travelling show we don't know what to expect.
This episode is the perfect coda to Series 9. After so much angst and loss for the Doctor, this chance to get him smiling again was just brilliant.
"When you least expect it, but always when you need it the most, there is a song" - I love the meaning in that line. The last time the Doctor was grieving the loss of his closest friends, River had left him to it and he went into isolation. This time though, she's there for him when he needs it most. It just helps to lift that heavy cloud that Series 9 left and finishes on a far happier note.
And then he went back to grieving River's death. Good times can't last for the Doctor I'm afraid.
River Song is the BEST character in Dr Who , so smart, so well written, just perfect.
Watching this during night shift crying my eyes out thinking of My Grandad who sadly passed away on the day this first aired, Such a beautiful ending for river, as much as I would love to see a spinoff with 12 with during their years on Durillium
Best Hallo Sweety ever. It gets me everytime
Absolutely agree!
In case someone didn't point it out, the singing towers of derillium are a perfect metaphore for River and The Doctor. And the music is their relatioship, partly. Because it can only work with the precise distance betweeen the two of them, never too close but never too distant, but, "when the wind stands fair and the night is perfect, when you least expect it, but always when you need it the most, there is a Song." It's the two of them, never too close, never too far, but, at the perfect moment, they are there for each other, and everyone in the universe can benefit of that.
It's funny... I didn't even realize this is my favorite christmas special until one day it came to me that I have seen this episode sooo many more times than any other episode of Doctor Who. I just instinctively bring it up on netflix every few months, or when I need to feel happy.
I love how much she loved/cared about Nardole -- it's refreshing compared to most other reactors who immediately hated him. He's one of my favourites
I imagine it's because they're not familiar with his UK TV work. I think us Brits loved Nardole right off the bat (although he does become BETTER later).
HellfireComms True, but I didn't get the impression Jess was familiar with Matt Lucas already? Not like us Brits are anyway
Careful with spoilers!
24:06 When River walks up to the railing, the look he gives her from behind reminds me so much of David Tennent, head down, almost looking through his eyebrows.
12 is the Doctor where you can see the influence of past incarnations most clearly IMO (Capaldi builds a lot of nods to the past into his performance).
I loved this one so much too. Alex has one of her most unforgettable lines here as River:
"I'm an archeologist from the future. I dug you up."
The thing is, that means she KNEW it was going to crash on Derillium. And by extension, that the diamond's reward was used to build the restaurant. So she had to know that she'd not keep the diamond. I think she was trying to make sure the restaurant got built there so they could have their last night there.
Wish Alex and Peter could have had more eps together! Knew you'd love this!
Tyler Bailey me too, theres a brief deleted scene in season 10 where capaldis talking about when he got stevie wonder to sing for her at the last great frost fair and how he had to get the piano down onto the ice, and its just adorable, you can totally see him doing that rather than matt
Doctor Who had a whole year off after this episode. It's a shame the BBC didn't make a whole series with Alex and Peter having adventures over the 24 years. Missed a trick there BBC! It was actually BBC Worldwide that insisted that Moffat concentrated on filming Sherlock and drop Who for a year.
They were excellent together
The best moment for me is when she realized who he was...
The best part of that scene is that there aren't any words - Alex's facial expressions as it begins to dawn on her that the doctor is indeed "standing right next to me".. is a tribute to a great actor's talent - they don't need words to let you now what they are thinking or feeling.
I never noticed she’s carrying a trowel around like her grandfather, Brian. And it’s a tool of her “trade”.
Such an under appreciated gem of an episode. That TARDIS scene with 12 is hilarious and that's got to be the best "Hello Sweetie" ever lol
Doctor Who December meant ALOT to me. It was exactly what i needed to get me through a tough time. The opening of this made me cry from remembering the joy you have been giving my family for YEARS. Thank you so much, miss.
This is one of the few doctor who episodes I basically consider to be perfect. Every story there's usually one thing that irks me or something but this one is basically flawless. Amazing it manages to be funny and sad without giving any tonal whiplash
I love the contrast between 12 laughing at Hydroflax and where he started: being annoyed by people like Robin Hood.
Yes, I think it is fantastic how his character progresses. It seemed to me that the intention to make his character develop and change was far more present in 12 than in previous regenerations, at least since the reboot. My memory of the original series is too hazy to remember if that was as much of a trait in any previous regeneration. Maybe 5?
John Tate The 6th doctor becomes much more charming and warm near his end. 10 does the opposite IMO by becoming more jaded and maybe a bit self-obsessed
You’ve got to remember there were 2 and a half years between the Name of the Doctor and the Husbands of River Song, it was such a welcome surprise when it aired. Great episode, love the reaction
2:29 Antlers?? I’ve never asked you to cheer me up with holo-dramatic antlers! 😂😂The Tardis playing a joke on the doctor 😂😂😂 showing they are still interacting. ❤
I really hope River doesn't come back. This was a perfect ending for the character, but also it'd cause a major plothole, 'cause in this, she discovers that the Doctor had faces after 11. If she meets 13 or another Doctor, that story would have to take place before this, but then by Husbands she would already know that 11 wasn't the last Doctor. I think this is a beautiful ending on its own, and also with the possibility of plotholes, I really hope they leave her story be.
They’d have to do what big finish does whenever she meets a Doctor, which usually ends with some sort of mind wipe or the Doctor not retaining the memory, but for River instead. However, I think it’d ultimately feel forced no matter what they did, unless they met in extended media.
She has to have met 10 at least twice, given that in Silence in the Library she didn't know just from seeing him that he'd not met her yet.
There's room, then, for the 60th anniversary to be her final appearance, where a version of her that hasn't been to Manhattan yet meets a version of 10 from 2009.
I'd like to imagine the 60th will involve all the characters travelling back to 1963, where she will be visiting Amy and Rory in their mid 50s.
@@rtozier2011 just a plot hole, does leave room though not for the 60th, maybe for a big finish production. If there hasn’t been one yet.
Big Finish Productions has a great audio series The Diary of River Song which are stories of River meeting previous Doctors from Classic Who.
I think she was given one of those boxsets.
Oh cool, I hope we get a review later!
River and Tom Baker next set :)
Yeah (although TBH I'm looking forward to the set after even more). I hope Seska has the first set (not that it really matters).
Bobzilla456 Ah yes the set with Four Masters, i can't wait for that
Been waiting for this one. The music at the end totally makes the episode.
I love the little music quote of the Silence in the Library theme when her new sonic is revealed. Chills.
Yes! I'm so happy to see you, Doctor Who December and the reactions return!
I'm a long time Doctor Who fan I'm 68 I'm watching the doctor watching River Song telling him" you can no more love the stars and expect the sunset to admire you back", and it still makes me cry even now
Perfect end to River Songs story. I know lots of people want her to come back to meet future Doctors, and yeah, that would be interesting and fun. Buuuuut, also, I kind of want them to leave it. I feel like anymore will kind of take away from this story
I pretty much agree but we also have to remember the River in the 'Name of the Doctor' was the one from the Library Data Core so The Doctor(11) has already met a version of River from after her time with 12.
It was possible that meeting in 'Name of the Doctor', and remembering the personality storage devices from the Library, gave the Doctor the idea to fit one to the sonic screwdriver that 12 gives River. We have no onscreen confirmation it was 10 or 11 who did the modification. Given how we have seen 12 is about always saving at least one (hence the face) and he is a tinkerer (2-Dis device etc) it would fit his personality to do it. Just a theory but it works for me.
Anyway if the current or future Doctor had to visit the Library again for some reason (it is a large repository of knowledge after all) it would be a good excuse to see THAT River again.
Oh yeah, it could happen. But I just mean from a storytelling stand point, this puts a nice bow on things. As her last episode, in respect to the way we watch the show, I think anything extra in the show will kind of ruin it
If River does appear with future doctors a story where she never finds out or looses her memory of it would work as well.
One of the best Christmas specials
Aron Crillco my favourite christmas special, twice upon a time in close second
TORR MTROOPER spoilers
This was best then Christmas carol then the next one
I just felt the chemistry between River and 12 was even better than 11. This is such a wonderful River/Doctor episode!
The way Capaldi whispers "24 years." 😭😭😭
River telling Ten he is so young...
But he wasn't
When River finally realized who he was... such incredible acting from Alex!
That part "There's a Song" had me crying, when I first heard it. Beautiful line.
Every Song Must End
But the melody carries on forever...
Torchwood Boy 😭😭😭💔💔
I CANT WHYYYYYY
But the river will always flow :)
@Torchwood Boy I bet you've already watched this montage, haven't you? ua-cam.com/video/zyLZDAxXa20/v-deo.html :)
Little tidbit, in Doctor Who season four, silence of the library/forest of the dead when David Tennants 10th Doctor first meets River for the very first time, this is what she was talking about:
“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.”
18:14 Notice how she leans in expecting someone to say something until The Doctor said "Hello sweetie" and she starts crying.
River is my ABSOLUTE favorite characters on "Dr Who" and I LOVE this episode SO MUCH!!! I've seen it over and over and it always packs an emotional punch for me. Your reactions to it are wonderful and now I'll check out your channel and see what else you have to say. Thanks!
12th doctor scans River at the end so that the 10th doctor can save her.
One of the rarest, and most precious, experiences in life is seeing something for the first time twice.
All those years ago when I first saw the season 4 episode "Silince in the Library" I had the same thoughts as the 10th Doctor & Donna Noble. Who is this woman? How could she know so much about the Doctor?
The very next day after I watched "The Husbands of River Song," on Tv is "Silence in the Library" followed by its second part as well.
I truly was gifted with a second first viewing. No longer was I viewing from the perspecive of Donna and the 10th Doctor. I saw the events through River's eyes. So many details that initially made no sense fell right into place.
I had my second first viewing because this time I got to "Silence in the Library" as they say:
The Long Way Round.
One of things tha makes the Doctor's "Hello Sweetie" so awesome, is not just that this was her favorite way of saying "Hello" - it was because it was coming from the 12th doctor - as he said when Clara hugged him "I don't think I'm the 'hugging sort" anymore". That line, coming from a gruff personality like 12's, makes it even better! And then he goes on to tease her about comp[aring him to the sun moon and stars.. haha
By far my favorite Christmas Special. So funny and so emotional at the same time. I love River, I love 12; I love them together. They have a fantastic chemistry
That's also the only episode that makes me cry. The last scene gets me everytime; I can't help it even though it's kind of a happy ending for River with 12 offering her 24 years with him
Amazing reaction Jess! (As always^^). It was nice to have someone to cry with me for once x)
Hope you'll enjoy season 10 😊
First rule of Dr who, always expect to cry
Don't feel bad for crying, it still makes me tear up a lot. The moment when he says "Hello Sweetie" gets me every time especially.
Something just while rewatching Angels in Manhattan and remembering it being mentioned here. In River's timeline, she's just been to Manhattan, and it's the first time her character has red hair instead of blonde/strawberry blonde. She must have dyed it in honor of her Mother...
Notice how the Doctor waved River's sonic in her face - I think he was scanning her for to be uploaded onto the Library computer later!
I adore this episode (and your reaction to it) so much! It's as if they've dropped the Doctor into one of River's Big Finish audio dramas, where he's more companion to her than the other way round. He gets to see just what she's like when he's not around and what kind of adventures she gets up to. It's funny, cuz he keeps her close to his chest when she's not around, only mentioning her when he needs to, but it turns out she does the same thing with him. Theirs is a marriage unlike any other, yet the love they so obviously display when they're finally sure of each other's affection is so tender and heartwarming. I love them so much.
The silence is cutting onions again...
and if you turn the volume up you can hear the TARDIS' sad reply after the Doctor yells at her about the antlers incident
"I'm gonna cry, I think." Oh sweetie, it's the Doctor. Of course you are going to cry.
Is this heresy to say? but I get the chemistry between River and 12 so so much more. Maybe bc he's my doctor? Idk it just MELTS my heart in this episode whereas in say The Wedding Of it was only emotional bc the writing was telling me I was supposed to care, not bc I really saw the 'love' idk?
I never bought River and Eleven. I just didn't believe them together. I thought their chemistry in this episode was magical.
Yeah probably cause the age difference between Matt Smith and Alex Kingston is twenty years while the age difference between Kingston and Capaldi is only five. I only wish that Capaldi and Kingston had more time together cause I love their chemistry.
It's also a context of narrative perspective: from *our* POV, 11 and River are "the couple"; *he* is "our Doctor" for *her*, from *our* POV. But in-narratively, from *her* POV, 12 is _her_ Doctor -- the one she spends the most time with and actually has a "proper" relationship with... just one we don't get to see as it occurs off-screen during the "meanwhiles" and the "never-weres"... ;) (Kingston did an excellent job over her years on DW of hitting _just the right_ contextual note/tone for when/where she was on River's personal timeline relative to each incarnation of the Doctor; the chemistry with each of them was fantastic...)
She does go to the Library after this, but there's something else. When he gave her the sonic and then "jokingly" scanned her with it... remember what's inside that screwdriver?
holy shit - you're right!
27:07
That "24 years" line always gets me, haha
and when he gives her the sonic screwdriver, the first thing he does is takes it and scans her with it
"Hello Sweetie." I've been waiting for you to get to this moment for a long time. I wasn't disappointed.
I just noticed that 12 is kinda breaking the fourth wall sometimes - when he looks in camera and talks to us, or just gives us one of his scary looks as in his first episode, when the robot man fell from the tardis. Maybe other Doctors did that too, but 12 is much more obvious to me
Aaron Lock Twelve always seemed very "aware" in that way.
He's done it a few times now- besides the ones you mentioned, there's the monologue at the start of Before the Flood, a few scenes in Listen, and a little glance at the camera during Heaven Sent (which I think is one big fourth wall break anyway). As much as I love those little interactions I kind of hope Chibnall doesn't do the same with 13, as they seem like a Capaldi thing to me
thegentleassassin yes, yes, I remember now. And about all this wall-breaking thing I feel the same, it's somehow fits 12 perfectly, maybe 'cause it was shown right at the start and kept popping up here and there :) And i got so used to it, I even didn't noticed. Fascinating.
And i'm really sorry if my comment makes no sense, my english is still not good enough, hope you got my point
The Fourth Doctor always broke The 4th Wall Watch The Deadly Assassin
One, Four and five did it too a few times. One wished everyone a Merry Christmas, Four had the audience as a companion for half an episode, and Five looked at the camera at the end of a few episodes.
Love the use of the Doctor Who movie intro music. My favorite
"Stop holding my hand, people don't do that to me!" CLARA 😭😭
So looking forward to December now 😀
He smiles when she finally asks him how long a night on Derilium is, because if there's one thing he loves the most, it's a good question.
The Christmas specials are always a bit more cooky and it's because of an old british tradition. British Christmas stories are usually big on camp. It's a thing that all British Christmas specials or shows do. It'll be slightly over the top and Doctor Who does that same. I love it!
I've been waiting for this reaction for a while and I'm so glad you loved it!!
Now you can watch the you tube video of the chronological timeline of River song. No spoilers left. :)
Everybody loves River
BABYYYYYYYYYY
I watched this episode last night and I was so upset about last night , I didn't cry. Then, in the middle of the night I realised how sad I was and cried for an hour.