The Husbands of River Song

Context
The Husbands of River Song aired as the 2015 Christmas Special of Doctor Who. It came right after the heavy and emotional Hell Bent and before the next stage of the Twelfth Doctor’s story. It was meant to be a fun, light episode and also a farewell to River Song. At the same time it tried to reflect the Doctor’s state of mind after losing Clara. A small detail shows this. The production used the same street where Clara once faced the raven, now made Christmassy. It suggests the Doctor’s habit of going to Christmas settings whenever he loses companions, because this time of year brings him comfort. Even though he does not remember Clara fully anymore, something in that street still gives him a strange sense of peace.

Synopsis
The Twelfth Doctor gets dragged into one of River Song’s wild schemes when she hires him without knowing he is the Doctor. Together they get involved in a heist, a diamond hidden inside a dangerous cyborg king, and a series of chaotic escapes. Only near the end does River finally realize who she has been travelling with. The story finishes at the Singing Towers of Darillium, where the Doctor and River share their long awaited final night.

Review
The Husbands of River Song tries very hard to be funny, but in my case it almost never worked. The comedic tone felt forced and flat. The only moment that actually made me laugh was when the Doctor pretends he is entering the TARDIS for the first time. That small joke shows how good Capaldi can be with comedy when he has better material.

River Song feels different in this story. Her usual emotional depth and cleverness seem pushed aside for louder, broader humour. It is also such wasted potential, because there is not enough time where River knowingly stands beside the Doctor. The big joke of her not recognizing him goes on for too long and does not feel believable. River Song is smart enough to put the pieces together much sooner, but I guess this is supposed to be part of the comedy. For me it just made the situation feel stretched and unnatural.

The story itself is dull. dull. dull. It moves quickly but without any real interest. Most scenes are just noise and running around with random characters that do not matter much. Even Nardole, making his first appearance, is not funny at all. Since this is his introduction, it feels like a waste.

The best part of the episode is the third act at the Singing Towers of Darillium. This section is touching and atmospheric. If the whole episode had been set there, I feel we could have had a much stronger and more emotional Christmas special. The moment when River finally realizes it is the Doctor is also one of the few truly good scenes. Their final night together has weight and heart, but sadly it cannot save the weak and messy story that came before it.

Apart from these few good moments, the episode feels like nothing. A nice touch is the use of the street where Clara faced the raven, turned into a Christmas scene. It quietly shows the Doctor still dealing with grief, even though he cannot fully remember her. He seems to return to Christmas periods whenever he loses someone, and this particular street probably gives him some comfort related to the memory of Clara Oswald.

In the end, the episode disappoints. The comedy does not work, the plot is thin, River Song is not at her best, and Nardole’s introduction falls flat. Only the Darillium scene shines, but one good act cannot lift the whole thing.

17 dec. 2025

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