Doctor Who ‘The Husbands of River Song’

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]octor Who Christmas specials – with a few notable exceptions – have almost always been a light affair; a breezy adventure best watched after a few too many mince pies or glasses of mulled wine.

Peter Capaldi. Image: Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore.

‘The Husbands of River Song’ starts off much the same, following the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and a returning River Song (Alex Kingston) in a madcap chase across space, involving angry robots, detached heads, and backstabbing stewards.

The episode is as bizarre as it sounds, with the pursuit of King Hydroflax (Greg Davies) allowing ample opportunity for the show to stretch its comedic muscles, with its outlandish villain, and the Doctor and River’s quick-fire interactions.

Capaldi and Kingston have sizzling chemistry despite this episode being their first on-screen appearance together.

Additionally, Matt Lucas (Nardole) and Davies – if a little under-used – bring much-welcomed comedy to the proceedings (Even with Davies spending half the time as a decapitated head in a bag).

However, two-thirds in, the episode drops the comedic tone and becomes a different beast altogether. It’s at this point you can forgive the earlier plot for being a little thin, as it becomes little more than an entertaining diversion to get the Doctor and River to this point: confronting their last night together at the Singing Towers of Darillium.

Alex Kingston. Image: Wikimedia Commons/Florida Supercon/Stemoc

It is this relationship that allows the episode to enter some wonderfully emotional territory.

River’s magnificent monologue about the Doctor’s feelings for her is one of the standout scenes of the episode, and quite possibly the entire series.

Writer Steven Moffat obviously has great fun with wordplay, comparing the Doctor with the towers (“You can’t expect a monolith to love you back”), and contemplating the meaning of happily-ever-after. Despite the show’s reputation for BBC budget special effects, ’The Husbands of River Song’ involves some incredible backdrop visuals.

While incorporating two very contrasting tones – managing to work in the mandatory festive cheer, as well as the emotionally satisfying surprise departure of a key character – this certainly transcends your average Doctor Who Christmas special.