"The Husbands of River Song" is funny, smart, fast-paced, heartwarming and heartbreaking. Peter Capaldi and Alex Kingston are just as compelling together as Matt Smith and Alex were. (Well, maybe Smith takes first place but Capaldi was great.) This episode had that... You know it's hard to put into words, other than saying that it had that Doctor Who feel again. (Video of Alex about returning below.)
The 9th season has not been a total loss. Comparatively to the 8th season, there are a few episodes that I will most likely go back and watch again. Namely the last episodes of the season. Especially, Heaven Sent and Hell Bent - both wonderful performances by Capaldi. "Husbands" I've already watched twice.
[SPOILERS]
The hook in "The Husbands of River Song" was wonderful to see, yet so heartbreaking. Magnificent chemistry between them, romantic, yet sad due to what we all know will come afterward. Also for River fans like myself it's especially sad because now the odds of another River story are slim to none.
Immediately after this episode I watched the end of "Forest of the Dead." I wanted to see if they truly matched up. I had never thought of River knowing, or having any sense that her death was coming. There were a couple of small continuity issues between "The Husbands of River Song" and "Forest of the Dead" but nothing major.
Night of the Doctor: Last Night |
In "Forest" River says "You came to my door..." which obviously didn't happen. She also says "This means you knew all along..." Which at first I thought was a continuity issue, for after "Husbands" that would not surprise River. But then I realized it can be forgiven for context. In "Husbands" she thinks the Doctor won't be able to save her, where it's River's choice not to be saved in "Forest." So, for me it works.
There was the blinding continuity issue with the mini-epsiode Night of the Doctor: Last Night until River says how the Doctor kept canceling their trip to the Towers, "Remember, when there was two of you?" That line was said off-camera and I wonder if it was Moffet's "oops" moment and was done in ADR (the re-recording/correction of audio) specifically for continuity. I'll have to look closer on my next viewing.
Oh, yes. There will be another viewing of this episode. Probably several viewings.