User Reviews

Other than the doctor, River is my favourite Dr Who character. Of course, Alex Kingston has a lot to with that. She always elevates the episode. Perfect casting. This one was funny, often hilarious, but what makes it special is the most romantic ending I have yet seen. Somehow, I believe only Peter Capaldi (and possibly Chris Eccleston) could have pulled it off. And you don't even need to be a Whovian to enjoy it.

I can't get over how great the Husbands of River Song was. The humor was nice, and the beginning was a fun romp; but when it finally got down to business, The Husbands of River Song was one of the most emotional and well made hours of television of the year. I am amazed at how the writers called back to Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead (some of my favorite episodes) 5 series after they aired. Even the music was a throwback to that two parter. Alex Kingston was as always amazing as River Song, and Capaldi gave another stellar performance. The Special Effects were great too, and the music was just beautiful. The ending is the 100% perfect conclusion to the Doctor's and River Song's love story, and it really is emotional. Overall, 10/10. One of the best episodes of series 9

This Christmas, Doctor Who gives us something we all need; a good, hearty laugh, and this terrific story, from Steven Moffat, about a diamond, and is a diamond.

Every appearance of River, embodied by the terrific Alex Kingston always leads to a fu adventure, and this time, the Doctor and River certainly do not disappoint.

This Christmas gift, is the first one the 12th Doctor's been without a companion, but, this time, River - who is the Doctor's wife, comes to a bittersweet ending, which beautifully closes the story of River, and I wish all viewers will find this gift a special one, indeed, this year. Merry Christmas.

This is my go to 'pick me up' Doctor Who episode. I've been watching it once every few months since it came out.

River Song is definitely my favourite non-Doctor character in NuWho (I don't compare her with the Doctors because I feel they are complementary rather than competing for my attention). Alex Kingston, as others already point out, is absolutely brilliant in this role. The fact that she loves River Song so much that she recently wrote a River Song novel is enough to show how much love she has for this character and it shows whenever River is on screen.

The rapport between Kingston and Capaldi is palpable. Both of their comedy timing is impeccable. Comedy is generally harder to act than people usually assume. But one can't go wrong by putting one star from 'The Thick of It' with one star from ER: the combo is a master class for comedy acting. I wish there had been more episodes of River Song in Capaldi era. Oh well, can we wish for a bit more of River Song in the future??

A overall wholesome episode that brings a lot warmth and sentiments.

Call me blasphemous but I was never a huge fan of River Song. She didn't get all that much screen time so we never saw her relationship with the Doctor build. I didn't find their romance believable, so it felt more like a plot device than anything else. A cool plot device (figures, it's Doctor Who) but a plot device nonetheless. This episode changed everything. We get to see their dynamic and their romance in action, and how good of a team they make. We get to know River a bit better. Not to mention the fact that the screenwriting is excellent--this is an wonderfully funny episode.

Lately Capaldi has been growing on me, climbing the ranks and getting closer and closer to David Tennant's long held top spot of being my favorite Doctor, and, I have to say, this episode finally pushed him to the top. Capaldi's an incredibly nuanced actor who plays the role in a way that's tragic and heartbreaking, yet somehow still charming and hilarious. He makes the Doctor feel more alien and more human at the same time, if that's even possible. As other people have mentioned, this episode is really funny but really sad, with a perfect conclusion that connects back to the day the Doctor first met River. A round of applause to the writers, Alex Kingston, and Peter Capaldi. Well done.

I used to think no Christmas Special could ever be better than The Snowmen. Now I'm starting to rethink that idea. Steven Moffatt has once again achieved the perfect balance of laugh-out-loud moments and moments that will leave you ugly-crying. Peter Capaldi and Alex Kingston deliver the beautiful chemistry that I never felt between her and Matt's Doctor. It's never scary, which is absolutely fine, and rarely threatening, which is fine for Christmas, but may convince some that it lacks any plot. They would be wrong. Overall, a masterpiece and a half.

Ding dong merrily on high, a Christmas episode to say goodbye. But before she goes to the shelves of books, a quick reprisal of the men she's hooked.

Beholder of times spoilers with endearing watercraft, the rapids on this river were a great place for our raft, of memories and musings that are flowing back in time, a pleasure to have sailed along with the Doctor at his prime.

At first i was wondering where Moffat was going with this episode because next to Amy/ Rory, River Song is my favorite character. I understand she does not know his new body and is trying to find him in his old body, but as his wife, she should know him no matter what body he is in. I am surprised it was not written that way being everything they went through. As a half human, half time lady, anything is possible and should wonder if he changed since he cannot be found. I did get misty when they finally met again because Alex Kingston does a remarkable job making the scenes tender and memorable for fans. It clicks in her head that he is there because he always comes when she is in trouble. She is a beautiful woman in everything she wears and I was very happy the episode was made. It does not work when Capaldi says hello sweetie. It is all in the delivery and it doesn't work for him. Anyone cannot say it, just like Tennant's allons y.

OK so after last year's Christmas offering I will admit my expectations for this year's were rather high, coupled with the return of Professor River Song I had high hopes. The serious tone of Series 9 was scrapped in favour of a more upbeat, comical outing for Capaldi. Whilst the story itself isn't one that will make you want to put it on frequently, it did have the festive spirit. Commedians Matt Lucas and Greg Davies delivered their lines with good humour, but it was the scenes between Capaldi and Kingston that shone, the last 5-10 minutes or so I thought were fantastically well done, truly moving and beautifully acted, the pair combined beautifully together. The biggest disappointment for me was that there was no mention of the next series, that omission left me a little flat. Overall a great way to enjoy the mice pies and a glass of brandy. 7/10

And not just the best Christmas Special but one the best episodes of Doctor Who episodes of the nearly 60 years of the show now.

While there were so many silly scenes and bad jokes, being a Christmas Special these things are expected and I feel fit in with the one off genre of the year, where it makes the show all the better.

The scenes were all you could expect from doctor who in one episode. From bad jokes, silliness, a little seriousness, sad, sweet and very emotional.

While one of the characters (I think we all know who) is quite annoying and doesn't fit in to the Doctor Who universe as a "companion", once again as a Christmas Special it works, he also does grown on you.....just it takes till half way through the next season. We also get The best companion that fits with more than one Doctor.

This should have been the FINAL episode ever or at least before another hiatus of Doctor Who, as yes while there are still quite a lot of good episodes after this, there is never anymore truly magnificent ones anymore...

...But more importantly this COULD have been the final episode and I don't think any single person could have complained abut it being the last. And if you so desire it gives you the chance to end it here on a re-watch. This episode really was that good.

I never liked River Song much but the relationship between her and Doctor is absolutetly splendid in this episode. Its carefree atmosphere is refreshing after dense 9th season. And Nardole is a great sidekick.

The Husbands of River Song is my favorite Christmas Special Doctor Who episode yet. It's funny, emotional, and beautiful. The acting by Alex Kingston and Peter Capaldi is awesome, and Gold's music is stunning. I love this episode, its 100 times better than Last Christmas. My only criticism is that it was a little to over the top with sexual innuendos. I don't think we need to know about River Song's wife or about what River thinks of the Doctor's new body (overly sexual. a more subtle "how do I look?" would have been much better). A little is fine but this was too much. Also, the beginning was a bit too silly. Capaldi was ace through the whole episode, I loved the "carol singers will be criticized" part. Nods to Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead from series 4 with some music from it too. Overall- awesome, 10/10

I think for the majority of people the most recent season of Doctor Who was not all it could have been – although the reasons are different depending on whom you are speaking to. Part of this is due to the season feeling ill at ease with what it is trying to do – delivering plots that ask for a knowledge of episodes from decades ago, but yet still very much being 'Nu Who'; having darker elements but yet still copping out of them, and so on. It was a season that I found as much to like as I did to dislike and it was rather uneven in its tone and content. So the usual Christmas Special was a worry – particularly since it is always a bit of a dice-roll in terms of quality.

To be fair though, the special is the opposite of the season that had gone before it; not because it was lighter and easier to enjoy (although it was) but simply because it seemed to know precisely what it was doing, how it wanted to do it, and how long it wanted to do it for. The plot is a solid adventure one; it has comedy, danger, some silliness, and it ends on a nice note which doesn't totally overdo the sentiment. Of course the plot is somewhat daft, but this is Doctor Who on Christmas Day, so the important thing is that it has enough about it to support the daftness, the comedy casting, and the Christmas clichés being worked into it. Personally I though it did, and the material kept things moving along with a sense of fun but not being stupid enough that I didn't care.

And this is not to say that I wasn't tested by some of the convenient or silly writing (for instance the robot being defeated by the moneyball which the Doctor happened to have drop into his lap at that second), but it does carry itself with enough energy and fun to more or less forgive it these weaknesses. The performances are a big part of this happening. Capaldi seems to enjoy himself, and his sarcasm and slightly dour edge is nicely used (the scene where he gets to do the 'wow, its bigger on the inside' thing is a lot of fun). Although I am not a great fan of her character all the time, Kingston works with Capaldi very well here, and the two enjoy themselves. Outside of them everyone else is support and does decent jobs – even Lucas was a lot less annoying than I had assumed he would be when he first popped up.

I'm not really sure anymore what I want Doctor Who to 'do' as a show, and the whole modern era seems quite uneven and changeable when you look back over it – so I will not draw any big conclusions or make sweeping statements following this special. That said, although I would not want every episode to be like this, I did enjoy the energy and commitment of this special; it seemed to know what it wanted to do and, although it came with all the usual problems, it mostly sold them and made it work by virtue of being entertaining – which is really good enough some times.

Steven Moffat has done the impossible - he's now made me indifferent about DOCTOR WHO . Season 9 was frustrating and disappointing and with a so called Christmas special following on quickly - perhaps too quickly - after it I wasn't expecting much at all , especially who know who appears in the title

To be fair Moffat knows what type of story he is writing this time . One thing noticeable about season 9 is that the tone of each story seemed to change from scene to scene creating an absolute mess . Here however he does at least know he's writing a light hearted Christmas romp with tongue in cheek characters and situations . Also to be fair the cast realise what type of fantasy adventure they're appearing in and go with the flow . If nothing else at least Capaldi is consistent and River Song is nowhere as irritating as I expected

One truly unfortunate irritation is the incidental music by Murray Gold . It's used to emphasise every single on screen happening and line . Someone makes a gag - the music jumps in to the scene and tells us "Smile . That was a gag" Something vaguely amusing happens - the music jumps in to the scene and says "Smile , that scene was amusing" . One day someone on the production team will open a dictionary and look up the word S-U-B-T-L-E . As it stands once again the DOCTOR WHO Christmas special remains very disposable festive entertainment