No one is over the exit of Clara yet, but if anything can ease the pain of her farewell it is the return of River Song in Doctor Who. Doctor Who's annual Christmas special is titled "The Husbands of River Song" — yes, husbands plural — and thanks to two new trailers, you can finally get a closer look at River's return. According to the official synopsis of the episode, "It’s Christmas Day on a remote human colony and the Doctor is hiding from Christmas Carols and Comedy Antlers. But when a crashed spaceship calls upon the Doctor for help, he finds himself recruited into River Song’s squad." Curiously, the synopsis also notes that River doesn't immediately know who the Doctor is and the Doctor is trying to avoid a certain destination.
It is all very curious indeed, but the teasers do a good job at hinting at what's ahead. This is the first time Alex Kingston and Peter Capaldi are getting to show off their chemistry as River and the Doctor, so there is a definite fun factor built in. There's also hints of more tragedy to come too, because it just wouldn't be Doctor Who if you didn't end up weeping by the end.
The moments below seem to hold a few answers — and completely dazzle because as always, River is a boss.
River Has A New Husband
The reason behind the plural use of the word "husband" becomes clear early on in the teaser: River is married to a head with an insane robot suit. In true River fashion, things are clearly not as simple as they first appear.
River Doesn't Recognize The Doctor
For once, the Doctor is ahead of River, because she doesn't recognize him at all in the trailer. This is obviously the first — and possibly only — time she meets the Doctor's 12th incarnation.
The New Husband Is All Kinds Of Scary
For a head, River's new beau certainly can be intimidating. I blame his robot suit, which would make even Tony Stark envious — and he has a Hulkbuster.
The Doctor Wears Antlers
"Is there anything on my head?" Never change, Doctor.
River And The Doctor Hand-Holding
It's been way too long since the Doctor and River had an adventure. Seeing them running for their lives and holding hands with River in the lead does my shipper heart good.
River Has A Sonic Trowel
The Doctor may think River's sonic trowel "sounds ridiculous," but I think it is one more sign of her ingenuity.
River May Have Married A Guy For His Head
River maybe definitely married her latest husband to get her hands on his head. Since he appears to be terrorizing people with his robot body, it makes sense River would want to dispatch his head and stop him from wreaking havoc.
The Doctor And River Are Still Absolutely Adorable
Across time and space and multiple incarnations, River and the Doctor just cannot contain their adorableness. Just try not to get a case of feelings when you see the Doctor laughing in the snow while River scolds him.
This Might Be The Doctor And River's Final Goodbye
While there is technically a DVD-only special which hints that The Doctor and River's final meeting occurred when he was still 11, timey-wimeyness tends to make these things unclear. On the show, River and the Doctor's visit to Darillium to see the singing towers hasn't taken place onscreen. According to River, the Doctor is supposed to show up on her doorstep with a new haircut and a new suit. Since the synopsis reveals the Doctor is headed toward a destination he has long been avoiding, and he is looking quite spiffy staring out at something with River by his side, this could be their final goodbye. Everyone should prepare for tears just in case.
"The Husbands of River Song" airs Christmas night on BBC America.
Image: BBC Pictures/Simon Ridgway; BBC/YouTube (9)
