MovieChat Forums > Doctor Who (2006) Discussion > River Song - yes or no overall?

River Song - yes or no overall?

posted 7 years ago by Otter (24464)
30 replies | jump to latest

Since it's doubtful she's ever coming back, we are free to discuss whether her character was a success or not, from beginning to end.

Personally I loved her, but mostly because she was played by the marvelous Alex Kingston, one of those actors who's SO good that she can single-handedly improve a weak script. And that should have been on her job description when she was hired, because the only genuinely terrific script she was ever given was the first ("Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead").

[–] chilone (18047) 7 years ago

I loved her :)

[–] DarthRoger (867) 7 years ago

River Song was one of the best supporting characters ever introduced into the Doctor Who series. We went to a Con two years ago and I went as Matt Smith Doctor Who, while my lady friend went as the ONLY character she's ever dressed up as for these events, River Song.

[–] captkirk42 (51) 7 years ago

Yes Please.

[–] lennonforever (2453) 6 years ago

I loved her, and WHY wasn't SHE chosen for the new doctor?

[–] dt123 (704) 6 years ago

That would’ve been a genius move.

[–] lennonforever (2453) 6 years ago

Indeed, and it seemed to be an implication with Matt's Doctor, right? I didn't make it up did I?

[–] dt123 (704) 6 years ago

Hmm.. If it was implied, I missed it. Would love to hear what and when. She's just so awesome, and they def already set up, with Peter Capaldi, that The Doctor could have the face of someone we've seen in the past. She could LOOK like River Song, but not BE River Song.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

And at the end of "Day of the Doctor", it's reinforced that the Doctor could pick his face. And if you had a choice, wouldn't you want to be the 4th Doctor?

Still, I'm against casting the brilliant and delicious Alex Kingston as the Doctor, I'd rather have her come back as River again and again and again! Pair her with each Doctor and let them spark off each other, and I'm sure she wouldn't have a problem with the 13th.

[–] dt123 (704) 6 years ago

Yeah, that's what I meant by they'd already had precedence for using her face. Might be cool to see Kingston BE the Doctor. I mean, cmon, it's an even more delicious role. She'd make it one!

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

She makes every role she plays delicious!

But she's not the Doctor, she's River Song, my favorite all-time passenger on the TARDIS, someone I like more than many of the actual Doctors. Don't be silly.

Edit: Also, I wanted to point out that although Kingston can certainly play the Doctor's intelligence and authority, she's far, far too sexy to play a Time Lord. They're not like us that way.

[–] dt123 (704) 6 years ago

I dunno - Peter Capaldi and David Tennant were SUPER hot.

And they basically killed off her character - sure they could finagle it somehow, time-wise, and I certainly want her back (I want Kingston back in any shape or form she sees fit), but it would be do-able, because, after all, everything in DW world is do-able.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

Sure, they can finagle the timeline, they never stuck to the idea that they had backwards timelines anyway. The WWII episode and Astronaut episodes had the Doctor meeting River very early in her life, rather than continuing to meet in reverse order like they typically do.

Well whatever they think up, I'm all for bringing back Alex Kingston as often as possible, even if it's to play River's great-granddaughter or some random woman who just happens to have a bit of a resemblance.

[–] dt123 (704) 6 years ago

Otter - yup! Just bring her back!

[–] lennonforever (2453) 6 years ago

I did not / could not watch Capaldi. I didn't tune in to even one episode. I dislike the look of him.

[–] dt123 (704) 6 years ago

OMG - I couldn't take my eyes off of him. Too bad you didn't give him a chance.

He's in my top 3 - Capaldi, Tennant, and Matt Smith, sometimes in that order. Capaldi was super funny, too. Course he was The Doctor. The Doctor's always funny.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

I adore him! I love looking at him! He's definitely in my top five Doctors, if not the top three!

Tastes vary.

[–] lennonforever (2453) 6 years ago

I don't remember which ep it was. I distinctly remember SOMETHING was said. Maybe it was in The Library?!

She is soooo good, and yes, she is/was a wonderful passenger. She held her own with The Doctor.

[–] peter_t_2k3 (1053) 6 years ago

Yes and no. Alex Kingston made the character and couldn't imagine her played by anyone else. I liked the way their timelines weren't in order. Made for some interesting stuff.

However at times i felt like Moffat was chopping and changing stuff when it suited him. I suppose that's the problem with a character like river and not being able to plan everything out.

I always presumed river was going to return. Chronologically the last time we saw her was name of the doctor as a virtual version from the library but she ends.with spoilers. However I do think the characters had her natural end and so probably should be left alone. Did enjoy the chemistry with 12 though

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Great character, great actress. I just wish we'd had more of River and less Pond.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

NO!

River and Pond were awesome!

More River and Pond and less Clara would have been perfect (Nothing against the actress, she's a fine Queen Liz the second).

More Bill too, she was a lot of refreshing fun after Clara.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Yes
Pond was an annoying ginger, not fit to lick Clara's boots.

Bill grew on me...but I felt she was forced upon me.
"We will have a black lesbian assistant and she will have a tragic storyline so you will like her...mkay?"

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Amy was a strong woman who had yet to figure out who she was.

And don't forget Rory!

And they were River's parents!!

Clara started off well enough but got far too uppity as time went along.

And that's the entire state of affairs as history will remember it Dazed - no screwing around!

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Hey Rory is a different kettle of fish custard!
Rory is cool, witty, humble and brave.
Pond doesn't deserve him.
I know they were River's parents, that was clever I admit it!

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I think Amy is the best written companion the Doctor has yet had (Oo'er missus!).

Rory is his own thing but he seems to think Amy is a bit of awight worth spending millenia protecting.

I can't hate Rory even if I tried.

Do you think Whitaker's Doctor will bump into River in any way?

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

She wasn't that nice to him, in fact sometimes she was mean (me-Ann as my granddaughter says it) to him and seemed to love Matt Smith more-er.

I think it would be interesting if they did meet, would River still love the doctor THAT way etc? Oh come on, we're all thinking it.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I think River wouldn't have an issue having a woman Doctor but I think the Doctor might keep themselves to themselves and contain that story by way of sacrificing their feelings and the potential for hurt for either (Or both) of them.

But I've no idea what this Doctor is like yet, could be a Colin Baker all over again and is a dick.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

To be honest I've almost lost interest completely, so long have we waited.

It could be worse, she could be Sylvester McCoy.

Like the fourth Star Trek, (Kelvin timeline) maybe it is time to say enough.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Perhaps, but I'm all for seeing a woman Doctor for a bit - could be fun if done right.

[–] chilone (18047) 6 years ago

The way it's written these days, River's ideal match would have to be a transgender, black, Asian, Hispanic mix, handicapped, atheist, drug addicted, socialist pedophile.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 6 years ago

Overall? Nope.
At times yes but no thanks.

Agreed on the notion that Clara started great but went bad by the very next season.