Doctor Who: Every Christmas Special Ranked From Worst To Best
4. The Husbands Of River Song
Tinsel Factor: 3
Star Quality: 4
Laughter Lines: 11
Thrill Meter: 10
Christmas Spirit: 7
Soapy Spoilers: 7
Total Score: 42
After the Twelfth Doctor’s first series during which he spent much of the time pondering whether or not he was a good man, and generally being quite unpleasant, we were promised a different tone for series nine – a golden age where Clara and the Doctor are having the time of their lives. It didn’t quite pan out that way as once again the series ended on a dark note, with Clara’s death and the Doctor’s memory wipe.
Thankfully, that high octane, carefree style of adventure, finally came last Christmas and the Twelfth Doctor, paired up with River Song, is clearly loving it. Even the horrific sight of heads splitting open was played for laughs.
The Doctor hasn’t exactly undergone a personality transplant - he’s still cynical and moody. But even that side of him is given comic effect with the Doctor chastising the TARDIS for giving him antlers in an attempt to cheer him up, and expressing his disdain for carol singers.
Capaldi and Alex Kingston work brilliantly together from the extended comedy of River’s inability to recognise the Doctor, to the bittersweet final scene of the pair enjoying their last (extended) night together at the Singing Towers.
Sadly, judging from the ratings, the effort to bring back lost viewers by returning to an unresolved plot point from the pre-Clara days, was a gamble that didn’t quite pay off.