Doctor Who: Ranking The Christmas Specials

The Husbands Of River Song is essentially an intergalactic romcom. This episode gave us something we never really anticipated - a chance to see Peter Capaldi and Alex Kingston on screen together. Something else we could never have anticipated is just how perfect a pairing they would be, with River having even better chemistry with Twelve than she did Eleven. For many this was the first time that it was clear that The Doctor really did love River.

Yes, the plot of the episode is silly, and Greg Davies' King Hydroflax is about as goofy as it gets, but they're just the backdrop to the main attraction: River's final adventure (and her overdue promotion to top-of-the-bill listing). This episode ties a perfect bow in River's wibbly wobbly arc, resolving all the loose ends we never thought we'd get answers for (at least outside of DVD extras) and giving context to lines written seven years prior for Silence In The Library / Forest Of The Dead, River's first appearance.

We learn exactly what happened the night The Doctor took her to The Singing Towers Of Darilium, and how she came to possess a sonic screwdriver, and the way in which this story is crafted makes it feel like this was the plan since her first appearance (despite the fact it clearly wasn't).

The Husbands Of River Song spends a chunk of its plot meandering about, just allowing our two protagonists to bounce off each other, but its not until the final act that this story really strikes pure gold. Everything from River's outpouring and Twelve's "Hello sweetie" onwards is pure wholesome goodness, as The Doctor uses his TARDIS to get a fancy restaurant built just so he can take River out on a date.

Best of all, in her last ever moments on the show, River finally gets her happily ever after (in a sense) with The Doctor. Even for those who don't enjoy the Doctor as a romantic, it can't be denied that with River, and especially in this story, it just works.