River Song (Alex Kingston) returns for the latest Doctor Who Christmas special in a story than connects to the events of "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead" (her character's first appearance) with what is likely the character's final appearance on the show. The set-up of River having not yet met the The Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi) allows "The Husbands of River Song" to use a running gag of allowing the pair to travel together without River knowing the identity of the man she's mistaken for a surgeon whose help she needs to remove a diamond from the head of her cyborg husband (Greg Davies). Allowing The Doctor to see his wife in an entirely new light, the episode stretches the gag well past its breaking point but does allow for an enjoyable payoff before all is said and done.
An entirely new episode proves to be a nice change of pace against the last few Christmas specials which have delved into classic holiday and children's stories for the main plot points. After the craziness with River's husbands (not counting The Doctor there are two in this episode), "The Husbands of River Song" delivers on the Time Lord and River enjoying the Singing Towers of Darillium (the previously discussed final night before River's journey to the Library). Despite some concerns about Kingston reprising her role one more time, the episode gives her arc a little added closure. And, given that we now know she hasn't seen any future versions of The Doctor, this likely marks the end of the longest-running non-companion recurring character of the new Doctor Who. Farewell Professor Song.
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