But always when you need it the most… there is a Song
There's something about Twelve’s line, “When you least expect it, but always when you need it the most… there is a song,” that scratches an itch in my brain. ⚠️ Long read ahead.
No, really think about it. River's existence in Nine's era is metamorphic. Fresh from the Time War, Nine is canonically aro/ace, aggressively defying the notion when he learns that River could be (is/was) his future wife.
Whether the Nine x River Big Finish audiobooks happen pre-Rose or during her time, I like to believe that he subconsciously starts believing he can love again because River shows him how. River shows him that he can love again, that things will eventually get better for him.
He’s the only Doctor that reads her diary, for God's sake. Nine x River will always be my favorite #DoctorRiver dynamic—a relationship of equals not because it's preordained, but because they are simply them.
They grow old together, taking things slow, and despite comments about their relationship being completely queer platonic, there's something about loving someone so divine that you imprint an entire archipelago when their entire interaction was erased in existence.
River in Ten’s era is about overcoming grief—the start of River’s ‘lover’ era, might I add.
After "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead" (which could be a separate essay), the next time Ten interacts with River is through a series of correspondence—aka love letters—right after Donna leaves.
Ten is full of angst, he’s grieving, and River's letters give him all the distraction he needs to overcome Donna’s absence, become the Doctor again, and save billions of lives.
I also love how gentle and smitten they both become after a few adventures/letters. Ten grows so concerned about River being in prison that he even offers to help her escape. Plus, they have a designated table at a café they're regulars at!
This is also where their good banter begins—Ten initially disapproves of all of River's naughtiness but eventually accepts it. Dude is so in love he overlooks genocide so River can make some money (allegedly). He even makes River jealous by hanging out with Jane Austen just because he’s sulking over River stealing the Scroll of the Apocalypse Vault.
Can you feel my obsession when I tell you he starts off avoiding fixed points in time but evolves to doing it nonchalantly in Eleven's era? River’s influence is immaculate!
I’m not done yet, because in Precious Annihilation, Ten is literally River’s servant. Imagine the Doctor waiting for River to get dressed, annoyed by how long she’s taking, only to drool when he sees how beautiful she is.
Teasing her, protecting her, writing love poems about her, and literally screaming when she’s hurt—Ten x River is a slow burn, and oh, what a sweet era that is.
It devastates me that the call for help in the Library IS meant for Ten's face—older and more affectionate. In the Day of the Doctor novelization, right after they took a bath together, Ten gives River a peck on the cheek. He then spends an hour sitting on the TARDIS floor, resisting the brandy in the cabinet when he finds out River’s current mission is for Lux.
I need more Ten x River content please.
River in Eleven’s era? Need I say more? The Boyfriend.
I want to start off by saying that Eleven being 'childish' kind of makes sense, given that he knows this is his last regeneration. I’ll keep this brief because their on-screen adventures, though not enough, speak for their chemistry.
River saves Eleven’s Doctor in so many ways and at so many times. I know the show plays it as if the Doctor always rescues her, but I think Eleven’s adventures with River are mostly for his benefit.
River x Eleven is all about squaring up misunderstandings, hate, stubbornness, and pain their younger selves gave each other.
I’m ignoring the portrayal of River's emotional impermanence in The Husbands of River Song (even though I know it’s for the plot and buildup) because I genuinely believe their dynamic is healing.
The notion that they go on dates every night and the Doctor initiates a kiss every time she drops him off? You can’t convince me otherwise that Eleven is a bad husband.
River even mentions in the R+J audio that they got married several times other than the forced one in The Wedding of River Song. Even though the wedding was unnecessary, they did it anyway because they wanted to!
Also, let’s not forget The Angels Take Manhattan, especially when the Doctor gives his LAST regeneration energy to heal River’s wrist. I love them, I love them, I love them!
And of course, the actual husband: River in Twelve’s era.
They accidentally meet right after the Doctor loses Clara—when there’s an unspeakable hole gaping in the Doctor’s heart, when he thinks he can no longer smile or laugh again. There is a Song.
I also love how River is so smitten, even though she doesn’t know this is her Doctor yet. Twelve's jealousy and his correction of the mistake of saving Clara show that he can't do that to River—not to her. Then there’s the Doctor’s misconception that River wouldn’t understand, honoring her plead in Forest of the Dead: “Not those times. Not one line, don’t you dare.”
Twelve x River is domestic bliss. Their dynamic is finally about expressing their feelings toward one another—living their life to the fullest. (Except for River’s death, of course.) No longer chained by spoilers, they have 24 years of linear time.
River was always there in the most important moments of the Doctor and them to hers. In those what seems like trivial moments where all hope is lost, they always find their way back to each other.
And I think that's what makes their relationship more tragic, because even tho both spend an eternity together, they always seem to be stealing moments just to be with each other.
Thank you for tolerating my yap, I'd like to write more but it's literally 4am and I haven't slept yet. xoxo
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