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The Husbands of River Song – Doctor Who

Play trailer Poster for The Husbands of River Song – Doctor Who Dec 2015 Holiday Sci-Fi Fantasy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
While hiding from Christmas festivities on a remote human colony, the Doctor is recruited to help River Song.
Doctor Who — The Husbands of River Song

What to Know

Critics Consensus

With "The Husbands of River Song," Doctor Who delivers a Christmas special that perfectly balances silliness and heart.

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Critics Reviews

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Ross Ruediger New York Magazine/Vulture 11/09/2018
4/5
The entire affair felt a delightfully fun romp with some lovely emotional resonance in the third act. It's Christmas. It's Doctor Who. What more do you need? Go to Full Review Mary McNamara Los Angeles Times 12/30/2015
If "The Husbands of River Song" is less Christmasy than most of the previous specials, it is a splendid gift to fans nonetheless. Go to Full Review Alasdair Wilkins AV Club 12/28/2015
B
"The Husbands Of River Song" ends up being fun, even when it's flawed, because even its clunkiest music cues can't overwhelm Peter Capaldi's performance. Go to Full Review Emmet Asher-Perrin Reactor 01/08/2019
This story is pure sentimentality, and I mean that as a compliment. It's about who we love and how we love them and why we need people and when. Go to Full Review Kathleen Wiedel TV Fanatic 11/12/2018
4/5
Really, though, the strength in this episode was in the interplay between Peter Capaldi and Alex Kingston. Go to Full Review Tom Fitzgerald and Lorenzo Marquez Tom & Lorenzo 06/19/2018
Additionally, in one fell swoop, that final scene gave the viewers something we honestly never thought we'd see or even thought we should ask for: a true marriage between the Doctor and River. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Emi M @anxiouswholockian Jan 31 High key just made me think about "The Silence in The Library" the whole time, bittersweet episode. See more Alfie J @RT05741825 04/12/2025 My favourite doctor who Christmas special and one of the best episodes in the whole show! See more James M @RT53838474 02/13/2025 Good send off for river song and great chemistry between 12 and river song See more JinzoCrash @JinzoCrash 12/06/2023 Wasn't the greatest fan of the River Song arc during Matt Smith's run, but you cared about her enough to know this was a beautiful closure to her story. See more Erik J @RT00731977 11/28/2023 Just possibly my least favorite DW Christmas Special up to this point in the series. However, it is still superior to the dreck since 2017. RIP, Doctor Who (1963-2017) See more Kalissa H @kali_416 07/28/2023 This is one of my favorite holiday specials. It is a perfect close to River Song's story. The usually grumpy 12 is happy and it draws all the parallels from when he first meet River Song. See more Read all reviews
Doctor Who — The Husbands of River Song

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Cast & Crew

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Peter Capaldi

The Doctor

Alex Kingston

River Song

Matt Lucas

Nardole

Greg Davies

King Hydroflax

Phillip Rhys Chaudhary

Ramone

Rowan Polonski

Flemming

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Doctor Who — The Husbands of River Song

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Season Info

Synopsis While hiding from Christmas festivities on a remote human colony, the Doctor is recruited to help River Song.
Executive Producer
Steven Moffat
Screenwriter
Richard Curtis, Chris Chibnall, Toby Whithouse, Mark Gatiss, Simon Nye, Steven Moffat
Network
BBC
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Holiday, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Dec 25, 2015