Thoughts on River Song pt I

In an attempt to jog my memory about River and maybe pick up anything that makes a little more sense now, I watched Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead last night. It's only the second time I've watched them since I didn't really rate them the first time round; I didn't enjoy them that much this time either, but all in all it fulfilled its purpose in reminding me of our (and the Doctor's) first meeting with River. It also inadvertently hinted at just how long this whole arc has been in the planning, and how insightful Moffat is. The characterisation for Eleven is already so firm and thorough throughout this episode (via River's expectations) that this is arguably the first Eleven encounter.

 

 

( The thing that struck me most was... just how long I managed to whittle on for. )

TEN: No no no what are you doing?! That's my job!

RIVER: What and I'm not allowed to have a career I s'pose?

TEN: Why am I handcuff - why do you even have handcuffs?

RIVER: Spoilers.

TEN: This is not a joke! Stop this now! This is going to kill you! I'd have a chance - you don't have any!

RIVER: You wouldn't have a chance and neither do I!! (pause) I'm timing it for the end of the countdown. There'll be a blip
in the command flow. That way it should improve our chances of a clean download.

TEN: River, please, no!

RIVER: Funny thing is, this means you always known how I was going to die. All the time we've been together, you knew I was coming here. The last time I saw you, the real you, the FUTURE you, I mean, you turned up on my doorstep, with a new haircut and a suit. You took me to Derillium to see the singing towers. (sigh) The towers sang and you cried.

TEN: Let me do this!

RIVER: If you die here it'll mean I've never met you!

TEN: Time can be rewritten!

RIVER: Not those times! Not one lie, don't you dare. It's ok, it's ok. It's not over for you, you'll see me again. You've got all of that to come. You and me. Time and space. You watch us run.

TEN: River, you know my name;

(Auto destruct... ) 

TEN: you whispered my name in my ear.

(Nine... eight... seven...)

TEN: There's only one reason I would ever tell anyone my name;

(Five) 

TEN: there's only one time I could.

(Four)

RIVER: Hush now.

(Three) 

RIVER: Spoilers.

(Two... One...)