Alex Kingston
Recently this article came to my attention from Pink News. After reading it, we find that Alex Kingston has spoken to Jodie Whittaker about reprising her role as River Song. Well, this is something which will bring some interest. The idea can be a good one, but how do you line it up with what has already happened.
Kingston says there are opportunities down the road. Of course, not knowing what is going on, one must ask the question of what does she mean? Kingston says she loves the character as do many Doctor Who fans. Many of whom did not like that Song had to leave the show. The love fans have for Song makes it a good idea, but the logistics are a different story. As Ricky Ricardo used to say, “Lucy, you got some splaining to do,”
The idea is one with merit, but where some fans may or may not like it. Well, you may ask the question what do you mean by that?” All, anyone has to do is look back at the gender change and the confusion that brought. Yeah, I know it is not the same right. Well, Song’s timeline is confusing as well. Because she ultimately dies in the Doctor’s past in the Silence in the LIbrary/ Forrest of the Dead (2008).(1) Then appears as a ghost in The Name of the Doctor (2013). (2) So, this does not mean it is impossible but difficult. (3)
It is a great idea, and many fans will be happy to see it. But there is work to be done for it to happen. Not saying it will, but Chris Chibnall will have his work cut out. There is so much to explain and how do you work her into present stories. It is better he and his team work this out. Then if he does work it out, does Doctor Who benefits from it?
(1,2) https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/02/21/alex-kingston-hints-return-doctor-who-romance-jodie-whittaker/
(3)https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a855886/doctor-who-timeline-river-song-chronology-episodes-alex-kingston/
2 comments
A first question for the writers (& fans) is, was “saving” River Song in the Library a fixed point in time? That’s supposed to be an unbreakable restriction on changing the time line. A second, larger question is, how important is it to the writers (& fans) to be true to the canon of the Doctor Who story line? Obviously the writers have done and can do what they like, with impunity. E.g., they elbowed the limitation on the number of regenerations from 12 to… who knows how many. (Of course the whole idea of regeneration was a “brilliant” way to adapt to actor contracts / decisions and other reasons for the Doctor to change.) I’ve wracked my memory for an Explicit Explanation of this exception – from 12 to… – in the last 2 series but I’ve drawn a blank. (DVDs of the later series are outside my budget so a little help from other members on this point would be appreciated.) Will the writers (or have they done already) contradict and toy with the canon – again? And if they do sacrifice it, will we fans just shrug our shoulders – again – in the interest of perpetuating the story and postponing its inevitable (*gasp*) end? Maybe the Doctor could pop off into the future and let us know.
View CommentI thought it was sad that River didn’t know the older Doctor. Or like the older guy, or wasn’t drawn to “Sweetie” as an older man.
Or how would she react to a female Doctor??
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