When it comes to characters that Doctor Who fans think should come back every time we get a new Doctor, River Song’s high up on the list. After all, Alex Kingston’s played the Doctor’s time-traveling archaeologist wife on-and-off since 2008. The last time we saw her was in 2015’s Christmas special opposite Peter Capaldi – River’s only on-screen meeting with the Twelfth Doctor – and the story wrapped up her arc pretty well. That being said, there’s always room for more of the fan favorite.
With that in mind, could Kingston return again opposite Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor? Well, the two actresses met at San Diego Comic Con last summer and it turns out that they talked about a River-Thirteen reunion possibly happening. Kingston recalled the encounter while speaking with RadioTimes.com and explained that she thinks there are “wonderful potential opportunities” for her to reappear.
“I did meet her. We chatted about me coming back to Doctor Who. I love the character, and I think that, my gosh, there are wonderful potential opportunities down the road. But it’s not my decision.”
Of course, the big question surrounding River’s possible return is what she’d make of her husband regenerating into a woman. Kingston said that she doesn’t think this would cause any hiccup in their relationship, as River’s used to her beau changing faces as she sees the “same spirit” in each of the various Doctors.
“The fact is, because they’re all the same person ultimately, I don’t think she would think of her any differently to any of the others in a way. Because they’re the same spirit inside. It’s just a different, deep love.”
As Kingston says, there’s potential for more of River, but it feels like the character’s been retired from the TV series, after her creator Steven Moffat brought her story full circle in 2015’s “The Husbands of River Song,” which depicted the fabled final meeting between the Doctor and his wife before she dies in “Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead,” which was conversely Kingston’s first appearance in the show. Wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey.
Even if we’re right about this, though, the actress regularly voices the character on audio for Big Finish’s The Diary of River Song spinoff series, which has seen River team-up with every Doctor from the Fourth to the Eighth. Or maybe showrunner Chris Chibnall has some hidden plans but we’re not meant to know them yet. Spoilers, sweetie.
In any case, we’ll find out when Doctor Who season 12 airs in very early 2020.
