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| River Song | |
|---|---|
| Doctor Who character | |
&sq=Albert Einstein&lang=en&file=File:River_Song_Doctor_Who.png) Alex Kingston as River Song | |
| First appearance | "Silence in the Library" (2008) |
| Last appearance | "The Husbands of River Song" (2015) |
| Created by | Steven Moffat |
| Portrayed by | Adult:Baby to young adult:
|
| Duration | 2008, 2010–2013, 2015 |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | Melody Pond, Mels, Melody Malone |
| Species | Human with Time Lord DNA[1][2] |
| Affiliation | |
| Spouse | The Doctor |
| Relatives |
|
River Song is a fictional character created by Steven Moffat and played by Alex Kingston in the British science-fiction series Doctor Who. River Song was introduced to the series as an experienced future companion of series protagonist the Doctor, an alien Time Lord who travels through time in his TARDIS. Because River Song is a time traveller herself, her adventures with the Doctor occur out of synchronisation; their first meeting (from the audience's perspective) is with the Tenth Doctor (played by David Tennant), the Doctor's first and apparently her last. Kingston plays her in 15 episodes, as River becomes a companion, romantic interest and eventual wife of the Doctor in his eleventh incarnation portrayed by Matt Smith. From a production perspective, the Twelfth Doctor (played by Peter Capaldi) is the last incarnation to meet her, spending a 24-year-long night with her, before her first meeting with the Tenth Doctor. From the timeline perspective, the final time River meets with the Doctor, she is a hologram/echo from the library archives; she and the Eleventh Doctor part ways in the episode, "The Name of the Doctor".
River Song was created by Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat for the show's fourth series in 2008, under the tenure of then executive producer Russell T Davies. When Moffat took over Davies' duties as executive producer, he began expanding on the character's background, depicting adventures earlier in River's timeline, upgrading Alex Kingston from a guest star to a recurring actor in the series. Other actresses have subsequently portrayed younger versions of the character.
When the character was first introduced, much about her origins remained a mystery. Following the character's initial appearance, Davies had described her as "one of the most important characters" in the narrative, and "vital" to the Doctor's life.[3] In series six (2011), Moffat's episodes unveil more about the character. It is not until the character's ninth appearance that it is revealed that River was born Melody Pond, the daughter of the eleventh Doctor's companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill), alongside whom Kingston had already appeared six previous times in series five and six of the show. Having been conceived on board the TARDIS as it travelled through the time vortex, Melody was born with genetic traits and abilities similar to those of the Doctor's own race, the Time Lords.
- ^ Steven Moffat (Writer/Executive Producer) (4 July 2011). "A Good Man Goes to War". Doctor Who. Series 6. Episode 7. 31:55 minutes in. BBC One.
Look closer: human plus. Specifically, human plus Time Lord.
- ^ Steven Moffat (Writer/Executive Producer) (27 August 2011). "Let's Kill Hitler". Doctor Who. Series 6. Episode 8. 44:40 minutes in. BBC One.
Apparently you used all your remaining regenerations in one go.
- ^ Russell T Davies, Doctor Who Confidential, Series 4, Episode 9