TELEVISION

On How River Song Got My Heart

Do I fancy her, or do I want to be like her?

It all started because I loved to watch reruns of Stargate SG-1. I’ll admit that I started watching only because I was stanning Richard Dean Anderson, but I kept on enjoying SG-1 crazy adventures even after he left the show.

I would see ads for a wacky show called Doctor Who during the commercial breaks. I had heard of it before but had honestly never given it a try. In any case, I thought it looked quite ridiculous: robot aliens that screamed, “Exterminate,” a silly man wearing a bow tie, and a strange blue phone box.

On occasion, I would also catch fragments of the show. Turns out, there was this man called The Doctor, who wasn’t a medical doctor and didn’t actually have a name that most people knew of. Plus, he traveled through time and space in the above-mentioned blue box, which, by the way, was way bigger on the inside.

Suddenly, I was watching whole episodes and soon understood this wasn’t just a show: it was a phenomenon, and there was plenty to enjoy.

He was my first Doctor.

If any fans of the show are reading this right now, they have probably guessed Matt Smith was my first doctor. With his perfect cheeks and even cheekier attitude, his performance won me over with his charisma and bravery.

Oh, by the way, for the uninitiated, you should know there have been 13 different Doctors so far, played by an equal number of actors — John Hurt’s fans are probably screaming “14 Doctors!” right now, and I agree.

From William Hartnell’s First Doctor to Tom Baker, David Tennant, Peter Capaldi, and, nowadays, Jodie Whittaker — the first-ever female Doctor — stepping into the Doctor’s shoes has become not only an honor but a responsibility.

However, even though the Doctor is obviously at the hearts of the show, equally important are his companions. Usually, they are human and have British accents. And, from time to time, we get something extraordinary.

And then, there was River Song.

Due to unreliable programming, my Doctor Who experiences have been that of a time traveler. Sometimes I get to watch old episodes; then, I jump to what I can glimpse of the 13th Doctor since, at the moment, there isn’t an official platform to get access to Doctor Who in my country, Mexico.

But all those years ago, when I was just getting acquainted with the show, even if it was in disarray, there was a factor that helped speed up the process way more than Matt Smith’s perfect cheeks ever could.

And that factor was River Song.

Hello, sweetie!

There I was, watching Doctor Who episodes in no particular order when I caught one that took place in a museum. The Ponds were running around; there were many Daleks, and, battling one of them, was no other than a woman called River Song.

Of course, I had caught glimpses of her before but still wasn’t sure of who she was or how relevant she was to the Doctor Who storyline. Hardcore fans, please, forgive my ignorance; I was still learning.

I watched how she aimed her weapon at one of the most dangerous creatures in the Whovian Universe. At first, the Dalek mocked her. After all, as an associate of the Doctor, records showed it was more than likely she would show compassion. It was then that she mercilessly proceeded to destroy the Dalek, but before that, she took the time to utter this instantly iconic line:

“I’m River Song. Check your records again.”

My mind immediately went, “Hello, sweetie!” Who was this awesome woman full of confidence and sex appeal, kicking ass as if there were no tomorrow? At that moment, the deal was sealed for me. Yes, I came for the aliens, the kind, witty man with the two hearts, and the charismatic Pond couple. But I stayed for River.

One of a Kind

As I kept on watching the show — yes, still in disorder — I learned more and more about her. Her origins, chaotic time traveling, bravery, murderous tendencies, and how, in true Doctor Who fashion, she died before she was born. Oh, River!

There’s just something appealing about her. She goes wherever she wants, and despite being sort of a baddie, she also carries enormous kindness in her heart. She is not afraid to love, but it doesn’t mean she won’t stand up for herself. She knows how to kick ass and, even when defeated, keeps looking for the chance to fight back.

I’m honestly unsure of my feelings for her. Do I fancy her, or do I want to be like her?

And yet, there is a tragic twist to her story. From the very beginning, we know what will become of her. Still, as with most time travelers, this doesn’t mean we’ll never see her again. She might keep popping up when we least expect it, and, unsurprisingly, when she sees us, she will happily say, “Hello, sweetie!”

Hello, indeed…