Who is River Song? REVEALED | A Good Man Goes to War | Doctor Who

[@ethandalton6480]

"Amy, you have to stay calm" *Amy picks up a gun*

[@BritishCommentWriter]

Amy is such a goddamn moron. What are you going to do, you daffy cow? Shoot the one person who can help you get home and has the answers you want?

[@Peter_S.Woldrich]

So scottish xD

[@digifreak90]

To quote Amy from a later episode. "Someone's never been to Scotland."

[@jordanjamesarmstrong]

Amy points gun at her daughter

[@DravenGal]

To River, that is staying calm. She didn't even blink. (Which is good, because don't do that...don't blink.)

[@Jackie-McCann]

That awkward moment when you discover that your best friends are your in-laws...

[@CavalierePrinciPessaAmore]

And they approve of the match lol

[@kalakritistudios]

"Hey Sweetie! Uncle Doctor has come here to talk to you." "No Mommy!"(Runs away)

[@sighmon5640]

also, that awkward moment when you realize that your daughter and her husband are older than you

[@WitchRaccoon]

that awkward moment when you realise your mother-in-law tried to sleep with you

[@kalakritistudios]

I Am Melon Lord Her other mother in law kissed him once too. Rose's mom. When the ghosts were beginning to appear.

[@redraven24]

The moment when she says, "The they don't have a word for 'pond'. The only water in the forest is the river." Man, I get chills every time she says it. The Doctor's lightbulb moment is priceless though...especially the 'oh, but we *smoochy sound*." Best moment lol

[@gohanmoreno7]

+redraven24 The last thing Sexy said to Rory was ''The only water in the forest is the river'' and he didnt understand in that moment what it means...

[@SelenaMulan]

I got it when she touched the cradle

[@boringperson-zb8vy]

I just realised that River Song is actually completely linked to Melodie Pond. River = Pond, Melodie (Melody) = Song.

[@SelenaMulan]

I know! I got it when; she was says about the bassinet

[@giselemercer]

Same :)

[@TemporalCommander]

"You named your daughter... After your daughter..."

[@fireofdawn3515]

One of the best lines

[@tijn0770]

The bootstrap paradox

[@SilverNightWolf]

Welcome to the Doctor Who fandom. Please enjoy your stay.

[@oninaru]

@@SilverNightWolf We have some fish fingers and custard but no pears.

[@thespidercrafter8547]

@@oninaru and Jelly babies don't forget the Jelly babies

[@arielfetters5662]

I love the fact River didn't rage at him or judge him. She just pointed out the consequences of his actions and reminded him he was better than that. Then when he realizes who she is and acts like a love-addled teenager it's insanely adorable lol.

[@Gayredheadbitch94]

River is his soulmate and his wife, she's literally known him her whole life. they are OTP goals

[@aceproffitt8315]

3 years and 1.5k likes yet no replies?! Lemme fix that really quick. I love that too!

[@kennethscharnhorst7093]

he gets so excited when he finds out he is related to his best friends

[@pokewiz9436]

​@Gayredheadbitch94 ngl i have nk idea lf the full context but just based off what im getting from these clips and comments their relationship seems kinda gross/creepy

[@Blazieth]

@@pokewiz9436 Maybe a little, if you think about it, but it's not the Doctor's fault. It was the Silence's fault, they raised her to be a psychotic assassin to kill him - instead, she fell in love with him. Meanwhile, when the Doctor first met her, she had known him for ages - it was literally the adventure in which she died. They're both time travellers, so they meet in the wrong order. One's second encounter with the other might be the other one's 23rd meetup with the first fellow, so the second one has to tread carefully to not spoil the first guy's future. Meanwhile, the first person is still trying to figure out who this person is, and why they seem to care so much about him. Then as they see more and more of this mystery person, they understand and learn more and more about them, but also keep running into younger and younger versions of them, until suddenly the situation is reversed. The first guy knows the other person incredibly well, but the other person has only ever met him once or twice. But once in a while, you get the rare meetup where both are very experienced with the other, and they can tell, and the love becomes real. Like this moment, where the Doctor finally learns the truth about who he is, and turns into a flustered schoolboy, and River just thinks he's adorable... or later on, in a certain episode in Capaldi's era.

[@TheLastLoneWolf]

Probably one of the best plot twists during Matt Smith's time. Not to mention Matt's reaction was just absolutely perfect throughout the entire thing.

[@rkah6187]

Really? I actually thought it was pretty obvious from the beginning. Though I first saw River with Amy in the "The Time of Angels", so I wasn't influenced by the library episode.

[@tornadotaylor8956]

i realised a bit earlier when the soldier said the only water in the forest is the river.

[@DrWatson4]

I know just the noise he makes before he leaves is great

[@iusethisnameformygoogleacc1013]

tbh, when I saw it I just broke out laughing, and actually stopped watching the show for years.

[@nightgagebp1224]

The best thing was that river was the only person to know the twist when the scene was shot

[@TheBrokenMadMan]

The moment Amy and Rory realise they now have the most dysfunctional family in the universe

[@14imke]

idk man, have you heard of the show Once Upon A Time?

[@jessk9523]

14imke That family tree puts every other family tree to shame.

[@zachbragg1287]

have you watched family guy yet? Amy and Rory have the most functional family compared to them.

[@Deathlygunn]

Does Big Boss and Les Enfants Terribles count as a dysfunctional family? I'm presuming you know what I'm talking about based on your profile picture :)

[@TheBrokenMadMan]

Deathlygunn Yeah, but I would say "Girl forced to wait 14 years for an alien to take her time travelling, a man who spent 2000 years as living plastic watching over his love, a lady psycho born to kill a time travelling alien and a time travelling alien with a bow tie" trumps them.

[@The99forever]

And that huge chunk of beautifully delivered dialogue is why Alex Kingston was a wonderful choice to play River. Very few actors out there who could deliver like that...

[@zulaldiler4756]

agreeeeeee

[@AndyStarzs1]

Zülal Diler And until this scene. Alex Kingston was the only one aware who River really was.!

[@sheilabrowning358]

Fabulous - all of it !!!!!

[@researchzoz5366]

mashallah tbark allah alhamdulillah inshallah better astaghfirullah

[@AnglicanFish]

@@researchzoz5366 you got something in your throat

[@wazopaio]

I still can't wrap my head around the fact that we got to see River's life in reverse as the Doctor's went forwards. Her death was in David Tennant's run and her birth came in Matt Smith's run.

[@luke8801]

And her final living years came in Peter Capaldi’s run

[@TheTrueTyrannosaurusRex]

​@@luke8801 Time traveler's bane, an order to their life's events.

[@weswheel4834]

It was a shame that they didn't quite stick to it imho. As Luke said, after the front-to-back bit, we then got a bit more in Capaldi's time.

[@Dark_Ronius]

​@@weswheel4834I dunno, I wouldn't change that last episode for anything.

[@LexTan]

I'm guessing Neil Gaiman and Steven Moffatt saw "The Last Five Years" and said, "How do we make this Wibbly-Wobbly Timey-Wimey?"

[@michaelreid322]

Jesus. Alex Kingston's acting in this scene - I still get teary-eyed.

[@inkbery4473]

+Michael Reid AND SHE'S COMING BACK YESSSSSSS! 7 days to go! :D

[@GeminiRosche]

I'm from the future, the episode was so awesome.

[@HarrySinglehurst]

I'm from the past, easy on the spoilers ;)

[@janemorriss4548]

Same

[@maxipereyra7372]

She's amazing! On of the Best characters in the show.

[@leekelly4189]

What astounds me is that River says to Rory at the beginning of this episode, "It's my birthday." It still didn't click in my mind who she was until she actually announced, "I'm Melody." The question 'Doctor who' was not the only thing "hidden in plain sight." Brilliant!

[@Lillypop93]

Ive watched that episode 5 times and it never clicked until I read your comment 🤦🤦

[@TomalakGeretkal]

oh....!

[@roberthicks1612]

A good mystery is where when the final reveal is made, you say, I saw that all along and never got the connections. I remember thinking that they were doing a lot of water references, pond, river and more, and I never made the connection until the reveal.

[@uncommon_niagara1581]

Previously:"I point and laugh at archeologists" This episode: The Doctor points and laughs at baby Melody.

[@Alinor24]

Oh. I didn't get that at all.😅

[@Helbore]

I love that look on the Doctor's face as he walks towards River and says "Who are you?" That's the look of a man who's had enough of the games and isn't going to accept "spoilers!" as a response anymore. There's so much power in Matt's eyes and you just know he means it. Then when he gets the awesome reality of what's going on, he laughs like a child. I just adore the way he could switch from scary to childlike - old to young - in nothing but an expression.

[@UnchainedEruption]

Helbore Yeah. People like to stereotype Matt's Doctor as always trying to be cool, but he had such a wide array of emotions. My favorite of course is that smug face he gets when he's got it. When he knows the only way out, and nobody else does, and it's the eleventh hour. And then he does this insanely clever thing that fixes everything.

[@sr.AnnaOnline]

he asked "Who are you?" , A firm question, but there wasn't anger in the voice, was determination (she was always special for him)

[@gamymederox]

Helbore ii

[@kalakritistudios]

He wanted to go into soccer but his teacher kept persuading him to drama. I think he saw it!

[@PhoenixPonyPhoenixOwl]

Isn't he cute?

[@gpgara]

Oh, Matt Smith's acting here. Heart-breaking at first, with the 'WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU TODAY?' and the fact that he's almost crying, but then it's really hilarious, with the giggles and the mimicked smooches and the cute 'hello.' Even though he's not my favourite Doctor, he proved, above and beyond, that he was absolute PERFECTION in the role.

[@StillJustDreaming]

And the looking back at Rory and Amy after doing the smooching thing, like "OMG, I'm dating their daughter, they are so going to come after me for that."

[@JSmellerM]

Matt Smith isn't my favourite either, he is my 2nd favourite, simply because David Tennant was better.

[@WannabeWriter100]

@@JSmellerM I think it's really a matter of personal preference. I adore David Tennant and his acting is marvelous (and he's definitely my 2nd favourite), but Matt's my doctor. I don't really think that one is better than the other. They're just different.

[@hyperbiscuit2284]

@@WannabeWriter100 Honestly, David's third for me. I'd say Matt's in the lead, and Capaldi is definitely second, but David is a close third.

[@unoriginaluser575]

@@hyperbiscuit2284 exact same for me

[@riverstardis8745]

i love how the doctor literally just runs away before amy and rory find out

[@emilyhadley9089]

He's like: oh shoot when they find out Rory's gonna kill me for kissing their daughter all the time, I better make a run for it

[@benjaminoechsli1941]

Rory at 3:58 : Waiiiit... Oooo, regeneration ain't gonna save him now!

[@whitelighter2040]

True. Probably thinking “ooh shit, I did things with my best friends’ daughter; which in this point in the timeline, is a baby, I better go.” Sadly the reason we automatically think “you’re screwed because you said that”; is because people don’t understand the temporal paradox. So I get why they’d be angry; but it would go too far if people went crazy on Doctor Who for doing this.

[@silambarasanthangavel1861]

its the same reaction when we run out of our gf's house before her father finds us :P

[@GaiaShield]

@@whitelighter2040 and his best friend used to try to kiss him.

[@say2135]

When the Doctor realises who she is, his faces changes completely. I loved that scene. I was like "But tell me!!" And then River said that the only water in the forest is the river and I started shouting. I don't know what do the neighbours think about me.

[@StillJustDreaming]

He was so relieved that Melody Pond was ok, plus finally knowing something more about River. He's so adorable here!

[@crowntent7685]

I understood it when The Doctor said hello :)

[@tornadotaylor8956]

Probably think your insane like the rest of us are

[@jcreasey681]

The Tardis told them that "The only water in the forest is the river"! And that they needed to know that one day. :D

[@fking7742]

When did it?

[@Storm_Bird456]

Feie Koning during the doctor's wife, I think

[@blaxxteam]

@@Storm_Bird456 yep, when the tardis was dying in a flesh body.

[@Furrina89]

@@fking7742 during the doctor wife ep... She says a lot of pointless bs, that turns out to be relevant in way or another. This is one of them.

[@harley7836]

Vini Bhatt none of what she said was pointless that was the point of the TARDIS being turned into a human and being able to actually talk (even though the Doctor especially 12th’s could understand the TARDIS in her original form!) to start piecing together storylines when they wasn’t fighting! They’ve been the only constant companions in each other’s lives everyday since the Doctor stole (or borrowed as he always likes to claim and tell others!) the TARDIS.

[@38procentkrytyk]

I actually really like this subplot. It makes Universe in this show much more real. How many times Doctor landed on a planet and nothing what happend there has no effect to future adventures?

[@kilroy8989]

Franciszek Rychlewicz the face of evil had something like that.

[@TheSamTheSame]

yet. nothing had an effect on future adventures yet

[@enderkingdev368]

Series one sort of. The episode Long Game, the Doctor stops the control of the news on the station. Later on in Bad Wold and Parting of the Way, the Doctor return to the same station years later only to find that with the void created by stopping the news control as been filled with gameshows. One of the many things I liked about Series one, we got a rare chance to see the consequences of the Doctor's actions.

[@zachanikwano]

I mean, that can also be considered a strength? There’s harm to be had to have every single thing be connected. It can make the universe feel too small, make any one character feel too important (even the Doctor). Like a self insert fan character who’s the “bestest ever and everyone worships them.” I mean, just look at Clara and what happened with her. Everything was all about her for a long while, to the point people called the show “Clara Who.” And just to give a good example of one-off narratives, the original Sherlock stories were one offs so that you could jump in anywhere and not feel like you were lost or had to catch up on forty other stories just to understand the one you were reading. Long over arching narratives have their place, and so do one-off stories that have little to nothing to do with said big narratives.

[@elliottnoad1270]

Ender Kingdev and boom town (sort of) shows the consequences that aliens of London/world war 3 had on Margret/blon too

[@BeckyBeckaBex]

I remember watching this when it aired and I was like 'huh?' But then River said, 'Except they don't have a word for Pond, because the only water in the forest is the River' and it clicked in my mind who she was and I was like :O

[@SelenaMulan]

BeckyBeckaBex It started clicking; when she told him about the cot then....river

[@imogenkelly793]

As soon as it was revealed at the beginning of the episode that she named their daughter Melody, I instantly saw the connection between melody and song and guessed it in the first minute and was instantly so disheartened

[@veniskolubdzic7659]

Imogen Kelly a \-1 Sz was xx p

[@valeriazenoni6478]

The name is genius.

[@feline2196]

Basically the Doctor fangirled XD

[@jebusfishy]

The Doctor’s little giggle after River says hello always warms my heart. It’s so pure.

[@iamsherlocked345]

It’s so adorable ❤️

[@hafsahassan394]

Is it referring to the Doctor calling her 'Hello, Baby! " earlier in the episode? that he realizes just then that River is that baby?

[@iamsherlocked345]

that giggle he has after she says hello is adorable P:)

[@iamsherlocked345]

pirategirlfan301 ohhh i forgot about that one.... i miss those moments the show had..after series 6 ....something just felt off about the show..

[@RainbowTentacles]

iamsherlocked345 on 135 on dish is bbc amarica at 8 am theres dr.who

[@darthcakes8054]

Agreed :3

[@shandilisrivastava4085]

iamsherlocked345 Yeah i know right....

[@rebeccam2176]

I rewatched it like 5 times🥺

[@nickt3608]

I remember watching this for the first time and left jaw dropped for days

[@MsPaulii10]

One of the best arc of dw and I knew it before watching it T.T

[@Nulono]

You have two jaws?

[@thyyhu2250]

yeah exactly like melody for song pond for river. it was easy.

[@ElMaestroGordo]

Yes, because who else would find out their daughter is in fact older than you? ;-) Time travel up to its mischievous tricks, methinks! :-)

[@milliondollars6914]

3:58 When you realize you pointed a gun at your child

[@DWAkhaten]

+Ultra Gamer Twice. She almost shot her the first time.

[@LyokoWarrior1994]

Don't forget Amy shot a previous regeneration of River when she was a kid in new york...

[@ssssSTopmotion]

Relatble

[@deccy_boi5569]

Amy starts shaking her head like ‘oh no n-‘ and the Rory’s face just pulls back in shock.

[@nourmasri1398]

Parenting skills 👍👍

[@grumpysanta6318]

Alex Kingston has to be one of the most beautiful women to ever walk this planet.

[@oskarespinoza3341]

Grumpy Santa that booty is to die for.

[@WannabeWriter100]

@@oskarespinoza3341 Lol I love that scene just after she's regenerated when she disappears to check out said booty and shouts, "Oh, that's MAGNIFICENT!"

[@shiroi201]

Amen to that🙌

[@josephclark1620]

And she's in her fiftys with no plastic surgery

[@tmattmat1641]

Mmm... i think that of every women of doctor who, i would go for leela or clara. River seems to old for my taste

[@Nieaqop243]

When Rory took the gun away from Amy, I literally cried. He'll always protect his daughter, even if he didn't know it at the time.

[@joraco2559]

This episode made me look at the show in an entirely new way. Honestly this episode was better then the season's finale.

[@Helbore]

This episode was probably the pinnacle of the Smith/Moffat era.

[@BunBun299]

What I really liked about this episode was how it tied Amy and Rory's stories in with the Doctor and River's. It felt like they were an important part of what was going on. More than just someone for the Doctor to explain things to so that the audience can get it. Amy and Rory are my favorite companions, and this episode is a big part of why.

[@kass1089]

@@DerpyStyle didn't the doctor said in "let's kill Hitler": "you named your daughter after your daughter."

[@tinykemper2561]

@@kass1089 That was after this episode

[@UnchainedEruption]

Say what you will, but I find this plot twist better than Vader being Luke's father.

[@elizajones191]

Me too!!!

[@pheebeetwo]

+Aly Peter It's essentially the same plot twist. :l

[@UnchainedEruption]

lilbluedemon plays True, but the Star Wars one was spoiled for me since it's become such a cliche in pop culture. I basically knew it before watching episode V. But I had no idea River would be Melody Pond before, so it was amazing.

[@NoOne-fc4tf]

+Karl Hiramanek yeah i mean 4 the people who watched esb in the cinemas it was probably the most shocking news (sorry 4 My english)

[@goji253]

Pretty much knew this was coming though (not that I didn't with Vader) I mean, Melody Pond and River Song..... you kinda get it rather fast.

[@lopsidedhead]

Only Matt and Alex knew that she was going to say that at the end. Karen and [insert Rory's actor here]'s reactions were genuine.

[@deborahingle2301]

Arthur

[@veda6335]

Cubing Cymru Really? 😮 Where did you read/see it?

[@veda6335]

Cubing Cymru Really? Where did you read it?

[@lopsidedhead]

@Crucible there's a book called something like The Lives And Times Of The Doctor and it's in there

[@No1sonuk]

I'd guessed when one of the other characters said the "only water in the forest was the river".

[@zionmcgee9676]

Rory and Amy's faces are pretty much mirrors of everyone who's seen this scene

[@ColorOfSakura]

Zion McGee yup! It's because Karen and Arthur didn't actually know when they filmed this (they actually surmised the River was a future incarnation of the Doctor). Only Matt and Alex were told ahead of time, so Karen and Arthur's reactions were genuine.

[@keya4227]

DJ Sakura really? Very cool!

[@cunningsmile4166]

@@keya4227 in the brilliant book tbey said thr fight was ober thr doctor's name

[@dreamstrider6398]

Still coming to this 9 years later and chills down my spine still

[@libbylovesdw8833]

My reaction: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Then I go and watch silence in the library and die! *cries.*

[@markd2973]

How did you feel after watching forest of the dead

[@skintight5590]

Mark Dorsi I’m literally crying right now coz u guys reminded meeeeee😭😭😭😭😭😭WHHHYYYYYYYYYYYY DIID THHHEEEEYYYYY KILLLLL HHHEEERRRRRRRR

[@teaminstinctleather7567]

And then....there is the part 2 of this episode called Let's Kill Hitler which gives us more remember lines in a season opener than have has come before

[@5ryans]

well, technically she isn't dead. Her consciousness still exists inside the library.

[@mandypandyjack]

This is literally the best story arc in all of Doctor Who and is the reason I love series 6 sooo much!!!

[@boringperson-zb8vy]

I do hope you've seen The Husbands of River Song as well as River's last scene with Ten?

[@mandypandyjack]

Of course! I love all of River Song's episodes. I just especially loved the story arc of series 6 with River Song and the Ponds and how they all connect.

[@eloisebarbosa2649]

i love series 5 and 6, mainly the episodes with River

[@kacektv9405]

"We get that word from you, you know?" I just love that line and its concept SO much. it does make sense that with all the time traveling and saying "Im the Doctor" he really does create his own legacy. This is why i love River too by the way she can give a side handed remark to The Doctor at one point and be so affectionate the same showing she loves him but much like one of my favorite companions, Donna Noble, River doesnt fully idolize and worship the doctor. Hope she gets a return in Series 8/Capaldi Doctor.

[@hellothere2052]

She did appear with capaldi :D

[@Mr_Doogz]

Doesn't that technically mean the word doctor is a bootstrap paradox. Because the doctor didn't invent the word. He just used it. And people took his name and used it for the word healer

[@Ardelanin]

@@Mr_Doogz perhaps. who knows. maybe it's galifreyan in origin, maybe somewhere else. fair to say a fair chunk of the galaxy might take the word doctor from the doctor.

[@gpearce11]

Follow up question. Does the Doctor use "John Smith" as an alias because it's so common, or is it common because the Doctor uses it as an alias?

[@kacektv9405]

@@gpearce11 Hello bootstrap paradox thy name is Doctor Who

[@Dnbray]

doctor who has got to be the best series ever made

[@HoNow222]

+Dnbray It was.

[@aligames2748]

حلو

[@that_geek6642]

Yeah it is !

[@GleePerformancesProfile]

Dnbray doctor who and the x files are the best TV shows in the world.

[@victorpeterson3502]

Dnbray listen to this person he/she is very wise

[@strayyleafy]

That line that River says, *"Just to bring you down,"* The tone of her voice hurts my heart so much

[@atharvadeshpande6907]

And they still failed

[@selonianth]

@@atharvadeshpande6907 That's what happens when small people for no reason but greed and fear try to take down something so... so much larger than themselves. River blames that fear on the Doctor here but... is it really his fault? He's not a man who fades into the background, he's been terrible at being anything other than noticeable for centuries.

[@Free.Spirit.Rebel.]

When I first saw this scene, it really overwhelmly surprised me. When River placed her hand on the doctor's, I didn't know what was gonna happen,I knew from that moment it was gonna something wonderful and amazing! The Doctor's reactions with River's bright smile was perfect! This shows Matt Smith had some of the best stories ever! Hope peter capaldi has some great stories. His performance in Torchwood CHildren of Earth and Doctor WHo Series 4 was extraordinary!

[@heyariaz]

What do you think of what he did now that he is leaving?

[@mahfuzurchowdhury2765]

Matt had some of the worst stories ever.

[@neonblue1649]

Happy Industries lol no. Eccleston didm

[@wisewillow7530]

My thoughts when watching this were, shes amy kid, she another time lord, Shes the doctor but just another regeneration. I was soo happy they finally told us she was Melody. The episode before were just heartbreaking. When at the wedding she tells the doctor soon hell know, or in episode 1 of of 6 shes talking to rory about there come a day he wont know her, or at 6x2 when she kisses the doctor and hes never kissed her before. I just cried and than cried some more during this.

[@blah7983]

_Laughs in Chibnall_

[@caraince3951]

3:50 It wasn't the words. The setting. The story. The moment. It was the bloody music that made me cry.

[@petea1998]

Quite possibly one of my favorite OMG moments in the show EVER! Plus, having one of my favorite characters (River Song) in the epicenter of this plot twist just makes it all the more awesome!

[@johnfranklin4038]

This rates up there with the reveal of who the face of boe is :)

[@soundgal_sine_qua_non]

The way he goes from hard and stoic to just the softest of soft just melts me every time. He had a family once, and he knows what it is to see children grow up right before your eyes. He placed her in that cot mere hours ago as a babe, and is now seeing the woman she became. Those first moments really give me that vibe - seeing a child you love as an adult for the first time, and really taking them in with awe, as if you're meeting a whole new person. Then there's all the other moments - giddiness at finally knowing who she is and the fact that it's a fantastic reveal, relief that she will at some point be safe and ok, realizing you've already met your girlfriend's parents but never introduced yourself as their daughter's boyfriend, self-consciousness at how he looks because he wants to make a good impression if he finds her, and the kind of resolve that comes when a strong bond becomes even deeper. "On my life, she will be safe." "The Doctor will find your daughter, and he will care for her whatever it takes. And I know that." Also, props to the Doctor who, despite his lack of understanding social cues at times, just leaves instead of spilling the tea. He knows that River should be the one to tell her parents who she is, and that it's a moment the Pond family needs to have alone.

[@Feuergraf]

There will never be a bigger plot twist than River Song becoming Melody Pond Or Melody Pond becoming River Song. Either way, time isn't a straight line... More like wibbly wobbly timy wimy........ stuff

[@fireofdawn3515]

I mean both did happen- this one here for river being melody and in “Let’s Kill Hitler” Melody becoming River

[@ultimatehope8069]

Either way, it’s better than The Timeless Child reveal

[@Mudified]

Time's a Jeremy Bearimy, actually. :-P

[@ianmoore1493]

Captain Jack - Face of Boe?

[@c.o7993]

The masters reappearance

[@nowshinsharmilesusmi3968]

Poor River! Always getting threatened to get shot by her mother.

[@bigdaddy9579]

PLOT TWIST! PERFORM THE PLOT TWIST DANCE!

[@georgeweasley54]

*gets up and performs the drunken giraffe*

[@aimingforspades]

Big Daddy -dabs- -dies-

[@gordonshaffer5560]

I remember that I cried when I first saw this and all the pieces of the puzzle came together. So many years later and the places this scene touches haven't changed one bit. Great scene, great writing, great performances, great direction, great story.

[@ROFLproductionsCORP]

Man what a character. Like, just the way they weaved her into the doctor’s life in so many ways without ever feeling forced. Truly masterful storytelling

[@azureflametarot]

The funny part is she literally, as a part-timelord, has injected herself into their lives at exactly the right moment with the TARDIS. She just pulls it off so effortlessly that it seems like a miracle she shows up when half the time it’s probably intentional timing when she knows she’s most needed, like here at the moment of her birth, and at The Library, and all those moments as her parents’ friend when they were younger and had no idea it was their daughter.

[@yiminxu3343]

there is no way im gonna wake up from these two. I SHIP THESE TWO FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!

[@Flo-4132]

The Doctor and River or Amy and Rory?

[@CaityBear05]

This scene is one of my all time favourites in Doctor Who. First, I love how giddy and excited the Doctor gets when he figures it out. Can't help but laugh when he makes kissy lips, and River is just like "Yes!" Second, the revelation with the prayer leaf was amazing!! I was spoiled early on that River was their daughter, but the reveal and this episode helped make series 6 one of my favourite series ever :)

[@DarkComet360]

Sweetness! Oh the memories. I bet we were all stunned when we found out River Song was Melody Pond. Yes, we saw River in Silence Of The Library, but we had no idea how deeply involved she was then. A shocking turn of events don't you think so? But I have no doubt we will be seeing her again in twelthy's reign and I can only imagine the reaction twelthy will have to seeing her. Can't wait..;)

[@Helbore]

As soon as we heard Amy name her baby Melody, I turned to my friend and went "Melody = Song. Pond = River." But even having guessed it at the beginning of the episode, I was still on edge during the reveal, it was so well done.

[@123skins1231]

DarkComet360 i wasn't too surprised if you link the two names RIVER and POND. SONG and MELODY.

[@Ofinkandattics]

yeah she and captain jack are coming back by the 12th doctor

[@bigdaddy9579]

Guinevere Dommeck You can't know. Moffat didn't announced something like this yet.

[@TheWalker10]

Barrel Portrait And even if he did... Well, it's Moffat. You know, the guy who GLEEFULLY enjoys being a troll towards his (many) followers.

[@ptcreations8947]

The look on Rivers face when she tells them she is their daughter, I can see a touch of hope in her eyes...like "This is it...how will the react to me...?" Love her as River.

[@oceanstar9462]

THREE YEARS LATER.... OHHH NOW I GET IT. A Melody is the main part of the Song, and there is no Pond in the Forest, but instead there is a River. It totally makes sense now. River was trying to tell them since the begining they met. The answer was in front of their faces the whole time. OMG I am so dumb now.

[@ElMaestroGordo]

The bit about "the only water in the Forest" is a neat tie-in, of course, to the episode when we first meet River Song too: Forest of the Dead in the Library! She saved the day on that occasion. The site of her birth meets the site of her death in one place of Space/Time. :-o

[@vee4642]

1:43 MOST ADORABLE GIGGLE EVER

[@tallulahtoms4980]

I know Alex Kingston will probably never see this but there is a small chance so I just want to say thank you. Everytime I watch a video with you in it makes me happy even if for the briefest moment it still makes a difference. But most of all you make me feel stronger, you stopped me doing the most ridiculous and stupid things that I hope never cross my mind again. I wldnt be the person I am now if it wasn't for you. Thank you Alex Kingston xxx I'm posting this on as many of her videos as possible so (in the small chance that she will see it) she will understand that she is an amazing woman and she has touched so many lives.

[@KHWendy28]

I really loved her on ER she was great in that.

[@shawntco]

That noise he makes at 2:22 is hilarious. :D

[@panicatthetwentyonechemica7963]

I agree,it's sorta like he's saying eeeee

[@Jacktoro44]

Frankie Reid Yee!

[@tabitha3863]

+youssarian91 HE IS SECRETLY A WHALEEEEEE

[@RileyC3105]

+tabitha rea noooooooo, but of course he speaks whale...

[@tabitha3863]

RileyC3105 Oh yeh.. forgot. xD

[@jeremyharris6055]

This kind of story telling needs to come back.

[@CrystalWong]

So it turns out Steven Moffat's head canon turned into canon

[@daviddickey9762]

well that didn't age well now that 13 has f'ed up the canon

[@CrystalWong]

@@daviddickey9762 chibs has no respect for the lore

[@ScorpiousMagnus]

One of the best Doctor Who reveals EVER..!

[@ObsceneVegetableMatter]

+Will Ryder I wouldn't limit it to Doctor Who. If we're talking family reveals, it's this and Star Wars.

[@summer-roseknight]

It’s been almost ten years, but I still get chills when I watch the scene, one of my favourite DW plot twists ever. I’ll always be a Matt Smith stan purely because of the whole plot surrounding Amy, Rory and River / Melody.

[@Downhollowfication]

I love matt smith when he makes the kisses sounds and rubbing his hand 2gether wished he did not leave he could done another season

[@samroger2]

That hello and the laugh, it's so pure. What a cast, such passionate performance

[@laraoswaldd]

HE GOT SO EXCITED AW. (Also Alex Kingston's acting, wow)

[@ayayla7846]

everytime I see this scene, I grin like a loon, even before the Doctor's hilarious reaction to finding out who River really is. Love that scene... And when she tells Amy and Rory, saying "they don't have a word for 'pond'. The only water in the forest is the river." and then the words are translated into her name...awesome...

[@SilverMoonyLuna]

+Ay Ayla I grin too... I can't help it. :D This scene is awesome!!

[@ayayla7846]

well, the bit before he asks her "Who are you?" always makes me sad and want to hug him :'(

[@shmikex]

You know, before the reveal to Amy and Rory, I thought the whole time she was a future incarnation of the Doctor (similar to the Valeyard) and she had a narcissistic complex (i.e. hooking up with herself).

[@karlohliger8376]

I'd thought she was a Time Lord who knew the Doctor back in the Academy. I suppose I was half right.

[@MissPopularity10]

My mind blew when i saw this episode

[@colinchildress1251]

Only a few scenes in this show have made me tear up... But I am balling like a Stormageddon.

[@Cfclack]

I love the “but if you continue the way you are, what might that word come to mean?” and “the child of your best friends, and they are going to turn her into a weapon just to bring you down, and all this my love… in fear of you”. Such powerful dialogue.

[@anniesmith5739]

One of favorite scenes in the entire show! I love River and they weaved her into his life in such an organic way, every interaction they had suddenly made complete sense, instead of feeling like a plot twist out of nowhere. This solidified the Matt/Ponds run as the best seasons of Dr Who for me :)

[@TheSevenofMine]

Why do I always start to cry at this scene?

[@Darkmind1970]

TheSevenofMine Dust. (Nods) It's very dusty in here too.

[@theeorangeofthyorangetree]

Because 4x8

[@theeorangeofthyorangetree]

Benny Penny Yep

[@theeorangeofthyorangetree]

Benny Penny NO, that isn't! Before I know who is River I was sad, because Donna losing her family, but when I watched it again after 5-7 series, my feelings just explode into a...river. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

[@theeorangeofthyorangetree]

Benny Penny I am fangirl, of course I am dramatic.

[@a1000face88]

I've seen a lot of people's reaction of finding out rivers identity the doctors reaction is the best

[@sarahsmith8535]

a1000face88 I know and it is SO him. So the Eleventh! From the wide shocked eyes, The way he says hello greeting her as Melody for the first time, to the sudden giggle after she says hello, It is just SO Eleven. :)

[@Blazieth]

Sarah Smith To the sudden *FRIGHTENED* glance back to Papa Bear Rory.

[@sarahsmith8535]

Ha! Your right Blazieth I missed that! Another awesome part of watching Doctor Who is new things. Tiny but still great moments like this I would of missed if not for this conversation and of course being in america I have slowly discovered many episodes have whole scenes we don't always see right away on this side of the pond.

[@LightSoul14]

River Song by far the best one her story is so amazing and all the twist very well thought out!!! Alex Kingston can truly play her part bring her back PLEASE!

[@pooble_6101]

The Music still gives me chills to this day

[@gioiapucci6181]

what's the music's name?

[@yodasodabob]

gioia pucci I believe the two songs used in this scene are "melody pond" and "tell me who you are" on the season 6 soundtrack

[@MovieMagic515]

@@yodasodabob Correct

[@Jack-zx3lx]

I like how no one noticed that idris(the TARDIS) foreshadowed this. In her hosts last moments, she said to rory 'the only water in the forest is the river'.

[@maddylomas]

That laugh at 1:43 though.....

[@flummoxedgiles]

it's adorable

[@maddylomas]

Ikr

[@Divizoro]

And at 2:22 xD

[@Isaacindelicato123]

Definitely the best scene in all of Doctor Who, hands down. And that's saying a lot because there are a lot of other beautiful moments but this one is the best because it as building up over SUCH a long time (Silence in the Library, when I first saw that I immediately knew it would be something epic) and I just did not see it coming (although some did). and the music is just perfect and UGH. I think I've rewatched this scene like 20 times now.

[@coachgoltzbizpro23]

River: Amy, Rory, you're my parents! Amy: Wait...I TRIED TO SEDUCE MY SON-IN-LAW THE NIGHT BEFORE MY WEDDING?!?! Rory:...

[@nemeceka]

Rory already knows about that. The Doctor told him at the bachelor party. He forgave her.

[@azureflametarot]

She nails this role so well. Honestly in this episode my heart broke even worse for Amy than the Doctor, because he didn’t know what he was losing, but Amy knew she was losing absolutely everything. What a comfort to have River right there when she needed her most.

[@awesomedavid2012]

I can't see any other actress as River

[@seanpape9034]

Years later and this still gives me goosebumps

[@davidedwards1705]

The Doctor's eyes when it dawns on him. Well done.

[@imofage3947]

Love the world building here. They managed to come up with a reasonable explanation for why her name was changed. Language barriers and the culture that raised her. Effectively a Google Translate mishap. And then the eventual backstory about how Amy did get to see her daughter grow up, but in a screwed up time-traveler way because River was her childhood best friend. It's really nice when those loops get closed off.

[@AndrewChapman]

I love how in the first minute of this video, River is sounding quite serious in asking the Doctor what the title 'Doctor' will mean if he continues on the way he is. And then suddenly River gets all joyful and happy when she notices the Doctor's cot. And then she starts making it clear to him who she really is. And of course the ending was really shocking. I did not see that coming at all.

[@FlynnFromTaiga]

Steven is the master of one-shots. "The only water in the forest is the river" is just magical.

[@Dnbray]

this part was so unexpected it literately blew me away at no other part does it hint that river is melody this is so well done

[@fullhousecast420]

I love how he giggles like "ya i gettin sum alright alright alright alright"

[@BlankSpace1.0]

This scene will always give me chills. The doctor and the ponds, forever my favorite

[@jaywolf4824]

Best. Plot twist. EVER!!! I love it. I love River, she’s such a great character with such a great character story. Doctor who always had brilliant plot twists and storyline but this is just wonderful. I’m in love with this 😍

[@NauticaSea217]

1:29 - When The Doctor realized who River was, ALL of that childish, gleeful wonder in him came pouring out. I SOOO loved see that. THIS is how my Doctor always IS - A child at hearts! An alien SOOO full of amazement, awe and child-like wonder, the glee of childlike innocence and wonder in him is just infectious, contagious. That's The Doctor I know and love. And I can see it all here. LOVE LOVE LOVE that two-hearted wonder to bits! and I ADORE that Blue Box! Always, always, love love love. heheheehe.

[@iamsherlocked345]

11 was my first doctor and that’s exactly what I loved about him ❤️ that wonder was so on point

[@archie7T8]

For me this was Dr Who at its peak, love to see this standard of story telling to return again.

[@laff2024]

I was just thinking about this yesterday, after I watched the Night of The Doctor. Specifically the line 'to the people of the gamma forests, the word doctor means mighty warrior'. Hmmmmm

[@cmrobbins88]

This is one of my favorite revelations of a character tied with the Face of Bo and The Impossible Girl/Clara. Also anyone know the name of this song?

[@Sciyo]

"Melody Pond" from the Series 6 Soundtrack. :)

[@cmrobbins88]

Sciyo Thanks, found it. Fantastic.

[@邦卡邦卡]

cmrobbins88 It's "tell me who you are"

[@ddq123]

***** dont we all

[@_Lisa_Lisa_]

It's River's song.. Ha.. Ha.. Ha.. (No it's "Melody Pond" from the soundtrack of the serie 6)

[@Beady1997Vlogs]

This is possibly my favourite episode of the whole of doctor who!

[@GleePerformancesProfile]

1:42 so nobody is talking about the doctors/matt's cute and funny laugh 😂

[@jonesjoestar]

I don't remember my reaction to this and i wish i could wipe my memory and react again

[@parsival]

3:25 this sentence "the only water in the forest is the river" was said by Rory who was quoting the TARDIS in The Doctor's Wife. I think it's awesome how they reference future episodes and almost no one noticed. A nice little Easter Egg for the future.

[@HamTheBacon]

Hmm, we just at this moment found out that someone we watched die, in front of 10, who had an entire book of adventures from the Doctor's future, turns out to be Amy and Rory's child, and that is underwhelming to you?

[@HamTheBacon]

Not to mention he hasnt even met Amy or Rory when he watches her sacrifice herself for him, among other things of course. and then he meets Amy and Rory, and then River Song and then this, and thats underwhelming..

[@captaincharlieIII]

Yes.

[@HamTheBacon]

Well then I guess you just wern't meant for the show.

[@captaincharlieIII]

Or I'm just not impressed with plot twists pulled out of someones ass

[@HamTheBacon]

And you can do better? if you are so god damn amazing at writing plots for a show that been around most of the time that TV has existed, THEN WHY DONT YOU FUCKING DO THAT INSTEAD OF BITCHING ABOUT IT.

[@middleeastmusics6570]

3:38 goosebumps all over my bidy with that background music

[@dmitrytannill7436]

Just watched this episode last night (I recently started watching the whole series). This is one of the best scenes in the history of cinema. Everything is perfect here, and acting, and setting, and music. This brought tears of joy to my eyes.

[@Chipster321]

2:50 River: “Dang it my mom is aiming a gun at me again.”

[@ElectromagNick]

I remember that hitting me like a freight train.

[@druryout]

goosebumps every time

[@Jack.RB.93]

This is one of my favourite plot twists, it came out of nowhere, in previous episodes there were subtle hints towards it which you didn't realise until they were pointed out or from watching the episodes. And to this day it's the only one that had left me truly shocked

[@DoctorXander]

Just watched the last two seasons and I didn't realize how good we had it back when this was the show

[@LadyMelmo.]

I have been watching since the early 1970s, and this is one of the greatest moments in Doctor Who.