Singing Her Own Song

"Like I said on the dancefloor, you might want to find something to hang on to"

In nearly 47 years, never has a character caused more rumours, speculation, debate and intrigue as the delectable Miss River Song. Since she first burst onto our screens in series 4's Silence In The Library she has had fans scratching their heads in wonder at who she really is and what part she has to play in our favourite Time Travellers life. Even Alex Kingston has admitted that she has no idea what River's back story is.

With her brazen personality and aversion to spoilers, River Song has made sure that her every appearance brings with it both mystery and adventure aplenty. When we first met her, we were as baffled as the Doctor as to who this space suit wearing hottie was, and when she 'died' at the end of the story, it was unclear whether we would ever see her again.

It took nearly two years before we would catch up with the Professor again, only this time she was just a doctor and the story was taking place deeper into her past. For every question that became resolved in this story, another ten were set up. By the end of the two parter we had the revelations that River was in prison and had been put there for murdering 'the best man she had ever known'.

Immediatly the forums went wild with speculation that at some point in her time line, she had murdered the Doctor. While this seems plausible, many fans believe that it would be too obvious an outcome and now that the series is over we are still none the wiser as to who her victim was.

Flashforward a few weeks, (or rewind a few years depending on whose time line you are following) and we next see a vortex manipulating, time jumping River helping the Doctor out of his Pandorica Predicament. The series ends with another one of her forshadowing comments about how she will see the Doctor again soon "And that's when everything changes."



Again the speculating Whovians went into overdrive. With so little known about the character and her motives, the fans have been left to come up with their own ideas. Is River Amy in the future? Is River a personification of the TARDIS? Is she the Doctor's Wife? And everyones favourite theory, Is River the Rani? One thing is for sure, whoever she is, she has fandom in a spin. Moffat however has announced that all will be revealed next series, but if that means a possible end to her appearances, do we really want to know just yet?

Now, speculation aside, River Song has also managed to cause a divide throughout fandom for other reasons. Her cheeky know-it-all attitude, brassy bombshell demeanour and her favourite catchphrase 'Spoilers', have all been criticised and applauded in equal measures, and though many fans are intrigued as to where this story will go, just as many would be happy to see the back of her.

One thing though is for certain, love her or loathe her, there is no denying that her presence in the show and the mystery surrounding her has turned fandom on its head and wherever River Song goes, both fun and drama are sure to follow.