Dear Supporter,

I love that - thanks to one small line - their first kiss gives us a huge look at what kind of partner (and then later husband) the Eleventh Doctor is.

'What, that's it?'

First of all bear in mind from his perspective, yes they've gotten closer, but he's still suspecting that River might kill him sooner rather than later. It's understandable that some trust issues linger and thus he's still a bit quick with the casually dark (and cruel) demeanour.

River knows that. She knows where he is in his timeline. She knows that, despite how much he flirts with her (and he flirts with her A LOT), he is not her husband, not yet the man that loves her and he's not even the man that knows her. So why does his short goodbye confuse her?

Because this small line tells us that not only have they been dating (from his perspective) between DOTM and AGMGTW but they've been dating physically. To River, this short-fuzed ball of trust-issues is essentially not only her husband but also her actual boyfriend.

Meaning that the Doctor, before he became the doting idiot husband we saw in TATM/TNOTD and even before he knew who she was, never dropped her off after a date without at least (!) kissing her goodbye.

And I'm really putting the emphasis on never because River would otherwise not risk asking for a kiss, if there had been any doubt in her mind that this Doctor isn't a Doctor she had been dating. So what does that tell us?

Despite how much this fandom likes to paint the picture of the evil River who forced herself on the Doctor, she is never the one to initiate (physical) intimacy. She expected to be kissed, she expected the Doctor to kiss her because that's what the Doctor does. Husband or not.

And it's so ingrained in their relationship that even when he showed his honest confusion, River assumed he must be acting coy on purpose to get *her* to kiss *him* for once. And well it worked, intentionally or not, River complied because why wouldn't she? It's what they do.

Until of course she is forced to realise that it might not be what they do for much longer. This was his first kiss; so she might not see the boyfriend version of her Doctor very often from now on, if at all.

But ignoring all the insanely depressing angst of how that scene ended, yes we saw an end for River but we also saw where the Doctor's pre-AGMGTW dating spree and thus the affectionate idiot began because he makes it quite clear that he's up for more. (pun intended)

I wish we could've seen more of their time together. Unfortunately 98% of it happens off-screen but the point of this thread is to show that, even if most of it is off-screen, the show has made the nature of their relationship and the nature of the Doctor's feelings very clear. Moffat's writing style is quick-paced and certainly assumes that the audience isn't too stupid to keep up. (wonder how that worked out) And small lines like these contain so much vital information that, for some people, it's easy to overlook. But all we need to know is right there. The Eleventh Doctor dated River prior to AGMGTW, definitely prior to TWORS; they've been intimate for two hundred (!!!!) years from his perspective before he married her and he is the one to initiate that intimacy. That's all. 🥰

original post on X by @/eIevenriver (who writes the bestest Doctor x River threads ever)

TOP TEN DOCTOR WHO EPISODES AS VOTED BY OUR FOLLOWERS

#10 → THE HUSBANDS OF RIVER SONG (42 votes)

When you love the Doctor, it’s like loving the stars themselves. You don’t expect a sunset to admire you back.

the only reason river and 11s relationship doesn’t look almost exactly like s10 12/missy is bc 11 is too immature and irresponsible and river is too afraid that he’ll feel ashamed and run away if they try to have an actual honest conversation about river’s inclinations for violence <3 in this essay I will

The Twelfth Doctor’s TARDIS, candlelit in an early test concept for Listen

“I miss my wife” is an emotional that you don’t even need to have a wife to feel. Strong, defined emotion, wife or no wife

Hello there 👋,

I hope you're well. My brother Osama and our family are struggling due to the ongoing war in Gaza. Osama's life and work have been devastated, and he’s working hard to rebuild and support our family.

Osama has started a GoFundMe campaign, "Helping Osama Rebuild His Dream." Your support would mean a lot to him and to us. Please consider checking it out, sharing, or donating.

Link: https://gofund.me/100da7db

Even reblogging the pinned story can help a lot.

Thanks so much for your kindness 💖

With gratitude, 

Anas (on behalf of @osama-basil-ps) 

Verified by @gazagfmboost

yeah of course! 💖

ian & barbara moments 1/?

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE FOLLOWING ME :") I've been admiring your blog(s) for a while now... and I love your header and username soooo much <3 have a lovely day/night ☀️💫🌙

aaaaahhh thank you!!!!! that's so sweet of you to say 🥺💞

i saw some of your doctor who posts and loved ur takes i knew i simply had to follow you😌

“who’s your favourite doctor” wrong question. i am primarily head over heels for professor river song

The Good Place (2016-2020) Whenever You’re Ready (S04E13)