Doctor Who: River Song's Identity

[rabid1st]

It's been a long while since I've nattered on about Doctor Who, hasn't it? And I'm not going to natter now. I am also spoiler free, so you need not worry that I know River Song's Identity despite the title of this post.

I've really moved past the point where I care what happens in Doctor Who, I think. I haven't gone to any of my old Doctor Who haunts in a few months. But today I happened to pop in on Life, Doctor Who and Combom and there was a bit of Moff's interview hyping River Song and how she's the person the Doctor trusts most in the universe (now that Rose is in a different universe, I suppose) and how we are going to all be shocked, awed and overcome with dismay when we learn the truth about her.

Yeah, blah, blah, blah, blah, SQUIRREL!

We've heard it all before, Moff. What we haven't seen is much delivery on all this hot air.

So what interested me wasn't what Moff said, but that someone took a guess at River's identity in the comments...

...and I think their guess works very well, indeed, for the tone River has set with both Ten and Eleven. All of that Sweetie business.

River Song is the Doctor's nanny.

Even though this isn't my theory, I quite like it. But, I must ask...would that be the nanny I established for him in Disheveled? Because, to my knowledge, there was no human nanny for the Doctor in canon. It is weird when something I made up ends up in the show...or people think it is in the show. Perhaps, it is in the book canon somewhere or I've forgotten the canon that fits with it and got my idea from that. Does anybody know if the Doctor has mentioned a human nanny at some time?

It does make sense for him to have had a human nanny given Gallifreyan standards and practices (they did bring humans in and raise their kids in creches). And it would also explain his love of the species, which is why I gave him a human nanny in Disheveled. My premise being that she ruined him as a Time Lord. She could have a diary which he gave her many years before...maybe at HER retirement from service. And it would explain her knowing about TARDIS flying...and, yet, not being trapped by the time lock. And it explains why she is so pedantic and sure that he must recognize her. Gives him a bit of an implied Oedipal complex though...but still...acceptable, I think.

And if we could touch for just a moment on the Sarah Jane Adventures...what the hell is up with the crappy stuffed vulture puppets in the latest preview clip? I am not afraid of awkward hand puppets. I wasn't as a child, either.



Rae

Comments

[sensiblecat.livejournal.com]

I like the nanny idea - it would certainly diffuse the sexual tension in an intriguing and very English way. The nanny is, of course, a cornerstone of English juvenile fantasy in its golden age.

Which chapter was it where you mentioned his nanny? And is this where Ten got the last phrase he uttered while filming - "Spit spot!"?

[wickedgillie.livejournal.com]

That sort of development would amuse me greatly. I'd love to see it in fic if Moff doesn't come through (and I'm not expecting him to because he loves me even less than Uncle Rusty did)

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure exactly which chapter it is in, I would have to look. It's way back when he's discussing how he turned out wrong for a Time Lord. So probably after the second round of sex.

I know I drew it logically out of the idea of his mother being human from the Movie. That has always irked me and it is what sent me down that trail. And I combined it with thoughts about how humans might have been treated on Gallifrey.

I wanted him to explain himself to Rose and I wanted to explain his penchant for humans...so I had this idea that he and the Master and the Rani were raised by humans and picked up some of their traits...the Doctor picked up the idea of fixing things, making things better. It was also related to RTD's imprinting theory a bit in my mind, as I recall.

I do like the idea of River Song as his nanny...as you say...it is a very English idea. And her being a human from Gallifrey would explain a lot...Leela is one of those, after all. We know they existed.

Rae

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

It could even explain her name of River Song. Perhaps that is a lullaby she used to sing to him. And so she makes it an inside joke of sorts when she meets him again. And if humans on Gallifrey were not trapped by the time lock...then Susan's children or Leela might have survived...and it might be painful for him but also give him some sort of family out there in time and space.

It is a very good idea. But you are right, it is likely that Moff won't go with such a good idea.

Rae

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

And you know, I must say, that Stephen Moffat actually didn't disappoint me. He was just as lame as I imagined he would be, just as out of touch with the emotional core...but he gave us an ending that allows Ten and Rose to be together...and that is a huge gift. I also had a dream last night that he ended the show with a Doctor/Rose reunion...because Ten 2 and Rose were responsible for the Silence Falling...so he had to go stop them.

THAT...is too much to hope for though.

Rae

[susanb03.livejournal.com]

Interesting theory. Makes sense...in a way.

Oh I figured out why (I think) LJ is now blocked at my other job. It's linked to Facebook.....perhaps?