River joins the expedition on the hunt for the tomb of River Song…

Tim Foley’s clever, witty script for this box set opener doesn’t simply rely on the fun premise of two versions of River, in the way that too many encounters between incarnations of the Doctor do. It shows us a different side to the River we know (as different as Mels was from the woman she regenerated into) and the possibilities that might have arisen had certain nefarious plans come to fruition. It’s not a cheat: this really is River (albeit from that rapidly-becoming-hackneyed plot device of a multiverse – seriously, can we declare a moratorium on this until Marvel stops bleeding the idea dry?) but one who hasn’t had the same influences.

There are some strong moments for Alex Kingston and Mimî M Khayisa (who’s credited as “Other River Song” from the start) both separately and together – I’d love to have been eavesdropping on the scenes between our River and Beatrix Potter, but the throwaway lines that we get work well. Ken Bentley marshals his cast well and the changes that come about as the story progresses feel earned.

Verdict: As with so many of these sorts of team-up, you come away hoping for a repeat – but it makes for a stronger story knowing it’s a one-off. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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