I loved these shows, though my kids were scared silly by the first episode. Moffat has written the two best “non companion” companions of NuWho – Sally Sparrow and River Song. He obviously likes to play with timey wimey things as well since both this story and Blink have moments where the Doctor is faced with his future. I had heard that Moffat intended a second show with River, but that had to be cancelled when Tennant resigned.
I think River obviously only knew the 10th doctor. We will never know what she whispered to him, but it obviously shocked him. Was this surprise due to her saying something like “I’m your wife” or “I know your real name?”. Who knows. It doesn’t really matter, it was the result that was obvious.
Did the Doctor take River as a lover? Was he watching the death of a true love? Or has he gone through this cycle before and this time used his Time Lord mojo to save a woman he really admired – to end the story happily so “no one dies”? There is some evidence here. He has planted certain cues in River that would/should give him the means to save the group at the end.
Image this. The first time around he is called to the library by a friend (much as Boe did) who he does not recognize. He tries to sacrifice himself to save the group (in depressive moods he seems more than willing to do this) only to be hoodwinked by River – who does the deed and ends her life. THEN, he meets River for HER first time.
Was this story just about the Doctor changing the time line to save someone? He would plant clues and devices with River to give himself the needed kick in the pants at the appointed time.
Were they lovers? Who knows, though it seems likely. And if they were lovers, I doubt it was due so much to River’s wonderful personality (though it was) and more to the fact that the Doctor knew he could never hurt or disappoint her. He would never abandon her and he already knew when she would die as he had witnessed it.
As for continuity, we don’t see every moment of the Doctor’s life. We never saw the adventure he and Martha were on when the stone angels took them, we never saw the adventure they were on as they ran past Sally. We didn’t see the adventure the doctor was on in the forest memory scene from the Agatha Christie Wasp adventure. Any time he is out of our sight, he is having adventures. Any time he is out of our sight and away from a companion, those adventures can last hundreds of years – assuming no other continuity reference.
In the past, fans have had to make similar assumptions. The 4th doctor was about 450ish (though he states different ages) and the 7th doctor was over 1000. (Oddly, the 10th was younger). Fans assume the Doctor lies a bit about his age, but still the great span of years suggest the show does not show all. Many books have been shoved into the continuity cracks that have been left. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a River book or two in the future.
Not all of the companions have been from the present day, though the great majority have been. The 2nd doctor had one companion from the distant past and one from the far future, [spoiler] both of whom were forced by the Time Lords back to their respective time lines with their memories removed. (Even Donna’s fate is not unique) [/spoiler] Leela was a human from an old dead colony some time far in the future, Romana was from Galifrey, Nissa was from Traken, Adric from E-space and Jack Harkness from the future, etc.
