Doctor Who has always gone toward the crazy side of the fantastic, but it’s really outdone itself this season, with the origin story of River Song (Alex Kingston). We now know that River is Melody Pond, the daughter of Companions Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill). At any age, in any form, this woman is serious trouble. After regenerating in 1970’s New York, she grew up alongside her parents, posing as Amy’s ne’er do well childhood friend Mels. Oh, and there’s that pesky matter of her having killed The Doctor. Twice.
It’s been revealed that River/Melody was the little girl who shot Eleven in “The Impossible Astronaut.” This week, in “Let’s Kill Hitler,” she got him with toxic lip gloss. Granted, she did use her regenerative energy to resurrect him, but she poisoned him first.
I can’t think of any other show where a character could be pegged for the murder of the protagonist whose name is in the title of the program and not be vilified, yet River was and still is pretty freaking popular among Whovians. She’s got a pretty long proverbial leash, doesn’t she?
(To be fair, Captain Jack Harkness killed his own grandson in Torchwood: Children of Earth, which was even more uncomfortable to watch, but he was also trying to save the human race.)
In that vein, “Let’s Kill Hitler” is really the second half of River’s tale. After all, it’s a young River, still posing as Mels, who speaks the title. Let’s put aside the miniaturized people piloting the shape-shifting humanoid robot, including one who suspiciously looks like a pre-eyepatch Madame Kovarian. And let’s not worry about the fact that Hitler really has little to do with anything (he spends most of his appearance shut in a cupboard). “Let’s Kill Hitler” is more about the murder and subsequent reanimation of The Doctor by someone he trusts most.
We’re served multiple ontological paradoxes — not the first in Doctor Who continuity, mind you — with a bittersweet twist.
Do we turn against River/Melody for killing The Doctor (twice)? Or do we keep rooting for her because of all the assists she’s given him and the Companions in the past?
I honestly find myself taking a little bit from both sides of the argument. On one hand, the show’s called Doctor Who, so the death of the main character’s pretty significant. It should make us shocked, upset, and angry. If he died and we didn’t care, Steven Moffat and Co. would have a problem. So no, I’m not too thrilled that River offed him (twice).
Yet we have to give her some points back for saving him this time. And she helped to bring The Doctor back in another way at the end of “The Big Bang.” By that score, maybe she’s even. Then again, she also steals buses and keeps ending up in various prisons. …
What I am sure about is that it’s probably not a good idea for Amy and Rory to have any more kids. This one’s enough of a handful.
Clacked by Brittany Frederick 
on Aug 27, 2011 @ 22:47 EST5EDT
On a slightly tangential note, one thing I found interesting was that in an indirect way this episode answered one of the questions regarding the Doctor and regenerations. It’s often been asked if the Doctor could regenerate into a different gender and/or ethnicity, to which the answer has always seemed to be, “Sure. It’s possible.” While it was possible, we’ve never seen it happen before.
With the introduction of Mels we get a definitive answer to part of that question. I wonder if this could be a way of opening up the door for a non-caucasian actor to one day take the titular role? I think it would be great to see it happen and now we know it can.
*POST AUTHOR*
I think that would be fantastic. It reminds me of how Yaphet Kotto auditioned for the role of Picard in Star Trek: TNG. He would have also been another amazing choice. I think there are probably quite a few ethnic actors (or even actresses) who would make interesting and capable Doctors at some time.
It was widely speculated that Paterson Joseph might replace David Tennant before Matt Smith was eventually selected. I’ve seen the actor in many roles, both dramatic and comedic, and he would be an excellent choice.
My guess is that the next doctor will be a woman… and a ginger. It’s about time for both.
I guess the reason no ones feelings for River are shifting is that no one I know really believes the Doctor’s death will stick. Time being wibbly wobbly (though the revelation that his death is a fixed point makes that harder to work with) and the fact that both the series and Matt Smith are confirmed through 2013 makes me feel like Moffat still has some tricks up his sleeves with regards to the Doctor’s death.
This episode was very interesting.
I didn’t see Mels coming when it was right in front of my face. That is what got me this episode.
I did love the entire back and forth between River and The Doctor. It was a duel that The Doctor lost but wound up ending in a draw. There were some things that seemed to stand out as points; River spent her regenerations on the Doctor. That may come back and be written as the way to get past what I believe is the 13th regeneration cap. That the Doctor’s death is a fixed point in time. Most events seem to be as well, but that time as well can change. With the Saldeen earlier in the series, we saw that time can branch off in other directions it just didn’t happen that time. Maybe forcing another event can trigger a time change.
I’ve often wondered if the number of regenerations wouldn’t simply be extended by virtue of the fact that the first 2 times we see the Doctor change they aren’t technically regenerations.
After Hartnell changes to Troughton it’s referred to as a “renewal” and is linked to the TARDIS. When Troughton changes to Pertwee, it’s a process forced upon him by the Time Lords and referred to only as “a change of appearance” and not due to the Doctor dying or being severely wounded. It was a punishment forced upon the Doctor by the Time Lords for interfering in the affairs of others. I believe this was also when the TARDIS was forced to remain stuck on Earth for a number of years.
I know it’s splitting hairs, but we all know the regeneration limit is going to be removed or extended. I’d venture to guess that the method by which this is explained will have nothing to do with River’s giving of her regenerations or by the fact that the first 2 times the Doctor changes were not really regenerations as we’ve come to know them. If Moffatt’s still in the driver’s seat when the limit is reached I bet he’ll have some intricate and imaginative way of breaking that barrier which doesn’t require any of these past events at all.
While I know saying goodbye to each Doctor is inevitable, I sincerely hope we somehow get one more season (or even a season of specials ala Tennant’s finish) of Matt Smith. He has certainly grown on me.
Smith has signed on for series 7, but has indicated that he would like to try his hand at motion pictures. He hasn’t ruled out being part of series 8, though, but he’s not committing to anything beyond next series at this time. I’d like to see his run rival that of Tom Baker’s, but I’m pretty sure he won’t stay around that long.
Also, you mention her being confirmed as the person who shot the Doctor in “The Impossible Astronaut.” While she was seen in the space suit, I don’t think it’s actually the same space suit that came out of the water… after all, why would she be trying to kill him now if she already completed her mission as a child. I have a theory, but that’ll come for my turn at the review this weekend.
*POST AUTHOR*
That was my thought as well, Katie, but it seems to be the leading inference, so I’m going to stick with it until I get concrete confirmation that it’s wrong. Considering that, as others have pointed out above, time is considered to be quite fluid in DW continuity, I wouldn’t be surprised if that changes at a later date (especially since we know there’s little to no chance that the Doctor’s death actually sticks).
I am amazed at how dark this Matt Smith’s Doctor is compared to David Tennant’s or even Christopher Eccleston’s. In those Doctors, I could find little things to smile at but with this one, it seems like it is gloom and doom all the time. I didn’t realize how much he didn’t like himself until he was looking for the voice integration. Whew…