Doctor Who Christmas Special Review: The Husbands of River Song

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Doctor River Doctor Who The Husbands of River Song

The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and River Song (Alex Kingston) reunite

Doctor Who is like an old family friend who visits on Christmas Day–prompting past memories, eliciting conversations, and bringing multiple generations together. The 2015 Doctor Who Christmas special, “The Husbands of River Song,” provided us moments of loss and love framed within a tale full of excitement and humor. In holiday fashion, Doctor Who reminds us that it’s the connections we have with others, whether running from a headless cyborg or sitting down for a meal together, that gives the story of our lives meaning.

 

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The Hoot Owl of Death

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Birds of omen dark and foul,
Night-crow, raven, bat, and owl,
Leave the sick man to his dream—
All night long he heard your scream.
— Sir Walter Scott

Throughout many cultural traditions, Owls have been considered harbingers of bad luck, ill health, or death.

In most Native American tribes, Owls signify death. The call of the Owl is considered an unlucky omen. Some tribes believe the hoot of an Owl indicates that someone is going to die. Owls are known as messengers and companions for the gods of death. As a messenger of death, the Owl is not evil, but it can be foreboding. They carry messages from beyond the grave and when tribal taboos are broken, Owls deliver a supernatural warning. Owls are associated with ghosts among some Native American tribes because it is understood that the bony circles around an Owl’s eyes are made from the fingernails of ghosts.

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