Written by Tim Foley

Starring Alex Kingston

Originally released : January 2023

Listened to: May 2025

Episodes:

11.1 The Rules of the House
11.2 The Key to the Door
11.3 The Bird from the Nest
11.4 The Isle on the Shore

Context: Back to the River Song series and we are getting close to the end of this 12 boxset run, epic! I started this journey some time ago. I always enjoy these boxsets, so was happy to smash through this one as I await the next Dark Gallifrey to be released. Alex Kingstone is brilliant, in ALL ways, so always look forward to a new set of adventures with River Song x

THE REVIEW – What I thought: I had heard that folks really liked this one so I had some expectations before, however I wasnt aware of anything specific story wise. I started this on a long walk and I got sucked in pretty quickly, with the notion of River meeting the same family across different time periods being a really interetsing plot device. I cant lie, I struggle sitting here attempting to differentiate one episode from the next as they are all so intrinsically linked. That is not to say the whole isn’t really good, I think it is, and I got sucked in quickly. I smashed through all the episodes very quickly, such great fun and depth, the building momentum to the finale.

The way the characters in this one develop, and the sadness inherant in the Mortimor family history in particular was so well acted, very moving as we hurtle toward the final episoide. I have to say I kinda worked out what was going to happen someway through the third episode, to some extent anyway, and as a result I wasnt as moved by the ending as I was expecting to be, but it was super sad and uplifting in equal measure, possibly the most emotional set of episodes I have ever listened to on BF…more of this please!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Hearts – very strong set of episodes, very cleverly linked together across different time zones, with River playing such an important role in one families past, present and future. Lovely script and lovely performances, highly recommend.

What I felt:

Sad, uplifted and a bit more contented with my own ‘lot’ after listening to this one. One that stayed with me emotionally.

What am I left thinking?

• Why we dont get more of this type of emotional story (perfect for River range but could maybe work for other series)?
• Not a lot more, its a perfectly contained boxset this one, very clear wrap up, great acting, really nice stuff

Memorable bits

• Lots of examples, the wedding of course, and also the shooting, River giving Maddie just a bit more time
• Lots of great LGBTQ+ relationships in here, portrayed so well…fun, moving, drama…the lot
• Fantastic series of cliffhangers!
• Nice robot butler vibes – love Hugo!
• Cook is great, and has a great ending