River's timeline is making my brain hurt

[niyalune]

Please help me figure this out !

Spoilers up to 6x07.

Comments

[arkadelos]

I think River's timeline essentially goes backwards, but can tend to bounce around a lot

[rhiannon_s]

Yeah, it isn't purely back to front, it is also jumbled up. It is a back and forth, jumbley-wumbley, timey-wimey life.

[wulfae]

If it was purely back to front, then there would be no point in the books, because neither she nor the Doctor would have any experiences in common.

I think she's just saying 'his past is my future' to sort of simplify explaining it to everyone.

[rinnychan]

Agreed. It's not set in stone that they will always meet in the exact wrong order, but rather a coincidence that happens repeatedly.

[niyalune]

Well said. I also think they're going only mostly in opposite directions, not totally. It would be a bit dull otherwise ^^
Although, I wonder when the Doctor will realise they're mostly back to front and if he'll have another reaction than "spoilers are frustrating". River is understandably upset about it :(