If it helps any, I had *just* written this to Cinderbella and then I happened to go read that essay and my jaw dropped. I think your Doctor/River Spuffy comparison is largely about interpersonal dynamics, but this is more about character construction and place in the narrative and the philosophical questions that raises.

I'm gonna argue that River may not be so much the Doctor's Spike as she's his GilesSpikeDawn ; )