Doctor Who Thinky Thoughts, re: Rory
Sep. 12th, 2011 04:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jetpack_monkeyI think that the most telling (and honestly, heart-wrenching) moments in this last Doctor Who is when Rory says "You're making me like you." It's an accusation and an insult wrapped into one. Rory seems to think that the worst thing he can be is The Doctor. Rory is, after all, one thing that the Doctor can never be -- anchored. His feet are perpetually on the ground, providing that ground is close to Amy. Make him nigh-immortal? He doesn't go gallivanting off through space and time. He sits right where he is, all the time in the world, protecting the one person that's important to him. He makes a connection in his life and he sticks to it. The Doctor breaks every connection ever, sometimes harshly, sometimes for the good of the person and sometimes for the good of the universe, but mostly because he can't be bothered to hang around.
So it's not terribly surprising, in retrospect, that in a moment of crisis, Rory lashes out at the Doctor. Not just the Doctor as a person, but the Doctor as a concept, the Doctor as a type of person, one who has to make the terrible choices and break the bonds and whatnot. Rory's had his first taste of the Doctor's viewpoint, the Doctor's supposed responsibility. The Universe (and the Doctor's own mistake) forced Rory to make his first ever impossible choice. It's impossible because both options involved killing Amy. He makes the "easy" choice and it's probably the hardest thing he's ever done, but it leaves a terrible taste in his mouth. And here's the thing -- I think he recognizes that the Doctor makes these choices all the time, that the Doctor doesn't enjoy making these choices. He also recognizes that the Doctor accepts that this is what the Universe tastes like and he is, on some level, okay with it. He'd have to be, or he wouldn't go around playing the immortal God all of the time.
Rory calms down later and seems to be commiserating with the Doctor a little, but I don't think this is the end of Rory questioning the Doctor, his methods, and his place in the Universe. He's already seen one scenario where the Doctor has forced him to make a choice that involves hurting Amy. I wonder what he'll do to ensure that he never has to make that choice again?
Rory's intelligent and he absolutely loves Amy without reservation. I am afraid for any person that threatens Amy when Rory is about. I am especially afraid for the day that Rory realizes (or begins to believe) that the greatest danger to Amy is the Doctor.
So it's not terribly surprising, in retrospect, that in a moment of crisis, Rory lashes out at the Doctor. Not just the Doctor as a person, but the Doctor as a concept, the Doctor as a type of person, one who has to make the terrible choices and break the bonds and whatnot. Rory's had his first taste of the Doctor's viewpoint, the Doctor's supposed responsibility. The Universe (and the Doctor's own mistake) forced Rory to make his first ever impossible choice. It's impossible because both options involved killing Amy. He makes the "easy" choice and it's probably the hardest thing he's ever done, but it leaves a terrible taste in his mouth. And here's the thing -- I think he recognizes that the Doctor makes these choices all the time, that the Doctor doesn't enjoy making these choices. He also recognizes that the Doctor accepts that this is what the Universe tastes like and he is, on some level, okay with it. He'd have to be, or he wouldn't go around playing the immortal God all of the time.
Rory calms down later and seems to be commiserating with the Doctor a little, but I don't think this is the end of Rory questioning the Doctor, his methods, and his place in the Universe. He's already seen one scenario where the Doctor has forced him to make a choice that involves hurting Amy. I wonder what he'll do to ensure that he never has to make that choice again?
Rory's intelligent and he absolutely loves Amy without reservation. I am afraid for any person that threatens Amy when Rory is about. I am especially afraid for the day that Rory realizes (or begins to believe) that the greatest danger to Amy is the Doctor.
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no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 12:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 12:30 am (UTC)It's a shame the Brig's not around to thwap him over the head.
GIP
Date: 2011-09-13 12:35 am (UTC)Re: GIP
Date: 2011-09-13 02:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 12:35 am (UTC)He makes a connection in his life and he sticks to it. The Doctor breaks every connection ever
EXACTLY. That is the perfect way to put it.
He also recognizes that the Doctor accepts that this is what the Universe tastes like and he is, on some level, okay with it.
I thought another telling exchange (in an ep full of telling exchanges) was the one where Rory yells that the Doctor should research ("look in a history book!") where they're going so they can avoid plagues and the Doctor answers, "That's not how I travel" and then Rory yells, "Then I don't want to travel with you!" Rory is so not ok with how fast & loose the Doctor plays with situations, just being the whimsical man. And he's sort of right. Yeah, the Doctor makes a lot of impossible choices, but a lot of them could have been avoided, like this one.
OH RORY, YOU BROKE MY HEART IN THIS EP.
OH RORY, YOU BROKE MY HEART IN THIS EP.
Date: 2011-09-13 12:37 am (UTC)"sit down, rory."
Re: OH RORY, YOU BROKE MY HEART IN THIS EP.
Date: 2011-09-13 03:01 am (UTC)Seriously though, so much Rory character development. And I loved the rock band haircut story too. <3
Re: OH RORY, YOU BROKE MY HEART IN THIS EP.
Date: 2011-09-14 02:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 01:56 am (UTC)On a completely unrelated note, I thought the use of overlapping shots in this episode was really interesting (although kind of crap for vidders -- how dare they do interesting things to the visuals before we get our shot).
no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 03:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-15 12:07 am (UTC)Older!Amy broke my heart in this episode. So. Much.
[why don't I have an Amy icon]
no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 02:31 pm (UTC)My heart skipped a beat in that moment, and this is a brilliantly articulated explanation of why.
The fundamental tension between Rory's identity and the Doctor's underpins so much of what's going on right now, it kind of blows my mind.
no subject
Date: 2011-09-14 04:41 am (UTC)I approve this message in return! This. THIS is what I'm going for.
I think Rory's headed for some dark places, unfortunately, because the show is called Doctor Who, not Rory Is Awesome.
I'd watch Rory Is Awesome, however.
no subject
Date: 2011-09-14 11:50 am (UTC)My less-coherent thoughts...
Date: 2011-09-13 04:27 pm (UTC)Rule #2.
If Rory fails at something,Eff that. See Rule #1.Re: Rule #1
Date: 2011-09-14 02:26 am (UTC)