jetpack_monkey | Doctor Who Thinky Thoughts, re: Rory

I 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.