Rory Williams
Encyclopedia
Rory Williams is a fictional character portrayed by Arthur Darvill
in the long-running British
science fiction television
series Doctor Who
. Having been introduced at the start of the 5th series, Rory joins the Eleventh Doctor
(Matt Smith) as a companion
in the middle of Series 5
. As Amy Pond
's fiancé, Rory is initially insecure around the Doctor because he believes Amy secretly loves the Doctor more. Later, however, he proves to be a hero in his own right, and he and Amy marry. The couple conceive Melody Pond
while in the time vortex
aboard the TARDIS
, but the baby is kidnapped at birth. Rory and Amy discover their daughter's identity as River Song, and become in-laws to the Doctor when he marries River in The Wedding of River Song
.
; the pair grow up in Leadworth, a fictional quiet village near Gloucester
, in South West England
, along with their friend Mels
who secretly knows herself to be their future daughter. The kids frequently played dress up, with Amy insisting Rory dress as her presumably imaginary friend the "Raggedy Doctor". Amelia takes advantage of his submissive nature, sending him off to hide in games of hide-and-seek with no intention of looking for him, or letting him wander about blindfolded in blind man's buff
while avoiding him. It is revealed on the Doctor Who website that Rory's interest in nursing actually sprang from these childhood scenarios, perhaps further driven by his desire to impress Amy and live up to her expectations. He learned to play the guitar after trying to explain a bad haircut to Amelia by claiming to be in a band.
Amelia first kisses Rory while dancing the macarena
. Between Amelia's self-identification as "counting as a boy" and Rory's fear of making his feelings known to her, she is oblivious to Rory's love for her. As he has never displayed interest in any other girl, Amy assumes Rory is gay and therefore declines to act on her own attraction toward him. A year or two before the Doctor returns to Leadworth, Mels reveals Rory and Amy's feelings about each other, thus triggering their relationship and ultimately ensuring her own existence.
" (2010), in which his friendship with Amy (Karen Gillan
) has evolved into a romantic relationship. In 2008, he works as a nurse at the local hospital, and is curious about coma patients whom he sees in the village green, Prisoner Zero having taken their forms as disguise. He is shocked to meet Amy's 'imaginary' "Raggedy Doctor" (the Eleventh Doctor
, portrayed by Matt Smith in the tattered remains of the Tenth Doctor
's attire), whom he instantly recognises.
During the next two years, the couple become engaged to marry. The Doctor returns on the eve of Rory and Amy's wedding, and she travels in time with him but returns the same night. After Amy attempts to seduce the Doctor, the Doctor takes her and Rory to 1580s Venice
to repair the couple's relationship. Rory, who has always held a slight resentment toward the Doctor for his clear connection to Amy and her initial interest in him, grows increasingly annoyed and even paranoid with the Time Lord's relationship with Amy, which is worsened by the Doctor's announcement that Amy kissed him as well as by her clear affection for him throughout the episode. When Rory suggests going back to Leadworth at the end of the episode, Amy invites him to travel with them; the Doctor agrees and Rory accepts. In the episode "Amy's Choice
", in a shared realistic dream
where he is married to a pregnant Amy, he tells her with his dying breath to look after their baby, which causes Amy to realise how much she loves him. Rory travels with the Doctor and Amy until "Cold Blood
", in which he is shot dead after saving the Doctor and then absorbed by a crack in time and space, erasing him from existence and from Amy's memory.
He appears in "The Pandorica Opens
", as a Roman soldier in AD 102
, but is revealed to be a plastic duplicate
with Rory's memories. He attempts to fight his Auton programming, but unwillingly shoots Amy. In the series 5
finale episode, "The Big Bang
", the duplicate Rory releases the Doctor from the Pandorica, and preserves Amy in stasis, watching over her 1,894 years. He becomes known as the "Last Centurion", guarding the Pandorica wherever it was taken. He drags it to safety when its London warehouse is destroyed during The Blitz
, and continues to watch over Amy in the guise of a museum security guard. The Auton Rory assists the Doctor, Amy, and River Song
(Alex Kingston
) to save the universe from the explosion that caused the cracks in time.
Restored to his original timeline, with at least some of the memories of his Auton existence intact, Rory marries Amy. When the Doctor arrives for the reception, he refers to Rory as "Mr Pond". Rory initially objects, then admits that is effectively the case. The Doctor drops off Rory and Amy for their honeymoon, during which the Doctor needs to prevent their interstellar cruiseship from crashing, in the 2010 Christmas special "A Christmas Carol". During their honeymoon, Amy and Rory are revealed to continue their childhood penchant for role-play; she appears in her skimpy kiss-o-gram policewoman's outfit and he in his centurion's uniform.
as a full-time companion. After the Doctor saves their cruise ship from crashing,, Rory and Amy re-join him in the TARDIS. During the "Space" and "Time"
charity specials, Rory is distracted by a view up his wife's skirt through the glass floor while assisting the Doctor with TARDIS maintenance. The TARDIS is inadvertently trapped in a recursive loop with its exterior inside its interior. After a period of time travelling with the Doctor, Rory and Amy return to Leadworth for two months, before they are again reunited with the Doctor.
Although he considers the Doctor a friend, Rory's relationship with the Time Lord is complicated by his suspicion that Amy may love the Doctor more than him. In "Day of the Moon
", he misinterprets ambiguous statements of Amy's affections over a one-way communication channel to refer to the Doctor instead of himself. His concerns are allayed when she later alludes to the comments in reference to him. Rory's insecurities are further complicated when he overhears a conversation between Amy and the Doctor via a microchip that had previously been embedded in Amy's hand, but after its removal acted as a live feed to her voice. Here, Amy admits to the Doctor that she never told Rory she thought she was pregnant, which is received by her husband on the other end with hurt and disbelief. Although Rory is wounded by Amy's exclusion in this information, he quickly forgives her when he realizes his wife's intent was genuine, as she was concerned there would be a problem with the baby after traveling in the TARDIS so frequently.
Sometime prior to "The Rebel Flesh
", the Doctor learns that Amy's mind is unknowingly inhabiting a "Flesh" avatar, and that the real Amy had been kidnapped. Not yet realising the truth at the conclusion of "The Almost People
", Rory is initially protective when the Doctor tells him to step away from Amy, but then trusts the Doctor, allowing him to destroy the duplicate just as Amy's true body goes into labour. Amy gives birth to their daughter Melody Pond, between "The Almost People" and "A Good Man Goes To War
", who is kidnapped and replaced by a Flesh version, as Rory and the Doctor battle to reach them. Rory exhibits his courage and resolve by facing down a group of Cybermen and destroying their fleet with help from the Doctor. Rory's memories of being a centurion in the alternate timeline enable him to fight the Headless Monks. After the battle, Rory tends to a dying Sontaran
nurse who, in his final words, speaks of his and Rory's dichotomy of being simultaneously a warrior and a nurse. At the end of the episode River Song
appears and reveals to Amy and Rory that she is their daughter, Melody. "Let's Kill Hitler
" sees Rory and Amy discover that their childhood friend Mels is also Melody, and witness her regeneration into the form of River Song. Flashback scenes in "Let's Kill Hitler" show a young Rory with Amelia and Mels, played by Ezekiel Wigglesworth.
As his travels with the Doctor continue, Rory becomes more aware of the potential dangers of life aboard the TARDIS. After a mistake by the Doctor creates a version of Amy that had grown old while waiting for rescue, Rory states that he does not wish to travel with the Doctor if the Time Lord continues to put them at risk. The Doctor eventually forces Rory to choose between the older Amy and a younger version, but the older Amy sacrifices herself before Rory can choose.
In "The God Complex
" Rory is the only one of the TARDIS crew who is not hunted by the creature that feeds on faith. The Doctor speculates that this is because Rory has no personal faith of his own. Rory also states that after traveling in the TARDIS there was little he was afraid of any more. The Doctor eventually realises the danger he is exposing his friends to and at the end of the adventure, he returns Amy and Rory to Earth, giving them a house and a car (Rory's favorite make and model) as a going away present.
When River creates an alternate reality by avoiding killing the Doctor at Lake Silencio, Rory is now "Captain Williams", a soldier under the orders of Amy Pond. Although the two are not a couple in this version of history, Rory is still in love with Amy, serving her loyally as her dependable soldier. He almost sacrifices himself in battle against the Silence, but is rescued by Amy at the last minute. The two witness to River's marriage to the Doctor. In the restored timeline, Rory and Amy are still married and Amy has become a model/spokeswoman for a line of perfume. They are visited by their daughter River, who tells them the secret that the Doctor is still alive.
reviewer Morgan Jeffery wrote, "One of the key elements in Doctor Who is obviously the sense of danger and the lingering presence of death, but Rory's repeated demises and resurrections are now becoming so frequent that comparisons to South Park
Kenny
seem almost inevitable." In a review for "The Doctor's Wife", Neela Debnath of The Independent
announced that "Rory-gets-killed fatigue has now officially set in". On the other hand, SFX awarded Rory the third spot in the top 10 resurrections of science fiction TV, saying that "it's becoming a cliché. But it's not one we mind too much, mainly because it's always done with such gusto. Except, perhaps, in the pirates episode
which was a fairly gusto free zone all round".
However, critics have celebrated the increased opportunities for Rory to be heroic in series 6. Following the airing of "A Good Man Goes to War
", io9
's Charlie Jane Anders compared the character to Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
(Alexis Denisof
), whose arc in the American television programmes Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
similarly saw him transition from laughable comic relief to a genuine warrior. Anders comments: "Yes, we're thrilled that Rory is getting his Wesley Wyndam-Pryce on. Badass Rory is, as we already observed, totally badass. But this episode exemplified the recent trend towards Amy being reduced to a bystander, victim, or worse."
Rory's transformation into a heroic character has also led to a series of "Rory Williams Facts" in the style of the popular Chuck Norris Facts
internet meme.
The Radio Times
blog singled the character out for praise- "As a traveller in the Tardis, Rory probably speaks for the audience far more than past companions have. Sure, we all like to think we'd spring into action just like the Doctor. But in truth, if we joined an eccentric alien on a journey through time and space, we'd probably be more Rory than Rose
."
Arthur Darvill
Thomas Arthur Darvill is an English actor, known professionally as Arthur Darvill. He is noted for his work in the plays Terre Haute and Swimming with Sharks , but is probably best known for his role as the Eleventh Doctor's Companion Rory Williams in the television series Doctor Who.-Early and...
in the long-running British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction television
Science fiction on television
Science fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...
series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. Having been introduced at the start of the 5th series, Rory joins the Eleventh Doctor
Eleventh Doctor
The Eleventh Doctor is the eleventh incarnation of the protagonist of the BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. Matt Smith plays this incarnation, replacing David Tennant's Tenth Doctor in the 2010 episode "The End of Time, Part Two"...
(Matt Smith) as a companion
Companion (Doctor Who)
In the long-running BBC television science fiction programme Doctor Who and related works, the term "companion" refers to a character who travels with, and shares the adventures of the Doctor. In most Doctor Who stories, the primary companion acts as both deuteragonist and audience surrogate...
in the middle of Series 5
Doctor Who (series 5)
The fifth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who began on 3 April 2010 with "The Eleventh Hour" and ended with "The Big Bang" on 26 June 2010. The series was led by head writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, who took over after the departure of Russell T Davies. The...
. As Amy Pond
Amy Pond
Amelia Jessica 'Amy' Pond is a fictional character portrayed by Karen Gillan in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
's fiancé, Rory is initially insecure around the Doctor because he believes Amy secretly loves the Doctor more. Later, however, he proves to be a hero in his own right, and he and Amy marry. The couple conceive Melody Pond
River Song (Doctor Who)
River Song is a fictional character played primarily by Alex Kingston in the British science-fiction series Doctor Who. River Song was introduced to the series as an experienced future companion of series protagonist the Doctor, an alien Time Lord who travels through time in his TARDIS...
while in the time vortex
Time vortex (Doctor Who)
In the science fiction television series Doctor Who, the time vortex is the medium that the TARDIS and other time machines travel through...
aboard the TARDIS
TARDIS
The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
, but the baby is kidnapped at birth. Rory and Amy discover their daughter's identity as River Song, and become in-laws to the Doctor when he marries River in The Wedding of River Song
The Wedding of River Song
"The Wedding of River Song" is the thirteenth and final episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One, BBC America and Space on 1 October 2011.-Plot:...
.
Early life
From childhood, Rory Williams is a close friend of Amelia "Amy" PondAmy Pond
Amelia Jessica 'Amy' Pond is a fictional character portrayed by Karen Gillan in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
; the pair grow up in Leadworth, a fictional quiet village near Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, in South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
, along with their friend Mels
River Song (Doctor Who)
River Song is a fictional character played primarily by Alex Kingston in the British science-fiction series Doctor Who. River Song was introduced to the series as an experienced future companion of series protagonist the Doctor, an alien Time Lord who travels through time in his TARDIS...
who secretly knows herself to be their future daughter. The kids frequently played dress up, with Amy insisting Rory dress as her presumably imaginary friend the "Raggedy Doctor". Amelia takes advantage of his submissive nature, sending him off to hide in games of hide-and-seek with no intention of looking for him, or letting him wander about blindfolded in blind man's buff
Blind man's buff
Blind man's buff or blind man's bluff is a children's game, a variant of tag. The traditional name of the game is "blind man's buff", wherein the word buff is used in its older sense of a small push...
while avoiding him. It is revealed on the Doctor Who website that Rory's interest in nursing actually sprang from these childhood scenarios, perhaps further driven by his desire to impress Amy and live up to her expectations. He learned to play the guitar after trying to explain a bad haircut to Amelia by claiming to be in a band.
Amelia first kisses Rory while dancing the macarena
Macarena (song)
"Macarena" is a Spanish dance song by Los del Río about a woman of the same name. Appearing on the 1994 album A mí me gusta, it was an international hit between 1995 and 1996, and continues to have a cult following. It was ranked the "#1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder of all Time" by VH1 in 2002.The song...
. Between Amelia's self-identification as "counting as a boy" and Rory's fear of making his feelings known to her, she is oblivious to Rory's love for her. As he has never displayed interest in any other girl, Amy assumes Rory is gay and therefore declines to act on her own attraction toward him. A year or two before the Doctor returns to Leadworth, Mels reveals Rory and Amy's feelings about each other, thus triggering their relationship and ultimately ensuring her own existence.
Series 5 (2010)
Rory is introduced in "The Eleventh HourThe Eleventh Hour (Doctor Who)
"The Eleventh Hour" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One and BBC HD on 3 April 2010....
" (2010), in which his friendship with Amy (Karen Gillan
Karen Gillan
Karen Sheila Gillan is a Scottish actress and former model who is best known for her current portrayal of Amy Pond in the British science fiction series Doctor Who.-Early life:...
) has evolved into a romantic relationship. In 2008, he works as a nurse at the local hospital, and is curious about coma patients whom he sees in the village green, Prisoner Zero having taken their forms as disguise. He is shocked to meet Amy's 'imaginary' "Raggedy Doctor" (the Eleventh Doctor
Eleventh Doctor
The Eleventh Doctor is the eleventh incarnation of the protagonist of the BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. Matt Smith plays this incarnation, replacing David Tennant's Tenth Doctor in the 2010 episode "The End of Time, Part Two"...
, portrayed by Matt Smith in the tattered remains of the Tenth Doctor
Tenth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who appears in three series, as well as eight specials...
's attire), whom he instantly recognises.
During the next two years, the couple become engaged to marry. The Doctor returns on the eve of Rory and Amy's wedding, and she travels in time with him but returns the same night. After Amy attempts to seduce the Doctor, the Doctor takes her and Rory to 1580s Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
to repair the couple's relationship. Rory, who has always held a slight resentment toward the Doctor for his clear connection to Amy and her initial interest in him, grows increasingly annoyed and even paranoid with the Time Lord's relationship with Amy, which is worsened by the Doctor's announcement that Amy kissed him as well as by her clear affection for him throughout the episode. When Rory suggests going back to Leadworth at the end of the episode, Amy invites him to travel with them; the Doctor agrees and Rory accepts. In the episode "Amy's Choice
Amy's Choice (Doctor Who)
"Amy's Choice" is the seventh episode in the fifth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast on BBC One on 15 May 2010...
", in a shared realistic dream
Dream argument
The dream argument is the postulation that the act of dreaming provides preliminary evidence that the senses we trust to distinguish reality from illusion should not be fully trusted, and therefore any state that is dependent on our senses should at the very least be carefully examined and...
where he is married to a pregnant Amy, he tells her with his dying breath to look after their baby, which causes Amy to realise how much she loves him. Rory travels with the Doctor and Amy until "Cold Blood
Cold Blood (Doctor Who)
"Cold Blood" is the ninth episode in the fifth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was broadcast on Saturday 29 May 2010...
", in which he is shot dead after saving the Doctor and then absorbed by a crack in time and space, erasing him from existence and from Amy's memory.
He appears in "The Pandorica Opens
The Pandorica Opens
"The Pandorica Opens" is the twelfth episode, and first in a two-part story, in the fifth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who, broadcast on 19 June 2010. The Doctor's friends send him a warning; he deals with a message on a cliff, a mysterious box and a love story that...
", as a Roman soldier in AD 102
102
Year 102 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Ursus and Sura...
, but is revealed to be a plastic duplicate
Auton
The Autons are an artificial life form from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and adversaries of the Doctor. First appearing in Jon Pertwee's first serial as the Doctor, Spearhead from Space in 1970, they were the first monsters on the show to be presented in colour.Autons...
with Rory's memories. He attempts to fight his Auton programming, but unwillingly shoots Amy. In the series 5
Doctor Who (series 5)
The fifth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who began on 3 April 2010 with "The Eleventh Hour" and ended with "The Big Bang" on 26 June 2010. The series was led by head writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, who took over after the departure of Russell T Davies. The...
finale episode, "The Big Bang
The Big Bang (Doctor Who)
"The Big Bang" is the 13th and final episode in the fifth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It is the second part of a two-part season finale started with "The Pandorica Opens", at the end of which The Doctor is trapped, the TARDIS destroyed, and Amy Pond has been shot...
", the duplicate Rory releases the Doctor from the Pandorica, and preserves Amy in stasis, watching over her 1,894 years. He becomes known as the "Last Centurion", guarding the Pandorica wherever it was taken. He drags it to safety when its London warehouse is destroyed during The Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
, and continues to watch over Amy in the guise of a museum security guard. The Auton Rory assists the Doctor, Amy, and River Song
River Song (Doctor Who)
River Song is a fictional character played primarily by Alex Kingston in the British science-fiction series Doctor Who. River Song was introduced to the series as an experienced future companion of series protagonist the Doctor, an alien Time Lord who travels through time in his TARDIS...
(Alex Kingston
Alex Kingston
Alexandra Elizabeth "Alex" Kingston is an English actress. She is most widely known for her roles as Dr. Elizabeth Corday on the NBC medical drama ER and as River Song in Doctor Who.-Early life and education:...
) to save the universe from the explosion that caused the cracks in time.
Restored to his original timeline, with at least some of the memories of his Auton existence intact, Rory marries Amy. When the Doctor arrives for the reception, he refers to Rory as "Mr Pond". Rory initially objects, then admits that is effectively the case. The Doctor drops off Rory and Amy for their honeymoon, during which the Doctor needs to prevent their interstellar cruiseship from crashing, in the 2010 Christmas special "A Christmas Carol". During their honeymoon, Amy and Rory are revealed to continue their childhood penchant for role-play; she appears in her skimpy kiss-o-gram policewoman's outfit and he in his centurion's uniform.
Series 6 (2011)
Rory appears in series 6Doctor Who (series 6)
The sixth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who was shown in two parts. The first seven episodes were broadcast from April to June 2011 and the final six episodes from August to October. Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill continued their roles as The Doctor, Amy...
as a full-time companion. After the Doctor saves their cruise ship from crashing,, Rory and Amy re-join him in the TARDIS. During the "Space" and "Time"
Space and Time (Doctor Who)
"Space" and "Time" are two mini-episodes of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. They were broadcast on 18 March 2011 as part of BBC One's Red Nose Day telethon for the charity Comic Relief...
charity specials, Rory is distracted by a view up his wife's skirt through the glass floor while assisting the Doctor with TARDIS maintenance. The TARDIS is inadvertently trapped in a recursive loop with its exterior inside its interior. After a period of time travelling with the Doctor, Rory and Amy return to Leadworth for two months, before they are again reunited with the Doctor.
Although he considers the Doctor a friend, Rory's relationship with the Time Lord is complicated by his suspicion that Amy may love the Doctor more than him. In "Day of the Moon
Day of the Moon
"Day of the Moon" is the second episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by show runner Steven Moffat, and directed by Toby Haynes, the episode was first broadcast on 30 April 2011 on BBC One in the United Kingdom and on BBC America in the...
", he misinterprets ambiguous statements of Amy's affections over a one-way communication channel to refer to the Doctor instead of himself. His concerns are allayed when she later alludes to the comments in reference to him. Rory's insecurities are further complicated when he overhears a conversation between Amy and the Doctor via a microchip that had previously been embedded in Amy's hand, but after its removal acted as a live feed to her voice. Here, Amy admits to the Doctor that she never told Rory she thought she was pregnant, which is received by her husband on the other end with hurt and disbelief. Although Rory is wounded by Amy's exclusion in this information, he quickly forgives her when he realizes his wife's intent was genuine, as she was concerned there would be a problem with the baby after traveling in the TARDIS so frequently.
Sometime prior to "The Rebel Flesh
The Rebel Flesh
"The Rebel Flesh" is the fifth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on 21 May 2011 on BBC One and on BBC America in the United States...
", the Doctor learns that Amy's mind is unknowingly inhabiting a "Flesh" avatar, and that the real Amy had been kidnapped. Not yet realising the truth at the conclusion of "The Almost People
The Almost People
"The Almost People" is the sixth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One on 28 May 2011...
", Rory is initially protective when the Doctor tells him to step away from Amy, but then trusts the Doctor, allowing him to destroy the duplicate just as Amy's true body goes into labour. Amy gives birth to their daughter Melody Pond, between "The Almost People" and "A Good Man Goes To War
A Good Man Goes to War
"A Good Man Goes to War" is the seventh episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One on 4 June 2011...
", who is kidnapped and replaced by a Flesh version, as Rory and the Doctor battle to reach them. Rory exhibits his courage and resolve by facing down a group of Cybermen and destroying their fleet with help from the Doctor. Rory's memories of being a centurion in the alternate timeline enable him to fight the Headless Monks. After the battle, Rory tends to a dying Sontaran
Sontaran
The Sontarans are a fictional extraterrestrial race of humanoids from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and also seen in spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures. They were created by writer Robert Holmes.-Culture:...
nurse who, in his final words, speaks of his and Rory's dichotomy of being simultaneously a warrior and a nurse. At the end of the episode River Song
River Song (Doctor Who)
River Song is a fictional character played primarily by Alex Kingston in the British science-fiction series Doctor Who. River Song was introduced to the series as an experienced future companion of series protagonist the Doctor, an alien Time Lord who travels through time in his TARDIS...
appears and reveals to Amy and Rory that she is their daughter, Melody. "Let's Kill Hitler
Let's Kill Hitler
"Let's Kill Hitler" is the eighth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One, Space and BBC America on 27 August 2011. It is the second episode of a two-part story, continuing stories from "A Good Man Goes to War"...
" sees Rory and Amy discover that their childhood friend Mels is also Melody, and witness her regeneration into the form of River Song. Flashback scenes in "Let's Kill Hitler" show a young Rory with Amelia and Mels, played by Ezekiel Wigglesworth.
As his travels with the Doctor continue, Rory becomes more aware of the potential dangers of life aboard the TARDIS. After a mistake by the Doctor creates a version of Amy that had grown old while waiting for rescue, Rory states that he does not wish to travel with the Doctor if the Time Lord continues to put them at risk. The Doctor eventually forces Rory to choose between the older Amy and a younger version, but the older Amy sacrifices herself before Rory can choose.
In "The God Complex
The God Complex
"The God Complex" is the eleventh episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One, BBC America and Space on 17 September 2011.-Plot summary:...
" Rory is the only one of the TARDIS crew who is not hunted by the creature that feeds on faith. The Doctor speculates that this is because Rory has no personal faith of his own. Rory also states that after traveling in the TARDIS there was little he was afraid of any more. The Doctor eventually realises the danger he is exposing his friends to and at the end of the adventure, he returns Amy and Rory to Earth, giving them a house and a car (Rory's favorite make and model) as a going away present.
When River creates an alternate reality by avoiding killing the Doctor at Lake Silencio, Rory is now "Captain Williams", a soldier under the orders of Amy Pond. Although the two are not a couple in this version of history, Rory is still in love with Amy, serving her loyally as her dependable soldier. He almost sacrifices himself in battle against the Silence, but is rescued by Amy at the last minute. The two witness to River's marriage to the Doctor. In the restored timeline, Rory and Amy are still married and Amy has become a model/spokeswoman for a line of perfume. They are visited by their daughter River, who tells them the secret that the Doctor is still alive.
Literature
Rory appears alongside the Doctor and Amy in numerous Doctor Who stories found in the New Series Adventures novels, the 2in1 series chapter books, the Quick Reads novels, and original audiobooks.Reception
Rory's frequent deaths in the programme have been subject to criticism. Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
reviewer Morgan Jeffery wrote, "One of the key elements in Doctor Who is obviously the sense of danger and the lingering presence of death, but Rory's repeated demises and resurrections are now becoming so frequent that comparisons to South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
Kenny
Kenny McCormick
Kenneth "Kenny" McCormick is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is one of the four central characters along with his friends Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Eric Cartman. His oft-muffled and indiscernible speech—the result of his parka hood covering his...
seem almost inevitable." In a review for "The Doctor's Wife", Neela Debnath of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
announced that "Rory-gets-killed fatigue has now officially set in". On the other hand, SFX awarded Rory the third spot in the top 10 resurrections of science fiction TV, saying that "it's becoming a cliché. But it's not one we mind too much, mainly because it's always done with such gusto. Except, perhaps, in the pirates episode
The Curse of the Black Spot
"The Curse of the Black Spot" is the third episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by Stephen Thompson, and directed by Jeremy Webb, the episode was first broadcast on 7 May 2011 on BBC One in the United Kingdom and on BBC America in the...
which was a fairly gusto free zone all round".
However, critics have celebrated the increased opportunities for Rory to be heroic in series 6. Following the airing of "A Good Man Goes to War
A Good Man Goes to War
"A Good Man Goes to War" is the seventh episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One on 4 June 2011...
", io9
Io9
io9 is a blog launched in 2008 by Gawker Media. The blog focuses on the subjects of science fiction, futurism, and advancements in the fields of science and technology....
's Charlie Jane Anders compared the character to Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel...
(Alexis Denisof
Alexis Denisof
Alexis Denisof is an American actor who is known for playing Wesley Wyndam-Pryce in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel.-Early life:...
), whose arc in the American television programmes Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
similarly saw him transition from laughable comic relief to a genuine warrior. Anders comments: "Yes, we're thrilled that Rory is getting his Wesley Wyndam-Pryce on. Badass Rory is, as we already observed, totally badass. But this episode exemplified the recent trend towards Amy being reduced to a bystander, victim, or worse."
Rory's transformation into a heroic character has also led to a series of "Rory Williams Facts" in the style of the popular Chuck Norris Facts
Chuck Norris Facts
Chuck Norris facts are satirical factoids about martial artist and actor Chuck Norris that have become an Internet phenomenon and as a result have become widespread in popular culture. The facts are normally absurd hyperbolic claims about Norris's toughness, attitude, virility, sophistication, and...
internet meme.
The Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
blog singled the character out for praise- "As a traveller in the Tardis, Rory probably speaks for the audience far more than past companions have. Sure, we all like to think we'd spring into action just like the Doctor. But in truth, if we joined an eccentric alien on a journey through time and space, we'd probably be more Rory than Rose
Rose Tyler
Rose Marion Tyler is a fictional character portrayed by Billie Piper in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was created by series producer Russell T Davies...
."