“Amy’s Choice” Thoughts
“Did you exchange
a ‘walk-on’ part in a war
for a lead role in a cage?”
-“Wish you were here”, Pink Floyd
First, Let me say that I love that Moff gave us a character-centric episode *Cheers* and Toby Jones as the Dream Lord is completely made of win!
But, onto our commentary:
Leadworth is Rory’s dream version of the world: The perfect wife, the perfect job, and a baby on the way. Leadworth is safe - and safety is a priority to Rory, who wants the quiet life with a lovely wife and child.
Of course, all this domesticity is the Doctors worst nightmare. Not to mention the old folks who dress him in horrid jumpers.
I love the scene where the Doctor claims this village is dull, his mind isn’t working, he’s slowing down, just like Amy and Rory. When Amy cries out in pain and makes the boys think the baby coming both doctors freak, when Amy suddenly stops and we get this bit of dialogue:
Amy: “OK -- It’s not coming.”
Doctor: “What?”
Amy: “This is my life now, and it just turned you white as a sheet. So don’t you call it dull again, ever. Ok?”
Go Amy! Just because the universe isn’t at stake, doesn’t mean it’s boring. Real life is scary.
The TARDIS, on the other hand, is the Doctor’s dream, although we the audience may have a hard time seeing it as such. The Doctor’s life is already unfettered by domestic responsibilities, so he basically lives his dream every day, gallivanting across the stars and having adventures. It’s always stimulating, always exciting, and always dangerous.
For Rory, life on the TARDIS is the antithesis to life in Leadworth - the danger lurking in every corner means Rory could lose Amy, either to the lure of adventure, or the charm of the Doctor, or the villain of the week.
Both men are still subconsciously competing, with Amy’s attention (not affection) as the prize.
Unfortunately, Amy’s still confused over her feelings. While the Doctor has made it clear that he’s not pursuing Amy romantically, Amy is still attracted to the Doctor. Having both the Doctor and Rory *and* all of time and space all at once is Amy living her dream. Ergo, the Dream Lord present’s her with her worst nightmare: having to choose between life in Leadworth with Rory, or life on the TARDIS with the Doctor.
“Amy Choice” as presented by the Dream Lord isn’t strictly about choosing between the Doctor or Rory. It’s about choosing what kind of life she wants to lead. Amy believes she has only two choices -- she can play Wendy to the the Doctor’s Peter Pan and have an exciting, fantastic, danger-filled life with a fun-but-frustratingly-platonic playmate. Or, she can grow up in Rory’s world and build a safe, stable life, complete with a husband who loves her above all else. Rory tells her “We have to grow up eventually.” Contrast this to the end of the Eleventh Hour, where Amy says “I grew up,” and the Doctor replies “Don’t worry, I’ll soon fix that.”
Amy’s choices expand in the last scene in Leadworth, when Rory cuts off his precious pony tail - allegorically saying he would change for Amy, and give up his dream if it meant living a life with her. Then, Rory dies, literally giving up his dream for her. Amy decides she can give her heart to Rory (who decides he can be happy anywhere, as long as he’s with her), and continue on her journey in he little blue box with both of her boys.