Oh Rory, we hardly knew ye. Then we hardly knew ye several more times. As well as a new Doctor, new companion and new TARDIS console design, the freshly appointed showrunner also introduced a beleaguered boyfriend for the new companion who would go on to play a recurring role in the series. Though initially fearful of the Doctor and the outer space shenanigans he wrought, the character would grow over his subsequent appearances, briefly becoming a full time companion before being separated from the TARDIS seemingly forever... oh, wait a tick. Sorry, these are our notes on Mickey Smith. OK, so Rory didn't exactly bowl us over with his first appearance, but he quickly grew out of the "tin dog" role previously held by Mickey and became an independent, if frustratingly transient, TARDIS inhabitant. Though initially irked by Amy's obvious attraction to the Doctor, he was nevertheless brave and a worthy addition to the team. His defining moment came, oddly enough, when he died (the first time) in Cold Blood. It would have been so easy to have him croak while saving Amy, but instead he dies saving the Doctor. Despite being jealous and somewhat bumbling, Rory was smart enough to see how important the Doctor was to the Universe and sacrificed his life to save the Time Lord without hesitation. What a hero. Over the course of his subsequent appearances, Rory became perhaps one of the most likeable companions in Doctor Who history. He's strong but not arrogant. Loyal without being obsequious. Brave without bravado. Kind but not stupid. Amy will always be the one people think of when asked who the Eleventh Doctor's companion was, but spare a thought for the Last Centurion and thank Moffat and Arthur Darvill for bringing him to life.
