''Actually his name is Susan, and he wants you to respect his life decisions''

Propps' Character Types Theory

''I see keep out signs as suggestions''-This shows curiosity, a trait common to all stereotypical heroes. In ways, he is the stereotypical hero- coming to the rescue in his magic blue box, being faced with a problem, overcoming the problem and inevitably saving a race.  However, the Doctor has a darker past. In this episode it is seen where he is willing to leave Khaler Jex to die, and seems to show no remorse regarding this action. If you look over previous episodes, he left his own entire race to die. Maybe this is why he has tried to become the stereotypical hero? He can also be seen as clumsy at times throughout the episode which isn't a common attribute for stereotypical heroes. This is, on a smaller scale, a way of showing how the Doctor is an unconventional hero.

 

   Stereotypically, Amy would play the role of the ''damsel in distress'' However most of the roles in Doctor Who are subverted, including this one. A lot of the time in this episode Amy shows hero characteristics. She occasionally tells the doctor what to do, and show him when he is wrong. In this particular episode, and many others, she aims a gun at the doctor, forcing him to make the right decision, in her eyes, she is a moral balance for the Doctor. She is constantly having to help the doctor in the episode. So much so, that when The Doctor is made Marshall of Mercy, he designates her the role of his deputy.

Amy and Rory's roles also become reversed, and you can see Amy definitely subverts the masculine/feminine roles. Amy has the power in the relationship, and usually 'saves the day.' Whilst Rory plays a more submissive role. In a previous episode, Amy wields a gun (a phallic symbol) and Rory carries a nursing/first aid kit, a stereotypical feminine thing to carry.

 

When we first see Khaler Tek (The Gun Slinger) we assume he's the villain. 'I mean, he must be, look at that giant laser gun thing he has, that's pretty threatening.' He shows all the characteristics of a stereotypical villain, he is portrayed to be a ruthless killing machine. Then we meet Khaler Jex, ('The Doctor'), he's protrayed to be a sort of  hero, staying as their doctor when he crashed his ship, and saving the people of Mercy from cholera. He looks happy, and jolly, and innocent.

     

However, as the episode goes on the roles reverse in a way, and we realize that in fact, it is Jex, who is the ruthless killing machine, and The Gunslinger just wants justice for what Jex did to him. Also, right at the end of the episode, both Jex and the Gunslinger, have an epiphany, if you will. Jex realizes how he has wronged the Gun Slinger, and thousands of others. The Gun Slinger then stays at Mercy, watching over the people, as a guardian angel. Therefore, both Jex and Tek, show characteristics of a villain, and of a hero.                                                                           

     

Overall, in this episode, there are no clearly defined character types. All charcters swap back and forth between protagonist and antagonist. Even characters that aren't seen as often, with lesser roles in the episode, show both good and dark sides. To finish off this section, have a picture of Rory in his pants.