Giant rat: Difference between revisions

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
m (Robot: Cosmetic changes)
Tag: apiedit
Tag: 2017 source edit
 
(13 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox Species
{{Infobox Species
|name = Giant rat
|image=  
|image= Giant rat.jpg
|aka =
|aka =
|type =
|type =[[Rat]]
|affiliation = [[Magnus Greel]]  
|affiliation = [[Magnus Greel]]  
|origin = [[Earth]]
|origin = [[Earth]]
|only= The Talons of Weng-Chiang
|first= The Talons of Weng-Chiang
|appearances = [[AUDIO]]: ''[[How The Other Half Lives (audio story)|How the Other Half Lives]]''
|individuals=
|individuals=
}}'''Giant rats''' were created from common [[London]] [[rat]]s by [[Magnus Greel]] in the [[19th century]], using [[51st century]] science. He then used the rats to guard the entrance to his laboratory in the [[London sewers]].
}}'''Giant rats''' were created from common [[London]] [[rat]]s by [[Magnus Greel]] in the [[19th century]], using [[51st century]] [[science]]. He then used the rats to guard the entrance to his [[laboratory]] in the [[London sewers]].


== History ==
== History ==
One rat pursued [[Leela]] and bit her leg. The [[Fourth Doctor]] shot and killed it with a [[Chinese fowling gun]].
One rat pursued [[Leela]] and bit her [[leg]]. The [[Fourth Doctor]] shot and killed it with a [[Chinese fowling gun]].


[[Li H'sen Chang]], Greel's henchman, threw himself to the rats as a means of [[suicide]] after his master had dismissed him from service. The rats fatally wounded him, though he did not die right away. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'') After Greel's defeat, the Doctor's allies [[Henry Gordon Jago]] and [[George Litefoot|Litefoot]] descended into the [[Sewer|sewers]] with a [[Gatling gun]] to kill the rest of the rats. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Victorian Interlude]]'')
[[Li H'sen Chang]], Greel's henchman, threw himself to the rats as a means of [[suicide]] after his master had dismissed him from service. The rats fatally [[wound]]ed him, though he did not [[Death|die]] right away. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'') [[Henry Gordon Jago]] and Professor [[George Litefoot]] later went down into the [[sewer]]s with a [[Gatling gun]] to kill the rest of the rats. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Victorian Interlude]]'')


== Other references ==
On seeing the rats that [[Richard Harries]] was experimenting on, the [[Eighth Doctor]] recalled the attack on Leela. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Banquo Legacy]]'')
On seeing the rats that [[Richard Harries]] was experimenting on, the [[Eighth Doctor]] recalled the attack on Leela. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Banquo Legacy]]'')


The Doctor's [[Eleventh Doctor|eleventh incarnation]] mentioned giant rats to [[Amelia Pond|Amy]] as an example of things that could be found on the [[London Underground|London underground]]. ([[GAME]]: ''[[City of the Daleks (video game)|City of the Daleks]]'')
[[The Doctor]]'s [[Eleventh Doctor|eleventh incarnation]] mentioned giant rats to [[Amy Pond]] as an example of things that could be found on the [[London Underground]]. ([[GAME]]: ''[[City of the Daleks (video game)|City of the Daleks]]'')


== Behind the scenes ==
== Behind the scenes ==
It is likely that the giant rat in ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'' was inspired by a line in the [[Sherlock Holmes]] story ''The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire'' by Sir [[Arthur Conan Doyle]], in which Holmes alludes to "the giant rat of Sumatra, a story for which the world is not yet prepared". In ''Talons'', the Doctor dons a deerstalker and cape, and is assisted by a medical doctor whose housekeeper is named [[Hudson (The Talons of Weng-Chiang)|Mrs Hudson]], all of which appear to allude to Conan Doyle's detective.
* It is likely that the giant rat in ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'' was inspired by a line in the [[Sherlock Holmes]] story ''The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire'' by Sir [[Arthur Conan Doyle]], in which Holmes alludes to "the giant rat of Sumatra, a story for which the world is not yet prepared". In ''Talons'', the Doctor dons a deerstalker and cape, and is assisted by a medical doctor whose housekeeper is named [[Hudson (The Talons of Weng-Chiang)|Mrs Hudson]], all of which appear to allude to Conan Doyle's detective.
* In his work of modern British history, ''State of Emergency'', [[Dominic Sandbrook]] called the giant rat "one of the worst-realised monsters not merely in [[Doctor Who|the show's]] history, but in the history of human entertainment.”
* In an ironic allusion to Leela's encounter with the giant rat, ''[[Home Assistant (webcast)|Home Assistant]]'' shows actor [[Louise Jameson (Home Assistant)|Louise Jameson]] possessing a copy of ''[[Rat Monthly]]'' magazine.


[[Category:Biologically modified species]]
== External links ==
{{Dwlx|Giant Rat|Giant Rat}}
 
[[Category:Rats]]
[[Category:Mutants]]
[[Category:Mutants]]
[[Category:Rodents]]
[[Category:Earth mammals]]
[[Category:Earth predators]]
[[Category:Earth predators]]

Latest revision as of 15:51, 28 November 2022

Giant rats were created from common London rats by Magnus Greel in the 19th century, using 51st century science. He then used the rats to guard the entrance to his laboratory in the London sewers.

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

One rat pursued Leela and bit her leg. The Fourth Doctor shot and killed it with a Chinese fowling gun.

Li H'sen Chang, Greel's henchman, threw himself to the rats as a means of suicide after his master had dismissed him from service. The rats fatally wounded him, though he did not die right away. (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang) Henry Gordon Jago and Professor George Litefoot later went down into the sewers with a Gatling gun to kill the rest of the rats. (PROSE: A Victorian Interlude)

Other references[[edit] | [edit source]]

On seeing the rats that Richard Harries was experimenting on, the Eighth Doctor recalled the attack on Leela. (PROSE: The Banquo Legacy)

The Doctor's eleventh incarnation mentioned giant rats to Amy Pond as an example of things that could be found on the London Underground. (GAME: City of the Daleks)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • It is likely that the giant rat in The Talons of Weng-Chiang was inspired by a line in the Sherlock Holmes story The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in which Holmes alludes to "the giant rat of Sumatra, a story for which the world is not yet prepared". In Talons, the Doctor dons a deerstalker and cape, and is assisted by a medical doctor whose housekeeper is named Mrs Hudson, all of which appear to allude to Conan Doyle's detective.
  • In his work of modern British history, State of Emergency, Dominic Sandbrook called the giant rat "one of the worst-realised monsters not merely in the show's history, but in the history of human entertainment.”
  • In an ironic allusion to Leela's encounter with the giant rat, Home Assistant shows actor Louise Jameson possessing a copy of Rat Monthly magazine.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]