The Rani: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Individual | {{Infobox Individual | ||
|image = Rani.jpg | |image = <gallery> | ||
| | Rani KO.jpg|1 | ||
|alias = Lania | Rani Redmond.jpg|2 | ||
|species = Time Lord | </gallery> | ||
|origin = [[Gallifrey]] | |alias = Cleopatra Selene, [[Melanie Bush]], Lania, Professor Baxton, Principal C.B. Wainwright | ||
|first = The Mark of the Rani (TV story) | |species = Time Lord{{!}}Time Lord | ||
|appearances = | |job = Prison governor | ||
|actor = Kate O'Mara | |origin = [[Gallifrey]] | ||
|clip2 = The Doctor wakes up in Rani's lab - Doctor Who Classic - Time & The Rani - BBC | |first cs = The Mark of the Rani (TV story) | ||
| | |appearances = {{appears}} | ||
}}''' | |main actor = Kate O'Mara | ||
|voice actor = Siobhan Redmond | |||
|clip = The Rani's plan - Doctor Who - Mark of the Rani - BBC | |||
|clip2 = The Doctor wakes up in Rani's lab - Doctor Who Classic - Time & The Rani - BBC | |||
}} | |||
{{Ranis}} | |||
{{counterparts |name=The Rani | |||
|1=The Rani | |||
|2=The Rani (Theta Stigma's universe) |d2=Theta Stigma's universe | |||
}} | |||
'''Ushas''', better known as '''the Rani''' and known more formally as '''Ushas of Miasimia Goria''', or, in other accounts, as simply '''Rani''', was a [[renegade Time Lord|renegade Time Lady]] and member of [[the Deca]]. A brilliant but cold [[neurochemist]], she knew [[the Doctor]] and [[the Master]] when all three were young, and became an enemy of the former and an unwilling ally of the latter. | |||
== Biography == | ==Biography== | ||
{{Section stub|Information from ''[[The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind (novelisation)|The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind]]''}} | |||
The Rani ( | |||
===The Rani's incarnations=== | |||
The Rani was, regardless of incarnation, a brilliant scientific genius whose villainy came not from the usual variety of lust for power and suchlike, but from a mindset that treated everything (including morality) as secondary to her research. She was highly intelligent but extremely arrogant, narcissistic, ruthless, powerful and intensely cruel. | |||
The [[First Rani]] was a cruel woman whose evil deeds and notoriety had made her the second most wanted criminal in the galaxy, after [[the Master]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Requiem for the Rocket Men (audio story)|Requiem for the Rocket Men]]'') Much like the Doctor, she had a considerable presence. This presence, however, rested not in a fondness for the planet but as a focal point for her research projects. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mark of the Rani (TV story)|The Mark of the Rani]]'', ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]'') | |||
Just as amoral as her previous incarnation, the [[Second Rani]] always believed that the end always justified the means. Not above making jokes at the expense of others, she held a great disdain and disinterest in the Doctor's antics. Unlike her previous incarnation, she had a certain level of anxiety in breaking the [[Laws of Time]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Rani Elite (audio story)|The Rani Elite]]'') | |||
Following [[Fall of Gallifrey|the end]] of the [[Last Great Time War]], the [[Ninth Doctor]] believed all the [[Time Lord]]s bar himself to be dead, ([[TV]]: ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'') and so did not expect to see the Rani again, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Flatpack (audio story)|Flatpack]]'') though the [[Tenth Doctor]] would encounter the First Rani. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Untitled (10DY3 12 comic story)|Untitled]]'') Nevertheless, the [[Eleventh Doctor]] believed that the Rani was "dead", at least according to [[River Song]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Bekdel Test (audio story)|The Bekdel Test]]'') | |||
The [[Time Lord]]s' [[TARDIS Type 40 Instruction Manual]], which was aware of [[Missy]] and the [[Thirteenth Doctor]], refered to the Rani in the present tense. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|TARDIS Type 40 Instruction Manual (reference book)}}) | |||
Following the [[Razing of Gallifrey|Time Lord genocide]], the [[Fifteenth Doctor]] used the Rani as an example when explaining [[Time Lord Name]]s to [[Ruby Sunday]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Space Babies (TV story)}}) Identifying himself as the [[Last of the Time Lords]], the Doctor believed the Rani to be dead by this point. In his contributions to [[UNIT]]'s [[Gold Archive]], he reflected on her [[incursion]]s on [[Earth]] and voiced his hope that the Rani [[rest]]ed in [[peace]] "unlike her poor, chaotic subjects". ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Pre-UNIT Incursions (feature)}}) | |||
=== Undated events === | |||
In the [[War in Heaven]], [[The War King|the Lord President]] reintegrated several barely-reformed [[renegade Time Lord|renegades]] into [[Gallifrey]]an society. One former renegade Time Lady, who was known for her engineered creatures, became a tutor to newly-[[loom]]ed soldiers. [[Holsred]] remembered a lecture in which she connected an [[artron energy]] generator to a white [[rat]]'s [[brain]] and then let the rat use the energy to kill a hungry [[Gallifreyan cat]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Taking of Planet 5 (novel)}}) | |||
[[Father Kreiner]] had the heads of the Rani and [[the Master]] as trophies; however, at least one of them was a [[clone]] created in the [[High Council]]'s [[hatchling project]]s. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Interference - Book One (novel)}}) | |||
==== | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
===Return to television=== | |||
Following her last live-action appearance in the controversial TV special, ''[[Dimensions in Time (TV story)|Dimensions in Time]]'', the possibility of the return of the Rani in the post-[[2005 (releases)|2005]] revival of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' has become a subject of widespread fan speculation, as the preeminent [[renegade Time Lord]] antagonist in the "classic" series aside from [[the Master]], who made his return in [[Series 3 (Doctor Who 2005)|Series 3]]. The matter was discussed or joked about on several occasions by the showrunner. | |||
[[Russell T Davies|Russell T. Davies]] once stated that he would have cast actress {{w|Ruthie Henshall}} as the Rani had he brought the character back, which he disclosed whilst discussing Henshall's appearance as the villainess {{iw|wizardsvsaliens|Stephanie Gaunt}} in ''{{w|Wizards vs Aliens}}''.<ref>http://www.sfx.co.uk/2012/10/28/russell-t-davies-talks-wizards-vs-aliens/2/</ref> In the commentary for ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]],'' Davies jokingly termed the hand seen removing [[the Master's ring]] from the ashes of his funeral pyre "the hand of the Rani". He would later write it being the hand of a human [[Disciples of Saxon|Disciple of Saxon]] in ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]''. In a email reprinted to [[Benjamin Cook]] reprinted in ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]'', Davies choosing to deliberately leave the identity of [[The Woman (The End of Time)|the Woman]] (in the same story, ''The End of Time'') ambiguous, anticipated that [[fan]]s might believe her to be, amongst other possibilities, "even the Rani", "but of course it's meant to be [[the Doctor's mother]]". | |||
In August 2012, Davies' successor [[Steven Moffat]] stated that "he had no reason to bring back the Rani",<ref>http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a401680/doctor-who-steven-moffat-rules-out-return-for-villain-the-rani.html</ref> thus putting an end to the rumours of her return to the television series.<ref>http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/19959/dr-who-gillian-anderson-is-the-rani</ref> | |||
===Other matters=== | |||
''[[Me & My Ghost (audio story)|Me & My Ghost]]'', a [[2021 (releases)|2021]] ''[[Dionus's War (audio series)|Dionus's War]]'' audio play written and produced by [[Bill Baggs]], featured a character called "[[Nari]]", who was an alternative personality crafted for herself by an infamous [[Renegade Time Lord|renegade]] of the [[Great House]]s to evade the authorities of her people. She was noted as a talented chemist, and it was suggested that the name "Nari" was somehow a play on her usual appellation. The clear implication was thus that Nari's true self was "the Rani". However, this was not made explicit due to [[BBV Productions]] no longer having the rights to the character of the Rani by that point, aside from further exploitation of their original licensed ''[[The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind (audio story)|The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind]]'' spin-off story. | |||
In an episode of the [[The Big Finish Podcast|Big Finish Podcast]] on [[19 December]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]], a listener asked [[Nicholas Briggs]] and [[Benji Clifford|Benji]] when would the Rani return in a [[Last Great Time War|Time War]] [[Big Finish Doctor Who audio stories|series]]. Nicholas Briggs responded that it would be difficult since both [[Pip and Jane Baker]] had passed away, and a possible complication with getting in touch with the estate. | |||
== | ==Footnotes== | ||
{{reflist}} | |||
<references /> | |||
{{Rani stories}} | |||
{{The Master's assistants}} | |||
{{TitleSort}} | |||
[[ro:The Rani]] | |||
[[ru:Рани]] | |||
[[Category:The Rani]] | |||
[[Category:Aliases]] | |||
[[Category:Articles that were originally Wikipedia forks]] | [[Category:Articles that were originally Wikipedia forks]] | ||
[[Category:College of Advanced Galactic Education]] | |||
[[Category:The Deca]] | |||
[[Category:Homeworlders in the War in Heaven]] | |||
[[Category:Imposters]] | |||
[[Category:Murderers]] | |||
[[Category:Patrexes]] | |||
[[Category:Prydonians]] | |||
[[Category:Renegade Time Lords]] | |||
[[Category:Residents of Gallifrey]] | [[Category:Residents of Gallifrey]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Students at the Time Lord Academy]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Time Lord scientists]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Time Lords who have been inside the Doctor's TARDIS]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Time Lords who have witnessed regeneration]] | ||
[[Category:Tremas Master's assistants]] | |||
[[Category:The Ones That Went Mad]] | |||
[[Category: | |||
[[Category:The |
Latest revision as of 00:48, 20 November 2024
Ushas, better known as the Rani and known more formally as Ushas of Miasimia Goria, or, in other accounts, as simply Rani, was a renegade Time Lady and member of the Deca. A brilliant but cold neurochemist, she knew the Doctor and the Master when all three were young, and became an enemy of the former and an unwilling ally of the latter.
Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]
Information from The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind
The Rani's incarnations[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Rani was, regardless of incarnation, a brilliant scientific genius whose villainy came not from the usual variety of lust for power and suchlike, but from a mindset that treated everything (including morality) as secondary to her research. She was highly intelligent but extremely arrogant, narcissistic, ruthless, powerful and intensely cruel.
The First Rani was a cruel woman whose evil deeds and notoriety had made her the second most wanted criminal in the galaxy, after the Master. (AUDIO: Requiem for the Rocket Men) Much like the Doctor, she had a considerable presence. This presence, however, rested not in a fondness for the planet but as a focal point for her research projects. (TV: The Mark of the Rani, Time and the Rani)
Just as amoral as her previous incarnation, the Second Rani always believed that the end always justified the means. Not above making jokes at the expense of others, she held a great disdain and disinterest in the Doctor's antics. Unlike her previous incarnation, she had a certain level of anxiety in breaking the Laws of Time. (AUDIO: The Rani Elite)
Following the end of the Last Great Time War, the Ninth Doctor believed all the Time Lords bar himself to be dead, (TV: Dalek) and so did not expect to see the Rani again, (AUDIO: Flatpack) though the Tenth Doctor would encounter the First Rani. (COMIC: Untitled) Nevertheless, the Eleventh Doctor believed that the Rani was "dead", at least according to River Song. (AUDIO: The Bekdel Test)
The Time Lords' TARDIS Type 40 Instruction Manual, which was aware of Missy and the Thirteenth Doctor, refered to the Rani in the present tense. (PROSE: TARDIS Type 40 Instruction Manual [+]Loading...["TARDIS Type 40 Instruction Manual (reference book)"])
Following the Time Lord genocide, the Fifteenth Doctor used the Rani as an example when explaining Time Lord Names to Ruby Sunday. (TV: Space Babies [+]Loading...["Space Babies (TV story)"]) Identifying himself as the Last of the Time Lords, the Doctor believed the Rani to be dead by this point. In his contributions to UNIT's Gold Archive, he reflected on her incursions on Earth and voiced his hope that the Rani rested in peace "unlike her poor, chaotic subjects". (PROSE: Pre-UNIT Incursions [+]Loading...["Pre-UNIT Incursions (feature)"])
Undated events[[edit] | [edit source]]
In the War in Heaven, the Lord President reintegrated several barely-reformed renegades into Gallifreyan society. One former renegade Time Lady, who was known for her engineered creatures, became a tutor to newly-loomed soldiers. Holsred remembered a lecture in which she connected an artron energy generator to a white rat's brain and then let the rat use the energy to kill a hungry Gallifreyan cat. (PROSE: The Taking of Planet 5 [+]Loading...["The Taking of Planet 5 (novel)"])
Father Kreiner had the heads of the Rani and the Master as trophies; however, at least one of them was a clone created in the High Council's hatchling projects. (PROSE: Interference - Book One [+]Loading...["Interference - Book One (novel)"])
Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]
Return to television[[edit] | [edit source]]
Following her last live-action appearance in the controversial TV special, Dimensions in Time, the possibility of the return of the Rani in the post-2005 revival of Doctor Who has become a subject of widespread fan speculation, as the preeminent renegade Time Lord antagonist in the "classic" series aside from the Master, who made his return in Series 3. The matter was discussed or joked about on several occasions by the showrunner.
Russell T. Davies once stated that he would have cast actress Ruthie Henshall as the Rani had he brought the character back, which he disclosed whilst discussing Henshall's appearance as the villainess Stephanie Gaunt in Wizards vs Aliens.[1] In the commentary for Last of the Time Lords, Davies jokingly termed the hand seen removing the Master's ring from the ashes of his funeral pyre "the hand of the Rani". He would later write it being the hand of a human Disciple of Saxon in The End of Time. In a email reprinted to Benjamin Cook reprinted in Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter, Davies choosing to deliberately leave the identity of the Woman (in the same story, The End of Time) ambiguous, anticipated that fans might believe her to be, amongst other possibilities, "even the Rani", "but of course it's meant to be the Doctor's mother".
In August 2012, Davies' successor Steven Moffat stated that "he had no reason to bring back the Rani",[2] thus putting an end to the rumours of her return to the television series.[3]
Other matters[[edit] | [edit source]]
Me & My Ghost, a 2021 Dionus's War audio play written and produced by Bill Baggs, featured a character called "Nari", who was an alternative personality crafted for herself by an infamous renegade of the Great Houses to evade the authorities of her people. She was noted as a talented chemist, and it was suggested that the name "Nari" was somehow a play on her usual appellation. The clear implication was thus that Nari's true self was "the Rani". However, this was not made explicit due to BBV Productions no longer having the rights to the character of the Rani by that point, aside from further exploitation of their original licensed The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind spin-off story.
In an episode of the Big Finish Podcast on 19 December 2021, a listener asked Nicholas Briggs and Benji when would the Rani return in a Time War series. Nicholas Briggs responded that it would be difficult since both Pip and Jane Baker had passed away, and a possible complication with getting in touch with the estate.
Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]
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