Weed Creature: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Species
{{Infobox Species
|image = Seaweed1.jpg
|image = Seaweed1.jpg
|type = Semi-mobile seaweed
|type = Mobile parasitic seaweed
|aka =
|aka =
|origin = [[Earth]]
|origin = [[Earth]]
|only = Fury from the Deep (TV story)
|only = Fury from the Deep (TV story)
}}
}}
A '''weed creature''' was an intelligent, semi-mobile form of [[seaweed]] that once inhabited the [[Atlantic Ocean]] near the coasts of [[England]]. They were sighted by mariners as early as the [[18th century]], but the [[Seventh Doctor]] once described it as "primeval," existing since the days of the [[dinosaur]]s in [[Loch Ness]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Christmas on a Rational Planet]]'')
A '''Weed Creature''' ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (novelisation)|Fury from the Deep]]'') was an intelligent, mobile form of [[parasitic]] [[seaweed]] that inhabited the [[North Sea]] near the coasts of [[England]].


Weed creatures fed on [[gas]] and had stingers. A weed creature could also release poisonous gas or a foam that allowed it to [[hypnosis|mentally control]] those it touched, who in turn gained the ability to exhale gas. It was vulnerable to [[oxygen]] and high-pitched sound.
[[File:LegendMythBook.jpg|thumb|A drawing of the weed. ([[TV]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury from the Deep]]'')]]


In the late [[20th century]], a weed creature was sucked up by an off-shore [[Euro Sea Gas]] rig, and, in the space of a few days, took over the crews of the off-shore rigs. It later took over [[Oak (Fury from the Deep)|Oak]] and [[Quill (Fury from the Deep)|Quill]], two engineers at the refinery commanded by [[John Robson]], and used them to commit various acts of sabotage around the refinery. It also took over [[Maggie Harris]], Robson and [[Van Lutyens]].
== Biology ==
Weed Creatures were living [[algae]] grown to mammoth proportions that could hiss and squeal. They had no shape or form, with no [[head]], [[eye]]s, [[mouth]], or any features of known marine life; only [[tendril]]s and [[tentacle]]s. The creatures made up a [[colony]] which possessed a [[nerve centre]], with smaller colonies of seaweed clumps as an advance guard for the creatures. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (novelisation)|Fury from the Deep]]'')


The weed's plans to conquer [[Earth]] were defeated when the [[Second Doctor]] used a recording of [[Victoria Waterfield]]'s screams to destroy its nerve centre. ([[TV]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury from the Deep]]'')
The weed fed on [[natural gas]] and generated massive amounts of [[foam]]. The weed reproduced rapidly, generating a pulsing sound like a [[heartbeat]]. They could [[sting]] and [[infect]] any [[human]] who touched them, allowing the weed to [[hypnosis|mentally control]] them, and also gaining [[intelligence]] from the human [[brain]]. Both the weed and infected humans could produce [[poisonous]] [[gas]]. When the [[Second Doctor]] tried to convince [[John Robson]] that the weed controlled his mind, he responded "the mind does not exist. It is tired. It is dead. It is obsolete. Only our new masters can offer us life. [...] The body does not exist. Soon we shall all be one." The creatures were vulnerable to [[oxygen]] and high-pitched [[sound]]s, forcing infected humans to whisper so as not to damage the weed. If the Weed Creature was killed, the humans would be returned to normal unharmed. ([[TV]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury from the Deep]]'')


[[Category:Sentient vegetation]]
== History ==
The weed was an "alien life-force from the dark depths of the ocean." ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (novelisation)|Fury from the Deep]]'') The [[Seventh Doctor]] once described the weed creatures as "primeval", existing since the days of the [[dinosaur]]s in [[Loch Ness]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Christmas on a Rational Planet (novel)|Christmas on a Rational Planet]]'') Ancient mariners supplied a drawing of the creature in the middle of the [[18th century]], which appeared in a [[book of legends and superstitions]] the Doctor owned. By the late [[20th century]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury from the Deep]]'') but before the formation of [[UNIT]], the Weed Creature sought to infect all of [[human]]ity, which would make them part of its collective mind. To launch its invasion, the Weed Creature plotted to take control of [[Euro Sea Gas]] installations that provided [[natural gas|gas]] for all of Southern [[England]] and [[Wales]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Whoniverse (novel)|The Whoniverse]]'')
 
A Weed Creature was sucked up by an off-shore [[Euro Sea Gas]] [[gas rig|rig]] in the [[North Sea]], where it came in contact with maintenance workers and infected them, including [[Oak (Fury from the Deep)|Oak]] and [[Quill (Fury from the Deep)|Quill]], two engineers at the refinery commanded by Robson, who was later infected himself. The creatures used them to commit various acts of sabotage around the refinery, and in the space of a few days, the weed took over the crews of the off-shore rigs as the base of its nerve centre. Additionally, the weed accidentally infected [[Maggie Harris]] instead of [[Frank Harris]], and [[Van Lutyens]] when the creatures attacked him.
 
The possessed Robson told the Doctor that "our new masters" needed him to help with "the conquest of the human planet." Realising that sound affected it, the Doctor used a recording of [[Victoria Waterfield]]'s [[scream]]s to destroy the creatures and their [[nerve centre]], releasing the infected humans. ([[TV]]: ''[[Fury from the Deep (TV story)|Fury from the Deep]]'')
 
[[John Smith (Seventh Doctor)|John Smith]] mentioned "intelligent seaweed" to [[Joan Redfern (novel character)|Joan Redfern]], which she found amusing. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Human Nature (novel)|Human Nature]]'')
 
In the [[2010s]], a Weed Creature was kept at the [[Black Archive, Seabase One|Black Archive]] on [[Seabase One]]. ([[GAME]]: {{cs|The Black Archive (game)}})
 
== Behind the scenes ==
* Although the Weed Creature's origin is never stated in {{cs|Fury from the Deep (TV story)}}, beyond a reference to "the human planet" implying [[alien]] origins, [[Fury from the Deep (novelisation)|its novelisation]] repeatedly describes it as alien.
 
[[Category:Sapient plant species]]
[[Category:Mobile vegetation]]
[[Category:Mobile vegetation]]
[[Category:Earth sentients]]
[[Category:Sapient Earth species]]
[[Category:Parasitic species]]
[[Category:Tentacled species]]

Latest revision as of 14:27, 21 November 2024

A Weed Creature (PROSE: Fury from the Deep) was an intelligent, mobile form of parasitic seaweed that inhabited the North Sea near the coasts of England.

A drawing of the weed. (TV: Fury from the Deep)

Biology[[edit] | [edit source]]

Weed Creatures were living algae grown to mammoth proportions that could hiss and squeal. They had no shape or form, with no head, eyes, mouth, or any features of known marine life; only tendrils and tentacles. The creatures made up a colony which possessed a nerve centre, with smaller colonies of seaweed clumps as an advance guard for the creatures. (PROSE: Fury from the Deep)

The weed fed on natural gas and generated massive amounts of foam. The weed reproduced rapidly, generating a pulsing sound like a heartbeat. They could sting and infect any human who touched them, allowing the weed to mentally control them, and also gaining intelligence from the human brain. Both the weed and infected humans could produce poisonous gas. When the Second Doctor tried to convince John Robson that the weed controlled his mind, he responded "the mind does not exist. It is tired. It is dead. It is obsolete. Only our new masters can offer us life. [...] The body does not exist. Soon we shall all be one." The creatures were vulnerable to oxygen and high-pitched sounds, forcing infected humans to whisper so as not to damage the weed. If the Weed Creature was killed, the humans would be returned to normal unharmed. (TV: Fury from the Deep)

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

The weed was an "alien life-force from the dark depths of the ocean." (PROSE: Fury from the Deep) The Seventh Doctor once described the weed creatures as "primeval", existing since the days of the dinosaurs in Loch Ness. (PROSE: Christmas on a Rational Planet) Ancient mariners supplied a drawing of the creature in the middle of the 18th century, which appeared in a book of legends and superstitions the Doctor owned. By the late 20th century (TV: Fury from the Deep) but before the formation of UNIT, the Weed Creature sought to infect all of humanity, which would make them part of its collective mind. To launch its invasion, the Weed Creature plotted to take control of Euro Sea Gas installations that provided gas for all of Southern England and Wales. (PROSE: The Whoniverse)

A Weed Creature was sucked up by an off-shore Euro Sea Gas rig in the North Sea, where it came in contact with maintenance workers and infected them, including Oak and Quill, two engineers at the refinery commanded by Robson, who was later infected himself. The creatures used them to commit various acts of sabotage around the refinery, and in the space of a few days, the weed took over the crews of the off-shore rigs as the base of its nerve centre. Additionally, the weed accidentally infected Maggie Harris instead of Frank Harris, and Van Lutyens when the creatures attacked him.

The possessed Robson told the Doctor that "our new masters" needed him to help with "the conquest of the human planet." Realising that sound affected it, the Doctor used a recording of Victoria Waterfield's screams to destroy the creatures and their nerve centre, releasing the infected humans. (TV: Fury from the Deep)

John Smith mentioned "intelligent seaweed" to Joan Redfern, which she found amusing. (PROSE: Human Nature)

In the 2010s, a Weed Creature was kept at the Black Archive on Seabase One. (GAME: The Black Archive [+]Loading...["The Black Archive (game)"])

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

  • Although the Weed Creature's origin is never stated in Fury from the Deep [+]Loading...["Fury from the Deep (TV story)"], beyond a reference to "the human planet" implying alien origins, its novelisation repeatedly describes it as alien.