Janis thorn: Difference between revisions

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'''Janis thorns''' are small, poisonous thorns used by the [[Sevateem]] as weaponry. Janis thorns are thin thorns about the length of a finger, with a poison coated tip. This poison causes first paralysis and then death in [[Human]]s.
{{first pic|Janis Thorn.jpg|A Janis thorn, embedded in the back of an assassin. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'')}}
'''Janis thorns''' were small, [[poison]]ous thorns used by the [[Sevateem]] as weaponry. Their poison caused first [[paralysis]] and then [[death]] in [[human]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Face of Evil (TV story)|The Face of Evil]]'')


Though there is no naturally occurring cure, an anti-toxin was created by [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]] using a [[bioanalyzer]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Face of Evil]]'') His companion, [[Leela]], a former Sevateem member, used this weapon prior to meeting the Doctor and continued to arm herself with it and occasionally use it during her travels with the Doctor, much to his disapproval.
It was also fatal to [[Time Lord]]s. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Ghosts of Gralstead (audio story)|The Ghosts of Gralstead]]'')


''Exactly how Leela was able to keep herself supplied with the thorns, even when away from her homeworld, is unknown; either she took a good supply of them with her initially, or it is possible to convert local flora into janis thorns.''
Though there was no naturally occurring cure, an anti-toxin was created by the [[Fourth Doctor]] using a [[bioanalyser]] in combination with a [[medikit]]. He successfully used this cure on [[Leela]], against whom [[Calib]] had used a thorn. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Face of Evil (TV story)|The Face of Evil]]'')
[[Category: Plants]]
 
Although the Doctor told her "No more Janis thorns... ever", ([[TV]]: ''[[The Face of Evil (TV story)|The Face of Evil]]'') [[Leela]] continued to use them on her travels with the Doctor, sometimes firing them through a blowpipe. In [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[London]], she used one to kill a [[China|Chinese]] assassin threatening the Doctor. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'')
 
When the [[Decayed Master]] temporarily brainwashed Leela to believe that she was his assassin, she attacked the Doctor with a Janis thorn, but the Doctor was able to get to the TARDIS laboratory and retrieve his previously-prepared antidote, although he was so weakened by the poison that he had to convince Leela to inject him with the antidote because he couldn't do it himself. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Evil One (audio story)|The Evil One]]'')
 
Leela threatened a [[Death-dealing|death-dealer]] named [[Jason (Death-Dealer)|Jason]] with a janis thorn. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Death-Dealer (audio story)|Death-Dealer]]'')
 
Leela still kept her janis thorns when she was living on [[Gallifrey]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lungbarrow (novel)|Lungbarrow]]'')
 
When knocked unconscious, the [[Fourth Doctor]] mumbled, "No more janis thorns", even though Leela no longer travelled with him. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pirate Planet (TV story)|The Pirate Planet]]'')
 
The [[Seventh Doctor]] would later face the same issues of a companion carrying a dangerous item he disapproved of when [[Ace]] frequently created and smuggled [[Nitro-9]] under his nose, which he obviously knew about. ([[TV]]: ''[[Silver Nemesis (TV story)|Silver Nemesis]]'') However, in this case the Doctor was more willing to be lax about his disapproval, as the nitro-9 could be used for demolition purposes where janis thorns could only be used to threaten human life.
 
== Behind the scenes ==
In early rehearsals for ''[[The Face of Evil (TV story)|The Face of Evil]]'', the word "Janis" was pronounced with the first syllable rhyming with "can". However, [[Tom Baker]] pointed out that "Janice Thorn" sounded like the name of an out-of-work soap actress, so the pronunciation was changed, rhyming the first syllable with "cane". ([[DCOM]]: ''[[The Face of Evil (TV story)|The Face of Evil]]'')
 
[[Category:Plants]]
[[Category:Weapons]]

Latest revision as of 21:01, 23 May 2024

A Janis thorn, embedded in the back of an assassin. (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang)

Janis thorns were small, poisonous thorns used by the Sevateem as weaponry. Their poison caused first paralysis and then death in humans. (TV: The Face of Evil)

It was also fatal to Time Lords. (AUDIO: The Ghosts of Gralstead)

Though there was no naturally occurring cure, an anti-toxin was created by the Fourth Doctor using a bioanalyser in combination with a medikit. He successfully used this cure on Leela, against whom Calib had used a thorn. (TV: The Face of Evil)

Although the Doctor told her "No more Janis thorns... ever", (TV: The Face of Evil) Leela continued to use them on her travels with the Doctor, sometimes firing them through a blowpipe. In Victorian London, she used one to kill a Chinese assassin threatening the Doctor. (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang)

When the Decayed Master temporarily brainwashed Leela to believe that she was his assassin, she attacked the Doctor with a Janis thorn, but the Doctor was able to get to the TARDIS laboratory and retrieve his previously-prepared antidote, although he was so weakened by the poison that he had to convince Leela to inject him with the antidote because he couldn't do it himself. (AUDIO: The Evil One)

Leela threatened a death-dealer named Jason with a janis thorn. (AUDIO: Death-Dealer)

Leela still kept her janis thorns when she was living on Gallifrey. (PROSE: Lungbarrow)

When knocked unconscious, the Fourth Doctor mumbled, "No more janis thorns", even though Leela no longer travelled with him. (TV: The Pirate Planet)

The Seventh Doctor would later face the same issues of a companion carrying a dangerous item he disapproved of when Ace frequently created and smuggled Nitro-9 under his nose, which he obviously knew about. (TV: Silver Nemesis) However, in this case the Doctor was more willing to be lax about his disapproval, as the nitro-9 could be used for demolition purposes where janis thorns could only be used to threaten human life.

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

In early rehearsals for The Face of Evil, the word "Janis" was pronounced with the first syllable rhyming with "can". However, Tom Baker pointed out that "Janice Thorn" sounded like the name of an out-of-work soap actress, so the pronunciation was changed, rhyming the first syllable with "cane". (DCOM: The Face of Evil)