Sontar-Ha!
May 23, 2013 4:06 PM Subscribe
Ask Strax! The famed warrior from the Sontaran Empire answers questions from miniature humans for Monster Day Out.
"The last time a human called me a 'Potato Head' I simply turned and walked away calm and collected ... once I had crushed him to a pulp him with my monster fists!!"
"The last time a human called me a 'Potato Head' I simply turned and walked away calm and collected ... once I had crushed him to a pulp him with my monster fists!!"
*pokes jaduncan in the probic vent*
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:14 PM on May 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:14 PM on May 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
Yeah this is pretty fun. I know I'm saying nothing new, but spin-off, please.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 4:15 PM on May 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 4:15 PM on May 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
Pallas Athena, Amazon doesn't allow that kind of fanfiction and neither does Metafilter.
posted by jaduncan at 4:15 PM on May 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 4:15 PM on May 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
In the last few episodes he became my kids' favourite Dr Who character.
posted by GuyZero at 4:16 PM on May 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by GuyZero at 4:16 PM on May 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
I'm going to go play with my grenades.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:17 PM on May 23, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:17 PM on May 23, 2013 [6 favorites]
Wow. I kind of hate his character in the programme, but that was brilliant. I'm sitting here chuckling after a rather annoying day, so thanks for that.
posted by metaBugs at 4:18 PM on May 23, 2013
posted by metaBugs at 4:18 PM on May 23, 2013
I like Strax, mostly because I've always liked the Sontarans. And besides, Who has gone all silly now. Why not embrace it?
posted by pompomtom at 4:24 PM on May 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by pompomtom at 4:24 PM on May 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
SONTAR-HA!
SONTAR-HA!
SONTAR-HA!
SONTAR-HA!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:27 PM on May 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
SONTAR-HA!
SONTAR-HA!
SONTAR-HA!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:27 PM on May 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Someday, I hope to ask questions of a Sontaran while open skinned.
posted by spinifex23 at 4:37 PM on May 23, 2013
posted by spinifex23 at 4:37 PM on May 23, 2013
Strax should be the Doctor's companion, not Manic Pixie Dream Page 3 Girl.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 4:38 PM on May 23, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 4:38 PM on May 23, 2013 [9 favorites]
We need a new show in which Vastra, Jenny and Strax discover another Tardis and have their own adventures. And they should be joined by an Ood.
posted by homunculus at 4:45 PM on May 23, 2013 [13 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 4:45 PM on May 23, 2013 [13 favorites]
i thoiught that but then i feel like it would get run into the ground quickly
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 4:46 PM on May 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 4:46 PM on May 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I love watching people corpse. Sontaran Christmas Carols cause the cast to corpse. I merely laughed along.
posted by persona at 4:49 PM on May 23, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by persona at 4:49 PM on May 23, 2013 [8 favorites]
The actor knows a lot about his character! He even did an impromptu impression of an OldWho Sontaran. I like that.
posted by painquale at 4:56 PM on May 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by painquale at 4:56 PM on May 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Vastra, Jenny, Strax, an Ood and about a dozen Adipose, please.
The post-Name-Of-The-Doctor-Not flurry of Whovian activity has been lots of fun, and it's SIX FREAKING MONTHS until the 50th Anniversary Special. So, not obvious promotional whoring, but more of a recreational cluster-fun. But it's a little disturbing to me to suddenly see Matt Smith with his hair cut to Christopher Eccleston-length. Is filming done with the special or will that be their way of dealing with Eccles' absence? This show finds so many ways to mess with your head...
still, MeFi's Own Marinich is the best Rory
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:24 PM on May 23, 2013
The post-Name-Of-The-Doctor-Not flurry of Whovian activity has been lots of fun, and it's SIX FREAKING MONTHS until the 50th Anniversary Special. So, not obvious promotional whoring, but more of a recreational cluster-fun. But it's a little disturbing to me to suddenly see Matt Smith with his hair cut to Christopher Eccleston-length. Is filming done with the special or will that be their way of dealing with Eccles' absence? This show finds so many ways to mess with your head...
still, MeFi's Own Marinich is the best Rory
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:24 PM on May 23, 2013
The Ood should be really sarcastic.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 5:25 PM on May 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 5:25 PM on May 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
Smith cut his hair for the new movie he's in with Ryan Gosling, onefellswoop.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:59 PM on May 23, 2013
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:59 PM on May 23, 2013
Not just anyone can be an Ood; it takes ball.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:08 PM on May 23, 2013 [14 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 6:08 PM on May 23, 2013 [14 favorites]
Even though I'm starting to become a bit annoyed at how DW has turned into a semi-weekly backdoor pilot for the Vastra, Jenny & Strax Victorian Mystery Funtime Hour, that was pretty great. I wonder how much of that was improvised by actor Dan Starkey; it appears that he's made something of a career out of playing various Sontarans on the DW TV series and audio dramas, so I'd guess that he's done more than the necessary research for the role.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:44 PM on May 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:44 PM on May 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
Vastra, Jenny & Strax Victorian Mystery Funtime Hour
Despite its inherent silliness, that spinoff would stand a good chance of being better than Torchwood.
posted by mubba at 6:58 PM on May 23, 2013 [16 favorites]
Despite its inherent silliness, that spinoff would stand a good chance of being better than Torchwood.
posted by mubba at 6:58 PM on May 23, 2013 [16 favorites]
Sarah Jane Adventures, the silly "lightweight" son-off for kids actually ended up being a hell of a lot better than Torchwood.
posted by Artw at 7:03 PM on May 23, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by Artw at 7:03 PM on May 23, 2013 [6 favorites]
K9 Adventures ended up being... average.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 7:14 PM on May 23, 2013
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 7:14 PM on May 23, 2013
Oh, and they should upload River Song's consciousness from the Library to their new Tardis, so the Tardis will be more developed as a character and will speak with Alex Kingston's voice.
posted by homunculus at 7:30 PM on May 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 7:30 PM on May 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Being ... average is still a whole lot better than Torchwood. Sexy, stupid Torchwood.
posted by happyroach at 8:10 PM on May 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by happyroach at 8:10 PM on May 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
There is no way a Vastra/Jenny/Strax show could possibly live up to the anticipatory fan billing but I still want it. More after seeing that video.
posted by immlass at 8:25 PM on May 23, 2013
posted by immlass at 8:25 PM on May 23, 2013
K9 Adventures ended up being... average.
You are too kind.
Too, too kind.
I want to see The Rani and Clive Adventures. I think they missed a trick there, because Wizards and Aliens was stupid.
I also want to see Rutans.
And non-comedy Sontarans.
And characters who stay dead.
posted by Mezentian at 8:35 PM on May 23, 2013
You are too kind.
Too, too kind.
I want to see The Rani and Clive Adventures. I think they missed a trick there, because Wizards and Aliens was stupid.
I also want to see Rutans.
And non-comedy Sontarans.
And characters who stay dead.
posted by Mezentian at 8:35 PM on May 23, 2013
Oh, and they should upload River Song's consciousness from the Library to their new Tardis, so the Tardis will be more developed as a character and will speak with Alex Kingston's voice.
Y'know what would be even better? Not doing that. The day the TARDIS starts calling The Doctor "sweetie" is the day it needs to be scrapped and replaced with the Pandorica.
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:41 PM on May 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
Y'know what would be even better? Not doing that. The day the TARDIS starts calling The Doctor "sweetie" is the day it needs to be scrapped and replaced with the Pandorica.
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:41 PM on May 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
But getting Derek Jacobi to be a Master-robot that talks to/for the TARDIS?
KILLER IDEA.
posted by Mezentian at 8:42 PM on May 23, 2013
KILLER IDEA.
posted by Mezentian at 8:42 PM on May 23, 2013
The day the TARDIS starts calling The Doctor "sweetie" is the day it needs to be scrapped and replaced with the Pandorica.
It wouldn't be the Doctor's TARDIS, but I take your point. I was thinking more like Majel Barrett on Star Trek, but you're right, it wouldn't work if the TARDIS also had River's personality.
posted by homunculus at 8:48 PM on May 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
It wouldn't be the Doctor's TARDIS, but I take your point. I was thinking more like Majel Barrett on Star Trek, but you're right, it wouldn't work if the TARDIS also had River's personality.
posted by homunculus at 8:48 PM on May 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Mezentian's idea is more promising, if it's the Master's TARDIS they found.
posted by homunculus at 8:51 PM on May 23, 2013
posted by homunculus at 8:51 PM on May 23, 2013
They might need someone biologically Gallifreyan to operate it, though, which could be Jenny or Romana, the later played by Helen Mirren, of course.
posted by homunculus at 9:00 PM on May 23, 2013
posted by homunculus at 9:00 PM on May 23, 2013
I haven't loved the regression back to kids show, but the Sontar-HA! intro from the class was so adorable it very nearly justifies it.
Did Dan Starkey ad-lib all that? It was great!
posted by Space Kitty at 9:03 PM on May 23, 2013
Did Dan Starkey ad-lib all that? It was great!
posted by Space Kitty at 9:03 PM on May 23, 2013
Not my idea. Paul Cornell's from Scream of the Shalka.
I think I'd be happier if they don't travel in time or space.
posted by Mezentian at 9:03 PM on May 23, 2013
I think I'd be happier if they don't travel in time or space.
posted by Mezentian at 9:03 PM on May 23, 2013
And besides, Who has gone all silly now. Why not embrace it?
This sort of thinking must be why Nickelback is still around.
posted by juiceCake at 9:32 PM on May 23, 2013
This sort of thinking must be why Nickelback is still around.
posted by juiceCake at 9:32 PM on May 23, 2013
Oods are good. Love an Ood.
posted by homunculus at 9:49 PM on May 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 9:49 PM on May 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Did Dan Starkey ad-lib all that? It was great!
I used to work at Disneyland, and the Disney "face" characters, the one's that didn't wear masks and could speak (e.g. Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, etc.) could all do this kind of ad-libbing for hours.
The trick is to have a clearly established character and lots of go-to comments you can repeat over and over again to different audiences, as they're rarely going to see you more than once. So, Snow White talks about the dwarves, the prince, the apple, the witch ... and then you keep going with what's right in front of you. The dress, the hair, the shoes, etc.
And then you have a series of "outs" where you give vague answers in character. Hey Snow White, what's up with Congress? "Congress? Oh, that sounds like fun. Is that something the forest elves do? They're crafty fellows, those forest elves."
So, while it's impressive, there's a definite craft to it that can be prepped and honed.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:51 PM on May 23, 2013 [10 favorites]
I used to work at Disneyland, and the Disney "face" characters, the one's that didn't wear masks and could speak (e.g. Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, etc.) could all do this kind of ad-libbing for hours.
The trick is to have a clearly established character and lots of go-to comments you can repeat over and over again to different audiences, as they're rarely going to see you more than once. So, Snow White talks about the dwarves, the prince, the apple, the witch ... and then you keep going with what's right in front of you. The dress, the hair, the shoes, etc.
And then you have a series of "outs" where you give vague answers in character. Hey Snow White, what's up with Congress? "Congress? Oh, that sounds like fun. Is that something the forest elves do? They're crafty fellows, those forest elves."
So, while it's impressive, there's a definite craft to it that can be prepped and honed.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:51 PM on May 23, 2013 [10 favorites]
I used to work at Disneyland, ... So, while it's impressive, there's a definite craft to it that can be prepped and honed.
Way to ruin the magic.
posted by Mezentian at 10:09 PM on May 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Way to ruin the magic.
posted by Mezentian at 10:09 PM on May 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Mr. Starkey definitely gives the impression that he's internalized the character and has done his homework, so I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss it entirely as a parlor trick involving talking points.
Also, I loved him in The Beatles. One of the three best drummers they ever had.
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:22 PM on May 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
Also, I loved him in The Beatles. One of the three best drummers they ever had.
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:22 PM on May 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
He has the power of being the only Strax, so he can be his own character and ad-lib. Canon is fairly flexible here, and Strax lives in the normal world so he can be fairly flexible as to responses.
"I miss Stalin, warrior king of the Soviets!" is merely one of the things he could but probably shouldn't say whilst being able to remain perfectly in character.
Almost sure he shouldn't Godwin.
I must never be allowed to play Strax
posted by jaduncan at 11:39 PM on May 23, 2013 [9 favorites]
"I miss Stalin, warrior king of the Soviets!" is merely one of the things he could but probably shouldn't say whilst being able to remain perfectly in character.
Almost sure he shouldn't Godwin.
I must never be allowed to play Strax
posted by jaduncan at 11:39 PM on May 23, 2013 [9 favorites]
Oh, and they should upload River Song's consciousness from the Library to their new Tardis, so the Tardis will be more developed as a character and will speak with Alex Kingston's voice.
And that's why you should never let fans anywhere near your series. River Smug worn out her welcome by her second appearance and is now just another half assed plot device to be used whenever Moffat and co have written themselves in a corner.
posted by MartinWisse at 12:26 AM on May 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
And that's why you should never let fans anywhere near your series. River Smug worn out her welcome by her second appearance and is now just another half assed plot device to be used whenever Moffat and co have written themselves in a corner.
posted by MartinWisse at 12:26 AM on May 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
Love it.
"I have gene-spliced myself for all nursing duties - I can produce magnificent quantities of lactic fluid!"
Best quote in all of Who.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:05 AM on May 24, 2013 [5 favorites]
"I have gene-spliced myself for all nursing duties - I can produce magnificent quantities of lactic fluid!"
Best quote in all of Who.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:05 AM on May 24, 2013 [5 favorites]
I keep getting notices via Twitter for clips, etc, but I'm a foreigner who can't watch iPlayer. Is YouTube a reliable source for Strax and other clip goodness?
posted by jb at 5:57 AM on May 24, 2013
posted by jb at 5:57 AM on May 24, 2013
"I sent you to get the memory worm."
"Did you? When? Who's he? What are we doing here?"
"Have you been eating Miss Jenny's sherbert fancies again?"
Time-lapse of the Sontaran prosthetics (possibly region-limited).
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:05 AM on May 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
"Did you? When? Who's he? What are we doing here?"
"Have you been eating Miss Jenny's sherbert fancies again?"
Time-lapse of the Sontaran prosthetics (possibly region-limited).
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:05 AM on May 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
River Smug worn out her welcome by her second appearance and is now just another half assed plot device to be used whenever Moffat and co have written themselves in a corner.
I'm going to disagree, just because what's the fun of a Who thread where we all agree?
And I say this only because her scene with the Doctor in the finale was the only moving part of the finale for me - and it put Clara (the plot device) entirely to shame.
Overall, I'm waiting for Moffat to leave. I'll watch the 50th Anniversary out of nostalgia and obligation, but after that, I have no interest in the show until Moffat goes and takes Clara with him. I also suspect Matt Smith will go when Moffat does, so a clean slate for Series 9?
posted by crossoverman at 8:04 PM on May 25, 2013
I'm going to disagree, just because what's the fun of a Who thread where we all agree?
And I say this only because her scene with the Doctor in the finale was the only moving part of the finale for me - and it put Clara (the plot device) entirely to shame.
Overall, I'm waiting for Moffat to leave. I'll watch the 50th Anniversary out of nostalgia and obligation, but after that, I have no interest in the show until Moffat goes and takes Clara with him. I also suspect Matt Smith will go when Moffat does, so a clean slate for Series 9?
posted by crossoverman at 8:04 PM on May 25, 2013
« Older Calling It Quits | Au revoir, Georges Moustaki. Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by jaduncan at 4:08 PM on May 23, 2013 [30 favorites]