Somebody called for a Nurse?Strax's first words
Strax is a member of the Paternoster Gang and a recurring supporting protagonist in Doctor Who. He is a Sontaran who was demoted to being a nurse and along with Madame Vastra and Jenny Flint aided The Doctor in the Battle of Demons Run. Strax was fatally wounded in the battle and died but two days later he was resurrected by Vastra and Jenny and became their butler and lived with them in Victorian London. He appears in the episodes: A Good Man Goes To War, The Snowmen, The Crimson Horror, The Name of The Doctor with the Eleventh Doctor and Deep Breath with the Twelfth Doctor.
He is played by Dan Starkey who also played Randal Moon in Wizards Vs Aliens.
History
Past
Commander Strax was part of a clone batch of Sontarans, and was trained in the ways of Sontaran warfare. On one occasion, Strax found himself in a situation that resulted in the Doctor saving him, and Strax becoming indebted to him. At some point, Strax, rather unwillingly, became a nurse, with him claiming it was to restore the honour of his clone batch.
The Battle of Demon's Run
A Good Man Goes to War
In the year 4037, Strax tended to human soldiers at the Battle of Zaruthstra, and was summoned by the Eleventh Doctor to aid in rescuing him companion Amy Pond, and her daughter Melody from Demon's Run. Strax was pleased to return to battle, and when the Doctor's forces attacked the asteroid, Strax held Colonel Manton at gunpoint. He later aided in looking after the baby Melody, sharing camaraderie with the father, Rory Williams.
However, they would be surprise attacked by the Headless Monks, and Strax was seriously wounded when a Monk struck him from behind with its sword. As he struggled with what he believed to be his last breaths, Strax noted how he had once longed to die in combat, but now he didn't find it as enjoyable as he had thought it would be. Rory tried to comfort him, saying he was sure he would recover, but Strax reminded Rory that he was a nurse, too. However, he admitted that he had had a good life, and was pleased to live nearly twelve years.
Two Days Later
Following his death, as seen in the prequel Two Days Later, Strax was brought back to life by Jenny Flint and Madame Vastra, When he regained consciousness, two days afterwards, Jenny de-emphasised the severity of his wounds by telling Strax that he had just fainted. This annoyed the Sontaran who had wanted to have the glory of dying in battle. The Victorian couple then offered to take him home with them to 1888 London. At first he declined, but quickly changed his mind.
He went on to assist Madame Vastra and Jenny in Victorian London as part of the Paternoster Gang of investigators.
Personality
Like most Sontarans, Strax generally displayed the typical traits that were normal for a Sontaran, such as a willingness to die in battle, a love of fighting, and war.
He had some prejudices against other species: he once called Madame Vastra herself a "ridiculous reptile".
Despite being demoted to nurse at some point in his life, Strax was still a fierce Sontaran warrior who was willing to face overwhelming odds without hesitation or fear. An example of this trait was when he and several of the Doctor's allies were outnumbered by the Headless Monks yet he fought valiantly against them. He also showed a willingness to kill people he had once helped; for example after healing a human boy he told him that he hoped to one day defeat him in mortal combat. However he did not do so in a malicious way, but more out of respect. Strax also had a tendency to "compliment" people by telling them how much he would enjoy destroying them in battle. Although many people usually end up confused in the process, possibly thinking that Strax is joking.
Unlike most Sontarans, Strax however, he was unable to distinguish one human from another, and had no concept of binary gender, mistaking both Jenny and Clara for boys. The Eleventh Doctor said, of Strax, that "two genders is a bit further than he can count".
Strax's dedication to duty and a strict warrior's honor code was cast into sharp focus during the battle with the Clockwork Droids, wherein he was prepared to commit suicide and prolong the lives of his companions, rather than taking a breath and risking their collective demise. Thankfully the Clockwork Droids were all shut down when the Twelfth Doctor killed their leader, so Strax didn't go through with committing suicide.
Strax did not tolerate what he believed was incompetence from livestock, even if they weren't at fault. If Strax thought they had failed in their "mission", it was grounds to execute them. He killed three horses in the same week for getting lost in Yorkshire, and nearly performed a summary execution on a fourth, asking it for last words, only to get no reply, which was "the usual story", suggesting he could understand horse. Strax didn't seem enthused to make another horse go the way of the others, stating he wasn't "even hungry". However, this particular horse was spared when he got proper directions to get to Sweetville. Strax could also become hyperactive if he ate sherbet fancies. He would steal the sweets from Jenny and eat them behind her back. However, Vastra could tell when he was "overexcited" from eating the fancies, and Strax was bad at hiding the truth.
He also lacked proper manners for some things; when he asked Clara if she would like the newspaper, he literally threw it through a window and it hit her directly in the face, knocking her out, to hilarious results.
However, Strax also had a softer side and appeared to like children, tending to a young boy during the battle of Zaruthstra and offering to breastfeed Melody Pond, seeming rather affronted when Rory and Amy refused his offer. He also befriended the urchin Thomas Thomas and worked with the boy to save his friends. His softer side was also shown by the sorrow he expressed when Clara Oswin Oswald was dying.
Despite the fact that most Sontarans had always considered the Doctor to be a sworn enemy of the Sontaran Empire, Strax however, he was a loyal ally to the Time Lord, and did not appear to have any grudge against him. He knew of the Doctor's previous incarnations and had various opinions on them. Before his resurrection, Strax commented that he wasn't enjoying dying in battle as much as he'd hoped. However he was grateful for having lived nearly twelve years which, for a Sontaran, was quite a long life. When Rory tried to comfort him, insisting that he was a warrior and he could survive, Strax corrected him - he was a nurse. In the end, Strax found a greater nobility in healing than in killing- ironically he had previously described being a nurse as 'the most humiliating punishment a Sontaran can endure.'
Strax was not very intelligent but he was loyal and well meaning. Sometimes he would say something clever, which the Doctor said didn't suit him. The Doctor was often condescending towards the Sontaran, although Strax didn't seem to mind the insults directed at him, even finding amusement in them. Since he was still adapting to life on Earth, Strax often said things that were either threatening or insulting such as when he told Clara she would be "obliterated" if she tried to escape and informed Captain Latimer that he had a "puny human mind". However he would often follow these statements with something more appropriate such as "May I take your coat?" and "Try not to worry", showing that he really was trying to fit in as best he could. Strax preferred to deal with problems through force and often suggested weapons or battle tactics that could help in times of need which commonly exasperated his friends. Strax occasionally showed an uncanny fondness for grenades and acid traps. In the case of grenades, he answered the Doctor's question about the next thing to look for after finding something brand new in the world as "a grenade", and like to "play with" them when he was bored. And finally, remembering not to destroy someone with acid, on the other hand, was an old habit that Strax himself often found very hard to break.
Powers and Abilities
Memorable Quotes
Suggest we melt his brain using projectile acid fish, and then interrogate him. [PAUSE] Other way round.Strax
Sir, please do not noogie me during combat prep.Strax, to the Eleventh Doctor.
Horse, you have failed in your mission! We are lost, with no sign of Sweetville. Do you have any final words before your summary execution? (The Horse doesn't answer, much to Strax's anger and irritation, before he whips out his Sontaran blaster rifle) The usual story. You're the fourth one this week, and I'm not even hungry.Strax, before attempting to execute the Horse for failing to locate Sweetville, before meeting Thomas Thomas.
SONTAR-HA!!! HEH HAH HA HAAAAAHHH!!! (He's literally cackling like a madman while mercilessly shooting at his fleeing enemies) YEH-HA HA HA HA HAH!!! YEH-HAH HA HAH HAAH!!!!!Strax, in his Sontaran armor, while blasting at Mrs Gillyflower's own henchmen and henchwomen Pilgrims, while running past the Eleventh Doctor and Jenny, much to the Eleventh Doctor's own shock and surprise.
PUT DOWN YOUR WEAPON, HUMAN FEMALE!!!Strax, upon confronting Mrs Gillyflower, while ordering her to stand down.
Gallery
Trivia
- Strax is the first good natured Sontaran to appear in Doctor Who.
- Strax enjoys going to Glasgow on his days off from the Paternoster Gang; getting into bar fights with the locals, as sport, and even being cordial to them if they are interrupted.
- Strax knows there's two genders, but has them labeled backwards; calling Jenny and Clara boys, along with a messenger boy a girl.
- When he's completely unsure, he calls a human "it".
- According to the novels, he thinks "Madame" is a rank and not a title.
- When examining Clara's subconcious, Strax sees "muscular young men doing sport"; fans take this to mean Strax saw two girls making out, seeing as Clara is heteroflexible.
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