Weevil (Torchwood)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Torchwood race | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Weevils | |
| Type | Man-eating humanoid |
| Affiliated with | None |
| Homeworld | Unknown |
| First appearance | Everything Changes |
Weevils are a fictional extraterrestrial species from the British science fiction television series Torchwood, first appearing in the episode Everything Changes. As Jack Harkness explains in that episode, the name "Weevil" is applied to them by Torchwood, but as communication with them is limited, the true name of their race is not known. The behind-the-scenes documentary series, Torchwood Declassified, describes them as the "resident alien of the show".
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[edit] Characteristics
Weevils are thought to be extraterrestrial in origin, but a population of a few hundred live in the sewers of Cardiff, having travelled through a spacetime Rift running through the city. They usually live off sewage, but occasionally one will go rogue, come to the surface and attack humans using their sharp fangs. They typically are seen wearing Torchwood embroidered boiler suits, although it is unknown how they came by these garments. In Everything Changes, a Weevil kills a hospital porter, but is captured and imprisoned in the Torchwood Hub. Jack also states that the frequency of these attacks has been increasing, but the cause is still as yet unknown. In the Torchwood Declassified episode accompanying Combat, John Barrowman speculates that Weevils attack humans out of fear that they will be lured into the Weevil fight clubs.
The Torchwood website states that 1930s New York suffered an infestation similar to the Weevil infestation of Cardiff, which was covered up by rumours of sewer crocodiles. It is not yet known if this is linked to a Dalek invasion which took place around the same time. The Torchwood Website also speculates they may have been in the sewer pipes of 4th century Byzantium, where they were described as "crocodile-like creatures".[1]
The website also noted that they are of low-level intelligence, and that they have little or no language, but perhaps communicate telepathically. It notes that, while they attack to kill, it is unclear whether this is simply due to a desire for food. It points out that family/group behaviour is noted, accompanied by a territorial aggression. They are adapted to survive in dark, damp conditions,[2] and possess great strength and speed.[3] The End of Days episode establishes that in addition to being telepathic, Weevils are also "time sensitive", physically pained by dramatic disruptions in the spacetime Rift. Combat also reveals that the Weevils are becoming immune to "anti-Weevil spray", leading some Torchwood team members to ask if they are "evolving in other ways",[3] which suggests that Weevils have a strong ability to rapidly adapt to their environment.
The Weevil captured in Everything Changes briefly appears in Greeks Bearing Gifts when Toshiko Sato, disillusioned by the glimpses into others' minds provided by the telepathic necklace, compares humanity to Weevils, noting incredible similarity. It is named "Janet" by Jack Harkness in Combat, who refers to it as "she".
In the Torchwood episode Combat, the "Weevil Fight Club"[4] owner, Mark Lynch, theorises that the Weevils are mankind in the future when all that is left is rage; although the Torchwood website says that researchers in the 1950s noted they didn't appear to be derived from any known Earth-species,[1] however, many planets in the Doctor Who universe contain humanoid aliens. Throughout Combat, the rights of a Weevil over a human are questioned. In Combat's closing scene, Owen hisses in a Weevil-like manner at Janet, and it responds by cowering away. The Torchwood Declassified accompaniment states that writers may choose to pick up on this, raising questions into what may have happened to Owen.
[edit] Appearances
- Everything Changes — 22 October 2006
- Day One — 22 October 2006 (cameo)
- Greeks Bearing Gifts — 26 November 2006 (cameo)
- Combat — 24 December 2006
- End of Days — 1 January 2007
- Another Life, novel by Peter Anghelides - released 4 January 2007
- Slow Decay, novel by Andy Lane — released 4 January 2007
[edit] References
- ^ a b Torchwood External Hub Interface - 1950s Torchwood Memo (partial)
- ^ Torchwood External Hub Interface - Weevil Basics
- ^ a b Torchwood External Hub Interface - How to Handle Weevils
- ^ Torchwood External Hub Interface - Weevil Fight Club case files
