The Lab Rat: Difference between revisions
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They will often be fairly geeky, and/or [[Misfit Lab Rat|members of other subcultures]]. [[Hot Scientist|Not looking out of place on the catwalk is optional]]. Sometimes they will leave the lab and have adventures, or even become a more major character. Often the [[Plucky Comic Relief]] if they get any character development. |
They will often be fairly geeky, and/or [[Misfit Lab Rat|members of other subcultures]]. [[Hot Scientist|Not looking out of place on the catwalk is optional]]. Sometimes they will leave the lab and have adventures, or even become a more major character. Often the [[Plucky Comic Relief]] if they get any character development. |
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== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] == |
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] == |
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* Any character in the Mazinger series (''[[ |
* Any character in the Mazinger series (''[[Mazinger Z]]'', ''[[Great Mazinger]]'' and ''[[UFO Robo Grendizer]]'') filled [[The Professor]] role fit in this trope: Dr. Kabuto, Prof. Yumi, Prof. Kenzo Kabuto, Prof. Umon... All of them performed scientific analysis and research, either to design the [[Humongous Mecha]] or to draw the information they needed from the data the [[Bridge Bunnies]] collected. |
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== [[Literature]] == |
== [[Literature]] == |
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* ''[[The Dresden Files]]'' has Waldo Butters, whose adventures outside the lab result in him very firmly returning to it, and only leaving while wearing a [[Bulletproof Vest]]. |
* ''[[The Dresden Files]]'' has Waldo Butters, whose adventures outside the lab result in him very firmly returning to it, and only leaving while wearing a [[Bulletproof Vest]]. |
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* In the Palace of the Prophets, Wizard Warren becomes known as The Mole for stopping leaving the underground libraries. It takes Richard to draw him out again. Warren turns out to be both brilliant and a power combat-wizard, so it was mainly shyness. |
* In the Palace of the Prophets, Wizard Warren becomes known as The Mole for stopping leaving the underground libraries. It takes Richard to draw him out again. Warren turns out to be both brilliant and a power combat-wizard, so it was mainly shyness. |
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== [[Live Action TV]] == |
== [[Live Action TV]] == |
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** Maxine Valera also does this job. |
** Maxine Valera also does this job. |
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* ''[[CSI: NY]]'' has Adam Ross. |
* ''[[CSI: NY]]'' has Adam Ross. |
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* Marshall Flinkmann, the [[Mission Control]] from ''[[Alias (TV)|Alias]]''. |
* Marshall Flinkmann, the [[Mission Control]] from ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]''. |
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* Broots from ''[[The Pretender]]'', whose job description rarely entails leaving his electronics lab at Villain HQ. |
* Broots from ''[[The Pretender]]'', whose job description rarely entails leaving his electronics lab at Villain HQ. |
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* Abby Sciuto, the [[Perky Goth]] lab tech from ''[[NCIS]]''. A major case of [[Bunny Ears Lawyer]]. |
* Abby Sciuto, the [[Perky Goth]] lab tech from ''[[NCIS]]''. A major case of [[Bunny Ears Lawyer]]. |
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** Called "squints" in-universe by Booth. Because they sit in the lab and squint at things. |
** Called "squints" in-universe by Booth. Because they sit in the lab and squint at things. |
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*** Also the rotating team of 'Squinterns', Dr Brennan's interns. |
*** Also the rotating team of 'Squinterns', Dr Brennan's interns. |
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* While "serial killer" is a better description, blood-spatter analyst [[Dexter]] Morgan is considered |
* While "serial killer" is a better description, blood-spatter analyst [[Dexter]] Morgan is considered The Lab Rat in his public life. |
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** If anything, Dexter is a subversion. At his job, he's seen as one of the lab rats, but the audience knows better. His co-worker Masuka, on the other hand, is a dead-on example. |
** If anything, Dexter is a subversion. At his job, he's seen as one of the lab rats, but the audience knows better. His co-worker Masuka, on the other hand, is a dead-on example. |
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* Chloe O'Brian from ''[[ |
* Chloe O'Brian from ''[[24]]''. |
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* Samantha Carter from ''[[Stargate Verse]]''. |
* Samantha Carter from ''[[Stargate Verse]]''. |
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* Fred (and later Knox) in ''[[Angel]]''. |
* Fred (and later Knox) in ''[[Angel]]''. |
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* In ''[[Dollhouse]]'' while Topher has pretensions of being a [[Mad Scientist]] he's really just one of these, his assistant Ivy even more so. |
* In ''[[Dollhouse]]'' while Topher has pretensions of being a [[Mad Scientist]] he's really just one of these, his assistant Ivy even more so. |
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* Agent Pendrell in ''[[The X-Files]]''. |
* Agent Pendrell in ''[[The X-Files]]''. |
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* Lester in ''[[ |
* Lester in ''[[Beakman's World]]'' is a ''literal'' lab rat. Well, lab guy-in-a-rat-suit, but you get the picture. |
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* Eve Lockhart in [[Waking the Dead]] also qualifies. |
* Eve Lockhart in [[Waking the Dead]] also qualifies. |
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== [[Video Games]] == |
== [[Video Games]] == |
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* Ema Skye in the first ''[[Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney]]'' and ''Apollo Justice Ace Attorney''. |
* Ema Skye in the first ''[[Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney]]'' and ''Apollo Justice Ace Attorney''. |
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** Technically, a detective who really likes science, but the spirit is still there. |
** Technically, a detective who really likes science, but the spirit is still there. |
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== [[Web Comics]] == |
== [[Web Comics]] == |
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* ''[[ |
* ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court]]'' has Kat, even when dealing with second shadows and ghosts. |
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== [[Western Animation]] == |
== [[Western Animation]] == |
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* |
* The Lab Rat from ''[[Grossology]]'' actually goes by this name. |
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* A sort of literal version of this occurs in ''[[Creature Comforts]]'', where a couple of lab rats in a maze being voiced by two real-life scientists talk about their day jobs. |
* A sort of literal version of this occurs in ''[[Creature Comforts]]'', where a couple of lab rats in a maze being voiced by two real-life scientists talk about their day jobs. |
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[[Category:Characters As Device]] |
[[Category:Characters As Device]] |
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[[Category:The Lab Rat]] |
[[Category:The Lab Rat]] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lab Rat, The}} |
Latest revision as of 16:36, 24 April 2018
Any character who performs scientific analysis. Forensics people, usually. If on a show about those people, such as CSI and its spin offs, he will be the member of the team who deals with the most technical and specialized aspects.
They will often be fairly geeky, and/or members of other subcultures. Not looking out of place on the catwalk is optional. Sometimes they will leave the lab and have adventures, or even become a more major character. Often the Plucky Comic Relief if they get any character development.
Examples of The Lab Rat include:
Anime and Manga
- Any character in the Mazinger series (Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger and UFO Robo Grendizer) filled The Professor role fit in this trope: Dr. Kabuto, Prof. Yumi, Prof. Kenzo Kabuto, Prof. Umon... All of them performed scientific analysis and research, either to design the Humongous Mecha or to draw the information they needed from the data the Bridge Bunnies collected.
Fan Works
- Dr. Otto Octavius refers to himself as exactly this in The Life After Death Trilogy.
Literature
- The Dresden Files has Waldo Butters, whose adventures outside the lab result in him very firmly returning to it, and only leaving while wearing a Bulletproof Vest.
- In the Palace of the Prophets, Wizard Warren becomes known as The Mole for stopping leaving the underground libraries. It takes Richard to draw him out again. Warren turns out to be both brilliant and a power combat-wizard, so it was mainly shyness.
Live Action TV
- Nigel Townsend from Crossing Jordan. He was as much a main character as anyone who wasn't Jordan could be throughout the show's duration, but his overenthusiasm at tackling any overly technical problem, quirky sense of humor, ambiguous personal life, and arguable ability to fall into the goth subculture place him squarely in this trope.
- Greg Sanders from CSI, whose nickname at Television Without Pity inspired this entry's title. He has now become a CSI in his own right.
- His role has been taken over by multiple people- David Hodges (Trace Analysis, endearingly annoying), Archie Johnson (Audiovisual) Mandy Webster (Fingerprints), Henry Andrews (Toxicology) and Wendy Simms (DNA, lower rung love interest). They got a Lower Deck Episode with the hilarious "You Kill Me".
- Also, the aptly named "Lab Rats" episode, and the(also aptly named) "Field Mice".
- His role has been taken over by multiple people- David Hodges (Trace Analysis, endearingly annoying), Archie Johnson (Audiovisual) Mandy Webster (Fingerprints), Henry Andrews (Toxicology) and Wendy Simms (DNA, lower rung love interest). They got a Lower Deck Episode with the hilarious "You Kill Me".
- CSI: Miami had Natalia Boa Vista, who has upgraded to full CSI.
- Maxine Valera also does this job.
- CSI: NY has Adam Ross.
- Marshall Flinkmann, the Mission Control from Alias.
- Broots from The Pretender, whose job description rarely entails leaving his electronics lab at Villain HQ.
- Abby Sciuto, the Perky Goth lab tech from NCIS. A major case of Bunny Ears Lawyer.
- In Bones, either Zack, Hodgins or Brennan (in that order or probability) depending on the episode and the context.
- Called "squints" in-universe by Booth. Because they sit in the lab and squint at things.
- Also the rotating team of 'Squinterns', Dr Brennan's interns.
- Called "squints" in-universe by Booth. Because they sit in the lab and squint at things.
- While "serial killer" is a better description, blood-spatter analyst Dexter Morgan is considered The Lab Rat in his public life.
- If anything, Dexter is a subversion. At his job, he's seen as one of the lab rats, but the audience knows better. His co-worker Masuka, on the other hand, is a dead-on example.
- Chloe O'Brian from 24.
- Samantha Carter from Stargate Verse.
- Fred (and later Knox) in Angel.
- Early seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer have Willow doing this, before it becomes less "chemical analysis" and more "potion-brewing".
- In Dollhouse while Topher has pretensions of being a Mad Scientist he's really just one of these, his assistant Ivy even more so.
- Agent Pendrell in The X-Files.
- Lester in Beakman's World is a literal lab rat. Well, lab guy-in-a-rat-suit, but you get the picture.
- Eve Lockhart in Waking the Dead also qualifies.
Video Games
- Ema Skye in the first Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and Apollo Justice Ace Attorney.
- Technically, a detective who really likes science, but the spirit is still there.
Web Comics
- Gunnerkrigg Court has Kat, even when dealing with second shadows and ghosts.
Western Animation
- The Lab Rat from Grossology actually goes by this name.
- A sort of literal version of this occurs in Creature Comforts, where a couple of lab rats in a maze being voiced by two real-life scientists talk about their day jobs.