Madame Vastra is a character that really hits the ground running, with one of her first few lines revealing that not only did she catch Jack The Ripper but ate him as well. Try and beat that for an introduction. As well as her combat skills and tendency to eat serial killers, right from the off shes marked out as a very wise character. Despite the team fighting at Demons Run including Rory, Strax, and Lorna (all soldiers at some point in their lives); its Vastra who takes charge, commands the battle, and wins. As well as being intuitive enough to work out that River was conceived aboard the Tardis, and having the sense to remind the Doctor of his own advice at a time when he most needs it. Away from Demons Run, she has the supreme confidence and I dont give a crap attitude to live in Victorian London despite being non-human and in a same sex interspecies relationship, and ends up leading a successful trio of crime-fighters that are effectively a rival to Torchwood. And of course, shes the in-universe inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. Plus shes able to keep Strax in line which is quite a feat for someone whos not the Doctor.
JG Moore is a writer and filmmaker from the south of England. He also works as an editor and VFX artist, and has a BA in Media Production from the University Of Winchester.
