Ogron


 * This article concerns the species. For the organisation, see OGRON.

Ogrons were strong, ape-like humanoids of limited intelligence, typically used by other species as mercenaries. They were most often employed by the Daleks.

Biology
Ogrons had a mix of Human and ape traits. It was believed that this mixture of traits was due to climatic changes on their home planet. (MA: The Romance of Crime, PDA: Mission: Impractical) They were around 7 feet tall, with bowed legs, long arms and barrelled chests. Their faces were flat, with a powerful jaw and small eyes. Ogrons had immense strength, far greater than a Human. Their nervous systems were highly resistant to shock and were protected by muscles, meaning that they could survive multiple bullets. Their only weak spot was the top of their head. (DWN: Doctor Who and the Day of the Daleks; IDW: Fugitive) Ogrons were relatively unintelligent, spoke in simple sentences and had obedient, stoic personalities. (DWN: Doctor Who and the Day of the Daleks) Despite this, Ogron speech used subsonic frequencies, which meant that were more intelligent than they might have appeared. (EDA: Interference - Book One and Book Two)

Culture
The Ogrons lived in scattered communities on a planet on the outer fringes of the Mutter's Spiral, far from the central space-ways. The dominant lifeform on their home planet was a monster which preyed upon the Ogrons, yet they prayed to it with reverence. Many Ogrons were taken off the planet to be employed as mercenaries. (DW: Frontier in Space)

This dedication to other parties' goals largely prevented the study of the Ogron culture itself. They were mostly known for their desire to work unquestioningly for several different parties. By far, their most common employers were the Daleks. (DW: Day of the Daleks, Frontier in Space; BFA: Return of the Daleks). However, they also worked for the Master (DW: Frontier in Space) and the Remote (EDA: Interference - Book One and Book Two).

Though generally thought to be stupid, they did have some mental prowess. They exibited, for instance, an aptitude for flying spacecraft. (DW: Frontier in Space) It was possible, however, this skill was the result of a powerful natural gift of mimicry, rather than true intelligence. (EDA: Interference - Book One and Book Two) On rare occasions, as with Garshak, Ogrons received mental implants which gave them extraordinary and quite genuine intelligence. (NA: Shakedown, Mean Streets).

Despite the dearth of information about them, Ogrons were likely a well-recognized species, judging by their familiarity to other races. For instance, at least one Ogron was in the miniscope owned by the showman Vorg. (DW: Carnival of Monsters) Also, Frobisher, a shapeshifting former companion of the Doctor, mentioned that his wife had fallen in love with him when he was in the shape of an Ogron. (BFA: The Holy Terror)

History
As their culture was shrouded in mystery, so too was their history. However, it was known that their defeats by the Third Doctor proved devastating to their planetary economy. Because they depended upon their fearsome reputation to secure contracts with other species, the fact that they were defeated by an older, white-haired humanoid handed them a public relations nightmare. After their employment with the Master, they found it increasingly difficult to convince other species to hire them. Soon, they began losing more and more work to the Judoon, who eclipsed them as the universe's best hired guns. When the Tenth Doctor discovered the unintentional consequences his younger self's actions, he pledged to try to redress the situation. He seemed to have made good on this promise by getting the Ogron Ambassador Brarshak safely to a round of diplomatic negotiations with the Draconians and Sontarans on the planet Luna IV. (IDW: Fugitive)

Behind the scenes
Different writers have posited varying notions about Ogron intelligence levels. Their television appearance in Frontier in Space portrayed them as unambiguously simple-minded. A few of the Doctor Who Magazine appearances have showed them as somewhat more intelligent. The Interference duology held that Ogrons were in fact equally intelligent to humans, but were faking stupidity.