Do you think Shrike knows what species he is?

Assuming anyone knows at all.

Zeurel described him as redacted. I imagine his readings show up as such on scanners. “Oh…this one is…uh….yeah…”

I imagine whatever he is, it’s heavily classified and strictly No Reveal. And anyone who does know is advised to not say anything.

LAW definitely knows for sure.

I like to think if you ask Shrike he responds by saying “I’m me.” “I is what I is.” Or any variations thereof as if he rehearsed it.

And Beebs advises anyone asking to not do so. “Don’t ask him. He’ll only end up raising more questions.”

“I heard that!”

(My own theory is that he was a failed experimental extremophile hybrid with cephalopod, human and monkey traits)

What do you think?

[Yes, I absolutely believe that Shrike does not know what species he is. Its been implied often throughout the series that Shrike’s species is “unknown” or endangered in some way- even the first time we see Shrike’s profile on Kara’s screen said “Species: Unknown.”

Shrike, not the brightest child, so ignorant could be at play too, but I theorize the thought that Shrike may have been taken in and raised at LAW. So far, it seems like from what we receive in the series is that very much of LAW past life is with LAW. I honestly do not think he knows or where he came from.

I think another example that tells me that Shrike is clueless about himself is the gem embedded into the back of his head.

When Punti asked Shrike where (or how?) he got the gem, Shrike says on the line that he has it forever, not really having a point of origin of where or when he got it. Heck, its unsure if he was born with it or it was added onto to him.

I would support the idea that LAW may no what he is and keeps that information restricted- even to Shrike. Since the cataclysm is taking out species, it could be possible that Shrike’s kind was involved. How involved? Who knows.

Actually I have heard of the experiment theory! I cannot think of anything on the top of my head to support it? Or examples I can pull for it.

You could take the scene I just mentioned from episode two, when asked about the crystal and his absence knowledge of how it came to exist. You could even take the one scene from episode 4, when confronted by Jawbone who questioned why Shrike was still wearing a red suit, despite not “being” one anymore, and Shrike said on the lines “they won’t put me back under the knife.” However, you could say that just about the suit itself.

I would disregard the theory though, I think have done some experimenting on him, but I don’t know if Shrike is an artificial creation himself, since at the end of episode 2, when Beebs pass Punti over and ask what will happen to him- they said that it will take some time to get used to being the last of your kind, then paneled over to Shrike.

But dang, what do I know? This series always surprises me! I’m very curious what Shrike’s kind has to do with the cataclysm, if anything.

Also that little interaction you mentioned- I wanted to doodle something out for it, so I hope ya enjoy!