Review: Torchwood

Children of Earth, Day 1

SPOILER WARNING: I will be discussing the events which occured so it may not make sense until you've seen the episode and if it does it may blow something you would have preferred to experience first hand, which I recommend. Proceed at your own risk.

Wow!!! I've rarely been this impressed after the first part of any series, the show has visibly stepped up a notch in quality as its gone up to the top channel.
Where to start? Let's break it down:

The Good:
- Started really well, straight into the story and intrigue, whilst it was quite obvious from the start that the alien threat is clearly going to be the human children we see taken in the 60's. I suspect that we're supposed to be on the ball with that though and have the bigger questions to ask, like who was taking them? why? what presence is it represented in the light? What's up with Clem and why? I really am excited to find this out.
- The fact that the story, in the hands of a really talented writer, actually took the time to slow down and build, without seeming like dragging anything even slighly out. This seemed to be reallyt letting us know people better, or get to know new folks, giving us a chance for some of the best domestic scenes. For example I'd heard great things about the scene between Jack and Alice as she discusses hating him for being her father but not aging and watching her die, I feared it would be too science-fiction-y and unrelatable but as a scene it really worked, not least as Jack had to again demonstrate his increasing detachment from humanity and have his own kin tell him what a dangerous man he's become (a bit of foreshadowing perhaps?). Gwen's stuff was, as in previous years, brilliant but kept to a reasonable minimum since she is the one whose home life we know most about, it was really nice to see Rhys get a little moment to shine thuough
- The government and its connection to events, culminating in the reveal of the really supremely cool-looking black ops agency (led by the talented and immensely fanciable Liz May Brice) were an excellent plot, that seems to be ticking away nicely. I suspect we will learn more of their link to past events and the current crisis and who the secret team are. I fear we've seen all we will of Mr Frobisher revealed but his part still shines under the potential of a truly top rate actor (seriously just watch Peter Capaldi in that final scene).
- The big ending was one of the earliest things you could piece together from spoilers but still got my pulse pounding, and served to really highlight the team dynamics in a simple 2 words from Jack to Gwen delivered pitch perfectly ("You're pregnant!"), and the most heartfelt, desperate kiss between Jack and Ianto. The big story was top notch but these little moments were the cherry on the sundae. And how brave to have Jack become, ultimately, a suicide bomber, at the hands of the government.
- Having the balls to set up a new cast member and team replacement only to have him revealed as deep in the conspiracy and shoot one of the main stars in a true WTF moment!? Awesome.

The Not So Good
- As it's Russell T Davies there's usually always one bit of misjudged domesticity and comedy which doesn't fit with the rest of events and jars, and sure enough here we had Ianto's "hick" family and the SUV being stolen from a rough estate. Social comment or writing a scene too far? I fear the latter.

None the less I truly, genuinely loved this. Great acting across the board, some nice references to Doctor Who and Torchwood past but a seeming respect for new viewers too (and I recommend checking it out), seriously affecting emotional dialogue and performances (bar the aforementioned misjudged scene), some real directorial flourishes, an A+ script, and a tantalising and thrilling central mystery and threat, both creepy and astounding, all equals me on tenterhooks for tomorrow night!!!

***** 5/5