Review: Torchwood: Children Of Earth
Written by Ian Cullen on July 11, 2009 – 11:36 am -
Synopsis: An ordinary day becomes one of terror, as every single child in the world stops. A message is sent to all the governments of Earth: “We are coming.” But, as a trap closes around Captain Jack, the sins of the past are returning and long-forgotten events from 1965 threaten to reveal an awful truth.
Torchwood is forced underground as the government takes swift and brutal action. As members of the team are hunted down, Britain risks becoming a rogue state. Meanwhile, the mysterious and powerful 456 draws ever closer. Captain Jack, Gwen and Ianto are helpless as events escalate to such a degree that mankind faces the end of civilisation itself.
Warning This Review Contains Heavy Spoilers
The Review: The one thing many people were worried about when it was first announced that Torchwood was moving to BBC One was seeing a dumbed down version of the series.
These worries were unfounded.
What we got was a classic serialized drama, which like all the best British drama’s wasn’t afraid to take chances, and by chances I mean major league big chances.
The opening hour of the mini series is a bit slow on the uptake, but it is used to effectively introduce us to many of the key characters who will come into play later on in the series. Captain Jacks Daughter Alice Carter who is played by Lucy Cohu and his Grandson. We also meet Ianto’s family and learn of his relationship with his sister and get to meet his often talked about but never seen nephew and niece.
The introduction of these characters only serves to give you a loose idea of how big the actual story is. It gets much bigger with each successive episode.
What proves really effective is how the first episode ends. I couldn’t help but be on the edge of my seat as Jack is duped into his own demise by a man posing as an NHS Doctor, who Torchwood are considering as a replacement for Owen Harper. However, when said NHS Doctor shoots Jack and allows Johnson who is played by the wonderfully scary Liz May Brice to plant a bomb in Jacks abdomin. It ends up that Jack is the weapon, which destroys the Torchwood Hub. One could not help but think there were shades of Captain Scarlet here.
The opening two episodes build up to the momentous introduction of the 456 who want 10% of the worlds children. For what only becomes clear in the final episode. The use of character work to keep fans guessing is wonderfully done. Particularly impressive is Peter Capaldi who played John Frobisher the man who gave the order to have Captain Jack killed, even though he knew killing Jack was near impossible. We only learn later on that Frobisher is acting on orders. Orders that he’ll later have cause to regret.
The series really amps up in the third episode when we finally get our first glance as the 456 as they land in their little habitat, which is hidden inside a Government building.
We also see some playful scenes where the Torchwood team resort to petty theft in order to rebuild a new base at the abandoned Torchwood One base in London. Many of these scenes are reminiscent of cons we have seen used in shows such as Hustle and BBC Three’s Real Hustle.
At episode four the plot thickens and suddenly proceedings get very much darker. With some help from an up and coming civil servant by the name of Lois Habiba who is recruited by Gwen as a mole in the Building, which houses the 456.
At this point we learn that Jacks sins of the past have come back to bite him on the ass, and thus starts Torchwood’s plan to try and fight back.
While Ianto and Jack head to the building, which houses the 456 while being chased by Johnson and her solders. Gwen, Rhys and Clement McDonald a survivor from the 456’s first visit in the 1960’s record information.
In the closing moments of episode four we see Jack and Ianto face off against the 456. In their anger at the fact that Jack and Ianto refuse to co operate the 456 unleash a nasty virus which kills everyone in the building including Ianto. Jack and the sound engineer who set up the habitat for the 456 our the only survivors.
Feeling dejected at the loss of his closest friend and lover in Ianto. Jack has more or less given up and turns himself in. He has the authorities send Gwen and Rhys home.
By the time we get to episode five things are looking bleak, and just when you think things can’t get any worse. Frobisher learns that he will have to give up his own children to the 456. A fact, which he is not to happy about, and an event that sets a new chain of events in motion to disrupt the power players inside the British Government. Amid all the intrigue plans are in action to cull the 10% of kids from UK Schools and Schools world wide to appease the 456’s demands.
While at her base of operations Johnson is starting to realize how wrong it is giving into the 456 and after being given a little push by Captain Jacks daughter who has been in custody. Johnson sets a plan in motion to liberate Captain Jack from Custody.
While in Wales Gwen and Rhys who are still shaken by Ianto’s death go to his sister to tell her the bad news and help her save her children from the cull.
Back at Johnson’s base Jack sets about trying to figure out a means to defeat the 456. They come to the conclusion that it is a frequency of sound that can kill the 456. A frequency, which it turns out Clement was broadcasting, hence why they killed him.
As they make this discovery Jack and the team come to the tragic realization that the only way to broadcast this frequency is to use a child. The only child on the base happens to be Jacks Grandson, and in perhaps one of the most emotionally jarring and tragic Torchwood moments ever Jack has to make the cold hard choice of sacrificing his own grandson in order to save the planet from the 456.
Overall: Although, this season of Torchwood didn’t have 13 episodes or the amount of sexual innuendo of past seasons. It had a much darker and daring plot than previous seasons.
The loss of Ianto was a true surprise moment, but wasn’t a meaningless death. Earlier on in the season Jacks daughter while in custody tells Johnson that she should be weary of Jack and says, “A man who can’t die has nothing to fear. So watch it.” Only as we soon learn a man who can live forever has to live with the tragic losses of those he loves. Jack is very much like The Doctor in this way. As in he has a healthy fear of getting to close to those around him.
This series of Torchwood was the darkest yet for me. Those who like myself were upset by the events of last seasons finale when we saw the death of Owen and Tosh will really have to brace themselves for Children Of Earth, because it is every bit of the emotional roller-coaster ride that last season was.
It all goes to emphasize that Torchwood is a very dangerious place to work.
The ending reunites Gwen Rhys and Jack, but only for a few moments. Still traumatized by the death of Ianto and having to sacrifice his grandson for the greater good. Jack uses his time travel device to go on a walk about.
Is this the end of Torchwood as a series? I certainly hope not, but if it is the end for the show. It’s probably as good a way to end the show as any.
Score 9.5/10
Related posts:
- Torchwood Radio Plays To Pre – Empt Children Of Earth
- Torchwood Children Of Earth Revealed
- Stakes Higher Than Ever For Torchwood Team
- Children Of Earth An Event Says Myles
- Torchwood Gets July Release Date
Tags: BBC HD, BBC One, Captain Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper, Ianto Jones, Torchwood: Children Of Earth
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