'Torchwood' Saves The Best For Last
'Torchwood' Saves The Best For Last
SPOILERS: Alan Stanley Blair reviews the two-part series finale
By ALAN STANLEY BLAIR
Source: SyFy Portal
Jan-01-2007
The following story contains MODERATE SPOILERS for "Captain Jack Harkness" and "End of Days," the last two episodes of "Torchwood's" first season.
When "Torchwood" first launched in October, I was a little disappointed. I had higher expectations for the series and the opening episodes just didn't have the charm of its parent series "Doctor Who."
We were promised a thrilling alien-crime adventure with all the kind of alien goodness that makes "Doctor Who" so fun to watch, mixed in with a whole new brand of adult entertainment. We did get it, but it took a while for all of those elements to begin working together to form a single cohesive show.
But come together they did, and here's the bottom line: the last two episodes of "Torchwood" are just so amazing that "Doctor Who" pales in comparison. It is controversial, but "Captain Jack Harkness" and "End of Days" have everything you could ever want to see from this series.
The sheer level of emotional turmoil demonstrated by the entire cast was simply astonishing and dwarves anything else on British television. The story for both episodes were just so gripping you'll have goose bumps, the special effects so amazing you can't help but swoon and the acting just so fantastic you'll want to give a standing ovation by the end.
"Captain Jack Harkness" was brilliantly told by Catherine Tregenna, with the story very naturally flowing between Jack (John Barrowman) and Tosh's (Naoko Mori) adventures in 1941 and the lives of the rest of Torchwood in the present day. There is a fine art to putting an episode like this together, and no one could have done a better job.
The ghostly encounters, the eerie and indistinct music and the creepy new villain for the series kept the tension at an all time high, but also allowed for the more tender stories to be told. Capt. Jack Harkness meets Capt. Jack Harkness was an interesting twist, but was completely outdone by the unexpected relationship between the two soldiers.
I sometimes have my doubts regarding the sexual overtones of the series … how far is too far? Now while some people will say that "Captain Jack Harkness" crossed the line, I believe the episode walked the line perfectly, maintaining a perfect equilibrium between raw loving emotion and sexual magnetism.
All of these strands were all carried forward into the final episode of the season, "End of Days" which also has its share of really amazing character moments. The most notable of which are Gwen (Eve Myles) as she tries to deal with a very personal loss and Owen (Burn Gorman) who's desperate act to return Jack and Tosh have dire consequences for not only the whole world, but for the whole of time.
With the rift fracturing and causing havoc all around the globe, it is a race against time before the damage become irreparable. You might think that things can't get any worse, but by the final act of "End of Days," the shit really hits the fan (think "The Impossible Planet") and everyone's darkest secrets are out in the open causing the whole Torchwood office to crumble. Relationships are destroyed, friendships broken, and alliances tested.
If you've still to watch the episodes, here's a word of advice: don't miss the last 30 seconds!
"Torchwood" stars John Barrowman and Eve Myles. "Captain Jack Harkness" was written by Catherine Tregenna and "End of Days" by Chris Chibnall. Both episodes were directed by Ashley Way.
Alan Stanley Blair is a staff writer and columnist for SyFy Portal. Contributing from his home country of Scotland, he can be reached at ablair@syfyportal.com.
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