One Sentence Review

A solid second episode, but not quite as good as the first episode

Episode Synopsis

Find it here

Thoughts and Analysis

The second of five episodes has a difficult job to accomplish, as it needs to keep the momentum and tension going from the first episode, but not provide any firm answers to what is going on while maintaining peoples interest. This episode achieved most of that but in the grand scheme of things could probably be skipped as the primary focus was the division and reunification of the Torchwood team rather than the 456.

Now lets look at the progression in the arcs

The “456″ Arc

There was very little in terms of progression of this arc, we learn that they will be arriving in tomorrows episode, and that there interest is primarily in the UK, but we dont know much more than that. Hopefully in tomorrows episode things will become a bit clearer.

The “Clement” Arc

Again very little progression aside from a few scenes to remind us that he exists, and has some weird smelling ability. I suspect it will be Thursdays episode when his story and role becomes clear.

The “Torchwood” Arc

This was the primary focus of this episode, and the main progression was to show how bad things have got for them without the resources of the hub to draw on. To be honest though the Torchwood on the run and rescue of Jack, felt like it had just been put into the series for a bit of padding. It does seem though that Jack may have some connection to the 456 aliens as the reason he was taken out seemed to be that he could talk.

To be honest though the assasination angle seems a bit contrived as if it was put in there to (a) get Lois on side and (b) introduce a villain other than the 456, as the whole point of the killing seems to be to keep people quite which could just as easily be done by taking them into custody, especially as it is also reliant on the 456 keeping quite.

Talking of contrived, there is the whole question of why Johnson just didn’t shoot Gwen and Rhys straight away as the whole episode she had been hunting them down but then decided for some reason not to Shoot Gwen when she was in the mortuary which allows her to escape.

The “Family” Arcs

Jacks daughter’s role in this episode was minimal and it looks to me that there may be a rapprochement between them by the end of the series.

Ianto’s family on the other hand had a more substantive role, in helping to get him to a position where he could rescue Jack, what their larger role in the series could be, aside from providing a “normal” perspective of events is still unclear though.

The “Home Office” Arc

We essentially get a sneak peak at where the Aliens will be “living”, Frobisher finds out he is expendable and Lois “joins” Torchwood. After this episode, it seems clear that Frobisher is heading for a bad end for doing his job, and I would not be surprised if it happens in episode 4 rather than 5.

Lois on the other hand could go either way, as she is now effectively Torchwoods “Rupesh” a mole on the inside. Given her slapping down today it is clear she will get caught at some point, the only question is will she live through it to have a “good” end possibly joining the Torchwood team, or a fatal one instead.

Mr Decker is also giving off creepy vibes, and unless a Red Herring is looking like a potential 456 agent on Earth given his actions and reactions in this episode.

Other Thoughts

This episode definitely suffers from middle episode syndrome, where despite it being a solid episode seems to lack a bit of direction and purpose. In terms of resolutions the only thing that has been resolved is that the Torchwood team is back together and now know who there enemy is. Aside from that more build up, more questions but no definitive answers.

Episode Rating

7/10