Written by Chris Chibnall
Directed by Mark Everest
“So is that it, then? We just sweep it under the carpet?”
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.”
“Well, bollocks to serenity!”
“For a lovely girl you’ve got a very dirty mouth.”
The saddest, most depressing, most magnificent episode of Torchwood ever, this was brilliant on every level.
You can always count on Gwen to be the one character that can be ripped around and suffer in ways none of the others can understand. Her heart and her mind are constantly in conflict over her job, her mates, her marriage, and her life…and it all comes to a head in Adrift.
Tragic in ways I can’t even begin to describe, Adrift examines some unfortunate side-effects of the rift…and how the truly innocent can suffer the most horrific torments. Gwen works hard to try and find an explanation - even a purpose - to all those who go missing, but it all ends in tears. Watching Gwen work through the problem (in spite of Jack’s defensiveness) is like watching a runaway train: you KNOW the ending won’t (hell…can’t) be good, but you’re compelled to watch. Gwen’s discovery of Jack’s shelter for the rift victims had me in tears…and those tears never subsided as all the consequences of Gwen’s investigation come to terrible fruition.
What should be more important…the truth, or the comfort of not knowing? Should hope be sacrificed for brutal honesty? This episode explores every possible facet of this dilemma, with a cast that is at the height of its powers. Eve Myles once again steals the show - the heart she wears on her sleeve positively bursting with terrible, aching sadness. But this time, she has a rival in Ruth Jones as Nikki Bevan, who gives a magnificent performance as a strong woman who is destroyed by knowledge of her son’s fate…knowledge she admits she was better off not knowing. As for Robert Pugh — as the aged Jonah — the emotional scars he demonstrates equal the horrific nature of his physical scars.
Once again, by the episode’s end, we’re left with Rhys picking up the pieces of Gwen’s soul…being the loyal and loving man he’s been to her since day one. Adrift is an emotional steamroller of epic proportions…and it deserves epic amounts of praise. But don’t even consider watching this episode alone, unless you are a one hell of a stone-faced stoic.
Written by Chris Chibnall
Directed by Jonathan Fox Bassett
“I don’t exist…and for a man with my charisma, that’s quite an achievement.”
In the best tradition of a DC Comics secret origins issue, Fragments is a set of Torchwood year one introductions for the majority of our intrepid team…and it divides neatly into categories:
1—ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING! Jack’s arrival is pretty much a colouring-in of what we already knew (and most likely suspected) a slightly-cheesed off immortal time agent, arriving in the 19th century, would be like. What we didn’t expect was the torture session, the return of the blowfish, the first explicit mention of the Doctor in Torchwood, and the lesbian couple that seems to be running Torchwood’s Cardiff branch. They definitely deserve to be in a spin-off series of their own!
Then flash forward to December 31st, 1999…and the tragic murder-suicide of the then-Torchwood Three. What on earth did then-leader Alex see in the future that made him so terrified and despondent? Perhaps we’ll find out one day…
2—ABSOLUTELY OUT-OF-THE-BLUE! See Toshiko working for the MOD. See Toshiko committing espionage and building what seems to be an ersatz-sonic screwdriver. See Toshiko use it as a near-failed trade for her mother (being held hostage for SOME reason by SOME unnamed group). See UNIT barge in and arrest Toshiko, confining her to their own version of Guantanamo! See Jack negotiate her release…
Well…THAT came out of nowhere! A good, thrilling, horrifying nowhere…but WOW!
3—ABSOLUTELY TRAGIC! The death of Owen’s fiancee explains so much about his attitude in season one, his nihilistic view of life in general, and his relationships with others…including his team-mates. The simplest origin story, but the most emotional as well.
4—ABSOLUTELY MAD! Ianto and Jack have something (and lust doesn’t begin to do it justice) from the moment they meet. It defies adequate description, but suffice to say it’s full of innuendo, action, great humour, and a hell of a lot of sexuality! Oh, and a pterodactyl!
Throw in the return of Captain John (last seen in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang) at the end — complete with shock revelation — and you have an exciting preamble to what is (hopefully) one hell of a season finale. Fragments is pretty much plot-light and style-heavy…but good lord, WHAT STYLE!
Adrift … 10
Fragments … 9
