When a local teenager disappears, Gwen is drawn into an investigation that reveals a darker side of Torchwood. Hundreds of people have disappeared without a trace, but Jack is obstructing attempts to find them. The answer seems to lie in the rift — literally — and as Gwen follows the trail, she makes a shocking discovery.
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I find this episode kinda frustrating.
There’s some really good stuff here. I’ve complained before that I don’t think Torchwood is that good when it tries to tell emotional stories (it sometimes works, but is often too big and broad for my taste). But here the emotions mostly work. There’s an interesting concept and the episode takes some time and care to tell it’s story. Helped immensely by having Eve Myles & Ruth Jones doing excellent work to sell the emotionality of the episode.
But I really do not like the ending of this episode. I find it incredibly cynical and it undercuts (for me at least) a lot of the good work the episode had previously done. Most of this episode felt like it was about the unyielding love for a mother, still clinging onto hope to find her lost son. Then she finds her son and somewhat cruelly rejects him because he’s changed. The ending here really feels incredibly mean spirited to me and I don’t like it.
In my review I wrote that i felt “This episode is like 75% a 4 star episode, and 25% a 1 star episode.” so I’ll average that out to 3 stars (6 out of 10 here).
I think Adrift does a really good job of showing the impact on people that Torchwood / The Doctor / Aliens in general have on the world. It does a great job of showing a mother’s love, even if it’s somewhat disappointing in the ending. Saying that, it’s probably what would happen in real life, god forbid.
I like the more “domestic” Torchwood stories, so overall Adrift was a great watch, in my opinion.
One of the better Torchwood episodes, and I especially like the analysis of Jack’s character, how we’re hardly supposed to know anything about him because of all these secrets he hides from the other members, 9/10
One of my favourite Whoniverse stories. I even like the ending.
Currently giving this an 8/10. I know it’s really not perfect, and some things (I’m thinking about the use of physical transformation/deformity here and the weird implications that come with that especially) could have been done better. But this whole episode really made me feel things; it took me on a complete emotional journey. And that really worked for me.
I disagree that this is probably what would happen in real life.
Plenty of parents in real life have children who undergo horrific, traumatic events that change their child physically and psychologically. They often stand by their child, help support & take care of them as they heal or adjust to their new life and beyond.
I’m sure there are parents who haven’t been able to cope with it and have turned their backs on their child. But the episode builds up this character as this incredibly devoted and loving mum who is willing to whatever it takes to get her son back all episode. Then he screams really loudly and she’s now suddenly turning her back on the person she loves the most and who has gone through hell.
To me it’s a cheap ending that’s there to be shocking and edgy. It doesn’t feel earned, it feels mean and the messaging is misguided at best.
Most of the rest of the episode is still really good though. But for me personally the ending knocks it down a star.
9/10 personally. One of my favourite TW episodes, just behind A Day in the Death and all of Children of Earth.
I haven’t rewatched it but I will say that out of all of Torchwood, heck, even really all of televised Doctor Who, the ending of this one stuck with me and haunted me for days afterward.
Arguably Chibnall’s best.
I meant this more in the way of “the parent would be unlikely to see their child again”, rather than the emotional detachement, probably could’ve phrased it better
The first half-hour of this story is one of the best TW stories from the first two seasons. Unfortunately, it does not really stick the landing. Gwen is the only character that I really like from the main TW team, and she is great in this one. I still rate it a 4, but a better ending would have made it higher.
I don’t have a full opinion on the ending of the episode, but the rest is absolutely brilliant. I remember actually crying at some points.
Obligatory mention that Gwen was not supposed to laugh when she walks in on them two, but Myles laughed with each and every take, so the crew eventually gave up, and kept it in. Honestly makes it more light-hearted lol.
One of the best Torchwood episodes. Just so well done.
The ending is absolutely heart-wrenching. And I can see why some people don’t like it. I am in two minds. But there are some things even a devoted mother can’t handle. I think the scream can’t be shown properly on TV. It was supposed to be the most horrific thing you can imagine.
I just wish she didn’t blame Gwen. Gwen did everything she could.
Probably the best thing Chibnall has ever written in my opinion.
This episode is very well done, especially in the beginning. It also leads to an interesting question of ‘is knowing always better.’ In this Jack, and possibly Ianto, were the only ones who knew people were falling into the rift and sometimes being spat back out. And they are changed, and in some cases never able to return home.
This is a difference in Jack and Gwen that we have seen a few times in this season. Gwen believes people have a right to know about what they are doing where Jack believes many things are best left unknown.
And while I don’t necessarily agree with Jack’s decision I get his point of what are they supposed to do? They can’t prevent anything so he’s trying to care for the victims the best he knows how.
It ends on a rather heartbreaking note to. And I’m actually glad Rhys had his say because Gwen taking on far too much and then taking it out on him wasn’t okay either.
Adrift is a good episode and very emotional. My review below.