TV Club: Torchwood Children of Earth: Day Three

Television TV Club
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The eyes of the world turn to Britain. The 456 announce: “We are here,” as the new Torchwood adventure continues. A pillar of fire descends upon London and Torchwood must battle to protect their own families as the fight gets personal. Will Clem’s memories destroy everything?

Rate and review below:

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TV Club Backlog
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Another really good episode. I feel like there is not much more to say about it, though. It is just a solid episode.

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This is the only Children of Earth episode to not get a 5/5 from me, with a score of 4.5/5.

Obviously that’s still an outstanding score, but I do recall this one feeling like a bit of a step down from the others in S3

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Another strong episode. I remember the reveal that Jack was supplying kids to the 456 in the 60s being a particularly chilling scene. I don’t think much actually happened in the episode - we get the 456’s modern arrival to Earth, but the episode does its best to keep up the suspense. Of course, there’s the whole thing with Clem, but again, I remember the episode trying to preserve the suspense a bit more here. In that regard, it probably made a mistake, and I know quite a few people consider it to be one of the worse episodes in the series because of it - even if it is still extremely good besides that.

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Another brilliant episode. (If you can’t tell, this series is in my top 3 Doctor Who-related stories of all time.)

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This story was pretty interesting, especially for the character work. A lot of the conversations the characters had and their actions were fantastic. Alice, Rhys, Ianto, and Jack in particular along with the arrival of the 456. I am really excited for the next episode.

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From memory, this was where things really ramped up, but some of the above posts imply we wait another episode. Let’s see…

  • To me, this is the moment Rhys becomes a proper part of the team and I just love that because he’s the freaking best.
  • Ianto’s little face. He is too precious for this world.
  • The prime minister’s television briefing on the safeguarding precautions is so triggering post-2020. Interesting that the government asks the people to trust them when they’re bare-faced lying to them :eyes:
  • The most underrated character arc in this season is Ianto’s brother-in-law. Small but so lovely.
  • Love that the diners in these restaurant buy that Jack in a t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms is a waiter?
  • The big ‘I’m back’ coat moment is a bit cringe.
  • Bit of Elbow playing in the background at the coffee shop. I approve.
  • OH MY GOSH how am I only just realising that Lois is played by Cush Jumbo?! That explains why her performance is excellent. She’s unrecognisable now. Mind blown.
  • Doctor reference. Pretty rare these days eh
  • Ianto’s so cute, I can’t cope with anything he does.
  • Lois is actually a saint. The way she manages to wangle her way in to Thames House.
  • Oh and Andy’s so precious too. I suppose you need all these beautiful, wholesome souls to counter-balance the variously irritating and/or depraved characters that otherwise flood this show.
  • Jack’s grandson watching Trapped. Now THAT was a show. Do not react. You are the saboteur.
  • Love that Alice really shows off who her dad is at this point. Gal got GUTS whacking that soldier round the head.
  • The children pointing is a nice twist now that the chanting has got a bit old. Bit random though, the 456 have got some proper ego problems.
  • Their arrival sequence is good though. The amount we see (or rather don’t see) of the 456 themselves throughout these five episodes is judged perfectly.
  • The explosive slime is a bit odd. I think it’s the sound effect that spoils it, it’s too close to exploding Slitheen in SJA.
  • The use of silences is properly exhilarating. Euros Lynn knows exactly what he’s doing.
  • Ah hey it’s the UNIT guy they brought back for Turf ‘n’ Surf. Hooray.
  • Would Frobisher not question why Lois is joining them? It is a bit unbelievable that she gets away with this.
  • Kind of wild how much this has in common with TWBtLatS. Kind of wild how much better this is.
  • The reaction to Jack’s bombshell from Ianto and Gwen, but particularly from Rhys, is honestly something to behold.

Verdict - Nope, fully disagreeing with anyone who says this episode is filler. The first twenty minutes or so, okay, maybe. But everything from the point the 456 arrive is not just integral but gripping and harrowing - and honestly flies by. The previous episode was definitely far more filler than this. This is also where each member of the cast (somehow) steps it up a gear. Barrowman at his finest as he faces up to his friends, Capaldi slowly building to the peak that we know is on the horizon. Everyone else I’ve already mentioned but just so, so strong throughout. Onwards.

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Cush has most recently done narrator duties on the full cast Harry Potters for Audible. If you don’t know who else is in there, listen and guess who plays McGonagall.

If I want TWATBLAST I’ll have to high seas it.

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Oh I know, I’m very familiar with her recent work. I’d just never put two and two together and realised this was her!

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9/10

Another great instalment that sheds more light on what has happened and begins to defog what is going to happen, what an ending. My review below.

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@mellis903 You put it all so perfectly.

Yes it’s slightly a filler episode, it being the middle, but it still has lots of moving parts and is still so gripping.

You read my mind :sweat_smile:

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me with Allison :handshake: Shauny with Ianto :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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I actually genuinely struggle to cope. It is so rare that I feel this level of protective attachment for a fictional character. Other than maybe Wilf, I can’t think of any others really… across literally any franchise…

Ianto is just. He is everything.

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