
So much for a happy ending.
With Children of Earth's critical success and record UK ratings, I'm certain show creator Russell T. Davies will get the chance to bring Torchwood back to TV next year. But how can he? (Spoilers ahead).
Ianto is dead. Gwen is almost a mother. Captain Jack, wracked with guilt and stripped of his white hat, is gone. And Torchwood is finished. It would be a shame to see the show end forever after its finest hour, but where can it go from here?
It's hard to imagine Jack Harkness ever returning to Earth as the dashing and witty hero. Watching him drain the life out of his grandson was the most shocking thing about this episode. It was even more shocking than Forbisher's murder-suicide. Some might say Jack's reprehensible action was out of character. I'm not going to speak to that here. It happened. It's canon. Jack sacrificed his family and his humanity to save a world he can longer live in. Just another price he had to pay for his involvement in the 1964 incident, and for being an immortal. Now he truly is an eternal outsider. The only choice he has is to start over somewhere else.
In the opening scene, Gwen seemed to be speaking directly to viewers trying to reconcile one fact: The very real-life horrors on display in Children of Earth were happening in the same universe that gave us the campy and fantastical Doctor Who. I admire Davies for bringing this up, and for taking Torchwood to some extremely dark places. And now we know why the Doctor never showed up to save the day. Because, sometimes, he looks at us and turns away in shame. Because there are some very horrible things we will do to protect ourselves and our own. The Doctor wants nothing to do with that. Who knew Torchwood could be so poetic?
The hour ended with tears instead of high-fives, but there was still some joy to be found. The 456 are gone. The children were saved. And who didn't love watching Bridget Spears redeem herself by socking it to the Prime Minister with the Torchwood contact lenses? The lovely Lois Habiba also turned out to be a great asset. She's destined to become a part of the team if Torchwood is due for another go-round. But I almost wish the show wouldn't come back. How could it possibly get any better than this?















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-25-2009 @ 6:04AM
Sam said...
Agreed about everything! Bridget Spears is my new hero, and this proved to me now more than ever that we'll never see the Doctor on Torchwood. Even his biggest moral dilemmas have never come anywhere near this. I'm a little surprised by how little Lois Habiba was used in the end, and I'm not sure she'll be back myself. My review of the episode can be found at : http://therebelprince.wordpress.com/category/tv-reviews/torchwood/
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7-25-2009 @ 8:25AM
Ryan said...
You pretty much encapsulated everything I felt which was that even after these 5 insanely AMAZING episodes, I almost don't want them to continue. And of COURSE THEY WILL. But like you, I wonder, HOW? No matter what, it HAS to be a different show with or without Jack. And without Jack, is it REALLY Torchwood? GAH!
In any case, this was the second time I saw the 5th episode. The first time around, I was a bit let down. I think I was still trying to cope with Ianto's death and the whole episode itself was just so harrowing and intense that when we got to the coda, it felt a bit abrupt and uneasy. The fact that it wasn't really a happy ending also contributed to this. But the second time around, I appreciated it SO MUCH MORE. The show just crossed that line that no other shows really dare cross. And I admire them for that even to the torture of characters I love.
God. This miniseries is going to haunt me for a good long while.
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7-25-2009 @ 8:28AM
PJ said...
Funny you call it "poetic" - I call it pathetic. Enough of the drivel, what the hell were the supposed to do (given the unbelievable setup) - just roll over and die?
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7-25-2009 @ 9:45AM
Sandra Beebe-Prevost said...
The ending of Children of Earth has put me in a melancholy mood. I'll miss all of them so much. Ianto with his soft, loving eyes really impressed me. As much as I love Captain Jack, the way he was portrayed deflated my hero worship of him. He'll remain in my memory as just a man, not my super-hero anymore. I hope, if they bring him back that my respect for him will return. Overall, Gwen was my heroine with Rhys at her side. My hero little-man is Steven, he trusted and loved Uncle Jack but was betrayed. His death was necessary, of course, so I'll try not to dwell.. I'll always remember Tosh and Owen especially their love for one another and the tragedies of their deaths. The Frobisher's' deaths was overwhelming in the needlessness of them. Torchwood will always remain in the top 10 of my all time favorite series.
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8-12-2009 @ 10:56PM
LunaSkya said...
Sanrda - "As much as I love Captain Jack, the way he was portrayed deflated my hero worship of him. He'll remain in my memory as just a man, not my super-hero anymore." I think that was the whole point. Remember Jack's speech at the end: "I began to like it, and look what I've become."
7-25-2009 @ 10:29AM
Joan Thomas said...
I pray this fantastic show isn't over. I've followed it from day1. I think the Dr. will have something to do with the reprisal of this well written & acted series. Gwen's video about the Dr. turning away in shame was my clue to salvation of the character Capt Jack, played fabuously by John Barrowman. The whole cast were just spectacular!Please don't let one of the few remaining GOOD sci-fi series die! Though I must say it was a great way to go if one must.
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7-25-2009 @ 10:29AM
Joan Thomas said...
About Dr. Who. Why in the world replace David tenent with this Matt Smith person??? I'm at a complete loss in understanding this move. He does stellar job as the character. There is no need to regenerate the Dr. just now!!!!!
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7-25-2009 @ 10:57AM
Claire said...
Because David is choosing to leave the role. It is his decision to make.
7-25-2009 @ 11:02AM
Claire said...
I would love to see it continue, but again, I can't see how. Perhaps a crisis will bring Jack back to partly redeem himself. He'll never be fully redeemed. Perhaps Gwen and Lois (and hell...Agent Johnson looks like a good candidate now) could get a Torchwood-like spin-off series.
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7-25-2009 @ 1:40PM
WhizGidget said...
So very well done - this review and the series. How could they bring back Torchwood now? And how could they not?
Poetic? Yes... the revulsion that Jack and gang felt at the sacrifice of part of the population to save the whole is the same that he feels of himself when he sacrifices the one (and his own grandson, at that) to save the many. A choice that he was involved in many years earlier when they said they needed someone who didn't care... and it came full circle that he had to do it again with someone he did care for.
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7-25-2009 @ 1:43PM
mj said...
This was so sad. Poor Jack. I have to say, he never seemed a super hero to me, just someone who thought he had a purpose. Sadly, he can't remember now the good he HAS done, but is wrapped up in guilt and grief. Who can blame him? I hope he finds himself again. I can see the makings of a new group for TW, including Lois, the government woman who shot the scientist, the scientist, and maybe Bridget. I can see her running the place. I also was steamed at the government woman who suggested sending the 'lesser kids,' suddenly get righteous and decide to take over. Hypocrite. Fantastic series. I hope it comes back. With Davies.
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7-25-2009 @ 2:40PM
El Coqui said...
Children of Earth had raised the bar of what you can expect in TV. Yes, the ending was almost tragic but look up at the great tales of old, were you seldom see a living-happily-afterwards outside of the Disney realm. So the consistenly well acted and written storyline elevated this miniseries to almost a Homeric saga level.
The champion is victorious at the end but at such a personal cost, that you could not fault him for questioning if it was worth it. Of course, the fates or the law of unitended consequences having decreed the high price for his earlier actions.
Like you, I think that this will be an appropiate point to end the series but with the spetacular ratings, I expect to see it return. Let's hope that it will do so without insulting its many fans.
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7-25-2009 @ 4:33PM
Kathy said...
I found the minseries exciting at times and amusing at times but overall I wish the plot was tighter. So why exacly didn't the 4-5-6 just take the kids? Why the threats and negotiation? They obivously can just beam them up and could have taken them over time in groups from playgrounds and schools. It was an interesting twist that the kids were drugs. It was nicely sad and dramtic that Frobisher kills his famiyl and himself but why not warn them or get them to run? There were media people but it certainly didnt' seem like the house was surrounded. Not to mention his older daughter definitely seemd closer to puberty than the boy left behind ithe 60's could have been. Hated Ianto dying. I had seen a spoiler so knew it was coming. I understand most shows now want us to feel anyone is in danger but come on! Tosh, Owen, Ianto. Davies seems to think most people don't care but I knwo for me TW was never just the Jack and Gwen show. Plot tightness was never TW's strong suit. It was the team and the characters and my caring for them. Now 3 are dead.
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7-25-2009 @ 4:37PM
sidrat38 said...
Amazing mini series..When I watched, I found myself wanting to throw things at the TV at certain points. I actually had a tear in my eye when Ianto died..
Couple things, though..
It's FROBISHER...not forbisher
And the events happened in 1965..not 1964
(Sorry, don't mean to pick nits)
Anyway, I hope they come back..
The new Torchwood team..Gwen, Rhys, Lois..and ????
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7-25-2009 @ 4:57PM
Val said...
Just heart wrenching... I heard great things about Torchwood this is the first time I've seen a "full season" and it didn't disappoint. The fact that they could bring a causal fan like me into the fold and not leave me thinking whats going on considering the breath of history spanning Dr. Who and 2 past seasons is remarkable!
I was aware of the mature aspect of the show but I didn't think they would take it that far.. I was thinking they were going to to reveal the boy as an immortal like the Cap (I dont know how Jack got his immortality by the way).
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7-25-2009 @ 8:52PM
JPN said...
Time lord technology :)
7-25-2009 @ 7:10PM
Rose said...
Val, Jack (which isn't even his own name, btw) becomes immortal during a Dr. Who arc, where the Doctor's companion, Rose, becomes a part of the Tardis/time vortex itself to destroy (yet again) the Daleks. Jack is killed in the battle, but Rose resurrects him with her temporary power. Since he's got part of time all mixed up in him now, he's become a fixed point in time and, therefore, immortal, according to the Doctor. He will eventually become the Face of Boe, another character in the Doctor's universe, who is a sage.
As for this miniseries, wow! I just thought RTD broke my heart when he killed off Tosh and Owen. Then I really thought he did it when he killed of Ianto. But night five . . . I don't want to leave it that way! RTD has become the new David E. Kelley or Donald P. Bellisario, both famous for killing off beloved characters to shock their audiences (and to p#ss me off).
I know that Jack has to attone for his sins, but even the most wretched tragic Greek hero finds redemption and peace in the end, even if it comes at the price of his life. Jack doesn't get that option. I know eventually Jack will become the Face of Boe, but in the meantime, what about Gwen and Torchwood? Torchwood without Jack? Ain't happenin' for me.
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7-25-2009 @ 10:44PM
Liz said...
You really did get it right . . . how can Torchwood return now - we want it to but we're all kind of numb. Amazing writing - amazing story line! Drug dealers - wow! The sacrfice - too hard to watch; utilitarianism in the extreme . . . but what else to do? Certianly not a happy ending . . .yet the children of the world were saved. Hmm - lots to think about there . . .
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7-26-2009 @ 1:53AM
Cathy said...
I disagree about Jack's actions being reprehensible. He's always been the one to make the hard decisions. 12 children to save 25 millions (though that wasn't his choice, he was just the delivery man) back in 1965 has had repercussions and he is now the one to suffer.
Sacrificing one child (beloved by the hero) to save 32 million children is hardly reprehensible...it's more Godlike in it's implications:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son..."
You can see what the sacrifice cost him...the pain and suffering in his face (very well-acted) as Steven dies.
He has truly become a tragic hero, and since he's immortal, his journey has just begun. I only hope he runs to the "right kind of Doctor" and gets some healing.
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7-26-2009 @ 9:14AM
K Tay said...
I was so heartbroken..unbelievabley so; but..I actually find CPT Jack's sacrafice of "one for the many" was the right thing to do. I mean he gave away children with no thought so many years ago - it was selfish and wrong; but now, he had the chance to be selfish and wrong again; but he didn't he knew the only choice was his grandson for all. At some point I did hope that the child was immortal. But when he didn't it was Justice for CPT Jacks transgressions. It was horrible to watch. I was in tears, but it was the right thing to do ..I mean if there was a right. It had to be hard for him (like Frobisher) he did what was unimaginable..but it was for the best.
If they bring the series back I cant possibly imagine how they can top this...
I loved that they tied this back to Dr. Who, but how the heck can they chnage out David Tennant yet??? ugh!
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