Producer/Writer: Russell T. Davies
Actors: John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd, Kai Owen, Peter Capaldi, Paul Coply, Liz May Brice, Cush Jumbo, Colin McFarlane, Susan Brown and Nicholas Farrell.
North American Premiere Date: July 20-24, 2009
Network: BBC America HD
SoSF Rating = 5 out of 5 Stars
“…in ‘Children of Earth’ Davies is not only at the top of his game, but surpasses all expectations.”
In “Torchwood- Children of Earth,” the five-part TV miniseries on BBC America, Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and what remains of his team are challenged with their fiercest threat in Torchwood’s 700 year history.
What happens this time not only has devastating results in Great Britain, but also causes explicit hardship and pain across the entire planet. However, instead of uniting the world against this global catastrophy from without, it unites all national leaders in the worst and most hideous of ways.
Russell T. Davies, the series producer and lead writer, has often taken well deserved slaps for his hits and misses during his tenure as head-honcho for the revamped “Doctor Who,” but when it comes to his “Torchwood,” particularly this latest entry – “Children of Earth” – Davies is not only at the top of his game but has surpassed all expectations.
The story is important, contemporary, very human and entertaining. Davies weaves a beautifully conceived whole-cloth from various pieces comprised of a patchwork of ethics, philosophy, political intrique, familial bonding, all tied together with that cohesive element called science fiction.
Davies’ writing, perhaps for the first time for “Torchwood” reveals a Captain Jack that will startle most ardent fans and leave them gasping for breath. Jack will pay the ultimate karmic debt for an unforgiveable 40-year old sin.
Whether there will be a season four of the series or not is irrelevant as it pertains to “Children of Earth”. It stands on its own while still lending itself as the perfect jumping-off point for either one of two directions — Jack’s continued story — or, bring this fantastic series to a sad but understandable end.
Kudos to Mr. Davies. You have yourself a real winner with “Torchwood – Children of Earth” and have gained the renewed respect of this reviewer.
Season 1 – Torchwood: outside the government, beyond the police. Tracking down alien life on Earth, arming the human race against the future. The twenty-first century is when everything changes. And you gotta be ready.
Season 2 – Torchwood: outside the government, beyond the police. Fighting for the future on behalf of the human race. The 21st Century is when everything changes — and Torchwood is ready.
After seeing season 3, everything has changed. Torchwood, what was left of it, was indeed ready, but at a devastating cost.
If there is no season 4 of Torchwood, then this is the end that was promised by the beginning.
What a devastating season.
Regardless of what the ratings were, Torchwood should be over now.
There’s no way that that -wasn’t- an ending. Narratively, they tied everything up. It’s all concluded. Bringing the show back would mean bending over backwards to get Jack to return. Because this is sci-fi, you -could- do that… but why?
***SPOILER ALERT***
They could have had the show go on after Tosh and Owen. I don’t think it’s possible without Ianto and Gwen and really don’t want to see them try.
***SPOILER ALERT***
Jack Harkness is back in the final two David Tennant Doctor Who specials. Along with Donna, Rose, Wilf, and some other crazy re-appearances.
A brilliant season. I agree this is RTD at his best. I will miss Torchwood but this is indeed a great ending.
This “season” was toe-curling, gasp-inducting, chilling, thrilling, heart-wrenching, gutting and bloody BRILLIANT TV.
Not to be Spoilery or anything, but Davies’ writing in this season brought to mind what Joss Whedon once said about how the scariest “monsters” one could ever come up with are human beings.
If this IS the end of Torchwood, then it’s probably one of the best endings a TV series could ever have.
BTW, as far as Jack committing an “unforgivable” sin?
Well….not so much.
Again, so as not to be all Spoiler Grrl, I won’t mention what it is, but when you find out, I think you may agree. The act could be seen as harsh, but the reasons for it? Not so much.
And as far as “karma” is concerned, it’s more complicated than what the reviewer thinks. WAY more complicated.
But that’s for another discussion.
: )
I loved this series, in contrast to Last of the Timelords, where then it was overly silly, overwrought, and the solution was made entirely of plotonium, CoE was incredibly restrained. The sheer mounting horror of the episodes made Gwen’s video a brilliant summation of the series. And Jack, poor guy.
I watched the first episode last night, and I got so hooked I was searching the internet and found a place to watch them all. Unfortunately I only got through half of the 3rd before I *had* to call it quits and go to bed.
Bloody Amazing is very true from what I’ve seen of it. I think the only way to make the children thing any creepier would have been to show a baby doing it. I’m not usually fond of Sci-Fi thats turned horror, but this one has me glued to the TV.
BTW- Wikipedia has RTD quoted as saying Series 4 (aka season 4) is ready to go if there was still enough people watching.
So I agree with most that Chuildren of Earth was fantastic. I loved the drak story, the devils choice and the inevitable tragidy which has always been the hallmark of Torchwood. Where other shows fear to tread there dances Torchwood, and if they get singed by the flamethrowers of fate, so be it.
That being said, a few points:
Someone above said Gwen was out of the show. Why? She’s just having a baby. She can still be Torchwood and I think woul dbe Torchwood. There would just be an added dynamic of being a mother as well. Working mothers exist all over the place in every profession. Why not in Torchwood?
So We have Gwen and Jack left. Is this enough to found a new Torchwood? I think so, though we are going to need some new perminant (at least semi perminant) character pretty soon. Now if you killed off Gwen or Jack didn;t come back for five hundred years…well it would be a very different show. Killing Gwen I don’t see. That would kill the show. But If the show just moves forward, giving Gwen a “gentle” retirment and then we pick up in five hundred years with her descendants? That could work. I prefer the one where Jack deals with his grief, returns to earth and starts up Torchwood with Gwen as a working mum. That would be favorite. Especially since I think having Reese as such a fantastic supporting character is cool. There owuld be all kindsa drama there.
Finally, my only real problem with Children of Earth was the American General. Now everyone in the government was making the wrong choices, I understand that, it was a dark moment for everyone here, but the General was violating national sovrenty and treating Britian and like puppies who peed on the rug. I would have expected some better diplomacy. It made the American represintitave seem like a swaggering mindless bully. As an American, I resent that. When we are evil these days we either buy you or we lie to you and convince you to do the thing we want. Though I understand that recent events (like Iraq) may give the lie here, I think in general we deserved a more nuanced representation.
Other than that, Bravo I say and I curse all you fools who think that TW will end. Long Live the Anagram!
Otterdog: It’s also possible that if/when Jack comes back, he’ll find that Gwen has re-built Torchwood herself and assembled her own team. And I’d be willing to bet that that Lois girl and PC Andy would be part of it.