Written by Chris Chibnall
Directed by Ashley Way
“Excuse me…have you seen a blowfish driving a sports car?”
The title speaks for itself. Torchwood roars into its second season with an episode that acts as a taster for all its outrageous characteristics, trademarks, and leitmotifs…with a few quiet and surprising moments in between.
SEXY – that’s the first word to describe the episode. Jack and John snogging and fighting in the most graphic, violent and hilarious foreplay ever seen on television – a sensual, 21st century, wild west showdown / throwdown / smackdown. The smouldering tension between characters such as Toshiko and Owen, and a couple of what-the-hell-was-that moments, such as the smouldering corridor scene between Jack and Gwen, when he discovers her engagement. Throw in John’s approval of Ianto as “eye candy” and the sexy quotient is complete.
Ahh yes…James Marsters…strutting into town like a wired-up rooster, puffing out his chest for all to see. In some respects, Captain John Hart is simply a skewed version of Marsters’ immortal performance as Spike — from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel — but there’s also a latent vulnerability on display. The momentary glimpses of his real self — fearful, lonely, lost – add some mysterious and fascinating layers. And if there was one actor capable of standing toe-to-toe with a character played by John Barrowman, then it’s definitely Marsters.
ENERGETIC – the other word to describe the premiere. The camera work, the acting, the driving, the gun-play…it’s as slick and smooth as it needs to be. It re-introduces long time fans to the glorious chaos of the series, and gives newcomers a giant wallop of action-packed goodness…from which they can hopefully recover.
At the centre of all this is John Barrowman, returning from his brief Doctor Who sojourn to find a team that has learned to cope without him. As he tries to find his place in the new dynamic, the effect on all the other characters is a joy to behold: Gwen’s breathlessness, Toshiko’s stoicism, Owen’s irritation, and most flustered of all, Ianto. His scenes with Jack, as they both try to confront the romantic tension between them, is all befuddlement, incredulity…and virtual baby steps on the part of Jack. In spite of the mystery surrounding their leader, and his frustrating disappearance, Owen sums it up best when he says that “it’s more fun when [Jack’s] around.” Barrowman oozes charisma and loyalty from the second he appears on screen.
It’s not very deep in the plot and story department, but it’s functional enough to re-establish the Torchwood universe, as well as a few threads to follow up later in the season. It’s a roller coaster that doesn’t dare stop, because if you take away the lightning-fast chases, the fights, the sex, and the great big dollops of humour, then there isn’t much substance – just a simple story of find-this-week’s-deadly-mcguffin, with a bit of scorned lover’s revenge on the side. But this is an episode in which style is paramount, and the substance is merely the simple net that holds it all together. That style triumphs in spades, and leaves the audience breathless…and wanting more. In other words, Torchwood is successfully open for business once again. ;-)
And what WAS that momentary flash in Jack’s memory at the conclusion…?
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