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I know what you’ve done. I know what you’ll do.

An internet-era version of the old story about the prankster who sent out telegrams to all his friends saying, “Flee – all is discovered” and half of them promptly left town, this is an interesting way of looking at the new Torchwood team. With Jack out of the picture (John Barrowman basically has the “week” off), Yvonne is in charge, and she has a much more pragmatic way of approaching things – using Orr to what she sees as the best of their abilities, which may not be exactly what’s best for them. Mr Colchester gets a first name, and shows his own inner steel (the final scene has  some of the best work that Paul Clayton has done in this series) and as for Gwen…

Well, it seems as if Ng’s secret is going to be revealed sooner rather than later (I did wonder if this might run into a sixth series) with Alexandria Riley’s ersatz Mrs Cooper starting to break down in more ways than one. Joe Lidster gives Riley some very strong material and I’m hoping now that we’re going to get a confrontation sooner rather than later.

The use of some first person narration sets this one apart, and gives it an edge (as well as leading the listener to make some perhaps unwarranted assumptions). It may be an old idea – but it’s brought into the Torchwood age extremely well.

Verdict: A very different Torchwood – and a very different tale. 9/10

Paul Simpson