Once upon a time there were three little girls…

If that rings a vague bell, it’s because, like Juno Dawson’s fun contribution to the Torchwood saga, it’s taken from that height of dramatic genius, Charlie’s Angels, the kitsch TV series from the 1970s that got a new lease of life a couple of decades ago with a pair of equally kitsch movies. Dawson uses this as a jumping-off point for an episode that doesn’t forget the stakes which are being played for, but still has its lighter moments (even if obviously in a parallel universe where the Americans went metric before 1977). It’s not the only 1970s icon to get a little twist in this story – listen carefully to the names of the UFO witnesses!

Those who have complained loudly that there can’t be an American Torchwood will find some explanation given for there being a US base of operations; I’m not wholly convinced, I have to admit, but full marks for thinking laterally as to how things could be done differently. But forget the nitpicking on such things, and enjoy the adventures of the three very different ladies who take their instructions from a suave English voice on the phone (take a bow, Mr Adams). Laila Pyne, Kelly-Anne Lyons and Ajjaz Awad are a terrific team, capturing the camaraderie of the story’s template while making each of the operatives very individual and maybe we’ll get to hear a bit more of Eve Webster’s Valerie Fox. Stuart Milligan brings a well-polished sleaze to Don Donohue, with Dawson’s script providing opportunities for him to round out the character beyond the stereotype he could easily be.

Rob Harvey and Blair Mowat’s sound design and music blend well together and director Lisa Bowerman ensures the period feel is maintained. This could easily have been a gimmicky release but instead, once the joke has played out, it becomes a nice new string to the audio Torchwood bow…

Verdict: A very different, but enjoyable, Torchwood tale. 9/10

Paul Simpson