There’s so much plastic dumped in the oceans…

Chris Cooper’s tale for Rhys Williams is an effective character piece that shows just how far Gwen’s husband has come, thanks to his multiple encounters with aliens over the past few years. The way it’s phrased, it seems as if this may be set after Gwen’s departure from Torchwood (as “seen” in the last season of audios), as the pair try to establish a normal life, and some stability for their daughter. It takes longer than I expected for the “What Would Gwen Do?” line to come out but the story goes in ways that would be very different had she been there.

A strong performance from Kai Owen anchors this (sorry!), with Sydney Feder and Chloe Ewart as the two main guest stars. Cooper ensures that all have plenty to do – a couple of the reveals you’re going to anticipate if you know anything about the way that the Nestene Consciousness has operated, both in the TV stories and in the expanded universe, but they’re handled very well by script, acting and Scott Handcock’s direction. Adrian Townsend’s soundscapes sell the differing areas of the ship – and the various forms that the Nestenes adopt – with some… interesting surprises along the way.

Verdict: A taut tale. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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