The Committee make their move…

I’m not sure exactly what Scott Handcock and James Goss have got against Cardiff, but once again they put the city through the wringer in the final story of a box set – not content with explosions all around the place last season, now they’re sending a massive tsunami to wipe everything out. And it doesn’t seem as if there’s anything anyone can do about it. (Well, until episode 9 arrives… and even then I suspect it’ll be all about consequences.)

This is a huge episode in terms of what’s going on in the series and David Llewelyn juggles the multiple strands adroitly. Near enough every central character (whether they’re Torchwood or not) is in some form of peril, and much of how situations resolve is down to their particular character traits. By the way, don’t be fooled by the start of the end credit music – there’s another, vitally important scene to follow before the real credits.

Credit across the board to all involved; it’s impossible to tell whether people were recording together or it’s down to skilful editing but there’s not a moment that feels wrong or artificial – and some terrific call backs to previous stories, particularly for Tracy Ann Oberman’s Yvonne, whose scenes with Jonny Green’s Tyler had me yelling at the speakers! And as for David Warner and Jacqueline King – I could listen to an entire episode of the pair sparring verbally.

As Handcock and Goss say in the extras, the new team have become familiar enough now to listeners that they can put them in drastic situations, knowing the audience will be swept along. I did wonder if there was an element of treading water about parts of this set while I was listening to it, but it all comes together here.

Verdict: This is Torchwood firing on all cylinders. Recommended. 10/10

Paul Simpson