It’s the 21st century, all’s about to change – but someone still has to clear the bins…

Retirement is a theme in this second story too, but whereas Retirement Plan established quite clearly that Torchwood members didn’t have such a luxury in their future, the ancillary staff obviously do need to be able to stop work just as they would do if their employers were a normal company. Derek Griffiths’ Dave is one such, who’s now in a nursing home, a little puzzled at the arrival of his supposed nephew Ianto.

Matt Fitton has to tread a fine line in this story, particularly given the revelation halfway through, to ensure that he doesn’t in any way lessen the impact of Alzheimer’s Disease on those around the sufferer, yet establishes a link to the treatment that Torchwood employees regularly get. The portrayal of Dave, and the way in which his memories are triggered into returning works well, and keeping him at the heart of the story gives us a different viewpoint on the regular characters, with strong work from director Barnaby Edwards and sound designer Iain Meadows assisting. We’re also reminded just how far Yvonne Hartman sees the requirement to do your duty…

Verdict: The memory may cheat – but this story doesn’t. 9/10

Paul Simpson

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