Adrift

"We've always believed that things can only come through the Rift one way. What if we're wrong? What if the Rift doesn't just leave stuff behind? What if it also takes?"

Writer: Chris Chibnall
Format: TV
Broadcast: 19th March 2008
Series: Torchwood 2.11

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Owen, Tosh, Ianto

Synopsis

When a local teenager disappears, Gwen is drawn into an investigation that reveals a darker side of Torchwood. Hundreds of people have disappeared without a trace, but Jack is obstructing attempts to find them. The answer seems to lie in the rift - literally - and as Gwen follows the trail, she makes a shocking discovery...

Verdict

Adrift was a good and emotional episode of Torchwood and was very much one where Gwen, by far my favourite character of the series, was the centre of attention. I liked how she seemingly had forgotten her old self that we saw before joining Torchwood in Everything Changes. Although she doesn't like to admit, Gwen is beyond the police and somebody going missing is none of her concern. She now deals with the extraterrestrial. It's not her fault, it's her job now. I didn't like how this episode, for some time, didn't have the Torchwood feel. But Gwen being as brilliant as she is still made it an excellent watch! Nikki was a great character played by the wonderful Ruth Jones. The way that Andy was asking Gwen to help, seemingly afterwards because he fancied her, with Nikki's missing son, Jonah. The way in which Jonah disappeared though would certainly have Torchwood's involvement, and despite Jack denying anything of the incident, he was there. Gwen's determination in this episode was outstanding and portrayed perfectly why I love her character so much. She wasn't going to give up! I also liked how Tosh helped Gwen with her case and worked out a pivotal fact about the Rift. It not only deposits things in Cardiff, it takes as well. And that's what the negative spikes were. It made perfect sense. Jack's involvement in this episode was great and once everything was revealed about the mysterious island in the Bristol Channel, the Rift depositors' health centre of sort, he could explain to Gwen. When she found out she wasn't satisfied by the unknowing that these people's loved ones had. So much so that she brought Nikki to the island, against Jack's wishes though Gwen has a way of getting what she wants from him, to meet her now very much changed son. Jonah's alteration was horrific. In 7 months he'd aged enormously, became a grotesque looker and was mentally scarred. Nikki's reaction to him at first was one of denial and mockery but after Jonah talked of his childhood memories, an emotional hug was felt. But the whole ideal about the bad phase, a horrific scream lasting 20 hours was a bit far fetched. The effect it had in the episode and on Nikki though was great. But for me, the clear highlight of the episode was Gwen. Her antics with Andy and her hilarious comedy with Rhys as well as her gutsy determination was just terrific and probably explains my somewhat generous mark!

Rating: 8/10