Golden Age

"We're taking the whole Earth back to 1924. We're going to start all over again!"

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Broadcast: 2nd July 2009

Series: BBC Radio #3

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Ianto

Synopsis 

On the trail of a dangerous energy field, Torchwood are led to Delhi. There they witness the simultaneous disappearance of hundreds of people, and Jack discovers that the field centres on an old colonial mansion - Torchwood India.

Jack is shocked to find that Torchwood India is still going strong - he shut it down himself over 80 years ago. He's even more surprised to find that its members, including his old flame the Duchess, haven't aged a day.

What is the secret of their eternal youth, and how is it linked to the deadly energy field? The team must find out - and they haven't a moment to lose, for all the time the field is expanding...

Verdict 

Golden Age was a very good Torchwood story and thus far with this following Lost Souls and Asylum, I'm enjoying the audio format for the superb spinoff. The setting for this story was brilliant with India and just highlighted how terrific the audio format is as I think this would have been rather difficult to portray on television due to the location variety. I loved the idea of an Indian Torchwood team especially with the added twist that this was the team from 1924 of which no members have aged in the 85 years since. The Duchess was a wonderful character and her history with Jack was tremendous. I love how despite Jack appearing alongside the Ninth and Tenth Doctor on more than one occassion and two full series of Torchwood, the spinoff he's the main character of, we still don't actually know that much about him. Yet he's ever so familiar. Gwen and Ianto didn't have as great a role in this story as I would've liked but in turn that allowed Jack and Eleanor's relationship to be explored further which was fantastic. I was pleasantly shocked to find out that she was an old flame of Jack's. It just didn't seem right that he'd had a significant relationship with a women! Now, it's clear in the first two TV series' of Torchwood that Jack has feelings for Gwen but with his fun with Ianto a relationship never could, or should, occur. I think this audio highlighted how good the character of Captain Jack Harkness is, he can never die and so has lived for centuries which gives massive potential. Even without Torchwood, a story of his could be told. Hell, one depicting how he shutdown Torchwood India in 1924 would be an awesome start. I really liked the Tooth and Claw reference and it's strange to think how significant that TV story is. It was just a filler episode really paving the beginning of things to come for the season finale but it escalated into the origin of a whole spinoff! I also liked the Yeti reference that cropped up in this audio, definitely unexpected! The plot of Torchwood India, led by Eleanor, was particularly interesting as she seemed to spike revenge on those who broke up the Empire 85 years prior to the story's setting of 2009. Can she really be angry at natural expansion and progression? The bubble idea of which preserved the Indian Torchwood's dewatered and age was really good, however I would have liked a more clear explanation. The overall plot was good as I said but I think the lengthy absence of Gwen and Ianto hurt things a tad, especially as the climax could have been more intense and climatic. But still, overall it was a very enjoyable audio!

Rating: 8/10