The Dead Line

"This must be the longest I've ever looked at you and not seen you smile."

Writer: Phil Ford

Format: Audio

Broadcast: 3rd July 2009

Series: BBC Radio #4

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Ianto, Rhys

Synopsis 

When a hospital is inundated with patients that have fallen into coma-like trances, Torchwood move in to investigate. They find that the trances were triggered by phone calls, all of which were made from a number that hadn't been active for over 30 years. Determined to find out who'd been calling the unfortunate victims, Jack rings the mysterious number - two, zero, five, nine - nothing. It's a dead line. Until it calls Jack back, he answers - and falls into a deep trance. The team race against time to find the source of the 'infection' and save the patients.

Verdict 

The Dead Line was an excellent audio adventure of Torchwood, and the superb spinoff is proving it can be just as good on audio as it is on television. And once I explore the novels I'm sure they'll be more than worthy also! The plot of this story was brilliant and I loved the idea of a menace in the phone line. As you may know, something similar has been done by Big Finish but the way the threat was dealt with here was much different. This story actually gave me the knowledge that there used to be four digit phone numbers. I naturally just figured it had always been six! The usual pre-credit lead in was well worthy of an end of season cliffhanger here! Jack, the immortal man, was dying. When I heard Ianto giving Stella that message I was unbelievably shocked! How could Jack die? Last of the Time Lords implied to us that Jack would go on to become the Face of Boe, so how could he be dying now? All the possibilities were running through my head on the credits hadn't even hit! I do like a story that gets you thinking. I was surprised in the direction this story went with having the lead character of Captain Jack absent for the majority of it. But this allowed Rhys to step up to the plate and he did so terrifically alongside Gwen who was given freedom to shine, and she did in spectacular fashion. Gwen Cooper is just such a great character! A Welsh, beautiful brunette, what more can I ask for? And that beauty somehow shines through in audio. The character of Stella was really good and I was intrigued about the relationship stint she shared with Jack back in the '70s. She'd gotten caught up with Torchwood and when Jack awoke it was nice to see that they'd clearly ended things on good terms. Ianto's speech to Jack whilst he was in the trance was absolutely beautiful and it showed how much Jack meant Ianto! The pair had grown so much since Cyberwomen and to Jack, Ianto was so much more than a blip in time. Gwen and Rhys teaming up to track down the mysterious phone call was fantastic and they worked very well together! The reference to Something Borrowed was comical and I liked how Rhys, in pretty much a world of the unknown, was pretty demanding and adamant. It seemed like he was trying to prove to his wife that he could work with her in Torchwood. He could take on the aliens and be victorious! His help was actually pivotal which was really good. Ianto treating the trance causing menace in the telephone as a virus was clever as it paved way for a very logical solution, something we don't always get in the Whoniverse. The electromagnetic wave was created in great style and Ianto's execution in wiping out the virus was tremendous. I admire Gwen's determination to save the human race even if it meant Jack being stuck in a trance for eternity. But he'd come around. All the victims had - Ianto had succeeded. It's great to see that in Torchwood, despite Captain Jack being the one who's a former companion of the Doctor having travelled in the TARDIS, his recruits are more than capable of saving the day. And that was wonderful to see here. 

Rating: 9/10