Children of Earth: Day Two

"You know some announcements you go over in your head? This wasn't quite what I had in mind."

Writer: John Fay

Format: TV

Broadcast: 7th July 2009

Series: Torchwood 3.02

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Ianto

Synopsis 

The Torchwood Hub, and Jack himself, has been blown apart leaving nothing but wreckage. With Gwen and Ianto on the run from government assassins, what can they do to prevent the 456's arrival? This time, they'll have to go it alone because Jack is just found as body parts...

Verdict 

Children of Earth: Day Two was an outstanding continuation of the incredible story that was laid out in Day One (that's not the series one episode for skepticists). After the amazing cliffhanger, this episode really did seem like the beginning of the end for Torchwood. Owen and Tosh had already died and now Jack had literally exploded destroying the entire Hub into smithereens with him. The dismantlement of the Hub really was quite incredible. The devastation that remained of Cardiff Bay was almost heartbreaking with it being an area of my capital city that I really do love. Every time I'm there I always think of Torchwood, a programme I really loved. And even at one point I ranked it higher than Doctor Who itself - that's how much I love this show. So seeing everything destroyed was soul wrenching! The SUV had already been stolen in the first day and now we were left with Gwen and Ianto on the run from the government who'd hired assassins to wipe out the team, for reasons we're not completely sure. Just when were the 456 here before and what are the government so eager to hide from Torchwood in particular? The return of Andy was much welcomed, a character I've really loved over the series and almost straight away he dropped Gwen in the shit. He directed them to her house! The scenes where she told Rhys they had to go immediately were excellent humour. He didn't have a clue what was going on! Ianto meeting up with his sister was nicely done and I like how we're learning a bit more about the family history of our team members who are unknown quantities. After Something Borrowed, and even before that really, we know quite a lot about Gwen's backdrop. So seeing Alice sitting on eggshells was rather hard to watch at times. She was just waiting to hear anything from her Dad. Gwen deciding to tell Rhys she was pregnant whilst they were hitchhiking in the back of a potato lorry was a bit of a surprise! I thought she'd have chosen a more convenient time. But the comedy factor was lovely. The collection of Jack's body parts from the Hub wreckage was horrific. But incredibly, bit by bit, Jack was reforming back together. Slowly resurrecting. And when he did, before his body was anywhere close to being 100% again, the scream was just awful to bare. I can't imagine what he was going through! Johnson's utter disgust at him surviving was excellent, so what did she do? Just filled his cell with cement and formed a concrete one. But the rescue mission was on. And soon enough Ianto and Gwen would get to Jack. Lois helping Gwen and Rhys with absolutely everything was magnificent and I loved how she trusted Torchwood over her own employers, even if it was only her second day. It seemed Torchwood had an inside source into the government and more importantly perhaps to Frobisher, the perpetrator of the blank page. Peter Capaldi gave another excellent performance and his nervousness surrounding Torchwood was marvellous. Just what had the government done that was so bad involving the 456? Beings that had gotten their wish from translations. A chamber filled with poison was devised. And they were coming tomorrow. Is that enough to sell the next episode? I would think so! The climax to this one was far more heroic than the previous day! Instead of the Hub blowing into rubble, the rescue mission succeeded. After a comical goof with an undertaker, Gwen and Rhys had gotten into the complex where Jack was held. And just when it seemed their time was up, Ianto wonderfully saved the day. He then saved Jack which was great and they reunited, with Jack naked, in humorous but emotional circumstances. They'd all survived. But they had a lot on there hands. Government assassins were on their tail and the 456 were coming. Another astounding episode! This series seems like it's going to be incredible! 

Rating: 10/10