Dead Man Walking

"We lost you, but I brought you back."

Writer: Matt Jones

Format: TV

Broadcast: 20 February 2008

Series: Torchwood 2.07

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

Synopsis

Deep in shock, the Torchwood team have to face their darkest hour. In an effort to put things right, Captain Jack Harkness unleashes a primal force that uses Torchwood as a conduit to wreak havoc across Earth, aided by the Weevils and their newly appointed king.

Verdict

Dead Man Walking was another very good episode of Torchwood to continue my rewatch alongside Gemma! After such a monumental cliffhanger at the end of Reset with Owen being shot dead, starting with an autopsy seemed a little redundant as the cause of his death was pretty clear. But before Martha could get going Jack was quick to ensure that his body wasn't touched and a tense search ensued. I thought the search was a little dragged out and lacking in dialogue, but the eeriness of St Mary's Church and the Weevils being around was very good. I liked that he was out to find the other resurrection glove following on from what happened in They Keep Killing Suzie and the references to that episode and the terrible events that occurred there were great. Gwen nearly died so Suzie could live there and whilst the events and the details laid out there regarding the glove were pretty much dismissed by Jack in just saying that it was a different glove and now he would give it no choice but to work for him. The humour that came with Jack seemingly bringing Owen back for the code to the alien morgue was fantastic and Tosh proclaiming her love for him was sad because I knew that he'd be coming back. Their brief discussion about that was a little sad and it's a shame how events have proceeded since they agreed to go on their date. I do hope they'll get that at some point in the future. I thought Martha was slightly useless in this episode and there definitely could have been more of a use for a former Doctor Who companion. She was just there to keep track on the energy readings of Owen as he continued to be a dead man walking whilst his body was changing into something that was unrecognisable or unreadable in terms of energy signature. The human part of his body being dead was quite the concept! The moment where Jack released the glove and then Owen was still alive anyway was fantastic. I thought Torchwood tackling having Death as an enemy was done in admirable way and whilst the effects were a little too computerised, I was a big fan of the links back to the Black Death and the folklore of how it needed thirteen souls and then it would become unstoppable. Faith being a girl and not the religious practice was a little predictable but the moment where Owen realises he's the one that can stop it was brilliant. It was a shining moment for his character literally standing up to Death and his comments to Jamie and encouraging him to take on the chemotherapy again was so powerful. I was not a fan though of Martha being aged after her encounter with the glove and Owen as that just seemed pointless. She was then just randomly aged back to normal after Death was defeated which just didn't do a lot for me. Ianto had some moments to shine with his blunt humour and his research only taking him to weight watchers websites was a lot of fun. Overall, this was a very strong episode and now it seems that Owen is here to stay, but dead! No drinks, no sex, how will he survive? Well, I guess he doesn't need to worry about that as the energy dissipation could take a while yet! 

 

Rating: 8/10