Expectant

"I swore I'd never get pregnant again."

Writer: Xanna Eve Chown

Format: Audio

Released: December 2019

Series: Torchwood Monthly 34

Featuring: Captain Jack, Ianto

Synopsis 

The Yalnix Empire is a fragile alliance of a dozen systems, under constant attack from their ancient enemy, the Vad. With the Empress unable to trust any of her court she gives the job of growing the next Ruler of the Yalnix to an old friend – Captain Jack Harkness.

With hunters on the loose and a battlefleet in orbit, Cardiff's suddenly became a dangerous place for a man to be pregnant.

Verdict

Expectant was a really good audio to continue my way through the Torchwood monthly adventures from Big Finish! It’s been a while since I’ve covered some Torchwood so I was glad to get back to it, and this was a barmy one judging from the cover and name! We didn’t waste any time in getting going as we started with Jack and Jonty on top of a burning building with the former responsible for it being engulfed in flames in order to stop an airborne virus. Jack being pregnant with the spawn wasn’t really surprising given what we know about bus man! I thought Jonty was a pretty good character and I must admit I found it a little annoying at the start that he was talking in the first person. I did get used to it though! Jonty being Jack’s midwife was a fun dynamic and they did share a pretty amusing relationship. Jonty was hardly happy that Jack was Weevil hunting in the sewers. It was hardly the activity fit for a pregnancy. Jack’s hormones were messing with him which was rather funny with his sense of smell being heightened. Jack not liking how the spawn was referred to was good and I thought it was very nice for him to christen the unborn alien as Junior. That felt right. Jack actually carrying the next ruler of the Yalnix Empire was good stuff and the mood swings kept coming which provided some light relief. His refusal to rest up and not protect Cardiff was admirable. The Tomvaris arrived in search of the next ruler of the Empire, and that sparked a rare UNIT appearance in Torchwood! That was a really neat touch. The Vad being described as the ancient enemy was good and it was clear they’d soon be arriving. Ianto keeping tabs on Jack was really nice and I thought he dealt with it very well considering! The placement of this episode was poignant as the deaths of Owen and Tosh were very close. Exit Wounds wasn’t far in the rear view mirror at all with Gwen off to Tenerife to help deal with, and after Jack also lost John and Gray he was thinking that he could now bring life into the world. Ianto was struggling with things too so his lover getting pregnant wasn’t exactly ideal! The Yalnix using others as surrogates was an interesting way to breed but it was their way and the idea of it being used to promote harmony in their conflict was quite something. The Empress now being in a position where she couldn’t trust anyone meant Jack was the chosen candidate! Ianto being chosen to look after Cardiff as Jack finally accepted that he needed to go off somewhere was good and he was the only real candidate! Jack was taken to the Golden Monkstone health form and I loved that this was a former asylum. It now seemed like a nice resort to go to, but the barred windows were a nice touch. The war between the Yalnix and Vad going on so long that Jonty didn’t even know what the enemy looked like anymore was a fun touch and very much in line with his personality. Pauline at the health farm was a good character and she wanted to secure Jack as the hunt for the next Yalnix Empire ruler was fully in pursuit. When it seemed like the Vad were coming, the timing was perfect for Jack to go into labour. I was expecting a little more time on the actual birth as there was little information on what that actually looked like given Jack was a man and not of the same species! He had given a child life though and that was a really touching moment. I thought the revelation that it wasn’t actually the Vad was nicely done as Junior had been protecting itself on a psychokinetic level and had gone so far as to turn the health farm workers and residents into warriors! I really didn’t see that coming. Ianto arriving on the scene to come and save Jack was good and I liked the story of how they got to the birthing ship, only for them to be spawn in hand down in the skewers! Not the most pleasant of places for a newborn. Jack being emotional when Jonty was taken away was completely understandable and even as a man, I will never comprehend how surrogates can deal with the emotional challenge of not keeping the baby. All credit to them. Jonty acknowledging that Jack did good once Junior was taken away was a neat way to finish. Overall, a great listen!

Rating: 8/10