Adam

"I let go of his hand. It was the worst day of my life. That's the last thing I'd want to remember."

Writer: Catherine Tregenna
Format: TV
Broadcast: 13th February 2008
Series: Torchwood 2.05

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

Synopsis

An alien with the power to change memories infiltrates the team. With Captain Jack caught up in memories of his lost family and Gwen struggling to remember Rhys, it takes Jack's love of Ianto to reveal the truth. Yet there's always a price to pay...

Verdict

So a second episode in a row for Catherine Tregenna and Adam was certainly the best of the two. This was astoundingly good! It was particularly crucial for the viewer as we learned so much about the origins of Captain Jack, former companion of the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, now saving Earth with his own gang. Not only did we learn an incredible amount about the roots of the 51st century conman, but we now know who Gray is, the person Captain John revealed he'd found in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. Jack's younger brother! And events of this episode will, I'm almost certain, help to understand a future episode where John returns. I loved the character of Adam and the ability he had was scarily good! Being able to implement himself into the lives of the Torchwood team, to change them so drastically, was just incredible! The side of Owen we saw was completely the polar opposite, and the same can be said about Tosh! She was more flaunting whilst Owen was more shy and selfless. The effect Gwen was given by Adam's false memories was also fantastic and brought out a new side to my favourite Torchwood character. But the obvious highlight was what Adam did to Jack and what it enabled the viewer to learn. Jack's whole immediate family were introduced to us in just one scene - that's quite significant for the lead character! It was also wonderful to see a young Jack as a child. The climax and the way Adam was toppled was just brilliant! But all events of the episode were wiped out from the team's memories, but the viewer kept the information which was vital and pure genius!

Rating: 10/10

The Sensorites

"It all started out as a mild curiosity in the junkyard, and now it's turned out to be quite a great spirit of adventure."

Writer: Peter R. Newman
Format: TV
Broadcast: 20th June - 1st August 1964
Season: 1.07

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

The Doctor and his companions land on a spaceship orbiting a distant and mysterious world, where a human crew lie frozen somewhere between life and death.

The planet is the Sense-Sphere, home of the Sensorites, beings of immense intelligence and power. Unable to leave, the Doctor and his companions must deduce the Sensorites' intentions: are they friendly, hostile or frightened? And what is the deadly secret at the heart of the Sense-Sphere?

Verdict

The first season of Doctor Who isn't disappointing me at all with yet another good serial! The Sensorites was full of tension, dissension and mystery. I loved the eeriness of episode one with the TARDIS landing on a spaceship, with two people dead. But John and Carol shockingly awoke! And throughout they were excellent additions for the serial. Brilliant characters. As was John - who was extremely affected by the Sensorites - and his mystery was really good! The Sensorites' appearance was great and the telepathy powers shown were really good, especially once they got to Susan and she left the safety of the spaceship and went down to the Sense-Sphere! The planet was tremendous but the plan going on between the Sensorites themselves, the battle for power, and the evilness of the City Administrator wanting control, and going so far as killing! I really liked the plot, but at times it just seemed to be filling time, and I think six parts was a bit too much for this serial. The use of Sensorite politics, in the future as well, was really good though and the cliffhangers were mostly brilliant. The absence of Barbara was interesting, I'm not sure why they just left her up in the spaceship! But Susan was the highlight in this serial and her guiding of Ian to safety was masterful. But once all was resolved and Ian and Barbara seemed to mock the TARDIS' navigation, the Doctor was outraged and told them that they'd be leaving the ship at the very next stop, no matter where! Would the Doctor really throw his companions out? I guess I'll find out in the season finale...

Rating: 8/10

The Aztecs

"You can't rewrite history, not one line!"

Writer: John Lucarotti
Format: TV
Broadcast: 23rd May - 16th June 1964
Season: 1.06

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

The TARDIS takes the Doctor and his companions back in time to fifteenth century Mexico, the centre of the Aztec civilisation. But when Barbara is mistaken for the reincarnation of the High Priest Yetaxa, the time travellers find themselves caught up in a vicious political power struggle which could cost them their lives...

Verdict

The Aztecs is another wonderful script from John Lucarotti. Obviously shorter than Marco Polo, this story was also perfectly paced and four parts was definitely the right timing. The plot was brilliant and there was never any lack of tension or danger. This serial is also extremely important for the future of Doctor Who, where the Doctor lays down a pivotal rule as you can see with my opening quote. I loved the force and emotion the Doctor said it in and he was horrified by Barbara wanting to change history! The Aztecs are remembered for their sacrifices, imagine if that all changed! Barbara was tremendous in this serial and I loved how she embraced the role of Mexican goddess as Yetaxa. Susan was quiet in this one but following on from Lucarotti's last serial, she certainly wasn't going to have a husband arranged for her. Ian was excellent also and the scenes with Ixta were very good. Autloc, the High Priest of Knowledge was a brilliant character and his following of Barbara, obeying her words, was great. But Tlotoxl as the main villain was just superb. It's quite ironic how he was seen as the villain in the story when in actual fact he was right all along, claiming Barbara was a false goddess. But exposure would mean death - and that was not an option. The fact that the Doctor got engaged was just tremendous and the humour of the First Doctor really shone through. The cliffhangers, most notably the final one, were marvellous. The fact that the TARDIS was trapped, unreachable, was very good and always left the serial with something to achieve. And once it was, the team just managed to escape and left the Aztecs confused it seemed. Prior to that, when Barbara stopped the sacrifice, the fact that the victim killed himself anyway for honour was interesting, and it seemed to lead to realisation for Barbara that history cannot be changed. That's now a fundamental part of Doctor Who, and it was established in this fantastic serial!

Rating: 9/10

Winter for the Adept

"Do a job badly enough and nobody will ask you to do it again!"

Writer: Andrew Cartmel
Format: Audio
Released: July 2000
Series: Main Range 10

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa

Synopsis

When a teleportation experiment goes badly wrong, Nyssa finds herself stranded on the freezing slopes of the Swiss Alps in 1963. But it is mere coincidence that she finds shelter in a snowbound school, haunted by a malevolent poltergeist?

When the Doctor arrives, Nyssa and the other inhabitants of the school soon discover that the ghost is merely part of a darker, deeper and more deadly game involving rogue psi talents and something else... Something not of this Earth.

Verdict

Winter for the Adept is a good, solid audio adventure. It starts off uniquely with the Fifth Doctor absent having teleported Nyssa from the TARDIS! She isn't happy with her landing space which is quite humorous, would she really expect the Doctor to have her land in comfort? The plot was good and never seemed dull which is obviously always good. I really liked the reference to The Land of the Dead audio and Nyssa being alone allowed her to show how good she really is as companion. The eventual arrival and mention of the Spillagers was great and thought they were terrific enemies. The guest cast were a great highlight; Alison and Peril being the standouts. The plot itself was very good and I enjoyed the climax a lot. I liked the comedy between the Doctor and Nyssa once the Time Lord finally arrived, somewhat delayed. There just needed to be an added sense of danger or plot twist to take this audio from being very good to the heights of greatness, but good nonetheless! 

Rating: 8/10

Meat

"Imprisoned, chained and drugged. Welcome to planet Earth."

Writer: Catherine Tregenna
Format: TV
Broadcast: 6th February 2008
Series: Torchwood 2.04

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

Synopsis

When Rhys discovers the truth about Torchwood, he helps the gang to find the source of an unusual alien meat supply...

Verdict

Meat was an excellent episode of Torchwood! Rhys finally finds out all about Torchwood and the truth behind Gwen's big job. The idea of humans, in Merthyr of all places, taking advantage of an alien they somehow had gotten their hands upon was extremely realistic. Humans are naturally selfish and no more so than when it comes to money! Exploiting the life of a whale-like alien was disgraceful by Vic and Dale, but it made a brilliant episode. I really liked how now Rhys knew all about Torchwood and the supernatural, and hopefully he'll now get a more prominent role in the series. His role in this episode as a lorry driver was great and his initiative shown was fantastic! Gwen's uneasiness towards Rhys helping Torchwood, putting his life at risk, was terrific of the wonderful women! I really liked the plot and once Jack and the gang had discovered what was going on and how the alien was being treated, he was disgusted. And rightfully so. A despicable act. The plot itself was very good and I really loved the emotional climax, with the alien being freed of its misery by Owen
. It could now rest in peace. Jack feeling the emotions and effects of the giant alien was heartfelt. Overall, a great episode!

Rating: 9/10

To the Last Man

"I left home a long time ago. I don't know where I really belong. Maybe that doesn't matter anymore."

Writer: Helen Raynor
Format: TV
Broadcast: 30th January 2008
Season: 2.03

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

Synopsis

Once a year, for a single day, Tommy Brockless is defrosted in the Torchwood hub to make sure he's still working. He is kept alive until the day he is needed. When ghosts appear at a hospital, it's clear that the time has come...

Verdict

To the Last Man is a fantastic episode of Torchwood! Just like Greeks Bearing Gifts, this story's focus is on Tosh, and her relationship with World War One soldier Tommy. Tommy was a great character throughout and it must be difficult, but somewhat incredible, to only be alive for one day of the year. Imagine that every day you awake, a year has passed! The technological and social advances will be huge. I adored the clever reference to how, for Tommy, only 3 weeks had passed between the end of the First World War and the beginning of the Second! He'd skipped through Russian Civil War, the Versailles Treaty and the Nazis' rise to power in less than a month! I liked the shift between time zones during the story and how we got to learn a lot about the Torchwood team of the 1910s, and even see them! A classic Torchwood team - just brilliant. The way the beginning of the story started, also proving to be the climax, was wonderful and tied up excellently. The relationship between Tosh and Tommy was great and I liked the trust that Jack had in Tosh, letting her spend the day with her 'crush' so to speak, but knowing that he had to be brought back the next day. Early. Because the time had come. He was needed again. Gerald and Harriet, the members of the old Torchwood team, were as I said brilliant and when the time was nearly up for Tommy it was great that he could hear them talking to his past self. Tommy being the key, closing the breach between 1918 and 2008 was outstanding and the fact that he'd had to use the time shift to stop any chain reactions was good. And although the way Tosh reached back into his mind, now reverted back to his 1918 self with no memory of the future, his past, to get him to use the time shift was good - I just felt it was a bit unnecessary and took away a little from a tremendous story, not that it had too much of a dampening effect!

Rating: 9/10

Sleeper

"Have a little faith. With a dashing hero like me on the case, how can we fail?"

Writer: James Moran
Format: TV
Broadcast: 23rd January 2008
Series: Torchwood 2.02

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

Synopsis

When a burglary turns into a slaughter, Torchwood suspect alien involvement. Who is Beth, and can she be as innocent as she seems? When the investigation escalates into a city-wide assault, Captain Jack realises that the whole planet is in danger...

Verdict

Sleeper was a very good episode of Torchwood! It dealt with a unique circumstance where an innocent women was a killer enemy, and she didn't even know it! The idea of the Sleepers, collectively known as Cell 114, was very good! Trapped extremely deep within the consciousness of people, collecting information of the world around them, implanting false memories. A great concept. The plot was very good and the amount of action that ensued once it was time for the Sleepers to wake up was brilliant! They had no regard for their individual self, as long as the objective of taking over the world, something they'd not failed before, was achieved. The worry Jack showed towards the  Sleepers enhanced how evil they were and what actual threat they provided. The mystery and torment behind Beth was emotional but I just felt that in her normal self, she was a bit boring. I adored Tosh's technical skills in this episode! She made a mockery of security systems which was wonderful. The relationship between Beth and Mike was great though and the horror of Beth killing her husband unintentionally must be unimaginable grief! The climax was very good with Jack and co stopping David, another Sleeper. What I didn't like was that it was never confirmed that the threat of the Sleepers was thwarted, but the discussions regarding Gwen's upcoming wedding were intriguing - I'm not quite sure how Jack feels about it. I'm convinced he has feelings for Gwen!

Rating: 8/10

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

"So this is team Torchwood. The teacher's pets. But teacher's gone, hasn't he? Leaving the kiddy-kids all alone. And look at you, trying so hard to be all grown up. The doctor, with his hands full of blood. The carer, with her oh-so-beating heart. The technician, with her cold devices. Which leaves me, with the office boy, promoted beyond his measure. All of you, lost without your master. All of you, pretending to be so brave. All of you, so scared. So, what about it, minion? Can you do it? How good are you? How sharp is your aim? What if you kill her? What if I kill her first? Can you shoot, before I do? Can you? Dare you? Would you? Won't you?"

Writer: Chris Chibnall
Format: TV
Broadcast: 16th January 2008
Series: Torchwood 2.01

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

Synopsis

A conflicted Torchwood team is surprised to see Captain Jack suddenly return to their lives, and though he tries to come back as if nothing had happened, Jack soon finds that some things have changed since his disappearance. There's little time for explanations, though, as a mysterious stranger from Jack's past steps through the rift, and he's on a mission that only the Torchwood team can help him finish. But it becomes clear that Captain John Hart is not all he claims to be, and as usual, Captain Jack has some secrets of his own...

Verdict

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was a sensational second series opener of Torchwood! Full of fun, action and mystery, there was never a dull moment. Beginning as a foursome minus Jack, after he found the Doctor leading into the events of Utopia, the Torchwood team were chasing a Blowfish in a sports car! The chase was humorous and once Jack arrived killing the Blowfish and saving the team, things were back to normal. But then Captain John Hart arrived, and what a villain he proved to be! He's to Jack what the Master is to the Doctor, completely the same background but entirely different agendas! Their was innuendo and scrapping between Jack and John and the relationship was very unique. His aim was also great and proved to be a wonderful plot, in which he took out Gwen - almost to her death. The effects John's arrival and occurrences had on the rift were brilliant and his sinisterness was incredible! He killed Jack by throwing him off a building! Or so he thought. When Jack returned, the reaction of Captain John was brilliant. But instead of killing his Moriarty, he let him go back the way he'd come through. As he was leaving though, he revealed he'd found Gray. Jack's reaction was one of disbelief. So already in Torchwood Series 2, we've had an outstanding first episode, and a mystery given to us! Just who is Gray?

Rating: 10/10

The Spectre of Lanyon Moor

"It's nice to know we still make a good team, Doctor."

Writer: Nicholas Pegg
Format: Audio
Released: June 2000
Series: Main Range 09

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Evelyn, Brigadier

Synopsis

In a desolate Cornish landscape littered with relics of prehistoric man, the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn uncover a catalogue of mysteries.

What is the secret of the fogou? Can the moor be haunted by a demonic host of imps? And what is Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart doing in Pengriffen?

Teaming up with his old friend, the Doctor realises that an ancient conflict is nearing its conclusion - and Lanyon Moor is set to be the final battleground...

Verdict

The Spectre of Lanyon Moor is a very good audio adventure! We get an iconic moment and one that was desperately missing from the TV run. The Brigadier meets the Sixth Doctor! The greeting between the Brigadier and the Doctor was wonderfully comical and I think Evelyn fitted in perfectly! She was often getting herself into danger in this story and yet she always seemed so calm. A key attribute of a companion! She was also quite comical around Sir Archibald, who himself had an intriguing agenda wanting to work with the evil Sancreda. The plot was consistent but at small times there seemed to be stuff going on that was irrelevant. I really liked the character of Philip Ludgate throughout. Despite a good plot, the shining light of this audio was undoubtedly a first meeting between the Brigadier and a previously unmet incarnation of the Doctor! Disapproving of the Doctor's dress sense was typical banter between the pairing. The cliffhangers were good and the climax was also great! There was just something missing that prevented it from being great, but it was indeed very good!

Rating: 8/10

Red Dawn

"I don't feel like a long walk, my arm might get tired."

Writer: Justin Richards
Format: Audio
Released: May 2000
Series: Main Range 08

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

Ares One: NASA's first manned mission to the dead planet Mars. But is Mars as dead as it seems?

While the NASA team investigate an 'anomaly' on the planet's surface, the Doctor and Peri find themselves inside a strange alien building. What is its purpose? And what is frozen inside the blocks of ice that guard the doorways? If the Doctor has a sense of deja-vu, its because he's about to meet some old adversaries, as well as some new ones...

Verdict

Red Dawn was different from my expectations. I was really hoping that this audio would rescue the Ice Warriors - sadly it did not. After their brilliant debut and return during the Second Doctor era, the Ice Warrior's reputation was tarnished during the Third Doctor era in my opinion with the Peladon stories, having the Ice Warriors as something other than antagonists. The Seeds of Death is where the Ice Warriors were at their real best! The Curse of Peladon however saw them change, certainly not for the better. Then we have Cold War and the revived series' take on the Martians. And that was even worse! The creatures were taken out of their iconic armour, that's just a no from me. And now in the audio, the Doctor found himself pitted with the Ice Warriors, but not against them. Instead it was part of the human crew who'd found themselves arrive on Mars. I really liked the authority ranks amongst the Ice Warriors and the worship they had in Izdaal. Zzaal and Sstast were both brilliant characters, but if they weren't Ice Warriors, and some other non-previously outstanding villain, then it would have been so much better! The pairing of the Fifth Doctor and Peri worked extremely well and it was nice to get some adventures with the pairing as we didn't really get any stand alone TV adventures with them. The plot was good but there were some poor pieces of dialogue. Paul Webster wasn't the greatest of villains although his human selfishness was good. He wanted to exploit the Ice Warriors! The Doctor seemed to be just watching this story unfold which was unique. The climax was actually quite good and boosted up my somewhat generous rating. It just needed a bit more evil amongst the Ice Warriors!

Rating: 7/10

Rise and Fall

"It's like seeing a million years of human evolution flash by in the blink of an eye."

Writer: George Man
Format: Audio
Released: November 2010
Series: Short Trips Volume 1.01

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

Looking for a respite after their involvement in the French Revolution, the TARDIS materialises on a planet to which the Doctor has never been before. While the girls enjoy themselves in the TARDIS wardrobe, Ian and the Doctor step out onto a verdant, but scarcely populated world...

Verdict

Rise and Fall was just outstanding. 20 minutes of brilliance and was a joy to listen to! With Susan and Barbara more interested in the wardrobe, the Doctor and Ian were the main characters in this and it was just an excellently executed script. With no real danger, the story was just home to intrigue and curiosity, something the Doctor does not lack in. It was incredible, and must've have been astonishing for the Doctor and Ian to watch, to see that a whole civilisation rose and fell in a small matter of time before them. I adored how the TARDIS was an incredible landmark for the planet's natives and it's incredible to think that the TARDIS played such a pivotal role in the society of the inhabitants. I loved the idea that from the perspective of the Doctor and Ian, time passed extremely quickly in comparison to those who lived on the planet. It's just fascinating how the 'two aliens' were just seen as mysteries. Pure beauty! With the civilisation fallen, the Doctor and Ian were clearly affected and returned to the TARDIS. I liked the brief follow on from The Reign of Terror, which is a little ahead of my TV run, but that was no problem - especially with the elegance this script possessed.

Rating: 10/10

The Keys of Marinus

"I don't believe that man was made to be controlled by machines. Machines can make laws, but they can not preserve justice. Only human beings can do that."

Writer: Terry Nation
Format: TV
Broadcast: 11th April - 16th May 1964
Season: 1.05

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

On a remote island of glass surrounded by a sea of acid, there is a machine that can remove evil from the minds of an entire population - the Conscience of Marinus. Fearful of its immense power falling into the wrong hands, its sole guardian has scattered the machine's operating keys across the planet. The TARDIS crew arrive to find the island under attack by the evil Voord. Marinus' last line of defence - and its only hope - is the Conscience machine. The Doctor and his companions must undertake a deadly quest to recover the Keys of Marinus...

Verdict

An all time favourite of mine is The Keys of Marinus and it was a pleasure to re-watch the tremendous serial. I just adore the concept conjured up by Terry Nation and the pace over six episodes is absolutely perfect. What I like so much about this is that, although the aim for each episode is pretty much the same - retrieving the Key to the Conscience machine - the danger preventing the key from being retrieved is always different and entertaining. And as if the regular characters of the Doctor and Susan along with Ian and Barbara aren't enough, this serial has a spectacular guest cast! Altos and Sabetha are wonderful additions to the team for the serial and they have close relations with Arbitan - the guardian of Marinus who was a brilliant character in his own right. Keys never fails to keep interest in the storyline and there's some magnificent plot twists! Vasor was good and I really loved the Ice Soldiers! The absence of the Doctor doesn't hurt the serial one bit and it allows the companions to have the focus, though in the early days of Doctor Who, the Doctor isn't the sole focus. He's just the owner of the time machine. The twist at the climax of episode four was outstanding and then you had the final episode which was very much law based, and with my studying of A-level Law which I am loving, this particularly was interesting. The role of the judges was good and the way Ian was eventually proven innocent was superb. The serial ended excellently with the defeating of the Voord, marvellous villains who'd appeared in the first episode and wanted control of the conscience and murdered Arbitan! I really look forward to their return in Big Finish's new audio range in late 2014! Overall, an instant classic - pure excellence!

Rating: 10/10

Marco Polo

"A caravan that flies! Do you imagine what this will mean to the Khan? It will make him the most powerful ruler the world has ever known; stronger than Hannibal, mightier than Alexander the Great!"

Writer: John Lucarotti
Format: TV
Broadcast: 22nd February - 4th April 1964
Season: 1.04

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

Arriving in Central Asia in 1289, the Doctor and his companions join the caravan of the famous Venetian explorer Marco Polo as it makes its way from the snowy heights of the Pamir Plateau, across the treacherous Gobi Desert and through the heart of imperial Cathay.

Having witnessed many incredible sights and survived a variety of dangers, they arrive at the mighty Kublai Khan's Summer Palace in Shang-tu, where the Doctor strikes up an extraordinary friendship with the now-aged ruler.

They move on at last to the even more sumptuous Imperial Palace in Peking, where the travellers save the Khan from an assassination attempt by the Mongol warlord Tegana - supposedly on a piece mission - before departing once more in the TARDIS...

Verdict

Marco Polo is an instant classic and a real tragedy that it's entirely missing. John Lucarotti produced a masterful script that was perfectly paced. Seven parts was the perfect amount and with Marco Polo himself being the first historical figure, of many, to be in Doctor Who, he really is a great character! I loved how the story was told through the his journal which was very entertaining. The cliffhangers were all pretty much good and I particularly liked the one at the end of episode three. Tegana was a tremendous villain and his fears of the TARDIS crew were fantastic. I really liked the Doctor's anger at being controlled by what he considered a primitive and he was prevented from his freedom simply by the loss of his keys. And the way this angered him showed perfectly why William Hartnell is my favourite Classic Doctor at this moment (of course that is subject to change). He's just so angry and grumpy but that's what makes him so good. Ian and Barbara, as well as Susan who I'm reluctant to call a companion due to her relation to the Doctor, were excellent as companions in this serial. I also loved the character of Ping-Cho and Susan's reactions to her mentioning of a husband being arranged for her was just marvellous. Marriage is about love not family arrangements or image! The trek across the Gobi desert to get to Shang-tu to see Kublai Khan was venturous and the aim, for Marco to give Kublai Khan the TARDIS in return for allowing him to return to Venice was brilliant. A wonderful aspect of the story. I liked Acomat and the devious plan that was derived arrived him! The battle between Tegana and Marco in the concluding episode was magnificent but once Marco was victorious, Tegana killing himself was a shock. With Marco free to return to Venice, and the TARDIS returned to the Doctor, everything worked out and a tremendous story came to a close. Great pace, good storyline and just a shame that the entire serial is missing in its entity!

Rating: 9/10

End of Days

"People didn't believe us. Now they should. Judgement Day is finally here. This is the End of Days."

Writer: Chris Chibnall
Format: TV
Broadcast: 1st January 2007
Series: Torchwood 1.13

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

Synopsis

The Rift is open and beings from all the periods of time are seeping through. What exactly does Bilis Manger know and what lurks in the Rift? Can Jack save the world?

Verdict

End of Days is a sensational season finale for Torchwood's debut season! Following on directly from Captain Jack Harkness and with the effects of Owen's opening of the Rift coming into fruition, the possibilities were endless. Anything could seep through into present day Cardiff - and it did! We had Romans and even sufferers of the Plague! The dangers were endless and possible clashes could have been disastrous. But somehow, the team managed to get things to normal which was tremendous and the proper battle would soon commence. Bilis was again the villain and his calm eeriness is chilling. A tremendous villainous character, who isn't quite done with Torchwood I feel after the climax of the episode. After a few recent hints in the latter episodes of the season, we knew something was coming from the darkness - but the question was what. But before all that was revealed, many events occurred! Rhys was tragically and callously murdered by Bilis with a dagger. The devastation this caused Gwen was heartfelt and hard to watch, some outstanding acting by Eve Myles. She couldn't take it in. And this affected the other team members as well. But with Rhys's corpse in the hub Gwen again just couldn't handle it. She wanted to fix things - she had a firm belief that this wouldn't be the last time she would see her boyfriend. The fact that the entire team were pushed by Bilis, using projections of loved ones or lost ones, to go against Jack's wishes and open the Rift. Jack's mocking of Gwen's love for Rhys, by questioning why she hooked up with Owen, and this tipped her over the edge. And then Owen shot Jack. They opened the Rift and let through the son of the Beast. Abaddon. He was freed from imprisonment in the Rift and wreaked havoc over Earth. His shadow caused death everywhere it went, so Jack would question its ability to kill him. The man who cannot die. And Jack won. It took everything out of him and he was dead. And this time, it didn't seem like he was waking up. Gwen was sure he would do, Rhys was now back as time was fixed, and she didn't give up on him. So she wasn't going to give up on Jack. And she was correct. Eventually, Jack woke up. All was well and he forgave his teammates. Torchwood had succeeded and Abaddon was defeated. But then the TARDIS was heard, and Jack was gone...
A magnificent season finale that tied up a wonderful debut season! And it led into Utopia and the Doctor Who Series Three finale brilliantly. How will the team deal without Jack?

Rating: 10/10

Captain Jack Harkness

"He would have been so proud that you took his name. Because here you are, saving the world. To Captain Jack."

Writer: Catherine Tregenna
Format: TV
Broadcast: 1st January 2007
Series: Torchwood 1.12


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

Synopsis

Investigating reports of ghostly music, Jack and Toshiko find themselves stranded in a packed dance hall - in 1941. As Gwen, Owen and Ianto work to rescue their colleagues, Jack and Toshiko meet a handsome young American squadron leader by the name of Captain Jack Harkness.

Verdict

Well, wasn't this just brilliant? Captain Jack Harkness was an emotion packed and purely magnificent penultimate episode of the season. We learned so much about Jack, his history - even the origins of his name. And we met the original... which was a shock. I loved the tie ins with Jack's debut story of The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances and how he came to being in the London Blitz at that time. The mystery surrounding Bilis was fantastic and his character was ever so eery and heartless. Owen's love for Diane, who he'd lost in Out of Time was clearly seen stronger than ever here as he went to such a risk to open up the rift in an extremely desperate attempt to somehow see her once more and also to bring Jack and Tosh back from 1941. I really liked how Ianto stepped up and would listen to precedented orders set by Jack, saying how the rift must not be opened. He went as far as holding Owen at gunpoint, before actually shooting! Tosh's sickening use of her own blood to send a message through time to the Torchwood team was incredible but the fact that Bilis meddled with it made him even more diabolical. His motives were unique. The character of the original Captain Jack Harkness was brilliant and his instant relationship with our Jack was great. They hit it off, of course, but Jack's knowledge of the man whose identity he took was intriguing no doubt. He knew of his death that was soon, and told him to admire his girlfriend who he seemed disinterested in. The Ritz dance hall, in both time zones, was a brilliant setting and Bilis was a mysterious character jumping between the time zones. The consequences suffered from the Rift being opened will be very interesting, despite Owen thinking there're no consequences, I somehow have doubts and look forward to the season finale and how that is explored!

Rating: 10/10

The Genocide Machine

"You could acquire the wisdom of a million years from a billion worlds in the time it would take to read a bus ticket!"

Writer: Mike Tucker
Format: Audio
Released: May 2000
Series: Main Range 07

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

The library on Kar-Charrat is one of the wonders of the Universe. It is also hidden from all but a few select species. The Doctor and Ace discover that the librarians have found a new way of storing data - a wetworks facility - but the machine has attracted the unwanted attention, and the Doctor soon finds himself pitted against his oldest and deadliest enemies - the Daleks!

Verdict

A very good audio adventure is The Genocide Machine. A very strong audio debut for the Daleks and I really liked what they were up to here! The plot was excellent throughout and I really liked the Kar-Charrat setting. The mystery and hiddenness of the library was interesting, if it's a wonder of the universe then why is it so hidden and hard to find? Or did I just answer my own question? The cliffhangers were very good and I really liked how the Daleks duplicated Ace - but the Doctor always seems to know immediately if something has changed with his companion, as we've seen in New Earth and The Sontaran Stratagem. The Daleks' presence was fantastic throughout, but it wasn't just a generic Dalek story - we had the Dalek Supreme, who in this form, last appeared in the spectacular Planet of the Daleks, the sensational Special Weapons Dalek and the mightily good Dalek Emperor! The latter was really a highlight and I loved the fact that we got what was of extreme limitation during the Classic run, a Dalek Emperor story! The sub-story regarding Bev Tarrant was really good and she was a really great character. Chief Librarian Elgin was also a brilliant character and his relationship with the Doctor, past knowledge of him and the pride he took in the library were all marvellous. Cataloguer Prink was a uniquely weird character however, barely speaking - which is kind of important in audio stories! The Daleks' devious plan regarding the wetworks was all so Dalekly amazing - horrifyingly evil! The way the Doctor and Ace thwarted the plan was tremendous but I like how the Dalek Emperor remained safe and well, just delayed. With the Dalek Supreme obeying self destruction, the Emperor is sure to have another plan on his agenda, and I'm sure it won't be long until I hear that come into fruition.

Rating: 9/10

Combat

"Oh, I understand this better than you. 'Cos I know how this is going to end - we're going to hunt you down. We're going to ensure that you're punished for what happened here. And we're going to make you surrender that creature that you kidnapped. Is that clear enough?"

Writer: Noel Clarke
Format: TV
Broadcast: 24th December 2006
Series: Torchwood 1.11

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

Synopsis

Savage aliens are being kidnapped from the streets of Cardiff, and Torchwood want to now why. Owen is sent undercover to find out who's behind it and soon befriends the charismatic Mark Lynch. Beneath the veneer of city life, Owen discovers a shocking subculture: can he avoid being sucked in?

Verdict

Combat was yet another brilliant episode of Torchwood and this was action packed and just pure excellence. I really liked the idea of alien kidnappers in Cardiff, but the treatment by Mark Lynch of the Weevils is just disgraceful. No matter what species, nobody should be treated as a slave, punch bag or just to be mocked at. I liked how we learnt a bit more about the Weevils and their origins and the action packed and pace filled start to the episode really got my interest right away. With Gwen again being taken away from quality time with her boyfriend, Rhys, the development of the relationship is going to be interesting. The continuation on from Out of Time was great and Owen was still clearly affected by her leaving. Mark's house was typical of a man of his doings, too much money from an illegal gain and just smug was sprayed all over. He was a despicable man. The combat in the episode was shocking but excellent. Who in their right mind would willingly pay a large amount of money to be locked in a cage with a Weevil just to win some more money? I would figure that life is invaluable. But when Owen entered the cage, that was a tremendous scene. Explicit, Owen was ripped apart and suffered numerous injuries and wounds. Jack and the team, distracted Owen to allow the Weevil the upper hand, but surely the attack was inevitable? Anyway, his life was saved. And from it - he had the Weevils afraid of him now. That really was fascinating. I now look forward to the final two episodes of what has been an incredible debut series!

Rating: 10/10

The Marian Conspiracy

"I wonder if you'd mind accompanying me to my ship for a few tests?"

Writer: Jacqueline Rayner
Format: Audio
Released: March 2000
Series: Main Range 06

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Evelyn

Synopsis

Tracking a nexus point in time, the Doctor meets Dr Evelyn Smythe, a history lecturer whose own history seems to be rapidly vanishing.

The Doctor must travel back to Tudor times to stabilise the nexus and save Evelyn's life. But there he meets the Queen of England and must use all his skills of diplomacy to avoid ending up on the headman's block...

Verdict

The Marian Conspiracy is an excellent audio adventure and enjoyable from start to finish. Evelyn Smythe is immediately an intriguing character and is a loveable character almost immediately. Her love of history, particularly the Tudors, was great to hear and the fact that she had tracked her own family history back to the times of the Tudor reigns was brilliant. And of course the Doctor was interested in her - she is part of a mysterious nexus point. The humour that was inspired by the Doctor mistakenly thinking the TARDIS had arrived in the 1550s with Elizabeth on the throne, but in actual fact it was Mary, was fantastic and very enjoyable. George Crow and William Leaf were both very good characters! The plot itself though was excellent and I loved the thought that and possibility that the Doctor would end up being an ancestor of newly found companion. For a while, it seemed that was the case and was shockingly marvellous, but the way it turned out not to be true was a very good revelation. The Doctor's ease at getting close to Queen Mary and gaining her trust was exceptional and so typical of the Doctor, and it was brilliant to see this incarnation doing it. I must say, Colin Baker has been exceptional as the Doctor in audios so far and is by far my favourite audio Doctor. The many references and dangers caused by the arguments of pro or anti Protestantism added great amounts to the story. Lady Sarah was a wonderful character and once it was revealed she was pregnant and her surname to be Smith, things tied into place and with the influence and help the Doctor had given her, under his John Smith alias, she was going to name her child after him. A nice measure. The sadness of Reverend Thomas going to the stake at the climax was harsh, but the commitment he showed to his faith showed what a faithful and strong character he was. The character of Francois was great also and overall, the adventure was excellent. And now the Sixth Doctor has a new companion! Evelyn has joined the TARDIS and I now look forward to a series of audio adventures set between Peri's departure and Mel's arrival in The Trial of a Time Lord.

Rating: 9/10

Out of Time

"Ferried planes during the war. Of course, when it was over, we were supposed to revert to being dutiful wives and daughters. But I'd got the taste for it. No pig-headed man tells me what to do."

Writer: Catherine Tregenna
Format: TV
Broadcast: 17th December 2006
Series: Torchwood 1.10

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

Synopsis

When a plane from the 1950s lands in modern day Cardiff, courtesy of the Rift, the passengers are reoriented by the Torchwood team, who become drawn closely to their lives...

Verdict

Out of Time has immediately restored the sensational quality of Torchwood episodes thus far in season one and being a vast improvement on its predecessor Random Shoes. I really liked the focus on three strangers from the 1950s who'd fallen through a gap in time and ended up in 2006! A brilliant concept and the impact the change had on the three flyers; Diane, John and Emma was marvellous. They were astounded by the changes and their reactions were very good to see. I loved how each flyer became attached to one of the Torchwood members and ultimately that's what the focus of the episode ended up being. The emotional scenes with Jack and John were brilliantly executed with fantastic acting - the emotion portrayed was incredible, especially when John visited his son, now older than him. It also provided a beautifully done reference to the 1953 FA Cup Final. Gwen and Emma's relationship was the only minor negative of the episode I thought and I didn't like, how just for the sake of work, Gwen lied about a major thing to Rhys. And then Emma was sent away to London for a job, which I had mixed feelings about. I liked to think how she'd react to modern day London but then I wasn't sure how a 1950s girl would be so easily adapted to the nowadays lifestyle. The obvious highlight of the episode was the relationship between Owen and Diane. It was full of passion and emotion and Owen quickly fell in love. And the scene where Diane chose flying over him was heartbreaking to see. He clearly suffered from it and it was good to see that Owen wasn't just a one night stand type of guy. He actually had the ability to care about a women. Despite the episode being tremendous, I am curious to see that there has been no antagonist in the last two episodes, surely that changes in episode 11? But overall - excellent.

Rating: 9/10

Random Shoes

"What happened? How did I end up here? I mean, I'm dead, but I'm not dead."

Writer: Jacquetta May

Format: TV

Broadcast: 10th December 2006

Series: Torchwood 1.09

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

Synopsis

A hit-and-run victim, obsessed with alien life, realises only one person can solve the mystery of his death: Gwen Cooper.

Verdict

Ah, well I guess the sensational standard of Torchwood set in the series so far, consisting of 9 or 10/10s, couldn't last forever. Random Shoes was just a very good Love and Monsters which doesn't account for a huge amount. Yes, this had it's good moments, and overall it was pretty good, but there were lot of things that brought its mark down in comparison to the eight episodes before it. I admit that I felt sorry for the character of Eugene and what he'd gone through in life. Of course, prior to his death (which I have no idea why a special ops team were dealing with despite his attempts to get their attention). It was clear that Gwen was undoubtedly the shining light in this episode. Her determination and willingness made her much more beautiful than she already is! Her wanting to help was just stunning to see. The mystery of the alien eye that Eugene had gotten hold of was very intriguing but I didn't like how his own friends cost him a large amount of money on eBay! I felt sorry for Eugene as he just seemed awkward and unwanted. But once dead, I just wanted him to disappear! There was way too much pointless dialogue and to be frank, we didn't need to know all about him and his history, despite the sympathy. There was no real plot of such and the Torchwood team barely featured. The ending was heartfelt but too religious-like with Eugene's ascension, and as an Atheist I disagree with that depiction. I am just thankful that Eve Myles put in a wonderful performance and my adoration for Gwen was greatly enhanced! She saved this episode from disaster and allowed me to be rather generous with my rating. 

Rating: 7/10

The Fearmonger

"Isn't this the point where you usually arrive in the midst of chaos and sidle into the good graces of the authority figures when they're not paying attention?"

Writer: Jonathan Blum
Format: Audio
Released: February 2000
Series: Main Range 05

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

One would-be assassin is in a mental ward. Another's on the run. Their intended victim is stirring up the mobs. Terrorists are planning a strike of their own. A talk-show host is loving every minute of it. A Whitehall insider whispers about a mysterious UN operative, with a hidden agenda. Everyone's got someone they want you to be afraid of. It'll only take a little push for the situation to erupt - and something is doing the pushing. But you can trust the Doctor to put things. Can't you?

Verdict

The Fearmonger is a simply sensational audio story and one that I enjoyed from start to finish. Immediately starting with an assassination attempt on New Britannia Party leader Sherilyn Harper. Immediately I loved the story and the fact that the Doctor was bound dive into the world of British politics. But there was a lot more to this audio adventure than politics and assassination attempts! The Fearmonger was an incredible enemy, and the traits it had were just outstanding. Feeding off fear and hate, where better than in British politics and a link to a mental asylum? I adored the added bonus of Mick Thompson as a radio host and the way it helped tag the story along, perfectly. It was just genius. Ace was excellent in this and trust me, that's a massive compliment from myself as I've never been a fan of the companion. I've never thought she's been more than average, maybe with the exception of Remembrance of the Daleks, but here she really shone. Maybe it's the format? I am not too sure. I liked how she met an old friend from Perivale also. Roderick was a brilliant character and his dealings as part of the New Britannia Party were great. Alexsandr was a callous character which just added to the story's excellence. The cliffhangers in this were great, as was the plot of course and the resoling climax was very good. Good to have the Seventh Doctor back in a full performed story, even if it is in a story home to one of my least favourite TARDIS pairings, but if they have stories that continue in this standard, then my opinions will undoubtedly change and I'll have no complaints!

Rating: 10/10

They Keep Killing Suzie

"She's a real find, this one. Gwen Cooper. She's better than me. She's so much better. I was never any good. Jack, I'm sorry."

Writers: Paul Tomalin & Dan McCulloch
Format: TV
Broadcast: 3rd December 2006
Series: Torchwood 1.08

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

Synopsis 

Torchwood is linked to a series of brutalmurders around the city. As Jack and the team investigate, it becomes clear somebody wants their attention. What is Pilgrim - and how is it connected to a figure from Torchwood's past? The resurrection day are far from over. They have no choice but to bring back Suzie...

Verdict

Brilliant. They Keep Killing Suzie is an absolutely fantastic episode of Torchwood and the high standard of stories so far shows no sign of letting up. I really loved the plot and the devious plan of Suzie, planning her own death for her own gain, was just tremendous! It was heartless, evil and extremely caniving but sensational in it's own right. I really loved the callousness of Suzie in not caring one bit her about her hospitalised father and simply draining Gwen of her life as Suzie grew stronger. It's somewhat a much smaller similarity of The Tenth Planet with Mondas draining Earth's energy. I particularly liked the resurrection glove and the part it's played. It was a good prop piece in Everything Changes and even better in this episode. The trauma it can bring is huge. The Pilgrim group set up by Suzie was fascinating and I loved what she was trying to accomplish. A former Torchwood member trying to rip the team apart with their own belongings! I adored how she used Max and a poem to put the Hub into lockdown. Genius. Once Torchwood had worked out the plan of the resurrected Suzie, they tried to kill her... again. Continuously... failing. It was quite hard to watch at some moments but the fact that Suzie was being sustained by Gwen, who in turn was on the edge of death, was just sensational. The chase between the SUV and Suzie, along with the vegetable-like Gwen, was brilliant. Apart from the appalling and obvious production error, which I can let slide when it comes to my rating, it was a great scene. Once Suzie was finally killed, after the glove was obliterated breaking Gwen's link to Suzie, Ianto gave a frightening and intriguing insight. An obvious fact that gloves come in pairs. I loved that as the glove can definitely make a return in the future, just on the other hand. Overall, a wonderful episode with an exciting climax!

Rating: 10/10

Greeks Bearing Gifts

"So... I'm shagging a women and an alien."

Writer: Toby Whitehouse
Format: TV
Broadcast: 26th November 2006
Series: Torchwood 1.07

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

Synopsis

Tosh is given an alien pendant which lets her hear other people's thoughts. As the Torchwood team puzzle over a centuries-old skeleton, the pendant forces Tosh to question her commitment to Torchwood. Is her new found ability a blessing or curse?

Verdict

Greeks Bearing Gifts is yet another fine example of why Torchwood is an outstanding spinoff of Doctor Who! I really loved the concept behind the pendant and almost felt sorry for Tosh in having to hear what she was. It's a huge addition of information for her to handle, hearing every thought. I further felt apologetic towards her when she heard how low she was thought of by some of her fellow team members. The mystery behind Mary was excellent and I loved her character throughout. She's a beautiful women and her saucy scenes with Tosh to added to the greatness of her! The relationship she shared with Tosh was excellent and the shocking moment when she revealed her true form of an Arcateenian was fantastic. I didn't quite like the voice but the effects to portray the alien being were marvellous. Owen's reference to someone still suffering effects from Doomsday and seeing Cybermen outside his house was good and quite comical. The effect of the pendant as the episode continued was brilliant but I questioned why Tosh couldn't hear Jack's thoughts - he is still human after all, right? After the shocking cliffhanger revelation of Countrycide with Gwen and Owen, the relationship between the pair was tense but magnificent. The way Mary exited the story was extremely shocking! Jack showed no mercy and teleported her into the centre of the sun! Tosh was displeased, and that was good to see that she cared, but I also liked how far Jack goes to protecting the human race. He takes no risks, which shows he's a reliable protector. A great plot with a shocking but good climax and resolution.

Rating: 9/10

Countrycide

"None of the bodies have ever been found. These people just fell off the radar. No patterns in age, sex, race. One minute they're here, the next... boof. Gone."

Writer: Chris Chibnall
Format: TV
Broadcast: 19th November 2006
Series: Torchwood 1.06

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

Synopsis

Concerned that the space-time rift is spreading, Torchwood investigates a series of gruesome deaths located in a small village in the Brecon Beacons. What sort of creature could cause such shocking injuries? Stranded without communication or equipment and isolated from one another, the team confronts a terrifying enemy...

Verdict

Countrycide was a gruesomely good episode of Torchwood. The plot was sadistic but brilliant and the setting in the middle of the Brecon Beacons was perfect. The eeriness was outstanding and the innuendo and sexual tension between Gwen and Owen was incredible. I think the episode may have slightly gone over the top with gruesomeness however. The idea of cannibals doing what they were doing was just incredibly sick! The married couple's ideology on human stock was just horrific. They skinned people to the very bone and used every single part of the body for their own taste! It's quite hard to believe that anyone can be a cannibal, it's just unimaginable! And Evan's reasoning to Gwen as to why he does it was just terrible, which made him an outstanding villain. "It made me happy." Gwen's reaction was one of horror and the acting from Eve Myles was tremendous. I really liked the mystery behind the SUV being stolen and also the lingering tension between Jack and Ianto after the events of Cyberwomen seemed to slowly be fading. Ianto was stepping up, becoming more than just a tea boy. Tosh was great in this also and I liked her reactions to the thought of being skinned to bone. Some thought, huh? The twist with the police officer was a little obvious but still good and then the climax that came was enjoyable! The revelation at the end with Gwen and Owen having a sexual affair was incredibly surprising despite them having obvious attraction to each other as seen with the abrupt kiss two episodes prior. I really look forward to seeing where this relationship goes and the affect, if he finds out, it will have on Rhys.

Rating: 9/10

The Land of the Dead

"There is no heart in this place, only shadows."

Writer: Stephen Cole
Format: Audio
Released: January 2000
Series: Main Range 04

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa

Synopsis

Landing in Alaska, the Doctor and Nyssa encounter a group of people in a most unusual house, cut off not only by the harsh climate but also by their individual secrets and obsessions.

Millionaire Shaun Brett is utilising chunks of the local area to construct a shrine to his dead father. But when deadly creatures start roaming outside, and a terrifying discovery is made inside the house, the Doctor realises that Brett has unleashed an unimaginably ancient force.

Verdict

The Land of the Dead was another very strong Fifth Doctor audio adventure. Having a lot to do to match the standards of Phantasmagoria, this story was definitely close to matching it in terms of quality! A unique adventure as it is the first time ever in performed Doctor Who that we get a Fifth Doctor and sole Nyssa TARDIS pairing. Nyssa was excellent throughout the story and Sarah Sutton sounded as if she was still on board during season 19! Taking place after Time-Flight, the references to leaving Tegan were subtle and you had the sense that the Doctor wanted to avoid any questions about his companion who he'd seemingly forgotten about. Shaun Brett was a good character and his villainous was great. His motives were strangely unique. I really loved the idea of the Permians and they were depicted very well by Stephen Cole. The Alaska setting, briefly 30 years prior to where the main bulk of the story took place (which was a great plot thread), was excellent and definitely something different. The other guest characters were excellent and I enjoyed the relationship between the Doctor and Monica. Tulung was also very good. The plot itself was fantastic with a great climax and I think the pairing of the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa worked wonderfully well and I now look forward to future audios with them together!

Rating: 9/10

Whispers of Terror

"It's what you say that's important, not how loudly you say it. Could be a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury but signifying... nothing."

Writer: Justin Richards
Format: Audio
Released: November 1999
Series: Main Range 03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

The Doctor and Peri find themselves in the Museum of Aural Antiquities, where every sound is stored for posterity - from the speeches of Visteen Krane to security service wire taps and interrogation tapes. But they also find an intruder, mysterious changed recordings, and a dead body!

Before long, the Doctor realises that there is more going on than a simple break-in or murder. How can he defeat a creature that is made of pure sound?

Verdict

Colin Baker gets his first go as the lone Doctor in an audio here and after his part in The Sirens of Time being by far the best, I had high hopes. And he gave a brilliant performance. The story was good but not quite up to the standard of the previous audio Phantasmagoria. I really liked the idea behind the Museum of Aural Antiquities and the vision I'd created of it from the audio is a good one. I thought the revelation behind Visteen Krane was outstanding and very surprising, in a good way. Hearing Peri return was excellent as I really loved her as companion, particularly during her time with the Sixth Doctor in season 22 so it was wonderful to hear the TARDIS pair united once more. Her part in the audio was great and she was just like she was during her TV run - a great companion. A pretty strong guest cast added well to the story, which somewhat buffered off during part three before a good climax. I particularly liked Gantman and Dent and thought Beth Purnell was a good villain. What she was attempting was good. The overall plot was good and I did like the cliffhangers!

Rating: 8/10

Small Worlds

"That's what his father used to say. Oh, Jack, if only you had seen them there in the wood. They were happy. They were dancing. The fairy lights were shining."

Writer: Peter J. Hammond
Format: TV
Released: 12th November 2006
Series: Torchwood 1.05

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

Synopsis

Jack encounters monsters from his past: fairies, with the ability to choke people and change the weather, make a series of killings centred around a little girl, the chosen one. He also reunites with an old friend, but will Estelle Cole be safe when she starts to get a little too close to these fairies? And how can Torchwood stop a force from the dawn of time, masters of Earth, their domain? More importantly, what is so crucial about a little girl named Jasmine, for whom these creatures will gladly tear the world apart?

Verdict

Yet another sublime episode of Torchwood! Small Worlds was very different from the episodes prior to it and this one focused on Captain Jack and a lot of his relatively recent history. It was very interesting to hear a lot more about Jack's life, mostly what he got up to in the 20th century. His suffering by the fairies during war, how an entire team of his were murdered because a chosen one was killed thanks to the group's drunken antics. They gave out punishments. And now they were active again. Estelle was a wonderful character and her interest and desire in the fairies was brilliant to see. The relationship between Jack and Estelle was fabulous to see and despite Jack denying that it was him in the antiquate photos, claiming it to be his father, Gwen knew it was undoubtedly him. Estelle was his lover, and that was intriguing. As she grew old, he watched on and looked after her, knowing her interest in the fairies but he knew the possible dangers they could bring. When she was killed, the emotion showed was devastatingly good. Jack really cared for this women and these fairies had killed her. The mystery behind Jasmine was outstanding and the fact that she was being hunted down by Mark Goodson, a rapist, was horrific. She was still in primary school. But she had no fear, she'd communicated with the fairies and she knew she was protected. And that was obvious to see once the infamous red petals emerged from Goodson's mouth. Once they invaded Jasmine's house during the party, the fact that Jasmine had a new path to the fairies was great but it left Jack with a horrendous dilemma. He let Jasmine go to the fairies. To go with them into the wilderness abyss. Her mother was heartbroken as she lovelessly walked away. Her mother had lost her daughter and her man, by death, to the fairies. The team were disgusted in Jack in letting Jasmine go but he knew that there was no other way. The fairies would have wreaked havoc. One girl was the cost. The chosen one for the world. An outstanding episode!

Rating: 10/10

Cyberwomen

"She worked for Torchwood London. It was the end of the Canary Wharf battle. The Cybermen needed soldiers fast. They started upgrading whole bodies instead of transplanting brains using Earth technology. Lisa was halfway through the process when the machinery shut down."

Writer: Chris Chibnall
Format: TV
Broadcast: 5th November 2006
Series: Torchwood 1.04

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

Synopsis

Ianto has a dark secret, tied to the basement of the Hub - a secret he will protect at any cost: a semi-converted Cyberwomen! Will Torchwood Three fix things in time before the Cybermen, ripe from battle with their greatest enemy, the Doctor, convert the world?

Verdict

Cyberwomen is a cleverly executed episode of Torchwood and shows perfectly that once the Doctor saves the day, things aren't all okay once he leaves. There's still things needed to be mopped up and that job is left to the Torchwood team here. Just like Owen in Ghost Machine, Ianto comes into his own here. Gareth David-Lloyd puts in a sensational performance and shows the emotion of losing the one you love incredibly! The fact that he's hiding a half-converted Cyberman in the basements of the Torchwood hub is brilliant and shows us a new side to Ianto, who in the three prior episodes has been relatively quiet and sub-standard. He's just the tea boy. But after this episode there's no chance of that! The plot is full of great twists and confrontation between the team. Jack gets extremely angered by Ianto, rightfully so, and it's interesting to see. The continuation from Doomsday is very good and I really liked the references and originally made flashbacks. Lisa's alternation between being in control and not, leaving Earth prone to a Cyber invasion from within Cardiff is an exciting prospect from a story entertainment view. It's a tremendous danger! The action of Lisa in converting herself into the pizza girl was shockingly gross, and to Ianto that wasn't the girl he fell in with. She'd been too affected and in transplanting herself into another girl, she'd lost her lover and then her life. The altercations between Jack and Ianto were interesting and it's certainly going to be interesting to see how the relationship between Jack and Ianto pans out after these events. But overall, outstanding!

Rating: 10/10

The Edge of Destruction

"You're the cause of this disaster. And you knocked both Susan and I unconscious."

Writer: David Whitaker
Format: TV
Broadcast: 8th February - 15th February 1964
Season: 1.03

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis 

Something has caused the TARDIS console to explode in mid-flight, plunging the ship into darkness and rendering the crew unconscious. As they slowly recover, they find themselves suffering from loss of memory, and headaches. The TARDIS behaves oddly, as the doors open and close of their accord. Has the ship been possessed in some way, or is something more dangerous happening to the time travellers?

Verdict

The Edge of Destruction is a fantastic little serial. Set entirely inside the TARDIS, it sounds like it could get tedious and boring and just drag on. But that was definitely not the case. Their was a great amount of dissension and clashing between the Doctor and his companions. Susan seemed to naturally side with her grandfather against Ian and Barbara who were accused of causing the mishaps inside the TARDIS and attacking the Doctor! The doors were opening mid-flight which wasn't a good sign, something evil could've got in, something possessive. But the great thing was that their was no sign of any faults on the TARDIS instruments! Everything was normal, yet the TARDIS was acting on its own. Or so it seemed. The tension between the crew was brilliant and once everything was resolved, thanks to the Doctor's brilliance and a minor technical fault meaning they hadn't quite indicated a direction or location, the four members were no longer strangers to each other. They knew they could trust each other. It can be argued that An Unearthly Child inside the Cave of Skulls, or whilst trapped and suffering the effects of radiation in The Daleks, united them. But I think it was here in The Edge of Destruction that has ultimately united the Doctor and Susan with Ian and Barbara. Compassion and care has come into play, and slowly but surely the Doctor's companions are making him what we know the Doctor as today. And it's beautiful to watch it unfold in the early years of Doctor Who. At the end of this serial, the Doctor has feelings and actually cares for his companions now. A great mystery and very intriguing serial with a simplistic resolution!

Rating: 9/10