Aliens Among Us: A Kill to a View

"I'm the caretaker. Bilis Manger, at your service..."

Writer: Mac Rogers
Format: Audio
Released: 19th October 2017
Series: Torchwood 5.06

Featuring: Captain Jack, Tyler, Mr Colchester, Orr

Synopsis

Ritz Towers is a luxury block so exclusive not even aliens can get a place there. Mr Colchester has somehow secured a flat at the Ritz. With the streets increasingly troubled, his husband feels safe there. The problem is that Ritz Towers is anything but safe.

For a start, the building has more tenants than it has flats. Then there are the endless dinner parties. The whole new definition of upwardly mobile. And finally, there is the very mysterious caretaker.

Verdict

A Kill to a View continued the Aliens Among Us fifth series of Torchwood in a great way! It was a very interesting episode and whilst I very much enjoyed it, I can't help but think that there is more to come. And that feeling is not merely exclusive to just this episode but actually to the overall series thus far. I have a little troubling understanding how Torchwood can be so happy with the Sorvix occupying much of Cardiff and Ro-Jedda being Mayor but I feel like they're biding their time to strike and the time for immediate action will soon come. We're at the halfway stage of the fifth series now and I must say I've been impressed and delighted that Torchwood is back. This episode was very interesting and the obvious talking point would be the return of Bilis Manger! He was such a wonderful character in the first series finale and to hear him return now was brilliant. He made such an impact in just two episodes and his enigmatic feeling and portrayal makes him a very memorable character. I hope we haven't heard the last of him in this series. I'd like to think we haven't. Jack's deducing that Bilis was back was terrific and the references and linkages to Captain Jack Harkness/End of Days was superb. He was very worried, so much so that he abandoned heading to a Sorvix hostage situation to deal with the old man. Orr didn't feature too much in this episode but where she did she just seemed to be problematic in that she wasn't dealing well with Ritz Towers. There was something more to the building and her anatomy wanted to please it but just didn't know how. In this episode we finally got to meet Colin - the often mentioned husband of Mr Colchester - and he really did star. The relationship between the pair was good and I liked how they dealt with always getting invited to dinner parties. I was quite surprised with how important that aspect of the episode would come to be. Sandra and Andria, another gay couple living opposite the Colchesters, seemed good characters and although the revelation that they were actually teamed up with Bilis was not that much of a surprise, I still very much enjoyed it. The action-packed conclusion though was a surprise and the pair seemed to meet their demise at the hands of Mr Colchester. He was the star of this episode and with him now a familiar part of the Torchwood team, it was good to see him challenged. He had to face the death of his husband and the heartbreak of him dying in the place that was meant to keep him safe and away from the hatred of Cardiff really hit home. The lesbian couple's desire and obsession with obtaining the view from the rooms was perhaps taken a little too far but the central premise of their collaboration with Bilis was very good. The absence of Gwen was quite a surprise and the cameo of Rhys had me questioning my ears again. That was not Kai Owen talking (I think!) and that leads me to think that he too has become an imposter. How that will shape the future of this series is yet to be seen but I look forward to seeing it play out. Bilis opening the Rift and leaving things to the Sorvix was an interesting way to end but I like the ambiguity surrounding him and it leaves things open nicely for a return. I hope he isn't done with this series. Tyler is continuously proving useful and problematic to Torchwood and I am very much liking his position. Overall, another very good episode in the series!

Rating: 8/10