Children of Earth: Day Five

"They're going to come and take your kids."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 10 July 2009

Series: Torchwood 3.05

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen

Synopsis

Torchwood is defenceless and Gwen Cooper stands alone as the final sanction begins: as violence erupts and the world descends into anarchy, an ordinary council estate becomes a battleground, where the future of the human race will be decided.

Verdict

Day Five was a shocking conclusion to the Children of Earth third series of Torchwood. Has there ever been a more powerful resolution to an alien/monster threat in the Whoniverse? I'm really not sure. The final moments of this episode were something I was dreading since starting the series again alongside my partner Gemma because of the use of Steven in defeating the 456. It's incredibly sad and powerful and I thought it was going to be even worse this time around as I watch the series for the first time as a father. It definitely brings a different perspective but thankfully the torment that Steven suffers wasn't actually as long as I remembered it being. That didn't make it any easier though and I found myself looking away from the screen as the shots cut to him and his violent shaking and bloody nose. It's horrifying. I can't imagine Jack being in that position and having to make the decision, but choosing your grandson to die so millions of children can survive makes logical sense on paper. It doesn't make it any easier to forgive him and that's something Gemma thought very strongly about next to me on the sofa! Her opinion on Captain Jack has altered in a big way and she has said she pretty much hates him now. She used to love him but after watching this finale she is no longer a fan! She has also said she has no desire to watch the fourth series, but give her time and I'll win her around that's for sure. She needs to complete the set! She did say she gave the overall series as a 7/10 which I think is pretty respectable considering her stance towards Torchwood before we kicked off with Day One. The episode has a lot riding on it and the story of John Frobisher in particular is a harrowing one. His reaction to being told by the Prime Minister that he has been chosen to publicise the inoculations was superbly done by Peter Capaldi as he realised that it wouldn't just be pretend. His daughters would be taken to a rendezvous point like all of the others who drew the short straw. That wasn't something he would see happen, and his Requisition 31 request was terrible when his intentions were revealed. After finally getting home to his family, he carefully ordered them upstairs and shot them before shooting himself. Truly dreadful stuff. Gemma found it absurd but her reaction when she saw the gun behind his back and realised what he was doing was one truly of shock. That was fun to see but she couldn't understand why he didn't just take them into hiding. They only had to wait for twenty-four hours and the Government would have rounded up enough to send the 456 packing. The intentions of the 456 being revealed were sensational as they basically wanted the children to get high off them. The reactions of UNIT to that were fantastic. It was sheer disgust. I thought the recording of Gwen was really good and I like that with something so terrible happening we get a little mention of the Doctor and why he isn't always around. I think that's important to establish and it makes sense to include. The way the 456 are defeated by using the recording of how they killed Clem was excellent and it works logically, but the image of those children emitting the scream for the wavelength is just difficult to watch knowing what Steven is going through. Gwen meeting up with Jack six months later feels like something of an end for Torchwood and I can't remember if that was the intention, but we know there's more to come. I'm not sure when we'll get to Miracle Day but when we do I can't wait to rewatch as it has been quite a while! Overall though, an excruciatingly powerful and brilliant finale.

Rating: 10/10