Parasite: The Liberty of Norton Folgate

"Torchwood needs exposing."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2020

Series: Torchwood Soho 1.06

Featuring: Folgate, Andy

Synopsis

Enter the world of 1950s Torchwood! 

Gangsters are vanishing from the streets of Soho, there's a deadly Nazi secret on the loose, and something's moving in the smog. Norton Folgate should be sorting this out, but the Torchwood agent is in disgrace. Who's going to save London this time?

Verdict

The Liberty of Norton Folgate was a very good episode to conclude the Parasite first series of Torchwood Soho! After a lengthy build up of five shorter episodes, this somehow felt slightly slacking which I know is contradictory to my rating. I have mixed feelings. I feel like the episode in isolation was really strong but to serve as a finale to a six-part series, it didn't deliver on every front. It rounded out everything nicely and I was certainly left with all of my questions having been answered which is not always the case in boxsets like this as they like to sell onto the next one, but I just think I felt like it was a bit quick. Or maybe I am just underestimating the qualities of Norton Folgate as a character. I can unquestionably say that my opinion on him has improved in listening to this series and I can now get ready for the next boxset in this series when I get there with him as a lead which is a big positive to come from the experience, but he just seemed unbeatable! He was almost Seventh Doctor-like at the end which shocked me in a good way and that twist probably did just about sneak the episode to the rating that it does, but that was a lot of planning ahead by Norton. Sure, I understand his desire to lead Torchwood and he failed in that for the future, but now here he is starting from the ground up and with Gideon Lyne alongside him. That's not a bad basis for a new Torchwood team which I like and I think it could be quite fun to follow the adventures of this 1950s Torchwood team now we've got its origin. Gideon finally recognising Andy was a fun moment and I think it's fun how the vortex manipulator wasn't exactly reliable when it came to battery power. Andy had actually been around for a couple of weeks and started laying some groundwork to prevent Norton going off the beaten track, but what he set in motion didn't exactly work to perfection! The whole focus on exposing Torchwood is quite intriguing given Norton's position and desire, but the trio all being in an effective tree of woe together with different motives and manipulating the other to enact a certain event was quite fun. It was a really interesting dynamic and I only wish we were sticking around for a few more episodes to get more of a lasting reaction from them all regarding their actions! I feel like this episode served as a good building block for Gideon as he started to learn and see things the Torchwood way. He worked out that he'd seen Andy before and now Norton wants him alongside him for Torchwood's renaissance. I like that and he's a character with a lot of potential in my opinion. The deduction that the parasitical fog was actually attracted to technology was good and I liked the science behind Norton's means of defeating them and literally wiping it away with sulphuric acid. Those poor pigeons! It did just feel like it happened all a little too quickly and in a slight rush. The logic is sound but it didn't feel like there was much of a build which is a shame because I think that is mainly down to the format. This was almost like six full cast Short Trips which is a fine format, but more focus on a fitting conclusion could have sent this to greatness. It was still a thoroughly enjoyable listen as my rating reflects, but I just know it could have been more. Overall, a very good episode to conclude what has been a terrific and very consistent little series! I look forward to the next one.

Rating: 8/10