Torchwood: SUV

"Where have all the sheep gone?"

Writer: Ash Dary

Format: Audio

Released: October 2022

Series: Torchwood Monthly 66

Featuring: Tosh, Ianto

Synopsis

A routine alien incursion in the Valleys goes horribly wrong. Toshiko Sato and Ianto Jones are trapped in the Torchwood SUV. There's a monster outside and it's determined to get in.

Can Tosh and Ianto overcome their differences and save the world? More importantly, will the SUV keep them safe?

Verdict

Torchwood: SUV was an excellent story to continue my way through the Torchwood monthly range! I've been referring to it as such for all sixty-six blog entries within the range now but I think it might actually have become bi-monthly by this point! Ah well, I'm sticking with it for the final third of the range! I have always been intrigued by the name of this episode because the SUV is an integral part of those first two series of televised Torchwood in particular without doing an awful lot. The image of usually Jack speeding up to a location and getting out of the SUV is ingrained in my mind so it makes sense for a story based around it! I am yet to listen to this audio original, but I do wonder if it's a Torchwood version of Bessie Come Home? That seems like the one it would closely resemble as a similarity with an iconic vehicle. In terms of Torchwood though this one felt like it was going to be similar to We Always Get Out Alive where Gwen and Rhys were trapped in a car for the duration of the episode. Tosh and Ianto did briefly get outside on a couple of occasions but the threat from the mist meant that had to be in incredibly small durations. I thought the coming of the Zahir was strong and I liked their brutality in wanting to clear the planet. Starting in a village in the Welsh valleys is probably not the right place to start a planetary wide culling, but they can't decide where the Rift is located on Earth can they? I thought having the SUV communicate through the mist was fun and having Nigel Havers of The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith fame as the voice was a terrific choice. He oozes presence and authority which I thin was needed as the mysterious mist. It working in tandem with the Zahir was good and I liked the calm and callous nature of it appreciating their work in clearing the population. The entire village was wiped out other than Tosh and Ianto and it was lovely to get them two together. It was clearly not long since Gwen had arrived in Everything Changes so she was on a mission with Jack whilst the pairing here were sent out for a routine investigation of rift activity. Their relationship was fantastic and it certainly escalated when they had been stuck in the safety of the SUV for too long. I thought Ianto panicking was a little out of character to the extent that he was and it was quite humorous to see how desperate he was to just get some bloody fresh air! He was trying all sorts. The plan he and Tosh eventually devised by utilising the petrol within the SUV and the cigarette lighter was pretty unique but very effective! Ianto having to siphon the fuel and Tosh not being helpful in asking why it was taking so long was glorious too. Tosh's outburst against crisps was also extraordinary and her distaste towards sweet chilli flavour actually offended me a little as they are divine! The Sensations from Walkers in particular are outstanding. It was a tad heartbreaking that she was eating them when Owen visited as to not offend him. I thought the Zahir being extinguished without the mist was a long process as they slowly suffocated and Tosh and Ianto were questioning their actions against them even knowing what they had achieved. They were petrified of telling Jack about the SUV though! At least they didn't die in an alternative Popemobile, eh? Overall, a really strong episode to continue the range! 

Rating: 9/10