Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Greg]

At the end of the last episode, Owen was shot dead. (Oh, were you trying avoid spoilers? Sorry!) This is the story of what comes after that...

Owen is surprisingly lively in this story, which spends some time concentrating on the rest of the casts' response to the death of a friend and colleague, and the rest on the bizarre situation Owen's death and Jack's way of 'helping' the others with this brings about.

The story also picks up some dangling plot threads from the previous season, and I'm suspicious will be pivotal to this year overall. It certainly appears that it will continue to have repercussions in at least the next episode.

As sometimes happens, the 'humorous' bits tend to be out of step with the story - and I'm thinking of the scene with Jack and Owen in the cell. The simple action of gravity would not produce the effect shown, there would not be enough pressure. But the need to steal a sight gag from a Monty Python movie just couldn't be resisted, it seems.

Seven episodes in, and there's a real feeling of coherence to this year's stories. They may not all form part of a big picture, but carrying over plot lines and character development between episodes is a big plus compared to the more haphazard continuity of the first year and makes me hopeful that I'll have a better recollection of some of the later episodes of this year than I do of some of those from the last series. (Must get the box set so I can refresh my memory!)

[meglos]

Excellent. I am really enjoying the extra humour in this series. Owen is also becoming a much better character. Perhaps he should have been dead from the start. It will be interesting to see where they go to now with him. I like Martha in Torchwood as well. She is reasonably understated and I like the way they are not saying look at me I'm Martha Jones.

[KnottyEmily]

Where can I find this episode that isn't youtube (and preferably uses Divx web player)?

Sorry if we aren't meant to discuss this, but I really want to see it.

[Panecea]

Yet another solid story for the creative team behind Torchwood. They really have found confidence this season and the actors now seem very cofortable. There were a few small and unexpected twists this week which was interesting. The revelation about "the darkness" was certainly one of those.

This episode was filled to the brim with nuances and was Jack's relationship with card reader long standing? If so, did we see yet more of his past? His talk with owen on immortality was also a nice touch.

Many of the characters also came to terms with a few issues this week , Gwen being the most prominent.

All in all a satisfying episode.

[SharazJek]

This series is sooooo much better than the first.

Very creepy concept. I was expecting the creature to turn out to be the Fendahl.

Great build up with the weevils finally getting some back story.

How did Owen defeat the creature again? It seemed to be allergic to the waltz and just fizzle away.

But apart from a few 'what the' moments, an enjoyable ep.

[Panecea]

"Death" was starved of vital energy, presumably he has a limited time in which to aquire the thirteen souls.

[Theta Sigma]

Dead Man Walking was also the name of a Robin Hood episode shown in the UK just 14 months earlier. Given the narrative I guess there was no better name to call this Torchwood episode.
Absolutely scary seeing all those Weevils in the church.
Well I for one thought a second glove would turn up at the end of They Keep Killing Suzie.
Jack's remark that Owen's ankle might not be able to repair itself suddenly reminded me of the movie Death Becomes Her which also literally dealt with life after death.
The vomit is disgusting.
The glove on Martha's face is very reminiscent of the Auton hand on Rose in Rose's debut episode.
The black cloud make me think of the demon in Supernatural.
Quite a good confrontation between Owen and the cloud.

Finally on a sad personal note on the same day I finished this episode which dealt heavily with the theme of death, I learnt about my grandmother's passing. Very sad timing. I probably would have been able to enjoy the episode a lot more if it had been some other time.

[Sulp Niar]

Oh, that's harsh. My condolences to your family.

[Greg]

Rather more to the point is the poem by Robert Hardy (published in 1909):

[Theta Sigma]

Thanks Sulp Niar.