How good is the new 'Torchwood'? Find out!

[Source: Digital Spy]

By Ben Rawson-Jones, Cult Editor

Bloody Torchwood! They've kept us waiting ages for their new adventures following the emotional overload of the brilliant second season. But now that the hankies have dried and Owen and Tosh are but distant memories, is Torchwood: Children Of Earth worth the upgrade to BBC One? Well, we've seen the first three episodes and it's highly impressive. Read on for our spoiler-light verdict...

The amazing opening episode 'Day One' hits the ground running, beginning with a mysterious event in 1965 Scotland before zapping forward to the present day and some possessed children. With the move to BBC One hopefully bringing in a broader audience, Russell T Davies's script economically and seamlessly manages to re-establish the show's trio of surviving regular characters for new viewers without alienating the existing fans. In particular, Jack and Ianto's hospital-based introduction - involving a very nasty hitchhiker blended with some light-hearted banter - is a delight to watch. Twin Peaks fans should keep their eyes peeled for a damn fine in-joke involving an estate agent too.


Evoking the great Quatermass adventures, the episode generates a terrific amount of suspense with the impending arrival of an alien entity on Earth. Just what are they, what do they want and why are they using the world's children, in a sequence of chilling scenes, to announce their intentions? Possible answers gradually emerge, although the second episode does shift the main focus towards the British government's devious exploits and a fight for survival for the Torchwood crew. Liz May Brice is compelling as the uber-mean bitch baddie who makes it her mission to scrap Jack. For a ruthless assassin, she certainly sets the pulse racing!


Creating believable and appealing supporting characters has been RTD's forte in recent years, and 'Children Of Earth' doesn't disappoint. A young NHS Doctor called Rupesh is a seemingly harmless addition, eager to please Captain Jack; a troubled man with a highly disturbed past called Timothy White, played by the ever dependable Paul Copley, generates plenty of pathos; and a Home Office PA called Lois stumbles across something very shocking indeed on her computer - a blank page of all things! All these characters are cleverly interwoven into the plot, although they might not all be what they seem.

Read the full review here.