'Torchwood's Day Four - The Verdict

Poor Ianto! The growing army of Torchwood fans will never forget him - even if Captain Jack eventually does. Packed full of compelling political intrigue, superb performances and moments that veer between terror and tears, 'Day Four' takes time to hit its stride but provides plenty of food for thought on the 'What If?' front. If you had to select 10% of your country's children to be given to the 456 all in order to save 100% of the kiddie population - how would you select them? Fascinating stuff.

Just watching those snide, elitist politicians discussing how to put a positive spin on handing over children from the less-privileged provokes plenty of reactions. Given the real-life selfishness demonstrated by MPs in the expenses scandal, their behaviour is eerily plausible. Nonetheless, it is baffling why they barely discuss a combative approach to the 456 given that the aliens have hardly demonstrated their destructive capabilities. In addition, the manner in which Captain Jack's family fall off the radar is a bit awkward what with their prominence in the latter stages of 'Day Three'.

The abundance of overhead aerial shots reek of padding, and the pacing is often subdued until the last 15 minutes. But fortunately there are a number of crowdpleasing moments throughout. The initial reveal of the Benjamin Button-style child in the gas chamber and Lois standing up to the snobby politicians are both highly effective for differing reasons. The disruption of the secret recording by Lois's tears streaming down her contact lens transmitters is a masterstroke too.

Also enjoyable is the emotive performance of Paul Copley, one of Britain's finest character actors, as the abduction survivor Timothy White. He conveys a huge sense of emotional fragmentation in his eyes and mannerisms - you really believe he has nightmares about Captain Jack. In that sense, it's not too dissimilar to what viewers of John Barrowman's recent show Tonight's The Night experienced.

Both the deaths of Ianto and Timothy are well written, performed and directed, with neither descending into overly sentimental schmaltz. You really feel for Gwen as she cradles the bloody body of Timothy, or finds Ianto's corpse in the makeshift mortuary. Although low on action by Torchwood's standards, emotional empathy is high up on the agenda. Similarly, it's impressive that Peter Capaldi's Frobisher hasn't turned into a mere 'baddie', as we're given glimpses of the caring father behind the mask he puts up for his vocation.

So then - 'Day Five' awaits. There has been slightly too much build up over the largely impressive first four hours, but as a slow-burning drama (as opposed to action-based sci-fi), 'Children Of Earth' has kept its dramatic plates spinning and some major payoffs lie ahead. At least we can rest safe in the knowledge that Ianto is reunited with his Cyberwoman girlfriend at that great, big Hub in the sky. Ianto who? As if we'd forget...


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> Read our review of 'Day Three'