Torchwood Season 4 Episode 1

On TV: Thursday 14th July 2011

Channel: BBC One 9pm

Episode Type: Season 4 Episode 1

In 1 Sentence: Exploding onto the screen once again, Torchwood pulls out all the stops

BBC Summary: Science-fiction and crime drama created by Russell T Davies dealing with the machinations and activities of the fictional Torchwood Institute. 

Episode Summary:1/10. When death itself comes to a halt, the whole world faces its greatest danger yet. CIA agent Rex Matheson has only one clue: the word 'Torchwood'.

My Review: Torchwood is well and truly back. I was initially a little trepidatious as this season BBC Wales had joined forces with American network Starz, so of course us fans were concerned to keep the gritty ‘welsh-ness’ of the show. Thankfully I think the Starz boost paid off, adding a gloss over the show which I think it needed. Torchwood has grown up. 

So on to the story. The concept is a cracking one. Getting to the heart of humanity - death. Gwen and Rhys, along with their baby daughter are in hiding. In the CIA offices ‘Torchwood’ flashes up onto the screen and a convicted murder is sent to his death but... he doesn’t die. 

And from then the episode explodes in to life, twisting and turning only pausing for touching moments between Gwen and Rhys or the revelation that Captain Jack is now mortal. 

Along with the fantastic plot, the camera work is slick and smooth, completely capturing the essence of the emotions in the scene. The show has become darker and much more graphic, which I think reflects the desperation of the story. How can you stop life when it refuses to die? It gets to the core of humanity - which is why it absolutely works. 

Score: 8.5/10