Torchwood: Children of Earth

Whatever you have planned from next Tuesday to Saturday, cancel it. Torchwood is here.

In a very bold programming move the UK TV channel is fast tracking the third series to Australia merely hours after it screens in Britain. Unlike the previous two series, the third is structured as a mini-series event screening over five consecutive nights. If that isn’t incentive enough for you to plant yourself down in front of the television for the week, I don’t know what is.

‘Children of Earth’, as it is branded, veers toward epic storytelling. It begins ominously in Scotland in the 1960s, when a busload of children encounters an eerie light on a dark, country road. We know instantly that there are probably body snatchers, close encounters or child actors walking blindingly into a truckload of lights manned by a production crew. Either way, we’re hooked.

Fast forward to the present and what has been set up comes back to haunt us. Without warning, an ordinary day is interrupted when all the children on the planet freeze momentarily, before resuming their daily lives.

Most of the adults are too self-absorbed to notice this ripple in time, except the inner workings of government, and our faithful Torchwood team. It’s been some time since we’ve seen our beloved Institute, now manned by a mere three: Captain Jack (John Barrowman), his partner Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd) and Gwen (Eve Myles). But what they lack in numbers, they make up in further character development.

Ianto is now romantically entrenched with Captain Jack (even articulating his feelings when his sister bluntly asks, “Have you gone bender?”), while Gwen’s relationship with hubby Rhys (Kal Owens) will see him unwillingly drawn into the defence.

Unsurprisingly, the children are again stopped in their tracks, warning “We Are Coming”. Earth is about to be attacked.

Broadly mapped on a mini-series canvas, this tale is more measured than action-driven episodes. In an asylum we meet one man from that 1960s close encounter who mimics the children’s warning. Inside the offices of the government, a newly-employed administration assistant Lois (Cush Jumbo) begins to suspect authorities are targeting Torchwood. She serves as Gwen’s insider.

But Captain Jack is the reason we love Torchwood. With his dashing looks, contemporary lifestyle and matinee idol action skills, he faces his biggest challenge in this thrilling, expansive ride. Timeless fun.

Torchwood airs 8:30pm Tuesday – Saturday on UK TV and BBC HD.