I remember when I was only yay big, watching the end of Series 2 and that heartbreaking farewell on Bad Wolf Bay. Then soon after there was but a flicker of a familiar logo...
The Torchwood logo.
Then landed a trailer and I went "I gotta watch this!" Now, ten years later, Torchwood is still fondly remembered as the first and one of the best spinoffs of modern Doctor Who, with four series and a plethora of novels and now a new comic series from Titan. But cast your minds back to June of last year, when the god that is John Barrowman did a guest stint on a radio show and let drop that Captain Jack was coming back...
Then landed a trailer and I went "I gotta watch this!" Now, ten years later, Torchwood is still fondly remembered as the first and one of the best spinoffs of modern Doctor Who, with four series and a plethora of novels and now a new comic series from Titan. But cast your minds back to June of last year, when the god that is John Barrowman did a guest stint on a radio show and let drop that Captain Jack was coming back...
TORCHWOOD
THE BIG FINISH SERIES ULTIMATE REVIEW
THE BIG FINISH SERIES ULTIMATE REVIEW
By Jack Ryan
BEWARE: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK
To say this was exciting news was a bit of an understatement. I, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and I think even the old BF forum collectively wet our collective kecks with joy at the prospect of the return of Torchwood, especially in audio form, which BBC Audio proved that the series can hold its own there. The only question was, how would BF go about it? The first two series were monster of the week, a-la Doctor Who, and the other two were huge in depth series with a single story arc told over 5 or 10 hours. With the fact that these were being released monthly, Big Finish decided to do a bit of both; give a new story of the week, but have a bigger series mythos working in the background. A mythos that might sound a bit familiar...
TORCHWOOD. Outside the government, beyond the police, fighting alien life and arming the human race against the future, with one strict rule; if it's alien, it's ours. That was Torchwood, before the Doomsday, before the battle of Canary Wharf. After that, the pieces and remnants have been picked up and repaired under the mantle of Captain Jack Harkness, former fifty-first century Time Agent, associate of The Doctor and agent of Torchwood for over 150 years. He and his team are fully prepared to fight for the future on behalf of the human race. Because the twenty-first century is when everything changes..... and The Committee is ready, and have always been ready, to put Torchwood in its place... The question is, is Torchwood ready?
So, how am I going to do this one? Well, best way it seems is to do it like my Two Masters Trilogy review; talk about each one in turn and sum up at the end.... This is going to be a long one, so I'm sorry in advance, and brace yourselves....
01: THE CONSPIRACY
The glorious return of Captain Jack Harkness!!! Dorian Gray alumni David Llewellyn and Scott Handcock write and direct, respectively, the opening tale to this brand new series of Torchwood, where Captain Jack finds his latest case; a mad, raving conspiracy lecturer called George Wilson. His specialist talking point: a group of alien 'world shapers' known as The Committee. The only thing is, Jack knows that Wilson is right. Everything Wilson knows about the Committee is correct. So how long till they find out? Llewellyn crafts a brilliant tale that plays on the classic paranoia of who's running the world, and who wants to find out, included in which are a brilliant number of twists and turns, some exciting, many shocking. And bringing this script to life are not only the irreplaceable John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, but the legendary John Sessions as George Wilson. Throw in some impressive sound design by Niel Gardner and brilliant music by Blair Mowat, along with an amazing reworking of the Torchwood theme, and you have a well done starter to the greatness to come...
02: FALL TO EARTH
Oh, how many of us wish that 9th July 2009 was all just a horrendous nightmare..... myself included. But, like the lost Doctors of old, audio allows us to relive our favourite eras of our favourite shows. And when this was announced, the collective squee of happiness would have been enough to nearly deafen the world. Series producer and showrunner James Goss' two hander follows the fan favourite Ianto Jones as he attempts to deduce whats happening aboard the inaugural flight of the SkyPuncher as shortly into the flight, the passengers and crew are unconscious, save for him. And his only hope for their survival now: a call centre worker called Zeynep. The vast majority of this story is a brilliantly constructed two-hander, and as such, the bigger plot is slightly pushed to the sideline and allows us to experience the character building of our two characters, played lovingly by Gareth David-Lloyd and Lisa Zahra. With Scott Handcock, Blair Mowat and Neil Gardner once again on directing, music and sound design duties respectively, and succeeding immensely at their respective tasks, Fall To Earth proves that the current Torchwood team have found their feet and are rearing for more...
03: FORGOTTEN LIVES
THE GLORIOUS EVE MYLES AND KAI OWEN HAVE RETURNED TO US!!!! Well, it made the most sense after John and Gareth. Emma Reeves' tale is our first present time Torchwood, set at the time it was released, meaning it's been four years since Miracle Day (with questions that still won't be answered in a hurry) and Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams seem to have left Torchwood behind them. But a strange happening lures them to the Bryn Offa Nursing Home in North Wales. And there, they discover an old friend who isn't what they remember and a terrifying prospect for the human race. This story, whilst nothing big or major, is just as good in it's own right, showing what happens to people when they aren't themselves. And as Gwen and Rhys are back, so are the delightful Welsh vowels and tones of Eve and Kai, who feel as though the haven't been away. Mix together Gallifrey's Sean Carlsen, The Daleks' Philip Bond, Valmai Jones and the writer herself, this absolutely shouldn't be passed up.
04: ONE RULE
Ooooohhh, she's back! The ice queen of Torchwood One has returned!! Joe Lidster resurrects the great Yvonne Hartman for a trip back to the beginning of nu-Who. The head of Torchwood One has arrived in Cardiff. Nothing fancy, just get an alien device and get out. But soon, news reports on events surrounding the Cardiff Mayoral Election pique her interest, and soon becomes embroiled in it, and what's happening to the candidates. Taking what he learnt in the TV series, Lidster takes a character we like to hate and gives us time with her to see what makes her tick, and the result is just amazing, especially with a stellar performance from the great Tracy Ann-Oberman, who not only makes us root for her, but shows us a side of Yvonne I don't think we've seen before. Join in with her a stellar support that includes Dan Starkey, The Masque of Mandragora's Gareth Armstrong, Catrin Stewart and one of the voices of UK TV advertising, Rebecca Lacey, all directed by the brilliant Barnaby Edwards and you've got one of the best, most unexpected returns ever in BF history...
05: UNCANNY VALLEY
That cover is a dream to some, I'd wager, but a complete misnomer to anyone listening. Well, not completely. Bringing Torchwood into 2016 was this fantastic two-hander (or should that be three-hander) from returning writer David Llewellyn, who in the space of two stories, seems to have as much of an understanding of Jack Harkness as his creator. Barrowman returns to the star-spangled role as the Captain on the trail of a reclusive billionaire called Neil Redmond. The only thing is not everything about Redmond adds up, from his accident, to his reclusiveness, to his eventual reemergence. But Jack soon finds out the answers, and it's about to get even more complicated. Llewellyn's composition here is astoundingly brilliant as he plays around with not only what it means to be human, but to be unique, to be yourself, and what happens when someone else begins to live your life. Outlander's Steven Cree joins Barrowman as Neil Redmond and does an absolutely perfect performance, which is difficult for the role he has in this when you listen to it. Mowat and Gardner's music and sound design are on point yet again, and Gardner has even been given a chance to play in the director's chair, which he does with ease and brilliance. The bottom line is that this is one that simply cannot be ignored.
06: MORE THAN THIS
We've another two hander here, but not quite like the last one we've had. The glorious Eve Myles returns, sans Kai Owen sadly, as we reach the half way point in the series so far. Gwen Cooper has worked for Torchwood for just under a decade now, and in that time she's seen off alien invasions, maniacal megalomaniacs, worldwide conspiracies, and parenthood. But now, as she rebuilds the Torchwood team and base, she faces her greatest challenge yet: Mr Roger Pugh of the Cardiff City Council. And his life is about to change forever. Guy Adams' first script for the series is an epic yet potent tale that seeks to show Torchwood from the outsider's perspective, with Myles acting partner, Richard Nichols excelling as Mr Pugh, showing a very human look and reaction to the insanity he is shown, with regular director Handcock's handiwork showing right through it. With some nice cameos from the author himself, Tom Price as PC Andy, and a very nice little inclusion of one particular voice, plus some of the best sounding music in the series yet by regular contributors Gardner and Mowat, this is a beautifully manic release to listen to.
07: THE VICTORIAN AGE
And now we go back, back into the furthest midsts of....well the 1890's. John Barrowman marks his third appearance in the series, by going to Captain Jack's early days of Torchwood. When a dangerous inmate escapes from Torchwood's jail vaults, Jack Harkness thinks this day can't get any worse. The he remembers the surprise inspection from his boss, Her Royal Highness, Queen Victoria. But the Queen is not one for having her subjects in danger, and joins up with Captain Jack to save her kingdom. Although there are other characters and cast members, such as the likes of Louise Jameson, Youseff Kerkour and Aaron Neil, this follows more into the standard two-hander template. Not a bad thing if you know how to write around it, and newcomer AK Benedict handles it very well, mastering a character build between Barrowman as Harkness and Rowena Cooper as Queen Victoria, who themselves sink into the roles of their own characters. Thrown in is some masterful Victorian sound design by Kelly Ellis at the Fool Circle Studios, and with Handcock and Mowat returning for directorial and composing duties respectively, Benedict's debut for the series is a surefire belter....
Can we also forget that Exit Wounds happened? That was just emotional torture! Great episode but utter emotional torture. So thankfully we have this: THE RETURN OF TOSHIKO SATO!!!! You thought Garreth David Lloyd slipping back in was easy? Then this is the masterclass. Naoko Mori returns as Torchwood's resident technological genius, as she investigates a mysterious signal called The Pulse, a soundwave that has been broadcasting for over forty years. But soon, Toshiko and her companion Maxi from the KVI, Russia's Torchwood, find themselves at the source of the Pulse and are about to find out the mystery behind it. Because Toshiko has solved the code of the Pulse.... and its calling to her. After a few months looking to Torchwoood life, we've now been thrust back into the Committee conspiracy, as David Llewellyn returns for writing duties in a brilliantly constructed thriller with enough sci-fi to attract us in and a generous helping of spy-esque thriller moments to keep us guessing. Naoko is amazing as always as Toshiko, and so are her co-stars, Krystian Godlewski and Ella Garland, whose characters manage to tell us everything and nothing about who they are. Throw in Scott's excellent directorial skills, Blair's fantastic score and some expert sound design by Steve Foxon and you get the glorious return we've all been waiting for and then some...
One thing that a lot of us immensely love about Big Finish is how they can take characters that many wouldn't even consider giving the spotlight, doing just that, and making fantastic stories in the process. Fresh from his cameo in More Like This, Tom Price returns as everyone's favourite PC, Andy Davidson as he finally gets the chance to join Torchwood. But first he has to pass his initiation test. And as if that wasn't bad enough, his instructor is a ghost. Well, we say ghost.... Producer and showrunner extraordinaire, James Goss returns to pen this dramatic and comedic two-hander with guests that opens up some of the history of Torchwood, has the Committee rear their ugly heads once more, and some brilliant banter between Price's Andy Davidson and Norton Felgate, played by BBC America's new Dirk Gently, Samuel Barnett, Andy's Torchwood instructor, plus a sprinkling of DAVID RUDDY WARNER, the glorious Lisa Bowerman, Graceless' Laura Doddington and Class' Aaron Neil, all directed by regular master director, Mr Handcock. With Mowat and Foxon returning for music and sound duties, and being bloody marvelous at it, this is a Torchwood story we weren't looking for, but are happy we have!
10: MOVING TARGET
Despite only appearing in two episodes in the original TV series, Suzie Costello, played by the amazing Indira Varma, (so amazing she's had a part in nearly every brilliant BBC police drama series in the last decade!) is a part of Torchwood history, and this release exists to expand on that history and give Suzie a decent character. Guy Adams pens her return as she wakes up to find an Earth frozen in time; the people, the cars, the people. Except she's not the only one running wild, and when she finds out the reason behind it all, it's up to Suzie and her new found companion to beat the perpetrators at their own game. Adams gives us a nice two/three-hander with this tale about being the 'last' people on Earth and how that affects a relationship between people, and tis brilliant on how the stakes get built up and how they get paid off at the end. Varma is amazing as always, and being amazing alongside her is little known voice artist and impressionist Naomi McDonald as her partner Alex, along with Benidorm's Nicholas Burns as the alien Referee, all once again directed stupendously by Mr Handcock. And as always, Mowat's music and Foxon's sound design are spot on with this story. I won't further spoil the exact reasons why Suzie and Alex are stuck in mega-ultra-groundhog day, nor will I spoil the shocker of an ending, but trust me, this NEEDS to be listened to!!!
11: BROKEN
THIS ONE!! THIS BLOODY ONE!!!! AS IF TORCHWOOD RETURNING WASN'T EARGASMINGLY BEAUTIFUL ENOUGH, WE NOW ALSO GET THIS!!! And then we all collectively voided out our you-know-whats due to our dying of pure joy. Penned by returning writer Joe Lidster, we have a BF Torchwood story with two leads from the TV Series! Following on from the events of Cyberwoman (you can hear the collective fanbase shudder at the mention), Ianto Jones has begun to take residence in his local pub, confessing plenty but not all the details to the only person willing to listen; the local barmaid. But as Jack and Ianto's relationship rebuilds itself, it's threatened to be shattered once more when Ianto learns the truth of some sinister disappearances. Like the previous story, Lidster has given us a two/three hander with the twos switching between Jack and Ianto, played as impeccably as ever by Barrowman and David Lloyd, and Jack and the barmaid Mandy, played by the talented Melanie Walters. Along with the brilliant efforts of Eiry Thomas and Ross Ford, the directorial brilliance of Scott, the composing magnificence of Blair and the superb sound design of Steve, this is a story we've been waiting for for about ten years. Now it has arrived, it is nothing short of perfection!
And now, the end is here, and so I face, my final task, son.
Yeah, following on from what was considered the greatest mix of official TV episode and long awaited fan-fiction, was going to be a major undertaking. Thankfully, Guy Adams doesn't give a damn about that and gives us a thrilling siege-esque story for our final release. Gwen Cooper is in the small seaside town of Talmouth, after being shown a video of a resident disappearing. But when she arrives, practically everyone has gone the same way. After finding the only other soul in Talmouth, for Gwen, it's a race against time... and temptation, as their culprit stalks the streets..... and must not be looked upon. Adams understanding of this kind of story is phenomenal as he gives us a tense and thrilling story akin to Midnight, with how good it is. And what especially makes it is the cast. Along with Myles returning as Gwen, we have Marylin LeComte as Mrs Rhodes, the only other soul in Talmouth. And as for the villain.... how about Broadchurch's Joe Miller himself, Matthew Gravelle, who is just perfectly sinister and creepy in the role. And with Scott, Blair and Steve once again going above and beyond with their duties, it's a brilliant send off for the monthly series until next year...
VERDICTS: Okay just bear with me here... *inhales*
THE CONSPIRACY: 4/5 Brilliant reintroduction to the world of Torchwood.
FALL TO EARTH: 5/5 It has Ianto Jones. Name anything bad that has Ianto Jones.
FORGOTTEN LIVES: 3/5 Slight detour but a captivating story nevertheless.
ONE RULE: 5/5 ALL PRAISE TRACY ANN-OBERMAN!!!!
UNCANNY VALLEY: 5/5 A perfect two hander that raises some interesting questions.
MORE THAN THIS: 4/5 A beautiful outsider's look at the mad world of Torchwood.
THE VICTORIAN AGE: 4/5 A belter of a historical two-hander character builder.
ZONE 10: 4/5: Lovely to hear Naoko again, and an exciting thriller of a story.
GHOST MISSION: 5/5: Half thriller chase movie, half Odd Couple homage, tis just brilliant.
MOVING TARGET: 5/5 Mega-groundhog day with Suzie. What's not to love?!
BROKEN: 5/5 Jack and Ianto. Need I say more?
MADE YOU LOOK: 4/5 Gwen Cooper vs Phantom Joe Miller. Yes, you read that correctly.
THE SERIES:
Back when this series was announced, we had no idea something like this could even be considered, let alone conceived. But now, after a year and a bit, we have been graced with one of Big Finish's greatest and most engaging ranges in the last few years. And they have no sign of slowing down, with six more monthlys coming out next year, two mini-series events, and something very special round about now, producer and showrunner James Goss, along with Scott and their plethora of writers, actors and musicians, plus the talents of incredible cover artist Lee Binding, have giving us more than we ever could have hoped for.
VERDICT: 5/5 Happy 10th Anniversary, Torchwood. You stay classy! ;D
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