Torchwood: Miracle Day #10 SPOILERS

[Lonemagpie]

They were really making this season up as they went along, weren't they?

I mean, WTF?

It was fun in places, had some nice performances, had some excruciatingly slow bits, and appeared to eschew a plot or story arc in favour of just mixing in random OTT lectures and cool SF concepts which could be safely forgotten next week.

Somebody was saying in another thread that this year's DW reminded him of Voyager's randomness, but this really is more like that show in the sense that every development is totally forgotten next week, and there was no consistency with stuff like whether Jack's blood was special in any way or not...

Meh, it's Warehouse 13 time now - that's safer ground...

 

[wamdue]

the whole Jacks blood thing, reminds me of the s5 finale of Buffy, where Buffy jumps to closer the portal opened by Dawns blood.

Dawn being "the key" but it was never really her blood, and it was never Summers blood that opened or closed the portal, because Dawn was only ever made up or key energy, there was no reason that I could see that Buffys blood would do anything to the portal. The fact Dawn was created as her sister was meaningless, Buffy had no key energy in her.

As for the finale, I guess it works bit of a bluff at the end with Rex having Jacks blood, but him coming back to life is a very big development but considering he let all of Jacks blood out of him, the miracle apparently created more of Jacks bloods to keep him alive? Apparently whatever keeps Jack alive (Bad Wolf) is does it to anything with Jacks blood, which I guess kinda explains why Jacks grand-kid died in Children of Earth, the kid was only 1/4 Jack.

Not sure what the time period is, but blood transfusions only work for a short period of time, until the body starts to make its own blood cells again, so maybe Rexs revival is a one off.

Over all, all that time put in Oswald seems wasted, yeah ok he was useful in the end, bought Gwen & Jack time, and made a grand speech, but still whilst true there was nothing special about him, all that screen time suggested more.


Also PC (Sgt) Andy, considering in Children of Earth he throw off his uniform, when he saw what the government was doing, here he is again in the uniform of a government doing something appalling. Cant help but feel its time he leaves the police, and does something else with his life.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Yeah, and why did Andy seem so surprised at what was going on at the overflow camp? This has been going on for months and has been all over the news.

As for Jack's blood, that didn't make sense to me at first. It kind of makes sense to me now. Granted, Jack's blood doesn't make him immortal. However, as a part of Jack, presumably his blood IS immortal as well. Exposure to this kind of immortality gave the Blessing the idea to try to replicate that immortality in other human forms as best it could. However, since the Blessing is a natural force and not a supernatural one, it can only go so far in changing the nature of human flesh. That's why it made the flesh undying but couldn't manage full on tissue regeneration.

However, that doesn't explain why it reversed Jack's immortality or why Rex seems to be immortal now. Reversing Jack's immortality makes absolutely no sense because I cannot imagine that the Blessing would be more powerful than the will of time itself.

BTW, I think they missed an opportunity to reference Tosh, albeit in an oblique way. I picture a scene where Jack & Esther get to talking about Esther's crush on Rex.
Jack: "Why do intelligent, beautiful computer hackers always fall for the biggest assholes?"
Esther: "What?"
Jack: "Nothing."

But then, I doubt the writers would have ever thought of that because I don't think any of them ever had a clue as to how thoroughly dislikable Rex is. Granted, by the end, I didn't hate him quite so much but I would still have much much preferred that he died & Esther lived. And immortal Rex?!?!!? To quote Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "I've known you for two minutes and I can barely stand you. I don't really picture you living forever."

Speaking of characters of questionable likability, I actually kinda like Oswald Danes. He's absolutely sick and deserves to die but I just gotta respect the fact that he lives life on his own terms. I was afraid that the show would just end up awkwardly dropping his character. Thankfully, that didn't quite happen. His character never went anywhere and it makes no sense why we focused on him so much. But I like how his speech as he died was so true to his character.

Little moments like that are the only thing that kept me from giving this episode the lowest rating possible. And even then, I'm tempted to change my vote because, while this episode had a few decent moments, the overriding feeling that lasts is one of pure disappointment and anger. (However, it's still marginally more watchable than "Love & Monsters.")

 

[wamdue]

As for Jack's blood, that didn't make sense to me at first. It kind of makes sense to me now. Granted, Jack's blood doesn't make him immortal. However, as a part of Jack, presumably his blood IS immortal as well.

whilst I get where your coming from with this, I dont really get why that would work for Rex.

Jacks blood is part of him, but there is only one Captain Jack, by which I mean when Jack was blown to bits in Children of Earth, only one bit grow back into Captain Jack, "Bad Wolf" does not create a new Jack from each bit.

Even if Rex having Jacks blood made him immortal, it seems more likely to turn him into Jack (his whole physical body), than heel him.

Bad Wolf is apparently now keeping both Jack and Rex is alive, dont tell the Doctor, he didnt like Jack, yet alone two of them.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I don't think it's Bad Wolf keeping Rex alive, I think it's the force of the Blessing. Essentially, when everything switch back to normal, it switched everything. That meant the "mortal blood" it was fed turned into immortal blood. Essentially, all the energy that focused the entire miracle is concentrated on one person.

At least, that's my theory for now. They consistently stated throughout the season that Jack's blood isn't what makes him mortal, so to ignore that wouldn't be an oversight. Instead, it makes more sense it has to do with the reset of the Blessing.

 

[Pindar]

OK, so what was the point of any of that?

Why was Danes important at the start then not?

Why did the family that controlled all the Media need another PR person?

In what way did making the population immortal help them further their goals?

Why introduce the cult of the angels at the start to drop it?

Why did Gwen think keeping her dad alive in a basement in agony was a kindness?

Just what was the awfull mess of an ending meant to achieve?

Giant space gash should have been a voting option, it's what this episode was after all.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

^ Agreed with all these questions and more.

Ultimately a poor, poor series. The whole thing could have been at most with episodes 1 and 7-10, heavily edited. No ending, no answers, no point.

John de Lancie saved the whole thing for me. Okay episode, mediocre season.

 

[wamdue]

I assume they wanted Oswald as a distraction (as is his Angel speech something to distract and give hope to the general population), and the new world order, I guess they wanted to loose a few people, they most likely had people in panel who could float the ovens idea to the right people.

 

[Servo]

...dont tell the Doctor, he didnt like Jack, yet alone two of them.

Would be interesting to see a Rex/Doctor meeting, even just to see Rex's reaction to this wacky alien that storms in and takes charge. He thought Jack was odd, wait till he meets 11.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

Best case scenario is that the Doctor shows up, takes one look at Rex and somehow erases him from being. Fixed point my arse.

One of the most irritating and awful characters I've put up with for so long for a very long time.

 

[Starkers]

Yeah, and why did Andy seem so surprised at what was going on at the overflow camp? This has been going on for months and has been all over the news.

That was actually one of the few bits I liked. Knowing what goes on is one thing, seeing it close up is something else entirely.

PC (sorry sgt) Andy really needs more screentime in series 5...although I'll be amazed if there is a series 5.

I've actually kinda enjoyed Torchwood this season, but damn this episode...it was just so poor. People complain about classic Who's pacing, but shit, how long did they all just stand around the big giant anus talking whilst the bad guys did...well did nothing? I mean they probably would've actually had time to leave the room, go get tranq guns, maybe have a nap or a spot of lunch and come back and they still wouldn't have missed Jack and Rex spouting blood!

Bill Pullman was wasted in the end, I really thought they were going somewhere with his character, but no. And killing Esther and saving Rex, making Rex immortal (although who didn't see that coming?) Ok I'm actually glad Rex lived, he was a dick but him dying was so obvious that it was a nice twist, but Esther? I liked her!

Thank God they kept Jilly alive. If TW does get another series I really hope we see her again because she was one of the (few) high points of this show.

Lonemagpie's spot on, they really were making this up as they went...

RTD, genius or hack, I don't think I'm ever going to be able to answer that question.

 

[PsychoPere]

Best part of the episode: Bill Pullman's hilarious movements in the background while the camera focused on Gwen after she shot Jack and as pieces of the building were falling down around them.

 

[David cgc]

There was a little touch I really liked that I don't think they've done before. When Jack and Rex healed, as their wounds closed you can just barely hear the grinding of the TARDIS engines.

 

[Sindatur]

There was a little touch I really liked that I don't think they've done before. When Jack and Rex healed, as their wounds closed you can just barely hear the grinding of the TARDIS engines.

I didn't notice that, have to watch for it on the rewatch.

 

[wamdue]

cant speak for the TARDIS (will need to watch again) but Rexs revival was much more like Jacks than anything we have seen from the blessing.

 

[MagGu]

nehhhhhhhh

I was really hoping they'd explain the inconsistencies with the last episode. The fact that Jack knew he was a fixed point in time before he was supposed to know that, the fact he had his coat, and him telling the priest he hadn't confessed in 700 years. ... and oh yeah his wrist thingy did stuff! it never did stuff like that before!!!! I was hoping maybe the Jack in the 20s was an older Jack than the one we KNEW went thru the 20s. Maybe somehow he went back in time after CoE....but yeah, guess not. I thought it would be a cool ending, this shit all went down because Jack decided to take another romp into the past.

Anyway.......I dunno...the one thing I'm taking away from this season of Torchwood: I'm seriously creeped out by Bill Pullman now. Forever.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Yeah, Bill Pullman nailed creepy, psychopathic killer almost too well. The basic premise of the season was interesting, but its execution left a lot to be desired for the reasons others have already stated. I won't be wanting to watch it again any time soon, and probably never.

So how was this latest incarnation of Torchwood received Stateside? Is STARZ likely to finance further seasons? Where could the series go plot-wise? Surely we can't have yet another plot where there is a global threat to the Earth and only Torchwood can fix things.

 

[Photoman15]

Surely we can't have yet another plot where there is a global threat to the Earth and only Torchwood can fix things.

Why not? Every week, the USS Enterprise and her crew(s) faced threats of planet wide and even galaxy wide proportions that only they could fix.

 

[Deckerd]

I'm amazed anyone lasted till the end.

 

[PsychoPere]

So how was this latest incarnation of Torchwood received Stateside? Is STARZ likely to finance further seasons? Where could the series go plot-wise?

You can see some ratings information for the first nine episodes here: basically, fluctuated from a high of 1.51 million to a low of 0.88 million.

Starz has already indicated (back around episode one, if I remember correctly) that Torchwood might not be an annual series if they do decide to do another season.