Torchwood: Miracle Day episode one "The New World"

[David cgc]

Didn't mind it. The moment where Gwen was firing her gun at the chopper whilst holding her baby was brilliant.

Especially the little earmuffs she grabbed first. The baby's huge grin in the first shot somehow split the difference between being awesome and taking me out of the story.

The legal argument that got Oswald Danes out of jail is... dubious. My understanding is that execution sentences generally contain the words "until dead" in them, so his insistence on adhering to the letter of the order should've just gotten him strapped back down to the table on a poison drip until he stopped moving, no matter how long it took. If he's not dead, he can't say the sentence was carried out successfully. It wouldn't be written to describe the technical process without including the ultimate goal. The mention of his legal costs being bankrolled by some kind of ersatz Innocence Project also rang false, considering he had confessed, and was apparently so definitely guilty and unrepentant that even the anti-death-penalty movement was willing to let him fry without comment.

I hoping there's something more to that that'll come out as the show goes on, and it's not just TV conceits combined with RTD not knowing how America works. (No, I'm not forgiving him about the president-elect thing, and neither should you. Imagine if an American show mentioned King David Cameron of the Republic of Great Britain.)

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

Just finished Children of Earth now so I am all caught up with NuWho/Torchwood, will catch Miracle Day when I finally get my cable installed since I just moved into my new place.

Children of Earth is so fucking good!

I will miss Tosh, Owen and Ianto though.

 

[od0_ital]

^

As shown when the head was cut off, and as Rex described it, people are dyin', briefly. And then they don't.

It's possible the lethal injection worked, the sentence was carried out, for a few seconds, anyway...

I rather like the comment "Hercules" posted on AICN about how he's pretty sure Texas would have put Bill Pullman's head through a wood chipper & see if that worked!

I enjoyed it for the most part. I didn't like Bill Pullman's character at all (and I guess that's the point), but I felt his scenes brought the flow of things to a grinding halt. Everytime he came on screen I kept wanting it to end so we could get back to the exciting mystery & Torchwood stuff. Looks like his arc will be expanding though from what we saw in the series trailer at the end. Looking forward to next week!

Every time? Really? He had three scenes!

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

Oh yeah I have one question about COE. Was this all going on around the same time of Doctor Who's The End of Time part 1 & 2? Why didn't everybodys face change into John Simms err The Masters?

 

[Sindatur]

I loved it, can't wait for the next episode. This Series is going to be very painful having to wait a week between episodes

Not real keen on Mehki Phifer's acting this episode, hoping he gets better, I didn't mind him in Dawn of the Dead.

Jack losing his immortality took me by surprise, though I figured it out when he noticed he was still bruised (as I believe we were intended to) rather than having to be told at the end.

I was concerned about the change of location, American cast, etc, but, I don't that concerns anymore

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

Oh yeah I have one question about COE. Was this all going on around the same time of Doctor Who's The End of Time part 1 & 2? Why didn't everybodys face change into John Simms err The Masters?

At the end of The End of Time, Jack is seen sitting in an alien bar in a pretty depressed state... presumably because of the events in Children of Earth. At the end of Children of Earth, Jack had left Earth about six months after the main events of the miniseries.

So, the bulk of Children of Earth was presumably set at least six months before End of Time... which kind of fits with the original air dates of both.

 

[David cgc]

^

As shown when the head was cut off, and as Rex described it, people are dyin', briefly. And then they don't.

It's possible the lethal injection worked, the sentence was carried out, for a few seconds, anyway...

I'm no lawyer™, but I'm pretty sure that people have tried to use death and resuscitation as a way to terminate contracts that were supposed to end on death, and were laughed out of court.

I rather like the comment "Hercules" posted on AICN about how he's pretty sure Texas would have put Bill Pullman's head through a wood chipper & see if that worked!

Given this is Torchwood, I actually wouldn't be surprised if later in the season people end up becoming more and more creative about ways to dispose of people.

 

[The Wormhole]

I am impressed. This was top quality television on a level I've not seen in a long time. It's just enjoyable to watch, the heicopter chase/fight on the beach was awesome, with elments of fun thrown in, like Gwen's daughter grinning and laughing all throughout the fight. It had nostalgia, in not only the returns and reunions of Jack and Gwen and Rhys, but aslo the cameos by Gwen's parents and PC Andy. Also, Jack using the alias Owen Harper while posing as an FBI agent.

As for the new characters, Rex comes off as a bit of an asshole. His assistant or whatever the hell she is doesn't really make much of an impression on me so far. Bill Pullman's character is pretty damn twisted and fucked up, and yet kind of compelling at the same time. He's definately someone who gets your undivided attention when he's on screen.

Some thoughts on this immortality, I gather this is not the same as Jack's immortality. Jack's immortality also comes with accelerated healing abilities, which is even mentioned here. Yet, no one is demonstrating advanced healing abilities. The suicide bomber/guinea pig doesn't seem to be mending like Jack did in Children of Earth, and for that matter, Rex was still hampered by his injuries through out the entire episode, even though Jack would have been completely healed. So, is it not possible that Jack has not been made mortal, he's just been stripped of his healing abilities and is now on equal terms as everyone else?

I don't quite understand some of the concerns about how immortality will effect the population. Particularly, the concern that there could eventually be no food. Since people can't die, there isn't really much of a need for food, is there? I know, people will still get hungry, and eternal hunger is going to fuck people up, and I suppose people will need food for energy and what not, but the primary concern I see at the moment is the impending threat of overcrowding. Of course, I had the same problem with Last of the Time Lords, while holding Jack prisoner, the Master still insisted on feeding him, even though it really was not necessary. Mind you, how does food work for Jack, didn't he say in Utopia that starvation was one of the ways he tried to kill himself? Since he does temporarily die, how long did he starve before he died? And for that matter, he'd just wake up still hungry anyway.

A good start to the new season of Torchwood, and here's hoping for a kickass ten episodes.

 

[Stevil2001]

Two more comments:

1. So awesome that PC Andy was back! Though it looks like that might be it for him.
2. Gwen did not join Torchwood in 2006, but 2007! One-year-out dating continues to stymie all concerned.

 

[The Wormhole]

Two more comments:
2. Gwen did not join Torchwood in 2006, but 2007! One-year-out dating continues to stymie all concerned.

Let's be honest, Doctor Who and Torchwood are very inconsistent at dating. In fact I seem to remember there being something in season 1, even if it was just a computuer graphic saying it was 2006, even though there were referances to the Cybermen attack and loss of Torchwood 1 in London which happened in 2007.

In other words, nothing new here, move along folks.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Enjoyed it. Started a little slow, which is OK for a 10 episode mini-series.

 

[Mr Light]

A promising opening... not quite as amazing as the opening of "Children of Earth", but promising. I really have to question how they're going to sustain one story for 10 episodes, though.

The most intriguing bit? Jack lost his immortality! It's as if something swapped his immortality powers to the rest of humanity; that is definitely an intriguing mystery!

 

[timothy]

he might gain it back after they fix what ever is wrong with earth.
gwen's kid is most well be haved kid in the world. I mean gun fire going on and all
not a peep. with this shows success maybe they will bring the book series back.

 

[Sindatur]

So, how does a network that airs episodes repeatedly do ratings? Just the first airing and then the next 7 days works like +7 DVR?

 

[STR]

. The baby's huge grin in the first shot somehow split the difference between being awesome and taking me out of the story.

That was actually the best part. Mother like child, if you will.

I enjoyed it for the most part. I didn't like Bill Pullman's character at all (and I guess that's the point)

Bill Pullman can really play a bad guy. A great mix of smarmy smugness, intelligence, and creepiness. He's the guy I'm going to love to hate.

Enjoyed it. Started a little slow, which is OK for a 10 episode mini-series.

It's commercial free, so it's ten 60 minute episodes, at least over here it is. That's equivalent to ~14 42 minute episodes. It's basically a full season of Doctor Who.

Some thoughts on this immortality, I gather this is not the same as Jack's immortality. Jack's immortality also comes with accelerated healing abilities, which is even mentioned here. Yet, no one is demonstrating advanced healing abilities. The suicide bomber/guinea pig doesn't seem to be mending like Jack did in Children of Earth, and for that matter, Rex was still hampered by his injuries through out the entire episode, even though Jack would have been completely healed. So, is it not possible that Jack has not been made mortal, he's just been stripped of his healing abilities and is now on equal terms as everyone else

I was wondering if Jack was sleeping again, apparently not since he didn't mention it. Apparently everyone else still is.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

A promising opening... not quite as amazing as the opening of "Children of Earth", but promising. I really have to question how they're going to sustain one story for 10 episodes, though.

I'm hoping it's going to settle a bit now that they've had the establishing episode and however hamfistedly explained presumably how Torchwood ends up stateside. I wasn't initially sure about Children of Earth either after the first episode.

 

[timothy]

is it possible for one agenncy to coop another from a different country? all so I did'nt think english police used automatic rifles?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

is it possible for one agenncy to coop another from a different country? all so I did'nt think english police used automatic rifles?

Of course, all you have to do is yell "I'm CIA!", "I'm CIA!", "I'm CIA!".

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Enjoyed it. Started a little slow, which is OK for a 10 episode mini-series.

It's commercial free, so it's ten 60 minute episodes, at least over here it is. That's equivalent to ~14 42 minute episodes. It's basically a full season of Doctor Who.

A good point. It gives them even more leeway to have an entire first episode as a set-up and hopefully the second really takes off.

But I don't want them to peak too early either

 

[Alidar Jarok]

The legal argument that got Oswald Danes out of jail is... dubious. My understanding is that execution sentences generally contain the words "until dead" in them, so his insistence on adhering to the letter of the order should've just gotten him strapped back down to the table on a poison drip until he stopped moving, no matter how long it took. If he's not dead, he can't say the sentence was carried out successfully. It wouldn't be written to describe the technical process without including the ultimate goal.

Not to mention wrongful imprisonment lawsuits would have to require malicious intent or a clear violation of a Constitutional right (since there is no case law on this subject, it wouldn't be clear). So it wouldn't be a lawsuit. Maybe a habeas corpus writ to get him out, but not a threat to pay money.

is it possible for one agenncy to coop another from a different country? all so I did'nt think english police used automatic rifles?

Our counter-terrorism relationship with the United States is vital to UK security. I am absolutely clear that there must and will continue to be the strongest possible intelligence and counter-terrorism relationship with the US, consistent with UK law and our international obligations.

As part of our close co-operation, there has long been a regular exchange with the US authorities, in which we have set out: that we expect them to seek permission to render detainees via UK territory and airspace, including Overseas Territories; that we will grant that permission only if we are satisfied that the rendition would accord with UK law and our international obligations; and how we understand our obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture - David Miliband.

Torchwood has indicated that the laws have changed to be even more flexible in situations involving aliens. However, the policy seems to be pretty cooperative as is as long as a request is made through Whitehall.