The Gathering (TV story): Difference between revisions

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|clip                  = The Gathering - Torchwood Miracle Day - BBC One
|clip                  = The Blessing is Revealed The Gathering Torchwood Miracle Day
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|clip2                = "It's Calling You, Jack!" The Gathering Torchwood Miracle Day
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|clip3                = The Gathering - Torchwood Miracle Day - BBC One
|format = 1x55-minute episode<br/>Part 9 of 10}}{{you may|The Gathering (audio story)|n1=the Big Finish audio story of the same name}}
|format = 1x55-minute episode<br/>Part 9 of 10}}{{you may|The Gathering (audio story)|n1=the Big Finish audio story of the same name}}
'''''The Gathering''''' was the ninth episode of [[Series 4 (Torchwood)|Series 4]] of ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''. It was written by [[John Fay]], directed by [[Guy Ferland]] and featured landmark moment for former [[executive producer]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', [[Russell T Davies]] (who had also created Torchwood), who had his very first in-universe role in a ''Doctor Who''-related production, though a small one. His voice can be heard in the opening moments of the episode as a radio announcer. It advanced the story two months from the [[End of the Road (TV story)|previous episode]] and presented an apocalyptic scenario as the economies of the world collapsed as a result of the [[Miracle Day]] phenomena.
'''''The Gathering''''' was the ninth episode of [[Series 4 (Torchwood)|Series 4]] of ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''. It was written by [[John Fay]] and directed by [[Guy Ferland]], and featured a landmark moment for show creator [[Russell T Davies]], who had his very first in-universe role in a ''Doctor Who''-related production: his voice can be heard in the opening moments of the episode as a radio announcer. It advanced the story two months from the [[End of the Road (TV story)|previous episode]], and presented an apocalyptic scenario as the economies of the world collapsed as a result of the [[Miracle Day]] phenomenon.


== Synopsis ==
==Synopsis ==
The culprits of the Miracle are now known: [[the Three Families]].
The culprits of the Miracle are now known: [[the Three Families]].


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== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Two months have elapsed. Back at [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] headquarters, [[Rex Matheson|Rex]] is making progress trying to track down [[the Three Families]]. References to them are few and far between but he soon begins to think that there is a mole in the CIA. After her deportation back to the [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]] has been working at keeping [[Geraint Cooper|her father]] hidden from the government agents responsible for rounding up all [[Categories of life|Category 1s]]. She has taken to stealing drug supplies from the local pharmacies, knowing she is being watched. Her and Rhys ensure others in the neighbourhood are able to use the pain killers to help their loved ones too.
Two months have elapsed. After her deportation back to the [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]] has been working at keeping [[Geraint Cooper|her father]] hidden from the government agents responsible for rounding up all [[Categories of life|Category 1s]]. She has taken to stealing drug supplies from the local pharmacies, knowing she is being watched. Her and Rhys ensure others in the neighbourhood are able to use the painkillers to help their loved ones too.


[[Esther Drummond|Esther]] and [[Jack Harkness|Jack]] are hiding in [[Scotland]] while he recovers from his gunshot wound. Esther remarks on how they should go even further north, suspecting the local local butcher is becoming suspicious of why she keeps needing blood. Jack remarks how Esther has hardened over the past two months. Esther puts a bag of Jack's blood in a freezer filled with other bags of his blood. Jack claims his blood is not what makes him immortal but Esther insists on storing it anyway.
[[Esther Drummond|Esther]] and [[Jack Harkness|Jack]] are hiding in [[Scotland]] while he recovers from his gunshot wound. Esther argues that they should go even further north, suspecting the local butcher is becoming suspicious of why she keeps needing blood. Jack remarks on how Esther has hardened over the past two months. Esther puts a bag of Jack's blood in a freezer filled with other bags of his blood. Jack claims his blood is not what makes him immortal, but Esther insists on storing it anyway.


Meanwhile, Rex is back working for the CIA, doing everything he can on the inside to uncover the families bloodline. He learns from his superior, Shapiro, that cancer cells have become mortal, so he has resumed his old smoking habit since the risk of death has dropped dramatically. Eventually, he finds an old tale about a man who can't die. He theorises the man we inspired by seeing Jack die and that a family member was later killed. He informs the staff, who confirm the knife is still in the archives, meaning they can trace the blood on the knife to find the family's roots. [[Charlotte Wills]] offers to take the lead, which Rex agrees to. However, she comes back to Rex and Shapiro with no match. However, Rex is not ready to give up on it and insists Charlotte let him look into it on his own, which she hesitantly accepts.
Meanwhile, [[Rex Matheson|Rex]] is back working for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], doing everything he can on the inside to uncover the [[The Three Families|Families]]' bloodline. His superior, [[Allen Shapiro|Shapiro]], has resumed his old smoking habit with the risk of death gone. Rex finds a pulp story from 1935 about a man who can't die, and theorises that the author, [[Victor Podesta]], was inspired by seeing Jack tortured at [[Mr Giardano]]'s shop. The Podesta family has since disappeared, but the CIA archives contain a knife used in the murder of [[John Podesta]], meaning they can trace the blood on the knife to find the family's roots. [[Charlotte Wills]] offers to take the lead, but comes back to Rex and Shapiro with no match. However, Rex is not ready to give up on it and insists Charlotte let him look into it on his own, which she hesitantly accepts.


At home, the police do a surprise search on Gwen's house, looking for his father. Gwen feigns her father was taken and burned, with them unable to say goodbye. Despite their efforts, the police check the basement. However, because of Rhys creating a separate room, the police conclude Geraint is not present and leave, the investigator insisting they will return.
At home, the police do a surprise search on Gwen's house, looking for [[Geraint Cooper|her father]]. Gwen claims he was taken and burned, with them unable to say goodbye. Despite their efforts, the police check the basement. However, because of Rhys creating a separate room, the police conclude Geraint is not present and leave, the investigator insisting they will return.


Oswald Danes, also on the run, eventually locates Gwen's home. He sneaks in as a delivery man. Gwen initially does not recognise him until her picks up [[Anwen Williams|Anwen]]. She takes her daughter back as Oswald rambles about why he is there. Enraged, Gwen attacks him with a frying pan. Rhys stops her, despite realising who Oswald is. Gwen goes to strike again but Rhys stops her, citing she can't go to jail for murder. Oswald thanks him but Rhys reveals he will kill him instead, rounding on him, daring Oswald to explain why he there before he tells everyone where he is. Oswald says he needs Jack Harkness. He reveals he knows Jack came to her weeks earlier, Gwen helping secure him and Esther in Scotland.
Oswald Danes, also on the run, eventually locates Gwen's home. He sneaks in as a delivery man. Gwen initially does not recognise him until he picks up [[Anwen Williams|Anwen]]. She takes her daughter back as Oswald rambles about why he is there. Enraged, Gwen attacks him with a frying pan. Rhys stops her, but says he will kill him instead, daring Oswald to explain why he there before he tells everyone where he is. Oswald says he needs Jack Harkness. He reveals he knows Jack came to her weeks earlier, Gwen helping secure him and Esther in Scotland. Gwen covertly informs Jack and Esther, who arrive; Jack helps to neutralise [[Surveillance guy (The Gathering)|the man]] surveilling Gwen's house before entering.


Understanding such, Gwen covertly informs Jack, who drives down. A man across the street notes Gwen's activity. Gwen phones him, confusing the man. Jack appears behind him, holding him at gunpoint. He reveals they have met before and offers him a choice: take [[retcon]] and forget meeting Jack, or be shot and left a Category 1. The man chooses the latter, soon falling unconscious. Jack pauses the man's surveillance before he and Esther enter Jack's house. Rex also connects with them via their laptop.
Oswald stole [[Jilly Kitzinger]]'s laptop and has been tracking her. He claims she has been sending information to someone called Harry Bosco, but Esther reveals "Harry Bosco" is not the name of a man but [[Harry Bosco|a process]]: subtly mistranslating information in order to change the underlying meaning. With Rex's help through a remote connection, they discover that a news clip Jilly processed has been changed, by degrees, from a burn victim saying "The Blessing saved my life" to "It is a godsend my life was saved." The man had burned down a blood bank in [[Shanghai]] four days before [[the Miracle]]; they find a second clip reporting that a blood bank was destroyed by fire in [[Buenos Aires]] one day earlier. Rex says that one of the men who witnessed Jack's immortality later died there. However, their conversation is interrupted by the police, who are able to find Geraint using thermal imaging and take him away to the camps.


Collectively, they soon discover a connection in two places, [[Shanghai]] and [[Buenos Aires]], and set out to find the source of [[the Blessing]]. [[Jilly Kitzinger]] is already in Shangai, having been drawn into the secret families. With the help of Oswald and Rhys, Jack and Esther figure out that Jilly is being used to mistranslate news clips from before the Miracle regarding the destruction of blood banks, with Rex confirming the translations have been altered to change the meaning entirely. They changed a patient's line from "The Blessing saved my life" to "it is a blessing my life was saved". As such, they deduce the families and the Blessing are in both Shanghai and Buenos Aires where Rex has tracked the possible location of a man who was in the [[cellar]] in [[1928]] when Jack was repeatedly killed. The man in Shanghai, who died before the Miracle after burning down the blood bank but not before living for awhile, is shown to have said that "[[the Blessing]] saved me", which causes them to realise it's there but leaves them confused about why the one in Buenos Aires was blown up.
Rhys realises that the two cities are [[Antipode|antipodes]], on exactly opposite sides of the world, and that the Blessing must run between them. The team decide to split up, sending Rex and Esther to Buenos Aires and Jack, Gwen and Oswald to Shanghai, to find out what the Blessing is. Shapiro reluctantly agrees to let Rex go "off grid", suspecting they have a mole; Charlotte is notified when Rex and Esther enter Argentina, and sends a message to the Families.


However, their conversation is interrupted by the police barging in again, the investigator revealing they have brought heat sensors this time to ensure they don't miss anything. Jack briefly considers handing Oswald Danes to the police as a distraction but Danes protests Jack would be arrested as well for knowing him. Eventually, the police discover Gwen's dad in the basement and take him away despite Gwen and her mother's protests. The incident fuels Gwen's desire to combat the families even more.
Jilly has been sent to Shanghai by the Three Families, who are said to handle politics, finance and media respectively. [[The Mother]] takes her to see the Blessing, which appears as a huge cleft in the rock running all the way through the centre of the Earth. It has strange physical properties, and induces a strong mental reaction which has caused some people to commit [[suicide]]; the Mother claims it "shows you to yourself." Also in Shanghai, Jack's wound has gotten worse, and the group discovers that his blood is being mysteriously drawn from his wound into the ground, towards the Blessing.


Rhys realises that the two cities are antipodes, exact opposites of the world and that the Blessing must run between them. Rex informs Shapiro he must go rogue on the mission to find the Families himself because he suspects there is a mole in the CIA. Shapiro reluctantly agrees, telling Rex to get in touch should he need anything.
==Cast==  
 
*[[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
Splitting up, Esther, carrying her stockpile of Jack's blood, travels to Buenos Aires and meets up with Rex while Gwen, Jack and Oswald travel to Shanghai using old Torchwood connections after Gwen's father is taken away again. In Shanghai, the group discovers that Jack's blood is being mysteriously drawn from his wound into the ground, implying a connection between Jack's blood and the Blessing.
 
== Cast ==
* [[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
* [[Rex Matheson]] - [[Mekhi Phifer]]
*[[Rex Matheson]] - [[Mekhi Phifer]]
* [[Esther Drummond]] - [[Alexa Havins]]
*[[Esther Drummond]] - [[Alexa Havins]]
* [[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
*[[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
* [[Oswald Danes]] - [[Bill Pullman]]
*[[Oswald Danes]] - [[Bill Pullman]]
* [[Jilly Kitzinger]] - [[Lauren Ambrose]]
*[[Jilly Kitzinger]] - [[Lauren Ambrose]]
* [[Mary Cooper]] - [[Sharon Morgan]]
*[[Mary Cooper]] - [[Sharon Morgan]]
* [[Geraint Cooper]] - [[William Thomas]]
*[[Geraint Cooper]] - [[William Thomas]]
* [[Charlotte Wills]] - [[Marina Benedict]]
* [[Charlotte Wills]] - [[Marina Benedict]]
* [[Allen Shapiro]] - [[John de Lancie]]
*[[Allen Shapiro]] - [[John de Lancie]]
* [[Noah Vickers]] - [[Paul James]]
*[[Noah Vickers]] - [[Paul James]]
* [[Blue-eyed man|Blue Eyed Man]] - [[Teddy Sears]]
*[[Blue-eyed man|Blue Eyed Man]] - [[Teddy Sears]]
* [[The Mother]] - [[Frances Fisher]]
* [[The Mother]] - [[Frances Fisher]]
* [[Ralph Finch|Finch]] - [[Ian Hughes]]
*[[Ralph Finch|Finch]] - [[Ian Hughes]]
* [[Young man (The Gathering)|The Young Man]] - [[Adam Silver]]
*[[Young man (The Gathering)|The Young Man]] - [[Adam Silver]]
* [[Chinese man (The Gathering)|Chinese Man]] - [[Willis Chung]]
*[[Chinese man (The Gathering)|Chinese Man]] - [[Willis Chung]]
* [[Surveillance guy (The Gathering)|Surveillance Guy]] - [[Danny Szam]]
*[[Surveillance guy (The Gathering)|Surveillance Guy]] - [[Danny Szam]]
* [[Chinese worker (The Gathering)|Chinese Worker]] - [[Jesse Wang]]
* [[Chinese worker (The Gathering)|Chinese Worker]] - [[Jesse Wang]]
* [[Old man (The Gathering)|Old Man]] - [[Gilbert Wynne]]
*[[Old man (The Gathering)|Old Man]] - [[Gilbert Wynne]]


=== Uncredited ===
===Uncredited ===
* [[Radio announcer (The Gathering)|Radio Announcer]] - [[Russell T Davies]]
*[[Radio announcer (The Gathering)|Radio Announcer]] - [[Russell T Davies]]


== Crew ==
==Crew==
{{wales crew
{{wales crew
|CreatedBy=Russell T Davies
|CreatedBy=Russell T Davies
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|KeyMake-upArtist=Todd McIntosh
|KeyMake-upArtist=Todd McIntosh
|KeyHairStylist=Susan Boyd
|KeyHairStylist=Susan Boyd
|ScienceAdvisor=John Sotos, M.D.  
|ScienceAdvisor=John Sotos, M.D.
|PropertyMaster=Eric Bates
|PropertyMaster=Eric Bates
|ProductionAccountant=Vince Robinette
|ProductionAccountant=Vince Robinette
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Note that Torchwood credits don't carry a "US crew" tag because it's a US show.
Note that Torchwood credits don't carry a "US crew" tag because it's a US show.


-->
-->|UKProducer=Brian Minchin
|UKProducer=Brian Minchin
|UKLineProducer=Debbi Slater
|UKLineProducer=Debbi Slater
|UKProductionExecutive=Julie Scott
|UKProductionExecutive=Julie Scott
Line 177: Line 172:
}}
}}


== Worldbuilding ==
==Worldbuilding==  
* Gwen tries searching for [[the Blessing]] on the website [[Search (website)|Search]].
*Gwen tries searching for [[the Blessing]] on the website [[Search (website)|Search]].
* Gwen hides her looted drugs in [[Jubilee Pizza]] boxes.
* Gwen hides her looted drugs in [[Jubilee Pizza]] boxes.
* Rhys mentions the rolling blackouts from the energy crisis of the [[1970s]]. The baby boom that came afterwards was a result of people [[Sex|taking advantage]] of the dark.
*Rhys mentions the rolling blackouts from the energy crisis of the [[1970s]]. The baby boom that came afterwards was a result of people [[Sex|taking advantage]] of the dark.
* The [[Emergency Powers Act]] enacted after [[Miracle Day]] allows the search of private property based on suspicion of harbouring a Category 1 person without a warrant.
*The [[Emergency Powers Act]] enacted after [[Miracle Day]] allows the search of private property based on suspicion of harbouring a Category 1 person without a warrant.
* There was a fire in the [[Manhattan Central Repository]], destroying its records.
*There was a fire in the [[Manhattan Central Repository]], destroying its records.
* Gwen brings back [[chicken]] and [[chips]], saying that [[fish]] is too expensive.
*Gwen brings back [[chicken]] and [[chips]], saying that [[fish]] is too expensive.
* [[Retcon]] is used on the man keeping the Cooper residence under surveillance.
*[[Retcon]] is used on the man keeping the Cooper residence under surveillance.
* [[Ralph Finch|Finch]] uses a brand new app for [[thermal imaging]].
*[[Ralph Finch|Finch]] uses a brand new app for [[thermal imaging]].
* [[D. Sinclair]] translates a sentence from both [[Mandarin]] and [[Wu Chinese]] to [[English language|English]] for Rex.
*[[D. Sinclair]] translates a sentence from both [[Mandarin]] and [[Wu Chinese]] to [[English language|English]] for Rex.
* Jack mentions a [[Skullion]] trading route in the black market.
*Jack mentions a [[Skullion]] trading route in the black market.
* Gwen uses [[diamorphine]] on her father.
*Gwen uses [[diamorphine]] on her father.
* A man named [[Huw Jenkins]], who had a bad back, was put in Category 1.
*A man named [[Huw Jenkins]], who had a bad back, was put in Category 1.
* [[Matty Sheldon]] offered Rhys a job driving Category 1s.
*[[Matty Sheldon]] offered Rhys a job driving Category 1s.
* Gwen warns her mother about a raid on [[Oystermouth Road]].
*Gwen warns her mother about a raid on [[Oystermouth Road]].
* One of the books [[Victor Podesta]] authored is called ''[[The Devil Within]]'', which talks about [[Satan]] and [[blood]], likely inspired by the night he saw Jack repeatedly killed and resurrected in a cellar decades ago.
*One of the books [[Victor Podesta]] authored is called ''[[The Devil Within]]'', which talks about [[Satan]] and [[blood]], likely inspired by the night he saw Jack repeatedly killed and resurrected in a cellar decades ago.
* Rhys remarks he could say the word "[[Jesus]]" and not be in [[Jerusalem]] when he dismisses the idea [[the Blessing]] is located in [[Shanghai]] just because the word is connected to the city. He changes his mind when he sees the Blessing could be linked to more than one location.
*Rhys remarks he could say the word "[[Jesus]]" and not be in [[Jerusalem]] when he dismisses the idea [[the Blessing]] is located in [[Shanghai]] just because the word is connected to the city. He changes his mind when he sees the Blessing could be linked to more than one location.
* [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]] and Shanghai, [[China]] are [[antipode]]s.
* [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]] and Shanghai, [[China]] are [[antipode]]s.
* [[The Blessing]] is a sentient vein in the depths of the planet [[Earth]] that stretches from Shanghai to Buenos Aires. Those who approach it will encounter sensations of dread, possibly brought on by its attempts to communicate. People who stare at it directly will be given messages that can either uplift them or drive them insane, even to [[suicide]].
* [[The Blessing]] is a sentient vein in the depths of the planet [[Earth]] that stretches from Shanghai to Buenos Aires. Those who approach it will encounter sensations of dread, possibly brought on by its attempts to communicate. People who stare at it directly will be given messages that can either uplift them or drive them insane, even to [[suicide]].
* Jack's [[blood]] is drawn toward the Blessing, some of which is agitated inside his body to the point it exacerbates his wounds trying to get out. Likewise, [[Rex Matheson]] feels similar discomfort from his chest wound, but no bleeding.
*Jack's [[blood]] is drawn toward the Blessing, some of which is agitated inside his body to the point it exacerbates his wounds trying to get out. Likewise, [[Rex Matheson]] feels similar discomfort from his chest wound, but no bleeding.


== Story notes ==
==Story notes==
* [[Russell T Davies]]' voice is heard as a radio newscaster.
*[[Russell T Davies]]' voice is heard as a radio newscaster.


=== Ratings ===
===Ratings===
* UK: 4.64 million (Final BARB ratings)<ref>[https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-10/ BARB Ratings - June, 2011]</ref>
* UK: 4.64 million (Final BARB ratings)<ref>[https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-10/ BARB Ratings - June, 2011]</ref>
* US: 1.16 million
*US: 1.16 million


=== Filming locations ===
===Filming locations===
''to be added''
''to be added''


=== Broadcasts ===
===Broadcasts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Date
!Date
!Time
! Time
!Channel
!Channel
!class="unsortable"|Notes
! class="unsortable" |Notes
|-
|-
|[[Thursday]] [[8 September (releases)|8 September]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]
|[[Thursday]] [[8 September (releases)|8 September]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]
|21:00
|21:00
|[[BBC One]]
|[[BBC One]]
|First broadcast.
| First broadcast.  
|-
|-
|[[Tuesday]] [[13 September (releases)|13 September]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]
|[[Tuesday]] [[13 September (releases)|13 September]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]
|00:20
|00:20  
|[[BBC HD]] & [[BBC Two]] except [[BBC Two Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]]
|[[BBC HD]] & [[BBC Two]] except [[BBC Two Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]]
|
|
Line 231: Line 226:
|}
|}


=== Production errors ===
===Production errors===
{{Torchwood discontinuity}}
{{Torchwood discontinuity}}
* When Rhys mentions Jesus, his mouth doesn't match the audio on the word Jerusalem.
*When Rhys mentions Jesus, his mouth doesn't match the audio on the word Jerusalem.


== Continuity ==
==Continuity==
* Gwen mentions "two quid a kid". [[Ianto Jones]]' brother-in-law, [[Johnny Davies]], mentioned how "ten quid a kid" should be the slogan for their creche displayed in [[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)}}.
*Gwen mentions "two quid a kid". [[Ianto Jones]]' brother-in-law, [[Johnny Davies]], mentioned how "ten quid a kid" should be the slogan for their creche displayed in [[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)}}.
* [[Victor Podesta]] was one of the men present at Jack's torture in [[1927]]. He went on to write a book about what he saw, as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Immortal Sins (TV story)}}.
*[[Victor Podesta]] was one of the men present at Jack's torture in [[1927]]. He went on to write a book about what he saw, as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Immortal Sins (TV story)}}.
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]] had previously encountered [[Skullion]]s who were sold as slaves in a black market trade in alien artefacts, as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Man Who Never Was (TV story)}}.
*[[Sarah Jane Smith]] had previously encountered [[Skullion]]s who were sold as slaves in a black market trade in alien artefacts, as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Man Who Never Was (TV story)}}.


== Home video releases ==
==Home video releases==
* This episode was released worldwide in a box set containing all ten episodes of ''Torchwood: Miracle Day''. In the United Kingdom, it was released on Region 2 DVD and Region Free Blu-ray on [[14 November (releases)|14 November]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]].<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Torchwood-Miracle-Day-Eve-Myles/dp/B005A5I9V2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314885858&sr=8-1 Amazon.co.uk listing]</ref> In Australia, it was released in Region 4 DVD and Region B Blu-Ray on [[1 December (releases)|1 December]] 2011.<ref>[http://www.ezydvd.com.au/blu-ray/torchwood-miracle-day-blu-ray/dp/6107286 EZYDVD.com.au listing]</ref> In New Zealand, the same sets were released on [[7 December (releases)|7 December]] 2011.<ref>[http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Blu-ray/Torchwood-Miracle-Day-4-Disc-Set/19261826/ Mightyape.co.nz listing]</ref> In North America, it was released on Region 1 DVD and Region Free Blu-Ray on [[3 April (releases)|3 April]] [[2012 (releases)|2012]].<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Torchwood-Miracle-Day-John-Barrowman/dp/B007AFS118/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336194370&sr=8-1 Amazon.com listing]</ref>
*This episode was released worldwide in a box set containing all ten episodes of ''Torchwood: Miracle Day''. In the United Kingdom, it was released on Region 2 DVD and Region Free Blu-ray on [[14 November (releases)|14 November]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]].<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Torchwood-Miracle-Day-Eve-Myles/dp/B005A5I9V2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314885858&sr=8-1 Amazon.co.uk listing]</ref> In Australia, it was released in Region 4 DVD and Region B Blu-Ray on [[1 December (releases)|1 December]] 2011.<ref>[http://www.ezydvd.com.au/blu-ray/torchwood-miracle-day-blu-ray/dp/6107286 EZYDVD.com.au listing]</ref> In New Zealand, the same sets were released on [[7 December (releases)|7 December]] 2011.<ref>[http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Blu-ray/Torchwood-Miracle-Day-4-Disc-Set/19261826/ Mightyape.co.nz listing]</ref> In North America, it was released on Region 1 DVD and Region Free Blu-Ray on [[3 April (releases)|3 April]] [[2012 (releases)|2012]].<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Torchwood-Miracle-Day-John-Barrowman/dp/B007AFS118/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336194370&sr=8-1 Amazon.com listing]</ref>
* It was also released in the Series 1-4 boxset (Region 2 release: 14 November 2011.)
*It was also released in the Series 1-4 boxset (Region 2 release: 14 November 2011.)


== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes==
{{reflist|3}}
{{reflist|3}}
{{TWTV}}
{{TWTV}}

Revision as of 03:37, 11 June 2024

RealWorld.png

You may be looking for the Big Finish audio story of the same name.

The Gathering was the ninth episode of Series 4 of Torchwood. It was written by John Fay and directed by Guy Ferland, and featured a landmark moment for show creator Russell T Davies, who had his very first in-universe role in a Doctor Who-related production: his voice can be heard in the opening moments of the episode as a radio announcer. It advanced the story two months from the previous episode, and presented an apocalyptic scenario as the economies of the world collapsed as a result of the Miracle Day phenomenon.

Synopsis

The culprits of the Miracle are now known: the Three Families.

Two months later, the world has further devolved into chaos, with everyone no longer caring about anyone other than themselves. The Category Ones are no longer a concern, with them all being burned without a care.

At the same time, Torchwood continues looking into the Blessing, while Rex and the CIA look into finding a lead to the identities of the Three Families' members.

Plot

Two months have elapsed. After her deportation back to the UK, Gwen has been working at keeping her father hidden from the government agents responsible for rounding up all Category 1s. She has taken to stealing drug supplies from the local pharmacies, knowing she is being watched. Her and Rhys ensure others in the neighbourhood are able to use the painkillers to help their loved ones too.

Esther and Jack are hiding in Scotland while he recovers from his gunshot wound. Esther argues that they should go even further north, suspecting the local butcher is becoming suspicious of why she keeps needing blood. Jack remarks on how Esther has hardened over the past two months. Esther puts a bag of Jack's blood in a freezer filled with other bags of his blood. Jack claims his blood is not what makes him immortal, but Esther insists on storing it anyway.

Meanwhile, Rex is back working for the CIA, doing everything he can on the inside to uncover the Families' bloodline. His superior, Shapiro, has resumed his old smoking habit with the risk of death gone. Rex finds a pulp story from 1935 about a man who can't die, and theorises that the author, Victor Podesta, was inspired by seeing Jack tortured at Mr Giardano's shop. The Podesta family has since disappeared, but the CIA archives contain a knife used in the murder of John Podesta, meaning they can trace the blood on the knife to find the family's roots. Charlotte Wills offers to take the lead, but comes back to Rex and Shapiro with no match. However, Rex is not ready to give up on it and insists Charlotte let him look into it on his own, which she hesitantly accepts.

At home, the police do a surprise search on Gwen's house, looking for her father. Gwen claims he was taken and burned, with them unable to say goodbye. Despite their efforts, the police check the basement. However, because of Rhys creating a separate room, the police conclude Geraint is not present and leave, the investigator insisting they will return.

Oswald Danes, also on the run, eventually locates Gwen's home. He sneaks in as a delivery man. Gwen initially does not recognise him until he picks up Anwen. She takes her daughter back as Oswald rambles about why he is there. Enraged, Gwen attacks him with a frying pan. Rhys stops her, but says he will kill him instead, daring Oswald to explain why he there before he tells everyone where he is. Oswald says he needs Jack Harkness. He reveals he knows Jack came to her weeks earlier, Gwen helping secure him and Esther in Scotland. Gwen covertly informs Jack and Esther, who arrive; Jack helps to neutralise the man surveilling Gwen's house before entering.

Oswald stole Jilly Kitzinger's laptop and has been tracking her. He claims she has been sending information to someone called Harry Bosco, but Esther reveals "Harry Bosco" is not the name of a man but a process: subtly mistranslating information in order to change the underlying meaning. With Rex's help through a remote connection, they discover that a news clip Jilly processed has been changed, by degrees, from a burn victim saying "The Blessing saved my life" to "It is a godsend my life was saved." The man had burned down a blood bank in Shanghai four days before the Miracle; they find a second clip reporting that a blood bank was destroyed by fire in Buenos Aires one day earlier. Rex says that one of the men who witnessed Jack's immortality later died there. However, their conversation is interrupted by the police, who are able to find Geraint using thermal imaging and take him away to the camps.

Rhys realises that the two cities are antipodes, on exactly opposite sides of the world, and that the Blessing must run between them. The team decide to split up, sending Rex and Esther to Buenos Aires and Jack, Gwen and Oswald to Shanghai, to find out what the Blessing is. Shapiro reluctantly agrees to let Rex go "off grid", suspecting they have a mole; Charlotte is notified when Rex and Esther enter Argentina, and sends a message to the Families.

Jilly has been sent to Shanghai by the Three Families, who are said to handle politics, finance and media respectively. The Mother takes her to see the Blessing, which appears as a huge cleft in the rock running all the way through the centre of the Earth. It has strange physical properties, and induces a strong mental reaction which has caused some people to commit suicide; the Mother claims it "shows you to yourself." Also in Shanghai, Jack's wound has gotten worse, and the group discovers that his blood is being mysteriously drawn from his wound into the ground, towards the Blessing.

Cast

Uncredited

Crew

General production staff


Camera and lighting department

Art department


 Make-up and prosthetics


General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound

UK crew
General production staff
 Camera, lighting and sound departments

Casting

 Make-up

Costume

Effects


Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.
          

The Starz broadcast carried a final credit of "Originally Developed and Produced by BBC Cymru Wales". The BBC One broadcast says, instead, "BBC Worldwide Productions for BBC Cymru Wales and STARZ Originals".


Worldbuilding

  • Gwen tries searching for the Blessing on the website Search.
  • Gwen hides her looted drugs in Jubilee Pizza boxes.
  • Rhys mentions the rolling blackouts from the energy crisis of the 1970s. The baby boom that came afterwards was a result of people taking advantage of the dark.
  • The Emergency Powers Act enacted after Miracle Day allows the search of private property based on suspicion of harbouring a Category 1 person without a warrant.
  • There was a fire in the Manhattan Central Repository, destroying its records.
  • Gwen brings back chicken and chips, saying that fish is too expensive.
  • Retcon is used on the man keeping the Cooper residence under surveillance.
  • Finch uses a brand new app for thermal imaging.
  • D. Sinclair translates a sentence from both Mandarin and Wu Chinese to English for Rex.
  • Jack mentions a Skullion trading route in the black market.
  • Gwen uses diamorphine on her father.
  • A man named Huw Jenkins, who had a bad back, was put in Category 1.
  • Matty Sheldon offered Rhys a job driving Category 1s.
  • Gwen warns her mother about a raid on Oystermouth Road.
  • One of the books Victor Podesta authored is called The Devil Within, which talks about Satan and blood, likely inspired by the night he saw Jack repeatedly killed and resurrected in a cellar decades ago.
  • Rhys remarks he could say the word "Jesus" and not be in Jerusalem when he dismisses the idea the Blessing is located in Shanghai just because the word is connected to the city. He changes his mind when he sees the Blessing could be linked to more than one location.
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina and Shanghai, China are antipodes.
  • The Blessing is a sentient vein in the depths of the planet Earth that stretches from Shanghai to Buenos Aires. Those who approach it will encounter sensations of dread, possibly brought on by its attempts to communicate. People who stare at it directly will be given messages that can either uplift them or drive them insane, even to suicide.
  • Jack's blood is drawn toward the Blessing, some of which is agitated inside his body to the point it exacerbates his wounds trying to get out. Likewise, Rex Matheson feels similar discomfort from his chest wound, but no bleeding.

Story notes

Ratings

  • UK: 4.64 million (Final BARB ratings)[1]
  • US: 1.16 million

Filming locations

to be added

Broadcasts

Date Time Channel Notes
Thursday 8 September 2011 21:00 BBC One First broadcast.
Tuesday 13 September 2011 00:20 BBC HD & BBC Two except Northern Ireland
Tuesday 13 September 2011 00:50 BBC Two Northern Ireland

Production errors

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
  • When Rhys mentions Jesus, his mouth doesn't match the audio on the word Jerusalem.

Continuity

  • Gwen mentions "two quid a kid". Ianto Jones' brother-in-law, Johnny Davies, mentioned how "ten quid a kid" should be the slogan for their creche displayed in TV: Children of Earth: Day Three [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)"].
  • Victor Podesta was one of the men present at Jack's torture in 1927. He went on to write a book about what he saw, as seen in TV: Immortal Sins [+]Loading...["Immortal Sins (TV story)"].
  • Sarah Jane Smith had previously encountered Skullions who were sold as slaves in a black market trade in alien artefacts, as seen in TV: The Man Who Never Was [+]Loading...["The Man Who Never Was (TV story)"].

Home video releases

  • This episode was released worldwide in a box set containing all ten episodes of Torchwood: Miracle Day. In the United Kingdom, it was released on Region 2 DVD and Region Free Blu-ray on 14 November 2011.[2] In Australia, it was released in Region 4 DVD and Region B Blu-Ray on 1 December 2011.[3] In New Zealand, the same sets were released on 7 December 2011.[4] In North America, it was released on Region 1 DVD and Region Free Blu-Ray on 3 April 2012.[5]
  • It was also released in the Series 1-4 boxset (Region 2 release: 14 November 2011.)

Footnotes

  1. ↑ BARB Ratings - June, 2011
  2. ↑ Amazon.co.uk listing
  3. ↑ EZYDVD.com.au listing
  4. ↑ Mightyape.co.nz listing
  5. ↑ Amazon.com listing
v • e
Torchwood television stories
Series 1
Series 2
Series 3
Children of Earth: Day One • Day Two • Day Three • Day Four • Day Five
Series 4
Stories listed here are only those that have been officially licensed by the BBC.
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