Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image         = 456Arrival.jpg
|image                 = 456Arrival.jpg
|series         =''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''|
|series               = ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''
|season number = [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Series 3]]
|season number         = Series 3 (Torchwood)
|episode number        = 29
|series episode number = 3
|main character = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]], [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]]
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/torchwood-children-of-earth-episode-3-day-three-blue-revisions-28082008.pdf
|featuring = [[Lois Habiba|Lois]], [[John Frobisher|Frobisher]], [[Bridget Spears|Bridget]], [[Alice Carter|Alice]], [[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Johnson]], [[Clem McDonald|Clem]], [[Andy Davidson|Andy]]
|main character       = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]], [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]]
|network        = [[BBC One]]
|featuring             = Lois Habiba
|enemy         = [[The 456]]
|featuring2            = John Frobisher
|setting       = [[London]] and [[Cardiff]], [[2009]]
|featuring3            = Bridget Spears
|writer         = [[Russell T Davies]] and [[James Moran]]
|featuring4            = Clem McDonald
|director       = [[Euros Lyn]]
|featuring5            = Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)
|producer       = [[Peter Bennett]]
|featuring6            = Alice Carter
|broadcast date = [[8 July]] [[2009]]
|featuring7            = Andy Davidson
|prev = Children of Earth: Day Two (TV story)
|featuring8            = Trinity Wells
|next           = Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)
|featuring9            = French newsreader{{!}}Newsreader
|clip           = We are here - Torchwood Children of Earth - BBC
|enemy                 = The [[456 ambassador]]
|clip2         = The lost children - Torchwood Children of Earth - BBC
|setting               = [[London]] and [[Cardiff]], [[2009]]
|clip3         = We want the children - Torchwood - BBC
|writer               = Russell T Davies, James Moran
}}
|director             = [[Euros Lyn]]
'''''Children of Earth: Day Three''''' was the third episode of the [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|third series]] of ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''. It notably introduced [[the 456]] after the buildup in previous episodes.
|producer             = [[Peter Bennett]]
|network              = BBC One
|broadcast date       = 8 July 2009
|prev                 = Children of Earth: Day Two (TV story)
|next                 = Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)
|clip                 = We are here - Torchwood Children of Earth - BBC
|clip2                 = The lost children - Torchwood Children of Earth - BBC
|clip3                 = We want the children - Torchwood - BBC
|trailer              = Torchwood Children of Earth - Day Three trailer - BBC One
|format = 1x60 minute episode;<br/>Part 3 of 5}}
'''''Children of Earth: Day Three''''' was the third episode of [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Series 3]] of ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''. It was written by [[Russell T Davies]] and [[James Moran]], directed by [[Euros Lyn]] and featured [[John Barrowman]] as [[Jack Harkness]], [[Eve Myles]] as [[Gwen Cooper]], [[Kai Owen]] as [[Rhys Williams]] and [[Gareth David-Lloyd]] as [[Ianto Jones]].
 
It notably introduced [[the 456]] after the buildup in the previous two episodes. [[Torchwood Three]] also established a new temporary base of operations and pilfered a new car to replace their stolen [[Torchwood SUV|SUV]].


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
The eyes of the world turn to [[Britain]]. The 456 announce: "We are here," as the new [[Torchwood Three|Torchwood]] adventure continues. A pillar of fire descends upon [[London]] and Torchwood must battle to protect their own families as the fight gets personal. Will Clem's memories destroy everything?
The eyes of the world turn to [[Great Britain|Britain]]. [[The 456]] announce: "We are here," as the new [[Torchwood Three|Torchwood]] adventure continues. A pillar of fire descends upon [[London]] and Torchwood must battle to protect their own families as the fight gets personal. Will [[Clem McDonald|Clem]]'s [[memory|memories]] destroy everything?


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
The team, including [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]], have set up a base in an old factory once used by [[Torchwood One]] for storage. As a former police officer, [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]] knows all the tricks of the criminal trade, including stealing [[mobile phone]]s, debit cards and laptops from people off the street. [[Jack Harkness|Jack]] makes off with a car. Soon the base is stocked. When he researches the other people targeted for assassination, Jack is shocked. He seems to recognise them and he runs off.
The [[Torchwood Three|team]], including [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]], have set up a base in an [[Torchwood holding facility|old factory]] once used by [[Torchwood One]] for storage. As a former [[police officer]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]] knows all the tricks of the criminal trade, including stealing [[mobile phone]]s, debit cards and laptops from people off the street. [[Jack Harkness|Jack]] makes off with a car. Soon the base is stocked with creature comforts; [[coffee]], [[electricity]], access to the Torchwood server, toiletries, and new clothes for the group, including replacement [[World War II]] era apparel for Jack, thanks to an Army Surplus special. When he researches the other people targeted for [[assassination]], Jack is shocked. He seems to recognise them and he runs off.


In Cardiff, Jack's daughter [[Alice Carter|Alice]] is still trying to contact him; she goes outside and borrows a girl's mobile to phone the Cardiff police, but the government's scanners pick up Jack's name and try to find the connection between them. [[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Agent Johnson]] gets word of this. Her team take Alice and her son away to "help" them. Suddenly, Steven points southeastwards to London as all the children on Earth are pointing towards London.
In [[Cardiff]], Jack's daughter [[Alice Carter|Alice]] is still trying to contact him; she goes outside and borrows a girl's mobile to phone the Cardiff police, but the government's scanners pick up Jack's name and try to find the connection between them. [[Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Agent Johnson]] gets word of this. Her team take Alice and her [[Steven Carter|son]] away to "help" them. Suddenly, Steven points southeastwards to [[London]] as all the children on [[Earth]] are pointing towards London.


A pillar of light descends from the sky and enters [[Thames House]]. Fiery energy fills the gas containment system. [[Frobisher|Mr Frobisher]] and [[Dekker|Mr Dekker]] meet with the aliens, who instruct the humans to call them "[[the 456|456]]". During the discussion, Frobisher extracts a promise from the 456 that it will not mention its previous visit to Earth in [[1965]].
A [[pillar of fire]] descends from the sky and enters [[Thames House]]. Fiery energy fills the gas containment system. [[John Frobisher]] and [[Dekker|Mr Dekker]] meet with the [[alien]]s, who instruct the humans to call them "[[the 456|456]]". During the discussion, Frobisher extracts a promise from the 456 that it will not mention its previous visit to Earth in [[1965]].


Gwen surprises [[Lois Habiba]] at a cafe and asks her to wear some [[Torchwood contact lenses|special contact lenses]] to allow Torchwood to see what is going on. Lois protests but takes the contacts. Gwen phones [[Andy Davidson|PC Andy]] to bail Clem out from police custody and brings him to the base.
Gwen surprises [[Lois Habiba]] at a cafe and asks her to wear some [[Torchwood contact lenses|special contact lenses]] to allow Torchwood to see what is going on. Lois protests but takes the contacts. Gwen phones [[Andy Davidson|PC Andy]] to bail [[Clem McDonald]] out from police custody and brings him to the base.


Jack sneaks into Frobisher's house and steals his wife's mobile. He phones Frobisher, having made the connection between the children and the events of 1965. He threatens Frobisher with "blow[ing] this thing sky high". Frobisher tells Jack they have taken his daughter and grandson into custody and will kill them if he does. Jack threatens to do the same, but Frobisher knows he would never do such a thing.
Jack sneaks into Frobisher's house and steals his wife's mobile. He phones Frobisher, having made the connection between the children and the events of 1965. He threatens Frobisher with "blow[ing] this thing sky high". Frobisher tells Jack they have taken his daughter and grandson into custody and will kill them if he does. Jack threatens to do the same, but Frobisher knows he would never do such a thing.


That night. Frobisher, Bridget Spears and Lois Habiba enter the gas chamber room, which is being filmed for the Prime Minister and being transmitted to a conference room where UNIT, an American general and the Prime Minister are watching. Frobisher demands the 456 cease using human children to communicate; in return the 456 demand a gift: 10% of the children on Earth.
That night, Frobisher, [[Bridget Spears]] and Lois Habiba enter the gas chamber room, which is being transmitted to a conference room where [[UNIT]], an [[American]] general and [[Brian Green]] are watching. Frobisher demands the 456 cease using human children to communicate; in return the 456 demand a gift: 10% of the children on Earth.


Back at the warehouse base, Clem tells Gwen he can smell the man who brought the children to the aliens. When Jack walks in, Clem recognises him as the man who gave the twelve children up to the aliens in 1965. When Gwen protests that Jack is a "good guy" who fights aliens, Jack informs them that in this instance, he had done what was asked. He gave the 456 the children... "as a gift."
Back at the warehouse base, Clem tells Gwen he can smell the man who brought the children to the aliens. When Jack walks in, Clem recognises him as the man who gave the twelve children up to the aliens in 1965. When Gwen protests that Jack is a "good guy" who fights aliens, Jack informs them that in this instance, he had done what was asked. He gave the 456 the children... "as a gift."


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[Captain]] [[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* [[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
* [[Ianto Jones]] - [[Gareth David-Lloyd]]
* [[Ianto Jones]] - [[Gareth David-Lloyd]]
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* [[Bridget Spears]] - [[Susan Brown]]
* [[Bridget Spears]] - [[Susan Brown]]
* [[John Frobisher]] - [[Peter Capaldi]]
* [[John Frobisher]] - [[Peter Capaldi]]
* [[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Johnson]] - [[Liz May Brice]]
* [[Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Johnson]] - [[Liz May Brice]]
* [[Clem McDonald]] - [[Paul Copley]]
* [[Clem McDonald]] - [[Paul Copley]]
* [[Brian Green|Brian Green PM]] - [[Nicholas Farrell]]
* [[Brian Green|Brian Green PM]] - [[Nicholas Farrell]]
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* [[Dekker|Mr Dekker]] - [[Ian Gelder]]
* [[Dekker|Mr Dekker]] - [[Ian Gelder]]
* [[Andy Davidson|PC Andy Davidson]] - [[Tom Price]]
* [[Andy Davidson|PC Andy Davidson]] - [[Tom Price]]
* [[Newsreader (Children of Earth)|Newsreader]] - [[Louise Minchin]]
* [[Louise Minchin (in-universe)|Newsreader]] - [[Louise Minchin]]
* [[French Newsreader]] - [[Anthony Debaeck]]
* [[French newsreader|French Newsreader]] - [[Anthony Debaeck]]
* [[Trinity Wells]] - [[Lachele Carl]]
* [[Trinity Wells]] - [[Lachele Carl]]
* [[Augustus Oduya|Colonel Oduya]] - [[Charles Abomeli]]
* [[Augustus Oduya|Colonel Oduya]] - [[Charles Abomeli]]
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* [[Johnny Davies]] - [[Rhodri Lewis]]
* [[Johnny Davies]] - [[Rhodri Lewis]]
* [[Anna Frobisher]] - [[Hilary Maclean]]
* [[Anna Frobisher]] - [[Hilary Maclean]]
* [[Parliamentary Secretary]] - [[Rachel Ferjani]]
* [[Parliamentary Secretary (Children of Earth: Day One)|Parliamentary Secretary]] - [[Rachel Ferjani]]
* [[Press Officer]] - [[Christopher James]]
* [[Press Officer]] - [[Christopher James]]
* [[Operative]] - [[Ben Loyd-Holmes]]
* [[Operative (Children of Earth: Day One)|Operative]] - [[Ben Loyd-Holmes]]
* [[David Davies]] - [[Luke Perry]]
* [[David Davies]] - [[Luke Perry]]
* [[Mica Davies]] - [[Aimee Davies]]
* [[Mica Davies]] - [[Aimee Davies]]
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|Runner=Alison Jones
|Runner=Alison Jones
|Runner2=Nicola Brown
|Runner2=Nicola Brown
|Runner3=Tom Evans <!--new, needs adding-->
|Runner3=Tom Evans
|FloorRunner=
|FloorRunner=
|FloorRunner2=
|FloorRunner2=
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|Grip=Clive Baldwin
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|AssistantGrip=Bobby Williams
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|CameraAsst2=Jon Vidgen
|CameraAsst2=Jon Vidgen
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|BoomOperator2=
|BoomOperator2=
|SoundMaintenanceEngineer=
|SoundMaintenanceEngineer=
|SoundAssistant=Bryn Thomas <!--new, needs adding-->
|SoundAssistant=Bryn Thomas
|Gaffer=Mark Hutchings
|Gaffer=Mark Hutchings
|BestBoy=Steve Slocombe
|BestBoy=Steve Slocombe
|Electrician=Ben Griffiths
|Electrician=Ben Griffiths
|Electrician2=Jonathan Cox
|Electrician2=Jonathan Cox
|Electrician3=Gareth Williams
|Electrician3=Gareth Williams (electrician)
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|StuntCoOrdinator=Tom Lucy
|StuntCoOrdinator=Tom Lucy
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|StandbyArtDirector=Arwel Wyn Jones
|StandbyArtDirector=Arwel Wyn Jones
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|StoryboardConceptArtist=Richard Shaun Williams
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|SeniorPropsMaker=
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}}
}}


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* This is the second time in the recent ''Doctor Who'' multiverse that an alien asked for ten percent of a population. The first was in [[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums]]'' when {{Simm}} kills 10% of Earth's population. Both stories involved [[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]].
* [[Clement McDonald]] is held at a police station on [[Albany Street]] in [[Camden]].
* [[Clement McDonald]] is held at a police station on [[Albany Street]] in [[Camden]].
* Clem describes [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] as "[[queer]]".
* Clem describes [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] as "[[queer]]", which he considers to be highly offensive.
=== Real world ===
* Jack's lover, [[Lucia Moretti]], is said to have died in [[October]] [[2006]].
* The children's program ''[[wikipedia:Trapped! (TV series)|Trapped!]]'' is seen on the television.
* [[Fishponds]], [[Huxley, Cheshire|Huxley]], [[Market Harborough]], [[Middlesbrough]], [[Streatham]], [[Watford]], [[Waverley]], [[Caersws]] and [[Greenham]] are located in Britain.
* Alice's [[maiden name]] is Sangster.
* Andy fears that the children are heralding the arrival of [[Godzilla]].
* Prior to Agent Johnson's raid on Alice's home, Steven watched the TV series ''[[Trapped! (TV series)|Trapped!]]''.


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
* The footage of the lift going up is the same used in [[TV]]: ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'' et al.
* The footage of the lift going up is the same used in ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'' and ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]''.
* [[Trinity Wells]] and the [[French newsreader]] both make their first appearances in ''Torchwood'' and become the only two characters to have also appeared in both ''[[Doctor Who]]'' and ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''.


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
* 5.9 million viewers ( overnight )
* 5.9 million [[BBC One]] viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures
* 6.4 million viewers, according to final official BARB viewing figures<ref>[https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-10/ BARB Ratings - July, 2009]</ref>
* [[AI]] of 90%
* 14th most-watched programme in [[Britain]] during the week of transmission


=== Filming locations ===
=== Filming locations ===
''to be added''
''to be added''
=== Broadcasts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Date
!Time
!Channel
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|[[Wednesday]] [[8 July (releases)|8 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|21:00
|[[BBC One]] & [[BBC HD]]
|First broadcast.
|-
|[[Thursday]] [[9 July (releases)|9 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|00:00
|[[BBC HD]]
|
|-
|[[Thursday]] [[9 July (releases)|9 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|00:15
|[[BBC Three]]
|
|-
|[[Friday]] [[31 July (releases)|31 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|21:00
|[[BBC Three]]
|
|-
|[[Saturday]] [[1 August (releases)|1 August]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|01:45
|[[BBC Three]]
|
|-
|[[Tuesday]] [[4 August (releases)|4 August]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|22:00
|[[BBC HD]]
|
|-
|[[Monday]] [[29 December (releases)|29 December]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|23:30
|[[BBC HD]]
|
|}


=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
{{Torchwood discontinuity}}
{{Torchwood discontinuity}}
* During the first scene in the warehouse, when Jack "lets slip" he knew about the pregnancy, Gwen mutters, "You promised, ''John,''" instead of, "You promised, ''Jack''".
* During the first scene in the warehouse, when Jack "lets slip" he knew about the pregnancy, Gwen mutters, "You promised, ''[[John Barrowman|John]]''," instead of, "You promised, ''Jack''". This was corrected in home media and streaming releases to "Christ, Jack."
* When Lois Habiba wears the contact lens, she puts them both in the same eye (her left eye).
* When Lois Habiba wears the contact lens, she puts them both in the same eye (her left eye).
* The green goo sprayed on the front of the tank disappears and reappears in different shapes several times between shots.
* The green goo sprayed on the front of the tank disappears and reappears in different shapes several times between shots.
* When Gwen is demonstrating the lenses to Lois, several times she looks in different directions and moves her head, but the display on the laptop doesn't move. Also, when Gwen blinks, the display is unaffected.
* When Gwen is demonstrating the lenses to Lois, several times she looks in different directions and moves her head, but the display on the laptop doesn't move. Also, when Gwen blinks, the display is unaffected (although the computer program may be able to compensate the blinking).
* Frobisher welcomes the 456 ambassador on behalf of "The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland", instead of "The United Kingdom of ''Great Britain'' and Northern Ireland." Later, when listing the countries which have agreed to let him speak on their behalf, Frobisher refers to "the Provinces and Territories of [[Canada]]". The correct formal name is simply "Canada."
* When Torchwood accesses the (production mock-up) BBC News website, the word Minister is misspelled as "Minster".
* ''Torchwood'', like many BBC-produced shows in the 21st century including ''Doctor Who'', is shot digitally at 50fps, and a film effect is introduced in post to remove every other frame, creating the illusion of more cinematic 25fps footage. However here are two moments in this episode where the film effect has not been applied to the footage. The first occurs during the high-wide shot of Frobisher addressing the 456, and is subtle enough to miss. The second occurs during the shot of the TV screen showing the news feed in the scene immediately afterwards, as well as close-up shots of the news feed later in the episode (particularly, after Frobisher receives the call about becoming the point-of-contact for the 456, and Jack leaves his daughter's house).
** Of note, this error is noticeable because the BBC required production houses to provide material in 720p50 for broadcast purposes at the time ''Children of Earth'' was produced. The end credits of almost all BBC-produced or commissioned series are seen to scroll at 50fps. This is what allows this error to become apparent - if the material had been output at 25fps, it would go unnoticed.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* [[Lois Habiba|Lois]] wears [[Eye-5|contact lenses]] with same abilities as the ones [[Martha Jones|Martha]] wore in [[TV]]: ''[[Reset (TV story)|Reset]]''.
* [[Lois Habiba|Lois]] wears [[Eye-5|contact lenses]] with the same abilities as the ones [[Martha Jones|Martha]] wore while infiltrating [[the Pharm]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Reset (TV story)}})
* [[The Doctor]] is mentioned. The last episode of ''Torchwood'' to explicitly reference the Doctor was [[TV]]: ''[[Fragments (TV story)|Fragments]]''.
* Ianto asks Jack whether he felt being blown up when the [[bomb]] inside him went off at the [[Torchwood Hub]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)}})
* [[Trinity Wells]] and the [[French Newsreader]] both make their first appearances in ''Torchwood'' and become the only two characters to have appeared in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' and both of the spin-offs.
* Jack tells Ianto that the [[Tenth Doctor|Doctor]] called him "a fixed point in time and space". ([[TV]]: {{cs|Utopia (TV story)}})
* Jack's wife is said to have died in [[October]] [[2006]], making him a widower.
* Ianto shows his continued fondness for Jack's coat. ([[TV]]: {{cs|End of Days (TV story)}}, {{cs|Fragments (TV story)}})
* Gwen has taken Torchwood equipment home with her for "fun", as other members of Torchwood Three have. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Everything Changes (TV story)}})
 
== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
* ''Children of Earth: Day Three'' was released on DVD along with the rest of ''Children of Earth'' on [[13 July]] [[2009]].
* ''Children of Earth: Day Three'' was released on DVD along with the rest of ''Children of Earth'' on [[13 July (releases)|13 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]].
* It was also released in the Series 1-4 boxset (Region 2 release: 14 November 2011.)


== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
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{{UNIT stories}}
 
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[[Category:Torchwood television stories]]
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[[Category:Series 3 (Torchwood) stories]]
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[[Category:Stories set in 2009]]
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[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in Cardiff]]
[[Category:Stories set in Cardiff]]
[[Category:Series 3 (Torchwood) stories]]
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[[Category:UNIT television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Stories set in Camden]]

Latest revision as of 18:45, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

Children of Earth: Day Three was the third episode of Series 3 of Torchwood. It was written by Russell T Davies and James Moran, directed by Euros Lyn and featured John Barrowman as Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, Kai Owen as Rhys Williams and Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones.

It notably introduced the 456 after the buildup in the previous two episodes. Torchwood Three also established a new temporary base of operations and pilfered a new car to replace their stolen SUV.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

The eyes of the world turn to Britain. The 456 announce: "We are here," as the new Torchwood adventure continues. A pillar of fire descends upon London and Torchwood must battle to protect their own families as the fight gets personal. Will Clem's memories destroy everything?

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

The team, including Rhys, have set up a base in an old factory once used by Torchwood One for storage. As a former police officer, Gwen knows all the tricks of the criminal trade, including stealing mobile phones, debit cards and laptops from people off the street. Jack makes off with a car. Soon the base is stocked with creature comforts; coffee, electricity, access to the Torchwood server, toiletries, and new clothes for the group, including replacement World War II era apparel for Jack, thanks to an Army Surplus special. When he researches the other people targeted for assassination, Jack is shocked. He seems to recognise them and he runs off.

In Cardiff, Jack's daughter Alice is still trying to contact him; she goes outside and borrows a girl's mobile to phone the Cardiff police, but the government's scanners pick up Jack's name and try to find the connection between them. Agent Johnson gets word of this. Her team take Alice and her son away to "help" them. Suddenly, Steven points southeastwards to London as all the children on Earth are pointing towards London.

A pillar of fire descends from the sky and enters Thames House. Fiery energy fills the gas containment system. John Frobisher and Mr Dekker meet with the aliens, who instruct the humans to call them "456". During the discussion, Frobisher extracts a promise from the 456 that it will not mention its previous visit to Earth in 1965.

Gwen surprises Lois Habiba at a cafe and asks her to wear some special contact lenses to allow Torchwood to see what is going on. Lois protests but takes the contacts. Gwen phones PC Andy to bail Clem McDonald out from police custody and brings him to the base.

Jack sneaks into Frobisher's house and steals his wife's mobile. He phones Frobisher, having made the connection between the children and the events of 1965. He threatens Frobisher with "blow[ing] this thing sky high". Frobisher tells Jack they have taken his daughter and grandson into custody and will kill them if he does. Jack threatens to do the same, but Frobisher knows he would never do such a thing.

That night, Frobisher, Bridget Spears and Lois Habiba enter the gas chamber room, which is being transmitted to a conference room where UNIT, an American general and Brian Green are watching. Frobisher demands the 456 cease using human children to communicate; in return the 456 demand a gift: 10% of the children on Earth.

Back at the warehouse base, Clem tells Gwen he can smell the man who brought the children to the aliens. When Jack walks in, Clem recognises him as the man who gave the twelve children up to the aliens in 1965. When Gwen protests that Jack is a "good guy" who fights aliens, Jack informs them that in this instance, he had done what was asked. He gave the 456 the children... "as a gift."

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics

Movement

Casting

General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



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.
          

This episode did not have a "created by Russell T Davies" credit.


Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • 5.9 million BBC One viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures
  • 6.4 million viewers, according to final official BARB viewing figures[1]
  • AI of 90%
  • 14th most-watched programme in Britain during the week of transmission

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Broadcasts[[edit] | [edit source]]

Date Time Channel Notes
Wednesday 8 July 2009 21:00 BBC One & BBC HD First broadcast.
Thursday 9 July 2009 00:00 BBC HD
Thursday 9 July 2009 00:15 BBC Three
Friday 31 July 2009 21:00 BBC Three
Saturday 1 August 2009 01:45 BBC Three
Tuesday 4 August 2009 22:00 BBC HD
Monday 29 December 2009 23:30 BBC HD

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

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.
  • During the first scene in the warehouse, when Jack "lets slip" he knew about the pregnancy, Gwen mutters, "You promised, John," instead of, "You promised, Jack". This was corrected in home media and streaming releases to "Christ, Jack."
  • When Lois Habiba wears the contact lens, she puts them both in the same eye (her left eye).
  • The green goo sprayed on the front of the tank disappears and reappears in different shapes several times between shots.
  • When Gwen is demonstrating the lenses to Lois, several times she looks in different directions and moves her head, but the display on the laptop doesn't move. Also, when Gwen blinks, the display is unaffected (although the computer program may be able to compensate the blinking).
  • When Torchwood accesses the (production mock-up) BBC News website, the word Minister is misspelled as "Minster".
  • Torchwood, like many BBC-produced shows in the 21st century including Doctor Who, is shot digitally at 50fps, and a film effect is introduced in post to remove every other frame, creating the illusion of more cinematic 25fps footage. However here are two moments in this episode where the film effect has not been applied to the footage. The first occurs during the high-wide shot of Frobisher addressing the 456, and is subtle enough to miss. The second occurs during the shot of the TV screen showing the news feed in the scene immediately afterwards, as well as close-up shots of the news feed later in the episode (particularly, after Frobisher receives the call about becoming the point-of-contact for the 456, and Jack leaves his daughter's house).
    • Of note, this error is noticeable because the BBC required production houses to provide material in 720p50 for broadcast purposes at the time Children of Earth was produced. The end credits of almost all BBC-produced or commissioned series are seen to scroll at 50fps. This is what allows this error to become apparent - if the material had been output at 25fps, it would go unnoticed.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Lois wears contact lenses with the same abilities as the ones Martha wore while infiltrating the Pharm. (TV: Reset [+]Loading...["Reset (TV story)"])
  • Ianto asks Jack whether he felt being blown up when the bomb inside him went off at the Torchwood Hub. (TV: Children of Earth: Day One [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)"])
  • Jack tells Ianto that the Doctor called him "a fixed point in time and space". (TV: Utopia [+]Loading...["Utopia (TV story)"])
  • Ianto shows his continued fondness for Jack's coat. (TV: End of Days [+]Loading...["End of Days (TV story)"], Fragments [+]Loading...["Fragments (TV story)"])
  • Gwen has taken Torchwood equipment home with her for "fun", as other members of Torchwood Three have. (TV: Everything Changes [+]Loading...["Everything Changes (TV story)"])

Home video releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Children of Earth: Day Three was released on DVD along with the rest of Children of Earth on 13 July 2009.
  • It was also released in the Series 1-4 boxset (Region 2 release: 14 November 2011.)

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ BARB Ratings - July, 2009
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