Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
|image = | |image = Children of earth day 5 main.jpg | ||
|series = ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' | |series = ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' | ||
|season number = | |season number = Series 3 (Torchwood) | ||
|episode number = | |series episode number = 5 | ||
|main character = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]] | |scripturl = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/torchwood-children-of-earth-episode-5-day-five-green-revisions-09092008.pdf | ||
|featuring = | |main character = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]] | ||
|featuring = Lois Habiba | |||
|enemy | |featuring2 = John Frobisher | ||
|setting = [[Cardiff]] and [[London]], [[2009]] | |featuring3 = Bridget Spears | ||
|writer = | |featuring4 = Andy Davidson | ||
|director = [[Euros Lyn]] | |featuring5 = Alice Carter | ||
|producer = [[Peter Bennett]] | |featuring6 = Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One) | ||
|broadcast date = | |enemy = The [[456 ambassador]] | ||
|prev = Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story) | |setting = [[Cardiff]] and [[London]], [[2009]] | ||
|next = The New World (TV story) | |writer = Russell T Davies | ||
|clip = Day Five - The end of the world? - Torchwood Children of Earth - BBC | |director = [[Euros Lyn]] | ||
|clip2 = Fleeing the army - Torchwood Children of Earth - BBC | |producer = [[Peter Bennett]] | ||
|clip3=Jack makes the ultimate sacrifice - Torchwood - BBC | |network = BBC One | ||
|trailer = Torchwood Children of Earth - Day Five trailer - BBC One | |broadcast date = 10 July 2009 | ||
}} | |prev = Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story) | ||
'''''Children of Earth: Day Five''''' | |next = The New World (TV story) | ||
|clip = Day Five - The end of the world? - Torchwood Children of Earth - BBC | |||
|clip2 = Fleeing the army - Torchwood Children of Earth - BBC | |||
|clip3 = Jack makes the ultimate sacrifice - Torchwood - BBC | |||
|trailer = Torchwood Children of Earth - Day Five trailer - BBC One | |||
|format = 1x60 minute episode;<br/>Part 5 of 5}} | |||
'''''Children of Earth: Day Five''''' was the fifth and final episode of [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Series 3]] of ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''. It was written by [[Russell T Davies]], directed by [[Euros Lyn]] and featured [[John Barrowman]] as [[Jack Harkness]], [[Eve Myles]] as [[Gwen Cooper]] and [[Kai Owen]] as [[Rhys Williams]] | |||
It marked the resolution of the five-day crisis. [[John Frobisher]] was driven to kill his respective family in a [[murder]]/[[suicide]], after which his co-worker, [[Bridget Spears]], secured the downfall of [[Prime Minister]] [[Brian Green]] and let [[Denise Riley]] take charge of many governmental affairs, while [[Lois Habiba]] was exonerated. Additionally, [[Ianto Jones]]'s sister [[Rhiannon Davies]] and her husband [[Johnny Davies]] learnt about his death. | |||
Perhaps the most traumatic death on this final day of the conflict was that of Captain Jack Harkness's grandson, [[Steven Carter]], an event that caused his daughter, [[Alice Carter|Alice]], to sever all ties with him in grief and disgust. It would be one of the final nails in the coffin for Jack's operations with the [[Torchwood Institute]]. Ultimately, he would abandon the Institute after a six month period of travelling alone. Jack departed from [[Earth]], and, as its leader, officially disbanded [[Torchwood Three]], leaving Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams a safe world to raise their baby in, though because this branch was the only one known to still be operational, it meant Torchwood as a whole effectively ceased to exist. | |||
== Synopsis == | == Synopsis == | ||
[[Torchwood Three|Torchwood]] is defenceless and [[Gwen Cooper]] stands alone. As anarchy prevails, an ordinary council estate becomes a battleground for the future of the [[human]] race. | [[Torchwood Three|Torchwood]] is defenceless and [[Gwen Cooper]] stands alone. As [[anarchy]] prevails, [[Cromwell Estate|an ordinary council estate]] becomes a battleground for the future of the [[human]] race. | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
Gwen appears on a camcorder tape, asking why [[the Doctor]] has not appeared to save them. She remarks that sometimes he must be appalled at the way [[human]]ity deals with times of crisis. | Gwen appears on a camcorder tape, asking why [[the Doctor]] has not appeared to save them. She remarks that sometimes he must be appalled at the way [[human]]ity deals with times of crisis. | ||
Jack and Gwen are rounded up by the special forces, [[Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Johnson]] arresting Jack to take back. After a tearful goodbye with Gwen, Jack informs her to save as many children as possible. | |||
Meanwhile, [[Brian Green|Green]] speaks to the nation, telling the UK about the upcoming "inoculations" and saying it is safe for the children to return to school. [[Augustus Oduya|Colonel Oduya]] of [[UNIT]] talks with [[the 456]], asking them what they need the children for. He is told that the children are for "the hit": they create chemicals which the 456 use as recreational drugs. They show one of the children from 1965, still alive, conscious and the same age, connected directly to the 456. Despite being horrified at this motive, the government begins to put their plan into action. | |||
[[John Frobisher]] is ordered by the Prime Minister to publicly state that his own children will be taken for "inoculation," to portray themselves as much victims as the public and to make the 456 the true villains. Frobisher threatens to reveal to the press the true nature of the inoculations. | [[John Frobisher]] is ordered by the Prime Minister to publicly state that his own children will be taken for "inoculation," to portray themselves as much victims as the public and to make the 456 the true villains. Frobisher threatens to reveal to the press the true nature of the inoculations. Green persuades him not to, noting that Frobisher's children would know their fate, and shows him little sympathy. He has [[Bridget Spears]] obtain a pistol for him, which he takes to his house. Once he ensures his wife and two daughters are together upstairs, he closes the door and shoots the three dead, preferring that to having his children suffer for a countless number of years at the hands of the 456. After a moment, he commits suicide. | ||
Concurrently, Bridget Spears visits [[Lois Habiba]] in prison, where she is being held on charges of [[espionage]]. She tells Lois that "John Frobisher was a good man and it wasn't his fault, nor will history remember him this way". | |||
[[Rhiannon Davies]] and [[Johnny Davies|Johnny]], told by [[Ianto Jones| | [[Rhiannon Davies|Rhiannon]] and [[Johnny Davies|Johnny]], told by [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] that the government is lying, keep their "creche" service running for the local estate. Gwen, [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]] and [[Andy Davidson]] arrive to tell them of Ianto's death and warn them special forces will soon arrive to take the children. While doing so, Gwen learns Ianto had lied about his father's job, upsetting Rhiannon. Gwen also tells Rhys that she has decided to get an [[abortion]], as she doesn't want to bring a child into this kind of world. As Gwen, Rhys and Rhiannon prepare to help the children escape, Johnny informs a nearby crowd of fathers they'll never see their kids again, rallying them against the arriving soldiers. They begin attacking the army, throwing bricks and [[punch]]ing them, who counter with riot shields, leading to a street brawl. Andy tries to call his superiors to learn what is happening. He watches as soldiers break into people's houses and take children away. Realising that what the soldiers are doing is wrong, Andy removes his police jacket and tie and joins the resistance. Despite [[punch]]ing some of the soldiers, Andy, Johnny and the others are overwhelmed by force of numbers and forced to the ground, held down by batons to keep them there. | ||
Rhys, Rhiannon and Gwen take the children to abandoned warehouses at the bottom of a field. After they get the children quiet, Gwen makes the tape. She and Rhys then | Rhys, Rhiannon and Gwen take the children to abandoned warehouses at the bottom of a field. After they get the children quiet, Gwen makes the tape. She and Rhys then talk, and she agrees that she won't abort the baby, knowing how much her husband will suffer. They are soon discovered by the troops and have to run again. Rhiannon and Rhys are captured by the soldiers as are many of the children. Gwen and one child keep running. Meanwhile, a pirate station is attempting to publicly broadcast the soldiers taking the children to the rendezvous points on "Digital 141" but the government shuts it down. | ||
Taken by | Taken by Johnson to a warehouse full of equipment to try to stop the 456, Jack, with the help of Dekker and Johnson, devises a way to defeat the 456 using a reconstitution wave of the same wavelength the 456 used to kill [[Clem McDonald|Clem]], using the children as one vast transmitter. [[Dekker|Mr Dekker]] tells him that for it to work, the wave needs to be sent via one child, who will "fry". They only have one child available to them: [[Steven Carter|Steven]]. | ||
[[File:Jack's_Sacrifice.jpg|thumb|left|Jack saves the world at a terrible price.]] | [[File:Jack's_Sacrifice.jpg|thumb|left|Jack saves the world at a terrible price.]] | ||
Ignoring his feelings and [[Alice Carter|his own daughter's]] protests, Jack uses his grandson as the prime transmitter. Alice tries to tell Steven to escape. Steven, still thinking that Jack is his uncle, does not run but asks Jack what he is doing. Jack ignores the question and transmits the signal. Oduya | Ignoring his feelings and [[Alice Carter|his own daughter's]] protests, Jack uses his grandson as the prime transmitter. Alice tries to tell Steven to escape. Steven, still thinking that Jack is his uncle, does not run but asks Jack what he is doing. Jack ignores the question and transmits the signal. Oduya, monitoring the 456, watches as it smacks the tank edges, screeching. [[Blood]] splatters on the glass. There is an explosion of blood and the tank fills with bright light. Jack and Alice watch in horror as Steven spasms, the signal killing him stone dead. The [[pillar of fire]] appears and moves up through the sky, vanishing, taking with it any remains of the [[456 ambassador]]. The group look sombrely as Alice runs to her son. She weeps over his corpse, screaming "why?" Jack too is tearful, as are Dekker and Johnson. Gwen, the only one from the estate left still free, happily embraces the liberated children; the soldiers stand down. | ||
Meanwhile, Green, once the cabinet in the [[COBRA]] meeting have dispersed (save Bridget and [[Denise Riley]]) immediately makes plans to blame the day's events on the Americans, claiming they acted without authorisation. Disgusted that despite everything Green is only interested in saving his own skin, Bridget reveals she recorded everything he said during the days session with the [[Eye-5|contact lenses]], having learned how to use them from Lois. She now intends to release everything they've recorded to the public, partly as revenge for what he did to Frobisher. When Green threatens Bridget with arrest, Riley takes charge and allows Bridget to leave while also promising to have Lois released. Riley also makes it clear to Green that one way or another, his days as Prime Minister are almost over. | |||
Sometime later, Jack grieves as he waits for Alice in a corridor, but, when she arrives, she glares at him, quickly turning around. Understanding, Jack gets up and leaves through the other exit. | |||
''Six Months Later'' | ''Six Months Later'' | ||
[[File:Jack_leaves_Earth.jpg|thumb|Jack leaves Earth.]] | |||
Jack has travelled the world for six months, but this is not enough to rid himself of his guilt. He arranges a meeting with Gwen — now heavily [[pregnant]] — and Rhys on a hilltop in a remote location. Once reunited, Gwen returns Jack [[Jack Harkness' vortex manipulator|his vortex manipulator]] as requested; the only thing not destroyed when the hub was bombed. Jack confesses his guilt at having lost everyone close to him, save Gwen. He tells them that there is a [[cold fusion freighter]] near the edge of the [[Solar System|Sol System]]. He intends to get onboard for further travels. Gwen tearfully tells him he can't just run away. He replies, "Yes I can. Watch me". He uses his vortex manipulator to signal the freighter, which teleports him off Earth. | |||
Gwen is left sobbing in Rhys' arms. They both walk away in forlorn, knowing that Torchwood is finished. | |||
Gwen is left sobbing in Rhys' arms | |||
== Cast == | == Cast == | ||
* | * [[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]] | ||
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]] | * [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]] | ||
* [[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]] | * [[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]] | ||
| Line 68: | Line 77: | ||
* [[Bridget Spears]] - [[Susan Brown]] | * [[Bridget Spears]] - [[Susan Brown]] | ||
* [[John Frobisher]] - [[Peter Capaldi]] | * [[John Frobisher]] - [[Peter Capaldi]] | ||
* [[Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Johnson]] - [[Liz May Brice]] | |||
* [[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Johnson]] - [[Liz May Brice]] | |||
* [[Brian Green|Brian Green PM]] - [[Nicholas Farrell]] | * [[Brian Green|Brian Green PM]] - [[Nicholas Farrell]] | ||
* [[Denise Riley]] - [[Deborah Findlay]] | * [[Denise Riley]] - [[Deborah Findlay]] | ||
| Line 85: | Line 93: | ||
* [[Mum (Children of Earth: Day Five)|Mum]] - [[Rhiannon Oliver]] | * [[Mum (Children of Earth: Day Five)|Mum]] - [[Rhiannon Oliver]] | ||
* [[Newsreader (Children of Earth)|Newsreader]] - [[Louise Minchin]] | * [[Newsreader (Children of Earth)|Newsreader]] - [[Louise Minchin]] | ||
=== Uncredited roles === | |||
* [[Augustus Oduya|Colonel Oduya]] - [[Charles Abomeli]] | |||
* [[Suzanne (Children of Earth: Day Five)|Suzanne]] - [[Catherine Olding]] | |||
== Crew == | == Crew == | ||
| Line 379: | Line 391: | ||
}} | }} | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
=== Individuals === | === Individuals === | ||
* Jack tells Gwen he feels responsible for the deaths of [[Steven Carter]], [[Ianto Jones]], [[Toshiko Sato]], [[Owen Harper]] and [[Suzie Costello]]. | * Jack tells Gwen he feels responsible for the deaths of [[Steven Carter]], [[Ianto Jones]], [[Toshiko Sato]], [[Owen Harper]] and [[Suzie Costello]]. | ||
| Line 387: | Line 399: | ||
=== Languages === | === Languages === | ||
* When Gwen returns to [[Cardiff]] and meets [[Andy Davidson]], he says the words, "Croeso i | * When Gwen returns to [[Cardiff]] and meets [[Andy Davidson]], he says the words, "Croeso i Gymru", which is [[Welsh language|Welsh]] for "Welcome to [[Wales]]." | ||
=== Organisations === | |||
* The [[World Health Organization]] is mentioned on the news. | |||
== Story notes == | == Story notes == | ||
* [[Russell T Davies]] originally wrote a role for [[Noel Clarke]] as [[Mickey Smith]] in both ''Day Four'' and ''Day Five'', but these scenes were cut when Clarke became unavailable due to a film commitment. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]'') | * [[Russell T Davies]] originally wrote a role for [[Noel Clarke]] as [[Mickey Smith]] in both ''Day Four'' and ''Day Five'', but these scenes were cut when Clarke became unavailable due to a film commitment. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]'') | ||
* Originally, the final shot of the episode was to have been of a computer screen reading "TORCHWOOD STATUS: TERMINATED," referring to the cessation of all Torchwood operations in the UK by the end of the miniseries. This was taken out at a late stage, as Davies did not wish to give the impression that the series had been cancelled, even though he knew that ''Children of Earth'' might very possibly be the last-ever instalment of ''Torchwood''. As it turned out, ''Children of Earth'' would indeed prove to be the finale of the show's original incarnation, but the series continued as a British-American co-production starting in 2011. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]'') | * Originally, the final shot of the episode was to have been of a computer screen reading "TORCHWOOD STATUS: TERMINATED," referring to the cessation of all Torchwood operations in the UK by the end of the miniseries. This was taken out at a late stage, as Davies did not wish to give the impression that the series had been cancelled, even though he knew that ''Children of Earth'' might very possibly be the last-ever instalment of ''Torchwood''. As it turned out, ''Children of Earth'' would indeed prove to be the finale of the show's original incarnation, but the series continued as a British-American co-production starting in 2011. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]'') | ||
* | * This is the last ''Torchwood'' episode to use the original closing theme from ''[[Series 1 (Torchwood)|Series 1]]'', as ''[[Series 4 (Torchwood)|Miracle Day]]'' would use a new arrangement for the closing theme. The same is for the opening credits, which was a new arrangement for the series. | ||
* Even though [[Augustus Oduya|Colonel Oduya]] is in the episode in a major role, his actor, [[Charles Abomeli]], was not credited. | |||
=== Ratings === | === Ratings === | ||
* 5.8 million [[BBC One]] viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures | * 5.8 million [[BBC One]] viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures | ||
* 6. | * 6.58 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% | * [[AI]] of 90% | ||
* 12th most-watched programme in [[Britain]] during the week of transmission | * 12th most-watched programme in [[Britain]] during the week of transmission | ||
| Line 407: | Line 422: | ||
* Cefn Coed Road - The [[John Frobisher|Frobisher]] residence | * Cefn Coed Road - The [[John Frobisher|Frobisher]] residence | ||
* M.O.D Caerwent | * M.O.D Caerwent | ||
=== Broadcasts === | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
!Date | |||
!Time | |||
!Channel | |||
!class="unsortable"|Notes | |||
|- | |||
|[[Friday]] [[10 July (releases)|10 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]] | |||
|21:00 | |||
|[[BBC One]] & [[BBC HD]] | |||
|First broadcast. | |||
|- | |||
|[[Saturday]] [[11 July (releases)|11 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]] | |||
|00:05 | |||
|[[BBC HD]] | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|[[Saturday]] [[11 July (releases)|11 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]] | |||
|00:15 | |||
|[[BBC Three]] | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|[[Friday]] [[14 August (releases)|14 August]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]] | |||
|21:00 | |||
|[[BBC Three]] | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|[[Saturday]] [[15 August (releases)|15 August]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]] | |||
|00:50 | |||
|[[BBC Three]] | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|[[Tuesday]] [[18 August (releases)|18 August]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]] | |||
|23:00 | |||
|[[BBC HD]] | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|[[Saturday]] [[2 January (releases)|2 January]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]] | |||
|00:15 | |||
|[[BBC HD]] | |||
| | |||
|} | |||
=== Production errors === | === Production errors === | ||
| Line 413: | Line 471: | ||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
* Exhausted with his inability to take the unfolding crisis seriously, Rhiannon silences Johnny's fixation of making "ten quid a kid" off babysitting children as done in [[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)}} and {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)}}. | |||
* Johnny triggers a second diversion to thwart the government's hostile actions in his neighbourhood. The first was accusing a pair of surveillance agents of being perverts and [[paedophile]]s, leading a group of teenagers in force to harass their vehicle and buy time for Rhiannon to drive off unwitnessed, as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Two (TV story)}}, | |||
* Upon the apparent death of the [[456 ambassador]], he [[teleport]]s away in another [[pillar of fire]] like in [[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)}}. | |||
* Exhausted with his inability to take the unfolding crisis seriously, Rhiannon silences Johnny's fixation of making "ten quid a kid" off babysitting children | * Bridget used the [[Eye-5]] contact lenses to incriminate Green in the exact same manner as Lois did during the events of [[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)}}. | ||
* Johnny triggers a second diversion to thwart the government's hostile actions in his neighbourhood. The first was accusing a pair of surveillance agents of being perverts and [[paedophile]]s, leading a group of teenagers in force to harass their vehicle and buy time for Rhiannon to drive off unwitnessed | * Jack refers to the deaths of [[Ianto Jones]], [[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)}}, [[Toshiko Sato]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|Exit Wounds (TV story)}}, [[Owen Harper]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|Reset (TV story)}} and {{cs|Exit Wounds (TV story)}} and [[Suzie Costello]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|Everything Changes (TV story)}}, and {{cs|They Keep Killing Suzie (TV story)}}. | ||
* | |||
* Bridget used the [[Eye-5]] contact lenses to incriminate Green in the exact same manner as Lois did | |||
* | |||
== Home video releases == | == Home video releases == | ||
* ''Children of Earth: Day Five'' was released on DVD along with the rest of ''Children of Earth'' on [[13 July (releases)|13 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]. | * ''Children of Earth: Day Five'' 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 == | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
{{TWTV}} | {{TWTV}} | ||
{{UNIT stories}} | {{UNIT stories}} | ||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[fr:Day Five]] | [[fr:Day Five]] | ||
[[ro:Children of Earth: Day Five]] | [[ro:Children of Earth: Day Five]] | ||
[[ru:Дети Земли: День Пятый]] | [[ru:Дети Земли: День Пятый]] | ||
[[Category:Torchwood television stories]] | [[Category:Torchwood television stories]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in 2009]] | [[Category:Stories set in 2009]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in 2010]] | [[Category:Stories set in 2010]] | ||
[[Category:Series 3 (Torchwood) stories]] | [[Category:Series 3 (Torchwood) stories]] | ||
[[Category:UNIT television stories]] | [[Category:UNIT television stories]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Stories set in the City of Westminster]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Needs crew check]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:45, 3 November 2024
Children of Earth: Day Five was the fifth and final episode of Series 3 of Torchwood. It was written by Russell T Davies, directed by Euros Lyn and featured John Barrowman as Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper and Kai Owen as Rhys Williams
It marked the resolution of the five-day crisis. John Frobisher was driven to kill his respective family in a murder/suicide, after which his co-worker, Bridget Spears, secured the downfall of Prime Minister Brian Green and let Denise Riley take charge of many governmental affairs, while Lois Habiba was exonerated. Additionally, Ianto Jones's sister Rhiannon Davies and her husband Johnny Davies learnt about his death.
Perhaps the most traumatic death on this final day of the conflict was that of Captain Jack Harkness's grandson, Steven Carter, an event that caused his daughter, Alice, to sever all ties with him in grief and disgust. It would be one of the final nails in the coffin for Jack's operations with the Torchwood Institute. Ultimately, he would abandon the Institute after a six month period of travelling alone. Jack departed from Earth, and, as its leader, officially disbanded Torchwood Three, leaving Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams a safe world to raise their baby in, though because this branch was the only one known to still be operational, it meant Torchwood as a whole effectively ceased to exist.
Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]
Torchwood is defenceless and Gwen Cooper stands alone. As anarchy prevails, an ordinary council estate becomes a battleground for the future of the human race.
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
Gwen appears on a camcorder tape, asking why the Doctor has not appeared to save them. She remarks that sometimes he must be appalled at the way humanity deals with times of crisis.
Jack and Gwen are rounded up by the special forces, Johnson arresting Jack to take back. After a tearful goodbye with Gwen, Jack informs her to save as many children as possible.
Meanwhile, Green speaks to the nation, telling the UK about the upcoming "inoculations" and saying it is safe for the children to return to school. Colonel Oduya of UNIT talks with the 456, asking them what they need the children for. He is told that the children are for "the hit": they create chemicals which the 456 use as recreational drugs. They show one of the children from 1965, still alive, conscious and the same age, connected directly to the 456. Despite being horrified at this motive, the government begins to put their plan into action.
John Frobisher is ordered by the Prime Minister to publicly state that his own children will be taken for "inoculation," to portray themselves as much victims as the public and to make the 456 the true villains. Frobisher threatens to reveal to the press the true nature of the inoculations. Green persuades him not to, noting that Frobisher's children would know their fate, and shows him little sympathy. He has Bridget Spears obtain a pistol for him, which he takes to his house. Once he ensures his wife and two daughters are together upstairs, he closes the door and shoots the three dead, preferring that to having his children suffer for a countless number of years at the hands of the 456. After a moment, he commits suicide.
Concurrently, Bridget Spears visits Lois Habiba in prison, where she is being held on charges of espionage. She tells Lois that "John Frobisher was a good man and it wasn't his fault, nor will history remember him this way".
Rhiannon and Johnny, told by Ianto that the government is lying, keep their "creche" service running for the local estate. Gwen, Rhys and Andy Davidson arrive to tell them of Ianto's death and warn them special forces will soon arrive to take the children. While doing so, Gwen learns Ianto had lied about his father's job, upsetting Rhiannon. Gwen also tells Rhys that she has decided to get an abortion, as she doesn't want to bring a child into this kind of world. As Gwen, Rhys and Rhiannon prepare to help the children escape, Johnny informs a nearby crowd of fathers they'll never see their kids again, rallying them against the arriving soldiers. They begin attacking the army, throwing bricks and punching them, who counter with riot shields, leading to a street brawl. Andy tries to call his superiors to learn what is happening. He watches as soldiers break into people's houses and take children away. Realising that what the soldiers are doing is wrong, Andy removes his police jacket and tie and joins the resistance. Despite punching some of the soldiers, Andy, Johnny and the others are overwhelmed by force of numbers and forced to the ground, held down by batons to keep them there.
Rhys, Rhiannon and Gwen take the children to abandoned warehouses at the bottom of a field. After they get the children quiet, Gwen makes the tape. She and Rhys then talk, and she agrees that she won't abort the baby, knowing how much her husband will suffer. They are soon discovered by the troops and have to run again. Rhiannon and Rhys are captured by the soldiers as are many of the children. Gwen and one child keep running. Meanwhile, a pirate station is attempting to publicly broadcast the soldiers taking the children to the rendezvous points on "Digital 141" but the government shuts it down.
Taken by Johnson to a warehouse full of equipment to try to stop the 456, Jack, with the help of Dekker and Johnson, devises a way to defeat the 456 using a reconstitution wave of the same wavelength the 456 used to kill Clem, using the children as one vast transmitter. Mr Dekker tells him that for it to work, the wave needs to be sent via one child, who will "fry". They only have one child available to them: Steven.
Ignoring his feelings and his own daughter's protests, Jack uses his grandson as the prime transmitter. Alice tries to tell Steven to escape. Steven, still thinking that Jack is his uncle, does not run but asks Jack what he is doing. Jack ignores the question and transmits the signal. Oduya, monitoring the 456, watches as it smacks the tank edges, screeching. Blood splatters on the glass. There is an explosion of blood and the tank fills with bright light. Jack and Alice watch in horror as Steven spasms, the signal killing him stone dead. The pillar of fire appears and moves up through the sky, vanishing, taking with it any remains of the 456 ambassador. The group look sombrely as Alice runs to her son. She weeps over his corpse, screaming "why?" Jack too is tearful, as are Dekker and Johnson. Gwen, the only one from the estate left still free, happily embraces the liberated children; the soldiers stand down.
Meanwhile, Green, once the cabinet in the COBRA meeting have dispersed (save Bridget and Denise Riley) immediately makes plans to blame the day's events on the Americans, claiming they acted without authorisation. Disgusted that despite everything Green is only interested in saving his own skin, Bridget reveals she recorded everything he said during the days session with the contact lenses, having learned how to use them from Lois. She now intends to release everything they've recorded to the public, partly as revenge for what he did to Frobisher. When Green threatens Bridget with arrest, Riley takes charge and allows Bridget to leave while also promising to have Lois released. Riley also makes it clear to Green that one way or another, his days as Prime Minister are almost over.
Sometime later, Jack grieves as he waits for Alice in a corridor, but, when she arrives, she glares at him, quickly turning around. Understanding, Jack gets up and leaves through the other exit.
Six Months Later
Jack has travelled the world for six months, but this is not enough to rid himself of his guilt. He arranges a meeting with Gwen — now heavily pregnant — and Rhys on a hilltop in a remote location. Once reunited, Gwen returns Jack his vortex manipulator as requested; the only thing not destroyed when the hub was bombed. Jack confesses his guilt at having lost everyone close to him, save Gwen. He tells them that there is a cold fusion freighter near the edge of the Sol System. He intends to get onboard for further travels. Gwen tearfully tells him he can't just run away. He replies, "Yes I can. Watch me". He uses his vortex manipulator to signal the freighter, which teleports him off Earth.
Gwen is left sobbing in Rhys' arms. They both walk away in forlorn, knowing that Torchwood is finished.
Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Captain Jack Harkness - John Barrowman
- Gwen Cooper - Eve Myles
- Rhys Williams - Kai Owen
- Lois Habiba - Cush Jumbo
- Alice Carter - Lucy Cohu
- Mr Dekker - Ian Gelder
- Steven Carter - Bear McCausland
- Bridget Spears - Susan Brown
- John Frobisher - Peter Capaldi
- Johnson - Liz May Brice
- Brian Green PM - Nicholas Farrell
- Denise Riley - Deborah Findlay
- Austin Pierce - Colin McFarlane
- Andy Davidson - Tom Price
- Rhiannon Davies - Katy Wix
- Johnny Davies - Rhodri Lewis
- Anna Frobisher - Hilary Maclean
- David Davies - Luke Perry
- Mica Davies - Aimee Davies
- Holly Frobisher - Julia Joyce
- Lilly Frobisher - Madeleine Rakic-Platt
- The 456 - Simon Poland
- Female Teacher - Lorna Bennett
- Mum - Rhiannon Oliver
- Newsreader - Louise Minchin
Uncredited roles[[edit] | [edit source]]
Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]
| Executive Producers Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner |
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| 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. |
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This episode did not have a "created by Russell T Davies" credit. |
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Jack tells Gwen he feels responsible for the deaths of Steven Carter, Ianto Jones, Toshiko Sato, Owen Harper and Suzie Costello.
The Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor is referenced by Gwen.
Languages[[edit] | [edit source]]
- When Gwen returns to Cardiff and meets Andy Davidson, he says the words, "Croeso i Gymru", which is Welsh for "Welcome to Wales."
Organisations[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The World Health Organization is mentioned on the news.
Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Russell T Davies originally wrote a role for Noel Clarke as Mickey Smith in both Day Four and Day Five, but these scenes were cut when Clarke became unavailable due to a film commitment. (REF: Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter)
- Originally, the final shot of the episode was to have been of a computer screen reading "TORCHWOOD STATUS: TERMINATED," referring to the cessation of all Torchwood operations in the UK by the end of the miniseries. This was taken out at a late stage, as Davies did not wish to give the impression that the series had been cancelled, even though he knew that Children of Earth might very possibly be the last-ever instalment of Torchwood. As it turned out, Children of Earth would indeed prove to be the finale of the show's original incarnation, but the series continued as a British-American co-production starting in 2011. (REF: Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter)
- This is the last Torchwood episode to use the original closing theme from Series 1, as Miracle Day would use a new arrangement for the closing theme. The same is for the opening credits, which was a new arrangement for the series.
- Even though Colonel Oduya is in the episode in a major role, his actor, Charles Abomeli, was not credited.
Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]
- 5.8 million BBC One viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures
- 6.58 million viewers, according to final official BARB viewing figures[1]
- AI of 90%
- 12th most-watched programme in Britain during the week of transmission
Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Rupert Brooke Drive
- Thames House - London
- Maindee Police Station - Newport
- Cefn Coed Road - The Frobisher residence
- M.O.D Caerwent
Broadcasts[[edit] | [edit source]]
| Date | Time | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 10 July 2009 | 21:00 | BBC One & BBC HD | First broadcast. |
| Saturday 11 July 2009 | 00:05 | BBC HD | |
| Saturday 11 July 2009 | 00:15 | BBC Three | |
| Friday 14 August 2009 | 21:00 | BBC Three | |
| Saturday 15 August 2009 | 00:50 | BBC Three | |
| Tuesday 18 August 2009 | 23:00 | BBC HD | |
| Saturday 2 January 2010 | 00:15 | 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.
- While Alice is rocking her son's dead body, he moves his hands.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Exhausted with his inability to take the unfolding crisis seriously, Rhiannon silences Johnny's fixation of making "ten quid a kid" off babysitting children as done in TV: Children of Earth: Day Three [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)"] and Children of Earth: Day Four [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)"].
- Johnny triggers a second diversion to thwart the government's hostile actions in his neighbourhood. The first was accusing a pair of surveillance agents of being perverts and paedophiles, leading a group of teenagers in force to harass their vehicle and buy time for Rhiannon to drive off unwitnessed, as seen in TV: Children of Earth: Day Two [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Two (TV story)"],
- Upon the apparent death of the 456 ambassador, he teleports away in another pillar of fire like in TV: Children of Earth: Day Three [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)"].
- Bridget used the Eye-5 contact lenses to incriminate Green in the exact same manner as Lois did during the events of TV: Children of Earth: Day Four [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)"].
- Jack refers to the deaths of Ianto Jones, TV: Children of Earth: Day Four [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)"], Toshiko Sato in TV: Exit Wounds [+]Loading...["Exit Wounds (TV story)"], Owen Harper in TV: Reset [+]Loading...["Reset (TV story)"] and Exit Wounds [+]Loading...["Exit Wounds (TV story)"] and Suzie Costello in TV: Everything Changes [+]Loading...["Everything Changes (TV story)"], and They Keep Killing Suzie [+]Loading...["They Keep Killing Suzie (TV story)"].