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

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{{Template:Infobox Torchwood
{{title dab away}}
|image         = [[File:tw_ep03_ianto_gwen_jack_01.jpg|250px]]
{{real world}}
|story name    = Children of Earth:<br>Day Three
{{ImageLinkTV}}
|series        = [[Torchwood]] - [[List of Torchwood television stories|TV Stories]]
{{Infobox Story SMW
|series number  = [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Series 3]]
|image                 = 456Arrival.jpg
|number        = 29
|series                = ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''
|enemy         = [[The 456]]
|season number        = Series 3 (Torchwood)
|writer        = [[Russell T Davies]] and [[James Moran]]
|series episode number = 3
|director       = [[Euros Lyn]]
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/torchwood-children-of-earth-episode-3-day-three-blue-revisions-28082008.pdf
|producer       = [[Peter Bennett]]
|main character        = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]], [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]]
|broadcast date = [[8th July]] [[2009]]
|featuring            = Lois Habiba
|previous story = [[Children of Earth: Day Two]]
|featuring2            = John Frobisher
|next story     = [[Children of Earth: Day Four]]
|featuring3            = Bridget Spears
}}
|featuring4            = Clem McDonald
|featuring5            = Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)
|featuring6            = Alice Carter
|featuring7            = Andy Davidson
|featuring8            = Trinity Wells
|featuring9            = French newsreader{{!}}Newsreader
|enemy                 = The [[456 ambassador]]
|setting              = [[London]] and [[Cardiff]], [[2009]]
|writer                = Russell T Davies, James Moran
|director             = [[Euros Lyn]]
|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, as the 456 announce: "We are here," as the new [[Torchwood 3|Torchwood]] adventure continues. As a pillar of fire descends upon London, the members of Torchwood must battle to protect their own families as the fight gets personal. But 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, plus [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]], have set up a base in an old factory (christened "Hub 2" by Rhys) that was used by [[Torchwood One]] for storage. Through her work as a former Police Officer, [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]] knows all the tricks of the criminal trade, namely 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 equipment and supplies. While he researchs the other people who were targeted for assassination, whose names he didn't know, Jack is shocked. He seems to recognize them. 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 the mention of Jack's name and attempt to find the connection between them. [[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Agent Johnson]] gets word of this and her team take Alice and her son away with them to "help" them, as it would be safer for Alice and Steven. Suddenly, Steven points southeastwards to London. 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 shoots out of the sky and enters [[Whitehall]]. Fiery energy fills the gas containment system. [[Frobisher|Mr Frobisher]] and [[Dekker|Mr Dekker]] meet with the aliens, who inform 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]].
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 the cafe and asks her to wear some [[Torchwood contact lenses|special contact lenses]] that allow the Torchwood team to view what is going on through them. Lois protests but takes the contacts with her despite her fear of committing treason. Gwen then phones [[Andy Davidson|PC Andy]] to bail Clem out from police custody and brings him back 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 and threatens Frobisher with "blow[ing] this thing sky high". In retaliation, Frobisher informs Jack that they have taken his daughter and grandson into custody will kill them if he does so. Jack threatens to do the same, but Frobisher knows that he would never do such a thing. The conversation ends.
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.


It is now night. Frobisher, Brigit Spears and Lois Habiba enter the gas chamber room where it is being filmed for the prime minister and being transmitted to a conference room where UNIT, the American general and the Prime Minister are watching. Frobisher demands that the 456 cease using human children to communicate through; 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 that he can smell the man who brought the children to the aliens. When Jack walks in, Clem then recognizes him as the man in 1965 who gave the twelve children up to the aliens. 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]]
*[[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
* [[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
*[[Lois Habiba]] - [[Cush Jumbo]]  
* [[Lois Habiba]] - [[Cush Jumbo]]
*[[Alice Carter]] - [[Lucy Cohu]]
* [[Alice Carter]] - [[Lucy Cohu]]
*[[Steven Carter]] - [[Bear McCausland]]  
* [[Steven Carter]] - [[Bear McCausland]]
*[[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 MacDonald]] - [[Paul Copley]]  
* [[Clem McDonald]] - [[Paul Copley]]
*[[Brian Green|Brian Green PM]] - [[Nicholas Farrell]]
* [[Brian Green|Brian Green PM]] - [[Nicholas Farrell]]
*[[Andy Davidson]] - [[Tom Price]]  
* [[Austin Pierce|General Pierce]] - [[Colin McFarlane]]
*[[Trinity Wells]] - [[Lachele Carl]]
* [[Dekker|Mr Dekker]] - [[Ian Gelder]]
* [[Andy Davidson|PC Andy Davidson]] - [[Tom Price]]
* [[Louise Minchin (in-universe)|Newsreader]] - [[Louise Minchin]]
* [[French newsreader|French Newsreader]] - [[Anthony Debaeck]]
* [[Trinity Wells]] - [[Lachele Carl]]
* [[Augustus Oduya|Colonel Oduya]] - [[Charles Abomeli]]
* [[Rhiannon Davies]] - [[Katy Wix]]
* [[Johnny Davies]] - [[Rhodri Lewis]]
* [[Anna Frobisher]] - [[Hilary Maclean]]
* [[Parliamentary Secretary (Children of Earth: Day One)|Parliamentary Secretary]] - [[Rachel Ferjani]]
* [[Press Officer]] - [[Christopher James]]
* [[Operative (Children of Earth: Day One)|Operative]] - [[Ben Loyd-Holmes]]
* [[David Davies]] - [[Luke Perry]]
* [[Mica Davies]] - [[Aimee Davies]]
* [[Holly Frobisher]] - [[Julia Joyce]]
* [[Lilly Frobisher]] - [[Madeleine Rakic-Platt]]
* [[Sandwich shop man|Sandwich Shop Man]] - [[Patrice Etienne]]
* [[The 456]] - [[Simon Poland]]
* [[Clement McDonald|Young Clem]] - [[Gregory Ferguson]]


==Production crew==
== Crew ==
Written by - Russell T Davies and James Moran
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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 being in ''[[The Sound of Drums]]'' when the Master kills ten percent 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]].
*The Childrens program [[wikipedia:Trapped! (TV series)|Trapped!]]&#160;is seen on the television.
* Clem describes [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] as "[[queer]]", which he considers to be highly offensive.
* Jack's lover, [[Lucia Moretti]], is said to have died in [[October]] [[2006]].
* [[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 ==
''to be added''
* 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


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


=== Filming Locations ===
=== Broadcasts ===
''to be added''
{| 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]]
|
|}


=== Discontinuity, Plot Holes and Errors ===
=== Production errors ===
* When Lois Habiba wears the contact lens, she puts them both in the same eye (her left eye).'' It is possible that it was the same lens, it may have fallen out of her eye. And it's unclear which shots are of the bathroom mirror. ''
{{Torchwood discontinuity}}
* The green goo sprayed on the front of the tank disappears and reappears in different shapes several times between shots. ''Actually, it runs to the bottom of the tank, look at the lower part of the glass''
* 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 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. ''(It looks to line up quite well actually. It is possible there is some "lag" between the lenses and the computer display.)''
* When Lois Habiba wears the contact lens, she puts them both in the same eye (her left eye).
* It seems a bit suspicious that Ianto managed to buy another coat for Jack that was exactly the same in every way to his previous one. ''Ianto said that he got it in "army surplus special". Also, it's never been stated that the coat destroyed in the Hub was Jack's only coat. Given his tendency to get shot, burned, etc. he presumably has replaced the coat on occasion. There may well be a surplus shop with a dozen of them on the rack and Ianto knew just where to go.''
* The green goo sprayed on the front of the tank disappears and reappears in different shapes several times between shots.
** Funny thing about it, though, is that it's always been implied that Jack's clothes have also been immune to destruction, like in [[Journey's End]] where he's put in an incinerator - and his clothes come out fresh as a daisy.'' It doesn't ever say that he is incinerated, it is likely that when the Daleks put Jack in and closed the door, Jack found a ledge and safety to hold onto. Plus if he was completely incinerated it would take a very long time for him to come back from almost nothing, as it takes him a whole day to recover even with a whole arm and sholder still intact in Day Two of Children of Earth'' .
* 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).
* Gwen gives Lois the contact lenses immediately after removing them from her own eyes and expects her to wear them immediately (she doesn't). Isn't it unhygienic to share contacts in this way? ''If Torchwood can develop contact lenses with the abilities shown, perhaps they found a way to make them sterile. That, or the lens case contains a cleaning solution we do not see (as many do in real life). It is also possible that Lois sterilized the lenses off-screen''''(Yes, it is unhygienic to share contact lenses. However given the seriousness of the situation, that is unlikely to be considered of foremost importance.)''''(Even more unrealistic is the fact that Lois does not seem to experience any discomfort while wearing the lenses. Usually, if someone is not used to contacts, the eyes will treat them as foreign objects, e.g. start to tear almost immediately) ''You're forgetting they are not proper contacts, maybe they have a defence against this.
* When Torchwood accesses the (production mock-up) BBC News website, the word Minister is misspelled as "Minster".
* Lois doesn't wear glasses, nor is she seen removing any contacts before rather easily putting the Torchwood ones in. Anyone who has ever had contacts for the first time knows it is very difficult -- and for some people, impossible -- to put them in without assistance the first time. ''Maybe Lois used to wear contacts and had a laser vision correction procedure? It is also possible she removed a pair of her own lenses first, off-screen, though the editing suggests this not to be the case. She could just as likely have not worn her lenses that day.''
* ''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).
*The contact lenses that Lois wears use lip reading software. When Martha wore the contact lenses, Torchwood was able to hear everything that Martha heard. ''Maybe Gwen and Rhys borrowed an early prototype that didn't pick up sound yet'' ''(At the time that Martha wore them, they had access to all of Torchwood's technology. This undoubtedly includes other surveillance equipment for them to have used in conjunction with the lenses.)''
** 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 the same abilities as the ones [[Martha Jones|Martha]] wore while infiltrating [[the Pharm]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Reset (TV story)}})
* 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)}})
* Jack tells Ianto that the [[Tenth Doctor|Doctor]] called him "a fixed point in time and space". ([[TV]]: {{cs|Utopia (TV story)}})
* 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 ==
* ''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 ==
{{Reflist}}


*[[Lois Habiba|Lois]] wears [[Torchwood contact lenses|contact lenses]] with same abilities as [[Martha Jones|Martha]] wore in [[Reset (Torchwood story)|''Reset'']].
{{TWTV}}
*[[The Doctor]] is mentioned. The last episode of Torchwood to explicitly reference The Doctor was [[Fragments|''Fragments'']].
{{UNIT stories}}
 
{{TitleSort}}
== DVD releases ==
[[fr:Day Three]]
*This Episode was released on DVD along with the rest of Children of Earth on the 13th of July, 2009.
[[ro:Children of Earth: Day Three]]
 
==See also==
''to be added''
 
==External links==
 


==Footnotes==
[[Category:Torchwood television stories]]
{{Torchwood series 3}}
[[Category:Series 3 (Torchwood) stories]]
[[Category:Torchwood episodes]]
[[Category:2009 television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2009]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2009]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in Cardiff]]
[[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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