Immortal Sins (TV story): Difference between revisions

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{{title|''{{PAGENAME}}''}} <!--If this title is disambiguated with (TV story), replace this with {{title|{{#sub:''{{PAGENAME}}|(|-10|}}'' (TV story)}}-->{{real world}}{{Infobox Torchwood
{{title dab away}}
|story name      = {{PAGENAME}}
{{real world}}
|image           =  
{{ImageLinkTV}}
|series           = [[Torchwood]] - [[List of Torchwood television stories|TV stories]]
{{Infobox Story SMW
|series number   = [[series 4 (Torchwood)|4]]
|image                 = Immortal sins main.jpg
|number           = 38
|series               = ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''
|featuring       = [[Jack Harkness]] <br> [[Gwen Cooper]] <br> [[Rex Matheson]] (cameo) <br> [[Esther Drummond]] (cameo) <br> [[Rhys Williams]] (cameo)
|season number         = Series 4 (Torchwood)
|enemy           = <!--please leave this blank until ep 8 airs, as the enemies of ep 7 aren't named in this ep-->
|series episode number = 7
|setting          = {{bp|[[New York City]], [[1927]]|[[Los Angeles]], [[California]], [[2011]]|[[Swansea]] Bay, [[Wales]], [[2011]]|[[Venice Beach]], [[California]], [[2011]]|[[Sing Sing Prison]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[1928]]|[[New York City]], [[1928]]|[[Mesa]], [[California]], [[2011]]}}
|main character       = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]]
|writer           = [[Jane Espenson]]
|featuring            = Rex Matheson
|director         = [[Gwyneth Horder-Payton]]
|featuring2            = Esther Drummond
|producer         = [[Kelly A Manners]]
|featuring3            = Rhys Williams
|broadcast date   = [[19th August]] [[2011]]
|featuring4           = Mary Cooper
|previous story  = [[The Middle Men]]
|featuring5            = Anwen Williams
|next story      = [[End of the Road]]
|featuring6            = Andy Davidson
}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}'''''<ref>As with all episodes of ''[[Torchwood: Miracle Day]]'', the episode title was not given onscreen, but comes instead from the official [[Starz]] [http://www.starz.com/originals/Torchwood ''Miracle Day'' website]</ref> was the seventh episode of ''[[Torchwood: Miracle Day]]''.
|enemy                = [[Angelo Colasanto]]
|setting              = {{il|[[New York City]], [[1927]] and [[1928]]|[[Swansea]] Bay and [[Los Angeles]], [[2011]]}}
|writer               = Jane Espenson
|director             = [[Gwyneth Horder-Payton]]
|producer             = [[Kelly A Manners]]
|broadcast date       = 19 August 2011
|network              = Starz
|prev                  = The Middle Men (TV story)
|next                 = End of the Road (TV story)
|trailer              =
|clip                  =
|clip2                =
|format = 1x55-minute episode<br/>Part 7 of 10}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the seventh episode of [[Series 4 (Torchwood)|Series 4]] of ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''. It was written by [[Jane Espenson]], directed by [[Gwyneth Horder-Payton]] and featured [[Rex Matheson]] and [[Esther Drummond]] resigned to cameo roles. For the most part, it consisted of a flashback in pre-[[Great Depression|Depression]] era [[New York City]], which introduced the character of [[Angelo Colasanto]], a lover that [[Jack Harkness]] met while standing in line at [[Ellis Island]].
 
From a continuity standpoint, it was clearly the single episode of ''Miracle Day'' which made the most references to the broader [[DWU]], even referencing the ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' character [[the Trickster]]. Narratively speaking, it was the only episode in the ''Miracle Day'' arc to feature the appearance of [[Brainspawn|an alien]].


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
Gwen must fight to protect her family and takes a terrifying journey with Jack, covering both miles and decades, as the long history of the Miracle is beginning to be revealed.
[[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]] must fight to protect her family. She takes a terrifying journey covering miles and decades with [[Jack Harkness|Jack]] as the long history of [[Miracle Day|the Miracle]] is partially revealed.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
''to be added''
[[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]] drives [[Jack Harkness|Jack]] through [[California]] to bring him to the people holding her family.
 
Flashbacks are seen of Jack's past. In [[1920s]] [[New York City]], he awaits his visa at [[Ellis Island]]. [[Angelo Colasanto]] steals it. Jack confronts him, retrieves his [[passport|visa]] and visits Angelo in his cell. They talk, and Jack uses technology to create a [[visa]] for Angelo.
 
Angelo is freed and enters a relationship with Jack. At one point, they are retrieving an alien from a base when Jack is shot dead. Angelo is captured and imprisoned. Jack returns to [[America]] after Angelo's release. Angelo is terrified by Jack's [[immortality]].
 
Angelo takes Jack to the [[butcher]] shop beneath their room. There are people terrified of Jack. They sadistically attack him with knives, [[Firearm|guns]] and meat hooks to kill him and collect his [[blood]]. Three men visit Jack. They seem to know something about his immortality. Angelo, overwhelmed with horror and guilt, eventually lets Jack go. Jack quickly recovers and flees with Angelo to a rooftop, where he explains his immortality before jumping off to his "death". When Angelo reaches the ground, Jack is gone.
 
As Gwen and Jack arrive, [[Rex Matheson|Rex]] and [[Esther Drummond|Esther]] have contacted [[Andy Davidson]] in [[Wales]]. He has freed Gwen's family. They train [[sniper]]s on the three people who want to capture Jack. Jack says he has won, but they say that Jack will come with them anyway because they have the information about [[Miracle Day|the Miracle]] that he wants to know. Angelo is still alive. He has something to do with the Miracle.


==Cast==
== Cast ==
<!--Please remember that Miracle Day is an American show, for
* [[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
    all practical purposes. Our spelling policy therefore preferences
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
    American spellings.
* [[Rex Matheson]] - [[Mekhi Phifer]]
-->
* [[Esther Drummond]] - [[Alexa Havins]]
*[[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* [[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
*[[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
* [[Mary Cooper]] - [[Sharon Morgan]]
*[[Rex Matheson]] - [[Mekhi Phifer]]
* [[Olivia Colasanto]] - [[Nana Visitor]]
*[[Esther Drummond]] - [[Alexa Havins]]
* [[Andy Davidson]] - [[Tom Price]]
*[[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
* [[Angelo Colasanto]] - [[Daniele Favilli]]
*[[Mary Cooper]] - [[Sharon Morgan]]
* [[Inspector (Immortal Sins)|Inspector]] - [[Pat Asanti]]
*[[Unnamed woman (Miracle Day)|Unnamed woman]]<ref>Technically, this character isn't named or credited in this episode.</ref> - [[Nana Visitor]]
* [[SWAT member|SWAT Member]] - [[Michael Chomiak]]
*[[Andy Davidson]] - [[Tom Price]]
* [[Salvatore Maranzano]] - [[Cris D'Annunzio]]
*[[Angelo Colasanto]] - [[Daniele Favilli]]
* [[Young priest|Young Priest]] - [[Will Green]]
*[[Inspector (Immortal Sins|Inspector]] - [[Pat Asanti]]
* [[Costerdane]] - [[Paul Hayes]]
*[[SWAT member|SWAT Member]] - [[Michael Chomiak]]
* [[Ablemarch]] - [[Everton Lawrence]]
*[[Salvatore Maranzano]] - [[Cris D'Annunzio]]
* [[Young man (Immortal Sins)|Young Man]] - [[Griffin Matthews]]
*[[young priest|Young Priest]] - [[Will Green]]
* [[Mr Giardano|Mr. Giardano]]<!--American show, so period after Mr.--> - [[Frank Medrano]]
*[[Costerdane]] - [[Paul Hayes]]
* [[Girl in crowd|Girl in Crowd]] - [[Angelica Montesano]]
*[[Ablemarch]] - [[Everton Lawrence]]
* [[Frines]] - [[Shawn Parsons]]
*[[young man (Immortal Sins)|Young Man]] - [[Griffin Matthews]]
* [[Elderly woman (Immortal Sins)|Elderly Woman]] - [[Vanna Salviati]]
*[[Mr. Giardano]]<!--American show, so period after Mr.--> - [[Frank Medrano]]
* [[Mrs Giardano|Mrs. Giardano]] - [[Jayne Taini]]
*[[Girl in Crowd]] - [[Angelica Montesano]]
* [[SWAT leader|SWAT Leader]] - [[Darren Dupree Washington]]
*[[Frines]] - [[Shawn Parsons]]
*[[elderly woman (Immortal Sins)|Elderly Woman]] - [[Vanna Salviati]]
*[[Mrs. Giardano]]<!--again, it's an American show--> - [[Jayne Taini]]
*[[SWAT leader|SWAT Leader]] - [[Darren Dupree Washington]]


==Crew==
== Crew ==
{{wales crew
{{wales crew
|CreatedBy=Russell T Davies
|CreatedBy=Russell T Davies
Line 62: Line 81:
|ExecutiveProd4=
|ExecutiveProd4=
|ExecutiveProd5=
|ExecutiveProd5=
|CoExecutiveProd=Vlad Wolynetz
|CoExecutiveProd=Jane Espenson
|CoExecutiveProd2=Jane Espenson
|CoExecutiveProd2=Vlad Wolynetz
|AssociateProducer=Skip Schoolnik
|AssociateProducer=Skip Schoolnik
|Casting=John Frank Levey, CSA
|Casting=John Frank Levey, CSA
Line 94: Line 113:
|ProductionSoundMixer=Julian Howarth
|ProductionSoundMixer=Julian Howarth
|AssistantEditor=Yoshie Ishiguro
|AssistantEditor=Yoshie Ishiguro
|ProductionExecutive=Shelley stevens
|ProductionExec=Shelley Stevens
|SupervisingSoundEditor=Walt Newman
|SupervisingSoundEditor=Walt Newman
|Co-supervisor=Ken Young
|Co-supervisor=Ken Young
Line 100: Line 119:
|Re-recordingMixer=Dan Hiland
|Re-recordingMixer=Dan Hiland
|Re-recordingMixer2=Gary Rogers
|Re-recordingMixer2=Gary Rogers
|PostProductionSupervisor=Peter M. Tassler
|PostProdSupervisor=Peter M. Tassler
|SpecialMake-upFX=Greg Nicotero
|SpecialMake-upFX=Greg Nicotero
|SpecialMake-upFX2=Howard Berger
|SpecialMake-upFX2=Howard Berger
|ComputerGraphics=Twisted Media
|ComputerGraphics=Twisted Media
|VisualEffects=Lion Visual Effects, Inc.
|VisualEffects=Lion Visual Effects, Inc.
|VisualEffectsSupervisor=Michael D. Leone
|VisualFXSupervisor=Michael D. Leone
|HighDefPostProduction=Modern Videofilm, Inc.
|HighDefPostProduction=Modern Videofilm, Inc.
|PostProductionSound=Warner Bros.
|PostProductionSound=Warner Bros.
Line 119: Line 138:
some episodes also had credits for UK crews.  That section begins below.
some episodes also had credits for UK crews.  That section begins below.
Do not fill in unless there are credits which explicitly specify a "UK Crew".
Do not fill in unless there are credits which explicitly specify a "UK Crew".
Note that Torchwood credits don't carry a "US crew" tag because — and this is
Note that Torchwood credits don't carry a "US crew" tag because it's a US show.
hard for some to accept — it's a US show.


-->
-->
Line 139: Line 157:
|UKGrip=
|UKGrip=
|UKGrip2=
|UKGrip2=
}}
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Language ===
* "Grazie" means "thank you" in [[Italian language|Italian]].
=== Locations ===
* Jack says that the British [[consul]]ate arranged his travel through the [[embassy]] in [[Rome]].
* Jack waits for a boat to [[Manhattan]], while Angelo is imprisoned and waiting for a boat back to [[Italy]].
* Vera was from [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]].
* Angelo comes from a tiny village on the [[Amalfi Coast]], right on the edge of a clifftop. The village contained around 200 people.
* Jack and Angelo have a room in [[Little Italy]] in [[1927]].
* In 1927, Jack and Angelo visit [[Blessed Saints' Cathedral]].
* A [[Brainspawn|mysterious box]] is located at [[Gallaco Wharf]] in Bay Five.
* Someone above Maranzano found a weapon and told him to hold it until after the state [[election]] and then ship it to [[Albany]].
* [[Sing Sing Prison]] was founded in [[1826]].
* Gwen and Jack travel to [[Mesa, California|Mesa]], [[California]].
=== Individuals ===
* Jack questions whether he looks like a [[bureaucrat]]. Angelo replies that he looks like a [[soldier]].
* Angelo had a [[teacher|schoolmaster]] in his village who taught him [[English]].
* Random people are setting up memorial services for [[Vera Juarez]].
* Gwen says that she wants to show Jack [[souvenir]]s from back home. She then [[taser]]s him.
* Angelo has [[scar]]s.
* Jack confesses to having [[sex]] with triplets.
* Jack is sent to the church by [[Timothy (Immortal Sins)|Father Timothy]].
* Maranzano calls Jack and Angelo a pair of [[finocchi]].
* Angelo ask if Jack is working for the [[English government]].
* Jack and Angelo are working as [[bootlegger]]s.
* [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] is due to be elected [[Governor of New York]] in [[November]] [[1927]].
* While in the [[Giardano's Butchers Shop]], Jack is shot and slashed with various [[knife|knives]] and [[meat hook]]s.
* Giardano is asking for [[US dollar|$10,000]] for Jack.
=== Technology ===
* Jack uses [[Jack Harkness' vortex manipulator|his vortex manipulator]] to change the name on the visa.
* Jack states that [[magic]] and [[technology]] can sometimes appear indistinguishable. This is known as [[Clarke's Law]].
=== The Miracle ===
* The [[overflow camp]]s have been paused following Vera's death. The [[politician]]s are denying everything.
=== Culture ===
* A girl is seen smoking a [[cigarette]].
* It is the [[Fourth of July]] when Jack and Angelo become lovers. Angelo initially thinks that the [[firework]]s are [[bomb]]s.
=== Religion ===
* Angelo is a [[Christianity|Christian]].
* Jack says he hears Angelo's [[prayer beads|beads]] clicking at night.
* Angelo and [[Mr Giardano]] believe Jack to be "[[Satan|il diavolo]]" after he learns Jack can resurrect and by how he "seduces with confidence".
=== Law ===
* The [[Volstead Act]] is mentioned.
=== Substances ===
* [[Ammonia]] refrigeration is being practised in [[1927]].


}}
=== Species ===
* Jack calls the parasite a species of [[Brainspawn]] which tastes like [[oyster]]s. The head of the parasite drills into the brain of the host and deposits larvae, turning the host insane.
* A [[Firebird (species)|Firebird]] is a bird made of fire.


== References ==
=== History ===
*Jack mentions [[Clarke's Law]].
* Had [[the Trickster's Brigade]] succeeded, they would have had America pulling out of [[World War II]] and the triumph of [[Germany]] and the [[Third Reich]].
*Jack and [[Angelo Colasanto]] talk about [[the Doctor]] and his [[companion]]s.


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
*Jack explains that the Brain Slug would rewrite history by enabling the Third Reich to win the [[Second World War]]. The following week after this episode was broadcast, [[Doctor Who]] episode [[Let's Kill Hitler]] would be broadcast, featuring [[Adolf Hitler]] and set in [[Germany]] under the Third Reich.
* Writer [[Jane Espenson]] cites ''Immortal Sins'' as her favourite work as a writer.<ref>http://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/the-write-stuff#.knGpmYoyR</ref>
* Jack explains that the [[Brainspawn|brain parasite]] would rewrite history by enabling the [[Third Reich]] to win the [[World War II|Second World War]]. One week and a day after this episode was broadcast in the US and only two days after it was broadcast in the UK, the ''Doctor Who'' episode ''[[Let's Kill Hitler (TV story)|Let's Kill Hitler]]'' featured [[Adolf Hitler]] in a cameo role and was set in [[Nazi]] [[Germany]] in [[1938]].
* This is the first time that Jack is killed onscreen during Series 4. He is killed at least seven times in this episode, including being shot, being stabbed, being disemboweled, having his throat slashed, and falling from a great height.


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
''to be added''
* UK: 4.48 million (Final BARB ratings)<ref>[https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-10/ BARB Ratings - June, 2011]</ref>
* US: 0.92 million


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


=== Filming locations ===
=== Broadcasts ===
''to be added''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Date
!Time
!Channel
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|[[Thursday]] [[25 August (releases)|25 August]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]
|21:00
|[[BBC One]]
|First broadcast.
|-
|[[Tuesday]] [[30 August (releases)|30 August]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]
|00:40
|[[BBC HD]] & [[BBC Two]] except [[BBC Two Scotland|Scotland]]
|
|-
|[[Tuesday]] [[30 August (releases)|30 August]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]
|01:05
|[[BBC Two Scotland]]
|
|}


=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
* Jack tells Angelo that he is a fixed point in time, and that is why he cannot die. This is what the Doctor told Jack in [[Utopia]]. However, at this point in Jack's timeline he hasn't seen the Doctor in nearly 30 years, and is still actively waiting for him so that he can properly explain Jack's immortality  and perhaps help him become mortal. It is therefore odd that Jack would tell Angelo this, as at this point he is supposedly completely ignorant as to why he cannot die, being unaware that he was resurrected by the [[Bad Wolf|Bad Wolf (entity)]]. This constitutes a continuity error, unless this is a previously unseen version of Jack from his more than 2,000 year lifetime.
{{Torchwood discontinuity}}
* After Gwen receives the message "Bring us Jack", the next thing she sees is "Keep the lenses in. We'll be watching". But later on when Esther looks at the message history of the lenses, the last one sent was "Bring us Jack."


==Continuity==
== Continuity ==
*Jack refers directly to [[the Doctor]], and to his travels typically being with a [[companion]].
* Esther watches the video clip Rex recorded of [[Vera Juarez]]'s demise to see its viewing figures; her death occurred in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Categories of Life (TV story)}}.
*The [[Seventh Doctor]] and [[the Captain]] also mentioned [[Clarke's Law]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Battlefield]]'', ''[[The Pirate Planet]]'')
* Gwen talks about when she first joined Torchwood, and her first day on the job, shown in [[TV]]: {{cs|Everything Changes (TV story)}} and {{cs|Day One (TV story)}} respectively.
*Jack has very similar dialogue with Angelo that the [[Ninth Doctor]] had with [[Rose Tyler]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'')
* Jack told Angelo that [[Bad Wolf (entity)|something happened to him]], alluding to his resurrection by [[Rose Tyler]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Parting of the Ways (TV story)}} and that he is a [[fixed point in time]], as the [[Tenth Doctor]] surmised in [[TV]]: {{cs|Utopia (TV story)}}.
*Jack stating to Angelo that "Men like you kill me" may have been a reference to his former lover Captain John Hart.
* Jack advises Angelo to start saving money, alluding to the [[Great Depression]] that will occur with the 1930s, depicted in [[TV]]: {{cs|Daleks in Manhattan (TV story)}} and also [[World War II]], which Jack experienced, as displayed in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Empty Child (TV story)}}.
*Jack refers to [[Bad Wolf (entity)|time]] making him a fixed point ([[DW]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'')
* Jack and Angelo encounter an alien associated with the [[Trickster's Brigade]]. The Trickster's minions have previously tried to change history, notably with [[Sarah Jane Smith]], as shown in [[TV]]: {{cs|Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? (TV story)}} and {{cs|The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)}}, and [[Donna Noble]] as displayed in [[TV]]: {{cs|Turn Left (TV story)}}.
*The creature Jack and Angelo find was intended to infect [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and disrupt history for [[the Trickster's Brigade]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Turn Left]], ''[[SJA]]: ''[[Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?]], [[The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith]], [[The Wedding Of Sarah Jane Smith]]'')
* When Esther opens the Eye-5 computer programme, past dialogue can be found, which was recorded during the events of [[TV]]: {{cs|Escape to LA (TV story)}} and {{cs|The Middle Men (TV story)}}.
*A brief video clip is shown of the "death" of [[Vera Juarez]]. ([[TW]]:''[[The Categories of Life]]'')
*This is the first time that Jack is killed onscreen during Series 4. He is killed at least seven times in this episode, including from being shot, stabbed, disemboweled, and from a high fall.


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


[[fr:Immortal Sins]]
[[Category:Torchwood television stories]]
[[Category:Torchwood television stories]]
[[category:series 4 (Torchwood) stories]]
[[Category:Series 4 (Torchwood) stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in New York City]]
[[Category:Stories set in New York City]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2011]]
[[Category:Stories set in California]]
[[Category:2011 television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Stories set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Stories set in Swansea]]
[[Category:Stories set in Swansea]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 1920s]]
[[Category:The Trickster's Brigade television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the state of New York]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1927]]
[[Category:The Trickster's Brigade stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1928]]
 
[[de:Immortal Sins]]
[[fr:Immortal Sins]]

Latest revision as of 12:03, 17 January 2024

RealWorld.png

Immortal Sins was the seventh episode of Series 4 of Torchwood. It was written by Jane Espenson, directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton and featured Rex Matheson and Esther Drummond resigned to cameo roles. For the most part, it consisted of a flashback in pre-Depression era New York City, which introduced the character of Angelo Colasanto, a lover that Jack Harkness met while standing in line at Ellis Island.

From a continuity standpoint, it was clearly the single episode of Miracle Day which made the most references to the broader DWU, even referencing the The Sarah Jane Adventures character the Trickster. Narratively speaking, it was the only episode in the Miracle Day arc to feature the appearance of an alien.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

Gwen must fight to protect her family. She takes a terrifying journey covering miles and decades with Jack as the long history of the Miracle is partially revealed.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Gwen drives Jack through California to bring him to the people holding her family.

Flashbacks are seen of Jack's past. In 1920s New York City, he awaits his visa at Ellis Island. Angelo Colasanto steals it. Jack confronts him, retrieves his visa and visits Angelo in his cell. They talk, and Jack uses technology to create a visa for Angelo.

Angelo is freed and enters a relationship with Jack. At one point, they are retrieving an alien from a base when Jack is shot dead. Angelo is captured and imprisoned. Jack returns to America after Angelo's release. Angelo is terrified by Jack's immortality.

Angelo takes Jack to the butcher shop beneath their room. There are people terrified of Jack. They sadistically attack him with knives, guns and meat hooks to kill him and collect his blood. Three men visit Jack. They seem to know something about his immortality. Angelo, overwhelmed with horror and guilt, eventually lets Jack go. Jack quickly recovers and flees with Angelo to a rooftop, where he explains his immortality before jumping off to his "death". When Angelo reaches the ground, Jack is gone.

As Gwen and Jack arrive, Rex and Esther have contacted Andy Davidson in Wales. He has freed Gwen's family. They train snipers on the three people who want to capture Jack. Jack says he has won, but they say that Jack will come with them anyway because they have the information about the Miracle that he wants to know. Angelo is still alive. He has something to do with the Miracle.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

General production staff


Camera and lighting department

Art department


 Make-up and prosthetics


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.
          

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


Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Language[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • "Grazie" means "thank you" in Italian.

Locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Miracle[[edit] | [edit source]]

Culture[[edit] | [edit source]]

Religion[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Angelo is a Christian.
  • Jack says he hears Angelo's beads clicking at night.
  • Angelo and Mr Giardano believe Jack to be "il diavolo" after he learns Jack can resurrect and by how he "seduces with confidence".

Law[[edit] | [edit source]]

Substances[[edit] | [edit source]]

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Jack calls the parasite a species of Brainspawn which tastes like oysters. The head of the parasite drills into the brain of the host and deposits larvae, turning the host insane.
  • A Firebird is a bird made of fire.

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

  • Writer Jane Espenson cites Immortal Sins as her favourite work as a writer.[1]
  • Jack explains that the brain parasite would rewrite history by enabling the Third Reich to win the Second World War. One week and a day after this episode was broadcast in the US and only two days after it was broadcast in the UK, the Doctor Who episode Let's Kill Hitler featured Adolf Hitler in a cameo role and was set in Nazi Germany in 1938.
  • This is the first time that Jack is killed onscreen during Series 4. He is killed at least seven times in this episode, including being shot, being stabbed, being disemboweled, having his throat slashed, and falling from a great height.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • UK: 4.48 million (Final BARB ratings)[2]
  • US: 0.92 million

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

to be added

Broadcasts[[edit] | [edit source]]

Date Time Channel Notes
Thursday 25 August 2011 21:00 BBC One First broadcast.
Tuesday 30 August 2011 00:40 BBC HD & BBC Two except Scotland
Tuesday 30 August 2011 01:05 BBC Two Scotland

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.
  • After Gwen receives the message "Bring us Jack", the next thing she sees is "Keep the lenses in. We'll be watching". But later on when Esther looks at the message history of the lenses, the last one sent was "Bring us Jack."

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

  • This episode was released worldwide in a box set containing all ten episodes of Torchwood: Miracle Day. In the United Kingdom, it was released on Region 2 DVD and Region Free Blu-ray on 14 November 2011.[3] In Australia, it was released in Region 4 DVD and Region B Blu-Ray on 1 December 2011.[4] In New Zealand, the same sets were released on 7 December 2011.[5] In North America, it was released on Region 1 DVD and Region Free Blu-Ray on 3 April 2012.[6]
  • It was also released in the Series 1-4 boxset (Region 2 release: 14 November 2011.)

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ http://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/the-write-stuff#.knGpmYoyR
  2. ↑ BARB Ratings - June, 2011
  3. ↑ Amazon.co.uk listing
  4. ↑ EZYDVD.com.au listing
  5. ↑ Mightyape.co.nz listing
  6. ↑ Amazon.com listing
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