To the Last Man (TV story): Difference between revisions
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== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
Tommy Brockless, a young World War I soldier, shell-shocked from his experiences in the trenches, is the key to saving the world. He is taken into custody by Torchwood in 1918 | [[Tommy Brockless]], a young World War I soldier, shell-shocked from his experiences in the trenches, is the key to saving the world. He is taken into custody by Torchwood in 1918 – Torchwood having been told to do so by his future self – and held in cryonic storage until the time comes for him to save the world. He is awoken one day each year for a medical check-up and a “day out” as a precautionary measure in case he is needed. | ||
A time shift is set to cause 1918 and the present to bleed together at an unspecified time, and when this happens it is Tommy who will be | A time shift is set to cause 1918 and the present to bleed together at an unspecified time, and when this happens it is Tommy who will be “stitching” the fragments of 1918 back to their rightful place in time. | ||
It is ninety years before this eventually happens and fragments of 1918 are appearing in an old abandoned hospital. Before the team realise that this is the year, Toshiko becomes infatuated with Tommy. Owen, noticing the closeness between them and having experienced something similar ( | It is ninety years before this eventually happens and fragments of 1918 are appearing in an old abandoned hospital. Before the team realise that this is the year, [[Toshiko Sato|Toshiko]] becomes infatuated with Tommy. [[Owen Harper|Owen]], noticing the closeness between them and having experienced something similar (see {{TW|Out of Time}}), warns Tosh about the eventuality of saying goodbye. | ||
When Tommy is told what he must do | When Tommy is told what he must do – actions that will result in him not seeing Toshiko again – Tommy initially refuses to take part. However, with encouragement from Toshiko, he begins to see the bigger picture and agrees. Toshiko is reluctant to do this, as Jack explains that Tommy is destined to be court martialled and shot for cowardice upon being sent back to the trenches. Jack eventually persuades her that it is for the greater good and she relents. During a brief time shift, Tommy tells Torchwood employees from that era that they must take him into custody. Then, with the next time shift, after a tearful goodbye, Tommy goes back to his own time. However, in his own time he reverts back to being shell-shocked and forgets all about Torchwood and why he has the Rift Key therefore the time shift still continues. As the time shifts are forcing the rift open Toshiko is able to be psychically transmitted into Tommy's mind in the past and encourages him to the use the key. Tommy turns the key in his Rift manipulator device, dragging all of 1918 back with him | ||
==Cast== | ==Cast== | ||
Revision as of 17:57, 8 June 2010
Synopsis
Once a year, for a single day, Tommy Brockless is defrosted in the Torchwood hub to make sure he's still working. He is kept alive until the day he is needed, and when ghosts appear at a hospital it's clear that time has come...
Plot
Tommy Brockless, a young World War I soldier, shell-shocked from his experiences in the trenches, is the key to saving the world. He is taken into custody by Torchwood in 1918 – Torchwood having been told to do so by his future self – and held in cryonic storage until the time comes for him to save the world. He is awoken one day each year for a medical check-up and a “day out” as a precautionary measure in case he is needed.
A time shift is set to cause 1918 and the present to bleed together at an unspecified time, and when this happens it is Tommy who will be “stitching” the fragments of 1918 back to their rightful place in time.
It is ninety years before this eventually happens and fragments of 1918 are appearing in an old abandoned hospital. Before the team realise that this is the year, Toshiko becomes infatuated with Tommy. Owen, noticing the closeness between them and having experienced something similar (see Template:TW), warns Tosh about the eventuality of saying goodbye.
When Tommy is told what he must do – actions that will result in him not seeing Toshiko again – Tommy initially refuses to take part. However, with encouragement from Toshiko, he begins to see the bigger picture and agrees. Toshiko is reluctant to do this, as Jack explains that Tommy is destined to be court martialled and shot for cowardice upon being sent back to the trenches. Jack eventually persuades her that it is for the greater good and she relents. During a brief time shift, Tommy tells Torchwood employees from that era that they must take him into custody. Then, with the next time shift, after a tearful goodbye, Tommy goes back to his own time. However, in his own time he reverts back to being shell-shocked and forgets all about Torchwood and why he has the Rift Key therefore the time shift still continues. As the time shifts are forcing the rift open Toshiko is able to be psychically transmitted into Tommy's mind in the past and encourages him to the use the key. Tommy turns the key in his Rift manipulator device, dragging all of 1918 back with him
Cast
- Captain Jack Harkness — John Barrowman
- Gwen Cooper — Eve Myles
- Owen Harper — Burn Gorman
- Toshiko Sato — Naoko Mori
- Ianto Jones — Gareth David-Lloyd
- Tommy Brockless — Anthony Lewis
- Gerald Carter — Roderic Culver
- Harriet Derbyshire — Siobhan Hewlett
- Nurse — Lizzie Rogan
- Foreman — Ricky Fearon
Production crew
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References
- There is a scan of a Cyberman in the medical area of the Hub.
- Bilis Manger's antique shop was also described as a "stitch in time".
- The episode establishes that some form of military conflict in Iraq is taking place in the Doctor Who Universe as it is taking place in the real world. Tommy asks Tosh if it's a war and she replies "not really" leaving it ambiguous as to whether this is the same conflict initiated by the United States in 2003 in the real world, or if it is a different conflict.
- The partnership of Gerald and Harriet appears similar to that of Mulder and Scully on The X-Files, or that of Sapphire & Steel.
Music
- Whose Gonna Find Me - The Coral
- I Start my Day Over Again (Clock Song) - The Bing Boys are Here
- She's Got You High - Mumm-Ra
Story notes
to be added
Ratings
- Unofficial Overnight - 3.2 million viewers
Myths
to be added
Filming locations
- Toshiko and Tommy visit the Norwegian Church in Harbor Drive, Cardiff Bay.
- Penarth Pier, was where Toshiko Sato and Tommy first kissed.
- The Eli Jenkins pub on Bute Crescent, Cardiff Bay.
Production errors
- Whilst been chased by Tommy on the pier, Tosh drops her handbag twice.
Continuity
- Tommy remarks how silly it would be to save the world in pyjamas, a side reference to DW: The Christmas Invasion, or possibly The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
- A Torchwood team from another era is seen for the first time.
DVD releases
- This story along with the rest of Torchwood Series 2 was released in a complete series boxset in 2008.
- The American DVD release of the episode was titled "Last Man Standing".
See also
to be added
External links
- To the Last Man at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- To the Last Man at Shannon Sullivan's A Brief History of Time (Travel)
- To the Last Man at The Locations Guide
- Torchwood Locations - To the Last Man
Footnotes
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