A Day in the Death (TV story): Difference between revisions

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*There are several joking references to the comic strip character [[Tintin]] -- including an on-screen appearance when Owen unravels a T-shirt with the character on it. [[Steven Moffat]], scriprwriter for the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' revival and newly appointed executive producer, wrote the screenplay for a trilogy of films based upon Tintin, directed by Steven Spielberg and scheduled for release starting in [[2010]].
*There are several joking references to the comic strip character [[Tintin]] -- including an on-screen appearance when Owen unravels a T-shirt with the character on it. [[Steven Moffat]], scriprwriter for the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' revival and newly appointed executive producer, wrote the screenplay for a trilogy of films based upon Tintin, directed by Steven Spielberg and scheduled for release starting in [[2010]].
*Owen listens to an [[iPod]] while cleaning his flat.
*Owen listens to an [[iPod]] while cleaning his flat.
*The episode name is a parody of "A Day in the Life", a song by The Beatles
*The episode name is a parody of "A Day in the Life", a song by The Beatles.
===Music===
===Music===
*''Atlas ''- [[Battles]]
*''Atlas ''- [[Battles]]

Revision as of 18:52, 3 May 2011

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A Day in the Death was the eighth episode in the second series of Torchwood. It heavily featured Owen Harper, with him coming to terms with his untimely death in the previous story, Reset.

Synopsis

Owen chats with a suicidal woman on a rooftop, reflecting on his adjustment (or lack thereof) to his new life (or lack thereof). Will a mission with Torchwood assist in his salvation or bring about the end of the world?

Plot

Owen Harper sits on a rooftop ledge, talking to a woman who is on the verge of committing suicide, whose name is later revealed as Maggie. He tells her about his recent ordeal with being dead and getting resurrected. As his memories begin we see Jack let him off but he has to stay at the Hub so that Martha can run some tests on him. Martha has been assigned the position of Torchwood Three Medical Doctor. As he is talking to her, he cuts his hand on a scalpel, so Martha has to stitch it back together, saying that it will have to be stitched every week because of his inability to heal. The team then has a meeting about a man named Henry Parker who has been missing since the 1980's, yet Torchwood has had him under surveillance for years since.

Later that day Owen is in his flat, where he decides to get rid of a lot of his things (food, shaving foam, etc.) since he no longer needs them. After he has finished clearing up Toshiko comes round and begins talking to Owen, who does not really listen. After listening for a few minutes Owen demands to know why Tosh has come and why she is still in love with him when he has nothing to give her. He then yells at Toshiko that he is broken and breaks one of his fingers to prove it. Leaving Toshiko distraught and alone in his flat he runs outside and then to the Cardiff canal where he jumps in and spends 36 minutes under water before giving up trying to drown himself after realising he has no breath and returning to the surface, where Jack was watching. The Torchwood team has another briefing and decide they want to obtain the alien device that Henry Parker has. Owen agrees to go on a mission to obtain it, using his death to pass heat sensors, and multiple guards. Owen comes to a room where there is a bed hidden by veils, in which Henry is lying. He tells Owen that he needs the device to live but instead dies of natural causes. Later, the Torchwood team farewells Martha as she leaves to return to UNIT. Later that night, Owen sees Maggie on the top of a building, and goes up to the roof to talk her out of it, completing the flashback that started the episode. Owen, finishing his story to Maggie, successfully talks her out of committing suicide.

Cast

Production crew

References

  • Owen mentions NASA.
  • One of Henry Parker's items is a Dogon eye.
  • There are several joking references to the comic strip character Tintin -- including an on-screen appearance when Owen unravels a T-shirt with the character on it. Steven Moffat, scriprwriter for the Doctor Who revival and newly appointed executive producer, wrote the screenplay for a trilogy of films based upon Tintin, directed by Steven Spielberg and scheduled for release starting in 2010.
  • Owen listens to an iPod while cleaning his flat.
  • The episode name is a parody of "A Day in the Life", a song by The Beatles.

Music

Story notes

  • Martha returns to UNIT at the end of this episode.

Ratings

to be added

Myths

to be added

Filming locations

to be added

Production errors

  • Kai Owen is credited despite Rhys not appearing in this episode.

Continuity

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.
  • In the sequence of Owen's life, clips from Everything Changes, Ghost Machine, Out of Time and Meat are seen.
  • A Dogon Eye was first seen in Random Shoes.
  • From this episode on, Owen always has a bandage over his left hand because he cut his palm and broke a finger.
  • The episode takes place three days after the shooting in Reset, meaning the events of Dead Man Walking occurred within the preceding 48 hours.

DVD releases

  • This story along with the rest of Torchwood Series 2 has been released in a complete series boxset.

See also

to be added

External links

Footnotes