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

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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{ImageLinkTV}}
{{ImageLinkTV}}
{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image                = Children of earth day 4 main.jpg
|image                = Children of earth day 4 main.jpg
|series                = ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''
|series                = ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''
|season number        = Series 3 (Torchwood)
|season number        = Series 3 (Torchwood)
|series episode number = 4
|series episode number = 4
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/torchwood-children-of-earth-episode-4-day-four-green-revisions-27102008.pdf
|main character        = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]], [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]]
|main character        = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]], [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]]
|featuring            = Lois Habiba
|featuring            = Lois Habiba
Line 15: Line 16:
|featuring6            = Clem McDonald
|featuring6            = Clem McDonald
|featuring7            = Trinity Wells
|featuring7            = Trinity Wells
|enemy                = [[456 ambassador]]
|featuring8            = French newsreader{{!}}Newsreader
|enemy                = The [[456 ambassador]]
|setting              = [[London]], [[2009]]
|setting              = [[London]], [[2009]]
|writer                = [[John Fay]]
|writer                = John Fay
|director              = [[Euros Lyn]]
|director              = [[Euros Lyn]]
|producer              = [[Peter Bennett]]
|producer              = [[Peter Bennett]]
|network              = [[BBC One]]
|network              = BBC One
|broadcast date        = [[9 July (releases)|9 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|broadcast date        = 9 July 2009
|prev                  = Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)
|prev                  = Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)
|next                  = Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)
|next                  = Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)
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Away from the controversy over Ianto's death, the episode was a milestone in the career of long-term [[DWU]] contributor, [[Nicholas Briggs]]. Though his vocal talents had long been used by [[BBC Wales]] and [[Big Finish]], and despite having starred in number of direct-to-video productions made by [[BBV Productions]], this was the first time he had actually been seen in-camera, on [[BBC One]], in a DWU production.
Away from the controversy over Ianto's death, the episode was a milestone in the career of long-term [[DWU]] contributor, [[Nicholas Briggs]]. Though his vocal talents had long been used by [[BBC Wales]] and [[Big Finish]], and despite having starred in number of direct-to-video productions made by [[BBV Productions]], this was the first time he had actually been seen in-camera, on [[BBC One]], in a DWU production.


''Day Four'' was the most successful single episode of ''Torchwood'', scoring the programme's highest ratings on every front: greatest final audience (6.8 million), highest weekly ranking (11th), and largest [[AI]] (91%). Indeed, its AI has only been equalled by ''[[Doctor Who]]''{{'}}s ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]'' and ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'' but has never been surpassed, {{as of|2019|1|lc=y}}.
''Day Four'' was the most successful single episode of ''Torchwood'', scoring the programme's highest ratings on every front: greatest final audience (6.8 million), highest weekly ranking (11th), and largest [[Appreciation Index|AI]] (91%). Indeed, its AI has only been equalled by ''[[Doctor Who]]''{{'}}s {{cs|The Stolen Earth (TV story)}} and {{cs|Journey's End (TV story)}} but has never been surpassed, {{as of|2019|1|lc=y}}.


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
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== Plot ==
== Plot ==
[[Jack Harkness|Jack]] recalls the events of [[1965]]. The [[The 456|aliens]] had offered a cure for a deadly new [[Indonesian influenza|flu strain]] that will soon arise, and, in return, wanted twelve children. Jack's partner (a woman) claims that the aliens say the children will live forever and he was asked for because he can't die and doesn't care.
[[Jack Harkness|Jack]] recalls the events of [[1965]]. The [[The 456|aliens]] had offered a cure for a deadly new [[Indonesian influenza|flu strain]] that will soon arise, and, in return, wanted twelve children. Jack's partner, [[Venessa]], claims that the aliens say the children will live forever and he was asked for because he can't die and doesn't care.


[[Clement McDonald|Clem]] escapes abduction. Jack is in charge of handing over the children. It turns out that Clem wasn't taken because the 456 disappeared first. Jack had not known Clem had escaped. The 456 do not seem to care when they hand over the information for the cure...
[[Clement McDonald|Clem]] escapes abduction. Jack is in charge of handing over the children. It turns out that Clem wasn't taken because the 456 disappeared first. Jack had not known Clem had escaped. The 456 do not seem to care when they hand over the information for the cure...


Back in [[2008|the present]], Clem steals [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]]'s [[Firearm|gun]] and shoots Jack. Gwen retrieves her gun, Jack wakes up and Clem runs off in a panic. Gwen calms him down. They wonder why Clem wasn't taken; perhaps he was on the verge of puberty and so not wanted by the 456.
Back in [[2009|the present]], Clem steals [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]]'s [[Firearm|gun]] and shoots Jack. Gwen retrieves her gun, Jack wakes up and Clem runs off in a panic. Gwen calms him down. They wonder why Clem wasn't taken; perhaps he was on the verge of puberty and so not wanted by the 456.


At [[Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Johnson]]'s facility, [[Alice Carter|Alice]] and [[Steven Carter|Steven]] are imprisoned and Alice warns Johnson about angering Jack.
At [[Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Johnson]]'s facility, [[Alice Carter|Alice]] and [[Steven Carter|Steven]] are imprisoned and Alice warns Johnson about angering Jack.
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}}
}}


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* The 456 ambassador mentions [[infant mortality]].
* The 456 ambassador mentions [[infant mortality]].


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
* [[Russell T Davies]] originally wrote a role for [[Noel Clarke]] as [[Mickey Smith]] in ''Day Four'' and ''Day Five'', but these scenes were cut when Clarke became unavailable because of 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 ''Day Four'' and ''Day Five'', but these scenes were cut when Clarke became unavailable because of a film commitment. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]'')
* The scene where Gwen adjusts the tie on Ianto's body caused everyone onset to get emotional.


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
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* Western Lesuire Centre, Cardiff - Gwen finds Jack and Ianto amongst the bodies
* Western Lesuire Centre, Cardiff - Gwen finds Jack and Ianto amongst the bodies
* Ponton Road (aerial), London - The Torchwood 1 holding area
* Ponton Road (aerial), London - The Torchwood 1 holding area
* BBC Broadcasting House (Lift shafts), Llandaff, Cardiff - Elevator shafts in Thames House
* BBC Broadcasting House (Lift shafts), Llandaff, Cardiff - Elevator shafts in Thames House (stock footage from [[TV]]: {{cs|Rose (TV story)}}, [[TV]]: {{cs|World War Three (TV story)}}, [[TV]]: {{cs|New Earth (TV story)}} and [[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)}}.
 
=== Broadcasts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Date
!Time
!Channel
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|[[Thursday]] [[9 July (releases)|9 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|21:00
|[[BBC One]] & [[BBC HD]]
|First broadcast.
|-
|[[Thursday]] [[9 July (releases)|9 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|23:45
|[[BBC Three]]
|
|-
|[[Friday]] [[10 July (releases)|10 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|00:00
|[[BBC HD]]
|
|-
|[[Friday]] [[7 August (releases)|7 August]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|21:00
|[[BBC Three]]
|
|-
|[[Saturday]] [[8 August (releases)|8 August]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|00:45
|[[BBC Three]]
|
|-
|[[Tuesday]] [[11 August (releases)|11 August]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|22:00
|[[BBC HD]]
|
|-
|[[Wednesday]] [[30 December (releases)|30 December]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|23:50
|[[BBC HD]]
|
|}


=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
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== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* [[Johnny Davies]] is thrilled over the money he's making off charging "ten quid a kid" for babysitting children back at his house. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)|Children of Earth: Day Three]]'')
* [[Johnny Davies]] is thrilled over the money he's making off charging "ten quid a kid" for babysitting children back at his house as started in [[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)}}.
* [[Road traffic|Traffic]] gridlock forces Jack and Ianto to abandon the stolen vehicle Torchwood swiped earlier. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)|Children of Earth: Day Three]]'')
* [[Road traffic|Traffic]] gridlock forces Jack and Ianto to abandon the stolen vehicle Torchwood swiped earlier in the events of [[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)}}.
* The 456 ambassador uses the same argument the [[Cybermen]] used of thousands of nameless deaths being unrecognised, but the same number only being acknowledged when directly threatened. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'')
* The 456 ambassador uses the same argument the [[Cybermen]] used of thousands of nameless deaths being unrecognised, but the same number only being acknowledged when directly threatened, like in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Tenth Planet (TV story)}}.
* [[Agnes Havisham]] stated that those close to Jack Harkness tend to die. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Risk Assessment (novel)|Risk Assessment]]'') The death of Ianto Jones is the latest in a list of Jack's family and friends who have died before the natural end; this includes [[Toshiko Sato]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exits Wounds]]'') [[Owen Harper]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Reset (TV story)|Reset]]'') and [[Estelle Cole]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Small Worlds (TV story)|Small Worlds]]'')
* [[Agnes Havisham]] stated that those close to Jack Harkness tend to die during [[PROSE]]: {{cs|Risk Assessment (novel)}}. Therefore, Ianto's death is the latest in a list of Jack's family and friends who have died before the natural end; this includes [[Toshiko Sato]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|Exit Wounds (TV story)}}, [[Owen Harper]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|Reset (TV story)}} and [[Estelle Cole]] in [[TV]]: {{cs|Small Worlds (TV story)}}.


== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
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{{UNIT stories}}
{{UNIT stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[fr:Day Four]]
[[ro:Children of Earth: Day Four]]


[[Category:Torchwood television stories]]
[[Category:Torchwood television stories]]
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[[Category:Stories set in Scotland]]
[[Category:Stories set in Scotland]]
[[Category:Series 3 (Torchwood) stories]]
[[Category:Series 3 (Torchwood) stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Needs crew check]]
[[Category:Needs crew check]]
[[fr:Day Four]]
[[ro:Children of Earth: Day Four]]
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