Theory:Torchwood television discontinuity and plot holes/Children of Earth: Day Two

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This page is for discussing the ways in which Children of Earth: Day Two doesn't fit well with other DWU narratives. You can also talk about the plot holes that render its own, internal narrative confusing.

Remember, this is a forum, so civil discussion is encouraged. However, please do not sign your posts. Also, keep all posts about the same continuity error under the same bullet point. You can add a new point by typing:

* This is point one.
::This is a counter-argument to point one.
:::This is a counter-argument to the counter-argument above
* This is point two.
::Explanation of point two.
::Further discussion and query of point two.

... and so on. 

• Jack was screaming while his cell was filled with concrete, wouldn't this mean that some of it would get into his mouth and solidify there? Also, wouldn't it solidify on the door itself preventing it from being opened?

It took awhile for the concrete to get to the level where it completely covered his mouth (Jack isn't lying on the floor). Concrete is not glue; pulling back the door would be the same as pulling off a mould (indeed the interior of the door leaves an impression on the concrete).

• When the concrete-filled cell is pulled out of the wall by the forklift, it appears to be much smaller than what was seen earlier when it was filled with concrete. In fact at some points it doesn't appear wide enough for Jack Harkness to be lying horizontal.

Possibly a trick of the camera angle.

This is clearly a production error, this page is meant for discontinuity errors in-universe.

• When the concrete cell smashes apart in the quarry, there's no sign of the gurney Jack was lying on.

Again, possibly the camera angle obscured its wreckage.

It is there. You missed it. Look again.

• Why was Jack just a skeleton when he started regrowing? His arm at least was shown to be mostly intact and it's highly unlikely that his shoulder and skull piece were reduced to bone.

The rest of his body isn't visible, his arm (and the parts they took away in the small "body" bag) were not destroyed but the rest of his body was and, as time goes on, he grows new parts, reforms first (into that sticky bones we seen) then into a charred man and then back to normal.

This seems to miss the point. One arm was in fairly good condition when recovered from the bomb site. So presumably that arm should be in the same or better condition when the skeleton formed. But it isn't.

• Rhys said his car was brand new, but the licence number said it was made in 2008, and the episode is set in 2009.

He probably meant that he only bought it recently.

Relative to a 10 year old car, a possibly less than 1 year old car might be considered brand new.

• A concrete block would not break falling from that height, but would only chip.

Jack's presence within may have compromised the structural integrity of the concrete. Different dynamics - velocity for example.

Structural integrity yes. Velocity no: Rate of acceleration of a falling object is constant.

Did you measure the height? Do you know the composition of that particular concrete mixture? Not to mention that given the short amount of time involved we know the concrete could not have set properly. And with Jack and the trolley-bed inside the block, there would certainly be some weak points more susceptible to breaking.

• Why does Gwen never seem to run out of bullets?

It could be the type of gun she carries - alien origins?

It can't be because she didn't bring them out of the hub, she took them from the 2 ambulance assassins.

Modern pistols carry a lot of ammo, often fifteen to twenty rounds at a time. She never fired that many in any one scene, freeing her up to reload off-screen. Consider also that Gwen often wields two handguns, doubling the amount of ammunition she can carry in any one scene. For instance, in the scene where Johnson's men have her cornered in the corridor outside Jack's cell, her two weapons could quite easily be carrying thirty or forty rounds.

• Would one bullet really blow up a whole cement mixing lorry.

No. This has been debunked on several websites, most notably "Mythbusters". Most bullets are generally made of copper and lead, which do not spark when striking a surface. A bullet puncturing a gas tank or any part of the engine will not cause an explosion. Car explosions are "movie physics" and rarely occur in real life.

• Why would the government hire snipers who were such awful shots even at close range.

Ianto and Gwen were moving at the time, so they may not be the best at firing at moving objects.

Or possibly because the writer didn't want to kill off 2 of the main characters.

Evidently not the same writer who wrote Exit Wounds.

• How did Ianto know exactly where Jack's cell would be?

He watched them pour the cement in, so he knew where he was.

• Partly due to the differing nature between Torchwood and TV, Jack's clothing does not survive a bomb blast, even though it survives being incinerated in Journey's End

It's not known that it didn't survive. Jack got out prior to being completely incinerated.

• Why would Jack have a full head of hair after his body heals? Hair isn't crucial to survival and his hair has always seemed to grow at a normal rate.