With last week’s reintroduction to Torchwood over and done with, the next episode in the Miracle Day serial was set to be a belter…. With narrow escapes, near-deaths, no-deaths, poisonings and a rather dramatic getaway, to name a few, the Torchwood saga continued on a high. On a whole, the episode wasn’t as action-packed as the previous, but for the content, it didn’t matter. In fact it delved more deep into the mental reaction to the Miracle Day – that of continuous aging, re-evaluation of the medical system and the effect the day in question will have in both the present, and the near future (“…the whole thing could be temporary”). Indeed, one can praise Russell T Davies for thinking far deeper than many at the consequences to their own plots, if only that.
The discussion with the apparent top-notch team of medical advisers about a change from life-saving to pain management was extremely cleverly done, not to mention the brilliant Vera (Doctor Juarez) realising that the system of saving a life is now completely pointless – the Golden Hour nonexistent now that no one dies was just so brilliantly thought out, so well played. It is a scary thought though, never dying but continuing to age; what would happen if the Miracle Day were to continue, what would happen to the human race and would- no, could this be a new form of evolution? Then again, Jack sounded like he was onto something with the Morphic Field reference, and what a wonderful Who-ish reference (though not strictly Who, just something used quite a bit on the show).
Speaking of Jack; not only did we get the whole ‘no speed healing’ of last weeks episode, but we’re also given a healthy dose of ‘yeah, he can die, I’ve just poisoned him, what about it eh?!’ – although we all know he can’t die, we all know Torchwood is nothing without Captain Harkness, but still a nice way to show that yes, he CAN die now. Also, may I add on that part something someone close to me stated smugly regarding Gwen sorting out the arsenic ‘cure’, by the fact that ‘it’s nice they don’t have to measure out anything…’, although it WAS fun watching Gwen threaten lives over finding some orange tubing. Good ol’ Gwen Williams.
Now Esther! Poor woman, but with smarts – again reminding me strongly of Gwen from the early days of Torchwood …had Gwen worked for the CIA and had to scarper quickly, that is. Esther was thrown quite literally in the deep end, working the classic escape by stealing another’s identity card, giving false information, sweet-talking guards and of course using different cars (in the end a Mini) all because of the classic-never-gets-old ‘eliminate Torchwood’ routine, by the CIA of all people. Meaning of course that the head of the CIA (straight out of the T-Rex’s stomach, Wayne Knight) has something to do with the Miracle, in some shape or form – a sinister character to say the least!
Talking of sinister characters, there’s also the rather intriguing Jilly Kitzinger played by the ever gorgeous Lauren Ambrose, giving away Business Cards left, right and center. But where DOES Jilly work: an agency or the PhiCorp Pharmaceutical Company? My betting is on the latter as there’s definitely a major hint of pharmaceuticals being behind the Miracle, if we’re to trust on the next time trail. Of course there’s the other sinister character in the form of Oswald; cleverly acting his regrets of a terrible crime on camera, and of course, mentioning of what his life will become behind closed doors – hunted for ever more by those seeking justice. A justice that will never be served unless the Miracle is ended…
Now, I believe that the main points of ‘Rendition’ have been covered, bar a few one can quickly cover: Things that could be pointed out though are the similarities between Who’s Doctor and Torchwood’s Jack (“Things always go wrong when you turn up!”), the heartache felt when Gwen was separated from Anwen and Rhys, the comedy of bisexual steward Danny, the corrupted and sadly punished Lyn (from Neighbours if you’re wondering where you’ve seen her before – look up Dichen Lachman) and – my favourite part – Jack cleverly planting a bomb scare at the airport (and seriously, he should get himself checked out – a makeshift cure to arsenic can NOT keep mortal Jack going for the entire story, surely?). All I can say now is: Welcome to Torchwood.
- Jack = 9/10 – We got to see a side of him we never thought we’d see – poisoned Jack!
- Gwen = 10/10 – Simply kick-arse!
- Rex = 8/10 – He may be quirky and a survivor of the Miracle, but there’s just something about him that’s irritating to me.
- Esther = 9/10 – Gwen Mark II again, but still brilliant.
- Vera = 10/10 – Yes, I went there. Yes, she’s been marked. Deal with it. Vera is epic! One of those characters you just KNOW will get better with each episode.
- Plot = 8/10 – Not much happened as they were still mainly figuring out the effects of the Miracle Day.
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