Torchwood: Children of Earth

Torchwood’s third series takes a bold and ambitious step, as it moves away from its usual 13-episode formula, replacing it with a five-episode season, based around one core story. Broadcast over five consecutive nights on its original transmission to keep the momentum going, DVD arguably ups the ante still further, offering an opportunity to devour it all in one sitting.

And it’s an opportunity well worth taking up. Following the dark denouement to its last season, Torchwood: Children Of Earth sees Captain Jack Harkness and his team facing a massive threat to the planet. Put simply, every single child on the Planet Earth has suddenly stopped. Aided by Gwen and Ianto, the onus is firmly on Captain Jack to save the day.

But the threat is arguably as big as anything Torchwood has previously faced. When a warning that something is coming follows the sudden stopping of the children, the mystery deepens further, and further events soon make the Torchwood team the hunted. The end of the world could well be coming…

Torchwood: Children Of Earth is frantic, exciting science fiction television, that benefits enormously from its new format. The leads are on their usual good form, led by John Barrowman, and there’s also strong support from The Thick Of It’s Peter Capaldi and Charles Abomeli. And with the assured direction of Doctor Who regular Euros Lyn behind the camera, it’s a classy all-round production.

It also leaves some interesting questions about where Torchwood goes next exactly. But while you’re waiting for those to be answered, then Children Of Earth is an excellent way to pass the time. --Jon Foster