This is a solid Torchwood one story. The core mystery of ‘why has everyone had their mind wiped’ is an interesting one. Watching our cast circle round blaming each other until they realise they’re all complicit was a lot of fun. I was really expecting the predictable twist that the guest cast member was the secret villain so I’m glad that wasn’t the case.

Once we get into the second half, the memory swapping gives our characters some fun moments playing against type. There are some funny jokes here but also some great character moments for Tommy, Ianto and Yvonne explaining some of their backstory and explaining how they became their broken but loveable current selves.

It’s let down the ending. The resolution is a mix of two of Who’s most saccharine and unsatisfying tropes. ‘Speech saves the day’ and ‘Power of love saves the day’. This rings especially hollow when the love in question is Yvonne’s for her subordinates. I would’ve been left with a sour taste if not for the coda which is a more palatable kind of sweet.

3/5