"There’s no puzzle to solve, no enemy to fight. Just three lost people who have somehow become our responsibility.

Jack says this part way through the episode, and it's true. This is just a story of 3 people from 1953 who accidentally get transported to Christmas 2006 through the rift in Cardiff. There's no real threat, little tension, just a fish out of water premise. It may be a little slow, but I think this is charming.

Our 3 time travellers split off into 3 stories, each partnered up with a member of our main cast. Diane the pilot with moxie gets paired up with Owen. Her passengers were John and his niece Emma. John bonds with Captain Jack, whilst Emma gets taken under Gwen's wing. Tosh and Ianto are also there, but as is too often the case they haven't got anything to do really.

The best of these 3 stories is the John and Captain Jack one. John and Jack seem to genuinely get on well, Jack even telling John that he's also travelled through time and doesn't belong in 2006 either (something his team don't know yet). This is the most emotional story here, with John struggling with this new world. He'd already made a life for himself in 1953, and doesn't relish the idea of having to do it all again in a world he doesn't always understand. He keeps trying to reconnect with his old life, but his old house is derelict and abandonned, and his only remaining relative is his son, who is in a care home with Alzheimer's. The scene where John visits and talks to his son is heartbreaking. He keeps trying to connect, but his son doesn't follow what he's saying. He thinks he's gotten through talking about old football matches, but it turns out the son is just flashing to memories of his past. He isn't remembering them, he's reliving them. It's a cruel symptom of his senility. John decides to take his own life, with Jack keeping him company as he does.

The worst story is probably the Emma and Gwen story. It's fine, they have a nice sisterly bond and Gwen gets to explain modern attitudes about sex to a teenager from the 1950s. But it's very thin. Basically Emma has an argument with her uncle and storms out. She ends up sleeping on Gwen's sofa, realises that she has more independence now than she had in the '50s, then gets a job in London and leaves to begin her new life. This story is mostly to setup problems in Gwen & Rhys' relationship, as Rhys realises that Gwen has lied about who Emma is and questions what else she's lying about.

There's also Diane and Owen. Obviously being a woman Diane is unable to resist Owen's "irresistable charms". I haven't enjoyed Owen throughout much of this series, but he is quite likeable here. This is a very gentle episode, and as a result Owen is softened, meaning his usual crass brashness is barely on display. Diane is a woman from the 1950s who is ahead of her time. She's independent, enjoys casual sex and adventure. She just wants to fly, but can't as she technically hasn't got a valid licence in 2006. Owen and Diane start a relationship, Owen starts to have feelings he's uncomfortable with, but despite his unwillingness he still falls in love with Diane. Diane is too much of a free spirit however, so she gets in her plane and flies off, leaving a heartbroken Owen behind.

Much like Countrycide, I wouldn't want many episodes like this. But as a one off it's a lovely change of pace. Although considering this episode and Countrycide are my 2 favourite episodes of the series so far, I don't think I like the usual pace and tone of the more normal Torchwood episodes that much. Luckily the show will evolve into something more to my taste, eventually.