Review of Propaganda by Muddyviolet
22 August 2024
It was an interesting story and once it got going it was really good. However, I'm guessing this was one of the victims of the changing direction of the series (I remember an interview from around 2021 that said TW series seven originally meant to have a larger plot about anti-vaxxers and an epidemic but something happened in 2020 to change plans). The fact a pen name - Ash Darby - was used for this script suggests to me it was edited. It seems to have two 'false starts' one which was deliberate (the opening scene) then one that lasts till around the fifteen-minute mark).
The story starts too slowly. Once Orr finally gets to Voloshnik the story is a lot better especially when Orr pieces together what happened. The war plot is interesting and you can assume it was probably about Donetsk (Russian satellite state, ongoing conflict between legitimate government, Russian-backed rebels and Russia) however that may be a 2024 reading of a circa 2019 script. The plotline about misinformation is interesting yet lacks any depth, it could have easily been developed. All they would need to do is add a few lines about Tania having a second child who died due to her mother's anti-vaccine views. Then make Tania confront those emotions with Robert Wilson.
The ending with the explanation of the is amazing and like most Torchwood stories, the ending is extremely well done and links the theme of the episode - misinformation. I just wish it went into more depth and got ot the point quicker. You could cut the entire section with the insurgent, and have Orr get to the hospital from the plane crash.