Escape to L.A.

I always like it when episodes of a TV Show explore the personal lives of the characters, and this is something this episode of Miracle Day does really well. In this episode we get to see how the lives of Ester's sister and kids are affected by the plot, we get more of Rhys in Cardiff, and his efforts to help Gwen's Dad in hospital, and we see Rex reunite with his Dad. It really helps to set personal stakes for the characters, and show what they have to lose.

But that's not the only interesting part of this episode. We also get some great stuff concerning the controversial views of Oswald Danes' greatest rival, town mayor in Ellis Hartley Monroe. Ellis is a brilliant creation; she feels like the kind of political figure we all love to hate, a sort of younger American equivalent to Anne Widdecombe. Her 'Dead Is Dead' campaign of sending those who were supposed to die away from the rest of society to fend for themselves and essentially strip them of their human rights is truly shocking.

Then you have the guy who is paid to take Torchwood out, who we see stalking and taking pictures of our heroes, which really helps to build up suspense and make us fear what might happen to these protagonists we are rooting for. When he finally confronts Jack and Gwen, and we see that encounter, it totally pays off and ends in a satisfying climax that well and truly justifies Rex's place on the team. Although I do think Rex was a little mean towards Ester by accusing her of jeopardising the mission. She was just trying to check in on her sister. At least she didn't do what Jack did in the previous episode and visit a flipping night club!

Also: that death in the compactor is really shocking. That has to be one of the most gruesome moments in Torchwood for sure.

Characters saying things to each other that no one would say, shocking developments that, even given the heightened version of the universe Torchwood exists in, is mind numbingly unlikely. Some of the clandestine decisions being made worked in Children of Earth because it was being processed by a small number of politicians under unbearable and clearly defined pressure, but this is all too large scale, too loose and ill defined for medical and political leaders to be acting in unison against so many people’s better judgement. There is enough good fun in there to overcome some of this, but I’m hanging on with nothing more than good will.