There's some nice ideas here, with memory as an emotional force. Asking if it's ok to kill a murderer, even if the murderer deserves it, what is the impact on the killer and are they now not a murderer too. Can you avoid your fate, or can fighting against something happening be the cause, does seeing your possible future make that future more or less likely.

There's some fun sci-fi ideas that stem from the weird alien artifact that can show you the past and the future. The episode does take the time to focus on these ideas and the tone of the episode is suitably creepy and melancholic.

But it never really clicked for me. It has the ideas and interrogates them, but ultimately I feel like it didn't actually have much to say.

Owen gets a lot of spotlight in this episode. Although it's nice to see more layers to the character, especially as his brash, crass & creepy demenour made him previously seem superficial and he's been the character I enjoy the least. So to see him troubled & vulnerable by what the artifact shows him is a nice change of pace for the character. I'm just not sure I buy him becoming a vengeful killer. Admittedly the show doesn't have him go through with it, so I guess he's really more of a vengeful threatener. But he certainly thinks about, probably even desires killing the man he saw getting away with murdering a young woman 40 years ago. This transformation feels very sudden and very dramatic to me, and not in a believable way.

Still all in all an interesting episode full of atmosphere. It tries to do something different with both it's plot and it's characters, but is only somewhat successful with both. It does get points for trying though.

S1E3

Ghost Machine

8/10

Now THIS should have been episode 2. The alien device is fascinating and used well throughout. We get some great moments for Owen this episode. I'd forgotten how it ended, but I really did like this ending. It's not quite how either Bernie nor Gwen expected it to go. Great episode, definitely watch.

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

“Ghost Machine: Echoes of the Past, Shadows of the Future"

A haunting exploration of morality, memory, and the weight of time, driven by a character-focused narrative.

Time Travel with a Twist

In Ghost Machine, Torchwood takes a step away from its usual alien threats to explore a subtler, more poignant side of sci-fi. The alien artefact—a device capable of projecting apparitions of the past and future—provides a fresh take on time travel, focusing on emotional resonance rather than grand temporal stakes. This eerie and introspective approach creates a unique atmosphere, highlighting the consequences of meddling with forbidden technology.

Owen's Journey: From Avenger to Redeemer

This episode shines as a character study, particularly for Owen. Witnessing the tragic murder of a young girl from 1963 ignites a personal crusade for justice, revealing a deeper, more empathetic side to his abrasive persona. Burn Gorman delivers a powerful performance, capturing Owen’s internal conflict and determination as he confronts Lizzie's killer, Morgan, in the present.

Owen’s arc resonates deeply, asking whether righting past wrongs can truly heal old wounds—or whether it only serves to deepen them. His actions throughout the episode challenge our perceptions of him, hinting at a complexity beyond his usual brash demeanour.

Gwen, Jack, and the Weight of the Present

Gwen’s experiences with the device offer a more personal and relatable perspective. Her brief moment of introspection, as she reconnects with her boyfriend Rhys, underscores the emotional cost of her new life with Torchwood. These quiet moments add depth to Gwen’s character, making her struggles and sacrifices feel tangible.

Captain Jack, meanwhile, continues to mentor Gwen, with their weapons training scene providing both a moment of bonding and a glimpse into Jack's authoritative yet supportive leadership style. His presence remains enigmatic but grounding, allowing Gwen to shine while subtly guiding her development.

Balancing Tones: Hits and Misses

The tonal shifts in Ghost Machine are its most glaring weakness. The comedic chase scene involving Owen and Bernie feels jarringly out of place amidst the otherwise sombre narrative. While Torchwood often blends humour and darkness, this particular instance disrupts the episode’s pacing and emotional weight.

Supporting Cast and Minimal Sci-Fi

While Toshiko is used effectively to provide exposition, both she and Ianto remain underutilised, fading into the background as the narrative focuses on Gwen, Jack, and Owen. The sci-fi elements are understated, with the alien artefact serving more as a narrative device than a central focus. This approach works in the episode’s favour, allowing the character-driven drama to take centre stage.

A Poignant, Minimalist Finale

The climax ties the episode’s themes together beautifully. The future Gwen witnessed earlier plays out differently than expected, showcasing how knowledge of potential outcomes can alter our actions and perspectives. The subdued conclusion reinforces the idea that while we cannot change the past, we can still learn from it and strive to make better choices in the present.

Verdict: A Bleak and Thoughtful Torchwood Tale

Ghost Machine stands out as a deeply introspective episode, blending crime drama with emotional sci-fi. While its tonal shifts and underuse of certain characters detract slightly from the overall impact, the strong performances and poignant exploration of morality and memory make it a memorable entry in the series.

📝75/100

A pretty solid way to soften the blow of Day One, I suppose. Not my favourite Torchwood episode, certainly, but I enjoy the stuff with Gwen and still think she is a solid part of the series' early days. Her onboarding with Torchwood is still what I take away most from these first few episodes. Owen's arc feels like we are still deep in the edge-lord tendencies of the show which is something I think a lot of the series would struggle with (outside of that one obvious exception). So it kind of left a mediocre impression on me, especially because it kind of fizzles out with an ending I found pretty silly.

From what I know, this Story is quite liked, and I can see why that it. For me, it has some great Moments, but overall leaves me a bit cold sadly. I can see what it's going for and compare to the Episode previously to it, it's probably much better but less interesting for me to digest, because frankly my Opinion boils down to this one being one that doesn't do much for me. That said, it would certainly be a better second Episode than 'Day One'

I really don’t like Owen, and unfortunately he gets a lot of focus in this episode. The problem is, it’s not in a fun, “love to hate him” kind of way, it’s more of a “he’s ruining the series for me” situation. He’s a complete arsehole, and while that kind of character can work in some shows, it just doesn’t here.

It feels totally forced that he’s suddenly so upset about the man in this episode, especially when he literally sexually assaulted a couple two episodes ago and hasn’t shown much regard for life at any point. I don’t buy that he’s affected by this, it feels more like inconsistent writing than an actual character arc.

The rest of the cast still feels pretty meaningless at this point in the series, but I get that they’re being introduced gradually. Hopefully they get more to do soon.

The story in this episode is fine. Nothing special, really. Just okay.

This episode is more what Torchwood should be. It tackles adult themes in a mature rather than childish manner, and has a strong sci-fi premise regarding an alien device that projects echoes from the past. Powerful, gripping and moving drama.

I actually enjoyed this! Doctor Who and Spinoffs can usually do one thing well, and that's a ghost story. Owen even approaches something that might be character development

BERNIE HARRIS. *sprints*