This episode is pretty good, but honestly I expected to like it more. It feels like this episode has a reputation as one of the better episodes in Season 1. Plus I like Indira Varma as an actor. So maybe I went in with too high an expectation here. It's not bad, but it's definitely not great either.

The major issue I have with this episode is that the story is complete nonsense. Not in a fun way, but in an absurdly convulated way. So just to recap, Suzie had been working against Torchwood for at least 2 years, as she's been messing with some dude for at least that long. Her plan is to brainwash some random dude into becoming a sleeper agent. Then in the event of her death, his actions would force the Torchwood team would  to resurrect her with the resurrection glove from episode 1.

Let's just look over this plan. If Suzie dies and isn't able to visit the dude she's been brainwashing for 2 years, he will activate and become a crazy killer who leaves the word 'Torchwood' at the crime scenes. This will get Torchwood's attention, and then through some other clues (basically involving the amnesia drug Torchwood have, and talking to the deceased victims) Torchwood will realise they need Suzie's help. They'll use the resurrection glove on Suzie, but unlike the other people they've used the glove on, Suzie knows how to make the resurrection permanent. She'll steal the lifeforce of the person who used the glove and get her life back, at the cost of this person's life (this happens gradually over time). She'll then help them catch the sleeper cell, who will repeat a poem in his cell which when said enough times will cause a lock down of Torchwood as Suzie escapes.

Besides the fact that doesn't seem like the same Suzie as we saw in the first episode. That Suzie seemed to be a good member of Torchwood, who was unfortunately corrupted by the power of the Resurrection Glove. Now she's become this evil mastermind, who has been preparing an intricate plan for 2 years, just in case she dies. That's not the worst reveal in the world to be fair, and the episode does get some fun out of Suzie as a machiavellian supervillain. But, she is now just a villain, and a pretty thinly drawn one. Besides a desire to not be dead, there's not really anything to explain why/how she's been lying to and betraying Torchwood for years. The episode does give her some interesting moments, and Varma gives a fun performance so I'll let it pass. But, it doesn't excuse the fact that her plan is so incredibly dumb.

Besides the fact that it took her years of planning, the actual plan itself is bad. Firstly she needs a member of Torchwood to be able to use the glove, something that non of the team could do at the time of her death. Secondly they need to resurrect the victims and get enough clues to realise they need Suzie's help. If the victims just cried upon hearing they were dead and said nothing useful (you know like in episode 1, the only time we've actually seen the glove in action) then the plan fails. Then once she's been resurrected Torchwood will just lock her in a cell. I guess being alive in a cell is better than dead, but unless someone decides to go against Torchwood protocol, that's as far as her plan takes her. Luckily for her it's Gwen's turn to be bad at her job this week, and so Gwen releases her just at the perfect time for the lockdown to happen and trap the rest of Torchwood inside. If that lockdown happened a little earlier, the plan would've been revealed too early and she'd still be in her cell, where she would stay locked up. If it happened too late, then it wouldn't have really achieved anything, except be very annoying for Torchwood. Oh, and all the team have to do to stop her it turns out, is destroy the glove, which takes literally one bullet to do. But Suzie leaves the Glove with the team and they realise they have to destroy it at the climactic moment.

I've just written an essay just on Suzie's 'Masterplan' and not much else. In my defense, it's a ridiculously convoluted plan, with so many inconsistencies. I find it baffling on any kind of storytelling basis, that this is the plot here. The reason I think this episode didn't connect with me quite as I'd hoped, is because I kept watching what was happening and thinking "What? Really?"

Which is a shame because despite the plot, I did sorta like this. There's some nice character moments here. Despite criticising Gwen for releasing Suzie (it was an obviously bad idea), it does make sense for her character(ish). She's the heart and humanity of the team. Between her guilt for replacing Suzie, Suzie apparently saving her life earlier in the episode, and Suzie's father dying, I can buy Gwen doing this. She's still a bit of an idiot for doing it, but we're all a bit of an idiot sometimes. Plus it leads to some nice Gwen & Suzie interactions.

So ultimately I think this episode is a complete mess. But, it's not without it's charms.

I LOVE DOOMED YURI

They Keep Killing Suzie doesn't take itself too seriously and that works in its favour I think. Very few things can pull off an episode whose central conceit is "woman drugged some guy so that when she died (killed herself) eventually the team would be forced to bring her back to life" but Torchwood managed it, more or less. I had fun at least

This is certainly a Torchwood episode I didn't hate. Though not exceptional, there is some fun to They Keep Killing Suzie and it, I think, plays up the fun a story like this can have. With a bit of a crime caper combined with what really is Torchwood's recurring villain, the appeal of this comes from Indira Varma and she definitely stands out as a performer enough to carry this episode, but Gwen is pretty great here too. It is a shame Suzie couldn't become a recurring threat like the show runners apparently wanted at one time until she was unavailable for series two. While I have a lot of issues with early era Torchwood, I think this is the version of the show that could have worked a lot better - a show that takes itself a little less seriously can get away with more goofy content like this and my thoughts around They Keep Killing Suzie are far more positive because of it.

Changing everything, one mission at a time!

“THEY KEEP KILLING SUZIE: A GHOST FROM TORCHWOOD'S PAST”

Returning to the themes of life, death, and responsibility, They Keep Killing Suzie resurrects OG Torchwood member Suzie Costello for unfinished business. This episode leans into the show's ongoing exploration of moral consequences, forcing the team to confront the ramifications of their own actions—particularly regarding the Retcon amnesia pill and the Resurrection Gauntlet. While it doesn’t quite capitalise on its full dramatic potential, it remains a solid, introspective entry that reinforces Torchwood’s flawed humanity.

SUZIE RETURNS—BUT AT WHAT COST?

When a series of murders linked to Torchwood draws their attention, the team is forced to use the Resurrection Gauntlet to bring back Suzie Costello—despite her being long dead. It’s an intriguing premise, as Suzie’s resurrection is not just a one-off conversation but an extended revival, causing deep unease within the team. The episode cleverly plays on this discomfort, showing the awkwardness of someone returning to a group that has moved on without them.

Indira Varma delivers a fantastic performance as Suzie, balancing her shock at being revived with a deeply buried resentment towards Torchwood. Her presence stirs the pot, particularly for Gwen, who realises how little the team knew about Suzie’s personal life. This fuels Gwen’s sympathy for her, setting up a tense dynamic as Suzie’s true motives begin to surface.

A STRIPPED-BACK, CHARACTER-FOCUSED INVESTIGATION

Unlike some of Torchwood’s more outlandish outings, this is a more grounded episode, relying less on spectacle and more on character drama. The team dynamics return to a more balanced setup, with Jack leading the charge and Gwen taking the emotional approach, while Owen, Tosh, and Ianto offer support without standing out too much. Owen is notably less abrasive than usual, while Jack remains as guarded as ever, deflecting personal questions even in moments of crisis.

There’s something refreshing about seeing the team working through a mystery in a relatively traditional investigative manner. While the stakes are personal, the episode isn’t trying to be overly grandiose—it’s more about the lingering consequences of Torchwood’s actions and the moral weight they bear.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR STRONGER DRAMA

For a story about bringing back the dead, They Keep Killing Suzie surprisingly lacks a strong emotional gut punch. The final revelation—that Suzie has been slowly draining Gwen’s life to permanently resurrect herself—should be a harrowing, high-stakes moment, but it doesn’t land with as much weight as it could. Similarly, while there are hints of deeper tensions within the team, the episode never fully explores them, keeping most of the conflict at surface level.

Given the potential of its premise, this could have been an opportunity for bigger emotional confrontations, particularly between Jack and Suzie, or even more insight into Torchwood’s handling of their fallen members. Instead, it remains a solid but somewhat restrained story

📝VERDICT: 7/10

They Keep Killing Suzie is an intriguing, continuity-rich episode that builds on past events to tell a smaller, more introspective tale. While it doesn’t fully lean into its potential for high drama, it succeeds in reinforcing the moral ambiguity of Torchwood’s work and the weight of their decisions. Suzie’s return offers a compelling—if underdeveloped—look at a former team member left behind, while the episode as a whole highlights Torchwood’s ongoing struggle with the consequences of their own actions.

I rather like it!
It’s definitely a favorite of mine, probably helps that I think Suzie is a great Character (both thanks to the nice Script and especially Indira Varma’s great Performance as the Character). What this Story does with Gwen is great! The Plot as well certainly doesn’t disappoint! Sure, it could technically do more with it, but what it does with it already brings out some great Character Drama. Furthermore, I do think it’s a very good Story for Torchwood and exploring their Inner-workings very well! Really, I don’t think I can find many Complaints about it, besides maybe a few Nitpicks.

This is one of the better Torchwood episodes from season 1. I think Suzie is an interesting character, and I like that she and Gwen share a lot of screen time in this one. The plot works quite well too, even if I do feel like they could’ve made better use of the resurrection glove across more episodes.

The only thing I don’t get is why she also had a thing for Owen. Honestly, the most unrealistic part of this show is that every woman in Torchwood seems to be attracted to that pile of garbage. At least he’s barely in this episode, and that’s a big plus!

I support women's wrong <3

But seriously, Suzie is such an amazing character. I wish more of the episode was a functional character study with her in it rather than the formulaic mystery. There's so much to say about They Keep Killing Suzie and blame and human nature and, ugh, this is why I love Torchwood.

The first and last ten minutes of this one are great, but the rest is quite slow. There's some great character moments and brilliant pieces of dialogue, but it doesn't feel like much takes place in the narrative.