Saturday 16 February 2008

TW 205: Adam

Is this written by Dan Abnett? Is this Border Princes: The TV episode? No? Could have fooled me... oh, look, it's the story arc!


Adam has been working with Torchwood for several years... well, that's an original start. It's not like Torchwood hasn't done that before... but this is 50 minutes, so Adam proves to be a) evil and b) incompetent extremely quickly so that his nefarious schemes can be defeated... whatever they are. Adam isn't explained, where he came from isn't explained, why he needed to feed on Torchwood is barely explained. Now that's an episode with answers!

But we do get some answers. The story point presented in XX!! (to give it in geek speek) is followed up and we find out about Grey, the little boy who got away. Whom Captain John found... And we find out there's a menacing species that shrieks as it attacks. Doubt it's the Daleks, reminded me of the Reapers but that's not right, now laying bets that Earth will be attacked by that species by the end of the series. (And if you want other talking points, consider: Adam said he was in the Void, and came through the Rift... so the Rift touches the Void? Wonder what else is in there...)

But once again we are presented with a character piece, filling out not just Jack's history, but also Gwen and Rhys, and, of course, Owen and Tosh. Or rather, Tosh and Owen. Have to say that that relationship is still just as annoying even when presented the other way around. Seriously, people, move that sub-plot along please!

The point of this episode is to fill out backstory. How can I say that? Well, allow me to point out that once the villain has done this job, he literally disappears from the scene! As such, the plot is very slight, but the focus is the characters, presenting a new side to them. Pity none of that can now be used to actually develop them.


Next week: So that's what Reset is... it's resetting the series to its parent series and bringing in old companions!

[END]

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