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Torchwood – To the last man ( 2008 )

It’s the Tosh-centric episode of the series…and…it’s not a bunch of old tosh!

It starts with one fine cold-opening, leaving you with the sensation that’s it’s going to be another in media res beginning (very Palahniuk, if you ask me). Yup, a “few hours earlier” caption and it’s off we go. It all starts with a cool moment at Tosh’s place and….whoa, someone’s had plastic surgery!

Anyhoo, hormonal moments later, it turns out that every year (or maybe more, i wasn’t paying attention) they revive some frozen dude and he goes on a date with Tosh. I guess the dates are so bad he has to be frozen to survive them (zing!!!).

But wait! The fabric of reality starts to unravel or summat. It all boils down to Tosh and his Popsicle Shagpiece… What to do? End it up all in tears, that’s the Torchwood way! Get out the crying towel (TM The Thing) because it’s a bit of a sad ending. Not as heart-wrenching as the episode Out of Time, but still I felt sad. There’s a nice nod back, when Owen (who isn’t on arsehole mode anymore) offers a bit of advice to Tosh (with him having been through something similar in Out of Time). Loved that bit

Seriously, Helen Raynor’s scripts are much better in Torchwood than in Doctor Who, if you ask me. She knows how to tell a good little tear jerker, with some solid points here and there (and a few gaps that require audience disbelief, but I’ll give ‘em…it’s Sci Fi!) and a good selection of music (et tu, Moby?). Great, quiet little episode, a welcome relief after the kill-o-drama that was Sleeper.

Quick thoughts:

-Wow! Old Torchwood!

-Ah, how sweet, they are in love! Where’s the stuffed toy, dude? You gotta be more romantic!

-”They died so young!” AHHH SCARY!! Is that the arc?!?!

-It’s the return of Cardiff overshots! Yay!

-Ewwwwwww! I’m no homophobe but.. EEEEEEEWWWWW!!… where’s a lesbian kiss for us horny straight dudes?!?!?! WE DEMAND THEM!

-Haunted hospitals?!?! SWEET JEBUS AND HIS TOY DALEKS!! SCARY SH1T!!!

-Argh…time….travel…predestination…head hurts!!

Now, the ratings:

Times the overbearing score tells you to cry, cry, cry!

Times you thought to yourself: hey, it might be something good!

…out of which IT DELIVERS!

Times you think Helen Raynor is much better in Torchwood

Times you think to yourself “yeah, we know they are at it..be subtle, yes?”

Moments you pause and say “Where’s Funny Ianto!?!? I NEED IANTO BEING FUNNY, NOT SNOGGING CAP JACK!!”

Character changes that feel more like “out of character moments” (i.e. Owen being nice and sympathetic and not being a “i’ll shag ANYTHING!” bastidd):

FrillyRating:

RTD says:
IT DELIVERS!!!