Greeks Bearing Gifts (26 Nov. 2006)

Tosh gains the ability to read the minds of those closest to her but as she becomes party to their darkest secrets, she realises not only is this is a powerful curse, but one impossible to break.

Director:

Colin Teague

Writers:

Russell T. Davies (creator), Toby Whithouse

Stars:

John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Burn Gorman

Cast

Episode credited cast:
John Barrowman	...	Captain Jack Harkness
Eve Myles	...	Gwen Cooper
Burn Gorman	...	Owen Harper
Naoko Mori	...	Toshiko Sato
Gareth David-Lloyd	...	Ianto Jones
Daniela Denby-Ashe	...	Mary
Tom Robertson	...	Soldier
Shaheen Jafargholi	...	Danny
Ravin J. Ganatra	...	Neil
Eiry Thomas	...	Carol
Paul Kasey	...	Weevil
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hugh Holman	...	Telepathy Victim

Storyline

The team is called out to a construction site when a very old skeleton is dug up. Owen can't quite figure out the cause of death which appears to be from a gun or musket shot. Tosh meanwhile meets an attractive stranger named Mary in a bar who seems to know a great deal about Torchwood. She gives Tosh a pendant that allows her to hear people's thoughts. Initially, she's repulsed at actually hearing what other are thinking - about her, about those around them and so on - but when she overhears someone who is about to kill his wife and child and manages to stop him, she realizes that some good can come of it. She's not prepared for the revelation her new friend has for her when Tosh suggests turning the pendant over to Torchwood.

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Plot Keywords:

bisexuality | lesbian kiss

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 November 2006 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Wales, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min 50 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

When in the bar discussing scavengers, Toshika says "How many of there are you?" instead of "How many of you are there?"

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Quotes

[after walking into a body tent]
Captain Jack Harkness: You know, sometimes I wish I could walk into one of these tents and find there's a party inside. With food, music, dancing, girl crying in the corner...

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Connections

References Alien (1979)

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Soundtracks

"Spitting Games"
by Snow Patrol

User Reviews

Far above average.

I have been a fan on Toby Whitehouse's script writing ever since his lovely nostalgic Who story, 'School reunion'. This is a man who knows how to write good one-liners without letting them detract from the overall quality of the script, and this particular episode is crackling with them. The exchanges between the gang and the balance of tragic-comic moments that come when Naoko Mori's character receives powers of telepathy are very-well handled. It has to be said, however, that Gwen and Owen in particular come off badly from this story. Their affair is played out to Tosh like some kind of fling between two horny teenagers with little to no regard for the feelings of others. But then, I have had it in for Burn Gorman's character since the start, so I may well be prejudiced. The sex element is well-played, with Naoko giving a convincing portrayal of someone won over by a woman who gives her everything she wanted from Owen and never got. However, it is with the character of Mary that I feel the episode falls down slightly. She is too unambiguous for my liking, especially given that her character is supposed to be deeply shadowy. However, in all this is great little outing that builds well to the stand-off at the end, with flashes of humour and Naoko's best performance since the start of the series. One to watch, I reckon.