"Torchwood" Ghost Machine (2006)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Colin Teague

Writers:

Russell T. Davies (creator)
Helen Raynor (written by)

TV Series:

"Torchwood" (2006)

Original Air Date:

29 October 2006 (Season 1, Episode 3)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

When Gwen retrieves an alien object from a fleeing hoodie, she's haunted by a vision of a lonely young boy...

Plot Keywords:

Bisexuality | Investigation | Renegade | Immortality | Monster

Cast

John Barrowman	...	Captain Jack Harkness
Eve Myles	...	Gwen Cooper
Burn Gorman	...	Owen Harper
Naoko Mori	...	Toshiko Sato
Gareth David-Lloyd	...	Ianto Jones
Kai Owen	...	Rhys Williams
Gareth Thomas	...	Ed Morgan
Ben McKay	...	Bernie
Llinos Daniel	...	Eleri
John Normington	...	Tom Flanagan
Emily Evans	...	Lizzie Lewis
Christopher Elson	...	Young Ed Morgan
Christopher Greene	...	Young Tom Flanagan
Julie Gibbs	...	Bernie's Mum
Ian Kay	...	Snooker Player

Runtime:

50 min (approx.)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:12

Company:

BBC Wales

Trivia:

Just before filming the first chase scene, which was filmed over several nights, John Barrowman sprained his ankle, forcing a quick rewrite which put Jack at the wheel of a car attempting to head off the suspect.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Toshiko is first describing the information she found in Ed Morgan's medical records, she says he is claustrophobic, or afraid of enclosed spaces. This is at odds with his apparent unwillingness to leave his home. Later, when she is reading his medical records on screen, he is listed as being agoraphobic, or afraid of open spaces, a diagnosis much more consistent with his behavior.

Quotes:

Toshiko Sato: The little boy? You said there was a name on the card around his neck?
Gwen Cooper: Flanagan. Tom Erasmus Flanagan.
Captain Jack Harkness: Unusual name, that'll help. Run a full check. Births, marriages, deaths. Criminal records, passports. However long it takes, wherever he is, we'll find him.
Owen Harper: Found him. Flanagan, Thomas Erasmus. 74 Bryneiron Terrace, Butetown.
[pauses]
Owen Harper: He's in the phone book.

Movie Connections:

References "Antiques Roadshow" (1979)

Cold, Dark and Yesterday

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Some disgruntled DR. WHO fans have been known to downgrade this show for having moments that are "too silly", but the lighter, comedic touches are definitely welcome when things get way too "angst-y", and Episode Three definitely underscores why.

In hot pursuit of a hooded figure in unlawful possession of an alien device, Gwen fails to catch him, but does get hold of the machine - much to her regret and soon Owen's as well. The machine tracks and amplifies energy from the past, present or the future...showing the user events that can range from blissful (Gwen's happier moments with Rhys) to mournful (Gwen sees a pivotal event in the life of a local Cardiff man, from his childhood) to downright murderous (Owen witnesses a rape and killing from the 1960's!)

As in the best of classic science fiction, the "ghost machine" is actually nothing more than a MacGuffin to open up an opportunity to explore the darker side of human nature. The writing team of this show excels in this area, and they also manage to provide some real tour-de-force acting moments for Eve Myles and Burn Gorman. But no worries there - everyone in the cast will definitely get their turn in future episodes, whether for a few moments or for the entire hour.