Torchwood (TV Series) To the Last Man (2008) User Reviews

1918-2008 Playing the Long Game

[abs_is_back · 9/10 · 9 February 2008]

Torchwood has been keeping a WWI soldier in cryo-freeze since 1918, but they don't know WHY. There is a mysterious box with a temporal lock that will open when it's time for Tommy the soldier to do his "job". (interesting name since Brit soldiers from WWI were called 'Tommies') Tosh plays a vital part in this episode and we see much more of her personality come through. An episode of true heroism and noble sacrifice on more than one character's part.

Hey, it was nicer to pull a cute soldier out of the morgue than pulling Suzie out! (Ok, I loved the episode with Suzie, but still...) Jack spills a small bit of his past to Gwen, a part we already knew - that he was alive during WWI.

Torchwood just keeps getting better and better, mainly because it's character driven. This situation affects each Torchwood member in its own way. And Tommy is anything but a cardboard cut-out character. Emotion is squeezed from every second of this plot, without it being forced, fake, or over the top.

Excellent third episode. Looking forward to more. Blessed RTD for coming up with this ahead of its time idea.

A solid third episode of the second season

[DVD_Connoisseur · 8/10 · 6 February 2008]

"To the Last Man" is an above average episode of "Torchwood". With shades of "Sapphire and Steel", this time-warping, "historical" tale is strong on emotion and atmosphere.

This is a Tosh-driven episode and it allows Naoko Mori to reveal more about her character. When a first World War soldier is thawed out from Torchwood's cryogenic freezer, emotions run high and the team fight to save the world yet again.

8 out of 10. I've heard "Torchwood" described as the "18-30 of Sc-Fi". This is somewhat unfair. Although the show has its weaknesses, it delivers an alternative slice of British science fiction that is curiously retro despite its modern touches.

If you have to say goodbye

[sinceverona · 9 September 2009]

In the year 1918 in the Hospital Tommy Brockless is recovering from being shell shocked. While Jerald Carter and Hariet Derbyshire are looking for evidence for rift opening they see Tommy and Toshiko. Toshiko convinces Tommy to tell them that he is in the ward down the hall and that they should take him. Jerald and Hariet rush to the room and they take half a sleep Tommy from his bed. But just before that, they informed him that they are Torchwood and that he must trust them. Back in present Gwen witnesses awaking of Tommy who has been cryogenicly frozen from 1918, and since then Torchwood has awaking him up every year for one day. Gwen is surprised when she finds out that somehow he is connected with a box that actually holds the rift key, that will stop the year 1918 to mix with one year in the future. But not even Jack knows when will that be. After so many action packed episodes we finally have one to really enjoy. It is a very interesting to see Toshiko actually smile for ones . Tommy on other hand was very good looking, sensitive, perfect. To bad they don't have a character like that in every episode. Many will agree that relationship between Tommy and Toshiko must have been love. The relationship between Jack and Ianto got steamy. Gwen was there at the begging of a story and even had some scary moments when time collided with past, and Owen had a really good lines and showed compassion. But this was really a story about two people from different time but not so different. Definitely make sure not to miss this one.

Interesting idea, but a bit meh

[thomasgouldsbrough · 6/10 · 31 March 2022]

To the Last Man wasn't particularly amazing, it was just very average. At the very least, Toshiko had some interesting character development, and so it was pretty interesting to see.