Torchwood (TV Series) Exit Wounds (2008) User Reviews

A dramatic end to the second series

[DVD_Connoisseur · 9/10 · 5 April 2008]

"Exit Wounds", as the episode title suggests, features the (possible) departure of characters from the series. Without revealing any plot points, this dark tale ties up many loose threads from the second season and contains truly memorable performances from the cast.

The excellent James Marsters makes a return as the mysterious Captain John while John Barrowman's character faces a blast from the past. This is an episode where no-one is left unaffected by events.

"Exit Wounds" scores an impressive 9 out of 10. I'd bet my last penny that this show returns for a third series. It's matured greatly from the first hit-and-miss season and has been consistently gripping.

A highly entertaining, and sometimes moving, British example of the science fiction genre, this is recommended viewing.

Exit Wounds

[eddsutch · 10/10 · 15 May 2008]

I went into this thinking that this might be the end (I was mislead by the trailer.) But it this was to be the last episode of Torchwood, it would be by far the best way to end it.

Torchwood have just got out of the building destroyed by the bombs. There are wounds, most noticeably to Tosh Sato, who has been given painkillers by Owen. At the beginning the Rift activity to be dealt with easily (for example, Owen gives the Hoix cigarettes to eat, Ianto and Toshiko shoot the hooded figures and Gwen sedates the Weevils easily). But when the bombs go off and Jack is taken through the Rift, there appears to be a feeling of panic, and Torchwood appear to be taken back to how they were at the beginning of the series. However, Gwen seems to take the position of leader to Torchwood, which she took at the beginning of the series (even though Owen is meant to be second in command, Gwen has the credentials to do so.). They set about putting the city back together and suddenly you find yourself on the edge of your seat. The computers running the nuclear power station have crashed and meltdown is imminent. Gwen finds John in the Hub, but he reveals everything that he has found out and tells her Jack is buried under the city (John was under the control of Gray, and was going around with a walking bomb on his wrist). However, Gray has also come through the Rift and releases the Weevils to the streets, meaning Ianto and Tosh can't stop the meltdown but Owen can as he is King of the Weevils. This is when Gwen and John are surrounded by Weevils. Ianto and Tosh enter and everything seems to pick up from there...and then there was the gunshot, and Tosh left to die, Gwen, Ianto and John getting trapped in the vaults and Owen in trouble at the Nuclear Power Station. Then there was the return of Jack from the morgue. Gray was chloroformed, and then again things seemed to pick up, as they always do, Jack releasing John, Gwen and Ianto, and then I thought, it's alright, Jack will save Toshiko and go and help Owen. But by then it's too late....

I loved this episode, it goes down as one of my top 10-which are in no particular order: Countrycide, everything changes, kiss kiss bang bang, fragments, from out of the rain, something borrowed, day one, they keep killing Susie, sleeper and exit wounds. If you haven't seen it, I do recommend you see it quickly-search for it on YouTube!! It's an amazing episode, and it will make you cry and be on tenterhooks for the whole 50 minutes.

Season 2: Solid sci-fi that improves greatly on season 1 without itself being brilliant

[bob the moo · 5 May 2008]

Torchwood was infuriating in its first season. The story of the shadowy group investigating and controlling the alien presence on earth was clearly meant to be a Dr Who spin-off for adults but for some reason it decided that adults wanted to see lots of girl-on-girl kissing and sexual playfulness. Now, this may well be true but we have other media to provide such material – sci-fi dramas on BBC2 not really being where I'm looking for titillation. Anyway, while not completely removing this aspect of it, the writers seem to have realised this and as a result season two is a more assured affair.

The stories are better and, within these the characters also stand-up as more interesting and engaging. I particularly liked the themes that the stories explored as these are what makes it more interesting than just a simple sci-fi about aliens and guns. This is not to say that it is brilliant of course, because it is not. We do still have a touch of silliness about the whole thing, with perhaps a bit too many Eastenders scenarios for my liking across any specific story. That said it is darker and more interesting than season one, with death, loss, love and other themes handled pretty well.

The cast are given more to work with as a result and they respond by mostly improving their performances. Barrowman keeps his camp larger-than-life character but has more material in his dark streak – it doesn't feel like he is flicking it on or off like a switch. It is the rest of the cast that improve through. Mori and Gorman in particular both have more to do and produce characters that I cared for and was moved by – particularly in the key moments of the final episodes. Myles is less annoying than before although I still found her grating at her worst. David-Lloyd is better (but still not great) while Owen has more to do and adds the fresh eyes that usually helps this type of thing. Dr Who's Martha Jones makes a welcome and enjoyable appearance as well.

Season two is not brilliant then, but it is a lot better than I had expected. The biggest problems with season one have been at least partially addressed and it does mean that it feels like it is presenting to an adult audience rather than just sexually teasing them. It is not good enough to win over those who were horrified by season one, but for those returning to it, the good news is that the weaknesses have been partially addressed and the potential has been realised a bit more.

I will miss you

[sinceverona · 7/10 · 23 September 2009]

After Torchwood team escapes from the ruins. Captain John Hart appears with Gray, Jakcs long lost younger brother who seems to be his prisoner and threatens Torchwood. Jack returns alone to Torchwood,only to find there John who expresses his love for him just before he shoots him. When Jack wakes up he is chained and John uses his time bracelet to cause him pain. At the police station four senior officers have been murdered by weevils and Gwen and Rhys arrive to investigate. Andy gets angry because Rhys is present, but when John ask them all to go to the top of the buildings, he activates explosives and the Cardiff ends up in flames. Then John kidnaps Jack and returns him to 27.AD where Jack is united with Gray. But is this a happy reunion of two brothers? The story was well written. Some of the dialogs were heart breaking, specially the ones between Tosh and Owen at the very end of the series finale. Gwen was tough taking command at the police station and as Andy said to Rhys he was a lucky sod. Can someone really hold a grudge for so long? I think that Jacks penitence was taken to the extreme horror! I must admit I never saw it coming. Why did screen writers decided to eliminate some of Torcwood team members? To conclude the series two did break some, if not all boundaries of known cinema. Some plots were unbelievable, some dialogs were hilarious but in its own way Torchwood is unique. For me sexual orientation of the characters was not the reason for watching. The evolution of characters however was. I would only wish that the ending climax did not involved anyone dying.

Love Torchwood

[Nyneke · 2/10 · 2 April 2021]

But hated this eppisode. Escapism tv shouldn't get this grim. Especially not in the final eppisode. The life i am trying to escape from is hard enough!

One extra star because there were some funny / good bits. Though these get shadowed over by the deaths. Two brilliant characters gone. The annoying one survives.