The Right FREQUENCY

Article first published as FREQUENCY Review on Seat42F.

The CW continues television’s reboot / adaptation trend with FREQUENCY. Based on the 2000 film of the same name, FREQUENCY finds a police officer, Raimy Sullivan, communicating with her long-dead father through a ham radio. When Raimy tries to change the past and save his life, the consequences spin out in a butterfly effect, and she soon has a litany of other problems to deal with.

If one wasn’t aware of the plot of the film, one might think, based on the beginning of the pilot, that this is going to be your typical cop show. Being a TV reviewer and having to watch hundreds of shows every year, I have gotten very tired of the repetitive formula that pervades so much of broadcast network programming. Thus, I was already well on my way to tuning it out when the twists started to occur. If you’re like me and pretty much done with that genre, hang in there, because FREQUENCY doesn’t stay in it too long.

Instead, we’re getting a relatively straight-forward mystery that soon becomes convoluted through changes in the timeline. It won’t surprise you to learn (and this is spoiled on Wikipedia and in press materials) that Raimy (Peyton List, Mad Men, The Tomorrow People) manages to stop daddy Frank (Riley Smith, Nashville, The Messengers) from dying. Which Raimy barely has time to be glad about before her mother, Julie (Devin Kelley, Resurrection), disappears, having been taken out by a serial killer in the new narrative. How is the serial killer connected to Frank’s death? Assuming Frank isn’t the killer, which seems unlikely, we don’t yet know.

This is an intriguing question, to be sure, and one that promises to get more tricky as time goes on. The format of FREQUENCY looks to be that Raimy and Frank will have to work together across time to keep making their lives and their loved ones’ lives better, but every time they achieve that in some way, there will be a backslide. Thus, things will continue to get messy, and a happy ending will be a long way off.

There are a few interesting decisions FREQUENCY makes that I’m not sure every version of this story would choose. Frank is still dead in 2016, albeit from a different cause quite a bit later in life, so they can’t be side by side, nor, given the second cause of his passing, is this likely to change over the course of the show (at least not until the end), keeping Frank and Raimy ever separate. Raimy gets to retain her memories of both timelines, though no one else does. And adult characters, including Frank’s pal Satch (Mekhi Phifer, ER) and co-worker Stan (Anthony Ruivivar, Banshee), are played by the same actors in both time frames, set twenty years apart. (Raimy, being an eight-year-old child in 1996, obviously isn’t List in the past, nor is her pal, Gordo, likely to be Nurse Jackie’s Lenny Jacobson in both.)

This last element is something I’m in favor of in general; twenty years is a long time, but also not super long in the scheme of things, and the looks of two different individuals were likely to be too far apart. The problem with it here is that the CW doesn’t exactly give a huge budget to their shows, so the aging makeup and hair coloring isn’t all that great. It is easy to spot early on that Julie is played by a much younger actress than the character’s 2016 age. Which I guess makes sense, given it would be easier to add years than take them away. But it doesn’t quite look authentic.

What will probably keep me from being a total fan of FREQUENCY is that it does seem to rely a little too heavily on the cop show format, despite the great sci-fi elements, and it has a little bit of cheesy shallowness about it that goes beyond just the makeup issues. But it’s pretty good, and I’m sure it will quickly gain a loyal following.

FREQUENCY premieres Wednesday, October 5 at 9/8c on the CW.

THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT Blu-ray Review

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'The Divergent Series: Insurgent' on Blogcritics.

This week, the second film in the Divergent Series, Insurgent, is released on 3-D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD.  Divergent is set in a post-apocalyptic Chicago, where the remaining humans have been sorted into castes based on their abilities. One girl defies the framework and challenges those who wish to manipulate it for their own gain. Picking up just a few days after where the last Divergent movie ends, Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) must bring the fight to Jeanine (Kate Winslet) before she destroys their society, pinning death and chaos on the pair. Jeanine’s tool to do so happens to require Tris, and the trippy adventure to get there is action-packed and visually impressive.

The story behind Insurgent is interesting, if a little underdeveloped. The plot rockets through four different groups of people in two hours, while still trying to grant some character development to the leads. This means little insight into the various factions and their leadership structures, even as each new corner of the world begs to be explored. And it’s a fascinating world.

Most of the action is focused on Tris, the emotional entrance to the film’s heart, and I understand the desire to maintain the focus there, but it feels like there are wasted possibilities constantly plucked and then discarded.

As a result, those plot threads are neglected, minimizing the roles of terrific actors, new to the sequel, including Octavia Spencer (The Help), Naomi Watts (The Impossible), and Daniel Dae Kim (Lost). I find myself wishing for more story in each of their zones. The talented new cast members, join the already impressive cast from the first movie (which, alongside Winslet, includes Ashley Judd, Mekhi Phifer, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Miles Teller, Maggie Q, and more).

The overall story arcs feel a bit weak at times. For instance, Tris is able to resist the mind-controlling serum in the first movie because she is Divergent, but quickly succumbs to Candor’s truth juice? The powers of a Divergent aren’t quite clear. And why does Candor have its own guards? It also seems like Jeanine has a lot of power, but then has no idea what is going on in other parts of the city, though the soldiers that work for her always seem to show up when the movie requires another shot of adrenaline.

Insurgent is not a bad film. What it lacks in plot, it makes up for in some really neat shots. I wish I’d been sent the 3-D version of this film to review because I am sure it would be cool to see all of the visual effects with depth. As it stands, even the  Blu-ray version is pretty good looking. Some wide shots and crowd scenes are identifiable as computer-generated, but everything that happens to Tris, and there’s a lot of mind-confounding stuff for her to go through that isn’t set in reality, is very well done. As a blockbuster-type movie, Insurgent delivers on the expectation for big, flashy scenes.

The special features on this set are also much better than most recent releases I’ve seen. “The Ultimate Behind-the-Scenes Access” is the entire length of the movie, often showing the film in a small box while talking about different aspects. This is more than just fluff, giving real insight into a variety of pieces of the production. There’s also a separate audio commentary, and several featurettes about adapting the book, the cast in general, a break down on a scene, and a look at perhaps the most interesting character, Peter Hayes (Teller). Most of these are not on the straight DVD, so that means blu-ray is recommended, though I’d imagine 3D is the best way to go if you have a 3D television and player.

In short, while Insurgent has some flaws, the package has a lot of value to it. It may not be as good as some other recent entries in the genre, but there is a lot of clever, original material here, too, which will give the savvy viewer much to ponder long after the film is over. Combined with a great array of extras, I’m glad to add this to my collection.

The Divergent Series: Insurgent will is available August 4th.

White Collar is most definitely "Wanted"

GRADE: 79%

USA’s WHITE COLLAR is back! In the season premiere, “Wanted,” Agent Collins (Mekhi Phifer, Torchwood, ER), a ruthless man who doesn’t care if Neal (Matt Bomer) is caught dead or alive, begins the hunt. Collins’ big break, of course, comes when he searches Peter’s (Tim DeKay) house, as Peter has already found where Neal is hiding out. Collins flies to the island hideaway with Peter on his heels. Will Peter be too late?

“Wanted” begins a little slow for Neal. He is comfortably ensconced in his new home, hanging out on the beach with best friend, Mozzie (Willie Garson), and wooing a beautiful coffee house proprietor (Mia Maestro, Alias). He struggles with being honest towards the new people in his life, a lesson he learned he must do to make real connections during these past couple of years in New York, while maintaining the secrecy that will keep him a free man. There isn’t a lot of action, but I think that’s kind of the point, showing Neal finally relaxing in a peaceful environment.

In fact, even after Neal gets the call from Peter that Collins is on his tail, Neal doesn’t seem particularly worried or upset. Why should he be? Peter is the only man who has managed to catch Neal before, Peter isn’t actively looking for him now, as far as Neal knows, and his tracks are well covered. There is no reason for Neal to think that he can’t just enjoy his new existence.

In the meantime, Peter is anything but at ease. While he’d like to bring Neal back legally, resuming their partnership, the more immediate concern is Collins, whom Peter believes will hurt Neal. This is something Peter can’t allow to happen. So, with the help of Jones (Sharif Atkins) and Diana (Marsha Thomason), Peter begins yet another hunt for Neal, this time with the goal of protection, rather than capture.

Neal’s fatal flaw is making the call to Peter. This would not have been a mistake he would have made in the past. But then again, Peter was the threat in the past, so Neal wouldn’t have let anything slip to him. Believing he can trust Peter, Neal doesn’t disguise anything on the call, not perceiving a threat. This makes it easy for Peter and company to find him, but that’s not a concern for Neal.

Neal is partially right, as Peter has no intention of capturing his ex-partner to send him back to jail. However, Peter also makes a mistake by leaving evidence in his home, making it easy for Collins to gets his hands on Peter’s findings. Was there any way that Peter could, or should, have predicted this turn of events? Not really, even if viewers can see it coming from a mile away.

Thus, Peter and Neal are both too trusting in their relationship. It may be what makes them strong when the goal is to catch criminals, but it weakens them when they are trying to avoid other law enforcement. This isn’t a bad thing, per se, as Collins is working for the good guys, as bad as he might be. The problem is, there are other bad guys besides Collins corrupting the powers that be, and trusting the system may not work in the name of justice this time.

“Wanted” ends on a heck of a cliffhanger! Again, it’s something that isn’t hard to see coming as a fan, but might be understandable that the characters don’t think about or plan for it. The twist keeps this story from being a one episode adventure before reverting back to formula, so that’s always a welcome development, no matter how sad the situation is left.

USA shows have been getting braver and braver in recent years, no longer confined with cases of the week. “Wanted” is a good episode that isn’t forced to follow the typical path. Based on the ending of “Wanted,” it appears that next week’s episode will be the same. The longer WHITE COLLAR avoids going back to the status quo, the more respect it will earn as a drama series. Not that the earlier seasons of WHITE COLLAR are not good television, because they definitely are. This is just the natural next step, showing a welcome evolution of story and characters.

Besides Maestro and Phifer, “Wanted” features Gregg Henry (Hung, Bunheads) as the man protecting Neal and Mozzie on the island. It’s an exciting premiere, and one fans will not want to miss.

Catch the WHITE COLLAR season premiere, “Wanted,” tonight at 10 p.m. ET on USA.

'Torchwood: Miracle Day' now on Blu-ray and DVD

Last summer, Starz brought BBC's Torchwood back for a fourth series with Torchwood: Miracle Day. A true British/American continuation of the popular U.K. series, the 10 episode season was filmed partially in Hollywood. This week, Torchwood: Miracle Day was released on Blu-ray and DVD in a four-disc set. 


Torchwood: Miracle Day asks the question, what happens if everyone on Earth stops dying? When that actually happens, it prompts Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) to return to Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles), and together, they travel across the Atlantic to the United States, where they team up with the should-be-dead CIA Agent, Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer), and his colleague, Esther Drummond (Alexa Havins). Actually, Rex forces this union, but that's just semantics, as Jack is always in charge.

With Torchwood staffed again, they track the cause of this disaster to stop it. And "not dying" is definitely a huge disaster; when no one dies, resources quickly become scarce. The only one who seems able to die now is the previously-unkillable Jack. Governments across the globe have their own (very unpleasant) ways of dealing with the crisis, including rounding up and incinerating the should-be-dead victims. Jack and company decide that balance needs to be restored, with nature instead of bureaucracy making the decisions, and they set out to do so.

Meanwhile, Oswald Danes (Bill Pullman) rises and falls in popularity. Spared from execution just as the "miracle" begins, Oswald becomes an inspirational celebrity. He travels the country, spouting new found belief in "the miracle," aided by sleazy publicist Jilly Kitzinger (Lauren Ambrose). That is, until his benefactors turn on him. And, of course, there is more going on here than meets the eye.

Torchwood is beloved by many of its fans for the relationship between Jack and Gwen. It is present here, just as it had been left at the end of series three. Jack still has to compete for Gwen's attention with her adoring husband, Rhys Williams (Kai Owen), and their baby. But Jack does have the lure of an otherworldy threat around him, and she lives for that danger. The two men in her life accept that Gwen is going to choose both the danger and the stable marital relationship.

Some fans complain that Miracle Day is not as good as the other three Torchwood series. This may be at least partially attributed to the new, global settings and characters. This adventure is still Torchwood in tone and feel, but the new locales and characters are actually quite nice, growing the established world in exciting and unexpected ways.

The moral question of this story is one that cannot be overlooked. Torchwood: Miracle Day asks viewers to put on a value on life. When is it OK to kill someone? What if they don't have to die? How can the species be saved when there is not enough food to go around? Who gets to make these decisions? Who holds the decision makers accountable?

There are also elements of acceptance. Once society is made aware of the horrors their leaders are carrying out, and convinced that there is nothing they can do about it, what will people agree to live with? And where will they turn? These questions and a lot more are posed, but there aren't really answers provided. Not all of the characters agree on what the responses should be. Audiences are tasked with thinking for themselves, always a hallmark of great television.

Instead of grouping all of the features on the last disc, Torchwood: Miracle Day spreads out the extras over all four. On disc one, character profiles are presented for Jack, Gwen, Oswald, and Rhys, totaling about ten minutes in length. They give a little background, as well as explaining some of the motivations in this series.

Disc two has a sixteen minute look at the special effects of Miracle Day. This takes fans behind the scenes at some of the most exciting sequences, including Rex's impalement and Gwen shooting down the helicopter. A lot of green screen and computer-generated imagery is used, to great effect. It is a testament to the talents of the effects crew just how real much of this looks in finished form.

The third disc boasts a half hour 'Behind the Scenes' featurette. Several of the cast reminisce about the infamous helicopter scene, which no one can seem to get enough of. Myles and Phifer gives some insight into what it's like filming across the pond from their norm. Sets are explored, with various elements and connections pointed out. Plot arcs are discussed at length, and actors are praised for their terrific work on the series. Plus, explosions!

Finally, the fourth disc in the set has almost eight minutes of deleted scenes, as well as the "Web of Lies" motion comic written by Jane Espenson and Ryan Scott. The comic follows Gwen in 2007 as she searches for a missing Jack, and has some of the origin story of Miracle Day. In a second story, set during Miracle Day, a young woman (Eliza Dushku) follows the clues her gunned-down brother leaves for her to uncover a startling secret concerning the Miracle.

Blu-ray is a must for Torchwood: Miracle Day. As a sci-fi series, there are a lot of special effects. "The Blessing" alone screams to be seen in high definition. The look just won't be the same on a regular DVD. The colors, especially the blacks, are presented as deep and rich. The details are amazing. The pictures is crystal clear in 1080i. A 5.1 DTS surround sound adds to the experience, with a great mix. The music never overpowers, and dialogue can always be clearly heard. Many of the special features share the visual, but not the auditory, high definition experience.


Will there be a fifth series of Torchwood? One can only hope, as no further adventures have been ordered yet. But for the present, tide yourself over with Torchwood: Miracle Day, on sale now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published as Blu-ray Review: Torchwood: Miracle Day on Blogcritics.

Torchwood: Miracle Day follows "The Blood Line"

     Starz's Torchwood: Miracle Day, the fourth season of the British series, Torchwood, comes to an end this week with "The Blood Line." Torchwood team members new and old converge on the focal points of "The Blessing" in Buenos Aires and Shanghai. A mole threatens both teams, and destroys their CIA allies. Soon, it is discovered that only Jack's (John Barrowman) blood, fed to both sides of The Blessing simultaneously will reverse the Miracle, and restore death to the planet. Luckily, Rex (Mekhi Phifer) has had his blood replaced with Jack's, and with some sacrifice, Torchwood ends the disaster. 

     Torchwood: Miracle Day turns the notion of everlasting life on its head, and explores some real possibilities when immortality is unleashed on the real world. The horrors visited upon the population by governments may be necessary for the survival of the species, but is hard for individuals to swallow. A two month time jump shows just how much people are willing to accept things with authority says they must be so. No one is fighting back, except for Torchwood, as the medical community burns millions of still-living bodies.

     But is death so bad? This is a question that Gwen (Eve Myles) must face as she prepares to save the world. After all, restoring death to its proper place means that her father will be among the first to stop living. Gwen must acknowledge that, with the possible exception of Jack, most people need to have an end to their life. Quality of living is a consideration, and while Gwen tries mightily to hang onto her father, long after it becomes practical, in the end, she must face that reality. It's a moving moment, and a great way to personalize some of the large issues going on in the show.

     As expected from Torchwood, the finale ends with much death. Of particular sadness is the unexpected loss of Esther Drummond (Alexa Havins). Along with Rex, Esther joins the Torchwood team for this mission. After ten episodes, fans are surely rooting for Rex and Esther to make it through safely, so they can join Gwen and Jack, the essentials, on future adventures. Sadly, though, Esther is murdered right before Rex can save the day, This hits home even harder than Vera's (Arlene Tur) murder in an earlier episode, as it is easy to grow attached to these newcomers. Especially the plucky, earnest Esther.

     Since Rex's transfusion is what allows the team to save the world, it almost seems like he will be gone, too. But for those paying attention, the "surprise" twist that Rex now cannot die, like Jack, is anything but. It's a welcome new story, with plenty to explore in future Torchwood installments. It also makes Rex very important for upcoming adventures, and permanently changes the dynamic for the Torchwood crew. For these reasons, and the fact that Phifer makes Rex extremely intriguing, it is a welcome change for the current run to end with.

     The second surprise is that Jilly (Lauren Ambrose) survives. She must have "fun faster," as Oswald (Bill Pullman) says. Not only that, but she is soon re-recruited by the Families, which call Miracle Day simple a test run for what they have in store. Which the stakes so high in this latest Torchwood, it is hard to imagine how they can be topped. With those handful of words to Jilly at the end, it's enough to make viewers' blood run cold, and begin to imagine what can be worse than Miracle Day. Let's hope the Torchwood team gets a chance to show us. And maybe Ambrose can be upgraded to main character?

      Finally, it's worth noting the message that Oswald's sacrifice sends. Here is a real sociopath, who is shown countless times to care nothing for anyone but himself. Yet, in the end, he makes the choice to take himself and some of the bad guys out. Yes, he just faced his soul, and after that, he could not live with himself. But he finds the strength to make his death count, rather than just take himself out when it was convenient for him. There's actually almost a strength of character to admire, though it's only a desperate, last gasp to make up for the heinous acts he previously committed. It doesn't make Oswald likeable, but it finds a tiny morsel of good in a person who isn't expected to have any.

     Thank you, Starz, for Torchwood: Miracle Day.

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     Click here for books, DVDs and streaming episodes of Torchwood.

Torchwood: Miracle Day sorts "The Categories of Life"

     In this week's episode of Starz's Torchwood: Miracle Day, the U.S. and other government unveils new categories of life, sorting people into three subsets. As dead no longer applies, this is the next best thing. Or so people are told. Gwen (Eve Myles) and Rhys (Kai Owen) break into a Wales medical facility to rescue Gwen's father (William Thomas, Alys), while Captain Jack (John Barrowman) and the rest of the new Torchwood team infiltrate a similar compound in California. What both teams discover is that anyone labeled category one, those who are not conscious, are burned to ashes. Gwen's father is labeled such, and Dr. Vera Juarez (Arlene Tur, Crash) ends up inside a chamber as the fire ignites.

     While Tur's name does not appear in the opening credits, five episodes in she certainly seems like a main character of this new season. Which is why it is surprising and sad when she is burned alive. Considering how no one can die on Earth right now in the series, and even a burned, detached head shows some sign of life, it is worth wondering if Juarez is still aware as a pile of ashes. Unconsciousness can happen, so she likely won't feel anything. But what happens to her soul, and those of the other victims? When they can be healed, why destroy them? Juarez's death comes as Torchwood begins to understand more of what is going on, but it wasn't necessary for her to die for that to happen. Instead, one must watch helplessly by, as Rex (Mekhi Phifer) does, while she perishes.

     Why would the drug company who is behind the whole thing choose to destroy living bodies instead of heal them? Certainly creating never-dying humans increases their business, so from an economic standpoint, it would make sense for PhiCorp to unleash Miracle Day. After all, they now have an endless supply of patients they can sell drugs to. Though it seems odd that a group sophisticated enough to put the "miracle" in place wouldn't also forsee the diastorous consequences. Is that why they are killing off some people? To try to prevent the human race from overpopulating too quickly, though it will still happen? And surely they have a plan to get over the planet before people begin starving en masse?

     Now the big question remains, what can Jack, Gwen, and the others do about it? Rex should be able to overcome loosking Juarez, whom was a love interest for him, with even more determination to stop what is going on. Jack and Gwen have been through worse, as long as Gwen can rescue her father. But the only other member of their team, Esther (Alexa Havins), isn't showing much field prowness, and losing Juarez, even though the two didn't know each other very well, may make her emotionally crippled to their operations. A small group going up against such a large corporate represents a long shot anyway. Things are not looking good for Torchwood.

     The other important thing going on in "Categories of Life" is the crowning of Oswald Danes (Bill Pullman) as a religious leader. Up til now, Oswald has had his fans, and put in appearances. But speaking at a rally is his first true test, and one that can easily go a number of ways. Jilly (Lauren Ambrose) does her best to prepare Oswald, but she can't speak for him. The moments Oswald is on stage, with Jilly and Jack's competing agendas in front of him, is a powerful trial by fire. Loathe Oswald as one must, it is hard not to be impressed by the reaction he provokes with his revelation that mankind has evolved into angels. It's obviously crazy talk, but Pullman has the charisma and gravitas to be a leader of gullible masses, and he shines.

     Torchwood: Miracle Day continues Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on Starz.

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Torchwood: Miracle Day finds "The New World"

     The newest, fourth season of Torchwood, dubbed "Miracle Day," now on Starz, as well as BBC, begins with "The New World." In it, everyone on Earth suddenly stops dying, including Oswald Danes (Bill Pullman, Independence Day, Too Big to Fail), a convicted pedophile and murderer, whose execution fails to take. People can still be severely injured, but even being blown up and having one's head severed from the body does not stop consciousness or life. Strangely, the event extends only to people, not animals, insects, or other forms of life. Which means that the planet has four months before total destruction, instead of the two days it would have taken otherwise.

     Oswald forces a debate over whether he should be released, as he has technically served his sentence, but the governor doesn't wish to let go of such a dangerous person. In the end, the legal arguments win out, and Oswald becomes a free man once more. What he will do with that freedom remains a mystery.

     At the same time, CIA Agent Esther Drummond (Alexa Havins, All My Children) sees the word 'Torchwood' flash across her computer screen, and begins to investigate a possible connection between Torchwood and the lack of death. As she tries to find paper files on the mysterious Torchwood, the computer ones being wiped, she is found by Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), one of the subjects of her investigation. Jack is normally immortal, but it soon becomes clear that he doesn't heal the way he used to, and is likely the only human being capable of dying on the planet. Jack heads to Wales to find his former co-worker, and the only other member of Torchwood left alive, Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles).

     Esther learns, as fans of the first three, British-made, seasons already know, that Torchwood is an institute set up by Queen Victoria to defend the Earth from all manner of strange things, including alien incursions. Many times over, Gwen, Jack, and friends save all life on the planet. But those comrades that work alongside them die off one by one, until only those two are left. While now defunct, Torchwood may be just what Earth needs now.

     Esther's superior, Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer, ER, Lie to Me), is in a car accident, and would be dead, if not for the "miracle" overtaking the planet. He awakens, and Esther tries to push him into finding Torchwood. Rex agrees, and flies to Wales, managing to find Gwen, who is in hiding with her husband, Rhys (Kai Owen), and their infant child. Gwen is suspicious of Rex, but before they have time to get to know each other, they are attacked. Luckily, Jack comes to the rescue. After the bullets stop flying, Rex has Gwen and Jack extradited to the United States to help him find out the cause of "Miracle Day."

     To have Jack and Gwen back after such a long absence (season three aired two years ago, and only has five episodes) is gratifying. While time has surely passed for them, and many things are different, they seem much the same people at heart. Gwen is hiding with her new family, and Jack stays missing to protect her. But their glee at reconnecting and having a new mission is as satisfying for them as it is for the fans. Whether Rhys likes it or not, the two are back in action, and with some new friends, it is likely they will save the day once more.

     As "Miracle Day" will be longer than "Children of Earth," the subtitle for season three, there is no urgency for everything to happen right away. More than one critic has complained that it makes "The New World" move a little slower than one would like. I disagree with this assessment, glad that time will be spent getting to know the new players in the game, as well as to slowly unravel the mystery behind what is going on. Torchwood once did cases of the weeks, but a longer arc is a much more gratifying way to digest the adventure.

     A fun little bit of trivia, Jack introduces himself at a hospital as Dr. Owen Harper. Owen is a character in the universe, and serves as Torchwood's doctor. Played by Burn Gorman, Owen perishes midway through season two, but continues on the show until the end of the year in an arc where he deals with being a dead person. Then Owen is gone for good. With just that offhand line, Torchwood manages to bring back the memory of a great character who is sorely missed.

     Also nice is PC Andy's (Tom Price) brief role in "New World," which brings Gwen and Rhys out of hiding. Though he is never a major player in Torchwood, the familiar face evokes nostalgia of days past. It's good the Americans working on the show now choose to include him.

     At first glance, it appears that the whole Miracle Day event may be a personal attack. Surely, it is extreme to doom a whole planet, throwing it into instant chaos, just to kill one person. But with an unknown assailant trying to kill Jack, and Jack being, for the first time we've seen him, vulnerable, it may just be a plot to eradicate the good Captain. This is only a theory, and after a mere one hour, it is hard to argue that it will be the correct one. Yet, it is the most obvious as the story begins, and sometimes obvious is what works.

     The new characters are pretty interesting, too, expanding the world of Torchwood, which has become rather small by the time season four begins. Bill Pullman is expertly playing a psychopathic creep. It's Pullman as he's never been seen, gaunt and pale, with malice in his eyes. Every word exudes a sort of evil. While Pullman has played the hero in other projects, it is great fun to see him slither into such a bad man, and it will be intriguing how this killer's plot plays into the overall state of the world at large.

     Rex Matheson is a hero, but a much more modern one than Jack. While Jack oozes with chivalry and old fashioned morality, Rex goes for the guns blazing method. Mekhi Phifer plays him with veiled intentions, and it is difficult to see whether Rex will be more of a help or hindrance to Gwen and Jack. He could go either way, and will likely be both at times. At the moment, Rex is much more concerned about saving his country than helping anyone else. His stubborn refusal to stay in a hospital bed proves he has great, noble qualities. But instead of asking Gwen for her help, he shows up with a gun, and has her and Jack forced to do what he wants. It's a very different type of character for Torchwood, and it is unknown how he will fit into the mix.

     Esther Drummond is much more likeable. She is not the action type, at least from what has been seen of her so far, though she does get into it a little when Jack comes around. But she is clever and determined, which can be just as good. Hopefully, Esther will soon join the Torchwood team and assist them. She is wasted behind a desk, even as she continues to dig up secrets that will help, because she is kept separate and out of the loop. Though Havins is not a familiar face, she is surely already winning admiration for her portrayal of the bold woman.

     Other new faces will soon enter the fray including Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under), Arlene Tur (Crash), Candace Brown (Head Case), and Dichen Lachman (Dollhouse, Neighbours). All of these are complete unknowns. Which is fine. Torchwood works best when the surprises come fast and furious.

     One question that hangs in the air, and will not be answered anytime soon, is, what becomes of Torchwood after this crisis? Both seasons two and three end fairly definitively, with the institute suffering heavy loss. Gwen clearly isn't happy in an isolated house. It seems unlikely she will be willing to go back there. Presumably Jack will survive. Could Miracle Day by the beginning of a whole new series, with a large ensemble besides the duo? Or will it be a ten episode adventure that ends with Torchwood still defunct? The former is the better option.


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Article first published as TV Review: Torchwood - "Miracle Day: The New World" on Blogcritics.