Torchwood: Miracle Day

When Russell T Davies made the decision to shake up the formula of Torchwood from 13 part ‘monster of the week’ to five part mini-series, the show turned from a somewhat tacky sci-fi drama in the shadow of its time-travelling older brother to an intelligent, stylish and thought provoking supernatural thriller.

Still executive produced by the team who brought back Doctor Who, but with a big cash injection from US cable network Starz, Miracle Day looks set to continue this success and take the show onto bigger and better things.

Since the events of Children of Earth, Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) has dissolved his organisation and sole surviving member Gwen (Eve Myles) has gone into hiding with husband Rhys (Kai Owen) and their new born baby. But when a supernatural event threatens the Earth, one word is sent to all government agencies - Torchwood.

The phenomenon in question, dubbed ‘Miracle Day’ by the press, is the death of death itself; in the space of 24 hours not one human dies, the world has become immortal.

Oswald Danes (Bill Pullman), an infamous convicted paedophile who survives his own execution in the opening scenes, typifies the rule-changing chaos that the ‘miracle’ causes. Arguing that he has completed his sentence, he believes he should be allowed to walk free.

This incredibly simple concept that RTD has come up with has so many avenues to explore - what are the implications of immortality? How long before our planet runs out of space and resources? Are the survivors truly alive, or simply the living dead? Can someone be convicted of murder if their target didn’t die?

In amongst these more thought provoking moments we are treated to some action packed set pieces, allowing the team to show off their big US budget. Gwen taking down a helicopter with a bazooka, Bond style, is a particular highlight, whilst Captain Jack diving out of a window to escape a suicide bomber and wounding himself without immediate repair signals his contrasting mortality (and allows for a particularly gruesome scene in which the bomber's burnt remains lay alive and conscious on a morgue table).

Despite the American production values the drama still has a very British feel. Director Bharat Nalluri, (Spooks, Life on Mars) retains the aesthetic of previous series’ with sweeping shots of Wales and Washington. Similarly RTD throws in some brilliant one liners - namely Matheson proclaiming his ignorance that Wales is separate from England whilst crossing the Severn bridge. Davies also brings the story back to what he writes best, human drama and dilemma.

This is essentially a reboot of the series for an American audience, but instead of just starting from scratch, aspects of the show’s previous series are cleverly weaved in to keep avid viewers happy. And shifting to America allows new viewers to discover the Torchwood Institute through the eyes of the CIA agents investigating the case.

Pullman is fantastically cast against type (channelling the evils of Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet), whose messiah figure will play a huge part in the ongoing story, whilst Phifer’s Matheson will prove an interesting ally for Jack as the two battle for hierarchy and control. Similarly his relationship with right-hand girl Esther Drummond cleverly mirrors the relationship between Jack & Gwen.

All in all, this is an extremely well crafted, continent spanning premiere, with big action and and thought-provoking concepts, proving that RTD is still the king of TV Drama. Long live the king, long live the king.