Torchwood (TV Series) Dead Man Walking (2008) User Reviews

A new high for "Torchwood"; this is genuinely impressive drama

[DVD_Connoisseur · 10/10 · 21 February 2008]

Confession time. Up until now, "Torchwood" has been something of a guilty pleasure. While I enjoy the show, I've never been fully satisfied. That is, until I watched "Dead Man Walking".

This latest episode delivers what I always expected from the series - grown-up, adult chills and gripping drama. "Dead Man" manages to create an atmosphere of genuine menace as well as tying in the more successful themes of the first series, including the dreaded "Resurrection Glove".

This is a solid achievement from the "Torchwood" production team and I can't wait to see what else they have lined up for the viewer. The latest plot arc is riveting television, helped by the appearance of one Martha Jones.

10 out of 10. The best episode since Season One's "Captain Jack Harkness".

Gloves, they always come in pairs....

[ian-bonham-1 · 10/10 · 21 February 2008]

So, after the shocker of an ending last week, we start with a simple solution. Fans of series 1 will remember "Gloves always come in Pairs", and there is your simple answer to the shock ending of "Reset". The resolution only takes up a small part of "Dead Man Walking", which then leaves Torchwood doing what it seems to be doing best this series, which is telling a good strong story. It's great to see the Weavils getting a bigger part in this episode, and the new King of them is an interesting character. Personally, I'm not warming to the new Martha however, she's a lot colder and less likable than the character we last saw in Doctor Who "Last of the Time Lords". If that is a result of her experiences in that story remains to be seen. Torchwood is getting stronger and stronger this series, with un-expected twists and turns, really clever stories that can use the characters (while series 1 seems to be establishing them), and although this episode sort of lets us down in some respects in the VERY fast resolution for the ending of "Reset", it starts a new plot line that could be very interesting. I'm just still not sure about the inclusion of Martha yet. We've only just got to know the team, and already the mix is changed slightly. It jarrs slightly. I think my main complaint is that Owen was an unlikeable character for much of Series 1, so loosing him did not have the emotional impact of say Star Trek TNG killing Tasha, or Star Gate loosing Daniel Jackson. It's also solved WAY to quickly, which also lessend the impact. I wait with interest to see what happens next...

What's that I heard?

[Flytrap · 2/10 · 21 February 2008]

"Melenkurion abatha! Duroc minas mill khabaal!" For anyone who hasn't read the Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R Donaldson, those are the words of power that Kevin Landwaster left in the First Ward for the Lords to use to rebuild the Land. The writer of this episode -- Matt Jones? -- for some reason ripped off this phrase, verbatim, and then tried to tell us it means something about, "walking the land hungry." Whatever. Aside from that, this episode was a mess. Owen is dead; no wait, he's up and around, but his body is changing into... No wait, he's better. Martha Jones has aged to 80. No wait, she's OK now. Weevils everywhere and no one notices them? The pacing was terrible, the continuity was confusing, and there was no real resolution. Send Captain Jack back to Dr Who; that's where he belongs. He rocked there.

What walks behind me in the dark ?

[sinceverona · 15 September 2009]

After Owen saved Martha, he was shot and killed by Dr.Aaronn Copley in retribution because Torchwood destroyed his facility called Pharm. Jack using the resurrection glove, he stole from weevils brought back Owen to life, but he had no pulse . Aldo the team suspected that Owen was using Jacks life energy to live, since he was the one who woke him up with the glove that assumption proved to be wrong. The power that kept him still alive was coming from the glove itself. Soon Owens body started to change, then his eyes became black and he spoke in strange language. When Owen disappeared Jack found him in a disco club and then they got chased by the weevils. On the top of the building of car park Jack and Owen are cornered by dozen of weevils. Will they escape and how ? The scene where Owen talks with Gwen about how hollow he feels inside was sad. Jack looked like he enjoyed being chases by weevils. When the glove turns her powers against Torchwood team it reminded me a lot of a scene from Alien 2. Martha got the best chase scene. It was scary watching the hand attack her again and again. I liked Owens new found sarcasm, and his courage to sucrifice himself so he can stop something horrible to come out that used his body as a gate. The scenes at the hospital were full of suspense, and Owen really showed some guts. While Owen was dying Toshiko said she loved him but later Owen said he knew she only said it because he was dying. That seemed insensitive to me. I do believe Toshiko was in love with Owen. Let's not forget that they did agree to go on a date in the previous episode. The story was not bad. The action was fast but watchable. And I think that adding love scenes between the characters like in previous episodes would have been a mistake. Owen and his "dead but not really dead situation" was enough to make this episode work.