Tag: Torchwood

Episode 34: Torchwood BBC Audio Plays

Martyn is joined by Pete and they discuss the three Torchwood BBC audio plays, The Devil and Miss Carew, Submission and House of the Dead.



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Episode 33: Torchwood: Miracle Day

Martyn and Gerrod discuss Torchwood: Miracle Day – The New World

Earth is facing a phenomenon known as “Miracle Day”, where for over 24 hours nobody dies, and the world within four months will become unsustainable through its soaring population. Every United States Government agency receives a tip on Torchwood, only to later find every trace of the word deleted by the newly returned Jack Harkness, who discovers that he is now mortal. Separately, he and CIA agent Rex Matheson — who has suffered a ‘fatal’ accident but cannot die — travel to South Wales to find Gwen Cooper, who is living in exile with husband Rhys and infant daughter Anwen. Jack, Rhys and Gwen find themselves under attack by unknown assailants in a helicopter. After Rex arrives, Jack saves them. Then Rex has Jack and Gwen extradited to the United States.

Martyn is then joined by Chris and Laura from the Oodcast.

The podcast is available from all good podcast services, such as but not limited to;

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If you’d like to support the show, then please shop via our Amazon link. A small percentage goes our way, at no extra cost to you.

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Torchwood: Miracle Day, Episode One. Spoiler-free review

Each incarnation of Torchwood has been vastly different from the last. Series one started on the digital channel BBC3, series two was moved to BBC2, and series three was promoted to a prime time BBC1 slot. So where does Torchwood go for its fourth series? To America, of course. The joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Starz has given Torchwood the budget it deserves.

The tone of this series is slightly different; it’s not as dark as series three but not as light-hearted as series one and two. This is a BBC drama with a sci-fi theme that raises significant moral and social questions. The pace is quick and action-packed, and the clashes between the US and Welsh cast to provide the episode’s funniest moments. The action truly takes off once Jack arrives, although the focus on the US cast is understandable since this is series one for the Americans and series four for the UK. But don’t worry, it’s not long until Jack, Gwen, and Rhys are in full swing. The new cast adds depth, with Bill Pullman delivering a chilling performance as convicted child molester Oswald Danes. He brings an understated menace to the role that makes him genuinely creepy.

The theme tune and title sequence have been updated, and they work well, as does Murray Gold’s musical score throughout the episode, setting the tone of each scene perfectly. Episode one leaves the viewer wanting more, and the series trailer promises an exciting ride. The only concern is where Torchwood can go after Miracle Day – the only logical next step would be a movie, which fans would welcome with open arms.



Episode 29: The Rebel Flesh

Martyn and Gerrod look at Doctor Who: The Rebel Flesh.

“The Rebel Flesh” is the fifth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on 21 May 2011 on BBC One and on BBC America in the United States. It is the first episode of a two-part story written by Matthew Graham and directed by Julian Simpson, concluded in “The Almost People”.

In the episode, the TARDIS is hit by a solar storm, sending the Doctor (Matt Smith) and his companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) to a monastery on an island on Earth in the 22nd century, which has been converted into a factory to pump acid off the island. To prevent death from the acid, the workers have utilized a “programmable matter” called the Flesh, which creates a doppelgänger (called “Ganger”) controlled by the worker. As the solar storm hits, the Gangers become independent, and the Doctor, Amy and Rory must work to prevent the two groups from breaking into a war.

Showrunner Steven Moffat specifically asked Graham to write the episodes about “avatars that rebel”, although the Flesh and the monastery were Graham’s original ideas. The episode was filmed in the late months of 2010 with some location filming at Caerphilly Castle to represent the monastery. Prosthetics were used to create the Gangers’ facial features, while doubles of the actors were used for scenes in which a character and his or her Ganger were both in a scene, but did not both show their face.

The episode was seen by 7.35 million viewers in the UK and achieved an Appreciation Index of 85. Reviewers were generally positive about the episode; some praised the setting and characters but others commented that the story had not developed enough even though it was only the first part. The computer-generated effects used for one scene were also disapproved of by a couple of reviewers.

The podcast is available from all good podcast services, such as but not limited to Amazon Music, Podchaser, Player FM, Stitcher, and Apple Podcasts.

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Review-Torchwood: Department X.

James Goss has once again proven himself to be a master of audio storytelling with his work on Department X. The Torchwood team investigates the mysterious disappearances of customers in the old Cardiff department store, GR Owen. Goss’ writing skillfully blends elements of mystery and suspense, keeping listeners engaged from start to finish. The style of this audio differs from its predecessor, Ghost Train, as it moves away from first-person narrative and towards a more traditional audiobook format. Despite this change, Goss’ writing still manages to capture the essence of all the Torchwood characters, old and new.

Paired with Kai Owen’s exceptional vocal performance, the result is a truly immersive listening experience. Owen effortlessly embodies the distinct personalities of each character, leaving listeners feeling as though they are right in the middle of the action. The musical score and sound effects add to the overall ambience, creating a richly textured world that is a joy to explore.

Overall, Department X is a welcome return to the Torchwood of old, striking a perfect balance between the darker tones of Children of Earth and the more lighthearted feel of series 1. With Goss at the helm, fans can rest assured that Torchwood is in good hands, and we can only hope that more audio adventures will be forthcoming.

This audiobook is a must-listen for fans of the Torchwood series and is available for purchase in both CD and digital download formats for a reasonable price.

Review-Torchwood:Ghost Train

With open arms, Torchwood fans welcomed the latest instalment of their beloved series, Ghost Train, written by the talented James Goss. Goss, who has penned several Doctor Who and Torchwood novels, including the 2009 audio play The Golden Age, proves his mettle once again with this gripping tale.

Set between Series 2 and Children of Earth, Ghost Train is a first-person narrative centred around Rhys Williams, brought to life by the incomparable Kai Owen. Owen’s vocal prowess is on full display, with clear enunciation and spot-on characterizations that never distract from the engaging story.

The plot starts with missing fridges, but it quickly becomes clear that something far more sinister is afoot. The strange occurrences, from radios instructing people to kill to SatNavs urging drivers to run over pedestrians, all point to a mysterious train that has recently pulled into a long-abandoned station. As it turns out, the train is coming from a world that has just been destroyed, and whatever is coming from that world is coming to this one.

Clocking in at just under two hours and twenty minutes across two CDs, Ghost Train is a thrilling ride that never feels too long. Kai’s impeccable portrayal of the Torchwood team, especially his spot-on rendition of Gareth David-Lloyd’s dry wit as Ianto, will have fans smiling from ear to ear. The story is expertly paced, balancing moments of levity with nail-biting suspense that keep listeners on the edge of their seats.

Like all other Torchwood Audiobooks, Ghost Train should be considered canon, and the inclusion of a £5 off code for first-time purchasers only sweetens the deal. Simply put, Ghost Train is a must-listen for any Torchwood fan looking for an engaging, immersive audio experience.

Episode 21: No Glove, No Love

Martyn and Gerrod discuss Torchwood series 1, episode 1: Everything Changes.

“Everything Changes” is the first episode of the British science fiction television programme Torchwood, which was first broadcast on 22 October 2006. The story was written by show creator and executive producer Russell T Davies as an introduction to the show’s mythos. The episode re-introduces Captain Jack Harkness, who had proved popular in the first series of the 2005 revival of Doctor Who, as the leader of Torchwood, a team of alien hunters.

The story is told from the perspective of Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles), who comes across the Torchwood team through her job as a police officer with the South Wales Police, who are investigating a series of strange deaths in Cardiff. Through Gwen’s discovery of Torchwood, the audience is introduced to team members Owen Harper (Burn Gorman), Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori) and Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd). Suzie Costello, as played by Indira Varma, had also been billed as a series regular prior to transmission, though in a twist the character was revealed as the murderer and killed off at the end of the episode, with Gwen replacing her as a member of the Torchwood team.

The episode originally aired on Freeview channel BBC Three and upon broadcast earned the channel its highest ever viewing figures. Critical reaction to the episode was mixed, with reviewers making both positive and negative comparisons to Torchwood‘s parent show Doctor Who.

The podcast is available from all good podcast services, such as but not limited to Amazon Music, Podchaser, Player FM, Stitcher, and Apple Podcasts.

If you’d like to support the show, then please shop via our Amazon link. A small percentage goes our way, at no extra cost to you.

Check out our Youtube.

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Kai Owen Interview

In our first-ever interview for the podcast, Martyn and Gerrod talk to actor Kai Owen.

Kai Owen is a Welsh actor of stage and screen, known to Welsh audiences for his numerous roles on Welsh language television and to worldwide audiences for his portrayal of Rhys Williams in the Doctor Who spin-off, Torchwood.

The podcast is available from all good podcast services, such as but not limited to Amazon Music, Podchaser, Player FM, Stitcher, and Apple Podcasts.

If you’d like to support the show, then please shop via our Amazon link. A small percentage goes our way, at no extra cost to you.

Follow the Bad Wilf team on Twitter:

Martyn – @BadWilf

Pete – @BeeblePete

Gerrod –@InGerrodsMind

Also, check out the official Bad Wilf Vlog.

Kai’s website: kaiowen.com
Twitter: @KaiKaiOwen

Llandudno Youth Music Theatre: lymt.co.uk
Children’s charity: www.clicsargent.org.uk
Donate at bit.ly/kaiowencharities