Torchwood Episode 4x03 Review

Episode Title: Dead of Night
Overall Season Rating: A
Episode Rating: A-

Another wild episode of Torchwood. In this episode we see Oswald Danes show why he's a total psychopath. Also, lots of sex, and finally a villain. The sex part I think was evidence why Fox turned down this show. At first I thought it was because it was about people living after death, and would be pretty gruesome. But honestly, is anything on this show any more gruesome than what is on Fringe, or was on the X-Files? I really do believe the show was too "gay" for them. The Fox Network(Not Fox News), has some pretty wild things on, but this may have gone too far.

With that said, thank God it's on Starz! Starz on the other hand is really showing that they are up to the task. All three episodes have been very well produced, and we know Starz will go all out. Back to the show though. The big villain is finally revealed, but I hope there is more to this story. I suspect there is since it's not like Davies to reveal anything at all this early. We also do get more of a back story for Esther. Not much, but it's good to know they are developing her. I was worried when the show began that she would simply be the computer person, and never get anything interesting. Oswald Danes however, took a big step this week. Last week it seemed like he was becoming more sympathetic, and that continued for a bit in this episode too. That ended though in probably the creepiest performance of Bill Pullman's career. That's saying something too cause he was in a David Lynch movie.

Oh yeah, the little "American" lessons Esther is giving Gwen are hilarious. I imagine it's more for the British audience, but after all the American TV they watch I'm pretty sure they know what we mean by "pants".

Read on for the episode recap.

The episode starts with Oswald giving another interview. In it he's saying how medicine should be free. We then see that we're in Director Friedkin's house. Rex surprises him, puts a gun to his head and proceeds to get information out of him. The group we'll come to know as Phicorp appears to be controlling the CIA as well as  people in congress. Then we see a bunch of people in masks walking the streets. This "cult" as Gwen calls them are called the "Soulless". It wasn't clear to me if this is just a group of people who believe a certain thing, or if they all share something in common(like they should have all died). It's an interesting idea, and it not at all a surprising outcome of such an event.

Jack realizes that people are not just not dying, they are being "forced into life". People are not passing out like they would after a big injury. There are no more comas for example. As expected, this will create a huge demand for all pain killers and drugs. They check the ATF, and find that they are blocking access to a warehouse. The team steals a car(I love Gwen btw), and  head to the warehouse. After more Awesome Gwen, they find out that a drug company called Phicorp is stocking huge quantities of a specific non-narcotic painkiller. Rex calls it a perfect drug. We get a nice little Doctor Who reference here too, "Bigger on the inside". I think Russell misses Who. How could he not?

At the hospital we find out that the justice system has eliminated the idea of murder and attempted murder no matter the case. This is pretty nuts. At another meeting, Juarez tells them again that they need to stock up on medicine. Another doctor tells them there are no more failed pregnancies, so even more babies will be born. Someone even suggests putting something in the water to stop conception. Jilly is there, and it turns out she represents Phicorp. This was cool, and she was so slimey to begin with it fits so perfectly. 

Rex decides that they need help. He contacts an Ex-CIA friend, but that falls through horribly. He then angrily leaves saying that there is no Torchwood. Rex has a lot of anger, and it's starting to get a little old. We get it, we doesn't like Torchwood, doesn't like Jack, and is a bit quick to judgement. He has to cool off a little or people are going to stop liking his character. I also think it's a bad image that the only one who's angry all the time is the African-American man. Anyway, everyone is pretty upset about Rex and they split up for the night. Jack goes to bar, and quickly picks up the bartender. Oh Jack, we love you. Esther though, thinks about leaving the team totally because she feels she's holding them back. Gwen talks her out of it, and they do have a nice moment.

Rex shows up at Dr. Juarez's apartment for help, and they end up in bed. Rex works just about has fast as Jack. Good work. We then get the double sex scene, and I have to say it's good to see our Torchwood team have some fun. Rex wants Juarez to spy on Phicorp by taking Jilly's offer, but she doesn't want to. She later agrees, but I don't think we see that decision happening on screen. Jack calls Gwen late at night drunk and appears to be really exposing his soul to her. He says "You're immortal and I'm dying." It's clear he missed her a great deal, and I also got the feeling he's sick. The way he was talking about them, and their past I got the feeling there was something very wrong with him. Gwen though doesn't pay her full attention to him because Esther sets up a video chat with Gwen's family at that very moment.

Oswald has an interesting episode too. He escapes the police to go to a diner, then gets chased by kids, then beat up by the police. Jilly comes to his aid and tells him again that she can help him. Phicorp wants to use Oswald to put their message out there. I find this to be very interesting. Phicorp is going to use a murderer to get their message of drugs for everyone to the masses. The message is NOT free drugs, but prescription-free drugs. All this comes out toward the end of the episode, but since it's connected to Oswald's story I'm jumping around a bit. I hope Phicorp isn't the one really behind this. That's too simple, and not all that interesting. It's a little too realistic too. I'm thinking some far more powerful group is using Phicorp and the "Miracle" for something else. What that is, I have no idea. Oswald does speak to Jack though, and it's one of the creepiest monologues ever. I don't even want to quote him. He's clearly insane, and truly an evil man.

At Phicorp, the Torchwood team is all over it. Gwen uses special eye cameras that are from a "distant moon of a distant star" to infiltrate the company. With the help of Juarez, Gwen is able to access Jilly's computer and get all kinds of information about Phicorp. After this, Rex and Esther get a mysterious phone call, and Rex decides it's time to leave. He also comments that, Phicorp is now worried.

Again, another very good episode. I hope they keep building the story and the mystery. More congrats to Starz for doing such an amazing job.