Review: Torchwood Season 3: Children of Earth
Creator: Russell T Davies
Actors: John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd, Peter Capaldi, Paul Copley
Directors: Euros Lynn
Summary: In this new series, re-join Captain Jack, Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones, who are still coming to terms with the death of two of their closest friends, Tosh and Owen. This time the Torchwood team are faced with their fiercest threat to date – one which throws the future of Torchwood and the entire human race spiraling into danger. They battle against the odds but do they stand a chance of saving mankind?
I’d already posted here earlier about how dark and emotional the first three episodes of this season where. Now I’ve seen the full season. Usually a season is more than six episodes but at the point this season was done they thought it might be the last. The entire season is one story so there’s continuity between the episodes.
In 1965, aliens contacted Britain and demanded 12 children. The government gave them the children and the aliens went away. They were supposed to never come back. But, now it’s present time and the aliens have returned, heralding their return by speaking with the voice of all the children of the world. This time they want 10% of the world’s children or they will destroy the human race.
What makes this season so powerful is that it’s so believable. Putting myself in the mindset of the show, we gave in before why not do it again. Isn’t 10% of the children of Earth a small price to pay to keep the rest of the species alive? If you do give them 10% shouldn’t they come from the worst schools, the dregs, the projects, the children who’ll only grow up to be trouble makers anyway? How do you decide? And, of course the children of all the politicians would be exempt; after all their children will be good citizens.
Does the good of the many out weigh the good of the few? Shouldn’t we give up those 10% so that the rest can live? What if they were your children? Would that make a difference? If it does make a difference when it is your child then can we really justify taking away the children of other parents?
This season is dark and it asks many ethical questions? You see the politicians making the plans and already putting a spin to make it look like a good thing? Reduce the worlds population. That can only be a good thing right? Get rid of the dregs — that’s got to help everyone?
This review is mostly questions because as I sat and watched the final episodes, that’s what I was left with. Questions and the belief that if there were aliens and if our government was faced with such a threat — could I trust them? Based on what I’ve seen of the world’s various governments and justice systems over the last twenty years or so — no, I can’t trust them. Not when ethics are involved. If such a scenario was to occur could the remaining citizens of planet Earth live with themselves, with what they did, no matter what choice they made.
Of course, the kicker which we and the viewers and the government officials know is what they want the children for. Even knowing that the aliens will be back again and again for their 10%, they are still willing to take the deal. Luckily Torchwood, now down to only three members is still around trying to fight. But even for them the cost of winning may just be too high — or at least too high to live with. Just how much guilt can a person take and continue to function?
Filled with action and suspense and some moments of sheer frustration and fury — this one will wring tears, anger, frustration, and hopefully some soul searching out of its viewers. This is amazing writing and acting — drama doesn’t get much better than this.
If you’ve seen this season, I’d really like to hear about your thoughts and opinions.