Torchwood: The Victorian Age

Writer: AK Benedict
Director: Scott Handcock
Script Editor: Steve Tribe
Cover Illustration: Lee Binding
Music: Blair Mowat
Sound Design: Kelly Ellis
Producer: James Goss

Starring John Barrowman & Rowena Cooper
Released March 2016

The Victorian Age is the next in the series of ride along-style releases from the single-disc Torchwood audio range produced by Big Finish - with the gimmick of pairing John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness with the institute's founder, Queen Victoria. As Rowena Cooper, who plays the monarch, puts it so succinctly, this story is "mad and wonderful."

The basic setup is of a scheduled inspection gone wrong - so wrong that it ends up with the Queen pursuing an alien menace across London. These are entertaining trappings to frame the fairly standard central narrative of a parasite stealing energy from the youthful to rejuvenate itself and, in the process, seemingly ageing its victims years in seconds.

But that isn't what's important here. AK Benedict's title has at least three implications. First, of course, is that this is something of an examination of Torchwood, and Jack, in the nineteenth century. It is amusing to note Scott Handcock's casting of Benedict and real-life partner Guy Adams as the two staff completing the institute's Victorian line-up. Jack is slightly tamer here than in other releases, particularly in his deference and respect of the Queen, reflecting the time in his life where he's still coming to terms with his new existence. The title's second meaning relates to the ageing/de-ageing nature of the creature terrorising London. The third examines the Queen's attitudes to growing old, and her subjects' view of her and the monarchy. Playing all of these threads in parallel is deftly handled but the story raises more questions than it answers. Happily, it also gave rise to at least another three releases for Cooper as Queen Victoria.

The sound design and music are expertly deployed, with some special era-appropriate compositions from Blair Mowat. Although some of the effects played in, such as horses' repeated whinnying, don't always bear much scrutiny, they seem intended more to bring the listener into the next part of the story than accurately represent a historical event. That said, they are always of the highest quality, remarkably crisp and well-designed so you are never in any doubt where something is occurring.

For an hour in the company of Queen Victoria: alien hunter, this is a highly entertaining ride. Although there is a little too much telling and not enough showing, and Louise Jameson threatens to ruin several scenes with a performance that is varying degrees of awful, The Victorian Age is a comforting distraction that will leave you wanting to hear more from this era.

Torchwood: Uncanny Valley

Writer: David Llewellyn
Director: Neil Gardner
Script Editor: Steve Tribe
Cover Illustration: Lee Binding
Music: Blair Mowat
Sound Design: Neil Gardner
Producer: James Goss

Starring John Barrowman
Released January 2016

Five releases in and it seems this line of single-disc Torchwood stories from Big Finish Productions can do no wrong. Uncanny Valley is another enjoyable hour or so in the company of an interesting concept, a comprehensive script and strong performances.

I do enjoy the stories that take an idea and fit Torchwood around them, rather than the other way around. A robotic clone going rogue is not a new wheeze but writer David Llewellyn's skilful execution ably keeps the listener's attention as we're introduced to Neil and NJ, learn how this situation came to be and deal with the threat head on.

Neil (Steven Cree) is a billionaire who made his fortune in software and technology development before a car crash meant he would never walk again. It was at this stage that a mysterious woman entered his life and offered him something he never thought would be possible. Llewellyn's tightly-plotted story joins the dots for listeners while keeping them believably disparate for Neil, until Jack Harkness shows up and begins to help him see the bigger picture. The resolution is effective and thought-provoking. The question of what would have happened if Jack hadn't turned up is implicitly raised, without any easy answers.

Cree and Barrowman carry almost the entirety of this story, and both are excellent, especially the former in his double role. The behind-the-scenes chat after the story ends is particularly enjoyable here, Barrowman and Cree sharing an easy chemistry than translates well into Jack and Neil.

As in The Conspiracy, David Llewellyn takes things a step beyond just raising the idea of the Committee and makes them an active participant, (re-)shaping the world from behind the curtain. This really adds to the impact of the organisation, who we have had barely any direct contact with - cleverly tied into Uncanny Valley - and just builds anticipation for their eventual appearance. Neil Gardner directs this story with a light touch, ensuring the performances, sound design and music all complement each other well.

Uncanny Valley is another showcase piece for one of the shining jewels in Big Finish's crown. It may as well be taken as read that this comes highly recommended.

Torchwood: The Conspiracy

Writer: David Llewellyn
Director: Scott Handcock
Script Editor: Steve Tribe
Cover Illustration: Lee Binding
Music: Blair Mowat
Sound Design: Neil Gardner
Producer: James Goss

Starring John Barrowman
Released September 2015

Torchwood has now been under the guardianship of Big Finish Productions, specialists in audio dramas based on expired television properties, for as long as it was on the small screen. And it has now been longer since The Conspiracy was released than it had then been since The Blood Line, still the most recent TV episode.

Tasked with resurrecting one of the Doctor Who universe's most divisive franchises, David Llewellyn deftly tempers the series' excesses while taking full advantage of this opportunity to reset his audience's expectations. Narrated in character by John Barrowman, this premier episode explores the nature of conspiracy theories through the eyes of those at both the top and the bottom after Captain Jack Harkness (Barrowman) becomes intrigued by former newsreader George Wilson (John Sessions), who shot to fame after apparently having a breakdown live on air and now travels the world spreading what he claims to be the truth.

Only problem is, he's right.

The inclusion of small-time blogger Sam Hallett (Dan Bottomley) neatly confronts prejudice and expectations head on, covering many of the same themes as Guy Adams' later episode The Man Who Destroyed Torchwood. Here though, what could have become a predictable arc for Sam, as he and Jack unwillingly cooperate to close in to the truth, is hijacked to startling effect, Sam just a pawn in a much bigger game. 

Llewellyn's economic script ably covers a variety of topics, offering comedy and horror in equal measure along the way. The small guest cast are uniformly excellent, with particular credit to Sarah Ovens as Wilson's daughter. The same is true of the well-judged music and sound design, and the episode's consistency of tone is a credit to director Scott Handcock. 

As the first in an ongoing series, The Conspiracy is pitched at just the right level, fitting snugly between television episodes but quietly establishing a new house style and setting in motion storylines that will feature to varying degrees for years to come. A great start.

Plus: don't miss the interviews with a typically understated Barrowman after the episode ends.