Rendition
Torchwood Season 4 Episode 2
The plane ride from London to Washington ends up being anything but smooth in an improved episode of Torchwood.
The Review
The A-plot of this episode takes place on a nearly empty flight. It takes a while to get going, but the CIA orders Lyn, an agent who hopped on to poison and kill Jack. With Jack now in the opposite position as the only mortal human, this causes a problem and leads to a fun sequence as they cobble together a cure with help from scientists led by City General Hospital’s Dr. Juarez. It’s a fun sequence with Eve Myles getting a lot to do as Gwen, going from being upset at Rex leaving Rhys behind to admitting she missed Jack and the chaos of Torchwood. When they land, Esther calls Rex to tell him about the plot facing them, and he snaps Lyn’s neck 180 degrees. It’s one of the best visual moments in show history when Lyn still tries to apprehend them, staggering with her head on backwards.
Dr. Juarez I didn’t mention after last episode, but I really like Arlene Tur’s performance. She adds a lot of realism and helps to underscore the horror of a world no one dies in. Oswald gates his chance for a television interview where he acts aloof before finally breaking down and saying he’s sorry. I think it is genuine, and as someone anti-death penalty, it’s an emotional watch. Still, the fact that he has only served six years in prison so far for his heinous crime makes it still a bit chilling that now Oprah wants him on her show. I’ve gone from thinking Oswald didn’t make sense on the show, to me thinking it might be better than the mix/match of Torchwood with a generic American CIA show.
Rendition is a step up thanks to Bill Pullman and the frenetic plane sequence, but Gwen especially still isn’t jelling with the Americans. Jack’s American accent helps, but Gwen is so proudly Welsh she just doesn’t quite fit.
8.5/10 Bonus points for featuring a Colorado flag in DC City Hall
Reviewing Doctor Who from Start to Finish 