Stars: John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Mekhi Phifer, Alexa Havins, Lauren Ambrose, Kai Owen, Bill Pullman, Arlene Tur, Candace Brown, Tom Price, David Grant Wright, Mark Saldana
Writer: Jim Gray and John Shiban
Director:  Billy Gierhart
Network: Starz, airs Friday nights
Original Telecast: July 29, 2011

It’s time for another episode of the BBC/Starz co-production of TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY, and while “Escape to LA” has things happening to further the plot, there’s a bit more dead space that the previous episodes didn’t have. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the new American infused TORCHWOOD, I’m just not sure I really am completely enjoying the overreaching arc that they have established for the ten episode run. I like the first couple of seasons of the show, where each episode has some kind of problem of the week, and some kind of critter, with a bit of an overreaching arc that pays off by the end.

MIRACLE DAY feels like one big episode which has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that you successfully hook your viewers and keep them watching week to week to ensure that they see the entire story. This also helps with the narrative structure of the storyline and the character through lines and development. One the other hand you lose the fun and freedom of having a broad pallet of stories and adventures to tell with your cast of characters. Like I said I am a big fan of critter of the week shows.

I’m enjoying MIRACLE DAY – I just want it to move faster at times. There are some wonderfully ridiculously tense scenes in this episode with Gwen (Eve Myles) and Jack (John Barrowman) infiltrating PhiCorp. The whole thing adds that element of spy movie that we’ve had from time to time in TORCHWOOD over the years, and Eve Myles looks fantastic in the black skintight dress they put her in. It’s so funny because you get used to seeing Gwen in her normal work wear that allows her to be physical all the time, and you get used to seeing her beat up and dirty, but she really cleans up well and shines when she gets gussied up.

Dr. Juarez (Arlene Tur) has some amazingly gut-wrenching scenes in this week’s episode as she and the other doctors are forced to turn an older hospital into a plague ship of sorts to house the people that are being kept alive by Miracle Day and aren’t getting better…basically the walking dead. I want more interaction directly with Dr. Juarez and the Torchwood team. I think she has the kind of personality that Jack looks for in new recruits and going forward she is the best bet for a team doctor!

After last week’s sickening rant from Oswald Danes (Bill Pullman) about the ecstasy of killing a child; he manages to maneuver himself into being the literal messiah of the Miracle and the one and only spokesperson that the people are tuning in to. Pullman is amazing. The transformation and various layers back and forth of this character should garner him an Emmy nomination next year. He has been truly unsettling to watch and his character is extremely in-depth.

I was surprised to see actor C. Thomas Howell show up as the big bad hitman in this episode. He was surprisingly good. Since I am used to seeing him in more comedic roles in the 80’s, and he one of the most tense moments of the episode where the big bad behind PhiCorp was almost revealed.

Gwen’s dad has been carted away to the new PhiCorp concentration camps, and poor Rhys (Kai Owen) is left out in the cold having inadvertently done the wrong thing. I always feel bad for adorable Rhys who has to stay home and deal with all of this crazy crap that suddenly entered his life when Gwen joined Torchwood.

AGREE? DISAGREE? LET US KNOW HOW YOU FEEL – COMMENT BELOW!

Click on link:TORCHWOOD – “Escape to L.A.”  – Review #1

Click on link: TORCHWOOD – “Dead of Night”  – Review #2

Click on link: TORCHWOOD – “Rendition”  – Review #2

Click on link: AX’s 10 Things About Torchwood You Need To Know

CLICK HERE for AX’s List on “THE FIVE QUESTIONS WE HOPE DOCTOR WHO – SERIES 6 ANSWERS”

CLICK HERE for Neil Gaiman talking about scripting his Season 6 DOCTOR WHO episode

CLICK HERE for brand new photos from DOCTOR WHO – Season 6 – including new poster

CLICK HERE to view the new EXTENDED SEASON 6 DOCTOR WHO trailer

CLICK HERE for Actor Mark Sheppard talking about his role in a Season 6 episode of DOCTOR WHO

Article Source: Assignment X
Article: Review – TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY – “Escape To L.A.”

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