‘Torchwood: Miracle Day, The Bloodline’ – Recap

Posted Saturday, September 10th, 2011 07:00 pm GMT -4 by 0

As I watched the timeline on Twitter last night while watching the season finale of ‘Torchwood: Miracle Day’, I saw a lot of positive comments. The word “epic” came up more than a few times.

The inordinately slow pace of the series leading up to the finale was culminated last night in a nearly overflowing barrage of action, mystery, and excitement. Gwen tells a story of her Father from her childhood, building upon his kindness to the audience. She ends her quaint, loving tale with the words, “and now I’m going to kill him.”

Gwen, of course, is referring to the mission at hand, the end of Miracle Day. On both sides of the world, they prepare to head out, and Rex brings the CIA in the loop of their side of it. Meanwhile, the families of Shanghai and Buenos Aires coordinate their times of detonation to “protect the Miracle.”

Gwen tracks down The Blessing through the kitchens of a restaurant with the help of an adorable little old Chinese woman who warns her of Ghosts beyond the door and Gwen begins to understand what the kind old lady tried to tell her. The closer you get to The Miracle, the more the “bad feelings” begin to permeate your very soul – a sort of “perimeter protection” to keep people away.

I must say, as a discernable fan of John De Lancie, I thought his performance throughout this season was unmatched. We loved him from ‘Star Trek’, and if we we’re a bit biased concerning his performance, then so be it. John was a tremendous part of why I’ve enjoyed these last couple episodes. I, for one, will be following John De Lancie’s career with great interest.

Rhys, with Andy’s assistance goes to the camp where Gwen’s Father awaits his inevitable fate in the ovens; Rhys further endears himself to the audience by waiting with him. Andy sits beside a young girl, whom no one had come to claim, and holds her hand to comfort her.

As Rex and Esther prepare to infiltrate The Blessing’s location in Buenos Aires, a soldier detonates a bomb, incinerating the stockpile of Jack’s blood – the only real weapon against the evil they face.

Shapiro, meanwhile is working feverishly to assist Rex and Esther who, at this point, are believed to have been killed in the explosion. Charlotte, seeing that her cover is about to be exposed, places a bomb in the office and exits the room as Shapiro orders the reverse phone trace and it traces back to her. Shapiro looks up at the very moment before the purse containing the bomb detonates.

Jack and Oswald Danes join Gwen in the Chinese restaurant where the door leading to the alley awaits. Jack has a little issue maneuvering around the “free range chickens” flitting about the hallway. As the team, on opposite sides of the Earth, access the area of The Blessing – Jack straps a bomb to Oswald.

In Buenos Aires, Rex and Esther are captured and conveniently brought to the epicenter of The Blessing. Jack’s blood is, being mortal, the catalyst needed to end ‘Miracle Day’ and return the mortality of the world.

Since the blood was destroyed in Buenos Aires, they have only Jack’s to rely on. The woman known only as “Mother” informs them that in order for their plan to work, they must introduce the blood into The Blessing from both points on both sides of the Earth simultaneously. With the blood destroyed on one end of the Earth, the situation looks grim indeed. In Buenos Aires, the man explains the blessing transmits a morphic field around the planet, binding them together. It turns out they fed it immortal blood. The blessing absorbed the blood and copied it, changing its “settings.” Jack believes that the Families “hurt” the anomaly we know as The Blessing, and in turn, used the blood and turned it into a gift, bestowing immortality to the earth.

The Families are preparing for a “New World” where only the strong and wealthy survive. They shall decide who lives, where, and for how long. Jilly believes the Families want to make the world more disciplined and agrees with their mad plan.

Rex shocks everyone by introducing his own blood into gaping maw of The Blessing, as he and Esther explain – they had transfused Jack’s blood with his before the mission began. The blood that was destroyed in the explosion was indeed Rex’s, not Jack’s. The only drawback is that this act will surely kill them both.

Gwen draws her sidearm on Jack, telling him that “suicide is not the way Captain Jack Harkness” would leave the world. When it appears that the deed will be done, the man shoots Esther in the chest. He says that they have limitless resources. As Esther was shot on the right side of her chest, she could live – but only if they walked away now. However, if the Miracle ends, she would surely die.

A moment’s hesitation seems likes hours, and Gwen shouts to Rex over the speakerphone to continue with the mission, the deed is done, and the Earth trembles and shakes as everyone near the event attempt to escape the area.

Flashing back to a grieving Rhys, Gwen’s Father takes a deep breath, looks at Rhys very briefly, and is gone. The Miracle is past. Death has returned.

The moment thousand upon thousands of fans have been waiting for comes when Jilly and Gwen attempt to access the elevator, in a hard gasp… Jack resuscitates! Gwen slams the button on the construction elevator to go back down and Jilly attacks her. After going back and forth, Gwen finally gets tired of her and relieves her of her consciousness. Rex, in one last desperate act, throws the man who shot Esther over the railing. Rex exclaims that death is back before he collapsing again.

The Buenos Aires, the military extract Rex and Esther and administer first aid. But in a shocking twist, Esther fades away. Gwen and Jack escape as Oswald detains “The Mother”, much against her will, and intends on taking both their lives while destroying access to The Miracle at the same time.

At Esther’s funeral, Rhys joins Gwen, Jack, Rex, Esther’s Sister and, strangely enough, Charlotte. As the funeral concludes and Jack, Gwen and Rex are walking away, Rex receives a text message. They have retrieved the trace information from the explosion at the CIA, Charlotte is discovered and Rex shouts her name. She quickens her pace, turns, and fires at Rex – hitting him in the chest, killing him. Gwen, distraught, is angry that he survived so much to die now. With a hard gasp, Rex sits up! Gwen’s face is a picture of shock and disbelief. Rex and Jack look at them and say “What!?” Close on Gwen still with that wide eyed look of astonishment on her face.

This concludes Starz Channels critically acclaimed first season of ‘Torchwood: Miracle Day’. Be sure to check back with us throughout the off season for news, reviews, interviews, and more on your favorite Starz show. If you missed last weeks Recap, look no further: ‘Torchwood: Miracle Day, The Gathering’ – Recap

Torchwood Miracle Day

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  5. ‘Torchwood: Miracle Day, The Gathering’ – Recap
  • http://twitter.com/RoundTableNerds Chris Ferrell

    I really enjoyed the finale.  However I think it might have been a little too much for one episode.  I felt like I needed a chance to take a deep breath at times because things were moving along so fast.  Not necessarily bad but I guess I was used to the slow burn of all season.

    I’m very curious to see what happens after Miracle Day with two immortal Torchwood members.  How does everything change now?  Sadly it seems like it could be a fairly long wait for more Torchwood.

    • http://sciencefiction.com/ Bryan Hardbarger

      It DOES seem like we may have a considerable wait for next season. I know this isn’t the Torchwood of the past, but is IS good, that much is undeniable. 

      I think a barrage of good comments, and praise to the writers we have been so critical of will help to ensure a second season.

      • http://twitter.com/RoundTableNerds Chris Ferrell

        I forgot to say it earlier, but agreed on John De Lancie’s part in Torchwood. He owned it.

  • Nan00se

    The tweets i have been following to day have been very mixed-the pace picked up but still way to many plotholes for me, too cluttered  and the acting bordered on melodramatic.Definetly did not reach the hieghts of the season 2 ending which was emotionally gripping and moving or Children of earth which had a much greater sense of sacrifice and complex morality.
     I  am not a fan of monologues unless they serve a purpose throughout the whole series –i found Gwen’s monologues in Children of Earth tedious and unecessary and the same holds true for MD.Why do we  need a rambling piece of dialogue telling us what we already know–both the action and emotional content should stand on its own.
    The telekinetic blood got a bit silly – and dispite the rather pitiful  explanation the whole blood transfusion scenario was a bit weak especially when the blood had been carted around the world in a suitcase.The blessing was just one big blah and the whole concept of the families was just not intriguing enough for me to want to follow it through.
    In the end Oswald Danes was an unecessary addition to the storyline and served no real pupose other than to provide another piece of oversimplified social commentary.
    I  did like the scene of PC Andy sitting beside the unknown category one patient -it was the only real moment of tenderness in the whole series.
    Admit that the prospect of Rex  in another season will do little to keep me watching -and to be honest I do not see the point of making him immortal–one charactor we know wil never die is okay but two just makes it a bit silly and makes  bit of a mockery of  the all Torchwood field agents die young theme which seems to have run through all the seasons.
    Miracle Day really suffered from a lack of interesting charactors who were well developed and well acted.Not once did i sit up and think that was a fantastic bit of acting in the way I did when Peter Capaldi was in Children of Earth,Tosh and Owens death scene,James Marster’s mesmorsing performance or GDL’s  dry phrasing.
    Which ever way I look at it this was not comparable to the original series and I suspect I will not be watching again -I just need something  with a bit more innovation,intellectual stimulation or quirkiness  to engage me and this was just to much of  typical TV  action fodder for me to register it as regular viewing.

  • Venus

    Sorry, but if you look at reviews and comments outside of Twitter, they are mostly negative.  Also a lot of people about Rex’s immortality and the disregard of canon.

    • Venus

      Oops, should read ‘Also a lot of people are upset about…’

    • Nan00se

      yes i had seen those comments as well but i was writing in response to the comment about twitter.Sci fi commented on the twitter cmments on friday when it was first shown in the USA ==i am just surmising but by Saturday many more  UK fans had seen it as  well as those who do not subcsribe to Starz.Taking my point one step further Starz has a specific appeal so many of their viewers may like the style of show they produce where as universally it was not liked as much.The only fully supportive forums i have seen are on those run by JB  fans and alot of people do not comment there for obvious reasons.
      Chris I do agree with you  about JD in ep 8 he was the best actor in MD but it was a shame that he was given no real development and like most of the guest stars just kind of petered put before his death.

  • http://www.sciencefiction.com Patrick Ruddell

    I really enjoyed the finale and entire season. I know there are a lot of mixed reviews out there, but personally, I hope there is a season 2!

    • http://sciencefiction.com/ Bryan Hardbarger

      There is no word yet, in fact, there is NOTHING, no talk, hints or anything about a second season! But rest assured, we have our ways! If any news comes down, ScienceFiction.com will be there!

  • Gravitule

    I didn’t watch it and I am not about to so I cannot comment on the quality of this season.
    I just hope for a new season taking place before the alternative universe that this season and the previous one were….

  • http://sciencefiction.com/ Bryan Hardbarger

    So it seems we have mixed feelings about Torchwood still, and aside from a number of you, it would appear that you would tune into another season.

    What are your thoughts on this season? Would you give Torchwood a chance if and, indeed, when it returns? What advice would you give the showrunner? The writer’s? What would YOU like to see happen?
    We at ScienceFiction.com welcome your idea’s, thoughts, and comments!

  • http://sciencefiction.com/ Bryan Hardbarger

    Just a heads up to the Torchwood fans out there, we did get a thank you from John De Lancie himself on our recap! We’d like to thank John for one HELL of a performance, and hope they have the good sense to bring him BACK again!

    Hearing “Q” dropping the F bomb got him some attention, but honestly, folks, “golly gosh darn” just does not have the same ring to it, am I right? haha Cheers!

  • CasualCostumer

    Really?  “Epic”?  Did we read the same comments?  #MiracleDay?  Because at least half of the comments that I read were negative, and I would agree wholeheartedly.  A fifth season would be disastrous.

    • http://sciencefiction.com/ Bryan Hardbarger

      I try to be as positive as I can, Casual. There we’re indeed negative comments – but with all that, the comments from fans we’re generally excited about what was happening.

      I agree, it wasn’t “Classic Torchwood” but as a stand alone series, it was actually good. (Despite any plot holes) ;)