Dead Man Walking (Torchwood)
![]() | This article possibly contains original research. (July 2011) |
20 – "Dead Man Walking" | |||
---|---|---|---|
Torchwood episode | |||
Cast | |||
Starring | |||
Guest
| |||
Production | |||
Directed by | Ben Foster | ||
Production code | 2.7 | ||
Series | Series 2 | ||
Running time | 50 mins | ||
First broadcast | 20 February 2008 | ||
Chronology | |||
| |||
"Dead Man Walking" is the seventh
In the episode, Death uses the recently undead Torchwood team member Owen Harper (Burn Gorman) as a bridgehead to come through to Earth. Death seeks to take thirteen lives to remain on Earth permanently.
Plot
Synopsis
Upon analysis, it is found that Owen's cells are changing, and upon 100% transformation something will happen. Research shows that a similar situation occurred in legend, and that Death came back with the revived person and searched for 13 victims, whose consumed souls would enable Death to remain in the world. The story details that "Faith" prevented it. Owen suggests that his neural pathways should be closed by being embalmed. During the process, the glove attacks Martha, ageing her rapidly. Owen shoots the gauntlet. Controlling Owen, Death then says, "I will walk the earth forever, and my hunger shall know no bounds".
Death arrives at the hospital along with Torchwood to take 12 souls. Ianto, monitoring Martha, explains that the "Faith" which defeated Death was actually a resurrected child named Faith. When Torchwood evacuates the hospital, Owen realises that he is the only one who can defeat Death as he is dead. Owen fights Death, consuming its energy and forcing it back into the darkness, also restoring Martha to her original age. In the Hub, Martha explains that the energy keeping Owen undead is dissipating, and she is unsure how long it will last.
Continuity
- The use of a second resurrection gauntlet leads to many references to that used by They Keep Killing Suzie". Ianto reprises his line "That's the thing about gloves - they come in pairs..." from the latter episode.
- Jack states in "They Keep Killing Suzie" that the first resurrection gauntlet fell through the rift approximately forty years earlier and lay at the bottom of Cardiff Bay until the team dredged it, without stating when the dredging occurred. Ianto tells Martha in this episode that it was dredged "last year".
- "Dead Man Walking" was the title of the Torchwood Declassified episode which accompanied the Series 1 episode, "Random Shoes".
- The mysterious little girl is seen again, more than a century earlier, in "Fragments." In this episode she specifically says "I've been waiting to see the Captain again," possibly referring to that earlier encounter.
- Owen tells the police to call his work phone and ask for "PC Cooper", confirming Gwen's statement to Rhys in "Day One" that her position with Torchwood is a secondment and that she retains her warrant and rank.
Outside references
The unknown language that Owen speaks during his possession uses words taken from
Owen also references Monty Python when he tells Martha what death is like. He tells her "the man at the pearly gates" said to him, "You're a very naughty boy," which is a line from Monty Python's Life of Brian.
Reception
IGN complained that "this episode leaves much to be desired and placed an emphasis on style over substance, and even then – some of that style was downright shoddy."[2] Digital Spy, on the other hand, praised the episode as "full of thrills and witty writing that is underpinned by a sublime, multi-layered performance from Burn Gorman."[3]
Notes
- They Keep Killing Suzie".
- They Keep Killing Suzie".
References
- ^ "Radio Times; Torchwood listing for 20 February". Retrieved 7 February 2008.[dead link]
- ^ Fickett, Travis (11 March 2008). "TORCHWOOD: "DEAD MAN WALKING" REVIEW". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Rawson-Jones, Ben (27 February 2008). "S02E07: 'Dead Man Walking'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- Dead Man Walking on Tardis Wiki, the Doctor Who Wiki