Dead Man Walking (Torchwood)

Last updated

20 "Dead Man Walking"
Torchwood episode
Cast
Starring
Guest
Production
Directed by Andy Goddard
Written by Matt Jones
Script editor Gary Russell
Produced by Richard Stokes
Chris Chibnall (co-producer)
Executive producer(s) Russell T Davies
Julie Gardner
Music by Ben Foster
Production code2.7
Series Series 2
Running time50 mins
First broadcast20 February 2008 (2008-02-20)
Chronology
 Preceded by
"Reset"
Followed by 
"A Day in the Death"
List of episodes

"Dead Man Walking" is the seventh episode of the second series of British science fiction television series Torchwood. It was broadcast by BBC Three and BBC HD on 20 February 2008; [1] it made its terrestrial debut on BBC Two on 27 February.

Contents

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

Jack revives Owen using a resurrection glove, similar to the one used by Suzie and Gwen, [N 1] after finding it in an abandoned church guarded by Weevils, as he does not wish to give up on Owen. As with Suzie, Owen was brought back from death permanently, although this time there is no obvious source. No energy was drained from Jack, as Suzie was draining energy from Gwen, [N 2] but Owen is getting energy from somewhere. Owen has visions of himself shrouded in darkness and hearing whispers. He also temporarily loses control of his body when his eyes turn black and he speaks in an unknown language. Owen heads to a bar, where he discovers that his bodily processes have stopped, even though he still has electrical activity in the brain. Jack finds him and a brawl ensues, which results in their being arrested. Once outside, they encounter Weevils who chase them onto a rooftop. They are surprised to see the Weevils bow to Owen, who addresses the Weevils in the unknown language.

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

Outside references

The unknown language that Owen speaks during his possession uses words taken from The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R Donaldson: Melenkurion abatha, duroc minas mill khabaal, referred to in that universe as the Seven Words. (The source material contains an additional word, harad, omitted here, which is also omitted in some instances in the source material.) Owen recites the latter four over and over again, and Toshiko's translation device associates the word duroc with hunger. In the Covenant novels however, these words are a blessing calling upon the beneficent magical force of Earthpower.

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

  1. Suzie uses the glove in the 2006 episode "Everything Changes", while Gwen uses it in the 2006 episode "They Keep Killing Suzie".
  2. As depicted in the 2006 episode "They Keep Killing Suzie".

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References

  1. "Radio Times; Torchwood listing for 20 February" . Retrieved 7 February 2008.[ dead link ]
  2. Fickett, Travis (11 March 2008). "TORCHWOOD: "DEAD MAN WALKING" REVIEW". IGN . Ziff Davis . Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  3. Rawson-Jones, Ben (27 February 2008). "S02E07: 'Dead Man Walking'". Digital Spy . Retrieved 24 February 2018.