"Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. So many times. And that’s just today. It’s been about seven hundred years since my last confession."
Episode #27: Miracle Day.
Companions: Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper, Rhys Williams and Rex Matheson.
Air Date: 8th July to 9th September 2011.
When C.I.A. agent Rex Matheson investigates a global conspiracy, he finds himself unearthing a threat which challenges the entire human race. One day, nobody dies. All across the world, nobody dies. And then the next day, and the next, and the next. People keep ageing. They get hurt and sick, but they never die. The populace of the planet dub this "Miracle Day" for the immortality they now seem to have. However, this leads to a negative result: a population boom, overnight. With all the extra people unable to die and continuing births, resources have become limited. It’s suggested that in four months’ time, the human race will cease to be viable. But this can’t be a natural event – someone must have caused "Miracle Day". It’s a race against time as C.I.A. agent Rex Matheson investigates a global conspiracy. The answers lie within an old, secret British institute. As Rex keeps asking “What is Torchwood?", he’s drawn into a world of adventure, and a threat to change what it means to be human, forever.
I have to be very very honest here and just outright say that hated the "Miracle Day" mini-series. Had this been a one off show of it's own unconnected to the Whoniverse I might have enjoyed it more. There is a lot to like really as it features things that I rather enjoy in my science fiction and horror. The story is very dark and nihilistic, and is rather gruesome in some places. It does make you thing about things too. How would you or I react if we woke up tomorrow and these events were playing out?
The problem is that Miracle Day just does not fit into the Whoniverse very well. Other than it being too dark even for Torchwood, it is one of those major events that would have been mentioned before in passing. I know that isn't possible but it feels shoehorned in. I also find it hard to conceive that an event this massive would not have drawn to the Doctor to it. Again, different show, but it is a major event and yet it just stands alone too much. On a side note it is also far too American in style which may also go some way to explain why I have a hard time with it.
Another problem is that the series just ends with a strange swap of immortality between Jack and agent Matheson. So far this has, canonically, gone unresolved and with no new Torchwood on our screens in the foreseeable future I doubt it will ever get resolved.
So what is the big horrible thing at the centre of the Earth between China and South America? How does that fit in with subterranean Silurian cities and the Racnoss at the heart of the planet? Again, we have no revelation and it just feels like the very notion of tying it into the canon has been chucked in the bin.
I really don't have a single good thing to say about this series of Torchwood and I would avoid it if I were you. Pretend it never happened and carry on watching the rest of the Whoniverse.
