Torchwood fans: Missing the show? Time to check out the official audio continuation
By James Aggas
Back in January, Captain Jack Harkness finally returned to Doctor Who. But if you’re missing him already, then you might want to check out the audio continuation of Torchwood…
Without question, Captain Jack’s long overdue return to Doctor Who was one of the best surprises from Series 12. With absolutely no hint of his return from the BBC (at least not directly – the BBC promised something big, but we didn’t know what), it was a joy to see him again.
Sadly, it was a return that was rather short-lived. Not only did Captain Jack completely miss out on meeting the Doctor again in that episode, but he sadly didn’t appear in the rest of this year’s series, either.
Naturally, many fans were disappointed by this. Before Fugitive of the Judoon, it had been over ten years since Jack had appeared in a Doctor Who story. Even Torchwood has been off-screen for almost a decade, ever since the mostly US set Miracle Day ended in 2011.
But if fans want more of Captain Jack Harkness, then there is a way to get more. A lot more, actually. While we haven’t seen Torchwood on TV lately, the series has seen a revival in recent years, thanks to Big Finish Productions…
Set several years after the events of Miracle Day, Torchwood: Aliens Among Us finally continues the story of our favorite secret organization.
Photo Courtesy Big Finish Productions
The story continues
If you’re desperate for more Torchwood – or even just Captain Jack himself – and you haven’t checked out any of Big Finish’s audios yet, you’re going to want to change that. Even if you normally hate audiobooks, there’s still a good chance that you’ll enjoy these, at least. To be honest, they’re easily the best fix we have for new Torchwood stories.
While Big Finish has given us many Torchwood releases across many different ranges, what’s particularly exciting is the official fifth and sixth series. Aliens Among Us and God Among Us continue several years after Miracle Day and feature new characters, new stories, and new arcs.
Of course, it also features plenty of the original characters that you know and love. Along with Captain Jack, Aliens Among Us also features Gwen, Rhys and Sergeant Andy. Not to mention one or two other voices you might recognize…
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Russell T Davies’s influence
If you’re worried that this won’t feel the same as Torchwood on television, don’t be. With not just a full cast but also excellent sound design and strong storytelling, the series feels like a natural continuation of the Torchwood we know, while still taking it in exciting new directions.
Even better is who’s involved in it. While the continuation has a new team of writers, the series does have input from the man who created Torchwood itself: Russell T Davies. He’s helped to create new characters and add some major ideas of his own into the series, and he’s even written a significant scene for a huge character.
Listening to the series, it’s clear that Davies still has a strong influence, and quite right, too. (Even if he did suggest killing off Sergeant Andy. Seriously, considering how brilliant Andy has become thanks to Big Finish, that’s definitely a big no-no, Russell!) While both James Goss and Scott Handcock do excellent jobs as producer and script editor, respectively, there’s no question that Torchwood is still very much Davies’s baby.
Taking risks
The continuation isn’t afraid of shaking things up, either. While it takes Torchwood back to its roots, there are major moments that sell the audio series as a continuation of a show that was never afraid to take major risks. Especially when you reach the cliffhanger of Aliens Among Us‘s second volume…
Honestly, if you’re missing Torchwood and you want it to return, then Aliens Among Us and God Among Us are definitely worth checking out. Even if you’re not usually into audio as a medium, this is still a worthy continuation of the TV series that many fans will and already have enjoyed. Overall, it’s pure Torchwood and highly recommended to all fans of the original TV series.
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Have you listened to Series 5 and 6? Do you think Aliens Among Us or God Among Us live up to what came before? Or if you haven’t listened to it yet, are you curious about how Big Finish continue where the series left off? Let us know in the comments below.