End of Days (Torchwood)
Encyclopedia
"End of Days" is the thirteenth episode and the first series finale of the British science fiction
television series Torchwood
. It originally aired on BBC Three
on 1 January 2007, alongside the previous episode, "Captain Jack Harkness". The episode was written by Chris Chibnall
and directed by Ashley Way
. The episode follows "Captain Jack Harkness", where the team open the rift to rescue Jack
(John Barrowman
) and Tosh
(Naoko Mori
) from 1941, only to find the rift has opened, causing the past and future of time to bleed through. The episode received three 2008 BAFTA Cymru
award nominations, though none of them was won. The first series finale received generally mixed reviews.
(Eve Myles
) morning off with her boyfriend Rhys
(Kai Owen
), they both see news reports of UFO sightings over the Taj Mahal
, and an armed clash between CO19 officers
and English civil war
era soldiers. When she returns to the Hub, the team learns that they are caused by unstable rift activity after it was opened to rescue Tosh and Jack. Torchwood has its hands full; Tosh and Owen
(Burn Gorman
) investigate cases of the Black Death
in a local hospital, where Tosh sees a glimpse of her mother, while Jack and Gwen are alerted by PC Andy
to a Roman soldier in a police custody. In that time, Gwen sees a glimpse of Bilis Manger (Murray Melvin
). Ianto
(Gareth David-Lloyd
) sees Lisa (Caroline Chikezie
), who tries to convince him to open the rift. During a heated argument, Jack fires Owen. While at a bar, Owen sees Diane (Louise Delamere
), who tries to convince him to open the rift.
Jack and Gwen go to Bilis' clock shop, "A Stitch In Time", where they learn that Bilis can step between eras in time. When Jack leaves, he shows Gwen a vision where Rhys dies. Gwen rushes to Rhys and has him imprisoned in Torchwood for protection. However, Bilis causes a power cut in the Hub, releases Rhys, and kills him. Jack tells her that they cannot bring him back, but she knows the only hope of restoring him is to open the rift. All but Jack agree to this, and attempts to stop them by holding the team at gunpoint. When he insults them, they attack and kill him, scan his and the team's retina
s and open the rift. After Jack revives himself, they discover that Bilis has manipulated the team to open the rift, in order to release Abaddon, a creature similar to the Beast, whose shadow kills anyone who touches it. This gives Jack an idea; he cannot die, so it can feed off his life. The shadow attacks Jack, but a blue light flows out of his chest and destroys Abaddon, killing Jack, seemingly for good.
The rift is now closed. Gwen is relieved to see Rhys alive. After several days, Jack is still dead, but is brought back to life after Gwen kisses him goodbye. The team welcome him back, (Tosh gives Jack a hug, Jack hugs and kisses Ianto, Jack forgives Owen and hugs him). Later Jack announces to Gwen that the rift is now more volatile than ever. Gwen questions him: what would tempt him to open the rift to which Jack replies "the right kind of Doctor
." As the rest of the team go for a coffee run, Jack sees the Doctor's severed hand glowing. He then hears the TARDIS
materialising, and runs towards it. The rest of the team, however, believes someone or something has taken him.
", and Owen sees Diane from the episode "Out of Time
". During the time where Jack insults the team before they kill him and open the Rift, he recites Gwen and Owen's sexual relationship, Toshiko and Mary's, Owen's fight with a Weevil
, and Ianto hiding Lisa.
A monster was sealed beneath the Rift, Abaddon. The Torchwood website questions if there are more like him across the universe, asking "Were there other beings like Abaddon? Are they also entombed underneath planets across the universe?" - referring to the Beast as seen in the Doctor Who episode "The Satan Pit
". Like the Beast, Abaddon was described as having been sealed away "before time". Bilis Manger describes Abaddon as "son of the Beast", and the Beast also says that some cultures have used the name Abaddon to refer to him.
The episode's end dovetails directly into the cold open
of the next Doctor Who
episode, "Utopia
". Jack sees the Doctor
's hand's jar bubbling and hears the TARDIS' arrival on the surface and dashes upstairs; the TARDIS' materialisation and Jack reaching it are seen at the start of "Utopia." The hand jar is missing (while the similar other jar remains) an instant later when Gwen tells the others that Jack is gone. The closing aerial shot of Roald Dahl Plass
is set after "Utopia"'s cold open, as the TARDIS has left the water tower. Jack returns the hand jar to the Doctor in "Utopia".
" by The Stone Roses
features in this episode (heard just before and after Owen sees Diane at the bar).
. The episode represented Torchwood in three BAFTA Cymru
awards, including "Best Drama Series," Ben Foster for "Best Original Music Soundtrack," and Eve Myles
for "Best Actress." It received mixed reviews from critics. Brigid Cherry of Total Sci Fi rated the episode 5 out of 10, describing the episode's gaps and dangling plot threads as "downright annoying," and felt preceding episode "Captain Jack Harkness" was more intriguing. Iain Clarke of Strange Horizons thought the episode "showcased every one of the show's worst excesses and precious few of its redeeming features," and that the episode was "heir to the myriad unresolved tensions and neuroses which the characters have exhibited over the course of the season." Paul Clarke of Outpost Gallifrey called the episode an "utter mess," thought Abaddon was less interesting than the Beast in Doctor Who
s "The Satan Pit
", but praised the episode for Murray Melvin's role as Bilis.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Torchwood
Torchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
. It originally aired on BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
on 1 January 2007, alongside the previous episode, "Captain Jack Harkness". The episode was written by Chris Chibnall
Chris Chibnall
Chris Chibnall is a British playwright, television writer and producer. He is best known for his work on the science-fiction series Torchwood....
and directed by Ashley Way
Ashley Way
Ashley Way is a film and television director born in Cardiff, Wales, in 1971.-Director:*Filligoggin *Belonging *Hoodlum & Son *Doctor Who...
. The episode follows "Captain Jack Harkness", where the team open the rift to rescue Jack
Jack Harkness
Captain Jack Harkness is a fictional character played by John Barrowman in Doctor Who and its spin-off series, Torchwood. He first appeared in the 2005 Doctor Who episode "The Empty Child" and reappeared in the remaining episodes of the 2005 series as a companion of the ninth incarnation of the...
(John Barrowman
John Barrowman
John Scot Barrowman is a Scottish-American singer, actor, dancer, musical theatre performer and media personality. Born in Glasgow yet growing up in Illinois after his family emigrated to the United States when he was eight years old, Barrowman was encouraged to further his love for music and...
) and Tosh
Toshiko Sato
is a fictional character from the television series Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood, played by Naoko Mori. After a one-off appearance in the Doctor Who episode "Aliens of London" , Toshiko is re-introduced as a series regular in the Torchwood 2006 premiere episode "Everything Changes"...
(Naoko Mori
Naoko Mori
is a British-Japanese actress known for roles as Sarah, Saffron's "odd" friend in Absolutely Fabulous, Mie Nishikawa in Casualty, and Toshiko Sato in Doctor Who and Torchwood.-Early life:...
) from 1941, only to find the rift has opened, causing the past and future of time to bleed through. The episode received three 2008 BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA Cymru is the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.Formed in 1991, they hold an annual awards ceremony to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Welsh-made films and television programmes...
award nominations, though none of them was won. The first series finale received generally mixed reviews.
Synopsis
During Gwen'sGwen Cooper
Gwen Cooper is a fictional character in the BBC television programme Torchwood, a spin-off to the long-running show Doctor Who, portrayed by Welsh actress Eve Myles. The series' lead female character, Gwen has featured in every episode of the sci-fi programme to date as well as two crossover...
(Eve Myles
Eve Myles
Eve Myles is an award winning Welsh actress of stage and screen. She is best known to Welsh audiences for her portrayal of Ceri Owen in the BBC Wales drama Belonging, and to audiences worldwide for her role as Gwen Cooper in the science fiction show Torchwood, a spin-off from Doctor Who.-Personal...
) morning off with her boyfriend Rhys
Rhys Williams (Torchwood)
Rhys Alun Williams, portrayed by Kai Owen, is a fictional character in the BBC television programme Torchwood, a spin-off from the long-running series Doctor Who. The character is introduced in the premiere episode as the co-habiting boyfriend of principal character Gwen Cooper...
(Kai Owen
Kai Owen
Kai Owen is a Welsh actor of stage and screen, known to Welsh audiences for his numerous roles on Welsh-language television and to worldwide audiences for his portrayal of Rhys Williams in Torchwood....
), they both see news reports of UFO sightings over the Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a white Marble mausoleum located in Agra, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal...
, and an armed clash between CO19 officers
Specialist Firearms Command
Central Operations Specialist Firearms Command is a Central Operations branch within Greater London's Metropolitan Police Service. The Command is responsible for providing a firearms-response capability, assisting the rest of the service, which is normally unarmed...
and English civil war
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
era soldiers. When she returns to the Hub, the team learns that they are caused by unstable rift activity after it was opened to rescue Tosh and Jack. Torchwood has its hands full; Tosh and Owen
Owen Harper
Owen Harper is a fictional character played by Burn Gorman, and a regular in the BBC television series Torchwood, a spin-off from the long-running series Doctor Who. The character last appeared onscreen in the Series 2 finale, "Exit Wounds"....
(Burn Gorman
Burn Gorman
Burn Hugh Gorman is an American-born English actor and musician. Burn is best known for his roles as Owen Harper in Torchwood and as William Guppy in Bleak House.-Personal life:...
) investigate cases of the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
in a local hospital, where Tosh sees a glimpse of her mother, while Jack and Gwen are alerted by PC Andy
Andy Davidson (Torchwood)
Andy Davidson is a fictional character in the BBC television programme Torchwood, portrayed by Tom Price. Andy, an officer with the South Wales Police, is a supporting character who first appears in Torchwoods premiere episode "Everything Changes" and recurs regularly from thereon...
to a Roman soldier in a police custody. In that time, Gwen sees a glimpse of Bilis Manger (Murray Melvin
Murray Melvin
Murray Melvin is an English stage and film actor.The son of Hugh Victor Melvin and Maisie Winifred Driscoll, he is best known for having created the role of Geoffrey in the Shelagh Delaney play, A Taste of Honey, a role which he recreated opposite Rita Tushingham in the 1961 film of the same name...
). Ianto
Ianto Jones
Ianto Jones is a fictional character in the BBC television series Torchwood, played by Welsh actor Gareth David-Lloyd. A series regular, Ianto appears in every episode of the programme's first three series, as well as two crossover episodes of Torchwoods parent show, Doctor Who...
(Gareth David-Lloyd
Gareth David-Lloyd
Gareth David-Lloyd is a Welsh actor best known for his role as Ianto Jones in the British science fiction television programme Torchwood.- Early life :...
) sees Lisa (Caroline Chikezie
Caroline Chikezie
Caroline Chikezie is a British actress, born of Nigerian heritage. She is probably most famous for playing the role of 'Sasha Williams' in the British teen soap As If from 2001 to 2004...
), who tries to convince him to open the rift. During a heated argument, Jack fires Owen. While at a bar, Owen sees Diane (Louise Delamere
Louise Delamere
Louise Delamere is an English actress best known for her role as Lia in the Channel 4 comedy drama, No Angels.Delamere is from Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside and was a classmate of the Boo Radleys at St Mary's College. She studied acting at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow,...
), who tries to convince him to open the rift.
Jack and Gwen go to Bilis' clock shop, "A Stitch In Time", where they learn that Bilis can step between eras in time. When Jack leaves, he shows Gwen a vision where Rhys dies. Gwen rushes to Rhys and has him imprisoned in Torchwood for protection. However, Bilis causes a power cut in the Hub, releases Rhys, and kills him. Jack tells her that they cannot bring him back, but she knows the only hope of restoring him is to open the rift. All but Jack agree to this, and attempts to stop them by holding the team at gunpoint. When he insults them, they attack and kill him, scan his and the team's retina
Retina
The vertebrate retina is a light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. The optics of the eye create an image of the visual world on the retina, which serves much the same function as the film in a camera. Light striking the retina initiates a cascade of chemical and electrical...
s and open the rift. After Jack revives himself, they discover that Bilis has manipulated the team to open the rift, in order to release Abaddon, a creature similar to the Beast, whose shadow kills anyone who touches it. This gives Jack an idea; he cannot die, so it can feed off his life. The shadow attacks Jack, but a blue light flows out of his chest and destroys Abaddon, killing Jack, seemingly for good.
The rift is now closed. Gwen is relieved to see Rhys alive. After several days, Jack is still dead, but is brought back to life after Gwen kisses him goodbye. The team welcome him back, (Tosh gives Jack a hug, Jack hugs and kisses Ianto, Jack forgives Owen and hugs him). Later Jack announces to Gwen that the rift is now more volatile than ever. Gwen questions him: what would tempt him to open the rift to which Jack replies "the right kind of Doctor
Tenth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who appears in three series, as well as eight specials...
." As the rest of the team go for a coffee run, Jack sees the Doctor's severed hand glowing. He then hears the TARDIS
TARDIS
The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
materialising, and runs towards it. The rest of the team, however, believes someone or something has taken him.
Continuity
In the episode, much of the team see familiar faces from their pasts in order to convince them to open the Rift. Ianto sees a fully human Lisa from the episode "CyberwomanCyberwoman
"Cyberwoman" is the fourth episode of the first series of the British science fiction television series Torchwood. Written by Chris Chibnall and directed by James Strong, the episode was first broadcast on the digital channel BBC Three on 5 November 2006, and later repeated on terrestrial channel...
", and Owen sees Diane from the episode "Out of Time
Out of Time (Torchwood)
"Out of Time" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Torchwood, which was broadcast on 17 December 2006. It is the tenth episode of the first series.- Synopsis :...
". During the time where Jack insults the team before they kill him and open the Rift, he recites Gwen and Owen's sexual relationship, Toshiko and Mary's, Owen's fight with a Weevil
Weevil (Torchwood)
Weevils are a fictional extraterrestrial species from the British science fiction television series Torchwood, first appearing in the episode "Everything Changes". As Jack Harkness explains in that episode, the name "Weevil" is applied to them by Torchwood, but as communication with them is...
, and Ianto hiding Lisa.
A monster was sealed beneath the Rift, Abaddon. The Torchwood website questions if there are more like him across the universe, asking "Were there other beings like Abaddon? Are they also entombed underneath planets across the universe?" - referring to the Beast as seen in the Doctor Who episode "The Satan Pit
The Satan Pit
"The Satan Pit" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It is the second part of a two-part story, following "The Impossible Planet". With the TARDIS seemingly lost, Rose and the remaining humans are trapped on the base with the possessed Ood, while the planet...
". Like the Beast, Abaddon was described as having been sealed away "before time". Bilis Manger describes Abaddon as "son of the Beast", and the Beast also says that some cultures have used the name Abaddon to refer to him.
The episode's end dovetails directly into the cold open
Cold open
A cold open in a television program or movie is the technique of jumping directly into a story at the beginning or opening of the show, before the title sequence or opening credits are shown...
of the next Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
episode, "Utopia
Utopia (Doctor Who)
"Utopia" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 16 June 2007 and is the eleventh episode of series three of the revived Doctor Who series...
". Jack sees the Doctor
Doctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
's hand's jar bubbling and hears the TARDIS' arrival on the surface and dashes upstairs; the TARDIS' materialisation and Jack reaching it are seen at the start of "Utopia." The hand jar is missing (while the similar other jar remains) an instant later when Gwen tells the others that Jack is gone. The closing aerial shot of Roald Dahl Plass
Roald Dahl Plass
Roald Dahl Plass is a public plaza in Cardiff Bay, part of Cardiff, Wales. It is named after Cardiff-born author Roald Dahl, and is located on the coast along the south of the city centre. The square is home to the Senedd and the Wales Millennium Centre, a performing arts centre...
is set after "Utopia"'s cold open, as the TARDIS has left the water tower. Jack returns the hand jar to the Doctor in "Utopia".
Production
When the first episode list was released, this episode was listed as "End of Days". The episode was later renamed "Apocalypse", only to return to the name "End of Days". The song "Begging YouBegging You
"Begging You" is a song by The Stone Roses, released as the final single before their break-up a year later, and was the third single from the album Second Coming. "Begging You" was released in the UK and Australia, peaking at #15 on the UK Singles Chart....
" by The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
features in this episode (heard just before and after Owen sees Diane at the bar).
Reception
The episode aired on 1 January 2007, alongside "Captain Jack Harkness". The episode received total viewing figures of 1.232 million, placing Torchwood number one on the top ten most viewed television series the week it aired in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The episode represented Torchwood in three BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA Cymru is the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.Formed in 1991, they hold an annual awards ceremony to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Welsh-made films and television programmes...
awards, including "Best Drama Series," Ben Foster for "Best Original Music Soundtrack," and Eve Myles
Eve Myles
Eve Myles is an award winning Welsh actress of stage and screen. She is best known to Welsh audiences for her portrayal of Ceri Owen in the BBC Wales drama Belonging, and to audiences worldwide for her role as Gwen Cooper in the science fiction show Torchwood, a spin-off from Doctor Who.-Personal...
for "Best Actress." It received mixed reviews from critics. Brigid Cherry of Total Sci Fi rated the episode 5 out of 10, describing the episode's gaps and dangling plot threads as "downright annoying," and felt preceding episode "Captain Jack Harkness" was more intriguing. Iain Clarke of Strange Horizons thought the episode "showcased every one of the show's worst excesses and precious few of its redeeming features," and that the episode was "heir to the myriad unresolved tensions and neuroses which the characters have exhibited over the course of the season." Paul Clarke of Outpost Gallifrey called the episode an "utter mess," thought Abaddon was less interesting than the Beast in Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
s "The Satan Pit
The Satan Pit
"The Satan Pit" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It is the second part of a two-part story, following "The Impossible Planet". With the TARDIS seemingly lost, Rose and the remaining humans are trapped on the base with the possessed Ood, while the planet...
", but praised the episode for Murray Melvin's role as Bilis.