We are 7 episodes in, and the pace is now picking up. Unlike the previous few disappointingly slow episodes, where pretty much nothing substantial happened, we got to know a lot about the “Miracle”. Of course there are still a lot of questions left to be answered. But judging by the pace at which we got the answers in “Immortal Sins“, I am quite positive that RTD and Jane Espenson’s treat is going to pay off quite well, and the wait will be well worth it. Doesn’t matter if this episode just gave up on previously established main characters such as Jilly Kitzinger, that Phicorp honcho and his Asian liaison, and most importantly Pedo-killer turned Mr.Popular, Oswald Danes. This episode was all about the core Torchwood team – Captain Jack and Gwen Cooper. Torchwood even made Rex and Esther pale into sidekick zone, who rose into occasion just to help out the main characters.

Last week, we left Gwen in the middle of the kidnap situation. This week, the cliffhanger leaves my jaw feeling the force of the floor.

Join the discussion of Episode 7 after the jump, where we have a bucket load of SPOILERS, speculations and points to be noted.

1. Gwen and the Kidnap situation:

Ok, so the evil guys have got Gwen’s daughter Anwen, her husband Rhys and her mother – can’t remember her name. But no one mentions what happened to her father, who was being rescued by Rhys. Is he somehow related to this whole situation? Anywho, Gwen clearly does not want to negotiate the situation, and would do anything to get her baby back. So, as soon as she gets back to Torchwood’s hideout, she gets Jack tasered, and ties him up in the back of her car. Following instructions on her contact lenses, she drives Jack to what seems like the middle of nowhere.

We do get learn something more about Gwen and Jack through their chit chat. Gwen confesses, that throughout all the losses that Torchwood had suffered, she enjoyed it, because she felt important. We get to see the dark side of Gwen, as she says that she absolutely loved the fact, that bigger the loss, the bigger the issue, the more important she felt. But all this while, she has been putting her family and her daughter’s life on the line, which she now realises, and will do anything to get her back – and if that means getting Jack killed, she would do it. To this, Jack replies that he understands her. But having turned mortal, he is holding on to it, even if it meant taking out the skin from her skull. How classy Jack! How classy!

So, loved ones turn into extreme antagonists.

2. The recap circa 1927.

The next big story arc amongst others was the flashback to 1927. We meet Angelo Colasanto, who pretends to be Jack Harkness, so that he can dodge the immigration police. But Jack gets him arrested, only to show him the magic of his manipulating wrist-band. And then they rent a room in an Italian motel and share the same bed. You know where this is going. The important thing here is that this is setting up a background story of the relationship between Angelo and Jack – they’re not exactly madly in love. Jack is apprehensive about the relationship. Angelo on the other hand, for the first time, is enjoying the feeling of companionship and doesn’t want to lose it. Even though, sleeping with Jack clashes with his Catholic beliefs, it makes him feel guilty for it.

For a change, in this episode, Jack quite explicitly mentions the Doctor, and compares himself to the Timelord. How the Doctor has always faced dilemma in a relationship because of his “immortality” in human terms. Jack finds himself in a similar situation, and hence, pushes away anyone who wants to be with him. But eventually, he feels good to find a companion in Angelo, and off they go exploring some aliens. But during this, Jack is shot in the head, and Angelo witnesses him die in front of him. Angelo is arrested, and when he is released a year later, to his surprise, Jack is there to greet him. Angelo cannot come to terms with Jack’s immortality and that’s when all hell breaks loose.

3. The Biblical references:

Jack brings back Angelo to the same motel, but Angelo sees him as the devil. He stabs him repeatedly, and even calls the landlady to see Jack resurrect himself back to life. Jack is then put into some sort of a butcher’s slaughter house, chained as he gets stabbed numerously by anyone and everyone. This was probably one of the most horrifying scenes I’ve seen on Torchwood. But whilst all this was happening, there are three men in suits, making some sort of a pact.

The obvious comparison to the three wise men – 2 white, one black ( Caspar, Balthasar, Melchior ) cannot be overlooked. Might turn out Jack Harkness is Jesus himself (remember, The Man from Earth? ).

And then of course, Jack’s being sort of being subjected to crucifixion by disbelievers. And when Angelo realises the magnitude of his mistake, it has blown out of proportion. But he tries to correct it, by washing off Jack’s feet (again a Biblical reference).

But by then, Jack had made up his mind. He decides his journey is one which is meant to be him and him only, and so he ditches Angelo. Angelo is left heartbroken, and that’s the last we see him… until now!

4. The triangle men:

The three wise men mentioned above, make some pact to utilise Jack, or rather, his ability in some way. They pay 10,000 $ for him to the butcher (presumably), and we are not shown if any procedure is done on Jack, or if the men have received anything from Jack. But they surely have an interesting way to shake hands. It all makes sense, when we realise that this is the genesis of the Triangle that we’ve seen flashing on mobile screens since Episode 1.

So, the triangle men have somehow managed to be alive all these years, or passed on their legacy to the future generations. Since, almost 80 years after Jack’s crucifixion (we’re calling it that), the triangle people have surfaced with the “miracle”. They want Jack badly, as they’ve kidnapped Gwen’s loved ones. But not so efficiently.

Since blondie agent Esther and Rex followed Gwen’s car, and easily managed to organise a rescue mission over the kidnappers in Welsh as well. Although, it does bug me, that such detailed planners left Rhys and Anwen captivated in their own homes, and not taken them elsewhere. But I am glad to know that baby Anwen is safe 🙂

5. The questions that remain:

a) What has Jack done to Angelo, that Angelo is so pissed off that he’d turn the whole world into a pile of undying germ-incubators? As far as I could see, Angelo was the one who got Jack killed repeatedly. If I were Jack, I’d be really pissed off at Angelo.

b) Considering Angelo was in his 20’s when he met Jack, and its 2011 now, he must be more than 100 years old now. So, how the hell is he still alive? Same goes for the Triangle Men, but then, they were the ones who made immortality happen across the world. So they could possibly have it done on themselves – the question is HOW?

c) That granddaughter of Angelo, she knows all about this. How does this all fit in with Phicorp, Jilly Kitzinger, Oswald Danes and of course, Jack Harkness and Torchwood?

d) Continuing from the previous question, how the hell all this story relate to the previously introduced characters such as Danes, Juarez, and Kitzinger? 6 whole episodes have been invested in their story in some way or another, so we better get all the loose ends tied up by the end of episode 10.

e) Finally, we have 3 more episodes to go. Will Torchwood be able to find a cure to the Miracle / be able to reverse the process to turn back the world into normal / make Jack immortal again? And will that mean all Category 1’s will automatically die – including Rex.

f) Promise, this is the final question: Where is Gwen’s dad, Geraint Cooper?

9e3k Rating: 4.5 Phicorp Painkillers out of 5.