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Torchwood One #3
Torchwood One: Latter Days
Torchwood One continue to save the world - and most importantly, the Empire - from alien threats.
3.1 Retirement Plan by Gareth David-Lloyd
Torchwood’s Head of Alien Acquisitions is retiring. But there’s something very wrong in the idyll of El Cielo. And it’s going to kill Ianto.
3.2. Locker 15 by Matt Fitton
A mysterious force is wiping out Torchwood, and the only person who can save London is a cleaner called Dave.
3.3 The Rockery by Tim Foley
Anne Hartman has retired to the country, which comes as a surprise to her daughter. Has Yvonne met a problem even she can’t solve?
3.1 Retirement Plan by Gareth David-Lloyd
Torchwood’s Head of Alien Acquisitions is retiring. But there’s something very wrong in the idyll of El Cielo. And it’s going to kill Ianto.
3.2. Locker 15 by Matt Fitton
A mysterious force is wiping out Torchwood, and the only person who can save London is a cleaner called Dave.
3.3 The Rockery by Tim Foley
Anne Hartman has retired to the country, which comes as a surprise to her daughter. Has Yvonne met a problem even she can’t solve?
Audio CD
First published September 25, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 29, 2019
3.1 Retirement Plan by Gareth David-Lloyd
Gareth David-Lloyd sembra divertirsi sempre un sacco quando scrive per Torchwood e questo episodio non è da meno.
Ianto viene convinto da Thomas "Tommy" Pierce, in aria di pensionamento, a provare il suo futuro luogo di ritiro.
Ovviamente tutto andrà storto e Yvonne dará loro filo da torcere... anche se solo in formato virtuale.
Non saprei dire chi, tra i personaggi, sia il migliore.
3.2. Locker 15 by Matt Fitton
Anche un semplice inserviente può fare danni a Torchwood e non risolverli prima di andare in pensione.
Episodio classico, ristabilisce un po' i vari ruoli... vedi mai che Yvonne potesse esserci sembrata troppo gentile negli ultimi audio.
3.3 The Rockery by Tim Foley
Conosciamo la madre di Yvonne, pensionata e decisa a passare i suoi ultimi anni nella quiete della campagna.
Ovviamente Yvonne ne approfitta e il giardino in pietre del cottage diventa terreno di espetimenti.
Anche se non direttamente, siamo in un angolo di Shropshire stramente libero dai fantasmi di Army of Ghosts, gli ultimi giorni di Torchwood One e il finale è un piccolo omaggio alla nostra Yvonne.
Speriamo che non abbiano finito con Torchwood One, ora che le cose stavano ingranando alla perfezione.
Gareth David-Lloyd sembra divertirsi sempre un sacco quando scrive per Torchwood e questo episodio non è da meno.
Ianto viene convinto da Thomas "Tommy" Pierce, in aria di pensionamento, a provare il suo futuro luogo di ritiro.
Ovviamente tutto andrà storto e Yvonne dará loro filo da torcere... anche se solo in formato virtuale.
Non saprei dire chi, tra i personaggi, sia il migliore.
3.2. Locker 15 by Matt Fitton
Anche un semplice inserviente può fare danni a Torchwood e non risolverli prima di andare in pensione.
Episodio classico, ristabilisce un po' i vari ruoli... vedi mai che Yvonne potesse esserci sembrata troppo gentile negli ultimi audio.
3.3 The Rockery by Tim Foley
Conosciamo la madre di Yvonne, pensionata e decisa a passare i suoi ultimi anni nella quiete della campagna.
Ovviamente Yvonne ne approfitta e il giardino in pietre del cottage diventa terreno di espetimenti.
Anche se non direttamente, siamo in un angolo di Shropshire stramente libero dai fantasmi di Army of Ghosts, gli ultimi giorni di Torchwood One e il finale è un piccolo omaggio alla nostra Yvonne.
Speriamo che non abbiano finito con Torchwood One, ora che le cose stavano ingranando alla perfezione.
June 4, 2022
Set in the London offices of Torchwood before its fall, this is a collection of three hour-long stories on the general theme of retirement, each of which has a distinctly different tone.
Retirement Plan – The first story concerns the preparations by one of the recurring characters from the earlier Torchwood One audios for his impending departure from the organisation. Naturally, the preparations do not go as well as expected, so what we get is a story about glitching alien tech, albeit with some reflection on why the character is being driven to the lengths that he is. It’s a story that’s often fun and entertaining, especially in a sequence that spoofs a certain popular film series, but that still has its dark side. Oberman gets to ham it up as a range of different characters – a means of saving on the acting cast that works within the context of the story – but David-Lloyd is the real strength here, acting as the main protagonist and out of his depth as a young Ianto. 4 stars.
Locker 15 – This time we move to the actual retirement of one of the cleaners who worked at Torchwood’s London office. Unfortunately for him, it turns out that his past holds the key to a piece of information that the organisation now desperately needs… if only they hadn’t buried it under Retcon along with all the things that really did need to stay secret. The result is a powerful story about an old man whose memories are failing and the lengths that Torchwood is willing to go to get the real ones back. Yvonne shares the spotlight with Ianto in this one, coming out of it almost as a villain, even if we can appreciate her motives. But veteran actor Derek Griffiths also shines as the domestic cleaner who worked at Torchwood for decades with barely anyone noticing him. 5 stars.
The Rockery – The final story is a gentler character study of Yvonne’s mother, who has retired to a Shropshire cottage occasionally visited by her daughter. While there are science fiction elements to the story, they are relatively minor with the focus instead being on the dysfunctional relationships within the family and giving some glimpses into Yvonne’s early life. On the downside, this fails to provide any insight as to how and why she grew up the way she did (she apparently “takes after her father”) and some of the more typical Torchwood elements listeners may be expecting aren’t really here. But as a story about retirement and family relationships, it works and eventually has more of a connection with events in the TV series than is at first apparent. 4 stars.
Retirement Plan – The first story concerns the preparations by one of the recurring characters from the earlier Torchwood One audios for his impending departure from the organisation. Naturally, the preparations do not go as well as expected, so what we get is a story about glitching alien tech, albeit with some reflection on why the character is being driven to the lengths that he is. It’s a story that’s often fun and entertaining, especially in a sequence that spoofs a certain popular film series, but that still has its dark side. Oberman gets to ham it up as a range of different characters – a means of saving on the acting cast that works within the context of the story – but David-Lloyd is the real strength here, acting as the main protagonist and out of his depth as a young Ianto. 4 stars.
Locker 15 – This time we move to the actual retirement of one of the cleaners who worked at Torchwood’s London office. Unfortunately for him, it turns out that his past holds the key to a piece of information that the organisation now desperately needs… if only they hadn’t buried it under Retcon along with all the things that really did need to stay secret. The result is a powerful story about an old man whose memories are failing and the lengths that Torchwood is willing to go to get the real ones back. Yvonne shares the spotlight with Ianto in this one, coming out of it almost as a villain, even if we can appreciate her motives. But veteran actor Derek Griffiths also shines as the domestic cleaner who worked at Torchwood for decades with barely anyone noticing him. 5 stars.
The Rockery – The final story is a gentler character study of Yvonne’s mother, who has retired to a Shropshire cottage occasionally visited by her daughter. While there are science fiction elements to the story, they are relatively minor with the focus instead being on the dysfunctional relationships within the family and giving some glimpses into Yvonne’s early life. On the downside, this fails to provide any insight as to how and why she grew up the way she did (she apparently “takes after her father”) and some of the more typical Torchwood elements listeners may be expecting aren’t really here. But as a story about retirement and family relationships, it works and eventually has more of a connection with events in the TV series than is at first apparent. 4 stars.
October 9, 2022
Torchwood: Torchwood One: Latter Days - 4.334/5 stars
Torchwood One is an amazing Torchwood series that genuinely makes me sad we only got a bit of a Doctor Who episode with this version of Torchwood before it all fell apart. All of the characters are really fun and work well with each other with all their bitchiness and infighting.
I do like the overarching theme of retiring instead of stories based around Torchwood bumping into plots by the same alien over and over like in the last set.
The first and last stories flesh out bigger characters that I feel invested in and the fleshing out really squeezes my heart as their depressing backstories about their lives start to further my own investment into characters such as Tommy, Yvonne Hartman and Anne Hartman.
Retirement Plan by Gareth David-Lloyd - 5/5 stars
Tommy (my favourite character) is wanting to retire. This story gives him such a sympathetic 3rd dimension that just makes me really like Tommy even more. His retirement plan is a horrifying version of the matrix on Gallifrey but with more basic and sentient tech.
Locker 15 by Matt Fitton - 3/5 stars
This story is less fun. It's darker, depressing and depends on the listener being invested in the one mystery that isn't really that good. The ending is so evil, Yvonne is such an evil and cool character while also being the main character, there's so much to like and so much to hate about her.
The Rockery by Tim Foley - 5/5 stars
“Anything that can turn sadness into beauty, now that ought to be cherished.”
Yvonne Hartman and her mother work out their relationship and promise to build a stronger bond later as Yvonne goes off to her death in the TV show. This one had me in tears. The ending is so sad and Anne Hartman is such a wonderful character. Barbara Flynn and Tracy Ann Oberman have great chemistry as a mother-daughter duo.
This story is about dealing with loss and it does it so well.
Torchwood One is an amazing Torchwood series that genuinely makes me sad we only got a bit of a Doctor Who episode with this version of Torchwood before it all fell apart. All of the characters are really fun and work well with each other with all their bitchiness and infighting.
I do like the overarching theme of retiring instead of stories based around Torchwood bumping into plots by the same alien over and over like in the last set.
The first and last stories flesh out bigger characters that I feel invested in and the fleshing out really squeezes my heart as their depressing backstories about their lives start to further my own investment into characters such as Tommy, Yvonne Hartman and Anne Hartman.
Retirement Plan by Gareth David-Lloyd - 5/5 stars
Tommy (my favourite character) is wanting to retire. This story gives him such a sympathetic 3rd dimension that just makes me really like Tommy even more. His retirement plan is a horrifying version of the matrix on Gallifrey but with more basic and sentient tech.
Locker 15 by Matt Fitton - 3/5 stars
This story is less fun. It's darker, depressing and depends on the listener being invested in the one mystery that isn't really that good. The ending is so evil, Yvonne is such an evil and cool character while also being the main character, there's so much to like and so much to hate about her.
The Rockery by Tim Foley - 5/5 stars
“Anything that can turn sadness into beauty, now that ought to be cherished.”
Yvonne Hartman and her mother work out their relationship and promise to build a stronger bond later as Yvonne goes off to her death in the TV show. This one had me in tears. The ending is so sad and Anne Hartman is such a wonderful character. Barbara Flynn and Tracy Ann Oberman have great chemistry as a mother-daughter duo.
This story is about dealing with loss and it does it so well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2022
Dans le coffret, bien que les deux autres épisodes sont bons (Gareth David-Lloyd s'est vraiment amélioré en terme d'écriture), The Rockery par Tim Foley vaut définitivement le détour. Il aborde de front des thèmes cher à l'univers de Torchwood: la mort, le deuil, la maladie avec les personnage d'Yvonne Hartman et de sa mère, personnages connus pour généralement s'élever au-dessus bien au-delà de ces considérations au nom de l'intérêt général (de l'Angleterre).
Ce qui fait aussi la force de cet épisode est que l'élement science-fictionnel de l'épisode sert de métaphore à la trame narrative et émotive et renforce d'autant plus les thèmes abordés. Je suis aussi très satisfait· de l'épilogue qui ajoute une belle note supplémentaire au scénario.
L'utilisation d'un quasi-huit-clos, de la présence d'un minimum de personnages permet de vraiment se concentrer sur le drame qui se déroule sans avoir à justifier constamment le besoin d'une narration B (très présente toutefois en intertexte et sous-texte).
Un épisode audio qui rend un bel hommage au personnage d'Yvonne tout en ne lui ôtant rien de sa personnalité et de ses valeurs.
Ce qui fait aussi la force de cet épisode est que l'élement science-fictionnel de l'épisode sert de métaphore à la trame narrative et émotive et renforce d'autant plus les thèmes abordés. Je suis aussi très satisfait· de l'épilogue qui ajoute une belle note supplémentaire au scénario.
L'utilisation d'un quasi-huit-clos, de la présence d'un minimum de personnages permet de vraiment se concentrer sur le drame qui se déroule sans avoir à justifier constamment le besoin d'une narration B (très présente toutefois en intertexte et sous-texte).
Un épisode audio qui rend un bel hommage au personnage d'Yvonne tout en ne lui ôtant rien de sa personnalité et de ses valeurs.
December 5, 2024
Torchwood One: Latter Days is a look at the theme of retirement, with three very different stories. "Retirement Plan" is the most light-hearted, but provides a focused look on the character of Tommy as he tries to make a plan to actually get a retirement. "Locker 15" is a look at a character who has already retired - namely a janitor - and Torchwood One's efforts to restore his declining memory. Finally, "The Rookery" is more of a slow paced character study exploring the relationship between Yvonne and her mother and the impact of depression on people's lives as the latter takes an unexpected retirement to the country, with Ianto only appearing in two brief scenes and Tommy not appearing at all.
Of the three, "Retirement Plan" is probably the strongest, with light hearted moment such as Ianto's visions in the simulation balanced by good darker moments, such as how Yvonne expects Tommy to work until his dying days (and considering the Battle of Canary Wharf coming up, he probably did). Locker 15 is also good though, whilst "The Rookery" is a bit sluggish with its pace sometimes and would have benefitted from a further exploration of Yvonne's father.
Of the three, "Retirement Plan" is probably the strongest, with light hearted moment such as Ianto's visions in the simulation balanced by good darker moments, such as how Yvonne expects Tommy to work until his dying days (and considering the Battle of Canary Wharf coming up, he probably did). Locker 15 is also good though, whilst "The Rookery" is a bit sluggish with its pace sometimes and would have benefitted from a further exploration of Yvonne's father.
January 14, 2022
Retirement Plan - 4/5
At the beginning I wasn't sure what to think of it, the story is kind of weird with, but I have to admit, the James Bond touch of the story was such great fun, it elevated the story to a very good one. GDL really knows how he wants to write Ianto.
Locker 15 - 3/5
It's a solid story, but I found the premise rather boring. I tried a few times, but every time my mind started to wander. It gives an interesting inside into the methos of TW1.
The Rockery - 5/5
I had the least interest in this one since it focuses on Yvonne and her mother, with only a tiny part of Ianto - but I was surprised how well written it is and the acting was superb. Definitely the hightlight of the whole set.
At the beginning I wasn't sure what to think of it, the story is kind of weird with, but I have to admit, the James Bond touch of the story was such great fun, it elevated the story to a very good one. GDL really knows how he wants to write Ianto.
Locker 15 - 3/5
It's a solid story, but I found the premise rather boring. I tried a few times, but every time my mind started to wander. It gives an interesting inside into the methos of TW1.
The Rockery - 5/5
I had the least interest in this one since it focuses on Yvonne and her mother, with only a tiny part of Ianto - but I was surprised how well written it is and the acting was superb. Definitely the hightlight of the whole set.
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January 28, 2025Retirement Plan
The names Jones. Ianto Jones. One for the Bond fans. I always love when they attempt a story on a scale that could never be replicated on TV.
Locker 15
And now for something much darker. A story about the treatment of support staff by big companies told through a series of flashbacks. I like how this series, despite them being the protagonists, isn't afraid to show Torchwood and it's staff in a much harsher light.
The Rockery
A very personal character-driven story with Yvonne and her mum. The alien plot is more of a background thing but it does accentuate the family drama really well. Good tie-in to the Doctor Who S2 finale.
The names Jones. Ianto Jones. One for the Bond fans. I always love when they attempt a story on a scale that could never be replicated on TV.
Locker 15
And now for something much darker. A story about the treatment of support staff by big companies told through a series of flashbacks. I like how this series, despite them being the protagonists, isn't afraid to show Torchwood and it's staff in a much harsher light.
The Rockery
A very personal character-driven story with Yvonne and her mum. The alien plot is more of a background thing but it does accentuate the family drama really well. Good tie-in to the Doctor Who S2 finale.
December 3, 2019
This is certainly one of my favorite releases from Big Finish this year, and it took me by surprise. Not that I don't like the Torchwood One series -- I actually prefer it over regular Torchwood (because Yvonne is a far more interesting and entertaining character than Jack -- who is just a big walking hormone, and furthermore Barrowman can't act. There, I said it. Come at me!) -- it's just that I expected this to be three fun little Yvonne and Ianto stories to keep me entertained while biking or commuting.
Instead, it's three separate stories all on the theme of aging. Sure, there are sci fi elements, more ore less. (More in Locker 15, less in The Rockery.) But the sci fi takes a back seat to the real drama.
Retirement Plan deals with Tommy Pierce, who was introduced back in Before the Fall devising a creative plan for his retirement. (Hey, that's the title!) It's the lightest of the three episodes, full of funny bits, while still zeroing in on Tommy's feeling that his days serving Torchwood are coming to an end.
Locker 15 introduces us to Dave Cook, a former Torchwood employee who happens to be the only one who knows how to get into a Torchwood storage locker containing something alien that threatens London. Unfortunately, Dave is suffering from dementia. As bits of the story come into focus, much like Dave slowly beginning to remember his days at Torchwood, we learn that not everything is as it seems to be. While Ianto worries that constantly having his memory erased is to blame for Dave's dementia, Yvonne is coldly determined to do what needs to be done to get into Locker 15.
Then, The Rockery introduces us to Ann Hartman, Yvonne's mother, having retired to a new home, still mourning the loss of her husband. As she struggles with changes in her life, Yvonne struggles to help her find a new normal. While there is a sci fi element, it's really about loss and healing. The most interesting part of The Rockery is that it's set during the events of the Doctor Who episode "Army of Ghosts," and . . . well, Yvonne's fate on television makes The Rockery, which is about dealing with the loss of loved ones, all the more poignant.
It's specifically that last episode that causes me to rank this set high among Big Finish's 2019 releases. As The Rockery drew to a close, I kept thinking "Don't go there . . . don't go there . . . don't make this sadder than it already is . . . end it on a positive note!" and . . . the writer did not listen to me.
Instead, it's three separate stories all on the theme of aging. Sure, there are sci fi elements, more ore less. (More in Locker 15, less in The Rockery.) But the sci fi takes a back seat to the real drama.
Retirement Plan deals with Tommy Pierce, who was introduced back in Before the Fall devising a creative plan for his retirement. (Hey, that's the title!) It's the lightest of the three episodes, full of funny bits, while still zeroing in on Tommy's feeling that his days serving Torchwood are coming to an end.
Locker 15 introduces us to Dave Cook, a former Torchwood employee who happens to be the only one who knows how to get into a Torchwood storage locker containing something alien that threatens London. Unfortunately, Dave is suffering from dementia. As bits of the story come into focus, much like Dave slowly beginning to remember his days at Torchwood, we learn that not everything is as it seems to be. While Ianto worries that constantly having his memory erased is to blame for Dave's dementia, Yvonne is coldly determined to do what needs to be done to get into Locker 15.
Then, The Rockery introduces us to Ann Hartman, Yvonne's mother, having retired to a new home, still mourning the loss of her husband. As she struggles with changes in her life, Yvonne struggles to help her find a new normal. While there is a sci fi element, it's really about loss and healing. The most interesting part of The Rockery is that it's set during the events of the Doctor Who episode "Army of Ghosts," and . . . well, Yvonne's fate on television makes The Rockery, which is about dealing with the loss of loved ones, all the more poignant.
It's specifically that last episode that causes me to rank this set high among Big Finish's 2019 releases. As The Rockery drew to a close, I kept thinking "Don't go there . . . don't go there . . . don't make this sadder than it already is . . . end it on a positive note!" and . . . the writer did not listen to me.
January 23, 2020
Ivonne continues to lead torchwood one.
December 8, 2019
Retirement Plan. 3.5 stars. Nicely weird.
Locker 15. 3 stars. OK, shows us who Yvonne really is.
The Rockery. 2 stars. Might try again another day, but I kept drifting, it just didn’t catch me
Locker 15. 3 stars. OK, shows us who Yvonne really is.
The Rockery. 2 stars. Might try again another day, but I kept drifting, it just didn’t catch me
February 10, 2024
I absolutely loved Retirement plan. Gareth David Lloyd always provides a great story.
Locker 15 was a bit of a low point for this set. I struggled to stay engaged.
The Rockery was great fun. And it was nice to see more of Yvonne and where she came from.
Locker 15 was a bit of a low point for this set. I struggled to stay engaged.
The Rockery was great fun. And it was nice to see more of Yvonne and where she came from.
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