I know, I know. It seems odd to be writing an opinion about something that aired two years ago, but with Miracle Day around the corner it seems like a good time to get people in the spirit for the new series by reminding (or maybe introducing) them about Torchwood.

Children of Earth was a five episode mini-series that was shown instead of a traditional series 3. It also did something really remarkable. It turned a franchise that had previously been a very uneven show into one of the finest examples of what science fiction is capable of in recent years.

When Torchwood started it took a while for the show to get it legs. The first half of series one was quite poor. It had a team of characters that were so flawed as to be almost unlikeable and the monster-of-the-week formula turned out some real terrible antagonists. Cyberwoman and the orgasm-monster being the most memorable examples.

It started to turn around the second half of the series. The writing team finally started to show you why these characters were flawed and the stories really improved in quality. It really had started to take on a tone similar to the Buffy spin-off Angel. Furthering this comparison was a series of guest spots in series 2 by Buffy/Angel regular James Marsters.

The show was good, sometimes very good, rarely actually bad, but never great. That all changed with Children of Earth.

Since I'm writing this knowing that there may actually be someone reading this who has not seen it I will avoid spoilers. Although I don't know if it's possible to "spoil" something that came out years ago. (Reminds me of a friend of mine who yelled at someone for mentioning the ending of the 1999 movie Fight Club)

Without saying anything that happens specifically RTD created the finest story of his who-universe career with The Children of Earth. It was a story that did so many things well. It showed a merciless force and people faced with impossible decisions. Supporting characters were actually fleshed out and you found yourself caring about them.

The alien force behind the events of the show are one of the most well-realized things in recent years. The entire set for the hall in Thames House helped convey a sense of dread and terror and helplessness that is almost impossible to achieve on the low budget the creators had.

Morality play? Hero on the run action? Character drama? It is both all and none of these things. It is a prime example that when science-fiction or fantasy is done at it's finest it makes you think. This mini-series made me think for weeks.

If you somehow skipped it then I highly recommend you see it soon. You will thank me later. It is one of the absolute best mini-series of the last 15 years. I can honestly say it is on par with things like Spielburg's Taken, Storm of the Century, and the Farscape and BSG miniseries.

If you have seen it before I would recommend re-watching it before series 4, Miracle Day, airs. It's good enough to watch again.

In my view, Children of Earth remains the best Doctor Who connected series. It was a remarkable piece of television on every level.

I would agree with this, I have very high hopes for the next series, I am just so excited again

And then there is the phenomenal performance by Peter Capaldi.

The scene where he first meets the 456 is a truly great sci-moment imo, and it is all down to his acting. No mock wided eyed shock ham acting but subtle movements and dry mouth stuff. I cant recall a performance where the term 'bricking himself' comes across as clear as it does in that scene.

i was gob smacked he wasn't BAFTA nominated for his turn!

Could not agree more only saw it for the first time 2 weeks ago and WOW one of the best things ive seen on the box for ages!!

Gosh.. Has it really been 2 years?

It was an incredible piece of drama (and as a worshipper of the great Peter Capaldi, I can't understand why he didn't win awards for this either).

As my mother said at the time (and she's no sci-fi fan, even though dad won on naming me after a Doctor Who assistant!), it was a piece of drama worthy of the glory days of Play for Today.

I'm extremely excited about Miracle Day - I personally have no objection to Torchwood becoming "event television" every couple of years or so, if it means we get something extraordinary out of it.

I admit I was not familiar with him at all when I saw it, but what an amazing job he did. That character doesn't work at all in the hands of someone less talented. The ability to make an audience care about and understand the motivations of a character that does terrible things is truly difficult. He wore every tough decision he made on his face like a scar. Phenomenal.

Re. Peter Capaldi's acting

The bit where he

If only they had released his Malcolm Tucker persona on the 456. He'd have sorted them out.

****BEWARE very strong language in this link*********

Like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzZq9yQqy3c

Rather late notification, but Children of Earth is currently showing on Watch.

I stumbled upon an episode last night, and looking at their guide for the week it appears to have been part 4, with part 5 showing next Tuesday at 10:00pm (with a repeat on Wednesday 1st June at 1:15 am).

Then then jump back to show the previous series with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang on Saturday 4th June 12:40am and Sleeper on Tuesday 7th at 1:00 am.

They managed to miss Torchwood out altogether!!!! bbbbbbeeeeezzzzzaaaaaar

I firmly maintain that 'Children of Earth' is one of the finest pieces of television ever written, irrespective of it's sci-fi credentials or connection to Doctor Who.

Anyone who hasn't watched it should. It will shock them, horrify them, and possibly even make them feel physically sick. Not through anything particularly nasty they see, but through the underlying story which will have them questioning their own morality and battling to think what they would do faced with similar dilemmas.

Ok so, saying it that way may not be the best way to make people want to watch it! But they really should! It's the very fact that it makes the viewer feel so awkward that makes it brilliant!

I was blown away by Children of Earth tbh, it really was brilliant. The fact it was Torchwood too, not Doctor Who, meant it could push the boundaries which made it even more epic. I hope Miracle Day lives up to it. I did think at one point during Day 5 that The Doctor would appear. But I guess that would turn Torchwood into Doctor Who.

Agreed .. British TV at it's best, I only hope the new series can do it justice...

I watched the whole of Torchwood last Christmas with my better half who hadn't seen it much, when we got to Children of Earth I gave her a little warning that it would change things a bit...

I've been meaning to re-watch Children of the Earth before the new series of Torchwood starts just to refresh my memory but I've been putting it off. I think it's a stunningly awesome series but so distrubing - the questions it raises, the characters and their reactions to what's happening, the basis reason why the aliens want the children, it's chilling. I think I have to be in the right frame of mind! But I do want to rewatch it just because it's one of the best things I've seen on TV in a long time.

I just hope the new series lives up to expectations now, it's got big boots to fill.

Although Gwen's speech about The Doctor at the beginning of Day Five was totally brilliant. One of many scenes in the show where everything worked. The writing, her delivery, and even the lighting and the use of black and white made it a brilliant way to show a great commentary on human nature.

Completely agree with the variety of comments posted. Children of Earth was an absolutely perfect example of the kind of amazingly understated brilliance we can achieve in terms of British tv. It was clever, challenging, mature and with unbelievably good acting from pretty much every member of the cast.

I'm an avid, dedicated DW fan and thought that Torchwood was always a nice addition but never true competition. Then I watched CofE and was floored. Almost certainly going to hell for saying this but possibly the best sci fi I've ever watched.

Please, please, please don't make a mess of this new more americanised series...

Totally agree - it was brilliant wasn't it? Might just have been me, but it at once made me feel ashamed of my humanity and incredibly proud. Unbelievable scriptwriting, acting, filmography, everything...

the most chilling scene were when they went in the hold thing to see the 456 and you saw the child linked up to itand the part where Peter Capaldi goes home with his gun......really strong tv

What can you do. They don't seem to give Bafta's to actors anymore... Only half arsed reality stars!


For the record i have no intention of watching this, but i hope everyone who does like Torchwood really enjoys it.

Has it really been two years? I stuggeled getting passed the whole Ianto dying thing (I know, I know, but it was hard ) But have since watched in full properly, and it is truly amazing

However, the whole the Doctor not being there, that kind of irked me. I mean the scene with Gwen explaning it was brilliant, and a good reason for his absence. I know it's torchwood as well so the doctor pretty much couldn't have been there, but I doubt he would ever turn his back on them like that. Ashamed yes, I can imagine, but to leave them to do what they were going to do seems very very out of character. I don't know, maybe misremebering

I must say i felt that that "where is the doctor" humanity is threatend and he isnt there. Was a great explination and i know the could NEVER have the doctor in torchwood but still

I see what your getting at but I wouldn't say it was out of character, especially in his current incarnation (I know it was DT at the time) - In The Beast Below he gets angry at humans ("Nobody talk to me. Nobody human has anything to say to me today").

I thought it was a good way of including him, and what he stands for - As you say they couldn't have included the character because it was Torchwood but at least they gave him a nod and it was a reasonable explanation to me.

We've also seen The Doctor 'forgive' these events as well, of sorts, when he introduced a grieving Jack to Alonso in The End of Time; well thats the way I took it at least.