Author Archives: Caleb Woodbridge

About Caleb Woodbridge

Caleb comes from the Death Zone on Gallifrey – sorry, North Wales. He became a fan in the wilderness years when the show was off the air through the repeats, novels and audios, and is also a big fan of the show since its return in 2005. He has had a number of short stories published, including The Shopping Trolleys of Doom, featuring the Seventh Doctor, in Short Trips: How the Doctor Changed My Life, and Blessed are the Peacemakers, featuring the Fourth Doctor and Sarah, in Short Trips: Indefinable Magic, both published by Big Finish. He is currently seeking publication for his first novel. He also writes A Journal of Impossible Things, a blog about fiction, fantasy and faith.

Torchwood Spoiler-free Preview – Miracle Day 4, ‘Escape to LA’

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Caleb Woodbridge previews ‘Escape to LA’, the fourth episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day. The Torchwood team arrive in Los Angeles, but there’s no time for sun and surf…

Torchwood: Miracle Day continues to build steadily in ‘Escape to LA’, as the world tries come to terms with what to do with the undying sick and injured. Gwen’s not the only member of the Torchwood team attempting to protect their family, and in each case, it brings unhappy consequences.

Arriving in Los Angeles, the Torchwood team take the fight to PhiCorp, but a trap is closing around them. Meanwhile, Tea Party politician Ellis Hartley Monroe is stirring up the masses with the slogan “Dead is Dead”, and stealing Oswald Dane’s limelight while she’s at it…

Oswald Dane’s self-preserving self-promotion reaches new heights, or depths. Although he’s one of the most interesting characters, I find the role he takes on at the end of episode 3 as unofficial spokesman for PhiCorp to be rather unbelievable. Even if he was able to win some measure of sympathy on Twitter, a convicted child rapist and murderer who’s escaped justice would still be a massively hated and controversial figure. His trajectory in this episode is no more credible, though his interplay with Jilly Kitzinger in this episode is entertaining.

Dr Vera faces the medical emergency and ethical questions. “The Western world has always hidden its unwanted”, one character observes with the clunkety-clunk of unsubtle social commentary in one scene. It’s good to see some of the larger patterns and theme of the series beginning to emerge more clearly.

There’s also a building sense of foreboding as the extent of PhiCorp’s plans begins to be revealed. A generous dash of action and humour go a long way once more to keeping the whole show watchable amid its many improbabilities. Watch out for Gwen’s attempt at an American accent!

So far Miracle Day has never been less than entertaining, but has yet to fully deliver on the promise of its premise. Four episodes in, the show really needs to be hitting its stride, but it still feels stuck in third gear. It continues to dangle the promise of greater things to come in front of the viewer. I’m intrigued by the Miracle Day concept, and the irreverence of the show keeps me watching, but it has yet to wow me.

Torchwood Discussion – Miracle Day 3, ‘Dead of Night’

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Caleb Woodbridge and P.G. Bell discuss Episode 3, ‘Dead of Night’ (spoiler-free review here), including Captain Jack’s “mortal urges”, the implausible rise of Oswald Danes and whether Miracle Day is suffering from Lost syndrome.

With Swithun in America, Peter moving house, and Caleb going to a wedding and a job interview, real life has caught up with us, meaning a discussion rather than a commentary this week – but never fear, normal service will be resumed next week! Or at least, our usual episode commentary – we make no pretensions towards normality.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:24 — 10.3MB)

Did you enjoy episode 3 of Torchwood? Are you gripped by each episode, or is your attention beginning to wander? What’s the purpose of the Miracle – is PhiCorp behind it, and why? Let us know your opinions, theories and speculation!

Torchwood Spoiler-free Preview – Miracle Day 3, ‘Dead of Night’

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Caleb Woodbridge previews ‘Dead of Night’, the third episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day. With Torchwood on the run, can they uncover the secrets of the Miracle?

After some slow development in Rendition, the plot picks up again in Dead of Night, as Torchwood begin investigating the Miracle in earnest. This week’s episode comes from the pen of Jane Espenson, scribe for Buffy and Battlestar Galactica and builds the story well as the new Torchwood team begins to come together, while the cult of the Soulless takes to the streets.

The main weakness of episode 2 of Miracle Day was that the Torchwood team – which was technically just Gwen at this point – was too busy brewing a magic potion to save Jack to actually do anything to investigate the Miracle. Here, Torchwood are being hunted down while actually investigating what’s going on, which makes for a much better balance.

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Torchwood Commentary – Miracle Day 2, ‘Rendition’

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Caleb Woodbridge, P.G. Bell and Swithun Dobson give their commentary on episode 2, ‘Rendition’ (spoiler-free review here, detailed review to follow), as they discuss CIA security, DIY chemistry, zombie Ianto and much more!

The newly reunited Captain Jack and Gwen Cooper (John Barrowman and Eve Myles) find themselves separated from Rhys (Kai Owen) and baby Anwen (aaaw!) as Rex Matherson (Mekhi Phifer) extradites them to the good old U. S. of A. But with sinister CIA agent Lyn Peterfield (Dichen Lachman off of Nieghbours and Dollhouse) taking orders from above, will they even make it across the Atlantic? (Yes, since it’s only episode 2!)

Plus we discuss your feedback – thanks to Adam Purcell of Staggering Stories, A Figleaf of your Imagination (aka Aled Morgan) of Blogga the Hut and to Shuggie for their comments.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:48 — 30.2MB)

Did you enjoy episode 2? Did the high-flying shenanigans grip you or bore you? What were your favourite scenes? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned for our spoiler-free preview of episode 3!

Torchwood Spoiler-free Preview – Miracle Day 2, ‘Rendition’

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Jack and Gwen head to America

Caleb Woodbridge looks ahead to ‘Rendition’, episode 2 of Torchwood: Miracle Day. But is it in-flight entertainment or mid-Atlantic pitstop?

Last week’s opener ‘The New World‘ seemed dedicated to putting the pieces on the board. With Rex Matheson extraditing Torchwood to America, you might expect episode 2 to be all systems go as the Torchwood team start investigating the “miracle”. But whereas Rex’s hop across the Atlantic took place between scenes, Captain Jack and Gwen Cooper find themselves in mid-flight peril.

It’s entertaining conspiracy hokum if that’s what you’re after. But the spy-thriller elements seem somewhat divorced from the much more interesting issue of the Miracle itself. The best scenes are those not involving the Torchwood team, but those that continue to explore its impact. Bill Pullman as Oswald Danes continues to steal the show, with Arlene Tur as Dr Vera Juarez also putting in a very strong showing.

There’s an important but credulity-stretching scene that echoes a comedy moment in series 4 of Doctor Who. But whereas Doctor Who could get away with it, it doesn’t convince as easily here, though your mileage will probably vary – it’s already divided opinion among American viewers. Believability takes a definite back-seat to dramatic effect on several other occasions too. I don’t mind suspending my disbelief, but this week I had to hang, draw and quarter it.

There are some great lines, my favourite being “I’m American, too. Can’t I contribute to our global cultural hegemony with a nice frosty cola?” We also meet Jilly Kitzinger, played to perfection by Lauren Ambrose as the annoying, smarter-than-she-lets-on PR lady. So it does have its redeeming moments, but so far is a long way from matching the quality of Children of Earth.

Check back 10pm Thursday night after UK broadcast for our podcast commentary on ‘Rendition’!

Torchwood Commentary – Miracle Day 1 ‘The New World’

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Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) protects her baby daughter Anwen from the forces of darkness in Torchwood: Miracle Day

As Torchwood goes trans-Atlantic in Miracle Day, co-produced by Starz and BBC, we dissect the show that just won’t die! But has it maintained the quality of Children of Earth or returned to the depths of Cyberwoman?

Join Caleb Woodbridge, P.G. Bell and Swithun Dobson in our commentary on Episode 1, ‘The New World’, as we discuss John Barrowman’s “acting”, the dangers of immortality, dodgy Welsh geography, the talents of Michael Bay and much more!

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:21 — 30.0MB)

What did you think of episode 1? Is Russell T Davies’ latest effort another classic, or has it yet to hit the mark? Is the American/Welsh combo a match made in heaven or a dog’s dinner? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forgot to read our spoiler-free review of The New World!