Torchwood #17: Meat

Torchwood Team; 

• Captain Jack

• Gwen

• Owen

• Tosh

• Ianto

Notable Characters; 

• Rhys- Gwen's fiancée     

• Dave- Boss of a dodgy business

Detailed Plot;

The episode begins with Rhys, the newly announced fiancée of Gwen and someone we've barely seen in the second season of Torchwood so far, much different from the first season. He's singing in the car to an advert, one that he wrote by the looks. A humorous beginning. But quickly it took a change. Rhys was rung up, an accident occurred and he quickly drove to the scene. His lorry driver, Leighton, for the company he managed a section of, had crashed and Leighton was killed. Rhys gave the police details of the driver but the police were suspicious about the goods in the back of the lorry. Torchwood wanted a look. 

The team arrived at the scene and Rhys saw Gwen. Her secret of Torchwood was up. Despite being told in Combat, he'd since been retconned so had no memory of it. Gwen's special ops cover story was over. Meanwhile, the team investigated the mysterious goods in the back of the crashed lorry, it was 'dense flesh' and the team took a sample to take back to the hub. Gwen now recognised that the firm was Rhys', he just managed the lorries leaving and arriving at their destination. Rhys tried following the SUV after the team were done, but police blocked his way. Gwen was now worried that Rhys may find out about her, she didn't like how close the situation was between them. 

The mystery of the flesh deepened as Owen revealed that the edible authenticity certificate was no doubt a fake. So who was poisoning the meat supply? The company was Harris & Harris, Rhys' firm, and Tosh rang pretending to be the police. Whilst in phone call, Tosh had gained the information she wanted and Ianto had found sight of the crashed lorry on CCTV, they could now track it. 

Owen soon discovered that the meat was definitely alien, and it had been going to the processing plant. That meant, rather disturbingly, that this alien meat was going into pasties, pies etc. And Owen had just ordered a meat feast. The meat had been going into food for months now, and it seemed the supplier was based in Merthyr, a place the team bantered about pretty funnily as it's not the nicest of areas (I live >20 miles away from there). 

Gwen went home and after Rhys told her of the crash she faked everything, lying about not knowing. She quickly left, knowing she only went home for confirmation he knew about the incident, and Rhys hid his knowledge of Gwen working for Torchwood. But he wanted to know more, and followed Gwen. 

Gwen was at the famous fountain of Cardiff Bay, and Jack arrived from out of nowhere (of course using the perception filter) and the pair were arm in arm. It seemed Rhys could think she was cheating on him (again). Gwen asked Jack if he'd ever ate alien meat and his reply was both disturbing but humorous, 'he seemed to enjoy it.' Gwen didn't know how to reply. 

The pair now went in the SUV to the suspected alien slaughter house in Merthyr, Rhys followed. Ianto and Owen were already there whilst Tosh remained at the hub giving the two pairs information and a map out of the building. Jack demanded there were no casualties, stun guns were the weapons to be used. Rhys was at a different section of the warehouse, a fence seperated him from the SUV but Gwen now saw her fiancée and was shocked. Two other men approached Rhys and they weren't too pleased by his presence and Rhys was taken inside, not knowing who the two men were. From a distance though, to Jack and Gwen, it looked like calm conversation and they suspected Rhys was in on the scandal. Jack held back Gwen from following, they'd wait for Rhys to exit. Jack showed that he was still the man in charge. 

Inside the warehouse, groaning was heard. Something large was in pain. Rhys was interrogated but came up with a quick and great cover story saying how he got rid of the meat by incineration and that he wanted to pick up where Leighton off and become the driver. The men behind the alien meat didn't seem 100% impressed and questioned whether they could trust him. They wrongly thought so and Rhys was shown the supply of meat. It was a massive scale! A humongous creature chained down and it was alive, in torture, continuously growing but being chopped to pieces. They had no idea what it was and Rhys spewed, shocked at the sight. It seemed these Merthyr meat suppliers had an endless supply. It was quite horrific. 

Both Gwen and Rhys returned to their house and both confronted each other of the secrets they had. Gwen in Torchwood and Rhys at the slaughter house. Rhys suspected that his fiancée was having an affair with Jack, but of course that wasn't the case. So Gwen told Rhys the truth, that she was protecting him and screeched 'I catch aliens!' Rhys obviously didn't believe her but you could visibly see Gwen's relief at telling her fiancée the truth. As time grew and Gwen explained a bit more, Rhys slowly started to believe his gorgeous girlfriend. But he wanted proof. 

In the hub, it seemed apparent that Tosh had a crush on Owen, knowing time was tough in having a relationship, she wanted the two to get together. Meanwhile, Rhys was taken to the hub and was very impressed. Jack was welcoming but wanted help with the issue at hand. He wanted to know about the warehouse. Jack knew the creature was full of chloride and had feel through the rift into the sea but was 'beached.' He was though shocked at the fact that the creature was still alive. Jack now was showing off to Rhys in the hub, but now Rhys was going to help him. He stood up for himself and explained how he got a job for the warehouse as a driver. This worried Gwen, she didn't want her fiancée in danger. But he had to work with Torchwood. It was a way in. Jack's policy of non-violence stood, Gwen went with her husband to be but wasn't happy. Stun guns were again to be used. 

Jack's plan was to save the creature in torture and send it back home. Gwen really liked this side of Jack, he had a heart after all. Tosh was attempting to flirt with Owen, but got absolutely nowhere. It was quite sad to see. From a short distance, Jack saw Gwen and Rhys kissing and he didn't seem to enjoy it. He definitely has something for Gwen, I'm sure of it. 

Rhys and Jack were now in the lorry and talking and Rhys questioned why Torchwood had to choose Gwen. But Jack explained how she was brilliant and referenced Day One. Rhys loaded the lorry as he was employed to do, just one extra load- the Torchwood team. A huge risk. The lorry arrived at the Merthyr warehouse and when arriving Rhys managed to get rid of the workers whilst Torchwood could exit and get into the warehouse. Once in, they saw the creature and were shocked at its enormity. They could see the creature being chopped at, it was horrific. It was in pain and the team were disgusted. The creature's eyes were opened, visibly in pain. 

The team investigated around the warehouse and could see torn flesh, Jack was horrified. The creature had been treated terribly. A worker soon arrived but Owen stunned him, but found out that they were armed and warned the rest of the team via headset. The boss of the warehouse was by Rhys, thinking his signature was needed, but he knew people were inside and things changed. Rhys was taken ahold of and the warehouse was stormed, Torchwood in danger. 

Rhys and Ianto had now got caught and were cuffed. Gwen gave herself up in protection of her fiancée and Jack was seen from above and had to give himself up. Tosh was now given up also. Jack though told the warehouse workers how the creature was an alien, they disbelieved and claimed it was 'just meat.' Dave, the boss, explained how the creature just didn't stop growing. 

But he'd had enough of Torchwood and violence arised. Rhys was shot! Ianto had slowly freed himself from the cuffs and now the creature was following suit and escaping its chains. Jack and Tosh though were now trapped, stuck between the creature and the walls. They were on the verge of being crushed! In the struggle, Torchwood seemed to be gaining the upper hand. The creature needed sedatives to be controlled and contained, but Owen needed to react, to release the creature from its torment and save Jack and Tosh. He mercy killed the creature, stabbing to long and deep. Rhys though was now passing out. Jack was saddened by the death of the creature, Owen ran to work on Rhys. He was sorry for his actions but it had to be done, the creature's pain was over. Tosh comforted him and now he finally acknowledged her. 

Rhys was alive and now well, still in pain but otherwise fine, just healing was left. The Merthyr workers had been retconned and they had no memory now of the alien creature and their workings. The creature itself had been incinerated, no trace left. Jack though now wanted Rhys to suffer amnesia, Gwen was given the pill and would do it at home. Rhys wanted to go for a drink, an early chance? 

Rhys was talking of how he liked lining there's much more out there, that he'd not be able to look at the sky the same anymore. He was simply enjoying. Gwen still had the pill but couldn't take that away from. She stormed the hub and questioned Jack. She didn't want to have to lie to her fiancée again, she threatened to quit and have herself retconned if it meant not lying to the man she loved. Jack showed the value he had in Gwen, it seemed Rhys could keep his memory. Jack saw the to be wed couple kissing once more through CCTV, again affected. He definitely has something for Gwen. 

My analysis; 

Another good, solid episode! Not quite reaching the unbelievably high standard of season one, but season two is getting somewhere near I'm sure. This episode was full of action, sorrow and shocks. The giant creature was of intrigue but the ruthlessness of Dave and the Merthyr coworkers in just chopping away at a living organism was shocking, but made them good villains. Rhys was excellent in this episode in his first real appearance of the season, now knowing about Torchwood and I loved his improvisation in being able to get a job. The development of his and Gwen's relationship was huge and it'll be interesting to see how things move on from here. I liked the action scenes at the climax and I'm very intrigued at Jack's clear affection towards Gwen. This episode reminded me a lot of The Beast Below, although that came later in broadcast chronology, a creature was in torment and finally put out of its misery. I also liked Tosh's efforts to get somewhere with Owen and it'll be good to see if anything arises between the pair! But overall very good! 

Rating; 9/10- plot not quite worthy of full marks.