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Torchwood Random Shoes |
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| Story No. | 9 | 
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| Production Code | Series One Episode Nine | |
| Dates | December 3, 2006 |
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With John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Burn Gorman, Naoko Mori and Gareth
David-Lloyd.
Written by Jacquetta May Directed by James Erskine Executive Producers: Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner. |
| Synopsis: Gwen investigates the life and death of Eugene Jones. |
Starman! by Joe Ford 14/2/07
I think Torchwood is beginning to find its feet at last, I know this might not be the most popular of statements but for me that was the most enjoyable episode of the season so far. It took The X-Files two years to even attempt something as quirky as this (Humbug) and in producing such an odd episode proved the versatility of the programme. Ironic then that such a fine episode should co-incide with the news that the show has been picked up for a second and promoted from BBC3 to BBC 2.
After last week's episode I was grumbling at how morally retarded everyone seemed to be on the show and after several weeks of characters betraying friends, loved ones and generally giving out the message that life is shit, along comes this gem to remind us why life is so worth living. It's a script full of warm moments and more heart than any of the other episodes put together.
It seems odd to me that last week's shocker - which by rights should have been one of the highlights of the season - turned out to be a total flop and yet this unusual filler episode which should have been so forgettable turns out to be so important to the show. It does once again highlight some of the faults with the basic premise of the show. This episode hardly features any of the regular cast, doesn't feature any aliens or action set pieces... all the core ingredients of the show and yet it proves to be such a success because of these omissions.
One of my biggest criticisms is how this series focuses far too much on its unlikable regulars; even Gwen, who is supposed to be our "regular" person on the scene, has taken a turn into the dark side of late. Well whoopidedo because the main character of this episode is a geek called Eugene who has a lousy job, a crumbling family and has been desperate to be visited by aliens to turn his life around... and he's just fabulous. Charmingly played and scripted with some glorious observations on life, Eugene is the sort of character our regulars should aspire to act like. He's such an upwardly optimistic chap it is impossible to dislike him. The script works hard to get us on his side (because his family and friends and general life is generally crap) but the performance is so natural and human I adored the guy before the teaser was over.
What's even better is that Gwen Cooper is acting like a HUMAN BEING again! I had forgotten how much I liked her! Seriously, this is a script that allows Eve Myles to act her socks off and prove what an amazing asset she is to the show. With a performance as strong as this I truly feel the producers should be thankful to have her involved. Whilst you could criticize that this is another almost-romance for the already-taken Gwen, frankly Eugene is a ghost and she isn't even aware that the romance is going on. I love how the episode offers hints that perhaps Gwen does realise that Eugene is following her investigation of his life; it adds a touch of frisson, which is paid off beautifully in the final scene.
There are just so many touches that broke my heart. When Gwen visits Eugene's home and tells his mum that he's dead and his mum cannot comprehend it because his tea is waiting for him on the stove. Eugene's dad filming the maths competition and screaming "Don't let me down boy!" as though it would be an embarrassment for him. The quiet chat between Eugene and his teacher. His friends laughing at him when they spring their cruel joke in the cafe. Eugene wanting desperately for Gwen to not find out the truth about the alien eye and how the story panned out. The girl in the office who thinks she is seeing the supervisor just because they had a snog at the Christmas party. Eugene's dad singing at the funeral. Such wonderful little scenes that make the episode so special because they are so real.
Like my other favourite of the season, Ghost Machine, it uses an SF concept to explore some nice characterisation. Eugene hanging around after his death leads to some very touching moments. Hearing his friends call him a dreamer and a loser. Realising his dad really did love him after all. Getting to look at the Hub through wonder-filled eyes. Not being able to comfort his mother as she grieves. Being able to get close to Gwen in a way he never could when he was alive.
The last scene of the show is a little confusing story-wise but it provides Torchwood with its most uplifting and life affirming ending so I don't give a shit! It appears Eugene was hanging around to achieve one last purpose (after he does it he even says "That's it") and once it is achieved he gets to reveal himself to his family one last time. It's a gorgeous scene, stunningly played to get a lump in your throat and with a message to end all messages. LIFE IS GOOD.
This episode is strikingly similar to Love & Monsters, although has enough differences to have its own identity. Frankly it borrows that episode's strengths and dumps the few embarrassments, which is another bonus.
I truly hope that Jacquetta May is going to write another script; the two that have been solely written by women have been absolute belters. I realise each episode in a gritty series cannot be life affirming in such a way but a few lighter moments, a cast you care about and some reminder that life isn't just "animals howling in the dark" should be a necessity in most episodes. If the remainder of the season can be as absorbing as Random Shoes I am behind the series all the way.
Retread with Shoes by John Nor 8/7/08
This week, our heroes are not the focus of the story, as we follow the efforts of an obsessed young man who just wants to get in contact with them.
No, hold on, sorry. I've reviewed Love & Monsters already!
Ahem. This week the Torchwood team learn that a young man, who was always trying to speak to them but was always ignored, has died, seemingly in an accident. Gwen takes an interest to find out what really happened, while the dead man follows her, unknown to her, apparently as a ghost.
Joking aside, this episode is really rather similar to episode ten of the last season of Doctor Who. Unfortunately, for this season of Torchwood, that episode is slightly better than this Torchwood one. It is one thing to use basic ideas from other shows and put a new spin on them, but quite another to retread where the sibling show has been just months before.
However, this is not a bad episode at all; in fact, it is very good. It is just different enough to be worthwhile and has certain strong ideas. For example, the eye is a nice idea, as it acts as a metaphor. But for what? Hope? Keeping hold of your dreams? Or is it the danger of dreaming your life away? Also, it could represent the Earth, the world. (As suggested by the juxtaposition of the swirling patterns of the eye with the image of the Earth in one sequence.) Looked at a certain way, (the eye/the Earth), it can be a thing of wonder, the story says. (This is my interpretation at least.)
Other good elements were the use of songs by Bowie and also Antony and the Johnsons (but not as punch-your-fist-in-the-air brilliant as E.L.O. during Love & Monsters!)
The idea of Gwen being sensitive to "the spiritworld" is subtly developed from the previous episode (which makes you wonder: is there a connection there to Gwyneth of The Unquiet Dead?)
The ending, though moving, was slightly odd and W.T.F. - but I didn't care as it felt right.
Looking back over the nine episodes so far, a pattern has emerged. After the opening duo of episodes which established the team, we have had an episode each week which broadly focuses on one character (with Gwen hovering on the edge of the limelight usually).
From episode three onwards: Owen; Ianto; Jack; Gwen; Toshiko; Suzie; Eugene(!).
This highlights what could be seen as a problem with this episode. With an ensemble show featuring five main characters, to use one episode of your first establishing season to sketch the character of a guest star is perhaps a dubious strategy. We need to know and understand Torchwood and its characters before the writers start playing games. With Love & Monsters, there were forty years of stories and conventions to play with. When you look at Torchwood Season One, nine episodes in, there are really not that many conventions to play around with!
As I described in my review of the opening episode, Everything Changes, the central premise of the show was left tantalisingly vague. Nine episodes in, however, and the vagueness of the central premise remains, but not necessarily in a good way.
So, in summary then, an enjoyable and sometimes thought-provoking episode, but one which is in the shadow of a similar Doctor Who story.
The Happy Cook by Noe Geric 6/12/22
Wow! After the terrible Everything Changes, Day One, Cyberwoman and They Keep Killing Suzie, who could've imagined Random Shoes was from the same show?! It might be one of the most intriguing concept I've seen since Doctor Who came back with two new spin-offs! A ghost story that manages not to be about an evil or sad ghost but actually have a character exploration and an idea of what life is all about. While Torchwood is mostly about people dying in terrible circumstances, you've got this episode coming out of nowhere and telling you what we're doing is all about.
From the first ten seconds, you know it's not going to be any average Torchwood crap with ''Shit'' and ''Fuck'' every five minutes to emphasize the fact that it's an adult show. Random Shoes is perhaps what the word ''adult'' really means. Being grown up isn't about having sex and swearing in front of a decayed old corpse. It's about understanding what the world is. I didn't get why Eugene was taking pictures of random shoes, but the premise of the episode was rather intriguing. The guy awake on his death scene to investigate on his own death. I can't praise the actor's performance enough. He brought Eugene to life with so much conviction. Watching all these characters running around the story with so much depth makes me wonder if it really was Torchwood. The team barely appears, and it's for the greater good.
Perhaps the only flaws is that slow-motion sequence at the end when Eugene is saving Gwen and the world is going all vanilla. Having no alien enemy for a whole episode is a bold move, and I wonder why Doctor Who didn't try the same. Gone are all the Weewils running around with no purpose. Random Shoes is all about the characters, and this is brilliant. I watched it three times, and I still can't stop crying at the end. While Rose, Amy or Donna's departure makes some cry their lungs out, Eugene's final scene is so rewarding for a character we've known for forty-five minutes. Contemplating his whole life from above while he's going away.
Well, in this instance I'll give Random Shoes an excellent grade. Perhaps the most intelligent use of sci-fi ever. No aliens, no mad scientist, just an eye showing you that, after all, your life isn't entirely a waste of time. Giving you another moment to watch all you've done without knowing it. Eugene could be anyone. And Random Shoes is in good competition with Adrift as my favorite Torchwood episode. For once the show manages not to be ludicrous in its way of thinking. 11/10