Torchwood Miracle Day: The New World Review (4/5)

British fans of Torchwood have been understandably worried that the show's move to American network Starz might make the programme feel 'Americanised', generally stereotyped as meaning it has a slower-paced plot and more action sequences. To an extent, this has turned out to be the case, but having Russell T Davies back at the helm has helped to make sure that the Welsh heritage of the show runs clearly through each scene, and if anything the change has helped it to feel like a far more cinematic and edgy viewing. Returning stars John Barrowman, Eve Myles and Kai Owen are still great as Jack (more mysterious now, and with an increasing sense of trepidation as his character realises he is once more mortal), Gwen (a mother torn between her responisbilities and her old life with Torchwood Three) and Rhys (angered by his wife's unwillingness to leave the past behind), even if we don't get to see much of them this week. Also, new additions to the cast like Mekhi Phifer as tempermental CIA agent Rex Matheson and Alexa Havins as the inquisitive Esther Drummond help to keep things fresh and to be the eyes and ears of newcoming viewers of the sci-fi. Bill Pullman equally looks to have created an intriguing antagonist in Oswald Danes, a convicted rapist who over the course of the series sees the Miracle as his blessing and begins to convince others he knows how to save them from what's coming. Speaking of the titular miracle, we already have hints of where it might take humanity in episodes to come, with references to the fact that in just four months time the planet Earth will not have the resources to maintain its population and society will fall into collapse. However, the aforementioned teasers of the future inevitably highlight the episode's biggest shortcoming- not much actually happened! In short, everyone stopped dying, an email alerting the CIA of Torchwood's existence was dispatched by an unknown sender and ultimately Rex found the remaining members of the team and had them arrested for excursion to America. We did get a great action setpiece or two, including the protagonists' daring escape from their idellyic Welsh home via SUV and a rocket launcher, but there wasn't much in the way of major plot development, which is something that needs to be addressed in the next few weeks so the ten episodes don't feel predictable and too drawn-out. All in all, The New World is a solid start for Torchwood Miracle Day, laying the foundations for a series sure to showcase humanity at its worst- let's just hope we move at a faster pace than this in weeks to come.