In Review: Big Finish: Torchwood: Serenity

Ten years after Ianto Jones’ death in Torchwood: Children of Earth, John Barrowman and Gareth David-Lloyd are in top form. 
by July 10, 2019
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Synopsis: Serenity Plaza is the most exclusive gated community in South Wales.

You’d kill to live there. Jack and Ianto have gone undercover as a happily married couple. There are rumours that something’s wrong at Serenity Plaza and they’re determined to investigate. But the problem is that Serenity Plaza is just so rigidly normal.

Suddenly, Jack and Ianto have to confront the problems that normal couples face. Sharing a house together, doing the washing up, entering the residents’ baking contest, and hoping to win the Best Kept Lawn.

Competition is fierce. Because this is Serenity Plaza. And you’d kill to live there.

This release contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

Review: Torchwood: Serenity is a sequel to a television adventure, but the returning baddies aren’t the point, they’re a McGuffin. Jack and Ianto are the point. Ten years after Ianto Jones’ death in Torchwood: Children of Earth, John Barrowman, and Gareth David-Lloyd are in top form. 

It helps that writer James Moran penned the original television episode, as well as the sequel. He is more able to craft a follow-up that feels like a cohesive next chapter in the story he originally set up, while also adding layers of depth for which the small screen format didn’t allow.

In addition, I appreciate the fact that he foreshadows Ianto’s fate without hitting the audience over the head. Restraint is important in stories like these.

I also have to give major kudos to Ben Foster for his pitch perfect riff on Murray Gold’s original theme music. It’s an unexpected treat that sneaks up on the listener.

Cast

John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness), Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto Jones)

Ellie Darvill (Vanessa), Deirdre Mullins (Kelly), Joe Shire (Bob)

Production Credits

Cover Artist Lee Binding

Director Scott Handcock

Executive Producer Jason Haigh-Ellery, Nicholas Briggs

Music Blair Mowat

Producer James Goss

Script Editor David Llewellyn

Sound Design Richard Fox @ FoxYason Studios

Written by James Moran

Theme Music by Murray Gold

Additional themes by Ben Foster

9.5
Big Finish: Torchwood: Serenity
  • Story
    8.5
  • Performances
    10
  • Audio Production
    10
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by Ian Cullen - Jul 9, 2019

by Ian Cullen - Jul 10, 2019

Raissa Devereux became a life-long genre fan at the age of four when she first saw The Wizard of Oz at a screening at Arizona State University. Years later, she graduated from A.S.U. as an English major, History minor, Whovian, and Trekkie. Now a Florida transplant, she loves the opportunity Sci-Fi Pulse has given her to further explore space travel, time travel, masked heroes, gothic castles, and good yarns.
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