"Combat" is a bit of an odd episode. It doesn't actually do too much wrong, but let's face it -- the episode boils down to Alien
Fight Club. But if you can look past the derivative-yet-loony premise, there are some good moments in this.
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| Owen in the cage with a Weevil. ("Combat") ©BBC |
Although the episode starts with involving most of the team, this turns into Owen's episode. He's still hurting from Diane's departure and is apparently "even more erratic than usual" as a result -- which translates to refusing to answer his phone and getting in fights in bars (though, to be fair, that guy was clearly asking for it). However, he ends up being the person trying to infiltrate the Weevil-stealing operation and find out where the Weevils are being held. What's interesting is how friendly Owen is with Mark Lynch (the guy helping run the fights). Mark (played very well by Alex Hassell) is every inch the bored rich guy looking for thrills -- the way he fights in the bar and demands that the one guy get up is quite compelling to watch. It's a world that Owen seems quite tempted by -- and, interestingly, one that Mark is willing to show him, even after Owen's cover is blown. And it's interesting to see how much Owen seems to be drawn into this world -- even though he insists that this is wrong and needs to be stopped, he's seduced by the idea of "stripping things back to the core". It's a neat idea well-realized, and it makes sense for Owen to be the one drawn in.
Where this episode doesn't succeed is with Gwen. I'm not sure how they managed it, but they've transferred the label of "least likeable character" from Owen to Gwen. She's pissy and self-absorbed when talking with Owen about their relationship, and the way she tells Rhys about her infidelity but then drugs him so he'll forget she told him is pure cowardice -- and the way in which she tries desperately to get Rhys to say he forgives her before he slips into unconsciousness is truly unpleasant. One scene of her crying while feeling bad about the whole situation doesn't redeem her at all.
It's not a stand-out episode and unlikely to be fondly remembered, but given how easily this could have been yet another incredibly stupid episode, we should be thankful that things didn't spiral out of control. Writer Noel Clarke (who you might remember as Mickey Smith) does a good job with keeping things realistic and more or less grounded. If it weren't for the Gwen moments, this would be a much better episode; as it is it's merely OK.
So that's three reasonable episodes in a row; has
Torchwood finally turned the corner?