Ghost Machine

Episode aired Oct 29, 2006
TV-MA
50m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

1.5K

YOUR RATING

Action Drama Mystery Sci-Fi Thriller

After Gwen Cooper recovers an alien device from Sean Harris, the device seemingly takes her back in time to the 1940s where she sees a young boy, alone on a railway platform. Soon after, Owe... Read allAfter Gwen Cooper recovers an alien device from Sean Harris, the device seemingly takes her back in time to the 1940s where she sees a young boy, alone on a railway platform. Soon after, Owen has a similar experience only this time he is under a bridge in the early 1960s where a ... Read allAfter Gwen Cooper recovers an alien device from Sean Harris, the device seemingly takes her back in time to the 1940s where she sees a young boy, alone on a railway platform. Soon after, Owen has a similar experience only this time he is under a bridge in the early 1960s where a young woman is raped and murdered. They trace both the boy and the murderer and learn that... Read all

Director
- Colin Teague
Writers
- Russell T. Davies
- Helen Raynor
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

1.5K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Colin Teague
Writers
- Russell T. Davies
- Helen Raynor
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Just before filming the first chase scene, which was filmed over several nights, John Barrowman sprained his ankle, forcing a quick rewrite which put Jack at the wheel of a car attempting to head off the suspect.

Goofs
In the scene where Gwen is shown how to shoot, there is the sound effect of the empty cartridges being ejected from the semi-automatic pistols. This same sound effect is also heard when a revolver is used, which does not eject its cartridges as the shots are fired.

Quotes
Captain Jack Harkness: [pointing at table of guns] You need to know how to use these, though I hope you never have to.
Gwen Cooper: So, do I?
[giggles nervously]
Gwen Cooper: I'm sorry, it's just, I don't even kill spiders in the bath.
Captain Jack Harkness: Nor do I. Not with a gun.

Connections
References Antiques Roadshow (1979)

Soundtracks
Torchwood Theme
Written by Murray Gold

User reviews5

Review

Featured review

8/10

A quality early episode.

The team chase after Sean Harris, and capture an alien device from him, the device takes Gwen to another time.

Of the first three episodes, I would suggest this is the best of the three, some real imagination is showed with the plot, amazing ideas including the alien device, and some terrific character play, including Gwen and Eve at it over dishwasher tablets. Nobody at all feels like they're still settling in, it was all somehow instant.

I liked all that talk of ghosts, that there's always someone behind you, that thought makes you stop and think.

It is very nicely filmed and produced, the accompanying music is very effective, it's just great science fiction with a twist, Russell T Davies just knew what he was doing, oh for those days when he was Doctor Who's showrunner.

Terrific acting, two sci fi greats on show here, we have Cave of Androzani's John Normington, as well as Blake himself, Gareth Thomas.

Thoroughly enjoyed this, the terrific writing is plain to see, 8/10.