Miracles really do come true as Torchwood returns to television tonight with the premiere of Torchwood: Miracle Day. This newest incarnation of the Torchwood series is brought to us thanks to a new partnership between BBC and Starz.

 

Taking place after the incredible Children of Earth story, Torchwood’s existence has been wiped away without a trace. Gwen Cooper and her family have gone into hiding with the hopes of living a normal life. Captain Jack Harkness was last seen leaving the planet and heading out into space looking for a new direction and purpose after the incident with the 456. While these two remaining members of Torchwood are intent on staying off the radar, it seems that fate has other plans for our heroes.

 

When every computer at the C.I.A. shows the name “Torchwood”, Agent Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer) becomes interested in the now defunct British Agency. While investigating the past, Rex becomes injured and impaled in a devastating car accident. While this type of incident would normally kill a person, Rex is still alive and recovering. This revelation leads to the discovery that hospitals are reporting that no one has died in over 24 hours. Is there a connection to Torchwood and Miracle Day? Now that the laws of nature have changed, how will the world react?

 

 

Miracle Day takes the show in a very interesting new direction that fits perfectly in line with the quality that fans would expect after Children of Earth. It feels like old times seeing John Barrowman on screen as Captain Jack Harkness, and Eve Myles steps back into the role of Gwen with an amazing grace and sincerity. Mekhi Phifer is front and center throughout the premiere, giving a new perspective on the events that are transpiring. This is the guy who will bring the team together, whether they like it or not. Phifer has a great presence onscreen and I cannot wait for further interaction between Rex and the Torchwood cast. Alexa Havins gets a decent amount of screen time in the first episode, connecting the dots of the Torchwood cover-up. Bill Pullman also stars in this new series as the criminal Oswald Danes, who finds himself still alive after his execution sentence is carried out. His role in the series is yet to be clearly defined, but it will definitely be interesting to see how he fits into the overall story.

 

Creator Russell T. Davies sets up the season with some great twists and foreshadowing that one would expect from the man who restarted Doctor Who. With Miracle Day being a ten episode season, it is great that we have a bit more time to know more about the characters instead of just jumping into the middle of things, business as usual.

 

While Miracle Day is a continuation of the Torchwood series, it is also a fantastic jumping on point for new viewers. Everything that you need to know about the history of Torchwood and the characters is clearly stated in this premiere. If possible I would still recommend going back to watch the first three seasons of the show, but it is not a requirement to enjoy this new installment.

 

ComicsOnline gives Torchwood: Miracle Day – “The New World” 4 out of 5 hopes for a miracle.

 

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