Utopia [TV/2007.6.16]

★★★★☆

  My my, what an episode. Ask me to provide a Dr. Who episode that's pure adrenaline, like shooting it straight into your veins, and for my money it'd still be Utopia from the new series. It's pretty much perfect as a standalone adventure, and a great way to kickstart what some perceive as a three-part story (I tend to think of Utopia and The Sound of Drums / Last of the Time Lords as two different entities). Plus, it's the first proper attempt at bridging the gap between two different shows, and Captain Jack Harkness being the incredibly entertaining and fascinating character that he is, that attempt turns out pretty darn well. In the grand scheme of this episode, you might be inclined to say Jack is very superficial -- but for the aforementioned purpose of demonstrating that both Dr. Who and Torchwood exist in the same reality, he's a vital element. All the expected trappings of Torchwood are here, of course: the opening theme, the lovably corny dramatically-shot stunts, the many deaths of Captain Jack, you name it. The one most notable scene in regards to how different Who and Torchwood are, though, is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment when the Doctor, Martha and Jack are being chased by the Futurekind. Jack raises his pistol and positions himself for a clear shot before the Doctor jumps in and shouts at him not to shoot. It's a great little moment that displays the different moral grounds of a show and its spin-off. Great rapport between the actors aside, I don't think the Tenth Doctor and Jack would've worked out. Jack was a good companion to his predecessor, but only because of two reasons. For all his pent-up rage about the Time War, Nine is a lot less judgmental and self-righteous, and Jack was a completely different person back then. Torchwood changes everybody.

  I managed to write a whole paragraph for Jack Harkness and for Torchwood at large (I'm fairly sure I'll start reviewing it in the near future), but what about the rest of Utopia? I mean, who else can I talk about than the Master himself? Sir Derek Jacobi gives his all for a single episode (and thank the heavens he got to play him some more in Big Finish), as the breathless and wide-eyed, lovable Professor Yana and as the post-Time War evil incarnate version of the Master. He's extraordinarily good as he's on the cusp of opening the fobwatch and discovering his true self; Graeme Harper (the man, the myth, Goldfinger himself) shoots this sequence particualrly well, as the Doctor, Jack and Martha's frantic race against time to help the rocket containing the last of humanity take off safely is juxtaposed with the Master's own revelation and change. Gorgeous, all I can say. The Futurekind are terrific antagonists for this end-of-the-world scenario, a mirror image of the human race and their future (though some of them remind me of Mags from The Greatest Show in the Galaxy). I know not a lot of people give them much attention, but their completely violent and feral attitude (much love to the convictions of the actors involved) makes me fear them in a way I do for so few Dr. Who enemies. They're incredibly memorable, and are the veritable icing on the cake... and Utopia is such a filling, sweet cake that leaves you yearning for more. Every actor's at the top of their game, and the stakes have never felt higher. This is premium television right here.