| 15 – "Sleeper" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Torchwood episode | |||
 Beth reveals her true identity under the influence of the mindprobe. | |||
| Cast | |||
Starring | |||
Others
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| Production | |||
| Directed by | Colin Teague | ||
| Written by | James Moran | ||
| Script editor | Brian Minchin | ||
| Produced by | Richard Stokes Chris Chibnall (co-producer) | ||
| Executive producer(s) | Russell T Davies Julie Gardner | ||
| Music by | Ben Foster | ||
| Production code | 2.2 | ||
| Series | Series 2 | ||
| Running time | 50 mins | ||
| First broadcast | 23 January 2008 | ||
| Chronology | |||
| |||
"Sleeper" is the second episode of the second series of the British science fiction television series Torchwood, which was first broadcast on BBC Two on 23 January 2008.[1] A specially edited pre-watershed repeat was shown the following day.[1][dead link]
In the episode, an alien sleeper cell with false memories attacks strategic targets in Cardiff to prepare the Earth for invasion.
YouTube Encyclopedic
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1/1Views:1 568
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A chat with Keith Dunne, production designer for Bang Goes The Theory (6/22)
Transcription
Keith, you're the production designer on the new BBC One science series. Do you want to talk us through what's happening to this location to turn it into the studio? Sure. As you can see, we've got construction in at the moment. They're going to be here for about a week. We've got to build a studio platform on the lower level where they're working at the moment, and we've had to fill in the existing large openings and put the idea of the turbine... echo it's former life. Then put of a more design feature for a window so when we're actually down on that level, looking out, we get a nice pillar box of blue sky which will be quite nice. So, first of all, this, we have to make so we're filling in these holes, which I'll then put into the design feature. Then we'll put the new flooring down and the handrails up and then we'll start the paintwork and then I'll start the dress. That'll be the process. Is there any special research you have to do, given that this is a science series? For me, I did look at some of the old Tomorrow's Worlds and the Open University shows that used to be on when I was a kid, and so on and so forth, and taken the essence from those so when people do see this set and they see the show, there's a familiarity to it but there's also something new and fresh. So we've pushed the boundaries a little bit more because, as I said, it's a studio within an existing location so that's going to give it a lightly unique feel. You want to keep the quality and the feel of the location, don't you? Totally, and what I'm going to be doing here is bring the two together. The end product will look like it's always existed. Our scientists and our presenters, when they come here, they look like they've camped and they've made this their home or their den where they come to play and do their stuff, really. OK. You said there were going to be three main areas. Yes, yes. Sure. OK, the lower level, which is down towards the turbine window, as we call it, I've called that the junk yard and it's going to be full of boxes and old gadgets and experiments that have been abandoned and forgotten. But, also, I'm going to put in some of the props that are going to be used during the course of the series and dress them in. So if we catch them in various episodes, you go, "Oh, look. They definitely go down there. That's what we use." The middle area is more the presenters' area. I've created three definite areas, which will be Jem's workshop with his shed and tools and you'll have Dallas in his area and then a central presenters' area with a main desk and plasmas. This area here is... I'm not quite sure what they're going to be doing with it but I think it's going to be a new playing area where they'll do experiments and present larger items. Now you've worked on some pretty big shows, haven't you? Do you want to run through some of the great stuff you've done? Recently, over the last four years, I've been very much involved with Dr Who and Torchwood. I think that's why they came to me about doing the design for this particular show because they want the Torchwood for scientists. What we're going to do is create our own unique hub for those who love science and for those who want to be involved with science and make it more interesting and funky and exciting. A place that everybody wants to come and play, I think. I like the idea of Torchwood for scientists. I think that will go down really, really well. I'm vey keen at the moment. In terms of the dressing and the props that I'm going to be putting in, I really want to get people to look carefully and constantly look at the environment that this show's happening in and see if they can spot things from generations gone. like old TVs, old radios, old gadgets, old gizmos. So heavy on the technologies from the '70s up until now? Exactly. Well, '60s, even. I just like the idea of seeing what's gone and what's coming up and amongst all that sort of old chaos we'll have new items and things that are about to come into existence, if you like. - Right. Brilliant. Thank you. - That's all right. No worries.
Plot
Torchwood are called to investigate fatal injuries sustained by two burglars in the failed attempt to rob a flat owned by Beth Halloran and her husband Mike. They suspect Beth is responsible, though she has no recollection of the events, but willingly goes with the team. When they return to the Hub and place Beth in one of the cells, a nearby Weevil cowers at Beth's presence. Jack suspects there is more to Beth than she lets on, and orders her to undergo a mind probe.
After numerous evaluations under the probe, they suddenly discover alien technology buried under Beth's right forearm, allowing it to transform into a bladed weapon that matches the injuries on the burglars. Jack surmises that she is an alien sleeper agent, yet to be activated by her controller and given the belief she is human through memory transplants. Beth's transceiver is cut off from the other sleeper agents, and placed in an alien cryogenic chamber until Torchwood can find a way to prevent her from activating.
At the same time, other sleeper agents are awakened by a signal and set off for assigned targets and killing those that get in their way. Two of them commit suicide bombings using explosives in the implants, destroying a communications centre and a military pipeline. David, the last of the advance guard, kills the council member in charge of emergency responses. Beth escapes by using her alien implant to make her heart rate appear flat, goes to the hospital to say goodbye to Mike, before accidentally stabbing him. Jack and Gwen apprehend Beth, and she agrees to try to help locate any other sleeper agents.
Extrapolating from the targets already hit and the signal that Beth has received, Torchwood deduce David is likely targeting a nearby military base that stores nuclear weapons; a bomb detonated in the base would likely wipe out much of the surrounding areas. Jack rushes to stop David. Unable to reach his target in time, David warns Torchwood that there are numerous other agents around Earth, before his implant explodes harmlessly outside the base.
Back at the Hub, Beth is conflicted with the thoughts that she could kill again. Rather than be cryogenically frozen again, Beth uses her implant, transformed into a blade, to threaten Gwen, forcing the other Torchwood members to shoot and kill Beth.
Production
The explosion of a building that was scheduled to be filmed in Cardiff on 1 July 2007, the day after 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack, was in danger of being cancelled. Instead, the filming was announced via the local media to warn the public that there would be a controlled explosion, and not another terrorist attack.[2]
Cast notes
Nikki Amuka-Bird, who plays Beth Halloran, later played the Glass Woman in the 2017 Doctor Who Christmas Special, "Twice Upon A Time".
William Hughes, who plays the Graingers' son, previously appeared as the eight-year-old version of the Master in the 2007 Doctor Who episode "The Sound of Drums".
Derek Lea, who plays the Sleeper Agent/Paramedic; also appears as a worker being examined by Martha Jones at the ATMOS factory in the 2008 Doctor Who episode "The Sontaran Stratagem" and as a taxi driver in "Partners in Crime".
Reception
Broadcast at 9pm on BBC 2 on 23 January 2008, the episode achieved 3.4 million viewers, a 14% share, "a solitary share point" down on the share of the season 2 debut episode on 17 January, according to The Guardian's report of overnight returns.[3] BARB later listed the episode as BBC2's top audience draw for week ending 27 January 2008, on a certified estimate of 3.78 million viewers including timeshift.[4]
References
- ^ a b "Week 4 Unplaced" (Press release). BBC – Press Office. 10 January 2008. Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2006.
- ^ "Sleepless in Cardiff". Torchwood Declassified. Series 2. Episode 2. 24 January 2008.
- ^ Crimewatch mugs ratings rivals, 24 January 2007, The Guardian
- ^ BARB Weekly Viewing Summary, Terrestrial Top 30, BBC2, week ending 27 January 2008
External links
This page was last edited on 5 October 2023, at 00:52