TV episode review
UK airdate 19 March 2008 (BBC3); 26 March 2008 (BBC2)

Gwen’s ex-policeman partner asks for her help in looking into the case of a missing teenager. At first Gwen acts merely acts out of politeness, but she comes to suspect that it is related to rift activity and dozens of other missing persons cases may be linked…

This is actually something of a dreadful episode. Not dreadful in the manner of being badly executed, but that it is literally full of dread.

It is, to all intents and purposes, an exceedingly well-written, acted and put together episode. But it’s downright excruciating to watch – at least for anyone with a maternal instinct or who might be suffering anxieties about losing someone they care for. The episode builds up a strong sense of identification with the despairing mother – and this is in a great part due to Ruth Jones’s acting, which proves that she is more than just a great comedy actress.

Maybe, just maybe, for anyone who identifies more with Gwen (she is the central focus of this episode, after all) this might not be such a factor. Taking up her point of view may distance the viewer from the maternal trauma and allow them to focus on the thematic message which has Jack, Ianto, and most especially Gwen, doing all the wrong things for all the right reasons.

This episode works exceedingly well, it’s true – it’s just not an episode I would ever want to watch again. It’s just too haunting. Brigid Cherry

VERDICT: 7/10

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