Review of Torchwood: Expectant, an audio drama by Big Finish
(cover picture of the audio drama, Torchwood: Expectant)
Character development: 3.5/5
Story: 3/5
Voice acting: 4.5/5
-----------Spoilers Warning---------------
This review contains some spoilers of the following,
TV show Torchwood Season 2
Audio Drama Torchwood: Expectant
-----------Spoilers Warning---------------
The audio drama writer tried to give fans some insight on Captain Jack Harkness’ famous line “Still, at least I won’t get pregnant. Never doing that again” in Torchwood season 1 episode 01.
However, the drama story is set right after the finale of Torchwood season 2. And in the audio drama, Captain Jack Harkness explained that his previous pregnancy was just a student prank, contradicting his line mentioned above.
Thus there is some inconsistency between the timelines of the show and the audio drama.
Main complaint from some reviewers focused on the repeated use of pregnancy hormone swing. I partially agree with them but think that part is OK. The actual reason some listeners felt bored is that there isn’t enough plot development, especially the health spa part, where the dramatic tension was built with chase, and the twist is merely the mind control ability of the spawn baby.
The twist is too light for the built-up tension, and the tension is too monotonous.
(And here is a plot hole - if the spawn baby can control those humans, why couldn’t it control Ianto?)
A drama is either story-driven or character-driven. Since there isn’t enough plot development, character development is necessarily required.
However, our protagonist, Captain Jack Harkness, is rarely reflective or repentant, making it hard to depict his internal conflict without an out-of-character monologue. Jack did admit that he wanted to help bring new life into the world, after the death of Owen and Tosh (season 2 finale). It’s just an explanation of his surrogate pregnancy, hardly an internal conflict depiction.
Ianto’s heroic rescue of “damsel in distress” finished too quickly. The story could be better paced if Ianto showed up earlier than the eleventh hour; the couple could have more interactions, and during their quarrel and escape, Jack would spill out more than he wanted to, which could create more character depth.
(a picture of John Barrowman around 2019)
It seems to be a joy ride for John Barrowman (actor of Captain Jack Harkness). His voice always has a youthful tone when he portrays Captain Jack. This audio drama was recorded in 2019 when he was 52. Jack sounded like a man in his 30s. There is another drama recorded in 2021, Absent Friend, which was shelved. I’m still waiting for its release!!! I hope Big Finish executives will come to their senses and release that audio!!!
(a picture of Ianto Johns in Torchwood)
(a picture of Gareth David Lloyd in "Warren" around 2019)
Gareth David Lloyd (actor of Ianto Jones) used a slightly deeper than usual voice to create a matured Ianto, in contrary to the disillusioned figure in a previous drama, “Broken”, in which Gareth shined out. Compared to our flamboyant center of chaos, Jack Harkness, Ianto is attentive, decisive and reliable, but almost driven crazy by Jack’s pregnancy, all presented in Gareth’s voice.
The midwife Jonty was voiced by Aaron Anthony. His short vowels and managed pace delivered the jokes perfectly. His lines contain some memorable punchlines. For example, Jonty referred to hair as “head fur” when watching soap opera. At the end of the drama, Jonty cheerfully complimented Jack on being “a competent incubator”, to which Jack didn’t know how to respond.