History Recap / TorchwoodS2E7DeadManWalking

Jack decides that ''this'' glove is one he ''can'' use, although they don't know anything about its effects yet. WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong Owen is ripped back to his own body with a scream, and Martha is just as horrified by this turn of events as she was when she first saw Jack resurrect. Having strong feelings for Owen, Toshiko can't take his suffering and her face is drenched in tears. Owen remembers he was shot and figures out he's in the morgue. He asks what happened to him and learns Jack brought him back to life... because Jack needed a password only he knew. After Owen bitches about being dead and getting brought back for a stupid reason, Jack wants everyone to say their goodbyes. But only Tosh can summon up something to say: that she loves him. And, rather unceremoniously, Owen goes back into the other realm that is de--

-- wait, why isn't he dead? Everyone stands around dumbfounded as Owen leaps back up and checks out his pulse and heartbeat, only to find out there isn't any. He submits to some of Martha's tests and, just as things begin to stabilise, suddenly blacks out. When he comes to again, Owen describes an incredible darkness -- where a dark creature resides. And during these blackouts, it's trying to take over his body. But enough of worrying about that! There's a local pub to go to!

Picking up an hour off from [[Recap/TorchwoodS2E6Reset the previous episode's ending]], we join Torchwood just about to begin Owen Harper's autopsy. Having strong feelings for Owen, Toshiko is drenched in tears. Before guest-star Martha Jones can begin to perform it, Captain Jack asks everyone to stop what they're doing until he gets back. He visits [[OracularUrchin a tarot-card girl]], who tells Jack where to find what he's looking for. After a stop through a Weevil-infested church, Captain Jack brings back the goal of his mini-quest: the partner of the Risen Mitten. He's determined to being Owen back.

Jack decides that ''this'' glove is one he ''can'' use, although they don't know anything about its effects yet. WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong Owen is ripped back to his own body with a scream, because Jack needed a password only he knew. After Owen bitches about being dead, Jack wants everyone to say their goodbyes. But only Tosh can summon up something to say: that she loves him. And, rather unceremoniously, Owen goes back into the other realm that is de--

* ShoutOut: "Melenkurion Abatha Duroc Minas Mil Khabaal" is from the Thomas Covenant novels, being six of the seven Words of Power to summon Earthpower and Law -- ''good'' natural magical forces.

Picking up an hour off from [[Recap/TorchwoodS2E6Reset the previous episode's ending]], we join Torchwood just about to begin Owen Harper's autopsy. Before guest-star Martha Jones can begin to perform it, Captain Jack asks everyone to stop what they're doing until he gets back. He visits [[OracularUrchin a tarot-card girl]], who tells Jack where to find what he's looking for. After a stop through a Weevil-infested church, Captain Jack brings back the goal of his mini-quest: the partner of the Risen Mitten. He's determined to being Owen back.

-->-- Owen Harper as he yells at ''death incarnate''

* OohMeAccentsSlipping: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by Jack. The police arresting Owen are aware of Torchwood and their American leader, so Jack uses [[Creator/JohnBarrowman John's]] natural Scottish accent before being taken away.

* OohMeAccentsSlipping: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by Jack. The police arresting Owen are aware of Torchwood and their American leader, so Jack uses [[JohnBarrowman John's]] natural Scottish accent before being taken away.

--> ''"How long?! How long can you last here with only 12 victims? There's nothing here for you! Owen Harper's soul has left the building. There's nobody here but us dead men. What else have you got? What else can you do... '''to the dead?'''" ''
-->--Owen Harper as he yells at ''death incarnate''

No, seriously, Owen decides to go to a bar and deal with things his own way. Until he realizes he can't taste the beer and can't get a hard-on. Jack follows Owen and tries to calm him down, but they get into a small brawl -- and subsequently arrested. In their shared cell, Owen soon realizes that his own body is shutting down in all the ways that a corpse does. Including his digestive system. He gets rid of the several litres of alcohol in his stomach the hard way (by standing on his head and forcing himself to vomit), completely grossing out Jack (and the audience). Owen begins to utterly panic at the realization that he's got nothing left to live for. Jack, however, shares some MarcelProust philosophy with Owen (having apparently dated Proust once) and at least gets him to calm down again.

* HistoricalInJoke: There are a lot of these with Jack. This time, he claims to have dated Marcel Proust.

* NightmareFuel:
** Death stalking the halls of the hospital.
** The Risen Mitten attacking the team.

Jack decides that ''this'' glove is one he ''can'' use, although they don't know anything about its effects yet. WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong Owen is ripped back to his own body with a scream. After Owen bitches about being dead, Jack wants everyone to say their goodbyes. But only Tosh can summon up something to say: that she loves him. And, rather unceremoniously, Owen goes back into the other realm that is de--

...

... wait, why isn't he dead? Everyone stands around dumbfounded as Owen leaps back up and checks out his pulse and heartbeat, only to find out there isn't any. He submits to some of Martha's tests and, just as things begin to stabilise, suddenly blacks out. When he comes to again, Owen describes an incredible darkness -- where a dark creature resides. And during these blackouts, it's trying to take over his body. But enough of worrying about that! There's a local pub to go crawl!

No, seriously, Owen decides to go to a bar and deal with things his own way. Until he realizes he can't taste the beer and can't get a hard-on. Jack follows Owen and tries to calm him down, but they get into a small brawl -- and subsequently jailed. In their shared cell, Owen soon realizes that his own body is shutting down in all the ways that a corpse does. Including his digestive system. He gets rid of the several liters of alcohol in his stomach the hard way (by standing on his head and forcing himself to vomit), completely grossing out Jack (and the audience). Owen begins to utterly panic at the realization that he's got nothing left to live for. Jack, however, shares some MarcelProust philosophy with Owen (having apparently dated Proust once) and at least gets him to calm down again.

Owen snogs Tosh to sneakily steal her door-opening-gadget, and he locks Tosh and Jamie out of the Hospital -- intent on taking on Death himself. Death shows up in a few seconds, intent on getting his last soul to live forever. Owen [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome then utterly beats the unliving shit out of Death]].

* BackFromTheDead: ...well with a title like that? Owen of course. He seems to be conscious, but is physically deceased.

Picking up an hour off from [[Recap/TorchwoodS2E6Reset the previous episode's ending]], we join Torchwood just about to begin Owen Harper's autopsy. However, before guest-star Martha Jones can begin to perform the autopsy, Captain Jack asks everyone to stop what they're doing until he gets back. In the next scene, we see Jack talking with [[OracularUrchin a tarot-card girl]], who tells Jack where to find what he's looking for. After a stop through a Weevil-infested church, Captain Jack brings back the goal of his mini-quest: the partner of the [[strike: Resurrection Glove]] Risen Mitten -- determined to being Owen back.

Jack decides that ''this'' glove is one he ''can'' use, although they don't know anything about its effects yet. WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong Owen is ripped back to his own body with a scream. After Owen bitches about being dead, Jack wants everyone to say their goodbyes... but only Tosh can summon up something to say: that she loves him. And, rather unceremoniously, Owen goes back into the other realm that is de-

...wait, why isn't he dead? Everyone stands around dumbfounded as Owen leaps back up and checks out his pulse and heartbeat, only to find out there isn't any. He is, quite frankly, a walking Zombie. Only, luckily, without the desire for brains or flesh. However, as things begin to go back to normal, Owen blacks out. When he comes to again, Owen describes an incredible darkness -- a darkness where a dark creature resides. And during these blackouts, it's trying to take over his body. But enough of worrying about that! There's a local pub to go crawl!

No, seriously, Owen decides to go to a bar and deal with things his own way. Until he realizes he can't taste the beer and can't get a hard-on. Jack follows Owen and tries to calm him down, but they get into a small brawl -- and subsequently jailed. In their shared cell, Owen soon realizes that his own body is shutting down in all the ways that a corpse does. Including his digestive system. He gets rid of the several liters of alcohol in his stomach the hard way (by standing on his head and forcing himself to vomit), completely grossing out Jack (and the audience). Needless to say, Owen begins to utterly panic at the realization that he's got nothing left to live for. Jack, however, shares some MarcelProust philosophy with Owen (having apparently dated Proust once) and at least gets him to calm down again.

After a little bit of decision-making, the crew figure that this creature could be trying to pass through Owen into this world. With few options left, Owen decides to have himself embalmed -- after all, if what's left of him is... theoretically... destroyed and turned into a regular corpse, then what's left for 'Death' to come through? However, before the operation can be performed, the remaining Risen Mitten actually attacks the Torchwood crew and latches onto Martha Jones. Within a minute, the glove is torn back off Martha and destroyed... but Martha has been somehow accelerated to the age of an old woman.

...and then a black fog that resembles ''death itself'' rips itself out of Owen's corpse and escapes from the Torchwood Hub.

Jack comes back to life in the car, outside a hospital, and rushes in to find the rest of the crew. They've taken Martha to the hospital for treatment, and begin to spread out and look for the creature. Luckily, it turns out that this Death has decided to move in and suck the life out of the people at this same hospital. Going with the legends uncovered earlier, Death needs only 13 souls in order to remain in this world and become a force of utter destruction. Ianto tries to Google for more information, but:

--> '''Ianto''': "I've searched for "I shall roam the Earth and my hunger shall know no bounds" but I keep getting redirected to Weight Watchers."

Within a few minutes, Death has all but one and is stalking his last victim: cancer patient Jamie Burton. Owen and Tosh appear just in time to drag the poor child away from Death for the moment. As Tosh unlocks the main doors of the hospital, Owen actually begins to give Jamie a speech about how having cancer isn't a death sentence... and at the same time how death was stopped last time is revealed. As it turns out... it wasn't faith, but Faith. A young girl who was brought back from the dead and accidentally brought Death with her, like with Owen, was the way to stop Death.

Having a realization, Owen kisses Tosh to steal her door-opening-gadget, and he locks tosh and Jamie out of the Hospital -- intent on taking on Death himself. And, of course, Death shows up in a few seconds, intent on getting his last soul to live forever. Owen [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome then utterly beats the unliving shit out of Death]].

The threat over (though probably only temporarily, as Jack notes: how long can you beat back Death?), Martha returns to normal as well. She returns to UNIT, and Owen decides to remain with Torchwood for as long as he possibly can -- to make up for the twelve lives lost for the actions of him and Jack.

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: Death stalking the halls of the hospital.
** The Risen Mitten attacking the team.

The threat over ''(though probably only temporarily, as Jack notes: how long can you beat back Death?)'', Martha returns to normal as well. She returns to UNIT, and Owen decides to remain with Torchwood for as long as he possibly can -- to make up for the twelve lives lost for the actions of him and Jack.

Having a realization, Owen kisses Tosh to steal her door-opening-gadget, and he locks tosh and Jamie out of the Hospital --- intent on taking on Death himself. And, of course, Death shows up in a few seconds, intent on getting his last soul to live forever. Owen [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome then utterly beats the unliving shit out of Death]].

Picking up an hour off from [[Recap/TorchwoodS2E6Reset the previous episode's ending]], we join Torchwood just about to begin Owen Harper's autopsy. However, before guest-star Martha Jones can begin to perform the autopsy, Captain Jack asks everyone to stop what they're doing until he gets back. In the next scene, we see Jack talking with [[OracularUrchin a tarot-card girl]], who tells Jack where to find what he's looking for. After a stop through a Weevil-infested church, Captain Jack brings back the goal of his mini-quest: the partner of the [[strike: Resurrection Glove]] Risen Mitten - determined to being Owen back.

After a lovely scene wherein Jack repeats Owen's name for a good two or three minutes, Owen is ripped back to his own body with a scream. After Owen bitches about being dead, Jack wants everyone to say their goodbyes... but only Tosh can summon up something to say: that she loves him. And, rather unceremoniously, Owen goes back into the other realm that is de-

-->--Owen Harper as he yells at ''death incarnate'', getting his biggest CrowningMomentOfAwesome in the whole damned series.

Taking Martha to the hospital, the Torchwood crew begin to spread out and look for the creature. Luckily, it turns out that this Death has decided to move in and suck the life out of the people at this same hospital. Going with the legends uncovered earlier, Death needs only 13 souls in order to remain in this world and become a force of utter destruction. Ianto tries to Google for more information, but:

No, seriously, Owen decides to go to a bar and deal with things his own way. Until he realizes he can't taste the beer and can't get a hard-on. Jack follows Owen and tries to calm him down, but they get into a small brawl -- and subsequently jailed. In their shared cell, Owen soon realizes that his own body is shutting down in all the ways that a corpse does. Including his digestive system. He gets rid of the several liters of alcohol in his stomach the hard way (by standing on his head and forcing himself to vomit), completely grossing out Jack (and the audience). Needless to say, Owen begins to utterly panic at the realization that he's got nothing left to live for. Jack, however, shares some philosophy with Owen and at least gets him to calm down again.

--> Ianto: "I've searched for "I shall roam the Earth and my hunger shall know no bounds" but I keep getting redirected to Weight Watchers."

Taking Martha to the hospital, the Torchwood crew begin to spread out and look for the creature. Luckily, it turns out that this Death has decided to move in and suck the life out of the people at this same hospital. Going with the legends uncovered earlier, Death needs only 13 souls in order to remain in this world and become a force of utter destruction. Within a few minutes, Death has all but one and is stalking his last victim: cancer patient Jamie Burton. Owen and Tosh appear just in time to drag the poor child away from Death for the moment. As Tosh unlocks the main doors of the hospital, Owen actually begins to give Jamie a speech about how having cancer isn't a death sentence... and at the same time how death was stopped last time is revealed. As it turns out... it wasn't faith, but Faith. A young girl who was brought back from the dead and accidentally brought Death with her, like with Owen, was the way to stop Death.

Having a realization, Owen kisses Tosh to steal her door-opening-gadget, and he locks tosh and Jamie out of the Hospital --- intent on taking on Death himself. And, of course, Death shows up in a few seconds, intent on getting his last soul to live forever. Owen then gives his utterly awesome speech at the top of the page and [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome then utterly beats the unliving shit out of Death]]. I'm serious. Owen Harper, snarky asshole, took on Death with his bare hands and kicked ass.

The threat over ''(though probably only temporarily, as Jack notes: how long can you beat back Death?)'', Martha returns to normal as well. She returns to UNIT, and Owen decides to remain with Torchwood for as long as he possibly can - to make up for the twelve lives lost for the actions of him and Jack. And, quite honestly, I don't think the fanbase would have it any other way.

--

Really, this was an excellent episode all around for Torchwood. We get a lovely explanation for where the Risen Mitten(s) came from... without saying where exactly they are from... and an excellent episode of development for Owen. Really, it's probably one of the few times in fiction that ''dying'' has improved a character so incredibly.

...wait, why isn't he dead? Everyone stands around dumbfounded as Owen leaps back up and checks out his pulse and heartbeat, only to find out there isn't any. He is, quite frankly, a walking Zombie. Only, luckily, without the desire for brains or flesh. Though I wouldn't have put it past the writers to have such a bizarre-but-traditional twist. However, as things begin to go back to normal, Owen blacks out. When he comes to again, Owen describes an incredible darkness - a darkness where a dark creature resides. And during these blackouts, it's trying to take over his body. But enough of worrying about that! There's a local pub to go crawl!

No, seriously, Owen decides to go to a bar and deal with things his own way. Until he realizes he can't taste the beer, much less go sleep with the ladies. Jack follows Owen and tries to calm him down, but they get into a small brawl - and subsequently jailed. In their shared cell, however, Owen soon realizes that his own body is shutting down in all the ways that a corpse does. Needless to say, Owen begins to utterly panic at this realization. Jack, however, shares some philosophy with Owen and at least gets him to calm down again.

On their way back from jail, though, Jack and Owen are chased relentlessly by Weevils... until the creature takes over Owen once more. The Weevils bow down and cower before Owen, and the creature speaks an incomprehensible phrase. After translation back at the Hub, it turns out that the phrase is "I shall roam the Earth and my hunger shall know no bounds"... which links this creature with some of the original interpretations of ''death itself'' at the start of the Middle Ages. And Death was only defeated the last time he showed up through faith. Oh shit.

After a little bit of decision-making, the crew figure that this creature could be trying to pass through Owen into this world. With few options left, Owen decides to have himself embalmed - after all, if what's left of him is... theoretically... destroyed and turned into a regular corpse, then what's left for 'Death' to come through? However, before the operation can be performed, the remaining Risen Mitten actually attacks the Torchwood crew and latches onto Martha Jones. Within a minute, the glove is torn back off Martha and destroyed... but Martha has been somehow accelerated to the age of an old woman.

Having a realization, Owen locks tosh and Jamie out of the Hospital - intent on taking on Death himself. And, of course, Death shows up in a few seconds, intent on getting his last soul to live forever. Owen then gives his utterly awesome speech at the top of the page and [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome then utterly beats the unliving shit out of Death]]. I'm serious. Owen Harper, snarky asshole, took on Death with his bare hands and kicked ass.

---> Excluding links relevant to ''Torchwood'' itself, the top Google results for this phrase are song lyrics for a Canadian thrash metal band. Still amusing, however.

* ShoutOut: "Melenkurion Abatha Duroc Minas Mil Khabaal" is from the Thomas Covenant novels, being six of the seven Words of Power to summon Earthpower and Law- ''good'' natural magical forces.

* ContinuityNod: The Resurrection Glove/Risen Mitten's partner shows up. Additionally, the resurrection gloves, and the Weevils, are shown to be connected to The Beast and, by extension, the Daemons

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: Death stalking tha halls of the hospital.