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Rhys Alun Williams, portrayed by

Kai Owen Kai Owen (born 4 September 1975) is a Welsh actor of stage and screen, known to Welsh audiences for his numerous roles on Welsh language television and to worldwide audiences for his portrayal of Rhys Williams in '' Torchwood'' and Pete Bucha ...

, is a

fictional character In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, ...

in the

BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...

...

television program Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, e ...

me ''

Torchwood ''Torchwood'' is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. A spin-off of the 2005 revival of ''Doctor Who'', it aired from 2006 to 2011. The show shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing ...

'', a spin-off from the long-running series ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...

''. The character is introduced in the premiere episode as the co-habiting boyfriend of principal character

Gwen Cooper Gwen Cooper is a fictional character portrayed by Welsh actress Eve Myles in the BBC science-fiction television programme ''Torchwood'', a spin-off of the long-running series ''Doctor Who''. The lead female character, Gwen featured in every epi ...

. Initially a recurring character, Rhys' role is increased after the second series; actor Kai Owen is given star billing from the show's third series — a five-part serial subtitled '' Torchwood: Children of Earth'' — onwards. The character has gone on to appear in expanded universe material such as the ''Torchwood'' novels and audiobooks,

comic books A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

and radio plays. Throughout the first series (2006), Rhys is initially unaware of Gwen's vocation as a

agent, believing her to work in generic

special forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...

. Gwen's relationship with Rhys languishes while she is unable to communicate fully with him, but in the early part of series two (2008) he discovers the truth, and from then on in their relationship is revitalised; the two enter a marriage based on honesty later in the series. In the third series (2009) Rhys becomes directly involved in assisting the Torchwood team in lieu of a fourth team member. In the show's fourth series — a 2011 BBC/

Starz Starz (stylized as STARZ since 2016; pronounced "stars") is an American premium cable and satellite television network owned by Lions Gate Entertainment, and is the flagship property of parent subsidiary Starz Inc. Programming on Starz consist ...

co-production — Rhys again finds himself having to assist Torchwood, though he would rather live a domestic life with Gwen and their daughter Anwen. The original intention of the writers had been to kill off Rhys at the end of the first series, but series creator

Russell T Davies Stephen Russell Davies (born 27 April 1963), better known as Russell T Davies, is a Welsh screenwriter and television producer whose works include '' Queer as Folk'', '' The Second Coming'', ''Casanova'', the 2005 revival of the BBC One scie ...

found it necessary to keep the show grounded through Rhys as Gwen evolved as a character. Producer

Richard Stokes Richard or Dick Stokes may refer to: * Richard Stokes (politician), British soldier and politician * Richard Stokes (producer), British television producer * Richard Stokes (priest), English Anglican priest * Dick Stokes (hurler), Irish hurler * Dic ...

stated that "without him, it simply becomes a sci-fi show about sci-fi people, running around and hunting aliens." Following from the first series the production team decided to make Rhys less of a "sap" whilst continuing to use him as a contrast to Torchwood's activities and its charismatic leader

Jack Harkness Captain Jack Harkness is a fictional character played by John Barrowman in '' Doctor Who'' and its spin-off series, ''Torchwood''. The character first appears in the 2005 ''Doctor Who'' episode "The Empty Child" and subsequently features in the ...

. Whilst early response to the character was mixed — the character was parodied as "Barry Backstory" — subsequent reviews praised the character's larger role in later episodes.

Appearances

Television

Rhys is introduced in the

first episode A series premiere is the first aired installment of an episodic entertainment series, most often a television series. In the United States, many series premieres are aired in the fall time or, for mid-season replacements, either in the spring or ...

of the series (2006) as the unspectacular boyfriend of

police constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...

(

Eve Myles Eve Myles (born 26 July 1978) is a Welsh actress. She is best known for her television roles portraying Ceri Lewis in the long-running BBC Wales drama series '' Belonging'' (2000–2009), Gwen Cooper in the BBC science-fiction series ''Torchwoo ...

). When Gwen takes a new job with the

Torchwood Institute The Torchwood Institute, or simply Torchwood, is a fictional secret organisation from the British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who'' and its spin-off series ''Torchwood''. It was established in 1879 by Queen Victoria after the ...

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

branch as an alien hunter, she is forced to keep it a secret. Over the course of the first series Rhys shows increasing irritation with Gwen's evasiveness and long hours, and her ease and readiness to lie to him. Unknown to Rhys, Gwen establishes a sexual relationship with

Owen Harper Dr Owen James Harper is a fictional character played by Burn Gorman, and a regular in the BBC television series ''Torchwood'', a spin-off from the long-running series ''Doctor Who''. The character last appeared onscreen in the Series 2 finale, ...

(

Burn Gorman Burn Hugh Winchester Gorman (born 1 September 1974) is an English actor and musician. He is known for his roles as Owen Harper in the BBC series ''Torchwood'' (2006–2008), Phillip Stryver in ''The Dark Knight Rises'' (2012), Karl Tanner in the ...

) to help herself deal with her secret double-life. She confesses the affair after it ends in "

Combat Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...

" but drugs Rhys with an amnesia pill so he will not remember her confession. Rhys is murdered by

Bilis Manger This is a list of characters from the British television science fiction, British science fiction television programme ''Torchwood'', created by Russell T Davies. This list includes main characters, recurring characters and important guest chara ...

(

Murray Melvin Murray Melvin (born 10 August 1932) is an English actor. He is best known for his acting work with Joan Littlewood, Ken Russell and Stanley Kubrick. He is the author of two books: ''The Art of Theatre Workshop'' (2006) and ''The Theatre Royal, ...

) in " End of Days", but this event is erased from history after the Torchwood team reset time by opening the space-time rift located in Cardiff. The series two premiere (2008) establishes that Rhys became engaged to Gwen between the first and second series. After Rhys becomes suspicious of her behaviour and her friendship with her boss

Captain Jack Captain Jack may refer to: People * Calico Jack (1683–1720), a pirate in the 18th century * Captain Jack (Hawaiian) (died 1831), Naihekukui, commander of Kamehameha's fleet and father of Kalama * Captain Jack (fl. 1830s on), Kaurna man in c ...

(

John Barrowman John Scot Barrowman (born 11 March 1967) is a Scottish-American actor, author, presenter, singer and comic book writer. He is known for his role as Captain Jack Harkness in '' Doctor Who'' and ''Torchwood'', and as Malcolm Merlyn in the Arrow ...

) in "

Meat Meat is animal flesh that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted, farmed, and scavenged animals for meat since prehistoric times. The establishment of settlements in the Neolithic Revolution allowed the domestication of animals such as chic ...

", Gwen reveals to him the truth about her responsibilities with Torchwood. Rhys then becomes involved in a mission to uncover and destroy an alien meat-trading racket, and ends up taking a bullet to protect Gwen's life. Because she enjoys finally being able to be honest with Rhys, Gwen cannot bring herself to drug him for a second time, and so demands that Jack allow Rhys keep his memories of Torchwood. Rhys and Gwen marry in the episode " Something Borrowed". Following the wedding, in the episode " Adrift", Rhys brings up the issue of starting a family with Gwen, though she dismisses the idea, arguing that it would be impossible to have children with her job. During the events of " Fragments" and series finale "

Exit Wounds ''Exit Wounds'' is a 2001 American action film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, and starring Steven Seagal and DMX. The film is based on the book of the same name by John Westermann. The book takes place on Long Island, while the film is set in D ...

", Rhys plays a particular role in the team's campaign against the returned

Captain John Hart Captain John Hart may refer to: *Captain John Hart (Torchwood), fictional character on Torchwood TV Series *John Hart (South Australian colonist) Captain John Hart CMG (25 February 1809 – 28 January 1873) was a South Australian politician ...

(

James Marsters James Wesley Marsters (born August 20, 1962) is an American actor, musician, singer, comic book writer, and audiobook narrator. He is sometimes credited in various anime series and video games as David Gray and Sam Majesters in the series ''Dr ...

) and the insane

Gray Grey (more common in British English) or gray (more common in American English) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning literally that it is "without color", because it can be composed o ...

(Lachlan Nieboer), helping Gwen rescue the others after they are caught in an exploding building and subsequently working with Gwen's former colleague Andy Davidson ( Tom Price) to help keep the attacking alien

Weevils Weevils are beetles belonging to the superfamily Curculionoidea, known for their elongated snouts. They are usually small, less than in length, and herbivorous. Approximately 97,000 species of weevils are known. They belong to several families, ...

out of the police station. Rhys is referenced, but does not appear onscreen, in the ''Doctor Who'' crossover episode "

The Stolen Earth "The Stolen Earth" is the twelfth episode of the fourth series and the 750th overall episode of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. It was first broadcast on BBC One on . The episode was written by show runner and head ...

" (2008); Gwen speaks to him over the phone during a global emergency. Rhys becomes a main character in the third series of ''Torchwood'', a five-part miniseries called ''

Children of Earth ''Children of Earth'' is the banner title of the third and penultimate series of the British television science fiction programme ''Torchwood'', which broadcast for five episodes on BBC One from 6 to 10 July 2009. The series had new producer ...

'' airing in 2009. When aliens called the 456 announce their plans to visit to Earth, the government attempts to assassinate Torchwood to cover up a conspiracy. Rhys becomes a fugitive from the government because of his marriage to Gwen. The pair flee to London via cargo lorry and Rhys is delighted to discover Gwen is pregnant. He is with the Torchwood team when they relocate to a London warehouse and takes a role in their mission, hiding with the recordings showing corruption within

Downing Street Downing Street is a street in Westminster in London that houses the official residences and offices of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Situated off Whitehall, it is long, and a few minutes' walk ...

. In the last episode of the series he returns to Cardiff with Gwen, and helps Gwen do one last favour for her deceased coworker

Ianto Ianto may refer to: * Ianto Davies (), Welsh international rugby union full back * Ianto Evans, applied ecologist, landscape architect, inventor, writer, social critic, and teacher *Ianto Morgan, a fictional character in the Penguin Modern Classic ...

(

Gareth David-Lloyd Gareth David Lloyd (born 28 March 1981), known professionally as Gareth David-Lloyd, is a Welsh actor and writer best known for his role as Ianto Jones in the British science fiction series ''Torchwood.'' Early life He was born in Bettws, Newp ...

) by helping his niece and nephew evade capture, and with them many other neighbourhood children. The series'

dénouement Dramatic structure (also known as dramaturgical structure) is the structure of a dramatic work such as a book, play, or film. There are different kinds of dramatic structures worldwide which have been hypothesized by critics, writers and scholar ...

, set six months later, shows Rhys still at Gwen's side, awaiting the arrival of their child. Series four, '' Miracle Day'' (2011), begins by showing Rhys living in seclusion alongside Gwen and their daughter, Anwen. His rural idyll is shattered when CIA agent

Rex Matheson Agent Rex Matheson, portrayed by Mekhi Phifer, is a fictional character in the BBC television programme ''Torchwood'', a spin-off from the long-running series ''Doctor Who''. Phifer was one of three American actors to join ''Torchwood'' in its f ...

(

Mekhi Phifer Mekhi Phifer (; born December 29, 1974) is an American actor. He portrayed Dr. Greg Pratt on NBC's long-running medical drama '' ER'' until 2008 and had a co-starring role opposite actor/rapper Eminem in the 2002 feature film '' 8 Mile''. He was ...

) extradites Jack and Gwen to America—believing them to be connected to a phenomenon where humans can no longer die—whilst forcing Rhys to stay in Wales. With the aid of computer expert

Esther Drummond Esther Drummond, portrayed by Alexa Havins, is a fictional character in the BBC television programme ''Torchwood'', a spin-off from the long-running series ''Doctor Who''. Havins is one of several American actors to join ''Torchwood'' in its fo ...

(

Alexa Havins Alexa Carole Havins (born November 16, 1980) is an American actress. She first came to prominence in 2003, when she became the originating actress in the role of Babe Carey Chandler on the soap opera ''All My Children''. Her role as the flawed b ...

), Gwen is able to establish communications with Rhys in the episode "

Dead of Night ''Dead of Night'' is a 1945 black and white British anthology horror film, made by Ealing Studios. The individual segments were directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden and Robert Hamer. It stars Mervyn Johns, Googie Wi ...

". Whilst on a mission in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, Gwen asks Rhys to remove her father

Geraint Geraint () is a character from Welsh folklore and Arthurian legend, a valiant warrior possibly related to the historical Geraint, an early 8th-century king of Dumnonia. It is also the name of a 6th-century Dumnonian saint king from Briton hagi ...

( William Thomas) from a hospital which she believes to be unsafe. Rhys subsequently has Geraint sent to an "overflow camp", unaware that it contains a facility for burning the severely injured alive, and in "

The Categories of Life "The Categories of Life" is the fifth episode of '' Torchwood: Miracle Day'', the fourth series of the British science fiction television series ''Torchwood''. It was first broadcast in the United States on Starz on 5 August 2011 and in the Unit ...

" and "

The Middle Men "The Middle Men" is the sixth episode of '' Torchwood: Miracle Day'', the fourth series of the British science fiction television series ''Torchwood''. It was originally broadcast in the United States on Starz on 12 August 2011. ''Torchwood: Mi ...

" has to go undercover to help rescue his father-in-law. After escaping from the facility with Geraint, Rhys is briefly held hostage in an attempt to force Gwen to surrender Jack Harkness, but is rescued by Andy and his team. In " The Gathering", Rhys figures out the antipodal connection between Buenos Aires and Shanghai, which directs the Torchwood team to their final mission. Because of Rhys' violent disposition towards murderer-paedophile

Oswald Danes Oswald Danes is a fictional character in the BBC television programme ''Torchwood'', a spin-off from the long-running series '' Doctor Who'' and is portrayed by American actor Bill Pullman. The character was promoted as one of five new main ch ...

(

Bill Pullman William Pullman (born December 17, 1953) is an American actor. After graduating with a Master of Fine Arts degree in theater, he was an adjunct professor at Montana State University before deciding to pursue acting. He made his film debut in ''R ...

), Gwen fears that he may enact

vigilante justice Vigilantism () is the act of preventing, investigating and punishing perceived offenses and crimes without Right, legal authority. A vigilante (from Spanish, Italian and Portuguese “vigilante”, which means "sentinel" or "watcher") is a pers ...

and so takes the latter to Shanghai to protect her husband. In

the series finale "The Series Finale" is the ninth episode and series finale of the American television miniseries ''WandaVision'', based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch and Vision. It follows Wanda as she tries to p ...

, Rhys gains entry to the overflow camp where Geraint has been recaptured in order to sit by his side as "Miracle Day" ends and death is restored. After Esther's funeral, he is hopeful that Jack will not reform Torchwood.

Literature

Rhys appears in all three ''Torchwood'' novels in the first wave published by

BBC Books BBC Books (also formerly known as BBC Publishing) is an imprint majority-owned and managed by Penguin Random House through its Ebury Publishing division. The minority shareholder is BBC Studios, the commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasti ...

in January 2007, set between episodes of ''Torchwood'' series one. These novels expand on the difficult period in Gwen and Rhys' relationship — whilst his appearances in '' Another Life'', and ''

Border Princes Borders are usually defined as geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other subnational entities. Political borders c ...

'', are relatively minor, he has a more significant role in '' Slow Decay'', where he unwittingly brings himself into danger by taking an alien diet pill. Reviewer Patrick Holm feels that the success of these novels lies in the fact that they help readers empathise with characters such as Rhys. Rhys makes cameo appearances in '' Something in the Water'' (set between "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" and "Meat") and '' Trace Memory'', and has a significant role in ''

The Twilight Streets ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'', (released March 2008) which depicts an alternate future where Gwen and Rhys start a new Torchwood to make a safe world for their son after the Torchwood Team are destroyed fighting sentient particles known as the dark. Three more ''Torchwood'' books were released in October 2008 in which Rhys has an involved role. In ''

Pack Animals A pack animal, also known as a sumpter animal or beast of burden, is an individual or type of working animal used by humans as means of transporting materials by attaching them so their weight bears on the animal's back, in contrast to draft ani ...

'' Rhys assists Gwen in her investigation and becomes part of a car chase, '' SkyPoint'' sees them inadvertently discover an alien presence whilst flathunting and ''

Almost Perfect ''Almost Perfect'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on CBS from September 17, 1995, until December 11, 1996. The series focused on the professional life of the female executive producer of a television cop show, her witty, zany ...

'', the first novel set after "Exit Wounds", depicts Rhys speed dating undercover. Rhys makes further appearances in later Torchwood novels '' Bay of the Dead'', '' The House that Jack Built'', and ''

Consequences Consequence may refer to: * Logical consequence, also known as a ''consequence relation'', or ''entailment'' * In operant conditioning, a result of some behavior * Consequentialism, a theory in philosophy in which the morality of an act is determi ...

'', all set between "Exit Wounds" and ''Children of Earth''. Rhys appeared occasionally in the ''

Torchwood Magazine ''Torchwood – The Official Magazine'' was a British magazine devoted to the BBC science fiction television series ''Torchwood''. The first issue was released on 24 January 2008 and concluded on 16 December 2010 The United States version was du ...

'' comic strip during its publication between January 2008 and December 2010. In part three of the serialised ten-part comic ''Rift War'' he aids Gwen in her Torchwood duties by helping care for an infant alien left stranded in Cardiff. A scene in Gareth David-Lloyd's comic "Shrouded", published in May 2010, includes a scene set after ''Children in Earth'' which shows Gwen cradling her young child; as Gwen is busy, Rhys is required to team up with

to save the timeline. Non-fiction tie-in ''The Torchwood Archives'' gives an "insider's look" into the Torchwood world, including Gwen's domestic life with Rhys. The book includes unpublished photographs of Gwen and Rhys used as set dressing in the TV series and also provides some background information on Rhys' friends and his working life.

Audio drama

Rhys makes an appearance in the ''Torchwood''

radio play Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine t ...

" The Dead Line" (2009), where he assists Gwen with her investigations into the phone-line induced comas. He also has a central role investigating a mystery in the audio book ''

Ghost Train In ghostlore, a ghost train is a phantom vehicle in the form of a locomotive or train. The ghost train differs from other traditional forms of haunting in that rather than being a static location where ghosts are claimed to be present, "the appar ...

'' (2011), read by Kai Owen. With Gwen dead and Jack missing Rhys is left alone to figure out the strange goings on involving cargo trains. Rhys also appears in "The Devil and Miss Carew" (2011), one of three additional radio plays set between "Exit Wounds" and ''Children of Earth'', which shows his reaction to the death of his elderly Uncle Bryn. In this play Rhys rescues Gwen from a woman under the influence of a malevolent devil like entity.

Characterisation

Rhys is a "down to earth trucker", who functions as Gwen Cooper's normality base. At the start of the series he believes alien interference to be a result of hallucinations induced by psychotropic drugs in the water supply and that his girlfriend's job is nothing more unusual than generic "special ops". Writer Stephen James Walker feels that Rhys "originally didn't look to have much to him initially but really came into his own as Series One progressed", attributing this to the "spot-on performance of the perfectly cast Kai Owen." The original intention of the writers had been for Rhys to die at the end of series one, but

explains that it was overruled by show creator

, who felt that without Rhys, the show's main link to the real world would be lost.Richard Stokes interview, "That's all Stokes" ''

'', issue 4, May 2008, page 29 Executive Producer

Julie Gardner Julie Ann Gardner (born 4 June 1969) is a Welsh television producer. Her most prominent work has been serving as executive producer on the 2005 revival of '' Doctor Who'' and its spin-off shows ''Torchwood'' and ''The Sarah Jane Adventures''. ...

expands on this by stating that "It's a show where you've got to contrast the ordinary everyday with the extraordinary and (with) Gwen going home to Rhys and then going to work in an underground secret base ... it's right to have that balance." Actor Kai Owen attributes part of his character's success to his on-screen rapport with actress

After reprisal from death, Davies felt further development was necessary for the character to continue as part of the drama; one of the first decisions the production team made was that "we can't make this guy look like a sap any longer. He's got to be made aware of what's going on." The events of the episode "Meat", in which Rhys learns the real nature of Gwen's job, are seen by Davies as a "rite of passage" for the couple. Director

Colin Teague Colin Teague is a British film and television director. Born 1970 He grew up in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire and studied at Redroofs Theatre School

highlights Rhys' patience in relation to Gwen noting that "he puts up with an awful lot from his wife to be". The second series also explores Rhys's insecurities and jealousies towards series protagonist Captain Jack Harkness, for whom a mutual sexual tension with Gwen was evident in the first series. Both Stephen James Walker and episode writer

Catherine Tregenna Catherine Tregenna is a Welsh playwright, television screenwriter and actress. She has written episodes for ''EastEnders'', ''Casualty'' and for the first four series of ITV1 crime drama '' Law & Order: UK''. Career Tregenna began as an actres ...

felt that "the triangle of relationships between Rhys, Gwen and Jack" comprise "the most interesting narrative territory explored in 'Meat'". Although actor Kai Owen feels that "Rhys will always have a little bit of a gripe about Jack", he concedes that "he respects him and he'll like him for looking after Gwen". Walker comments favourably on the interaction between Jack and Rhys in "Meat" in both its antagonistic and comedic forms, citing the scene in the truck where Rhys questions Jack as particularly effective. The two function as unusual literary foils for one another, insofar as their relationships with Gwen are concerned. In her critical essay ''Gwen's Evil Stepmother: Concerning Gloves and Magic Slippers'', Valerie Estelle Frankel compares Rhys to Jack, likening the former to a " sweet, kind handsome prince" and the latter to a "compelling

trickster In mythology and the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a character in a story (god, goddess, spirit, human or anthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherwi ...

." Whilst Eve Myles feels that "Jack highlights how ordinary Rhys is", she states that it is precisely this ordinariness which makes Rhys a benefit to Gwen's strength of character. The plot of ''Children of Earth'' results in Rhys becoming more directly involved with the Torchwood team's activities, and actor Kai Owen also receives star billing for the first time. Whilst Gwen by the third series has become a more militant character, Rhys retains his

everyman The everyman is a stock character of fiction. An ordinary and humble character, the everyman is generally a protagonist whose benign conduct fosters the audience's identification with them. Origin The term ''everyman'' was used as early as ...

status and takes on the role of audience surrogate; press material describes him as "the ordinary guy in the street" and "the normal person's eyes and ears" who "says what he thinks about the situations Torchwood find themselves in, bringing the reality back to them". Paul Collins comments of the significance of Rhys having the first dialogue in the serial, remarking that this is ''Torchwood''s "determination to establish its domestic credentials before subverting them". Rhys becomes a

reluctant hero ''Reluctant Hero'' is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Killer Be Killed. It was released on November 20, 2020, by Nuclear Blast. Writing The band began writing the album in 2016, before going to Hybrid Studios in California ...

; Kai Owen states that he "would rather not get involved if he had the choice", but when faced with the life-or-death situations in the serial "he doesn't run away from it" because the character has "seen so many things". This, in Owen's eyes, makes the Rhys seen in ''Children of Earth'' a "very brave hero who has grown in stature". Rhys retains core character status for the fourth series, '' Torchwood: Miracle Day''. Whilst Kai Owen explains that Rhys will always be at the forefront of "Gwen's troubles or fights or adventures" because of his concern for her, he remains unafraid to tell her when she has become too consumed by her job. Davies links the relationship between Gwen and Rhys in the fourth series to the show's continued exploration of human sexuality, stating that "open sexuality has to include everything" including "a husband/wife great big crime-fighting team ... happily in love".

Reception

Rhys' incidental role in the series was initially mocked in ''

The Register ''The Register'' is a British technology news website co-founded in 1994 by Mike Magee, John Lettice and Ross Alderson. The online newspaper's masthead sublogo is "''Biting the hand that feeds IT''." Their primary focus is information tec ...

s 2006 one-off ''Torchwood''

parody A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its subj ...

''Under Torch Wood'' (in the style of

Dylan Thomas Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer whose works include the poems "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "And death shall have no dominion", as well as the "play for voices" ''Under ...

' ''

Under Milk Wood ''Under Milk Wood'' is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, commissioned by the BBC and later adapted for the stage. A film version, ''Under Milk Wood'' directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released in 1972, and another adaptation of ...

''), in which he is described as "Barry Backstory, who is dreaming of future episodes where he gets a bigger part." However, as the character has been developed on screen and given a bigger role, he has attracted more positive commentary from reviewers. Ben Rawson-Jones of

Digital Spy Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...

describes his role in the episode "Meat" as "forming a clever contrast with the activities of Torchwood". He praised the verisimilitude of Rhys' relationship with Gwen, describing their domestic argument as "a unique spin on the kitchen sink melodrama usually seen in ''

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the Ea ...

''" which delivers "a real impact and emotional honesty due to the wonderfully earnest performances from Kai Owen and Eve Myles". Jack Kibble-White of Den of Geek states that "in the main having Rhys run alongside Captain Jack and the rest worked well" and he cites the character's wedding to Gwen as a series highlight.

TV Squad Weblogs, Inc. was a blog network that published content on a variety of subjects, including tech news, video games, automobiles and pop culture. At one point, the network had as many as 90 blogs, although the vast majority of its traffic could be ...

's Jason Hughes feels that the character's marriage to Gwen is "handled in a painfully honest way" and serves as "a true definition of "love" written with subtlety and perfection". Alan Stanley Blair enjoyed the rapport between Owen and Price (PC Andy) in the episode "Exit Wounds" stating, that it "was also an interesting dynamic" and that the two "could potentially carry their own sitcom", a view corroborated by

AfterElton TheBacklot.com (TheBacklot), founded in January 2005 as AfterElton.com (AfterElton), was a culture website that focused on the portrayal of gay and bisexual men in the media and was the companion site of AfterEllen.com (AfterEllen). TheBacklot was ...

's Steven Frank. Dan Martin of ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' singles out the scene where Gwen and Rhys become stowaways in ''Children of Earth'' as "just lovely" and "a credit to both actors, particularly Kai Owen, who has finally made Rhys likable", whilst

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writer Asham Haque also feels that Rhys' "meatier role" provides "some great sequences" for the couple. Rawson-Jones speaks favourably on Owen's role in the overall ensemble opining that he, along with Barrowman, Myles and David-Lloyd managed to guide the audience through the serial with "panache and verve". ''The Chicago Tribune'' Maureen Ryan feels that the initiated Rhys is key to the show, and is a "very enjoyable character", describing his appeal to government PA Lois Habiba to pay for his and Gwen's dinner as "priceless". Speaking of the show's fourth series premiere, Simon Brew highlights the central returning trio of Barrowman, Myles and Owen as the show's most engaging actors, and further describes Owen's performance as mixing "humour with an earnest, and a real sense of drive".

References

External links

*
Rhys Williams - Official Torchwood website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Rhys Torchwood characters Fictional truck drivers Fictional managers Fictional secret agents and spies Fictional Welsh people Television characters introduced in 2006 Male characters in television