"Combat" is the eleventh episode of the first series of the British

science fiction television Science fiction first appeared in television programming in the late 1930s, during what is called the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary ...

series ''

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 growin ...

'', which was originally broadcast on the digital television channel

BBC Three BBC Three is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was first launched on 9 February 2003 with programmes targeting 16 to 34-year-olds, covering all genres including animation, comedy, cur ...

on 24 December 2006. In the episode, the alien-hunting team

investigate kidnappings of aliens called

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, ...

by Cardiff estate agent Mark Lynch (

Alex Hassell Alexander Stephen Hassell (born 7 September 1980) is an English actor. He is co-founder of The Factory Theatre Company. Early life and education Hassell was born in Southend, England, the youngest of four, to a vicar. He trained at the Central ...

), who uses them for deadly cage fights with rich humans.

Plot

Jack Jack may refer to: Places * Jack, Alabama, US, an unincorporated community * Jack, Missouri, US, an unincorporated community * Jack County, Texas, a county in Texas, USA People and fictional characters * Jack (given name), a male given name, ...

and Gwen are chasing a

Weevil 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, ...

through the streets of Cardiff. The two witness the Weevil being captured by unknown men. Several hours later,

Toshiko Toshiko is a feminine Japanese given name. Possible writings *敏子 "agile/clever, child" *俊子 "genius, child" *淑子 "graceful/polite, child" *寿子 "longevity, child" *年子 "year/age, child" *歳子 "age/time, child" *稔子 "humble, ch ...

tracks the van to a deserted warehouse. She and Jack go to investigate and find the body of a man who has been mauled by a Weevil; the dead man's phone rings and a distorted voice warns Jack to drop the case. Owen, who is still recovering from Diane Holmes's departure, is reluctantly enlisted to look into the estate agent overseeing the warehouse, disguising himself as an exporter of jellied eels. After getting into a fight at a bar, Owen forms a bond with Mark Lynch, the estate agent. Mark reveals he knows Owen is not who he pretends to be, but wants to show him what happens with captured Weevils anyway. Meanwhile, Jack and Ianto follow reports of suspicious Weevil-like injuries and interrogate one of the victims at the hospital. The man refuses to talk, and after being pressured by Jack claims that if he talks, "They'll kill me." The Weevils are used for a fight club, where they are pitted against willing men in a one-on-one fight. Each combatant puts down £1000, and the person who lasts the longest in the cage wins the pot. The people in the fight club are men with disposable income trying to find meaning in their lives. Mark considers Owen weak since he disapproved and he forces him to fight. Owen agrees to fight a Weevil, and he initially stands without fear and does not challenge the Weevil until it strikes him. The rest of Torchwood storm into the complex and pull him out before the Weevil can finish him off. They bust the operation, but Mark gets into the cage with the Weevil Owen was previously fighting to prove he too can show no fear. Owen admits to Jack that he did not want to be rescued and later goes to Torchwood's captive Weevils, intimidating them.

Continuity

*When Mark Lynch searches the Internet for information on Owen, he uses a search engine calle
search-wise.net
While the site actually exists, it was created specifically for use in television programmes and films. Search-wise.net was also seen in "

Rose A rose is either a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus ''Rosa'' (), in the family Rosaceae (), or the flower it bears. There are over three hundred species and tens of thousands of cultivars. They form a group of plants that can be ...

" where

Rose Tyler Rose Tyler is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. She was created by series producer Russell T Davies and portrayed by Billie Piper. With the revival of ''Doctor Who'' in 2005, Rose was introd ...

uses it to search for the

Doctor Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...

. *Mark tells Owen that "Something's coming. Out there in the darkness, something is coming." Suzie Costello says something similar in "

They Keep Killing Suzie ''Torchwood'' is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. A spin-off from the 2005 revival of long-running science fiction programme ''Doctor Who'', ''Torchwood'' aired four series between 2006 and 2011. The sh ...

", mentioning something moving in the darkness beyond death and that it is coming for Jack. This presence is revealed when the second glove is used in " Dead Man Walking". *After drugging Rhys and confessing her affair with Owen, Gwen begs for forgiveness in much the same manner as she jokingly did in " Everything Changes".

Production

* Noel Clarke, who wrote this episode, is better known for playing

Mickey Smith Mickey Smith is a fictional character portrayed by Noel Clarke in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. The character is introduced as the ordinary, working class boyfriend of Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), a London shopgirl ...

in the 2005 and 2006 series of the revived '' Doctor Who''. He is the first actor with an ongoing role in ''Doctor Who'' to write a televised episode of a ''Doctor Who''-universe production, although previous ''Doctor Who'' actors

Colin Baker Colin Baker (born 8 June 1943) is an English actor who played Paul Merroney in the BBC drama series '' The Brothers'' from 1974 to 1976 and the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series ''Docto ...

and

Ian Marter Ian Don Marter (28 October 194428 October 1986) was an English actor and writer, known for his role as Harry Sullivan in the BBC science-fiction television series '' Doctor Who'' from December 1974 to September 1975, with a non-regular, one-s ...

wrote the '' Doctor Who Magazine'' comic strip "The Age of Chaos" and novels based upon the series after his tenure on the show, respectively.

Mark Gatiss Mark Gatiss (; born 17 October 1966) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, director, producer and novelist. His work includes writing for and acting in the television series ''Doctor Who'', ''Sherlock (TV series), Sherlock'', and ''Dracu ...

has also starred in and written for the show since its 2005 revival.

Music

*The song " Over and Over" by Hot Chip plays in the background during a scene in the bar. *The deceased man, Hodges, has a

Crazy Frog Crazy Frog (originally known as The Annoying Thing) is a Swedish CGI-animated character and Eurodance musician created in 2003 by actor and playwright Erik Wernquist. Marketed by the ringtone provider Jamba!, the character was originally created ...

ring tone A ringtone, ring tone or ring is the sound made by a telephone to indicate an incoming call. Originally referring to and made by the electromechanical striking of bells, the term now refers to any sound on any device alerting of a new incoming ...

on his mobile phone. *The second time Owen returns to the bar and fights the three men the song Be There by UNKLE is playing in the background *The song "

Assassin Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have a ...

" by

Muse In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...

plays in the background when Owen first enters the warehouse.

Notes

References

External links

"Combat" episode guide entry on the BBC website
{{Noel Clarke Torchwood episodes 2006 British television episodes Films with screenplays by Noel Clarke