Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams are on the run from a cataclysm. They’re the only survivors, and they’re driving away from the disaster as fast as they can. They’ve got to get away, they’ve got to warn the authorities, and they just can’t be late for the babysitter again.
Dim problem. After all, they’re Torchwood and they always get out alive. But this time there’s something in the car with them. Isn’t there?
TORCHWOOD: WE ALWAYS GET OUT ALIVE
I’m running out of superlatives for the Torchwood range, because we have another great release in “We Always Get Out Alive” by Guy Adams. It’s a two-hander, starring only Eve Myles and Kai Owen, and Gwen and Rhys spend virtually the entire story stuck in a vehicle together. They’ve just defeated an alien threat, setting a remote camp ablaze in the process, and now they’re driving back to civilization – but unbeknownst to them, the threat survived and is along for the ride. The entire story shines a light on their relationship: Rhys thinks Gwen revels in danger, Gwen thinks he’s overbearing, and they argue extensively about these things, but they deeply love one another and that love shines through every conversation, even as their alien companion starts turning them against one another. Adams has a perfect handle on both characters’ voices, which enables him to peel back the superficial and really explore their marriage. I’d be happy with just listening to these characters talk for an hour, but there’s also a wonderful horror component, as Gwen and Rhys slowly start to lose their grip on reality due to the creature’s influence. There’s a great moment when Rhys loses his sight, and Gwen leaves him alone in the car, that’s genuinely frightening, as Kai Owen really brings home his character’s sense of abandonment. The sound design from Richard Fox and Lauren Yason is excellent as well, creating a creepy atmosphere. It’s not a perfect story, as it does get repetitive, and it’s arguably too long even for its running time, but those are minor complaints. Overall, “We Always Get Out Alive” is another in a long line of excellent Torchwood stories, showcasing the talent of the main cast and the skill of Big Finish’s production.
9/10