Instant Karma review [David Llewellyn, James Goss and Jonathan Morris]

Toshiko Sato has just come out of a relationship with an alien, the perfect cover to join a mindfulness group which she suspects has been killing people by stopping their organs or causing their heads to explode. 

She's right.

When and Where?: Cardiff, 2007, between Greeks Bearing Gifts and They Keep Killing Suzie.

The Doctor's Case:

• The first two series of Torchwood were frequently a bit rubbish, not only in terms of stories but in terms of character development as well. Fortunately, Big Finish are on the case. Ianto forgetting about Lisa and suddenly beginning a sexual relationship with Jack, who he seemed to hate, makes a lot more sense thanks to Broken. This time, they're dealing with the fallout of Greeks Bearing Gifts (the first of two Tosh-centric episodes, the last being To the Last Man). She's feeling weak and betrayed by Mary but recovering from her hurt over hearing her teammates' thoughts.

The Valeyard's Case:

• Unfortunately, this story is unfocused and not really that interesting, perhaps as a result of it having three writers. Simon and Janet have powers somehow and after Simon kills his dog, Janet kills him. That's all there is to it. Early on in the story, it looks like Tosh and Simon might have some sort of interesting relationship, but they quickly become enemies, depriving us of what could have been a good focus - Tosh developing a friendship with a vigilante. Instant Karma would have been no different if Tosh had never joined the mindfulness group, which is forgivable if the main character learns something or has their own arc along the way. Tosh doesn't.

I'll Explain Later:

• How did Simon and Janet get their powers? Where did they come from?

This Reminds Me...:

• Tosh makes oblique references to her telepathy and the results of that, as well as her relationship with Mary, from Greeks Bearing Gifts.

The Inquisitor's Judgement: Tosh can fade into the background very easily and it's when she's paired up with a decent character with whom she shares an interesting relationship that she really shines. Look at her with Mary in Greeks Bearing Gifts, Jack in Captain Jack Harkness, Tommy Brockless in To the Last Man, Owen in Believe (where the two truly stole the show) or Stephen Heinz in torchwood_cascade_CDRIP.tor. She was an engaging character in Zone 10 because she was being a leading lady, driving the story onwards on a solo mission, like she never was on TV. Instant Karma is one of her weakest stories, where the plot would unfold the exact same way if she hadn't been present. Simon is the real main character of this story and, even then, it's not a particularly exciting one. Instant Karma is disappointing, and that earns it a D.

Torchwood Main Range

Goodbye Piccadilly  |  Instant Karma  |  Deadbeat Escape