Everything Changes (Torchwood)
First episode of Torchwood, introducing Captain Jack Harkness's alien-hunting team.
"Everything Changes" opens the British science fiction series *Torchwood*, debuting on BBC Three on 22 October 2006. Creator and executive producer Russell T Davies wrote the episode to establish the show's world, bringing back Captain Jack Harkness—a fan-favourite from the 2005 *Doctor Who* revival—as the head of a team that hunts aliens.
The story follows police officer Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) as she investigates strange deaths in Cardiff and stumbles upon Torchwood. Through her eyes, viewers meet the team: Owen Harper (Burn Gorman), Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori), and Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd). Suzie Costello (Indira Varma) was promoted as a regular before transmission, but in a twist, she is revealed as the murderer and dies at the episode's end, with Gwen taking her place.
The episode set a record for BBC Three, earning its highest-ever viewing figures. Critics gave mixed reactions, drawing both positive and negative comparisons to *Doctor Who*.
**Plot** While investigating a murder, Gwen spies on Torchwood—led by Jack—as they exit an SUV. Member Suzie uses a metal gauntlet to briefly revive the victim for questioning. Gwen flees when Jack spots her. The next day, she follows Jack to a hospital, where he captures a Weevil. Tracking Torchwood to Roald Dahl Plass, Gwen loses them but learns they order pizza from a local shop. Disguised as a delivery girl, she enters their underground hub. Jack shows her around, including the captured Weevil, and they exit via a pavement slab lift that makes anyone on it invisible to passersby.
Over drinks, Jack explains Torchwood is one of several branches (Torchwood One was destroyed at Canary Wharf). They collect aliens and scavenge technology from a space-time rift running through Cardiff. He slips an amnesia pill into Gwen's drink, erasing her memory. The next day, a drawing of the murder weapon triggers fragmented memories, which solidify when she finds "Remember" written in her own hand on a Millennium Centre programme. Outside the Centre, Suzie admits she killed the man to test the gauntlet. She pulls a gun on Gwen, but Jack rises from the pavement lift. Suzie shoots him in the head; he comes back to life. Suzie then shoots herself. Gwen remembers everything. The gauntlet is sealed. On the roof, Jack reveals he died once and was revived, unable to die.
Quick Facts
- Number
- 01
- Serial Name
- Everything Changes
- Show
- TW
- Cast
- John Barrowman – Captain Jack Harkness / Eve Myles – Gwen Cooper / Burn Gorman – Owen Harper / Naoko Mori – Toshiko Sato / Indira Varma – Suzie Costello / Gareth David-Lloyd - Ianto Jones
- Director
- Brian Kelly
- Writer
- Russell T Davies
- Script Editor
- Brian Minchin
- Producer
- Richard Stokes / Chris Chibnall (co-producer)
- Executive Producer
- Russell T Davies / Julie Gardner
- Composer
- Murray Gold
- Production Code
- 1.1
- Series
- Series 1
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The story is told from the perspective of Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles), a police officer with the South Wales Police investigating strange deaths in Cardiff. Through her discovery of Torchwood, the audience meets team members Owen Harper (Burn Gorman), Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori), and Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd). Suzie Costello (Indira Varma) was billed as a series regular but is revealed as the murderer and killed off, with Gwen replacing her.
The plot follows Gwen as she spies on Torchwood, witnesses Suzie use a metal gauntlet to temporarily revive a corpse, and later infiltrates their underground hub. Jack explains Torchwood's role in catching aliens and scavenging technology from a rift in space and time through Cardiff. After Jack erases her memory with an amnesia pill, Gwen gradually remembers and confronts Suzie, who shoots Jack in the head. Jack revives, Suzie kills herself, and Gwen accepts a job with Torchwood.
The episode had the working title "Flotsam And Jetsam", which was worked into the script. The opening scene was adapted from a pitch by Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner for a possible series called Excalibur. The BBC Three premiere aired back-to-back with the second episode, "Day One", in a 100-minute special with combined closing credits.
Reader's Guide
"Everything Changes" earned BBC Three its highest ever viewing figures at the time, with an average audience of 2.4 million (12.7% share) in overnight ratings, placing it third in its timeslot behind ITV1 and Channel 4. A repeat on BBC Two three days later drew 2.8 million (13% share). Critical reaction was mixed. The Stage gave a positive preview, calling it "economical" and "bold". Radio Times found it "slick, scary, funny and expensive looking" but felt better episodes would follow. The Guardian's Sam Wollaston gave a guarded welcome, noting attempts to glamorize Cardiff were unsuccessful and questioning whether Eve Myles could fill Billie Piper's role. The Sunday Times Culture called it "arguably better than Who", while the Scotsman dismissed it as "nonsensical and full of holes". The use of alien perfume by Owen drew online criticism similar to date rape. The episode introduced Weevils, which recurred in both Torchwood and Doctor Who.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where did 'Everything Changes' first air?
The episode premiered on BBC Three on 22 October 2006, kicking off the Torchwood series as its very first episode.
Who wrote 'Everything Changes' and why was it written?
Russell T Davies crafted the script specifically as a world-building opener, designed to reintroduce Captain Jack Harkness from Doctor Who and establish his Cardiff-based alien-hunting team for a standalone spin-off.
What actually happens in the episode?
Cardiff police officer Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) is investigating a string of bizarre deaths and stumbles into Torchwood's secret base, where she meets Jack, Owen Harper, Toshiko Sato, and Ianto Jones before the team deals with a threatening alien encounter.
Why is 'Everything Changes' considered important to the Torchwood canon?
As the series premiere it lays the groundwork for the entire show—introducing the team's dynamics, Torchwood's mission, and the tone of the series that would run for four seasons.
What was the working title for this episode during production?
Before it was locked in as 'Everything Changes,' the episode carried the placeholder working title 'Flotsam And Jetsam' on the production schedule.
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