Sleeper (Torchwood)
An alien sleeper cell awakens in Cardiff.
"Sleeper" is the third episode of Torchwood's second series, airing on BBC Two on 22 January 2008, with a specially edited pre-watershed repeat the following day. The story involves an alien sleeper cell, implanted with false human memories, that strikes key locations in Cardiff to pave the way for an invasion.
Torchwood investigates after two burglars are killed by Beth Halloran while she is in a dormant state, not during a robbery attempt. Beth has no memory of the incident but agrees to go with the team. At the Hub, a Weevil reacts fearfully to her presence, prompting Toshiko to perform a mind probe. The probe reveals alien technology hidden under Beth's right forearm, which can transform into a bladed weapon matching the burglars' wounds. Jack deduces she is a sleeper agent, not yet activated, with transplanted memories making her believe she is human. Her transceiver is disconnected from other agents, and she is placed in an alien cryogenic chamber.
Meanwhile, a signal awakens other sleeper agents, who attack designated targets, killing anyone in their way. Two agents carry out suicide bombings using explosive implants, destroying a communications centre and a military pipeline. Another agent, David, kills a council member responsible for emergency responses. Beth escapes by using her implant to fake a flatlined heart rate, goes to the hospital to say goodbye to Mike, and accidentally stabs him. Jack and Gwen recapture her, and Beth agrees to help locate other agents.
From the targets already hit and Beth's received signal, Torchwood deduces David is heading for a nearby military base storing nuclear weapons; a detonation there could devastate the surrounding area. Jack races to stop him. Unable to reach his target in time, David warns Torchwood that many other agents exist on Earth before his implant explodes harmlessly outside the base.
Back at the Hub, Beth struggles with the fear she might kill again. Rather than be refrozen, she transforms her implant into a blade and threatens Gwen, forcing the other Torchwood members to shoot and kill her.
The explosion of a building scheduled for filming in Cardiff on 1 July 2007, the day after the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack, risked cancellation. The production announced the controlled explosion via local media to reassure the public it was not a terrorist attack.
Quick Facts
- Number
- 15
- Serial Name
- Sleeper
- Show
- TW
- Cast
- John Barrowman – Captain Jack Harkness / Eve Myles – Gwen Cooper / Burn Gorman – Owen Harper / Naoko Mori – Toshiko Sato / Gareth David-Lloyd – Ianto Jones
- Director
- Colin Teague
- Writer
- James Moran
- Script Editor
- Brian Minchin
- Producer
- Richard Stokes / Chris Chibnall (co-producer)
- Executive Producer
- Russell T Davies / Julie Gardner
- Composer
- Ben Foster
- Production Code
- 2.2
- Series
- Series 2
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In the episode, Torchwood investigates fatal injuries sustained by two burglars during a failed robbery at a flat owned by Beth Halloran and her husband Mike. Beth has no recollection of the events but willingly goes with the team. At the Hub, a Weevil cowers at Beth's presence, prompting Toshiko to perform a mind probe. The probe reveals alien technology buried under Beth's right forearm, allowing it to transform into a bladed weapon matching the burglars' injuries. Jack deduces she is an alien sleeper agent, given false human memories and awaiting activation. Her transceiver is cut off, and she is placed in an alien cryogenic chamber.
Other sleeper agents are awakened by a signal and attack strategic targets, with two committing suicide bombings that destroy a communications centre and a military pipeline.
Reader's Guide
Sleeper is a significant episode in Torchwood's second series, exploring themes of identity and hidden threats through the concept of alien sleeper agents with implanted false memories. The episode's plot, involving attacks on strategic targets in Cardiff, builds tension around the vulnerability of human infrastructure to alien infiltration. The production faced a notable challenge: a planned explosion of a building in Cardiff on 1 July 2007, the day after the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack, was in danger of being cancelled. To proceed, the filming was announced via local media to warn the public it was a controlled explosion, not a terrorist attack. The episode achieved 3.4 million viewers on its initial broadcast, with a 14% share, and was later listed as BBC2's top audience draw for the week ending 27 January 2008, with a certified estimate of 3.78 million viewers including timeshift. The cast includes Nikki Amuka-Bird as Beth Halloran, who later played the Glass Woman in the 2017 Doctor Who Christmas Special 'Twice Upon A Time', and William Hughes, who previously appeared as the eight-year-old version of the Master in the 2007 Doctor Who episode 'The Sound of Drums'.
More in Torchwood episodes 1-24
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