Something Borrowed (Torchwood)
Gwen's wedding is complicated by an alien pregnancy.
"Something Borrowed," the ninth episode of *Torchwood*'s second series, first aired on BBC Three on March 5, 2008, with a BBC Two repeat following on March 9, 2008. Phil Ford, a writer known for *Coronation Street*, penned the episode; Ashley Way directed, and Richard Stokes produced. The cast includes the five original series regulars—John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Burn Gorman, Naoko Mori, and Gareth David-Lloyd—alongside recurring actor Kai Owen in a key role.
The story follows alien hunter Gwen Cooper (Myles) as she marries transport manager Rhys Williams (Owen). Complications arise when an alien impregnates Gwen, but she is determined to proceed with the wedding. The ceremony is disrupted by an attack from the alien fetus's biological mother (played in turn by Colette Brown, Nerys Hughes, and Barrowman). Gwen, Rhys, and her Torchwood colleagues must neutralize the threat. Gwen and Rhys ultimately marry, and the guests' memories are erased.
Designed as the second series' most humorous installment, the episode blends broad comedy and soap-opera storytelling with a monster-of-the-week plot. Filming took place largely on location in South Wales, including tourist spots Margam Country Park and Dyffryn Gardens, and introduced a cast of new Welsh characters. The overnight figure for the BBC Three broadcast was 4.76 million viewers, though the final consolidated figure (including the BBC Two repeat) was approximately 4.2 million. Critical reception was sharply divided: some praised the lighter tone, while others felt the comedy was too heavy-handed.
Quick Facts
- Number
- 22
- Serial Name
- Something Borrowed
- 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
- Ashley Way
- Writer
- Phil Ford
- Script Editor
- Gary Russell
- Producer
- Richard Stokes / Chris Chibnall (co-producer)
- Executive Producer
- Russell T Davies / Julie Gardner
- Composer
- Ben Foster
- Production Code
- 2.9
- Series
- Series 2
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The episode centres on the marriage of alien hunter Gwen Cooper to transport manager Rhys Williams. The wedding is complicated by Gwen's sudden impregnation by an alien, though she resolves to see the day through. When the nuptials are interrupted by an attack from the biological mother of the alien fetus, Rhys, Gwen, and her Torchwood teammates must neutralise the threat. Gwen and Rhys ultimately marry, and the wedding guests have their memories wiped.
The episode was designed to be the most humorous of Torchwood's second series and incorporated elements of broad comedy and soap opera style storytelling. It was filmed largely on location in South Wales, including Margam Country Park and Dyffryn Gardens. The episode featured an ensemble of previously unseen Welsh characters.
Reader's Guide
The episode was written by Phil Ford, who felt it reminiscent of a soap opera and described it as "Coronation Street meets Torchwood." Executive producer Russell T Davies chose Ford because of his work on Coronation Street. The episode was deliberately scheduled alongside darker episodes to provide contrast. Critical response was extremely mixed, with some reviewers praising the inclusion of a less serious episode and others expressing the view that the comedy was too overt. The episode was seen by an aggregated total of 4.76 million viewers across its three debut showings in the United Kingdom.
Did You Know?
- The original working title for the episode was "The Wedding."
- Eve Myles suggested that Gwen compulsively eat gherkins after waking up pregnant; the script had only specified drinking water.
- William Thomas was not the first actor to appear in classic Doctor Who, new Doctor Who, and Torchwood; several actors preceded him, including Eve Myles and John Barrowman.
- Nerys Hughes played both Rhys' mother and a duplicate form of the alien Nostrovite.
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