Adam (Torchwood)

Doctorwhobox
number = 18
serial_name = Adam
caption =


show = TW
type = episode
cast =
* John Barrowman – Captain Jack Harkness
* Eve Myles – Gwen Cooper
* Burn Gorman – Owen Harper
* Naoko Mori – Toshiko Sato
* Gareth David-Lloyd – Ianto Jones
guests =
* Kai Owen – Rhys Williams
* Bryan Dick – Adam Smith
* Paul Kasey – Weevil
* Demetri Goritsas – Jack's Father
* Lauren Ward – Jack's Mother
* Jack Montgomery – Young Jack
* Ethan Brooke – Gray
* Rhys Myers – Young Adam
* Lloyd Everitt – Youth
* Jo McLaren – Dead woman
writer = Catherine Tregenna
director = Andy Goddard
production_code = 2.5
producer = Richard Stokes Chris Chibnall (co-producer)
executive_producer = Russell T Davies Julie Gardner
script_editor = Brian Minchin
series = Series 2
length = 50 mins
date = 13 February 2008
preceding = "Meat"
following = "Reset"
imdb_id = 1160001"Adam" is the fifth episode of the second series of British science fiction television series "Torchwood", which was broadcast by BBC Two on 13 February 2008.

Plot

ynopsis

Torchwood encounter an alien, Adam; who has the ability of memory manipulation. By implanting false memories into each team member, making them believe they have known him for three years; Adam's maniuplation changes the team dramatically.

Gwen loses memory Rhys; and assumes he is a stalker when she sees him in their flat. When Adam and Jack arrive to find Rhys; it's assumed that Gwen's memory loss is a result of stress. In order to help her, Jack gets Rhys to make a video detailing their life together.

Jack is haunted by memories of his lost brother Gray; whom he was separated from as a child on the Boeshane Peninsula. Jack is pained by these memories, holding himself responsible for the loss of Gray, as well as seeing his father’s dead body and his distraught mother after an attack on the Peninsula.

Toshiko has become more confident as a result of Adam’s manipulation; and believes that she and he are in love. She fails to recognise Owen's romantic inclinations; as Owen has been manipulated into thinking he is more or less a geek in comparison to his actual self. Meanwhile, Gwen spends time with Rhys, slowly beginning to regain her memory.

With Jack and Adam dealing with a weevil; Ianto, Owen and Tosh are figuring out a box which had been found. After noticing the cold way Tosh dismisses Owen's suggestions; Ianto leaves to check his diary for anything helpful. Alone, Owen praises and compliments Toshiko, which are taken as friendly gestures; until Owen confesses his long time love. Embarrassed and angry, Tosh tells Owen that he was inappropriate and wouldn't go for someone his type; before storming out and leaving him alone.

After reading his diary; Ianto becomes disturbed when he notices there is no mention of Adam. Adam confronts him and implants false memories into Ianto’s mind; leading Ianto to believe he is a serial killer. Jack returns to find Ianto deeply upset but refuses to believe that Ianto is an alleged killer. The pair search Torchwood's files, discovering the truth after seeing footage of Adam implanting the memories into the team.

The team return to the Hub: Gwen from being with Rhys; Tosh and Adam from an anniversary celebration and Owen, who drops a bouquet on Tosh's desk in apology. When Jack arrests Adam; the team are bewildered and Tosh tries to hold Jack at gunpoint, failing. Jack discovers that the team needs to take amnesia pills, to erase their memories of the past forty-eight hours. He gathers the team asks each person to try and recall who they really are.

Entranced, each Torchwood member recalls private memories. Gwen recalls where she met Rhys; and reveals that she loves Jack, although she loves Rhys too. Toshiko recalls her love of Mathematics, as it always provides a right answer; and recalls her first flat and how her lack of friends prevented her from holding a flat-warming. As Jack distributes the pills, Toshiko tearfully reveals that she is always waiting for someone to notice how special she is. Jack comforts her by saying that he did. Owen describes his stormy relationship with his mother. He reveals that while they save hundreds of lives, it isn’t enough and he wonders who will save him. Jack replies that he would. Finally, Ianto recalls his love for his former girlfriend Lisa who died inside Torchwood HQ. He saw that working for and seeing Jack each day gave him meaning. Jack kisses him on the forehead. Each member takes their pill, Owen looking at Tosh giving a small smile.

As they fall asleep; Jack returns to the cells to find Adam disappearing as a result of the memory erasure. Adam offers Jack the last happy memory of his childhood, before he lost Gray and before his father died. Adam then appears in the memory, threatening that if he dies, Jack will never regain any other memories of his childhood. Adam reveals that the mysterious box contains Jack's last memories and that if Adam died, so would they. Jack considers the option before taking the amnesia pill and Adam dies.

The next day; the team cannot recall the events of the past two days. Jack quips that Tosh has a secret admirer, noting the bouquet on her desk. When Tosh mentions the flowers are from Owen; and after reading the card, Owen dismisses it in his usual caustic way, telling her he doesn't do flowers; nor does he do apologies. As he hands the card back to Tosh he smiles at her and they both seem to accept it.

With everything back to normal, Jack goes to his office. He gives Ianto’s diary back and quips that ‘measuring tapes never lie’, to which Ianto expresses an embarrassed look as he walks away. Jack then finds a strange wooden box and opens it with a key that had fallen out, only to pour an amount of sand.

Continuity

*The opening montage features the Dalek-enhanced Thompson submachine guns created for "Evolution of the Daleks" and was re-edited to include footage of Adam as a member of Torchwood.
*The Boeshane Peninsula, first mentioned in "Last of the Time Lords", is depicted here.
*Reference is made to the creatures who attacked Jack's family, first mentioned in "Captain Jack Harkness". We still have no idea who or what they are.
* We learn that "Gray", first mentioned in "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang", is Jack's younger brother. In the earlier episode, Captain John Hart claimed to have found him.
*Adam states he used to reside in the The Void, the nothingness between dimensions.

Production

The song "Christiansands" by Tricky plays during the episode.

References

External links

*TardisIndexFile|Adam (Torchwood story)|Adam
*Brief|torch=y|id=2008e|title=Adam
*Doctor Who RG|id=torchwood_18|title=Adam|quotes=y

-- () 14:23, 6 October 2008 (UTC)