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Reset (Torchwood)
Encyclopedia
"Reset" is the sixth episode of the second series of British science fiction television
series Torchwood
, which was first broadcast by BBC Three
on 13 February 2008, immediately after the broadcast of "Adam
" on BBC Two
. This episode introduces Doctor Who
companion
Martha Jones
into the cast.
medical specialist Martha Jones
. Upon Martha's arrival Jack drops hints about her time-travelling past. Alone, Jack mentions that Martha should have contacted him if she was looking for employment; Martha replies that UNIT
had contacted her. They informed Martha that she was what they needed and was recommended by an "impeccable source" (presumably the Doctor
). Jack suggests that the Doctor must have thought he owed Martha a favour.
The Torchwood team investigate more murders, discovering that one victim had been cured of diabetes and another of HIV
. With this information, the killings are traced to a medical centre named The Pharm. One woman, the only survivor of the strange attacks, remains in hospital as Martha and Owen examine her. She experiences a seizure and dies, fly-like creatures erupting from her mouth. Cowering in the corner, Martha and Owen notice the creatures have also died.
After searching for ways of infiltrating the Pharm, the team discover the facility recruits human trial subjects. Jack refuses to send one of his own in, but Martha suggests she enter as she is a medic and has the appropriate knowledge. Owen begs Jack not to let Martha go, but Jack replies that he'd rely on Martha if the world was ending, and, in fact, he did
. After being equipped with the appropriate gear Martha infiltrates the Pharm undercover as Samantha Jones, a hepatitis
sufferer.
At the Hub, Tosh mentions Martha and Owen's quickly developing friendship, suggesting they make a perfect match, both being doctors. Owen remarks that Martha is only interested in work. This seems to cheer Tosh up, and Owen asks her about the pool tournament she was organising, to which Tosh dejectedly replies that it was a date offer. Owen looks surprised and asks Tosh if she is still interested, to which Tosh says yes. Owen casually agrees to one date. They return to monitoring Martha.
Martha discovers the facility is responsible for the drug "Reset", which works by releasing alien parasites, called Mayflies, into the human bloodstream. The Mayfly larvae then proceed to "reset" the human body, eliminating incurable diseases. The downside is that the Mayfly larvae hatch and eat the person from the inside. After Martha is caught snooping, Professor Copley states that she has mutated blood cells, which could only be caused by travelling through time and space. Martha is injected with "Reset" in order for the Professor to see how her unique immune system reacts.
Gwen and Ianto arrest a Pharm-hired assassin and take him back to the Hub. During interrogation, Jack and Owen find that he too has a mayfly in his body. Owen attempts to use an alien artifact, the singularity scalpel, to vapourise the mayfly. He fails to operate the scalpel correctly and the fly bursts out of the assassin's stomach. Using the assassin's body, Tosh develops a program which would let them into the Pharm undetected.
Inside the Pharm, the team split up: Tosh, Gwen and Ianto are sent to find the 'research labs', while Owen and Jack find Martha. Discovering the labs, Gwen, Tosh and Ianto find aliens held captive and tortured. When Jack and Owen reach Martha, the mayflies are battling each other inside her. As Jack shuts down the Pharm, Owen uses the singularity scalpel to extract the mayfly from Martha's body. They exit the Pharm before it reaches complete shutdown and reunite with the others. Owen, supporting Martha as they walk, continues to flirt with her; Martha reveals she is already in a relationship.
As they prepare to leave, Professor Copley holds them at gunpoint, declaring that Torchwood will not ruin his work. Owen attempts to reason with the Professor, but Copley shoots Owen in the chest. Jack then shoots the Professor in the head. Martha attempts to revive Owen while Jack holds his hand and Toshiko kneels beside him. Despite Martha's efforts, Owen dies.
Science fiction on television
Science fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...
series Torchwood
Torchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
, which was first broadcast by BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
on 13 February 2008, immediately after the broadcast of "Adam
Adam (Torchwood)
"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.-Synopsis:Torchwood encounter an alien, Adam, who has the ability of memory manipulation...
" on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
. This episode introduces Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
companion
Companion (Doctor Who)
In the long-running BBC television science fiction programme Doctor Who and related works, the term "companion" refers to a character who travels with, and shares the adventures of the Doctor. In most Doctor Who stories, the primary companion acts as both deuteragonist and audience surrogate...
Martha Jones
Martha Jones
Martha Jones is a fictional character played by Freema Agyeman in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its spin-off series, Torchwood. She is a companion of the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, replacing Rose Tyler...
into the cast.
Synopsis
A series of murders in Cardiff prompts Jack to recruit UNITUNIT
UNIT is a fictional military organisation from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures...
medical specialist Martha Jones
Martha Jones
Martha Jones is a fictional character played by Freema Agyeman in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its spin-off series, Torchwood. She is a companion of the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, replacing Rose Tyler...
. Upon Martha's arrival Jack drops hints about her time-travelling past. Alone, Jack mentions that Martha should have contacted him if she was looking for employment; Martha replies that UNIT
UNIT
UNIT is a fictional military organisation from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures...
had contacted her. They informed Martha that she was what they needed and was recommended by an "impeccable source" (presumably the Doctor
Doctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
). Jack suggests that the Doctor must have thought he owed Martha a favour.
The Torchwood team investigate more murders, discovering that one victim had been cured of diabetes and another of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
. With this information, the killings are traced to a medical centre named The Pharm. One woman, the only survivor of the strange attacks, remains in hospital as Martha and Owen examine her. She experiences a seizure and dies, fly-like creatures erupting from her mouth. Cowering in the corner, Martha and Owen notice the creatures have also died.
After searching for ways of infiltrating the Pharm, the team discover the facility recruits human trial subjects. Jack refuses to send one of his own in, but Martha suggests she enter as she is a medic and has the appropriate knowledge. Owen begs Jack not to let Martha go, but Jack replies that he'd rely on Martha if the world was ending, and, in fact, he did
Last of the Time Lords
"Last of the Time Lords" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 30 June 2007, and is the thirteenth and final episode of Series 3 of the revived Doctor Who series...
. After being equipped with the appropriate gear Martha infiltrates the Pharm undercover as Samantha Jones, a hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
sufferer.
At the Hub, Tosh mentions Martha and Owen's quickly developing friendship, suggesting they make a perfect match, both being doctors. Owen remarks that Martha is only interested in work. This seems to cheer Tosh up, and Owen asks her about the pool tournament she was organising, to which Tosh dejectedly replies that it was a date offer. Owen looks surprised and asks Tosh if she is still interested, to which Tosh says yes. Owen casually agrees to one date. They return to monitoring Martha.
Martha discovers the facility is responsible for the drug "Reset", which works by releasing alien parasites, called Mayflies, into the human bloodstream. The Mayfly larvae then proceed to "reset" the human body, eliminating incurable diseases. The downside is that the Mayfly larvae hatch and eat the person from the inside. After Martha is caught snooping, Professor Copley states that she has mutated blood cells, which could only be caused by travelling through time and space. Martha is injected with "Reset" in order for the Professor to see how her unique immune system reacts.
Gwen and Ianto arrest a Pharm-hired assassin and take him back to the Hub. During interrogation, Jack and Owen find that he too has a mayfly in his body. Owen attempts to use an alien artifact, the singularity scalpel, to vapourise the mayfly. He fails to operate the scalpel correctly and the fly bursts out of the assassin's stomach. Using the assassin's body, Tosh develops a program which would let them into the Pharm undetected.
Inside the Pharm, the team split up: Tosh, Gwen and Ianto are sent to find the 'research labs', while Owen and Jack find Martha. Discovering the labs, Gwen, Tosh and Ianto find aliens held captive and tortured. When Jack and Owen reach Martha, the mayflies are battling each other inside her. As Jack shuts down the Pharm, Owen uses the singularity scalpel to extract the mayfly from Martha's body. They exit the Pharm before it reaches complete shutdown and reunite with the others. Owen, supporting Martha as they walk, continues to flirt with her; Martha reveals she is already in a relationship.
As they prepare to leave, Professor Copley holds them at gunpoint, declaring that Torchwood will not ruin his work. Owen attempts to reason with the Professor, but Copley shoots Owen in the chest. Jack then shoots the Professor in the head. Martha attempts to revive Owen while Jack holds his hand and Toshiko kneels beside him. Despite Martha's efforts, Owen dies.
Continuity
- The same Western Mail newspaper showing Margaret Blaine as the new mayor of Cardiff, as seen in "Boom TownBoom Town (Doctor Who)"Boom Town" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on 4 June 2005. The Doctor, Rose and Jack travel to modern-day Cardiff and meet up with Rose's boyfriend, Mickey...
", is attached to the door as Martha JonesMartha JonesMartha Jones is a fictional character played by Freema Agyeman in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its spin-off series, Torchwood. She is a companion of the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, replacing Rose Tyler...
enters the Torchwood reception. - A variation of Martha's Theme, composed by Murray GoldMurray GoldMurray Gold is an English composer for stage, film, and television and a dramatist for both theatre and radio.-Television:Gold has been nominated for a BAFTA four times in the category Best Original Television Music, for Vanity Fair , Queer as Folk , Casanova and Doctor Who...
for Doctor Who, appears as the character's motifMotif (music)In music, a motif or motive is a short musical idea, a salient recurring figure, musical fragment or succession of notes that has some special importance in or is characteristic of a composition....
. - Several references are made to Martha's previous adventures with Jack in Doctor Who, including working under the same DoctorDoctor (Doctor Who)The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
and Jack's recent bad experienceThe Sound of Drums"The Sound of Drums" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 23 June 2007, and is the twelfth episode of Series 3 of the revived Doctor Who series...
with a politician (Harold SaxonMaster (Doctor Who)The Master is a recurring character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He is a renegade Time Lord and the archenemy of the Doctor....
). Jack comments that he relied on Martha to save the world. Martha subtly comments to Ianto when he tells her to remain unseen that she knew how to be invisible, a reference to "The Sound of DrumsThe Sound of Drums"The Sound of Drums" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 23 June 2007, and is the twelfth episode of Series 3 of the revived Doctor Who series...
" and "Last of the Time LordsLast of the Time Lords"Last of the Time Lords" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 30 June 2007, and is the thirteenth and final episode of Series 3 of the revived Doctor Who series...
", where the Doctor created three TARDISTARDISThe TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
keys equipped with perception filters, making themselves unnoticed or 'invisible'. The same perception filter is what makes Torchwood's invisible lift work. - Martha says she knew how to stay invisible. This is also a reference to her time with The Doctor, who she was in love with but he barely noticed her as he was still upset and trying to get over the loss of Rose TylerRose TylerRose Marion Tyler is a fictional character portrayed by Billie Piper in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was created by series producer Russell T Davies...
from the episode "DoomsdayDoomsday (Doctor Who)"Doomsday" is the thirteenth and final episode in the second series of the revival of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 8 July 2006 and is the conclusion of a two-part story; the first part, "Army of Ghosts", was broadcast on 1 July 2006...
". - Martha has earned her medical degree, and is a member of UNITUNITUNIT is a fictional military organisation from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures...
. It is hinted that Martha became a member of UNIT under the recommendation of the DoctorDoctor (Doctor Who)The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
. After the airing of "Last of the Time Lords", the accompanying Martha Jones' MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
blog included the line "PS: And I've just had an email offering me a job if I pass my exams! You wouldn't believe who it's from." - Martha states her family is still recovering after the events in "Last of the Time Lords".
- While undercover at the Pharm, Martha uses the name "Samantha Jones". A different Samantha JonesSam Jones (Doctor Who)Samantha Angeline Jones, or simply Sam, is a fictional character in the Eighth Doctor Adventures novels based upon the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The Eighth Doctor first met her in the novel The Eight Doctors by Terrance Dicks, and she went on to become one of his...
was the Eighth DoctorEighth DoctorThe Eighth Doctor is the eighth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Paul McGann...
's first companionCompanion (Doctor Who)In the long-running BBC television science fiction programme Doctor Who and related works, the term "companion" refers to a character who travels with, and shares the adventures of the Doctor. In most Doctor Who stories, the primary companion acts as both deuteragonist and audience surrogate...
in the Eighth Doctor AdventuresEighth Doctor AdventuresThe Eighth Doctor Adventures are a series of spin off novels based on the long running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and published under the BBC Books imprint. 73 books were published overall...
. - The boyfriend who has saved Martha's life was revealed in "The Sontaran StratagemThe Sontaran Stratagem"The Sontaran Stratagem" is the fourth episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 26 April 2008...
" to be Thomas Milligan from "Last of the Time LordsLast of the Time Lords"Last of the Time Lords" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 30 June 2007, and is the thirteenth and final episode of Series 3 of the revived Doctor Who series...
". - Torchwood issue camera/SMS contact lenses to Martha for her undercover trip to the Pharm. The same or comparable lenses are issued to Lois Habiba in Children of Earth, and later used by Gwen in Miracle Day.
- Martha (posing as "Samantha") tells the intake nurse at the Pharm that she has travelled to North America, France and Germany. She travelled with the Doctor to North America in "Daleks in ManhattanDaleks in Manhattan"Daleks in Manhattan" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 21 April 2007, and is the fourth episode of Series 3 of the revived Doctor Who series. It is part one of a two-part story, concluded in "Evolution of the Daleks"...
"/"Evolution of the DaleksEvolution of the Daleks"Evolution of the Daleks" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 28 April 2007, and is the fifth episode of Series 3 of the revived Doctor Who series. It is the conclusion of the two-part story begun in "Daleks in...
", and is implied to have travelled the world over in "Last of the Time LordsLast of the Time Lords"Last of the Time Lords" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 30 June 2007, and is the thirteenth and final episode of Series 3 of the revived Doctor Who series...
". She goes to North America again and to Germany in "The Stolen EarthThe Stolen Earth"The Stolen Earth" is the twelfth episode of the fourth series and the 750th overall episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The episode was written by show runner and head writer Russell T Davies and is the first of a two-part crossover story; the concluding episode is...
"/"Journey's EndJourney's End (Doctor Who)"Journey's End" is the thirteenth episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who first broadcast on BBC One on 5 July 2008. It is the second episode of a two-part crossover story featuring the characters of spin-off shows Torchwood and The Sarah Jane...
". - Owen and Toshiko discuss Toshiko's invitation to play pool in "MeatMeat (Torchwood)"Meat" is the fourth episode of the second series of British science fiction television series Torchwood, which was broadcast by BBC Two on 6 February 2008.-Synopsis:...
". - Copley's interest in Martha stems from the fact that her blood chemistry and immune system have been altered by travel in time and space (that is, by using the TARDISTARDISThe TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
). The effects of TARDIS travel on human physiology are brought up again in The Sarah Jane AdventuresThe Sarah Jane AdventuresThe Sarah Jane Adventures is a British science fiction television series, produced by BBC Cymru Wales for CBBC, created by Russell T Davies and starring Elisabeth Sladen...
episode "Death of the DoctorDeath of the DoctorDeath of the Doctor is a two-part story of The Sarah Jane Adventures which was broadcast on CBBC on 25 and 26 October 2010. It is the third story of the fourth series. This episode features the return of Katy Manning to the role of Jo Grant and a guest appearance by Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor...
," where it is revealed that the Doctor's former companions IanIan ChestertonIan Chesterton is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and a companion of the First Doctor. He was played in the series by William Russell, and was one of the members of the programme's very first regular cast, appearing in the bulk of the first two...
and BarbaraBarbara Wright (Doctor Who)Barbara Wright is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and a companion of the First Doctor. She was one of the programme's very first regulars and appeared in the bulk of its first two seasons from 1963–65, played by Jacqueline Hill. In the film version...
have barely aged since their adventures with the Doctor in the 1960s; and in the Doctor WhoDoctor WhoDoctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
episode "A Good Man Goes to WarA Good Man Goes to War"A Good Man Goes to War" is the seventh episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One on 4 June 2011...
," where companion Amy PondAmy PondAmelia Jessica 'Amy' Pond is a fictional character portrayed by Karen Gillan in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
's baby is affected by being conceived within the TARDIS.
Cultural references
- Jack refers to meeting Christopher IsherwoodChristopher IsherwoodChristopher William Bradshaw Isherwood was an English-American novelist.-Early life and work:Born at Wyberslegh Hall, High Lane, Cheshire in North West England, Isherwood spent his childhood in various towns where his father, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army, was stationed...
, and attributes the quotations "I am a camera" (in its full form, "I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking.", from "Berlin Diary", 1930) and "It's not the getting in, it's the getting out" to him. Isherwood would later be portrayed by actor Matt Smith (better known as the Eleventh DoctorEleventh DoctorThe Eleventh Doctor is the eleventh incarnation of the protagonist of the BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. Matt Smith plays this incarnation, replacing David Tennant's Tenth Doctor in the 2010 episode "The End of Time, Part Two"...
), in the 2011 BBC TV film Christopher and His KindChristopher and His Kind (television film)Christopher and His Kind is a 2011 BBC television film. It tells the story of Christopher Isherwood's life in Berlin in the early 1930s. The film was adapted by Kevin Elyot from Isherwood's autobiography of the same title, produced by Mammoth Screen and directed by Geoffrey Sax...
.
Production
- The song "Feel Good Inc.Feel Good Inc."Feel Good Inc." is a song by Gorillaz, on their album Demon Days, featuring De La Soul. The song was released as the lead single from the album on 9 May 2005 in the United Kingdom . "Feel Good Inc." peaked at #2 in the United Kingdom and #14 in the United States, at the time the band's highest...
" by GorillazGorillazGorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
plays as Martha and Owen study the Mayfly. Also, the song "Freakin' OutFreakin' Out"Freakin' Out" is a song by Graham Coxon and was released as the lead single from his fifth solo album Happiness in Magazines in 2004 . It was released as a very limited 7" and charted at number 37 in the UK Singles Chart. "Freakin' Out" was later re-released as a double A-side with "All Over Me"...
" by Graham CoxonGraham CoxonGraham Leslie Coxon is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and painter. He came to prominence as the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of rock band Blur, and is also a critically acclaimed solo artist, having recorded seven solo albums...
plays in the information centre as Ianto lets Martha into the hub.