Torchwood Review: ‘Aliens Among Us’ Episode 3: ‘Orr’
By James Aggas
As the fifth season of Torchwood continues, the team is joined by a brand new member in the third episode of ‘Aliens Among Us’, ‘Orr’.
In the opening episode of the new season, Aliens Among Us, we were introduced to two brand new members of the Torchwood team. In this third episode, we’re finally introduced to the last new arrival, who shares their name with the title of the episode – Orr.
I love Orr. I’m just going to get that out of the way. I’m not sure if I love them as much as Mr. Colchester, but they are a brilliant concept for a character. More than that, they’re a distinctly Russell T. Davies idea for a character. I heard that, while he’s not the producer for this new season as such, he did contribute many significant ideas to the series, and I think Orr has to be one of them.
On one level, Orr is a classic science-fiction staple – a shape-shifter. They’re constantly physically changing and adapting to the people around them. But that’s only looking at the character in a very basic way.
What makes Orr so wonderfully different, so interesting to explore, and such a Torchwood character is how and why they constantly change. Orr is someone who’s constantly adapting not just to their environment, or even to blend in, but is specifically to everyone else’s greatest desires. They will very quickly shift into someone’s greatest love, or even just what that person wants, very easily.
New team member
It’s great seeing how this episode explores how the other characters react to someone as unique as Orr. Some have a real problem with them. Not just with the shapeshifting, but also with Orr having a basic kind of psychic ability. Others just feel awkward about it. They try to act ok with it, but they perhaps find it understandably awkward when a new team member unexpectedly changes into their idea of the perfect man/woman/other.
Unsurprisingly, it’s Jack’s reaction that’s the best. He’s completely fascinated by Orr. He’s never really seen anything like them, and that’s saying something. A being that can change into anyone’s ideal person, regardless of gender, might sound exactly like Jack’s cup of tea. But the relationship he immediately begins sharing with Orr is a lot more interesting than that.
You’ve probably noticed that I’ve gone on more about the character of Orr here rather than the episode itself. That’s because this episode is, primarily, an introduction to this new Torchwood member more than anything else.
The focus on Orr
Of course, there are other plot details. The episode explores why a being like Orr exists and how they were created. It also focuses on exploring the aftermath of Aliens & Sex & Chips & Gravy, which has left a huge impact on Gwen. However, I can’t go into those details here without spoiling the previous episode. I suspect I’ll explain more and discuss it more directly at a later date, but only when that particular plotline is explored more in a later box set.
However, other plotlines aren’t really the focus here. More than anything, this is an episode focused on introducing a new major character, and it does this really well. I’m glad that Orr’s introduction was saved for later in this season, rather than in the first episode, like with Tyler Steele and Mr. Colchester. A character as brilliant an idea as Orr deserves a whole hour’s worth of exploration. I can’t wait to see how well they’ll fit in in later episodes.
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