Yvonne Hartman is back from the dead in Torchwood: Aliens Among Us: Part 3!
By James Aggas
Big Finish announced today more details of the final box set in ‘Torchwood: Aliens Among Us’. Including the return of someone who should be dead…
Some major details have finally been revealed about the final part of Torchwood: Aliens Among Us. Along with resolving the current season that began in August last year, the final four episodes sees the return of a major Torchwood character: Yvonne Hartman.
Originally believed to have been killed as a Cyberman in the Doctor Who episode Doomsday, Yvonne is now back from the dead. But how?
This is something that Big Finish have kept quiet about for the past four months, at least publicly. But listeners have known about this ever since hearing the cliffhanger to Aliens Among Us: Part 2 in October. So it was only a matter of time until the announcement was made. And of course, with her showing up alongside Jack on the front cover!
Back from the dead
I’ve been a massive fan of Yvonne Hartman for a while now. The character was brilliantly written in Army of Ghosts and Doomsday. It’s strange to think that’s her sole appearance on TV, as she seemed to make such an impact.
A very complex character and well written, she wasn’t a villain, exactly. But she was also far from a hero. With her very patriotic views, she was a woman that was more focused on Britain’s safety, rather than the world’s.
However, she was also clearly intelligent, great with people and knew when to take advice. Even when that advice came from “the enemy”, in the Doctor’s case.
Big Finish have of coursed fleshed her out even more. First, we got to hear more from her in the one-episode prequel, One Rule. Then she got her own spin-off series, Torchwood One. Last year, we received the first box set, Before the Fall, and Machines is due out later this year.
But to have her return in the continuing story of Torchwood is a bold move. I’d say it would be incredibly risky for Big Finish to do, especially when changing such a huge piece of Russell T. Davies’s mythology. Except that, interestingly, producer James Goss has said that “the twist was Russell T Davies’s suggestion”. And, for this fan, at least, it’s a very welcome one!
As a huge fan of both Yvonne and Aliens Among Us, this is one box set that I’m really looking forward to!