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''Children of Earth'' is the banner title of the third series of the British television science fiction programme ''Torchwood'', which broadcast for five episodes on BBC One in 2009. The series had new producer Peter Bennett and was directed by Euros Lyn, who had considerable experience on the revived ''Doctor Who''. ''Torchwood'' is a series about an organisation known as Torchwood which defends the Earth against alien threats. The plot of ''Children of Earth'' deals with aliens demanding the Earth's children, and a related earlier conspiracy; as such, Torchwood is pitted against the British government when it attempts to conceal its past actions and concede to the present-day aliens' demands. The first, third, and fifth episodes of the serial were written by executive producer Russell T Davies, who also conceived its overall storyline. The third episode was co-written by James Moran whilst the second and fourth were penned by newcomer John Fay. Because the BBC was not awarded the increase in the licence fee it requested, ''Torchwood'' (like ''Doctor Who'' and ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' the same year) faced budget cuts. As part of Davies' agreement with the BBC, ''Torchwood'' was shown on the network's premiere channel, BBC One, every weeknight for one week in July 2009. Despite the move to BBC One, the show was cut from a standard thirteen-episode run to just five, something that lead actor John Barrowman felt was almost like a "punishment" from the BBC. Production on the mini-series began in August 2008, and Barrowman along with actors Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd (his final appearance in the show), and Kai Owen (now given co-star billing) all returned. The serial significantly features new actors to the series over the course of its five episodes, most prominently Peter Capaldi. Davies had to substantially rewrite parts of the serial to accommodate the unavailability of actors Freema Agyeman and Noel Clarke, whose presence in the serial had been set up in the 2008 ''Doctor Who'' finale. When the series defied expectations by achieving good ratings (peaking at 6.76 million), Davies stated that a surprised BBC Controller rang to congratulate him. Mid-summer evenings are typically considered a graveyard slot for television series. The serial also received very positive reviews, particularly in comparison to the programme's previous two series, as well as a BAFTA Cymru Award, a Saturn Award and Celtic Media Festival Award, all for best serial. A number of fans were upset by the death of a main character in the fourth episode of the serial, with some campaigning and raising money for charity in an attempt to persuade the writers to bring back the character in future. The success of the series led a fourth series, ''Torchwood: Miracle Day'', which was commissioned in conjunction with the US premium cable network Starz. == Plot == Over the course of two days, all the children in the world stop in their tracks, and speak, in unison and in English, "We are coming." Home Office Permanent Secretary John Frobisher is aware these events are tied to an alien race known as the 456, named after the radio frequency they use to communicate. The 456 appeared in 1965, secretly offering the British government a cure to a new strain of Indonesian flu destined to wipe out 25 million people, in exchange for 12 children. Captain Jack Harkness was one of four British agents who were chosen to give the children to the 456. As public knowledge of the exchange would be disastrous for the British government, Frobisher orders, through troops under Agent Johnson's command, the assassination of those involved in the previous contact. Johnson plants a bomb in Jack's abdomen, which detonates inside of the Torchwood Hub in Cardiff and destroys it. Aware of Jack's regenerative abilities, Johnson's troops collect Jack's remains and lock them in a secure facility, monitoring the regeneration of his body. Gwen Cooper, her husband Rhys and Ianto Jones, due to their association with Jack, become fugitives from the law. Frobisher also orders construction of an isolation tank inside Thames House to receive the 456 when they arrive. The remaining Torchwood team make contact with Lois Habiba, a new personal assistant in Frobisher's office who has seen his classified files. Lois helps the others to locate and rescue Jack; they, in turn, provide her with special Torchwood contact lenses that will allow them to see what she sees, hoping she will help them learn the cause of these events. Torchwood also has identified and rescued Clement McDonald, originally one of the twelve children to be taken away but left behind by the 456. Clement went mad due to the experience and has been institutionalised for over 40 years since the incident, but still responds in the same way as the children to the new 456 signal. On the third day, the ambassador for the 456 arrives in a column of fire over Thames House before appearing in the isolation tank. Frobisher and his staff, including Lois who still wears the Torchwood contact lenses, hold confidential meetings with the 456 to understand why they have returned. The 456 demand that 10% of the world's population of children be handed over to them, or else they will destroy the human race. They reveal one of the children from 1965, now a shrivelled husk despite having not aged. Children around the world begin to chant (still in English) a number equal to 10% of their country's child population. The governments of the world, although disgusted, secretly agree in conference that they have no choice but to comply with the 456. Torchwood, with Lois's help, announce themselves and insist they intervene in the situation, threatening to reveal the 456's demands and the government's agreement, recorded through the contact lens, to the world. Jack and Ianto storm Thames House, confront the 456 and give them an ultimatum- that they leave the Earth or else they will face a war. In response, the 456 release a lethal virus. Thames House automatically locks down, sealing and killing everyone inside except Mr. Dekker, who successfully puts on a hazard suit in time. At the same time, they send an auditory signal to Clement, killing him. As Ianto collapses and dies in Jack's arms, the 456 gives a final demand for the children before Jack also succumbs to the virus. When Jack revives, he and Gwen mourn over Ianto's lifeless body. With Torchwood's failure, and Lois in prison for charges of espionage, the governments of the world agree they must deliver the children as promised. Prime Minister Brian Green, along with his Cabinet and one member from both the US military and UNIT, decide to cover up the United Kingdom's actions as inoculation shots given at schools. After refusing a random lottery to select the children out of fear that their own children might be selected, they choose to use the schools at the bottom of the league tables to give to the 456. In discussions the 456 reveal they use the children's bodies to produce a chemical that they use as a recreational drug. Green orders Frobisher to submit his children as part of those that have been selected, in order to keep up the pretence of random selection to the rest of the country. Frobisher agrees, returns home and kills his two daughters to spare them this fate, then he kills his wife and himself. When some parents keep their children home from school, Green orders military measures to secure the remaining children. While Gwen and Rhys help to protect Ianto's sister Rhiannon's daughter and several other local children from capture, Jack, Johnson and Dekker consider a means of stopping the 456. They realise that the audio signal used to kill Clement could be used against the 456. However, it requires that one child act as the focal point for the transmission, likely killing him or her. Jack is left with no choice but to use his daughter Alice's son, Steven, who is the only child immediately available to them. Jack, Johnson and Dekker successfully send the signal, amplified through all the other children, and the 456 suffer in pain before withdrawing from the earth. Steven dies and Alice severs all contact with Jack. Green suggests that they cover up the tragedy and place the blame on the United States, but Bridget Spears, Frobisher's direct assistant and Lois's superior, reveals that she is wearing the Torchwood contact lenses and has recorded this conversation and will release it, ending Green's political career. Six months later, Gwen and Rhys meet with Jack, who had been travelling the world trying to rid himself of his guilt over his grandson's death and the loss of Ianto. Jack wants to make a new life for himself and plans to return to space. Gwen gives Jack his vortex manipulator, found in the wreckage of Torchwood, and he teleports away. With Jack gone, Gwen pregnant and the rest of the team dead, Torchwood Three is effectively no more. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Torchwood: Children of Earth」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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