This is a spoiler free discussion

The regular readers of Screen Rant have a pretty good feel for how I look at shows and many of you tend to agree with my opinions in my different reviews.  With that said...

In short, I've never been so moved or drawn into a show like this in my life.  In fear of sounding like one of those fawning critics looking for studio media exposure, I have to say that Torchwood: Children of Earth was gripping, compelling and shocking, all at once.  Oh yea, and incredibly entertaining.

Creator, lead writer and executive producer Russell T Davies brings a very good story to the viewers.  When he put this together he said "I wanted to tell a story in which civilization snaps, in which we turn on ourselves, in which nothing is safe."

He hit the target dead on.

Torchwood: Children Of Earth, the children speak

The children of Earth are used like tools.  All around the planet, each child stops in their tracks and then as one, they speak to the people of Earth, saying "We are coming."

Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) and Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd) return in Torchwood: Children of the Earth where we are brought into a story of global fear and earthly citizen distrust.  Of governments put in harrowing situations and dark deeds that need to be done.  Decisions are made that are morally questionable and yet undeniably necessary.  The emotional conflict created within the show remained with this viewer way beyond the closing credits.

The 5 days that the mini-series covers is a well developed and strong story that draws you in and continued getting stronger with each passing scene.

Torchwood: Children of Earth, Capt Jack Harkness

Day one is used to introduce many parts of the story, including the Torchwood team.  They weave together a lot of facts and history quickly and efficiently.  If you don't know anything about Torchwood, it's OK.  Details will be filled in for you throughout.

I kept waiting for the the tale to plateau out like most shows do as they get past the halfway point.  Then the characters can deal with what has happened.  But it didn't.  It just kept getting better with every scene as the story developed and revelations are tossed at us throughout, right up until the end.  My damn adrenaline just wouldn't quit.

The show hit on some themes I've never seen before in American television.  Or at least on any of the shows I've watched.  It came at us with dark themes, again, like I've never seen before.  I was impressed with how they presented some of the story facets.  During other times in the show, there are scenes that drew me completely in and I've never had such a strong emotional empathy for a story or the characters within it.

Schedule The Time

If you watch it on TV on BBC America, you won't budge from your couch and you will probably think it's cruel and unusual punishment to keep you waiting until the next episode.  If you DVR or buy the DVD / Blu-ray, plan to sit for the entire 5 hours because you won't want to play one episode and then not put the other ones in.

Torchwood: Children of Earth, 1965

Torchwood: Children of Earth will air on BBC America on Monday, July 20th, 9:00 to 10:15 pacific, 8:00 to 9:15 central.

Try to catch it if you haven't already.  And commentors that may have seen it already, try to be cognizant of the readers who haven't seen it yet!  Thanks!