N.B. there might (or might not) be spoilers in this article!

It’s fifteen years to the day since Series Two of Torchwood began on British TV and Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang hasn’t gotten any better.

This is despite the best attempts of Captain John Hart (aka Spike from Buffy), who tries some godawful flirting with Captain Jack, the rest of the Torchwood team and, if he’d been given half a chance, a poodle. I did wonder though why, if one of the main rules of spending time with John is ‘no kissing’, why is that the first thing Jack does?

“Bloody Torchwood!”

Woman, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

Yes, we’re back in Cardiff where even harmless old ladies crossing the street at night know who the top-secret organisation is. (Either that or she’s a fast reader and spots it on the SUV.) It’s not the only self-aware moment in the episode. Ianto’s comment ––’You’re good on roofs, Jack’ must be a reference to the all the heroic posing on the edges of tall buildings Jack did early on in Series One.

But a couple of amusing meta moments do not a good episode make and while Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang isn’t quite as low a point as Cyberwoman or End of Days, it’s certainly down there.