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

After three separate doomed romantic interests in the previous three episodes, Tosh finally asks Owen out on a date. Given he says yes, we were arguably given ample warning that Reset was not going to end well.

“Did I mention she was brilliant?”

Jack, Reset

That Torchwood is greatly improved by the addition of the now-Dr Martha Jones would be a massive understatement. There’s still time for some god-awful flirting — to be expected from Owen, but even Jack’s not averse to Martha’s charms. In general, though, Reset sees the team buckle down and work better than perhaps they have done at any point up to this.

Oddly, I remembered so little of this episode I could almost believe I hadn’t seen it before. ‘Cept, of course, I knew it was where Martha came in. And I knew Owen died. And that it was a shock. It is perhaps a little implausible within the context of the episode that Neighbours‘ Jim Robinson chooses to shoot Owen, but, nonetheless, it’s still a shock.

Owen Harper may well have been one of the least likable main characters Doctor Who has ever seen, although this is hardly in itself sufficient enough a criticism. After all, who said main characters had to be likeable all the time (if ever)? It’s certainly meant as no slight on Burn Gorman, who’s done an excellent job with what he’s been given, which in Series Two, appears to have involved trying to dial back the awfulness somewhat.

Obviously, the presence of two medics in the team would not have been sustainable, but it really can’t be understated how much having Martha around for this improved the show. With Owen seemingly dead, presumably she’s going to have to stick around a bit longer, but I already have that pessimistic feeling that Reset is as good as Series Two of Torchwood is going to get.