To the Last Man (Torchwood)

16 – "To the Last Man"
Torchwood episode
Toshiko convinces her lover, a stranded soldier suffering from shellshock, to return to World War I where he will eventually be executed for cowardice. Critics praised both the characterisation and the anti-war sentiment in the episode.
Cast
Starring John Barrowman – Captain Jack Harkness Eve Myles – Gwen Cooper Burn Gorman – Owen Harper Naoko Mori – Toshiko Sato Gareth David-Lloyd – Ianto Jones
Others Anthony Lewis – Tommy Brockless Roderic Culver – Gerald Carter Siobhan Hewlett – Harriet Derbyshire Lizzie Rogan – Nurse Ricky Fearon – Foreman
Production
Directed by	Andy Goddard
Written by	Helen Raynor
Script editor	Brian Minchin
Produced by	Richard Stokes Chris Chibnall (co-producer)
Executive producer(s)	Russell T Davies Julie Gardner
Music by	Ben Foster
Production code	2.3
Series	Series 2
Running time	50 mins
First broadcast	30 January 2008 (2008-01-30)
Chronology
← Preceded by "Sleeper" Followed by → "Meat"
List of episodes

"To the Last Man" is the third episode of the second series of the British science fiction television series Torchwood, which was first broadcast on BBC Two on 30 January 2008. The episode was written by returning series guest writer, Helen Raynor, directed by Andy Goddard and produced by Richard Stokes. As with all episodes of Torchwood's first two series, "To the Last Man" featured series regulars John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Burn Gorman, Naoko Mori and Gareth David Lloyd, with Mori's character Toshiko Sato given the main focus.

The narrative centres on the intersection of Toshiko's romance with Tommy Brockless (Anthony Lewis), a cryogenically frozen soldier from World War I, and a number of hazardous time slips from 1918. As the impending crisis becomes more severe, Toshiko must choose between the man she has fallen in love with and the world at stake. Tommy eventually elects to return to 1918, where Toshiko knows he will be executed because of his shellshock.

"To the Last Man" was filmed as part of the first production block of Torchwood's second series. Helen Raynor was inspired to write the episode to explore the issue of soldiers executed for cowardice during the First World War. The episode was watched by an aggregated total of 4.97 million viewers across its first three showings. The episode received mixed reviews, with the characterisation, romance, atmosphere and anti-war sentiment proving the most popular elements. Both the storylining of the episode and the reliance on plot devices were heavily criticised.