With characters scattered across different parts of the globe, the quick jumps between locations and overlapping dialogue are an attempt to create some sort of narrative continuity. Unfortunately this only served to confuse, as I struggled to grasp the heavily-monologued explanations of what the Blessing really is. After all that explaining, no one really seems to understand what it is or how it got there in the first place.

Further muddled is Jack’s connection to the Blessing with the fundamental reason for his immortality. Several plot lines are left unexplained and some characters are underutilized or pushed to the side in a way that just feels silly. With some of the buildup I thought was in store, I was disappointed when the show just seemed to hurry to the finish line.

The pace of the finale moved along nicely until it stalled at a critical turning point. I saw it through until the end because everyone likes to watch a good old-fashioned standoff and I had to know the fate of our two heroes, Jack and Gwen. With the caliber of the talent both in front of and behind the camera on this show, I expected a little bit more. “Torchwood: Miracle Day” just did not deliver the one-two emotional punch that “Torchwood: Children of Earth” did.

To sum up, if Torchwood is to continue in the future, I think it would be well-served if it were scaled back down to a smaller level so that it doesn’t lose its focus.