Andy Davidson (Torchwood)

Torchwood character
Sergeant Andy Davidson
Affiliated	South Wales Police Gwen Cooper
Home era	21st century
First appearance	"Everything Changes"
Portrayed by	Tom Price

Andy Davidson is a fictional character in the BBC television programme Torchwood, portrayed by Tom Price. Andy, an officer with the South Wales Police, is a supporting character who first appears in Torchwood's premiere episode "Everything Changes" and recurs regularly from thereon. Though initially only credited as 'PC Andy', the character's surname 'Davidson' was given in novels and online media (acted by Price), and eventually confirmed by dialogue in Children of Earth, "Day Three" in 2009. As of the fourth series (2011) the character is credited as "Sergeant Andy Davidson".^[1] Andy is used within the series both as comic relief and as someone within the police force who can help Torchwood upon request. Like Gwen's partner Rhys (Kai Owen), Andy is an everyman character who provides an outsiders perspective on the operations of the Torchwood Institute.

Within the series' narrative, Andy is a constable for the South Wales Police in Cardiff and a former colleague and friend of leading female character Gwen. In series one (2006), Andy's role is peripheral and the character was initially slated to be killed off. Whilst Andy has a larger role in the second series he still doesn't fully understand the function of the Torchwood Institute, though appreciates that Gwen's work for Torchwood involves "spooky", extraterrestrial situations. Although Andy asserts his jealousy for Gwen's special ops position, he remains loyal to both her and therefore Torchwood. When his loyalties are put to the test in Children of Earth, he sides with Gwen rather than follow government procedure. In the fourth series of Torchwood, Miracle Day (2011), the character introduces himself as Sergeant Andy Davidson, recognising his promotion. Despite assisting in her Rendition to the Unites States Andy continues to watch out for and assist Gwen's family.

Appearances

Television

Andy first appears in the series première "Everything Changes" (2006) and is present when his police partner Gwen Cooper sustains a head injury, causing him to remain sceptical when she begins tracking Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and Torchwood.^[2] After Gwen joins Torchwood, she meets Davidson again outside a nightclub where a man has been killed by a "sex monster"-possessed woman.^[3] Like Gwen's boyfriend Rhys (Kai Owen), Andy initially believes that she has been promoted to "special ops". He later appears to begrudgingly assist Gwen in series one finale "End of Days" (2007),^[4] and the second series opener "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" (2008).^[5] In "Adrift", Davidson calls Gwen to investigate sudden disappearances in Cardiff, and admonishes her for her hardened perspective. During the episode he reveals his affection for her and resentment toward Rhys, which Gwen learns is his excuse for not attending her wedding.^[6] During "Exit Wounds", Andy helps Gwen in coordinating the police force's response to the bombs planted by Gray (Lachlan Nieober) and Captain John (James Marsters), subsequently working alongside Rhys to keep the attacking alien Weevils out of the police station.^[7]

In Children of Earth (2009), he is present after the Torchwood Hub is blown up. He is ordered by Agent Johnson (Liz May Brice) to lead a team of government hit men to Gwen and Rhys' house. However, Davidson does not believe that Gwen is really a terrorist and subsequently delays Johnson, giving Gwen time to escape.^[8] Two days later he assists Gwen in securing the paperwork to bail Clem McDonald (Paul Copley) from police custody.^[9] After the death of Ianto (Gareth David Lloyd), Gwen's Torchwood colleague, Andy drives Gwen and Rhys to the council estate where Ianto's sister Rhiannon (Katy Wix) lives with her family. He struggles with his duty as he watches the police and the army forcefully seizing children in order to appease the 456 and ultimately discards his uniform to fight alongside rioting civilians against the authorities.^[10] In "The New World" (2011) Andy, now a police sergeant, gets in touch with Gwen and Rhys who are hiding, and informs them that Gwen's father Geraint (William Thomas) is in hospital and should have died, but hasn't due to "Miracle Day". Along with other South Wales police officers he assists with Rex Matheson's (Mekhi Phifer) extradition of Jack and Gwen to the United States.^[11][12] After the Torchwood team have relocated to Washington Jack learns that Andy has had Rhys and daughter Anwen moved to a safe house.^[13] In "The Categories of Life", he attempts to use his sergeant status to extract Gwen's father from an "overflow camp", later regarded as a form of concentration camp, but is unsuccessful.^[14] Andy is later called upon by Esther Drummond (Alexa Havins) to rescue Gwen's family from a hostage situation, shooting one of the captors in the process. He is visibly shaken at his actions, stating that he'd never shot anyone before.^[15] As the Miracle ends, Andy holds the hand of a 15 year old category one girl with no known family as she passes away.^[16]

Literature and audio drama

Non-fiction tie-in The Torchwood Archives claims that Andy and Gwen were partners in the force for four years, prior to the events of Everything Changes and that during that time Andy never made a single criticism of her.^[17] Andy makes additional appearances in Torchwood novels and audio dramas. He encounters Gwen again in the novel Another Life (set during series one) at the scene of Guy Wildman's death, and shows frustration at her evasive replies to his inquiries.^[18] In novel Slow Decay, Rhys phones Andy after the attempted abduction of colleague Lucy Sobel, although Rhys detects from Andy's handling of the situation that Andy doesn't seem to like him.^[19] The novel Trace Memory depicts a flashback of Gwen Cooper's first day partnered alongside him in the Police Force.^[20] Andy also appears in the Torchwood audiobook In the Shadows, where he alerts Gwen to a mysterious case.^[21] Andy (portrayed by Price) also appears in the Torchwood radio play "Asylum", where he alerts Torchwood to the plight of Freda.^[22][23] With all spin-off media, the canonicity of these events is unclear.^[24]

Characterisation

“	"Bet you ten quid they're DNA specialists. It's all DNA these days, like that CSI bollocks. CSI Cardiff, I'd like to see that. They'd be measuring the velocity of a kebab."	”
—Andy in Everything Changes by Russell T Davies

Though the casting call had specified Welsh actors only, the role of Andy was cast to Tom Price, who does not originate from Wales. Price characterises Andy as the sort of police officer who doesn't see much action, typically being more occupied with paperwork.^[25] Andy is shown to be sceptical towards the increasing role of forensics in policing,^[2] and his style is seen to favour a traditional investigative approach.^[6] An earnest individual,^[26] Andy's concern remains human and his appearance in "Adrift" is used to highlight Gwen's development into a harder woman since joining Torchwood.^[27]

In an interview with Doctor Who Magazine, Tom Price states that one of the original producers had originally wanted to kill Andy off in the first series as he was such a peripheral character.^[28] Executive producer Julie Gardner felt that it suited to have Andy return later in the series as it maintains a sense of continuity. She believes that there's a palpable relationship between Gwen and Andy. Director Brian Kelly opines that it makes perfect sense for Andy to return in episode thirteen as "he is the person who would phone Gwen" in a crisis situation.^[29] Eve Myles, who portrays Gwen, believes that Price conveys the humorous aspects of Andy's character "fantastically", which enables her as an actress to understand the friendship between the characters. Myles also feels that Andy plays a crucial part in reminding viewers of Gwen's development; when he reappears "it takes you right back to the beginning, it reminds you where she came from, how Jack found Gwen".^[30] Price enumerates that by the second series Andy is used by the production team as a "pressure valve" to relieve tension.^[28]

2008 episode "Adrift" reveals that Andy has harboured feelings for Gwen over the course of several years, a revelation which Stephen James Walker feels helps add extra depth to the character.^[27] Price, speaking about his character's history, speculates that Andy may once have made a clumsy pass at Gwen when the two of them were first partnered up.^[25] Though he does not fully understand the purpose of their work, Andy generally trusts Torchwood because of Gwen's involvement.^[31] In Children of Earth, Andy even goes against government orders and at one point takes off his police uniform to aid Gwen.^[9][10] Eve Myles feels that Andy "gets his recognition" through his actions in the five part serial.^[26] Price was phoned by Gardner with details of his character's proposed in universe promotion to sergeant a year before it was confirmed that a fourth series would go ahead.^[28]

Reception

The Guardian's "Organ Grinder" reviewer attributes some of the most memorable lines of the premiere episode to those spoken by Andy.^[32] Writer Stephen James Walker opines that Andy maintains the shows link to reality equally as well as Gwen's partner Rhys. Walker describes Price as "a thoroughly likeable and engaging performer with a great lightness of touch, and someone that the viewer is very happy to see more of".^[27] Ben Rawson-Jones praises the external perspective which Andy brings to the Torchwood's operations.^[33] For Walker, Andy's "naive hope" of a position in Torchwood makes him particularly endearing.^[27] After the broadcast of the episode "Exit Wounds", both Airlock Alpha's Alan Stanley Blair and AfterElton's Steven Frank commented favourably on the humorous Rhys/Andy dynamic, each stating that the two could carry their own spin-off.^[34][35] In a review of Children of Earth, Blair describes Andy as "a light hearted joy in such dark times".^[36] Comic Book Resources reviewer Remy Minnick also singles Price out as the surprise performance among the cast, describing his scenes in the final episode as ones "that will bring tears to some eyes".^[37]

Andy's appearances in the series have led to him being described as a "fan favourite" by TV Squad's Catherine Lawson.^[38]

References

1. ^ Miracle Day Cast List
2. ^ ^{a b} "Everything Changes". Russell T Davies, Brian Kelly. Torchwood. BBC Three. 22 August 2006.
3. ^ "Day One". Russell T Davies, Brian Kelly. Torchwood. BBC Three. 22 August 2006.
4. ^ "End of Days". Russell T Davies, Chris Chibnall, Ashley Way. Torchwood. BBC Three. 01 January 2007.
5. ^ "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang". Chris Chibnall, Ashley Way. Torchwood. BBC Two. 16 January 2008.
6. ^ ^{a b} "Adrift". Chris Chibnall, Mark Everest. Torchwood. BBC Three. 19 March 2008.
7. ^ "Exit Wounds". Russell T Davies, Chris Chibnall, Ashley Way. Torchwood. BBC Two. 04 April 2008.
8. ^ "Children of Earth: Day Two". Russell T Davies, John Fay, Euros Lyn. Torchwood. BBC One. 07 July 2009.
9. ^ ^{a b} "Children of Earth: Day Three". Russell T Davies, James Moran, Euros Lyn. Torchwood. BBC One. 08 July 2009.
10. ^ ^{a b} "Children of Earth: Day Five". Russell T Davies, Euros Lyn. Torchwood. BBC One. 09 July 2009.
11. ^ "The New World"". Russell T Davies, Bharat Nalluri. Torchwood. Starz. 08 July 2011.
12. ^ "Rendition"". Doris Egan, Billy Gierhart. Torchwood. Starz. 15 July 2011.
13. ^ "Dead of Night (Torchwood)". Jane Espenson, Billy Gierhart. Torchwood. Starz. 22 July 2011.
14. ^ "The Categories of Life"". Jane Espenson, Guy Ferland. Torchwood. Starz. 05 August 2011.
15. ^ "Immortal Sins". Jane Espenson, Gwyneth Horder-Payton. Torchwood. Starz. 19 August 2011.
16. ^ "The Blood Line". Russell T Davies, Jane Espenson, Billy Gierhart. Torchwood. Starz. 09 September 2011.
17. ^ Russell, Gary (October 2008). The Torchwood Archives. BBC Books. ISBN 9781846074592. 
18. ^ Anghelides, Peter (January 2007). Another Life. BBC Books. ISBN 978-0-563-48655-8. 
19. ^ Lane, Andy (January 2007). Slow Decay. BBC Books. ISBN 978-0-563-48655-8. 
20. ^ Llewwellyn, David (March 2008). Trace Memory. BBC Books. ISBN 184607438X. 
21. ^ Joseph Lidster (author) (September 2008). In the Shadows (Audio book). BBC Audio. 
22. ^ "Torchwood returns to the airwaves". http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchwood/news/090511_radio_shows. Retrieved 13 May 2009. ^{[dead link]}
23. ^ "Network Radio BBC Week 26: Wednesday 1 July 2009". http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/radio/2009/wk26/wed.shtml#wed_afternoon_play. Retrieved 14 June 2009. 
24. ^ Stephen Gray. "The Whoniverse Guide to Canon". Whoniverse.org. http://www.whoniverse.org/features/canon.php. Retrieved 30 December 2006. 
25. ^ ^{a b} "Torchwood: Up Close With Tom Price". BBC Torchwood: Children of Earth official site. http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchwood/behindthescenes/ep05_tom_price.shtml. Retrieved 6 February 2011. 
26. ^ ^{a b} Gabriel, Nivair H (7 February 2009). "Eve Myles: "I Shoot Not One Gun, but Two!"". io9. http://io9.com/#!5148862/eve-myles-i-shoot-not-one-gun-but-two. Retrieved 8 February 2011. 
27. ^ ^{a b c d} Walker, Stephen James (2008). Something in the Darkness. United Kingdom: Telos Publishing Ltd. pp. 213isbn=9781845830243. 
28. ^ ^{a b c} Rudden, Laim (21 September 2011). "Andy Davidson, played by Tom Price". Doctor Who Magazine (438): 32. 
29. ^ Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Brian Kelly (2007). Commentary for Torchwood episode "Everything Changes" (DVD (Region 2)). United Kingdom: BBC. 
30. ^ Eve Myles, Richard Stokes, Chris Chibnall (2007). Commentary for Torchwood episode "Day One" (DVD (Region 2)). United Kingdom: BBC. 
31. ^ "Andy Davidson". BBC Torchwood: Children of Earth official site. http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchwood/characters/pc_andy_davidson.shtml. Retrieved 6 February 2011. 
32. ^ Plunkett, John (19 October 2006). "Farewell Doctor Who, hello Captain Jack". The Guardian. http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/organgrinder/2006/10/farewell_doctor_who_hello_capt.html. Retrieved 20 October 2006. 
33. ^ Rawson-Jones, Ben. "S02E11: 'Adrift'". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s8/torchwood/cultreview/a92066/s02e11-adrift.html. Retrieved 8 February 2011. 
34. ^ "Review: 'Torchwood' - Exit Wounds". AirlockAlpha. 4 April 2008. http://www.airlockalpha.com/node/4901. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
35. ^ "'Torchwood Episode 213 Recap: "Exit Wounds"". AfterElton. 20 April 2008. http://www.afterelton.com/TV/recaps/torchwood/213?page=0%2C1. Retrieved 17 January 2011. 
36. ^ Blair, Alan Stanley (7 July 2009). "Torchwood: Children of Earth Day Two". AirlockAlpha. http://www.airlockalpha.com/node/6494. Retrieved 6 February 2011. 
37. ^ "Review: Torchwood: Children of Earth". 20 July 2009. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22109. Retrieved 8 August 2010. 
38. ^ Lawson, Catherine. "Mekhi Phifer to Star in 'Doctor Who' Spinoff, 'Torchwood: The New World'". tvsquad. http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/12/14/mekhi-phifer-to-star-in-doctor-who-spinoff-torchwood-the-ne/. Retrieved 8 February 2011. 

External links

• Andy Davidson (Torchwood) on TARDIS Index File, an external wiki
• Andy Davidson on the BBC's Torchwood website