"Sleeper" is the second episode of the second series of the British science fiction television series Torchwood, which was first broadcast on BBC Two on 23 January 2008. A specially edited pre-watershed repeat was shown the following day. In the episode, an aliensleeper cell with false memories attacks strategic targets in Cardiff to prepare the Earth for invasion.
Plot
Torchwood is called to investigate fatal injuries sustained by two burglars in the failed attempt to rob a flat owned by Beth Halloran and her husband. They suspect Beth is responsible, though she has no recollection of the events, but willingly goes with the team. When they return to the Hub and place Beth in one of the cells, a nearby Weevil cowers at Beth's presence. Jack suspects there is more to Beth than she lets on, and orders her to undergo a mind probe. After numerous evaluations under the probe, they suddenly discover alien technology buried under Beth's right forearm, allowing it to transform into a bladed weapon that matches the injuries on the burglars; she herself is shocked by its presence. Jack surmises that she is an alien "sleeper agent", yet to be activated by its controller and given the belief it is human through memory transplants. As the same time Torchwood discovers this, other sleeper agents are awakened by a signal, dropping whatever they were doing and setting off for assigned targets and killing those that got in their way. Three of them commit suicide bombings using explosives in the implants, destroying a communications centre and a military pipeline, and killing the Cardiff City Council member in charge of emergency responses. Torchwood learns of these events and quickly leave the Hub to investigate, allowing Beth to escape. She goes to the hospital where her husband was taken, but soon she too is sent a signal and though tries to fight to retain her humanity, accidentally stabs her husband. Jack and Gwen apprehend her, and she agrees to try to help locate any other sleeper agents. Extrapolating from the targets already hit and the signal that Beth has received, Torchwood deduces that the agents are likely targeting a nearby military base that stores nuclear weapons; a bomb detonated in the base would likely wipe out much of the surrounding areas. Jack rushes to stop the sleeper agent, though ends up getting stabbed by the man. The man, unable to reach his target in time, warns that there are numerous other agents around Earth, before his implant explodes harmlessly outside the base. Back at Torchwood, Beth is conflicted with the thoughts that she could kill again. Though the team tries to encourage her that they could help de-program her, she instead uses her implant, transformed into a blade, to threaten Gwen, forcing the others to shoot and kill her. As they deal with Beth's body, Gwen recognises that they will be able to deal with any other sleeper agents that may arrive.
, who plays the Graingers' son, previously appeared as the eight-year-old version of the Master in the 2007 Doctor Who episode "The Sound of Drums". Derek Lea, who plays the Sleeper Agent/Paramedic; also appears as a worker being examined by Martha Jones at the ATMOS factory in the 2008 Doctor Who episode "The Sontaran Stratagem" and as a taxi driver in "Partners in Crime".
Reception
Broadcast at 9pm on BBC 2 on 23 January 2008, the episode achieved 3.4 million viewers, a 14% share, "a solitary share point" down on the share of the season 2 debut episode on 17 January, according to The Guardian's report of overnight returns. BARB later listed the episode as BBC2's top audience draw for week ending 27 January 2008, on a certified estimate of 3.78 million viewers including timeshift.
