Rex Matheson
| Rex Matheson | |
|---|---|
| Torchwoodcharacter | |
| First appearance | "The New World"(2011) |
| Last appearance | "The Blood Line" (2011) |
| Portrayed by | Mekhi Phifer |
| In-universe information | |
| Affiliation | Central Intelligence Agency Torchwood Institute |
| Home era | Early 21st century |
Agent Rex Matheson,portrayed byMekhi Phifer,is a fictional character in theBBCtelevision programmeTorchwood,aspin-offfrom the long-running seriesDoctor Who.Phifer was one of three American actors to joinTorchwoodin its fourth series,Torchwood: Miracle Day(2011), as part of a then-new co-production betweenTorchwood's British network,BBC One,and its American financiers on US premium television networkStarz.
Rex is introduced by series producerRussell T Daviesas a means of introducing new American audiences to the established world ofTorchwood.Within the series' narrative, Rex is a high-flying agent for theCentral Intelligence Agency(CIA) who begins to investigateTorchwoodafter being personally affected by a global supernatural event. Rex's role as a second male hero in the series leads him to clash with returning male leadCaptain Jack Harkness(John Barrowman). He eventually becomes immortal in the same vein as Harkness.
Appearances
[edit]Television
[edit]Rex first appears inMiracle Day's premiere episode, "The New World".Rex finds himself impaled but survives, and discovers no one in the whole world can die anymore. He and CIA coworkerEsther Drummond(Alexa Havins) begin investigating the defunct BritishTorchwood Institute,which leads him to discover its last-surviving agents: former time travelerCaptain Jack Harkness(John Barrowman) and a Welsh young motherGwen Cooper(Eve Myles).[1]After renditioning Jack and Gwen to the United States, Rex realises that due to his knowledge of Torchwood, he has been set up and betrayed by the CIA and goes into hiding with the Torchwood team.[2]In "Dead of Night",he continues to rely onVera Juarez(Arlene Tur) for medical attention for his chest wound, despite being in hiding. The two begin a sexual relationship and he subsequently enlists her to spy for the resconsituted Torchwood team.[3]Rex is horrified when Vera is later burned alive whilst undercover on a mission in San Pedro and whilst trying to escape with evidence of the crime he is captured and tortured by her murderer,Colin Maloney(Marc Vann). He is rescued by Esther,[4]whom he subsequently aids in saving Jack and Gwen from a hostage scenario.[5]Rex clears his name with the CIA by exposing the real traitorBrian Friedkin(Wayne Knight) and rejoins the organisation whilst Gwen, Jack and Esther go back into hiding.[6]In the series finale Rex travels toBuenos Airesto meet Esther, whilst Jack and Gwen head toShanghai,each pair seeking one of two access points tothe Blessing[broken anchor],anantipodalgeological formation connected to the Earth'smorphic field.Flashbacks reveal that Esther has transfused Rex with Jack's mortal blood; by releasing this blood the two men are able to reset the human morphic field and restore death. At Esther's funeral Rex discovers that he has acquired Jack's self healing abilities when he is shot by the Families' CIA moleCharlotte(Marina Benedict) and resurrects.[7]
Literature
[edit]TheTorchwoodnovelThe Men Who Sold The WorldbyGuy Adams,released August 2011, focuses primarily on Rex. Adams' novel is aMiracle Daytie-in and prequel. Aspy thriller,The Men Who Sold The Worldfollows the CIA's involvement when the British government sells off Torchwood's collection of weapons to the Americans.SFXreviewer Alasdair Stuart felt that the Adams' "own flair for the unpleasant" highly complimented "cheerfully nasty Rex", and commended Adams for exploring the contradiction between Rex's ruthless goal-drivenness and human goodness, as well as "bravely" exploring the context for his relationship with Esther.[8]
Creation and conception
[edit]Casting calls differed from the final press release; early casting class specified that Matheson was to be played by a White actor, withOne Tree Hill'sChad Michael MurrayandDollhouse'sEnver Gjokajamong those auditioning for the part of Rex.[9]Phifer's casting was reported on 14 December 2010,[10]with a BBC press release confirming this announcement on 8 January 2011.[11]
Davies introduces Rex inMiracle Dayto act as a newaudience surrogatewho initially learn about the disbanded Torchwood Institute, andTorchwood's three-series history, through his investigations, providing an entrance into the new story for new viewers.[12]AHarvard University-educated African American, Rex is described by promotional material as "the embodiment of theAmerican dream";he has been all his life. Rex is" destined for success "and it is said that he could become rich in a variety of career paths, yet opted for the CIA because" he believes in justice and will fight for it ". Rex's charisma is of great use in his line of work:" He can talk his way into anything, then charm his way out, fast. "[11]
Rex joinsTorchwoodinMiracle Daya second male hero in the series. Shantella Sherman-Wi writes: "On first glance, it’s unclear whether theTorchwoodfranchise can handle two powerful and handsome leading men, but Phifer and Barrowman make it work – and look good in the process. "Returning lead Jack Harkness and Rex clash initially, however, because as Phifer puts it, they have" different approaches to things "and Rex has not" figured him out yet ". In part, this owes to Rex's veryblack and white thinking.However, over the course ofMiracle Day,Rex will gradually succumb to the morally grey and obtuse thinking that characterises theTorchwoodworld.[13]Rex also comes into conflict with returningTorchwoodheroine Gwen Cooper, due to them both having strong, outspoken personalities and worldviews. However, series creator Russell T Davies explains that new supporting heroine Esther will play a key role in the two of them becoming friends. Esther is "a very healing force" and "makes everything alright between them" due to her empathetic nature and people skills.[14]
References
[edit]- ^Russell T Davies(writer),Bharat Nalluri(director) (8 July 2011). "The New World".Torchwood.Starz.
- ^Doris Egan(writer),Billy Gierhart(director) (15 July 2011). "Rendition".Torchwood.Starz.
- ^Jane Espenson(writer),Billy Gierhart(director) (22 July 2011). "Dead of Night".Torchwood.Starz.
- ^John Shiban(writer),Guy Ferland(director) (12 August 2011). "The Middle Men".Torchwood.Starz.
- ^Jane Espenson(writer),Gwyneth Horder-Payton(director) (19 August 2011). "Immortal Sins".Torchwood.Starz.
- ^Ryan Scott &Jane Espenson,(writers)Gwyneth Horder-Payton(director) (26 August 2011). "End of the Road".Torchwood.Starz.
- ^Russell T Davies&Jane Espenson(writers),Billy Gierhart(director) (9 September 2011). "The Blood Line".Torchwood.Starz.
- ^Stuart, Alasdair (18 August 2011)."BLOG Torchwood book review".SFX.Retrieved18 August2011.
- ^Ausiello, Michael; Patrick, Andy (22 October 2010)."'Torchwood' Exclusive: 'Dollhouse,' 'Greek, 'One Tree Hill' stars eye key roles ".Entertainment Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon 24 October 2010.Retrieved26 October2010.
- ^Morgan, Sam (14 December 2010)."Mekhi Phifer Joins 'Torchwood'".Hollywood.com. Archived fromthe originalon 3 January 2013.Retrieved15 December2010.
- ^ab"Torchwood cast joined by Independence Day and ER stars".BBC Press Office. 1 January 2011.Retrieved8 July2011.
- ^Jensen, Michael (9 August 2010)."More Details For" Torchwood: The New World "".After Elton.Retrieved8 July2011.
- ^Sherman-Wi, Shantella (2 June 2011)."Mekhi Phifer Joins Cast of Torchwood".Washington Informer.Retrieved12 June2011.
- ^Berriman, Ian (1 June 2011)."Torchwood: Miracle Day – Russell T Davies Interview".SFX.Retrieved8 July2011.
External links
[edit]- Rex MathesononTardis Wiki,theDoctor WhoWiki