I was recently watching again, after many years, the last installment in Nigel Kneale's series, THE QUARTERMASS CONCLUSION (1979), and realized its strong similarities to TORCHWOOD: CHILDREN OF EARTH. While both have entirely different surrounding characterizations, the basic premise and threat, and its explanation, is the same. An alien species, about whom no background is provided, can control the actions of our planet's youth and seeks to "harvest" them -- not for any essential need, but as a sort of "feel-good" drug.
I'd hesitate to link the use of this idea in these two television works, but I assume they must be reflecting plot devices in other stories or novels. Thoughts?
Brian Taves
Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation
Library of Congress
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