Torchwood, The 'adult' Doctor Who spin-off Options

[Mata]

Torchwood seems to be another mixed bag from BBC, although it put on a far better showing than Robin Hood has so-far managed; however, I wish that Russell T. Davies would get over his obsession with family/home life. It's obviously a formula that works for him but I'm watching sci-fi for aliens, guns, and explosions, not to see an on-going serialisation of a stranger's boyfriend troubles. I realise that I'm supposed to care about her problems, but when it's getting in the way of moe interesting things then that becomes irritating.

Overall I enjoyed the two episodes, the second more than the first, but it's already showing soap-opera trends that worry me; episode one, we've got a load of alien devices that could lead to some interesting things, and a woman who's clearly in line for boyfriend troubles. By the end of the episode, all of the alien devices have been neatly contained, but there's still the woman who's clearly in line for boyrfriend troubles. What's wrong with making the alien stuff the core of the plot, not the home life of the characters? It worked for Star Trek!

On the subject of alien stuff: the effects were pretty good, especially the Weevil's face, and the set design was reasonably decent too. Thank goodness this is an 'adult' series so we won't have to suffer flatulent aliens.

The 'adult' stuff was used reasonably well, although a little self-consciously. Swearing in the first two minutes, blood all over the screen ten minutes later, then a second episode featuring fairly graphic sex and a very long lesbian kiss... The justification for the sex-alien was pretty slim, but it mostly worked okay, I felt.

Their twists for Jack are interesting, and the other characters are all quite fun too, so I've got hopes that this series may get really good if the writer can just stop blabbering on about the policewoman's boyfriend who doesn't understand her and concentrate on the alien stuff and Jack's murky history.

[I_am_the_best]

Is an anagram of Doctor Who.

[Mata]

The name came about because they needed a codename for the series tapes when they were being sent around the country during the filming of the first new Doctor Who series. RTD decided he liked the name so much that he should write something about it, and so a spin-off was born!

[Ashbless]

Wasn't it also mentioned in Dr. Who just a while ago. Building and occupants nearly wiped out by simultaneous dialeck and cyberman invation? Lovely little skyscraper/secret complex with the motto "if it's alien, it's ours."

[Mata]

It was mentioned many times in the most recent series. It was the name of the house in the werewolf episode in Scotland featuring Queen Victoria. It was in that episode that she started Torchwood, to make sure that the Doctor stayed out of Britain!

[Tarantio]

I only saw the second episode, but they're both on again loads over the next few days. Just one little crossover note I thought I'd bring up, does anyone other than myself reckon that Jack's disembodied hand-in-a-jar is the one that the Doctor lost in the Christmas special? Wouldn't it make sense that he was trying to find the Doctor again in some way, and this was his only lead? hmm...

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

I only saw the second episode, but they're both on again loads over the next few days. Just one little crossover note I thought I'd bring up, does anyone other than myself reckon that Jack's disembodied hand-in-a-jar is the one that the Doctor lost in the Christmas special? Wouldn't it make sense that he was trying to find the Doctor again in some way, and this was his only lead? hmm...

I read an article in the Radio Times (hey! it's boring at work!), it is. So ner.

Edit: Incidently...bugger, I missed it.

[Mata]

does anyone other than myself reckon that Jack's disembodied hand-in-a-jar is the one that the Doctor lost in the Christmas special? Wouldn't it make sense that he was trying to find the Doctor again in some way, and this was his only lead? hmm...

Oooo! Get you, Mr. Smarty-pants! Well deduced, Holmes. That either makes you very clever, waaaaay geekier than me, or both Reading it in the Radio Times is just cheating!

[Matthew]

I so, so wanted to love this show...

When all the speculation was rife, and rumours were being drip fed to the press of an 'adult' Dr Who spin off, I was excited, thinking at long last there would be a serious sci-fi drama produced by the beeb.

I enjoyed it, but on the strength of the two episodes shown, 'adult' seems to mean rude words and pointless graphic sex acts!

Not offended by it, just hoped to see it handled in less of a nudge nudge wink kinda way.
It seems we Brits still can't get our heads around Sci-fi tv being more than family entertainment...

[JimiJimi]

I don't watch much TV, so I'm no sure what the average number of snogs-per-episode is, but I'm sure Torchwood is pushing it a bit.

I've also noticed that Russell T. Davies likes to make people run upstairs at very steep camera angles at quite random times.

I can't really judge it when it's only two episodes in, but what I've seen so far is... OK.

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

Ok, seen it now. S'ok, but I've noticed that episodes of Dr Who seem to be better when they're not actually written by Russel T. Davis. Hopefully, this will prove to be true with Torchwood, his writing is a little oversexed.

There's nothing wrong with reading the Radio Times, especially but only when you're bored and no one wants beer.

[Mata]

RTD has a complete obsession with long-term relationships, preferably family relationships, but dating ones are fine too. I find that this tends to overshadow his writing, so that all genres are twisted to seem like soap-operas. Admittedly, more people watch soap-operas than sci-fi, so he's made sci-fi seem more popular by mixing the two, but sometimes I just want to see big rubber aliens sucking out people's brains without having to worry if the hero is going to miss the important dinner with their boyfriend.

[Mata]

the hero is going to miss the important dinner with their boyfriend.

It's like I'm psychic! Last night she was late for dinner! Spooky!

Ignoring the predictability of the 'missing a dinner date' plot-line, I thought last night's episode was pretty good sci-fi. It had death, morality, and time-travel stuff - all the key ingredients for sci-fi! My hopes for this series are mostly restored, but it does still seem to be struggling to decide who it's aimed at: some of the dialogue seems to be aimed at children, but then they have plot-lines about rape. Wierd.

[Mata]

Scary fairies have been done before, but last night's episode was really rather good. I think it helps that the series is becoming a lot more centred around Jack and the decisions he has to make rather than the slightly annoying ex-cop lady.

[Faerieryn]

I loved the last few episodes> last weeks one was so scary I ould barely watch!!!


I'm BACK!!!!!!!!

[Star_of_Lei]

Welcome back Ryn

And torchwood nooooooooo, my 'brother' and 'sister' adore it, I however, watched the beginning of the episode with the faeries, saw the dood spitting up petals and thought ak god no! I'm too young to die out of boredom and crap plots. So I didth runneth away and hide under piles of duvets and channel flicking.