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25 Oct 2006
Last Sunday, we watched the first couple of episodes of Torchwood---the spin-off series from Doctor Who. I wasn't sure whether it would be any good, though I liked the character of Captain Jack, once he lost his slightly smarmy edge. The programme is billed as being an 'adult' version of Doctor Who, and they certainly made the most of that status in the first couple of episodes, with swearing, blood and guts, and sex aplenty. It's not really necessary, to be honest, because Doctor Who (at least the first series with Christopher Eccleston), managed to be funny, scary and sexy without being at all explicit. Nevertheless, the freedom they get from being shown post-watershed does give Torchwood a grittier, darker feel than Doctor Who.
I think we'll have to get used to the chracters who make up the members of Torchwood---a secret (or not so secret---the police and army seem to know who they are) organisation collecting and analysing alien technology---over a few episodes. Apart from Jack Harkness (who seems more serious and angry than we last saw him in Doctor Who---being killed by a Dalek probably does that to you), the other characters have yet to really establish themselves. However, Gwen Cooper (played by Eve Myles), a policewoman who ends up joining Torchwood when she accidentally finds out about them, is excellent. She's feisty, intelligent, stubborn and full of empathy for others.
There were some nice moments of humour in the first couple of episodes (the crack about CSI: Cardiff was excellent), some good twists and mysteries, and it generally left me with the feeling that I'd like to see more. By the way, the set of the Hub is pretty wonderful---hi-tech meets Victorian engineering. If you missed it last week, it's also being shown tonight at 9pm on BBC 2.
2
"He came , and went" - As good a one liner as I've heard in a while.
You've been watching Spooks again Bsag?
by Jonathan Briggs @ 25/10/2006 8:11 pm • Permalink •
3
ugh. "apart from", not "despite".
by Michael Houghton @ 25/10/2006 9:10 pm • Permalink •
4
I don't think the police and army are meant to know who they are. I interpreted it like that American drama concept of people blindly accepting assumed authority rather than risking challenging it (c.f. that crappy Sam Neill Bermuda Triangle thing). It's a common enough idea in drama - that in really exceptional circumstances, the chain of command is so confused that people will accept imposters as authorities.
Or maybe their 'fixer upper' guy is responsible - he has to be there in the cast for some reason yet unrevealed (despite gay subtext - 'looks good in a suit').
Did you spot the Silence Of The Lambs reference when Gwen was first introduced to the "weevil" or whatever it was called?
I can't believe I'm discussing a Doctor Who spinoff on the internet. I need to get out more. Quite good though, wasn't it - and refreshingly British.
by Michael Houghton @ 25/10/2006 9:11 pm • Permalink •
5
OK, I was about to post on this myself, but you've said most of it so I'll comment here instead 
I really enjoyed it. I noticed a couple of things, though. Firstly, I think the first two episodes were a little too self-consciously trying to be "adult" with the sex/violence etc. Secondly, I think I'm beginning to notice a RTD "style" - the focus on the mundane / ordinary detail (he wrote about this in The Times at the weekend, how he wants to tie the everyday world in to his sci-fi drama), and also the first episode was somewhat like Doctor Who's "Rose" in construction.
Totally watchable though, I'm going to enjoy this series I think...
6
I'm enjoying it so far - the second episode seemed slightly sillier than the first, but all the same, it's good fun to watch.
And far better than Robin bloody Hood. How that got on to Bbc1 I shall never know.
Oh, and a piece of trivia that I'm probably the last one on earth to realise is that "Torchwood" is an anagram of "Doctor Who".
7
Oh no you weren't........
by Jonathan Briggs @ 26/10/2006 4:11 pm • Permalink •
8
Birchscrub: I don't know, I think parts of Cardiff look quite glamourous, but then I live in Birmingham 
Jonathan Briggs: Yes, that was a good one. Yes, I can't seem to keep away from the elegant nonsense that is Spooks. I do wish they hadn't split up Ruth and Harry, though.
Michael Houghton: I did wonder if Jack was going to produce the Doctor's psychic paper to convince them of his credentials. That, or use some kind of Jedi mind trick. I actually thought that the way Gwen looked at the weevil was rather interesting (notwithstanding the Silence of the Lambs reference). She didn't really look disgusted or horrified, but looked into its eyes with some sympathy, as if looking for a spark of intelligence or goodness. Yes, it is all horribly geeky. You'll be playing Dungeons and Dragons before you know it 
andyp: I know what you mean, but I think they went with a big splash for the opening episodes, and it will probably calm down a bit.
Lyle: I agree: Robin Hood is total pants. Charlie Brooker's comment about Robin being so young he must have gone to the Holy Land as a foetus was what made me nearly bust my surgical staples a week ago or so.
9
Charlie Brooker's a god, so far as I'm concerned.
Last week's excellent vituperative rant about X-factor was fantastic. And yes, the slagging of Robin Hood was fine too.
I also liked Sam Woolaston's TV review on Monday in the Grauniad about Robin Hood, which was roughly
Two weeks ago I recommended Robin Hood. Having just sat through the third episode of sub-70's-drama script, dodgy effects, and am-dram acting, I can only apologise. I was wrong
10
Charlie Brooker is somehow able to read my thoughts and articulate them far better than I ever could, so I shall simply post a link, saving me tons of time:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguide/columnists/story/0,,1932445,00.html
by Leroy @ 29/10/2006 8:10 am • Permalink •
11
I've only watched the first one, and the Gwen Cooper character was what kept me watching for sure.
My husband said: "Are they going to stand on top of iconic buildings in Cardiff in every episode or what? Won't they run out soon?"
12
Could I first point out that parking comments on Robin Hood which is very much a children's story, gets away from the Sci-Fi of Torchwood. Torchwood has "taken off" with a little bit of a stutter, I thought. Jack has not yet settled into his role as the recognised leader and I did not catch any lib that this was apparent to the cast. These small errors have not really got in the way of the cast who are very professional mainly, determined to push their character into the line of fire. This has given us some peezaz and while the entry of Gwen was a good start, the second episode dealing with the hugely important entry of a Cyberbeing was, I thought a couple of episodes too early. This is bearing in mind that Torchwood should be in that category which is for the early adult, not 14+. Jack can then stop sounding rather hysterical and settle into being strong and his direction would not need childish looks from the cast and there would be no need for the character who wanted to save the poor lady that became assimilated, to cry his eyes out. Excellent acting though. Now that is not good for the under 12's because it is not that type of emotion that we want to sink into. Somebody spotted the Hub was out of the Victorian era and therefore could be used as an urgent move when something (Alien situations) forces them to move. Here I am writing an appropriate story. Sorry. Bye.
by Ashley Tyrrell @ 09/11/2006 6:31 pm • Permalink •
13
i think torchwood in canarywolf is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1
I think it suffered a little from too much hype. I think i might have enjoyed it more if I had stumbled across it unannounced. I was particularly taken with an article on the bbc website the previous week about it be Russell T Davies' "love letter ot Cardiff" and how he was trying to film it in an NYPD/CSI style with big swooshy views over the cityscape. Not sure it worked that well with back to back terraces! I think it will improve as I get more into the style of programme, and away from the hype.
by Birchscrub @ 25/10/2006 7:10 pm • Permalink •