Torchwood

[Deleted]

erinnyes said:

And they need to develop some of the characters better. Gwen and Owen are doing pretty well, but Jack's become a bit of a cipher who needs more screen time and the opportunity to voice some of what's going on in his head, and Ianto and Tosh are pretty much set dressing apart from their particular episodes. But really, it should be a proper ensemble show, and all the characters should be better developed.

You know, that's a very good point. Even thought it is (supposed to be) an ensemble series, the one character who we should know more about, the character who bridged the Doctor Whoniverse (sorry!) with the Torchwoodverse is still, indeed, a cipher. And I say that not just because I want to see John Barrowman naked. In my shower.

I watched a couple more episodes last night and really think that the themes and character arcs need to be more solidly entrenched in each episode. They're there, but it seems... I dunno, kind of artless, as if we're being reminded explicitly, rather than shown with subtlety.

I think I'm still liking this show more for what it could be than what is is. Right now, anyway.

How many epsiodes are in this season? Anyone know? I can't seem to get much info from the BBC pages, since non-UK folks are locked out of much of the material.

[laconicchick]

I believe there are 13 episodes, so three left. And it's been picked up for a second season, as well. I have high hopes for one of the last three episodes, since it's called <<"Jack Harkness">> (or... something like that), but somehow I think I will be disappointed. They don't need to tell us everything, but SOME information about what happened to Jack would be really great, and is necessary.

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I think I'm still liking this show more for what it could be than what is is. Right now, anyway.

That's a very good summary of how I'm feeling about it. They absolutely need to build the themes and character arcs into the episodes properly, because it's all over the place at the moment.

Even thought it is (supposed to be) an ensemble series, the one character who we should know more about, the character who bridged the Doctor Whoniverse (sorry!) with the Torchwoodverse is still, indeed, a cipher. And I say that not just because I want to see John Barrowman naked. In my shower.

We all want to see him naked in our showers. Although half naked anywhere would be good too. They're missing prime opportunities here.

But yeah, I tuned into this show for Captain Jack. That was it. I like Gwen, but I didn't start watching because of her, and I certainly didn't give a toss about anyone else. What I wanted to see - what I still want to see - is the story of Captain Jack after the Doctor and Rose left him behind. Captain Jack was one hot and charismatic dude, and he's frankly being wasted at the moment.

Based on IMDB, and the usual length of shows in the UK, I think there are three more episodes. The middle one is called "Captain Jack Harkness", so hopefully that'll be the back story. But I don't call one episode enough, and I don't call "there's something in the dark...it's coming for you, Captain Jack Harkness" particularly good build up.

[Deleted]

So, since "Canadian Broadcasting Corporation" is listed in the end credits as the coproducer of the series, I called up Audience Relations at CBC and asked when Torchwood would be broadcast.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

I patiently explained that it was a Doctor Who spin-off that just happened to be produced by her employer, to which she replied "oh, well, in that case it will probably be shown after the BBC run airs."

"Oh, so you do know that it will air after the BBC run? Is there anyone there who can confirm this?"

"Well, no, but CBC usually broadcasts BBC shows after the BBC does."

Your tax dollars at work.

[laconicchick]

Sigh.

CBC hasn't even been airing Doctor Who lately for whatever reason. They do not appear to be airing the Christmas special this year, and I understand they aired it last year on Boxing Day, so who knows what they are doing. You know, TV people, if you don't want us to obtain your product illegally, you might want to, I don't know, SHOW IT some time. Just a thought.

[svetlanamonsoon]

After watching this past week's episode of Torchwood and seeing Owen have yet more graphic sex with yet another female while Jack was all emo and cryptic I watched The Empty Child/ The Doctor Dances to cheer myself up.

The thing is I can perfectly accept that the trauma of dying, being abanonded by the Doctor and Rose, ending up back on Earth, etc would have knocked the fun out of Jack. I just wish they would explain that and give him something more concrete to do then fulfill RTD's fantasy of turning the Who-verse into a knockoff of the Buffy-verse with Jack as Angel.

I know I sound bitter and it's strange because I am enjoying Torchwood but I'm not enjoying it as much as I want to. It's like they have this almost perfect recipie but instead of letting it cool down and gel together they keep adding in unneccessary ingredients.

[Deleted]

Oh, I can totally buy that Jack's a fundamentally different character now (as much as I enjoyed slutty!Jack), but they need to show us why that is. They hinted at it in the first episode, they really should've made it a consistent build up of hints, but it's been all over the place.

I just wish they would explain that and give him something more concrete to do then fulfill RTD's fantasy of turning the Who-verse into a knockoff of the Buffy-verse with Jack as Angel.

Heh, you know, if they'd do that, it would be fine, because at least Angel was the lead on his own show. And the show was, fundamentally, about him. Whereas Jack was the opener, but he seems to have been shoved into the background. It's like if everyone had come over to Angel to watch Angel, and then the whole show was about Cordelia and Angel was reduced to being only her boss.

I know I sound bitter and it's strange because I am enjoying Torchwood but I'm not enjoying it as much as I want to.

I think we're all having that problem. I know I am. I'm enjoying what I want it to be. It's not a bad show, I just want it to be better, because I know it can be. There's enough talent involved. It's just really ill-focussed, and not making the most of the potential that's there.

[laconicchick]

It's like if everyone had come over to Angel to watch Angel, and then the whole show was about Cordelia and Angel was reduced to being only her boss.

And it's not even really that, because Cordelia was at least a character from Buffy, and Gwen is entirely new. Gwen is not as interesting as Jack could be, and I wish they would get it through their heads. I don't think we need a Rose-like character (one for the audience to identify with) when most of the audience is watching because they already know Jack. I don't dislike Gwen, and she's gotten better with time, but she is not fascinating.

[svetlanamonsoon]

laconicchick said:

I don't dislike Gwen, and she's gotten better with time, but she is not fascinating.

Agreed. She's very one note and cartoony at times and she doesn't seem to be a very good investigator.

I can understand wanting that "Rose Tyler/ brings a human touch to the strangeness around them" character but the difference is Rose was a very young shop girl who had every excuse in the world for being bumbling and naive. Gwen is older and supposedly a smart person who was good at her job but what we're getting is another bumbling and naive person which doesn't fit at all.

To show I'm not all piss and vinegar when it comes to this show I will say this. I adore Ianto and I thought the supermarket scene from last week's episode was very well written and insanely funny.

[laconicchick]

Oh, the supermarket was the best part. I laughed throughout the whole thing (well, until the "SMOKING KILLS" "What does this mean?" That was just sad). "Yes, bananas are far more interesting." "Welcome to the wonderful world of half-naked celebrities. ... She is a children's performer." Ianto's facial expressions were priceless. I think he's underused, but then again, knowing this show, it's probably for the best. We don't want him to become too one-note.

I enjoy this show while I'm watching it, but I can't let myself think about it too much or I get disappointed at how they're wasting all that potential.

I changed my icon to a Torchwood Christmas one. I think in a couple of days I will change to Christmas TARDIS, but this photoshoot (and the icons someone made) was too adorable and tacky to resist. John Barrowman's sweater is awesome.