Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => Arts and Entertainment => Topic started by: Charlotte on 04 April, 2008, 09:55:32 pm

Title: Torchwood
Post by: Charlotte on 04 April, 2008, 09:55:32 pm
Oh. My. Gods.

That was utterly, utterly brilliant.

*shouts*

Dez! We need spoiler tags and we need them now!

:D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 04 April, 2008, 09:59:23 pm
Aye.

Hard and slushy at the same time.  Not sure about the power station stuff ;)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Charlotte on 04 April, 2008, 10:02:09 pm
What - are you saying Tosh shouldn't have been able to re-route the power to the cooling systems from her jury-rigged, illegally-hacked, hand-held, alien-technology palmtop?

::-)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 04 April, 2008, 10:07:22 pm
No no.  That's fine.  D'uh

It's the design of power station that means that the molten fuel vents into the control room that I suspect is a bit unrealistic.  That and a power station that goes critical when the grid is disconnected...outside Russia
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: PaulF on 04 April, 2008, 10:32:01 pm

*shouts*

Dez! We need spoiler tags and we need them now!

:D

Um
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: redshift on 04 April, 2008, 10:33:13 pm
It's the design of power station that means that the molten fuel vents into the control room that I suspect is a bit unrealistic.

Um.  Missed the programme, but I think the phrase you're looking for is "Biological Shield."  :)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 04 April, 2008, 10:35:53 pm
Yes but tech that's got a triple failsafe doesn't work so well on telly :)

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 04 April, 2008, 10:36:29 pm
Um.  Missed the programme, but I think the phrase you're looking for is "Biological Shield."  :)


Indeed. I was once an employee of NRPB :)

It's the concept of a system that deliberately dumps the fuel directly into the control room that I struggled with.  Maybe it's just me, but every power station I've been to has the control room outside the containment...


Aaach, so literal :)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 04 April, 2008, 11:39:36 pm
Oh bugger, I forgot it was on. :'(

Still, there will probably be an AVI of it available... somewhere... <cough> (http://jakal.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/smilies/whistle3.gif)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Charlotte on 04 April, 2008, 11:43:52 pm
BBC iPlayer?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 05 April, 2008, 12:10:34 am
BBC iPlayer?

Something almost like (http://isohunt.com/torrents/Torchwood?ihs1=2&iho1=d&iht=1) that (http://azureus.sourceforge.net/).
(http://jakal.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/smilies/cough.gif)
(http://jakal.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/smilies/eyebrows.gif)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Adam on 05 April, 2008, 08:54:04 am
Quote of the week:-

Captain John-  "Why is it no-one's interested, until there are chains involved?"  :evil:
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 05 April, 2008, 07:00:35 pm
I just watched the last two episodes back to back, which ended with the announcer saying that Dr Who was back at 6-20 on Saturday... and this was at 6-30. :o

I felt that they were both rather dark...

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 05 April, 2008, 08:07:04 pm
Tosh will come back with a cyborg intestine, and Owen will start to haunt the place before rematerialising as a blue, naked, Doc Tiger Bay.  That's my prediction.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: gonzo on 06 April, 2008, 09:14:26 pm
Will it be as be as good without them?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 06 April, 2008, 09:33:01 pm
Well, I was never that keen on Owen anyway, I found him a little to irascible and smug.  The episode before last does seem to partially explain how he got that way.  If Tosh is gone permanently though, I'll miss her.  Hopefully they'll replace her with some more totty another strong female lead.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 06 July, 2009, 10:26:28 pm
ZOMFGBBQ!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 06 July, 2009, 10:32:25 pm
I loved the comments about crossing the Bridge :)

It seemed more Welsh than usual. Damn fine stuff, too. I wonder how it'll play in the US.  "Hello gay boy.... "

Also a nice nod to Gavin and Stacy: "What's occurin' ?"
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: simonp on 06 July, 2009, 11:27:38 pm
Is there new Torchwood then?  When's the repeat?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 06 July, 2009, 11:30:25 pm
Dunno about a repeat

Five episodes; it's on every night this week.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: urban_biker on 07 July, 2009, 11:29:43 am
I caught the first of the five last night and it was probably the best  Torchwood I've ever seen. If they can keep the quality going for 5 episodes I'm going to be glued to this all week.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 07 July, 2009, 11:58:29 am
It's obviously available on iPlayer (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ln5cv/Torchwood_Children_of_Earth_Day_One/).  The radio programmes (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search/radio/?q=Torchwood) last week weren't bad either

I thought that it was a rather good episode, it'll certainly be interesting to see where the storyline goes. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: JohnP on 07 July, 2009, 12:06:01 pm
First Torchwood that I've ever seen and I thought it was CRAP.  Hopefully I can arrange to be out of the house when SWMBO watches the next 4 episodes.

btw I can't stand Dr Who either.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Spinners on 07 July, 2009, 01:16:49 pm
A great start last night, I loved it. Mind you, it's a pity that Mr. R.T. Davies felt it necessary to, once again, work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn.

Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 07 July, 2009, 01:26:35 pm
On the contrary, I thought that aspect gave the "lockdown" scene an extra edge, as did the other aspect involving Gwen (MV avoids spoiling the story too much for those who've not yet watched it ;)).  If you've only got 3 key players, it's not a bad way to add a bit of love interest.

I thought the scene with Ianto's brother-in-law was hilarious.

Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: mattc on 07 July, 2009, 01:28:25 pm
The radio programmes (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search/radio/?q=Torchwood) last week weren't bad either
DIdn't listen to a whole one, but one major plus for the radio shows - MUCH less needless music.

Is there any other TV prog (or movie) that has as many minutes music per hour of program?!?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Regulator on 07 July, 2009, 02:15:08 pm
Ianto's put on a bit of weight.  Shacking up with Cap'n Jack obviously suits him...  ;)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: urban_biker on 07 July, 2009, 02:27:52 pm

I thought the scene with Ianto's brother-in-law was hilarious.



+1 to that  ;D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Zoidburg on 07 July, 2009, 05:04:07 pm
A great start last night, I loved it. Mind you, it's a pity that Mr. R.T. Davies felt it necessary to, once again, work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn.


Aliens when they make contact will turn out to be gayers.

I am afraid you are just going to have to learn to deal with the gay galaxy, and possibly some probing.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Regulator on 07 July, 2009, 05:14:31 pm
A great start last night, I loved it. Mind you, it's a pity that Mr. R.T. Davies felt it necessary to, once again, work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn.



Whaddya mean "...work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn..."?  The Ianto/Cap'n Jack Shagfest has been a part of Torchwood since day one.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Zoidburg on 07 July, 2009, 05:18:45 pm
A great start last night, I loved it. Mind you, it's a pity that Mr. R.T. Davies felt it necessary to, once again, work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn.



Whaddya mean "...work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn..."?  The Ianto/Cap'n Jack Shagfest has been a part of Torchwood since day one.
I think you may find they started off with a bit of red hot girl on girl action.

Or so I have been told.

 ::-)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 07 July, 2009, 05:22:55 pm
A great start last night, I loved it. Mind you, it's a pity that Mr. R.T. Davies felt it necessary to, once again, work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn.



Whaddya mean "...work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn..."?  The Ianto/Cap'n Jack Shagfest has been a part of Torchwood since day one.

I hate to be the Torchwood nerd, but remember Ianto had his secret girlfriend in the basement? He was trying to save her but she had become dangerous/out-of-control. Then in season 2, suddenly, Ianto and Captain Jack start snogging. 'Where the bleeding hell did that come from?' I wondered, it just seemed totally out of context from the script.

Anyone noticed the way that John Barrowman runs? Bloody hilarious  :D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Regulator on 07 July, 2009, 05:25:27 pm
A great start last night, I loved it. Mind you, it's a pity that Mr. R.T. Davies felt it necessary to, once again, work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn.



Whaddya mean "...work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn..."?  The Ianto/Cap'n Jack Shagfest has been a part of Torchwood since day one.

I hate to be the Torchwood nerd, but remember Ianto had his secret girlfriend in the basement? He was trying to save her but she had become dangerous/out-of-control. Then in season 2, suddenly, Ianto and Captain Jack start snogging. 'Where the bleeding hell did that come from?' I wondered, it just seemed totally out of context from the script.

Anyone noticed the way that John Barrowman runs? Bloody hilarious  :D

You need to go back and watch the first series again.  ;)

Ianto had his 'girlfriend' in the basement but he was also having his wicked way with Jack.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Zoidburg on 07 July, 2009, 05:25:49 pm
A great start last night, I loved it. Mind you, it's a pity that Mr. R.T. Davies felt it necessary to, once again, work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn.



Whaddya mean "...work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn..."?  The Ianto/Cap'n Jack Shagfest has been a part of Torchwood since day one.

I hate to be the Torchwood nerd, but remember Ianto had his secret girlfriend in the basement? He was trying to save her but she had become dangerous/out-of-control. Then in season 2, suddenly, Ianto and Captain Jack start snogging. 'Where the bleeding hell did that come from?' I wondered, it just seemed totally out of context from the script.

Anyone noticed the way that John Barrowman runs? Bloody hilarious  :D
You would run funny as well if Ianto had just given you a merciless back-scuttling.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 07 July, 2009, 05:28:20 pm
A great start last night, I loved it. Mind you, it's a pity that Mr. R.T. Davies felt it necessary to, once again, work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn.



Whaddya mean "...work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn..."?  The Ianto/Cap'n Jack Shagfest has been a part of Torchwood since day one.

I hate to be the Torchwood nerd, but remember Ianto had his secret girlfriend in the basement? He was trying to save her but she had become dangerous/out-of-control. Then in season 2, suddenly, Ianto and Captain Jack start snogging. 'Where the bleeding hell did that come from?' I wondered, it just seemed totally out of context from the script.

Anyone noticed the way that John Barrowman runs? Bloody hilarious  :D

You need to go back and watch the first series again.  ;)

Ianto had his 'girlfriend' in the basement but he was also having his wicked way with Jack.

I know there was some flirtation going on, but not full on action, blimey the tart  :D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 07 July, 2009, 08:29:52 pm
A great start last night, I loved it. Mind you, it's a pity that Mr. R.T. Davies felt it necessary to, once again, work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn.



Whaddya mean "...work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn..."?  The Ianto/Cap'n Jack Shagfest has been a part of Torchwood since day one.

And there have been straight storylines in it since day one as well.

I wonder if the end of last night's episode is how Jack ends up as the Face of Bo in a big glass tank. Will the rest of the episodes see Ianto wheeling him around in his tank on a wheelbarrow?


Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 07 July, 2009, 09:00:57 pm
A great start last night, I loved it. Mind you, it's a pity that Mr. R.T. Davies felt it necessary to, once again, work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn.



Whaddya mean "...work a gay storyline into an otherwise ripping yarn..."?  The Ianto/Cap'n Jack Shagfest has been a part of Torchwood since day one.

And there have been straight storylines in it since day one as well.

I wonder if the end of last night's episode is how Jack ends up as the Face of Bo in a big glass tank. Will the rest of the episodes see Ianto wheeling him around in his tank on a wheelbarrow?




Haha - love this - look old damn you Captain Jack, for the sake of your daughter!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 07 July, 2009, 09:59:14 pm
Well, that was interesting, but I really want to see the next episode now!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Mike J on 07 July, 2009, 10:06:32 pm
Well, that was interesting, but I really want to see the next episode now!

It's such a pain having to wait, but it makes it worthwile  :)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Cunobelin on 07 July, 2009, 10:09:22 pm
Well - "They" will be here tomorrow!

I absolutely loved the "We want a Pony" chant..
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 07 July, 2009, 10:19:21 pm
I really think tonight's episode was a bit far-fetched.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Deano on 07 July, 2009, 10:53:57 pm
I watched most of the first series of Torchwood, which was OK, but not enough to make me watch anything else.

I happened to catch the first episode of this last night, and I've been gripped.  Although tonight I did want them to just get on with it instead of wasting so much time with the Jack's-dead-Jack's-alive sub-plot.  I suppose they have 5 hours to fill.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: tonycollinet on 07 July, 2009, 11:05:20 pm
First class stuff. Brilliant last night, and good tonight even if it is a bit of a filler episode.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: gonzo on 07 July, 2009, 11:15:58 pm
I really think tonight's episode was a bit far-fetched.
Jack's immortality I can deal with. A simple balancing system with the JCB on the other hand I have large issues with.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 07 July, 2009, 11:19:22 pm
Yes, that was what I was struggling with, plus how did Ianto know where and when to go, and how did that digger thing dig out that concrete block? Jack's immortality is obvious - Rose filled him with gold light from the heart of the TARDIS.

Maybe Torchwood should team up with Spooks for a really good cross-over!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: gonzo on 08 July, 2009, 04:54:00 pm
Yes, that was what I was struggling with, plus how did Ianto know where and when to go, and how did that digger thing dig out that concrete block? Jack's immortality is obvious - Rose filled him with gold light from the heart of the TARDIS.

Maybe Torchwood should team up with Spooks for a really good cross-over!

How would they write off Jack though?

Removing the block of concrete confused me too. Oh, and when the concrete broke in half, it should have pulled Jack apart too. I'm fine with the aliens, just leave the basic laws of science alone eh?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 08 July, 2009, 04:57:23 pm
He got the plug of set concrete out of his lungs pretty easily too, all things considered. 
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Regulator on 08 July, 2009, 05:02:09 pm
Yes, that was what I was struggling with, plus how did Ianto know where and when to go, and how did that digger thing dig out that concrete block? Jack's immortality is obvious - Rose filled him with gold light from the heart of the TARDIS.

Maybe Torchwood should team up with Spooks for a really good cross-over!

How would they write off Jack though?

Removing the block of concrete confused me too. Oh, and when the concrete broke in half, it should have pulled Jack apart too. I'm fine with the aliens, just leave the basic laws of science alone eh?

Why do you think it should have pulled him apart?  Concrete doesn't adhere particularly well to skin.  The forces exerted on the body as a whole would have depended on the position his body was at in the concrete.  If his arms were by his side, then the concrete shell could fairly easily have cracked around the outline - it would only have been a real problem if his arms and legs were outstretched.

OK, the caustic chemical make up of concrete may have irritated his body somewhat, but that's very different from 'pulling it apart'.


He got the plug of set concrete out of his lungs pretty easily too, all things considered.  

Why would he have a plug of concrete in his lungs?  He saw the concrete coming.  He could have held his breath, knowing that if he died he'd regenerate anyway.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 08 July, 2009, 05:45:29 pm
You would also think that there's a good chance that the concrete hitting the ground, and smashing apart would have broken some bones, which would hurt and/or make mobility difficult for a short while, presumably until the bones repaired themselves.  He just got up and wandered over to the car.

Ah well, I guess it makes better TV that way, poetic license etc

I imagine that they needed something more dramatic, and faster, than some guys with pneumatic drills, and ten minutes of the programme involving them carefully removing the concrete. ;D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: delthebike on 08 July, 2009, 05:51:05 pm
It very nearly switched back on my, suspended, disbelief.

Too much sand in the mix.  ::-)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: gonzo on 08 July, 2009, 05:55:35 pm
Why do you think it should have pulled him apart?  Concrete doesn't adhere particularly well to skin.  The forces exerted on the body as a whole would have depended on the position his body was at in the concrete.  If his arms were by his side, then the concrete shell could fairly easily have cracked around the outline - it would only have been a real problem if his arms and legs were outstretched.
I was about to argue the point, then I realised how silly that would have been!

There's also the fact that it would have trapped the hair inside!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 08 July, 2009, 06:39:30 pm
Quick set concrete doesn't set properly quickly. Errr what I mean is that while it may set, the strength is low until left to cure for a bit. How did Ianto know when to do it? When the alarms went off, + a few minutes faffing. How he got the concrete block out in one undamaged part is something else though.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: delthebike on 08 July, 2009, 08:42:52 pm
They only collected a couple of pieces so how many Jacks are growing in the rubble? 
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 08 July, 2009, 08:48:06 pm
Yay for the army of naked Captain Jacks!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: toekneep on 08 July, 2009, 08:49:05 pm
They only collected a couple of pieces so how many Jacks are growing in the rubble? 

I hope they don't go down that road, I am very easily confused by the simplest of storylines. Multiple versions of the same character would simply be too much for me.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 08 July, 2009, 09:35:01 pm
Ooer what do the 456 really look like?  Gagging for the reveal!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: rogerzilla on 08 July, 2009, 09:36:51 pm
Why would he have a plug of concrete in his lungs?  He saw the concrete coming.  He could have held his breath, knowing that if he died he'd regenerate anyway.
I'm going to use this as a feeble excuse to pea roast this:


Concrete Enema
 (http://www.well.com/~cynsa/cement.html)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 08 July, 2009, 10:01:04 pm
Oooh that was good. I wants the next episode now.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: bumper on 08 July, 2009, 10:03:04 pm
10% seems reasonable.

I hate kids and it not as bad as the VAT & Taxmans percentage  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 08 July, 2009, 10:03:24 pm
Ooer what do the 456 really look like?  Gagging for the reveal!

I can't help thinking that it's an impressively cunning advertising campaign by On-One (http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_456_30.html). ;D

It's an alien life-form based on bicycle frames!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Spinners on 08 July, 2009, 10:21:52 pm
A much better episode tonight  :thumbsup:

I'll forgive the scriptwriters for the line from Frobisher when he introduced himself to the 456 as [insert pompous job title here] "of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland" (sic).
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: delthebike on 08 July, 2009, 10:25:01 pm
I can't help thinking that it's an impressively cunning advertising campaign by On-One (http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_456_30.html). ;D

It's an alien life-form based on bicycle frames!
I'm overfilled with green bile too!  :sick:
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: toekneep on 09 July, 2009, 06:31:48 am
They don't seem to travel well do they?

I watched the first couple of episodes of Torchwood when it was launched but it didn't do much for me. I have to say that I'm really gripped by this. I presume this is the precursor to a new series on BBC1 based on it's growing success.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Moloko on 09 July, 2009, 10:54:15 am


There's also the fact that it would have trapped the hair inside!

AKA a Portland Brazilian.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: pcolbeck on 09 July, 2009, 10:56:12 am
I watched the first couple of episodes of Torchwood when it was launched but it didn't do much for me. I have to say that I'm really gripped by this. I presume this is the precursor to a new series on BBC1 based on it's growing success.
No according to the RT it was originally going to be a new 13 part series like the last one but BBC1 asked them if they could do it as a 5 part week long event instead. Apparently BBC America (or whatever teh USA arm of teh BBC is called) were livid.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Moloko on 09 July, 2009, 12:12:56 pm

Has 456 got the squits?   :sick:
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 09 July, 2009, 12:34:31 pm
Travel tummy.  I get it flying RyanAir, never mind descending on a pillar of pixels.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Moloko on 09 July, 2009, 12:47:01 pm

Will 456 demand that the children are screened for 'swine flu' before whisking them away?

Tune in folks to next exciting episode...
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Cunobelin on 09 July, 2009, 08:14:04 pm
They don't seem to travel well do they?

I watched the first couple of episodes of Torchwood when it was launched but it didn't do much for me. I have to say that I'm really gripped by this. I presume this is the precursor to a new series on BBC1 based on it's growing success.

Funnily enough my wife has never ever watchd Torchwood (or Dr Who), but caught Monday's episode and is now hooked!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 09 July, 2009, 08:31:32 pm
How long after airing does it appear on iPlayer? Google says soon after but how soon is soon?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 09 July, 2009, 08:38:42 pm

Has 456 got the squits?   :sick:

I thought it might have a cold.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 09 July, 2009, 08:41:24 pm
Why don't they just pump in a gas with the opposite make up and kill the fookers?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Charlotte on 09 July, 2009, 09:19:36 pm
Presumably because there are many more fookers inna spaceship elsewhere.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 09 July, 2009, 10:04:11 pm
How long after airing does it appear on iPlayer? Google says soon after but how soon is soon?

The HD copy is already up, but not the SD one for some reason.


Methinks that Capt Jack is going to be more than a little pissed of with the 456.  Tomorrows episode should be an interesting resolution.

I wonder if they'll ever explain what the children are wanted for, or whether it'll remain a big mystery.  It's not totally central to the plot.

It was kind of interesting to watch the COBRA discussions, you wonder what they would do if a similar scenario did actually happen!  Could they actually decide to do anything different from what they did, Torchwoods intervention aside?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Adam on 09 July, 2009, 10:19:53 pm
Very well written in places.

School league tables....... ::-) ;D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 09 July, 2009, 10:23:53 pm
'kinell!

Torchwood. Average life expectancy similar to that of a Spinal Tap drummer.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: delthebike on 09 July, 2009, 10:31:17 pm
'kinell!

Torchwood. Average life expectancy similar to that of a Spinal Tap drummer.
Where does immortality fit into that?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: rower40 on 09 July, 2009, 10:43:13 pm
Was I the only one who thought of the "B Ark" during the COBRA discussions?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 09 July, 2009, 10:52:17 pm
Torchwood. Average life expectancy similar to that of a Spinal Tap drummer.
Where does immortality fit into that?

Well, it's damned good for job security as an actor. ;D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Cunobelin on 09 July, 2009, 10:56:50 pm
'kinell!

Torchwood. Average life expectancy similar to that of a Spinal Tap drummer.
Where does immortality fit into that?

I suppose if he actually "Dies" each time then we should assume that each period between resurrection and the next death must by definition be a compete life, the immortality is not really a single life.

Or is the fact he dies proof he is not "immortal", and we need a new term?

Cap'n Jack's life expectancy must be the shortest of any, he must have been killed 7 or 8 times in the last few days!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 10 July, 2009, 12:34:30 am
Actually, you're right.  It is a bit of a case of "What can the aliens do, but threaten us with what worked last time, and which we still don't have a defense against...erm...opps..."

Capt Jack is admittedly somewhat challenging to deal with, but it would seem reasonable that he would get a mite annoyed if you killed everyone else on the planet, so he is open to threats.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 10 July, 2009, 01:20:17 am
He's a resourceful man and now he's a tad bit annoyed. I'm half expecting the Dr to turn up and the good Capt'n to say "Stay out, this is my war" with a vengeful look. Either that or the humans get wiped out, aliens leave, he mates with himself and restarts the human race.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Cunobelin on 10 July, 2009, 06:53:35 am
He's a resourceful man and now he's a tad bit annoyed. I'm half expecting the Dr to turn up and the good Capt'n to say "Stay out, this is my war" with a vengeful look. Either that or the humans get wiped out, aliens leave, he mates with himself and restarts the human race.

Isn't this simply a way of "restoring" Cap'n Jack with some sort of humanity.

Thee was a line about fighting harder for ones you love and several others along the lines. This could be either to show that he can care or to drive the plotline forward to a point where he seeks revenge rather thanjust resolution of the present crisis.

Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Cunobelin on 10 July, 2009, 06:55:58 am
PS... after last night, one of our friends now intends to  "threaten" his daughter that if her school work isn't up to scratch he will add her to the list for the 456, seeeing grounding and financial penalties have been unsuccessful!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: tonycollinet on 10 July, 2009, 07:24:46 am
Mrs TC works on the admin side, in a school....er, how shall I put it....lower down the league tables. She is half expecting to go in today and find the school emptied of pupils?

If that doesn't happen she's expecting the teachers to go in and say - "Right you lot, you are for biological bonding to puss filled aliens"
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Regulator on 10 July, 2009, 08:14:28 am
Ianto has snuffed it....  :'( :'( :'(

I hope he gets resurrected somehow or I'll miss my Welsh eye candy...
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Charlotte on 10 July, 2009, 08:52:24 am
Aye.  He was a terribly pretty boy and looked even better a bit roughed up and sporting a duelling scar on his cheek...

I wonder if they'll ever explain what the children are wanted for, or whether it'll remain a big mystery.  It's not totally central to the plot.

It's a MacGuffin.  We know that they do something dreadful to the children, but it's not important to the plotline.

It was kind of interesting to watch the COBRA discussions, you wonder what they would do if a similar scenario did actually happen!  Could they actually decide to do anything different from what they did, Torchwoods intervention aside?

Those in power are still fallible humans (Thatcher aside, she was infinitely nastier than the 456...)  I'd love to have been a fly on the wall during the pre-Iraq war discussions in the Blair years.

Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Morrisette on 10 July, 2009, 09:34:32 am
Ianto has snuffed it....  :'( :'( :'(

I hope he gets resurrected somehow or I'll miss my Welsh eye candy...

+1!!!!

Not Ianto, nooooooooooooooooo!!!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Moloko on 10 July, 2009, 09:42:41 am

I wonder if they'll ever explain what the children are wanted for, or whether it'll remain a big mystery.  


(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Woofage on 10 July, 2009, 10:17:04 am

I wonder if they'll ever explain what the children are wanted for, or whether it'll remain a big mystery.  


(click to show/hide)

Brilliant! ;D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 10 July, 2009, 11:49:03 am
I wonder if they'll ever explain what the children are wanted for, or whether it'll remain a big mystery.  
(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Moloko on 10 July, 2009, 11:52:06 am

British Telecom want the 456 to become the 0456.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: rower40 on 10 July, 2009, 11:55:25 am
Since the digital switchover has happened since their last contact, aren't they now the 111001000?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: SteveC on 10 July, 2009, 08:40:54 pm
My guess is that this is when Captain Jack becomes the Face of Bo -- he'll sacrifice himself for the rest of humanity because the aliens want the 'life-potential' or some such of the children

S
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Cunobelin on 10 July, 2009, 10:00:48 pm
Well............

That was an ending and a half!

Where to from here?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 10 July, 2009, 10:01:43 pm
Hmm, that was "interesting".  Whilst I can appreciate the way they played things out, I do tend to prefer more sciency science-fiction than that.

(click to show/hide)

Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 10 July, 2009, 10:15:05 pm
I thought a lot of that was some of the most harrowing fiction I've ever seen on telly - the army taking the kids was very upsetting. The ending was a bit mince though.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: hulver on 10 July, 2009, 10:21:29 pm
By heck, that was a bit grim.

So, will Jack return or will they try and do the next series without him?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 10 July, 2009, 10:28:48 pm
They have to keep Jack in the next series, otherwise you've got no continuity, and it's basically a new programme :-\

I can't help thinking that overall Series 3 (which is what those five episode were) was very dark, and not really worth stretching out over five hours.  Some of the episodes dragged a bit, and didn't really seem to move the plot on very far.  I'm sure that they could have made it shorter, but somebody decided that they wanted a week long storyline to broadcast Monday to Friday, so they had to try and find a story that they could extend over that period.  I think it suffered from that, and would have been better done over two or three episodes as part of a more traditional series.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 10 July, 2009, 10:31:46 pm
They have to keep Jack in the next series, otherwise you've got no continuity, and it's basically a new programme :-\
Apart from Gwen and Rhys, and I bet they recruit Lois.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: tonycollinet on 10 July, 2009, 10:36:21 pm
That was crap


Hated it. A real dissapointment.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Malandro on 10 July, 2009, 10:38:31 pm
Overall I enjoyed this series although some parts of the storyline were extremely weak.  Jack confronting the 456 was pathetic...they've built him up like Doctor Who so you just assumed he'd deliver the goods.  He didn't!  The alien drug addict thing was...different, unexpected but not really convincing.  And turning the children on the aliens at the end was just too obvious.  Actually, after seeing Gwen say she thought the Doctor sometimes turns away from the world in disgust, I expected him to pop up.  Too obvious I guess...
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Spinners on 10 July, 2009, 10:46:06 pm
and I bet they recruit Lois.

Yep, that's what I'm thinking.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 10 July, 2009, 11:09:00 pm
and I bet they recruit Lois.

Yep, that's what I'm thinking.

That's fairly predictable, so they may do something else!  Earlier on, they were also trying to make us think that that doctor was going to be recruited, but they put paid to that. :-\

I can't help thinking of Rhys as just being a useful character who they can bring in when they need someone else, I don't think of him as being a central character, so they are really only left with Capt Jack and Gwen now.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 10 July, 2009, 11:28:56 pm
Overall I enjoyed this series although some parts of the storyline were extremely weak.  Jack confronting the 456 was pathetic...they've built him up like Doctor Who so you just assumed he'd deliver the goods.  He didn't!  The alien drug addict thing was...different, unexpected but not really convincing.  And turning the children on the aliens at the end was just too obvious.  Actually, after seeing Gwen say she thought the Doctor sometimes turns away from the world in disgust, I expected him to pop up.  Too obvious I guess...

It did look like they were setting it up so the Doctor would come and help. I'd like to see more crossover between the two shows, with the Doctor popping up in Torchwood occasionally as well as Torchwood helping the Doctor, although if there's no Jack, there won't be such an obvious link. But it would be really hard to keep that kind of thing a secret, and I'd like to not know it was happening until I saw it on my tellybox.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 10 July, 2009, 11:40:35 pm
Isn't there a risk that bringing in the Doctor would be a bit like a universal solution; End of the world problem, Wham, the Doctor appears and all is sweetness and light.  In the way that they've built him up so much, that he's too powerful.  I think he has to be "used" with restraint.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: mr magnolia on 10 July, 2009, 11:55:32 pm
hot damns from Sevilla.

will all this still be on iplayer when the family magnolia return to the real world and go back to work on 27 July?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 11 July, 2009, 12:14:02 am
That was powerful, though I thought the end was really weak. I was half expecting his daughter to shoot herself with his gun just for that little extra. I also think the footage should have been released too.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Regulator on 11 July, 2009, 08:04:17 am
I want them to find a way of bringing Ianto back.

After all, he's had some Cap'n Jack 'in him' - so perhaps a bit of the anomaly has rubbed off on him?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: toekneep on 11 July, 2009, 08:05:46 am
I want them to find a way of bringing Ianto back.

After all, he's had some Cap'n Jack 'in him' - so perhaps a bit of the anomaly has rubbed off on him?

I reckon he passed some magic to him in that final kiss and he will return.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Cunobelin on 11 July, 2009, 09:24:41 am
I love the way Torchwood "teases"

When Jack's daughter and grandson where captured, there was a line from Johnson to the effect of testing whether Jack's immortality had been passed to the child, so I half suspected a resurrection, but of course that was too easy.

I do have a suspicion though that we will see Johnson (Liz May Brice) in future. With her skills, amorality, recent disillusionment with Government and the lines about "the greater good", she is a shoe-in to the Torchwood team, even as a temporary replacement for Jack?

Besides - I live black Nomex!

 
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: gonzo on 11 July, 2009, 10:18:30 am
I love the way Torchwood "teases"

I thought that was the best bit about the series - most of the things that you expected had the opposite happen!

I did wonder though if someone in the BBC has a bone to pick with the government - they always seem to be the bad guys.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: tonycollinet on 11 July, 2009, 10:29:18 am
Ok - a philosophical question - what should the authorities have done?

Should the human race give up 10% if its children to an elongated (possibly eternal) life of suffering, to avoid the human race being annihilated?

Or would that act in itself destroy the humanity of the race, and so in effect result in self annihilation?

Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 11 July, 2009, 10:53:11 am

Or would that act in itself destroy the humanity of the race, and so in effect result in self annihilation?



That, plus acquiescing would have guaranteed that the 456 kept coming back for more.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 11 July, 2009, 05:25:16 pm
^^ What he said.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 11 July, 2009, 09:41:21 pm
Well, there are a few plot holes as regards how powerful the 456 were.  Arguably they couldn't destroy the human race, since they would loose that which they sought.  Why did they have to get the children assembled so that they could take them?  Why couldn't they just grab them piecemeal themselves, or where they just being a bit lazy, and going for the easy option.

For that matter, was the UK government that embarrassed by their previous interactions with the 456 that they thought it was worth destroying Torchwood, whose purpose was to fight alien threats, just to hide this?  It seems particularly fuckwitted even for the somewhat self centred politicians portrayed in this series.

It is an interesting question though regarding what else they could have done, and whether morally a government could survive what this one tried to do.  Even without revealing what was going to happen to the children, I think the politicians would be lucky to survive, if the public at large ever found out, I think they'd be lucky to find themselves being hung or shot.

With that number of children taken, a very large percentage of the population would be extremely pissed off with the politicians, and inevitably some of them would be in a position to attack them, however well guarded they were (some of the assassins probably would be their guards).

Politically, even when they seemed to have no idea how to fight the 456, giving in to them would probably be unacceptable to most people, and as others have said would inevitably just have ended up as a case of Danegeld, so what would their next set of demands have been.

ps I also think that we will see Johnson back.  She has an interestingly morally flexible view of things, so it could make for some novel storylines.  And as other have said, they did seem to be positioning her to be on Torchwoods side, and against the baddies aka the Government.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 11 July, 2009, 09:50:57 pm
So (I missed a lot of this) what makes the 456 so scary that we didn't just say "come on then if you think you're hard enough" and hit them with the death-star London beam of doom that toasted the Syccorax when they tried it on? 
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Adam on 11 July, 2009, 09:54:45 pm
In a very sneaky move, the 456 didn't have a detectable spaceship.

And when they tried to call their bluff, they released a virus in Thames House killing almost everyone.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: gonzo on 11 July, 2009, 10:18:55 pm
Well, there are a few plot holes as regards how powerful the 456 were.  Arguably they couldn't destroy the human race, since they would loose that which they sought.  Why did they have to get the children assembled so that they could take them?  Why couldn't they just grab them piecemeal themselves, or where they just being a bit lazy, and going for the easy option.

Presumably, the writers could just answer that the aliens were druggies and thus not entirely rational.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 11 July, 2009, 11:01:47 pm
Well, there are a few plot holes as regards how powerful the 456 were.  Arguably they couldn't destroy the human race, since they would loose that which they sought.  Why did they have to get the children assembled so that they could take them?  Why couldn't they just grab them piecemeal themselves, or where they just being a bit lazy, and going for the easy option.

I read it as a power game.  They wanted the human race to be complicit, so that next time it would be easier.  They said "but last time you did what we asked" as part of their justification
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: tonycollinet on 11 July, 2009, 11:07:29 pm
Well, there are a few plot holes as regards how powerful the 456 were.  Arguably they couldn't destroy the human race, since they would loose that which they sought.  Why did they have to get the children assembled so that they could take them?  Why couldn't they just grab them piecemeal themselves, or where they just being a bit lazy, and going for the easy option.

I read it as a power game.  They wanted the human race to be complicit, so that next time it would be easier.  They said "but last time you did what we asked" as part of their justification


Biggest plot hole in my opinion.

Torchwood wanted to protect the kids - why did they not release the video, making it clear what was going on?

and to answer my own question - much better for humanity to be wiped out than to try to come to terms with, and live with the alternative.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 12 July, 2009, 07:12:52 am
Also, on reflection, lets assume that the 456 couldn't grab kids one by one for some reason, like it would cost too much power, or they would need to keep on adjusting the settings that pointed it at a location (yeah, some nasty alien, "sorry, we're too out of our heads to do it that way").  Why couldn't they get them to all walk into a suitably convenient location, and then beam them up from there.  If they could get them to all talk in unison, that should have been equally possible.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 12 July, 2009, 09:45:05 am
and to answer my own question - much better for humanity to be wiped out than to try to come to terms with, and live with the alternative.

Better to be dead than sad?  I think not. 
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Moloko on 12 July, 2009, 10:38:12 am

Those self-cleaning windows that housed the 5705 were most impressive, always staying smear free.
Who needs a squeegee when you've got those.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 12 July, 2009, 11:12:15 am
I wanted to know why the 2468 kept emitting goo - was it sneezing or puking?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 12 July, 2009, 06:30:41 pm
If it was the 0898 it would be something else entirely.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 12 July, 2009, 08:11:49 pm
The 0898s performed at one of our parties. Anyways could the goo etc be consistent with coming down? Lets face it, they've run out of smack and going cold turkey until they get more kids.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 12 July, 2009, 08:38:06 pm
Problems with drugs lead to addicts displaying criminal behaviour.

Set up a baby farm in Afghanistan and tax them!

(The 404 were going to join in but couldn't be found)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Moloko on 12 July, 2009, 08:48:54 pm
They only want the latest kids that come fitted with an iPod or a Nintendo DS. It's all just a fad.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 07 June, 2010, 10:13:28 pm
Series 4 has just been announced!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 07 June, 2010, 10:52:26 pm
Wooooooo! When?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 07 June, 2010, 10:58:02 pm
Today, I think.

Oh, that's not what you meant, is it?

BBC - Press Office - International partnership secures new series of Torchwood  (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/06_june/07/torchwood.shtml)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: woollypigs on 08 June, 2010, 12:04:44 am
\o/
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Regulator on 08 June, 2010, 11:09:18 am
I was beginning to pine for Cap'n Jack and Ianto.

It'll be nice to have the lust bunnies back on our screens.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: hulver on 08 June, 2010, 11:16:28 am
I was beginning to pine for Cap'n Jack and Ianto.

It'll be nice to have the lust bunnies back on our screens.

Ianto's dead though. He died in Jack's arms in the last series.  :'(
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 08 June, 2010, 11:59:30 am
In these programmes, death isn't necessarily permanent.

He can come back either (i) via some weird alien artefact (ii) from a parallel dimension where he didn't die (iii) from the past before he died (iv) as an alien who can look like him (v) some other random mechanism which hasn't occurred to me yet!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Regulator on 08 June, 2010, 01:04:38 pm
I was beginning to pine for Cap'n Jack and Ianto.

It'll be nice to have the lust bunnies back on our screens.

Ianto's dead though. He died in Jack's arms in the last series.  :'(

The totty always returns....  ;D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Cunobelin on 08 June, 2010, 08:21:59 pm
I was beginning to pine for Cap'n Jack and Ianto.

It'll be nice to have the lust bunnies back on our screens.

Ianto's dead though. He died in Jack's arms in the last series.  :'(

The totty always returns....  ;D


That is almost an episode title!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Cunobelin on 08 June, 2010, 08:24:51 pm
Today, I think.

Oh, that's not what you meant, is it?

BBC - Press Office - International partnership secures new series of Torchwood  (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/06_june/07/torchwood.shtml)

Be afraid - be very afraid!

I am concerned about a lot of that article as it really suggests a massive americanisation of the series.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: mattc on 08 June, 2010, 11:58:02 pm
In these programmes, death isn't necessarily permanent.

He can come back either (i) via some weird alien artefact (ii) from a parallel dimension where he didn't die (iii) from the past before he died (iv) as an alien who can look like him (v) some other random mechanism which hasn't occurred to me yet!
Cloning is the usual one.

If it wasn't SF, he would simply have a twin.

[Steve Martin's All of Me did this best.]
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 09 June, 2010, 12:06:25 am
The last doctor brought Ianto back before he bit the dust remember? Albeit with another name.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: hulver on 09 June, 2010, 07:19:36 am
Today, I think.

Oh, that's not what you meant, is it?

BBC - Press Office - International partnership secures new series of Torchwood  (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/06_june/07/torchwood.shtml)

Be afraid - be very afraid!

I am concerned about a lot of that article as it really suggests a massive americanisation of the series.

Ianto definitely won't be back then, and Jack will turn straight.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: tiermat on 09 June, 2010, 07:30:24 am
So they will be going around the world will they? How about a cross-over episode where they go to Warehouse 13? :)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 09 June, 2010, 09:51:24 am
Can anyone tell how torchwood compares to dr who, violence/scare/sex/language-wise?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: hulver on 09 June, 2010, 11:21:00 am
Can anyone tell how torchwood compares to dr who, violence/scare/sex/language-wise?


The violence is very post-watershed in some cases.
Scare can be more psychological at times, not so much big monster scares as "killing your own children because you know what's coming".
Sex has included, MF, MMF, MM, MA, MAF and other combinations of. (A = Alien)
Language is post-watershed. Very much so at times.

I wouldn't let my 12 year old watch it.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: padbeat on 09 June, 2010, 11:27:22 am
Can anyone tell how torchwood compares to dr who, violence/scare/sex/language-wise?


The violence is very post-watershed in some cases.
Scare can be more psychological at times, not so much big monster scares as "killing your own children because you know what's coming".
Sex has included, MF, MMF, MM, MA, MAF and other combinations of. (A = Alien)
Language is post-watershed. Very much so at times.

I wouldn't let my 12 year old watch it.

Agreed! Despite loads of pestering, there is absolutely no sodding way.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andyoxon on 09 June, 2010, 01:28:44 pm
Yup, Torchwood is not for children.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 09 June, 2010, 02:00:25 pm
Ah. I won't be watching it then, either (cause I can't get something like that out when kids are in the house, it's just not worth the hassle.).
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Bledlow on 09 June, 2010, 02:01:27 pm
Tosh is turning into Yoko Ono -

http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Naoko_Mori (http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Naoko_Mori)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Cunobelin on 09 June, 2010, 09:11:23 pm
Yup, Torchwood is not for children.
In 2007 there were two Torchwoods!

The second series had an abridged "family version" shown later in the week, but was not a success so this was not attempted again.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 01 June, 2011, 01:24:07 pm
'Torchwood' sexuality 'will not be toned down for US' says star Barrowman | Film & TV News | NME.COM (http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/torchwood-sexuality-will-not-be-toned-down-for-us/217139)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 04 July, 2011, 02:55:50 pm
I see the new series is due to be broadcast in the UK from July 14, six days after it's shown in the USA, which pisses me off slightly, for a UK TV series. >:(

I understand that Starz has put money into it, so I guess expects to get something out of it, but they seem to have moved the location to the US, it has a load of US actors in it, and it's being broadcast in the US before the UK. ??? :-\

Ah well, I guess I should wait to see what it's like before passing too much judgement, but it feels like it's been taken away from the UK, and that worries me a bit, whether this will impact upon it's production issues.


There's a YouTube copy of the BBC Trailer for it here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oGM-1B2sRo), although it's not very suggestive of what's going to be happening.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 14 July, 2011, 09:14:27 pm
Oooh its good so far!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 14 July, 2011, 09:38:41 pm
Eeeee! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Tim on 14 July, 2011, 09:50:28 pm
Put the helicopter away. Its gone all crap at me.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 14 July, 2011, 09:51:25 pm
Ha! I grew up around the Gower, those scenes are kewl  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Mike J on 14 July, 2011, 09:57:07 pm
Not long enough episode  >:(
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 14 July, 2011, 09:58:43 pm
Okay, I likey.  I likey a lottey. 

This may or may not have to do with Gwen going all Mama Bear on the Black Helicopter.   ;D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Arch on 14 July, 2011, 09:59:19 pm
Meh. I dunno if I've grown up or what, but it's lost the buzz. And the old group dynamic. Too much American.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Cunobelin on 14 July, 2011, 09:59:51 pm
(click to show/hide)

Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kathy on 14 July, 2011, 10:05:16 pm
Too much American.

+1

Too much character development, not enough plot (no idea how they're going to drag the concept out for ten episodes).

In the old days, this would have been enough material for a two-parter.

And why wasn't that 'merkin arrested for using his phone whilst driving?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 14 July, 2011, 10:13:36 pm
I loved it.

And Captain Jack is cooler than bobb.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andyoxon on 14 July, 2011, 11:35:05 pm
Russell T goes for global domination... definitely has a big budget makeover feel.  Thought it was good, interesting storyline.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 July, 2011, 12:24:45 am
Mrs. Wow drew my attention to this programme this evening.

The scene in particular was the beautiful, bleak white farm house overlooking Rhosilli bay. The last time I checked, this place belonged to the National Trust and could be rented for £lots per week. It sleeps about 10 people I think, and would make a wonderful YACF venue to get away from something (e.g. Christmas). However, there was a very long waiting list.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 15 July, 2011, 01:32:07 am
a wonderful YACF venue to get away from something (e.g. Christmas)

I like your thinking.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 15 July, 2011, 01:32:59 am
I liked it but felt too short and Americanized (see what I did there?).

Talk about a star cast though, damn.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 15 July, 2011, 01:33:25 am
a wonderful YACF venue to get away from something (e.g. Christmas)

I like your thinking.   :thumbsup:

Shall I come? I can bring the black helicopters lol
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 July, 2011, 08:33:02 am
a wonderful YACF venue to get away from something (e.g. Christmas)

I like your thinking.   :thumbsup:

I couldn't find it online yesterday. I'm not sure that the NT have it on their lists any more.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: BrianI on 15 July, 2011, 08:42:41 am
An interesting first episode for the series (not season!), if a bit gory.

Quite an all star cast!  I wonder how much this cost the BBC?

(click to show/hide)

 :thumbsup: Gwyn Cooper!


Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andyoxon on 16 July, 2011, 09:44:18 am
Anyone starting to have x-files deja vu..? For Capt Jack & Gwen, see Agents Mulder & Scully.

I wouldn't be surprised if the current theme is threaded through the whole series - hopefully not, but could be good.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 16 July, 2011, 11:44:12 am
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 16 July, 2011, 12:29:01 pm
(click to show/hide)

But continuity tells us he'll become immortal again.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: pcolbeck on 16 July, 2011, 06:48:43 pm
Eve Myles' eyebrows are up their with Roger Moore's in that they need their own agent and should be given an acting award all to themselves.

I like the first episode and so long as it doesn't get too Americanised (actually achieves closer on story lines for example) it's looking good.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 16 July, 2011, 10:54:41 pm
It's different.  Still finding its feet I think, but we enjoyed it.  If you ditched the history and took it as something new it'd be pretty good :)

I loved the Severn Bridge toll whinge.  Bit of a local reference that.

And the helicopter bit was ace.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 17 July, 2011, 10:30:12 am
As others have said, the character development (which was presumably necessary because they're possibly looking for a larger, new, US audience) was a bit drawn our, so we didn't actually get as much story as I'd like.

(click to show/hide)

Overall I thought it was a bit "Meh" for a start of season episode, which are often very good with Torchwood and the new Dr Who, but we shall see how it progresses.  It certainly had it's good points, as others have said, some of the jokes about things like the Severn crossing, and the cinematography seemed to be well done.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 17 July, 2011, 10:53:59 am
It was interesting to me just how strongly they were playing up the Welsh identity.  Lots of very authentic accents and local references, maybe more so even than when it was UK-based.  It was good that they've chosen to preserve and even reinforce that when it's ported to the US.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 17 July, 2011, 11:01:25 am
... and I forgot to say, that I was slightly amused to find that the baddie in this, was being play by the President of the USA ! (from Independence Day)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 17 July, 2011, 11:40:13 am
Ah, that's who he was !

We were trying to place him.  Thanks, TimO
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 17 July, 2011, 11:48:15 am


I wouldn't be surprised if the current theme is threaded through the whole series - hopefully not, but could be good.

It is. The series episodes are listed on imdb.


The actor people are referencing as the baddie is Bill Pullman.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 17 July, 2011, 12:05:31 pm
And the black FBI agent was Dr Greg Pratt in ER.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 17 July, 2011, 12:06:19 pm
Ah, that's who he was !

We were trying to place him.

It took me a while for it to click as well!  Independence Day was released fifteen years ago, so he's obviously aged a bit in the intervening time.

I've never watched ER, so that one missed me altogether.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: gonzo on 17 July, 2011, 03:33:20 pm
Thing that annoyed me most; if you're pointing guns at people, you do not form a circle around them or else you hit your own people.

Also, Why did the torchwood people become unpopular at the end of the last series; I can't remember.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 17 July, 2011, 08:40:11 pm
... Also, Why did the torchwood people become unpopular at the end of the last series; I can't remember.

As far as I recall, because they didn't want to go along with the Government, and turn the 10% of kids (or whatever the number was) over to the aliens.  This resulted in the aliens releasing the gas and killing Ianto amongst others (but not Capt Jack of course).

They turned out to be correct, managing to fight back against the aliens, but in the process probably annoyed quite a few people in power, which is generally a bad thing to do!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Si on 18 July, 2011, 03:31:29 pm
Just before it started we watched an old series of Sapphire and Steel.  The comparisons very much led to comments of style vs substance.  S & S: a cast of around six people, all shot on one set, paced very slowly, 1970's Dr Who type special effects.  Torchwood completely the opposite.  But I have to say that S & S was both more atmospheric and enjoyable.  Maybe not ideal for the MTV generation.

Will watch the rest of Torchwood, but so far doesn't appear to be as good as previous series, which weren't perfect.  But still better than a lot of the crap on TV now.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 19 July, 2011, 07:15:22 am
Watched the first episode of the new series last night.  Far too glossy.  A thumbs down from me.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Manotea on 19 July, 2011, 07:28:12 am
The whole episode was a device to get Harkness to America. Which is a bit strange because Harkness was in America. I thought they had immigration controls, face recognition camera technology, etc. Surely Harkness cannot be redkenning everybody he meets?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 19 July, 2011, 09:00:42 am
... Surely Harkness cannot be redkenning everybody he meets?

Love it!  I've got this image of the Ex-Mayor of London being used to make people forget things (or possibly just him!). ;D

Retcon ("Retroactive continuity" entry on Wikipedia) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retroactive_continuity#References_in_popular_culture)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Red on 21 July, 2011, 07:52:07 pm
Quite an all star cast!  I wonder how much this cost the BBC?

Not as much as you might think, as American company Starz is doing a lot of the funding. Hence the Merkins getting in nearly a whole week before us.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: woollypigs on 21 July, 2011, 10:36:30 pm
Well tonight it was a bit meh I must say, the parts that was with the US cast was just an other US tv show. As Peli said if it wasn't for Gwen it wouldn't be worth watching.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 22 July, 2011, 12:25:24 am
I watched last week's again and was just realising that

(click to show/hide)

and then they went and made that explicit this week :)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: rogerzilla on 22 July, 2011, 07:15:15 am
The fat American bloke in glasses was Dennis Nedry* in Jurassic Park (and also the cop when Sharon Stone is flashing her mimsy in Basic Instinct).

I wonder if the Americans can understand a Welsh accent?  If they can, they probably think she comes from the same place as Daphne in Frasier.


*I can't help making comparisons with our own uber-hacker Dez, although he's quite slim now  ;D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Si on 22 July, 2011, 08:41:56 am
Last night's episode was a bit of a none event really.

Also, a lot of the bits that were shown at the end of last week's episode as a prelude to last night's didn't actually appear in last night's.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 22 July, 2011, 08:45:34 am
I wonder if the Americans can understand a Welsh accent? 

I was wondering that.  They've not held back on the accents or idioms :)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: BrianI on 22 July, 2011, 09:57:00 am
So they are dragging this naebody dies story out for 8 more episodes?!?!  Yes, I think we get the point now, nobody dies, Capt Jack Harkness is mortal, and no doubt it'll be due to some techobabbly  mesophonic timeywimey masonic field which well get fixed in the last 5 minutes of episode 10 by the good old US of A.  I miss the Old Torchwood crew.   :(
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 22 July, 2011, 10:02:26 am
Last nights was def. a bit slow, but I liked some of the implications they're working though  - the stuff about antibody resistance and the shortening telomeres.  It's slowly shifting from miracle to nightmare.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Woofage on 22 July, 2011, 10:41:42 am
I thought last night's was a bit crap, TBH,
(click to show/hide)
I'll keep watching it though as it is quite exciting as the story develops :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Tim on 22 July, 2011, 11:14:18 am
Was an improvement on last week's episode - the fact that they didn't try to jump a shark shoot down a helicopter was the key.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 22 July, 2011, 12:33:34 pm
Well tonight it was a bit meh I must say, the parts that was with the US cast was just an other US tv show. As Peli said if it wasn't for Gwen it wouldn't be worth watching.

Quite, I thought Gwen was frankly the only entertaining thing in it last night.

Bill Pullman looks so old, its just like Patrick Swayze all over again - never ever look at them 20 years down the line....
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 22 July, 2011, 02:46:52 pm
I thought last night's was a bit crap, TBH,
(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: rower40 on 22 July, 2011, 02:50:49 pm
I thought last night's was a bit crap, TBH,
(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)
And the subtitles spelt "chelating" right.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 22 July, 2011, 02:58:29 pm
And the subtitles spelt "chelating" right.

I still haven't quite recovered from the subtitles for Defying Gravity repeatedly spelling "buss" correctly.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: rower40 on 22 July, 2011, 07:37:32 pm
And the subtitles spelt "chelating" right.

I still haven't quite recovered from the subtitles for Defying Gravity repeatedly spelling "buss" correctly.
Huh?
What was "Defying Gravity?"
And what does "Buss" mean when it has the extra "s"?
*Reveals Philestine tendencies*
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 22 July, 2011, 07:46:21 pm
I still haven't quite recovered from the subtitles for Defying Gravity repeatedly spelling "buss" correctly.
Huh?
What was "Defying Gravity?"

A recent BBC/Canadian drama series about near-future space exploration.  Very much Grey's Anatomy in space, but a lot less bad than that summary suggests.


Quote
And what does "Buss" mean when it has the extra "s"?

An increasingly uncommon spelling for an electrical power bus (data buses tend to only get a single 's').  There was an scene in which one of the astronauts had to fettle one with a spanner in order to make (amongst other things) the magnetic hairspray function correctly.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: gonzo on 22 July, 2011, 07:59:31 pm
I quite enjoyed that episode in a lighthearted kind of way. Transitional again, but it's about the ride and all that.

As it's been designed for the US audience, I wonder how they fit it to US TV where they have lots of adverts and the BBC has none in the hour.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 23 July, 2011, 12:37:23 am
And the subtitles spelt "chelating" right.

I still haven't quite recovered from the subtitles for Defying Gravity repeatedly spelling "buss" correctly.

What happened to that? I was enjoying it then it moved to a late night slot, then disappeared. Was it cancelled due to lack of interest from the cud-chewing masses?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: rogerzilla on 23 July, 2011, 06:29:03 am
I thought last night's was a bit crap, TBH,
(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)
We always pronounced it "ed-ta" rather than spelling it out.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Tourist Tony on 24 July, 2011, 06:39:29 pm
And the subtitles spelt "chelating" right.

I still haven't quite recovered from the subtitles for Defying Gravity repeatedly spelling "buss" correctly.
Huh?
What was "Defying Gravity?"
And what does "Buss" mean when it has the extra "s"?*Reveals Philestine tendencies*

Also means 'snog'
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 24 July, 2011, 06:47:38 pm
What happened to that? I was enjoying it then it moved to a late night slot, then disappeared. Was it cancelled due to lack of interest from the cud-chewing masses?

I think so, yes.  Just as it started to have a proper story arc.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 26 July, 2011, 07:04:40 am
I didn't like it, so just decided to sit back and cheer on Ms cooper.

Somehow I have the 3rd episode on my machine. I'm trying not to watch it :S
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 26 July, 2011, 08:33:16 am
The 3rd is in keeping with the others so far but wheels are slowly turning :)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: mattc on 27 July, 2011, 07:03:54 pm
Bored Bored Bored Bored Bored.

2 hours is all they're getting from us. :(
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andyoxon on 27 July, 2011, 10:22:05 pm
Second episode - not that great, IMO.  I thought the mad chase around the plane concocting a brew for EDTA synthesis unexciting, overacted, and yes, implausible  ;)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 27 July, 2011, 10:39:10 pm
Bored Bored Bored Bored Bored.

2 hours is all they're getting from us. :(

Give it time love  :)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 28 July, 2011, 09:29:17 pm
I only fancy John Barrowman when he's Captain Jack, especially when his hair's all short at the back like it is tonight.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 28 July, 2011, 09:54:36 pm
Fookin hell Bill Pullman is good.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Mike J on 28 July, 2011, 10:04:53 pm
How many more episodes has this got?  It's just not going anywhere fast.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: nicknack on 28 July, 2011, 10:06:21 pm
We're enjoying it.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: gerwinium on 28 July, 2011, 10:06:55 pm
Going nowhere fast with nice nekkid bottoms on the way though. Can't fault them for that.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 28 July, 2011, 10:23:05 pm
Going nowhere fast with nice nekkid bottoms on the way though.

Torchwood, or YACF?   ;)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: rogerzilla on 30 July, 2011, 06:23:26 pm
Mrs Z is a fan.  I wandered in the room and observed that it was the first gay love scene of the series.  John Barrowman is getting too old to expose himself though.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 30 July, 2011, 06:39:41 pm
My main interest so far has been working out where we've seen the CIA boss before.  I could picture him in a police uniform but couldn't remember where.  And then of course I had my answer, Third Rock from the Sun  :)  (Quite appropriate in the circumstances I thought)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: rogerzilla on 30 July, 2011, 06:49:09 pm
Is he Dennis Nedry/the "Basic Instinct" cop as I mentioned above?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: BrianI on 30 July, 2011, 06:51:54 pm
Mrs Z is a fan.  I wandered in the room and observed that it was the first gay love scene of the series.  John Barrowman is getting too old to expose himself though.

So Capt Jack Harkness is the only gay mortal in the village then?   ;D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 30 July, 2011, 10:05:05 pm
Is he Dennis Nedry/the "Basic Instinct" cop as I mentioned above?

Apparently so...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Knight
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: PaulF on 30 July, 2011, 10:11:55 pm
Enjoying it but it's more 'X Files' than Torchwood. More of a drama thannfamily viewing. Characters not as developed as in Torrchwood and somehow it's lost the humour. As it's own series ( or a Torchwood spinoff) it would work but it's not Totchwood???
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 31 July, 2011, 10:56:53 am
Bored Bored Bored Bored Bored.

2 hours is all they're getting from us. :(

Ditto. I found myself playing Angry Birds during episode 3 as there was so little movement in the storyline from episode 1. This series appears to have suffered from the typical US drama tactic of padding it out to last over more episodes - and to enable every little thing to be explained in triplicate for an American audience - and it is suffering for it. In the UK we are used to 6 or 8 part series, in the US 25 part series are considered normal.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 31 July, 2011, 03:11:50 pm
Yes, I've got to agree with what people have been saying, so far we've had three episodes, and the story hasn't really progressed significantly.

Recently the Torchwood and Dr Who episodes have mostly been one or two parters, with some occasional story lines which progress, in the background, across several episodes, and often the entire series.

Series 3 of Torchwood, uniquely, was a story over five episodes, but was at least shown in one week, which limited the annoyance of that.  I still wasn't that keen on that particular storyline / series.

Maybe it is, as others have suggested, a function of the US approach to TV series, where it can take an awfully large number of episodes for a story to get anywhere, because their series tend to have a lot more episodes in them.

IMDB currently lists ten episodes for this series, all of which have titles starting "Miracle Day: ...", which suggests that this story line is going to continue for a while.  Hopefully they'll have some relatively self contained episodes within this.  If not, I'm going to get annoyed, and probably dump watching it, which would be a shame, since I generally like the current Dr Who and Torchwood.  Some individual episodes are a bit iffy, but that's true of any series, and especially one where episodes are written by different people, but in general the series have been pretty good.

So far I'm less than impressed by the episodes of this series.  Gwen and Jack's characters have been similar to previous episodes, even predictably so, but they're OK insofar as they've are strong characters, only lacking in adding much which is original to them.  There have been a few comedy moments, but not a great deal, and the new US characters aren't that impressive.

Rex mostly fits in with the way that Jack and Gwen do things, pro-active, impulsive, a little irascible, but the other two Esther and Vera haven't really been fleshed out that much.  Oswald and Friedkin as baddies are a bit one dimensional, and more irritating than actually unsettling.

Really not very promising so far.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: TimO on 02 August, 2011, 11:59:32 pm
... and I forgot to say, that I was slightly amused to find that the baddie in this, was being play by the President of the USA ! (from Independence Day)

... and a few years before that, he was of course Lone Starr in Spaceballs the Movie (as well as Spaceballs the T-shirt, Spaceballs the Coloring Book, Spaceballs the Lunch box, Spaceballs the Breakfast Cereal, Spaceballs the Flame Thrower ... ).

He's obviously had an extensive history in science fiction.

Guess what I'm watching. ;D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 03 August, 2011, 02:08:20 am
That reminds me, I saw a motorcyclist wearing what can only be described as Spaceballs the Motorcycle Helmet the other day.  He wasn't even close to Ludicrous Speed.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: spesh on 03 August, 2011, 12:00:26 pm
Ludicrous Speed - that's for when lightspeed is way too slow, right? ;D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 04 August, 2011, 09:39:53 pm
Ludicrous Speed - that's for when lightspeed is way too slow, right? ;D

God yes, when will there be some movement in this series.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: BrianI on 04 August, 2011, 10:15:17 pm
Ludicrous Speed - that's for when lightspeed is way too slow, right? ;D

God yes, when will there be some movement in this series.

I think we can say after tonights episode even less movement than a snail on a treadmill....
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 04 August, 2011, 10:19:39 pm
GODDAMMIT someone killed the exposition!  That's... annoying!

Still, fun to think on the harridan in the crushed car... still alive.   :o
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 04 August, 2011, 10:30:10 pm
Presumably if you vapourised people, they'd die...

It's not like the old Torchwood at all, but it's worth watching
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Red on 06 August, 2011, 05:30:32 pm
At this point, I'm watching it because Gwen being unapologetically Welsh and sarcastic about American things is highly entertaining.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: gonzo on 06 August, 2011, 07:16:52 pm
Odds on the final episode involving cpt Jack dying, Gwen getting tearful and then them discovering actually they saved the world so Jack bounces back up as Gwen turns away?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Red on 06 August, 2011, 07:43:10 pm
Or it ends with his head getting chopped off and he starts the first step to becoming the Face of Boe, Futurama style.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Steph on 06 August, 2011, 09:19:49 pm
Well, it has definitely gone American now. We are in full "Why are you being so bloody STUPID?" mode.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 08 August, 2011, 01:14:43 am
Just watched Episode 5. Things are improving :)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Regulator on 08 August, 2011, 07:52:08 am
Just watched Episode 5. Things are improving :)

Things will only really improve if they somehow bring Ianto back to life...

*Little moment*
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andyoxon on 08 August, 2011, 07:35:18 pm
Was it just me or did anyone find it strange that, though the team's cover had been blown in a big way, that they didn't attempt to move their makeshift HQ...
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 12 August, 2011, 08:53:05 pm
Last night's is where they should have been by episode 2.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Manotea on 13 August, 2011, 11:01:46 pm
Has Pratt worked out yet that when the Miracle ends he's gonna die?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: ian on 14 August, 2011, 12:12:06 pm
Having never watched Torchwood, I'm new to all this. Well, I might have seen an episode once while wrestling with a lasagne, so that doesn't count.

S  l  o  w  .

I'm familiar with the long meanders of the 22 episode marathons from US TV, but they break their story arcs with 'out-of-sync' episodes, and generally are aware how to pace a series (even if not successful). Torchwood doesn't seem written with that in mind. The acting and production values a bit ropy, and the 'you say tomato and we say tomato' skits wore out on the first pass, and have now set up a hammock and are relaxing in cringe territory. Most annoying thing is that the characters don't seem to take any of this seriously and thus any tension easily evaporates. I mean, if they don't care, why should I? It feels a bit like a made-for-kids programme (hey, perhaps it is, and I've not been paying attention).

OK, I'll settle with vaguely entertaining and may watch out the remainder, but it's a bit of a disappointing introduction. I should declare that I mostly find British-made TV dire though, so I may be a teensy bit biased.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 14 August, 2011, 01:37:55 pm
Those of us who have loved Torchwood from the beginning are finding this series disappointing. It's not about bad British-made tv, it's gone tits up since the Yanks got involved.  >:(
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 14 August, 2011, 01:44:54 pm
Those of us who have loved Torchwood from the beginning are finding this series disappointing. It's not about bad British-made tv, it's gone tits up since the Yanks got involved.  >:(

+1
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 14 August, 2011, 01:50:47 pm


OK, I'll settle with vaguely entertaining and may watch out the remainder, but it's a bit of a disappointing introduction. I should declare that I mostly find British-made TV dire though, so I may be a teensy bit biased.

I know you said 'mostly' but just off the top of my head: Shameless. Life On Mars. The Office. Being Human. Episodes. Peep Show. Misfits. Sirens...
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Andrij on 14 August, 2011, 05:36:03 pm
Definitely too s l  o   w, but I agree with Valiant - things are improving.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 August, 2011, 11:42:27 am
AA Gill, super-twat though he be, give the acting a real pasting in the Sunday Times1 yesterday.  It is behind Murdoch's paywall, so I can't provide a link, but it was something along the lines of their delivering their lines after standing in front of a mirror reciting them for several hours in a language which they don't speak.

1 - No, I didn't buy it.  Mr. Sunshine did.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 16 August, 2011, 01:03:03 pm
Just watched Episode 5. Things are improving :)

I agree. It got better when they went back to Wales, it mixed things up again. That was an ending that I did not expect last night  :o
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: ian on 16 August, 2011, 06:51:07 pm


OK, I'll settle with vaguely entertaining and may watch out the remainder, but it's a bit of a disappointing introduction. I should declare that I mostly find British-made TV dire though, so I may be a teensy bit biased.

I know you said 'mostly' but just off the top of my head: Shameless. Life On Mars. The Office. Being Human. Episodes. Peep Show. Misfits. Sirens...

This is my unconvinced face. I like US TV. The actors act, you know, play a role. It's odd over here: British TV actors don't play a role, they play an actor playing a role. It's very odd. They should stop it. I blame Shakespeare.

Anyway, it makes it difficult to watch. That and the cardboard production values and the fact they often pay a chimp to write the scripts. I do try to watch British TV occasionally, but it's harder work than it needs to be. For instance, Life on Mars, I was forced to watch two episodes of that. Nice premise, but laboured. Really, laboured. Like a-lady-giving-birth-to-an-elephant laboured. Good god man, WAKE UP. And I've been in a coma, and it's just not like that at all.

Peep Show is alright. I did try the Office, which I suppose was OK. Fortunately, the Americans took it and made it proper funny and removed the gurning mug of Gervais.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 17 August, 2011, 07:06:29 am
I did try the Office, which I suppose was OK. Fortunately, the Americans took it and made it proper funny and removed the gurning mug of Gervais.

The American version is funny only if simplistic slapstick - with every joke telegraphed for ten minutes previously in fridge-magnet lettering - is the level of the viewer's humour.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 17 August, 2011, 03:05:41 pm
Watched Episode 6 last night...

(click to show/hide)

*little moment*
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 17 August, 2011, 03:34:47 pm
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: BrianI on 17 August, 2011, 08:00:05 pm
How come people are seeing episodes before they are broadcast?
/me waits patiently for Episode 6 on BBC Scotland on Thursday 18th August at 9pm
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 17 August, 2011, 08:23:16 pm
I'm downloading the 'merkin showing.  Because bittorrent is marginally less faff than iPlayer, and it has extra cock.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 17 August, 2011, 10:29:58 pm
I'm downloading the 'merkin showing.  Because bittorrent is marginally less faff than iPlayer, and it has extra cock.

Ahh I see  :) And yes, it always looked as if the plot was heading that way.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Adam on 18 August, 2011, 08:59:25 am
I'm downloading the 'merkin showing.  Because bittorrent is marginally less faff than iPlayer, and it has extra cock.

I wouldn't have thought you were too fussed about those sort of extras, but apart from the less faff angle, are there any fringe benefits to tempt a boring old hetrosexual like me?   :P
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 18 August, 2011, 01:49:09 pm
I'm downloading the 'merkin showing.  Because bittorrent is marginally less faff than iPlayer, and it has extra cock.

Really? With iPlayer you click 'Play' and it plays. Where's the faff in that?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 18 August, 2011, 02:35:47 pm
Really? With iPlayer you click 'Play' and it plays. Where's the faff in that?

With iPlayer you wait until after 6pm, click 'play' and it plays.  You then have to keep window focus on the monitor displaying the video so it doesn't un-fullscreen.

With bittorrent you bung the .torrent URL into the screened off rtorrent instance, and after an hour or so of after-6pmness (whenever that next happens) the video's there in the downloads directory to be played in a piece of video-playing software of choice, nearly all of which will happily stay fullscreened while other windows or desktops have focus.

This is important if you want to giggle about Captain Jack's angst / flirting habits, the low standards of the CIA entrance exams, gratuitous use of MovieOS, welshness and so on in pseudo-realtime with people on IRC.  Which is a vital part of my enjoyment of Crotchwood...
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 18 August, 2011, 02:37:20 pm
I wouldn't have thought you were too fussed about those sort of extras, but apart from the less faff angle, are there any fringe benefits to tempt a boring old hetrosexual like me?   :P

It has extra tits too?  (It appears that the BBC were non-discriminatory in their cutting of the sex scenes.)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 18 August, 2011, 03:07:36 pm
Really? With iPlayer you click 'Play' and it plays. Where's the faff in that?

With iPlayer you wait until after 6pm, click 'play' and it plays.  You then have to keep window focus on the monitor displaying the video so it doesn't un-fullscreen.

With bittorrent you bung the .torrent URL into the screened off rtorrent instance, and after an hour or so of after-6pmness (whenever that next happens) the video's there in the downloads directory to be played in a piece of video-playing software of choice, nearly all of which will happily stay fullscreened while other windows or desktops have focus.

This is important if you want to giggle about Captain Jack's angst / flirting habits, the low standards of the CIA entrance exams, gratuitous use of MovieOS, welshness and so on in pseudo-realtime with people on IRC.  Which is a vital part of my enjoyment of Crotchwood...

I prefer to use the iPlayer prog on a PS3 and watch iPlayer in glorious 1080p on the TV.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 18 August, 2011, 03:23:56 pm
My computer monitor does 1080p at a range where I can appreciate it without having to wear my glasses.

My TV does vignetted-to-hell 576i with an annoying 15.7kHz whistle, and intermittently goes black and requires thumping.  But that's okay, because there's nowhere sensible to sit as the front room's mostly full of bikes.

'nuff said.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: ian on 18 August, 2011, 08:45:57 pm
I did try the Office, which I suppose was OK. Fortunately, the Americans took it and made it proper funny and removed the gurning mug of Gervais.

The American version is funny only if simplistic slapstick - with every joke telegraphed for ten minutes previously in fridge-magnet lettering - is the level of the viewer's humour.

Yes, they made it (a) funny and (b) removed Ricky Gervais.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 18 August, 2011, 09:31:49 pm
I did try the Office, which I suppose was OK. Fortunately, the Americans took it and made it proper funny and removed the gurning mug of Gervais.

The American version is funny only if simplistic slapstick - with every joke telegraphed for ten minutes previously in fridge-magnet lettering - is the level of the viewer's humour.

Yes, they made it (a) funny and (b) removed Ricky Gervais.

Are you American?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 18 August, 2011, 09:52:13 pm
Gwen on a motorbike - that says it all  :D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: woollypigs on 18 August, 2011, 10:03:23 pm
y a w n ! This is very slow, boring and crap.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Woofage on 18 August, 2011, 10:06:38 pm
y a w n ! This is very slow, boring and crap.

Aye.

I came to the realisation a couple of episodes ago that the only reason I am watching it is because it's called Torchwood ::-).
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Mike J on 18 August, 2011, 10:38:33 pm
Tonights was more interesting than any of the other episodes, but it's not difficult tbh.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 18 August, 2011, 11:04:02 pm
I decided to watch Celebrity Big Brother instead.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: tonycollinet on 18 August, 2011, 11:08:21 pm
I too enjoyed Gwen doing Lara Croft. (not in the biblical sense, of course**)

Yes it is slow. Yes, it is not as good as previous all British series.

But it's TORCHWOOD!






**although I'd probably have enjoyed that also.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: BrianI on 19 August, 2011, 09:00:00 am
I enjoyed that episode.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Jasmine on 19 August, 2011, 11:09:13 am
I missed last week's episode and didn't have time to watch it on iplayer.  I watched last night's episode and don't feel that I missed anything.  The only thing I may have missed was the shot of the shark from above as the show jumped it.  :(
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: spesh on 19 August, 2011, 12:27:43 pm
I decided to watch Celebrity Big Brother instead.

It was that bad?  :o

Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 19 August, 2011, 12:38:03 pm
I decided to watch Celebrity Big Brother instead.

It was that bad?  :o

I would rather watch complete dross, and accept it as complete dross, than watch what was once a great show being utterly ruined through being dumbed down for an American audience.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: spesh on 19 August, 2011, 01:56:43 pm
I decided to watch Celebrity Big Brother instead.

It was that bad?  :o

I would rather watch complete dross, and accept it as complete dross, than watch what was once a great show being utterly ruined through being dumbed down for an American audience.

Fair enough...  :)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: peliroja on 19 August, 2011, 11:36:50 pm
I thought it was poor and reverted to reading Twitter on my phone during the programme.

Slow, frustrating, predictable. Even the bits set in Wales were far-from-exciting. What a loss.  :'(
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Steph on 20 August, 2011, 07:17:25 pm
They even had the wrong person checking her hooky passport in Cardiff. He was a CIO.....
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 20 August, 2011, 11:07:18 pm
I would rather watch complete dross, and accept it as complete dross, than watch what was once a great show being utterly ruined through being dumbed down for an American audience.

I suppose it's a lot easier when you only ever regarded it as higher-quality dross to begin with.

But I never really could take Doctor Who seriously enough to get attached to it.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Regulator on 23 August, 2011, 01:44:46 pm
I'm downloading the 'merkin showing.  Because bittorrent is marginally less faff than iPlayer, and it has extra cock.

I wouldn't have thought you were too fussed about those sort of extras, but apart from the less faff angle, are there any fringe benefits to tempt a boring old hetrosexual like me?   :P

Even Mr R and I thought the butt play was lingered on a little too much in that episode (surprisingly so, given the Merkin religious right's aversion to such things on telly).  It didn't exactly add to the story.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 23 August, 2011, 06:03:17 pm
E7 is a marked improvement :D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 23 August, 2011, 06:12:06 pm
E7 is a marked improvement :D

Oh thank God.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Kim on 23 August, 2011, 11:43:15 pm
E7 is a marked improvement :D

I second that.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Tim on 24 August, 2011, 10:18:03 am
Will I need to have caught up with the dross inbetween or can I just pretend that never happened?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Jasmine on 24 August, 2011, 11:17:31 am
Will I need to have caught up with the dross inbetween or can I just pretend that never happened?

I missed an episode and didn't notice.  I imagine you'll have caught up within the first 10 minutes.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 25 August, 2011, 09:47:04 pm
Fook me its a damn good episode tonight  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 25 August, 2011, 10:06:42 pm
Jack as Jesus? Really?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Steph on 26 August, 2011, 06:30:50 am
My view was that it was an episode aimed at the short attention span of the modern age. Introduce your potential aupervillain by flashback five minutes before revealing him as the culprit, rather than slip him in early enough for it to be a 'surprise revelation'

Badly plotted.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Jasmine on 26 August, 2011, 09:35:01 am
I'm very acutely aware now that I'm continuing to watch it because it's called Torchwood rather than because it has any redeeming features.  I'm hoping it will get better, but I don't think it will  ::-)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: peliroja on 26 August, 2011, 11:15:09 am
My view was that it was an episode aimed at the short attention span of the modern age. Introduce your potential aupervillain by flashback five minutes before revealing him as the culprit, rather than slip him in early enough for it to be a 'surprise revelation'

Badly plotted.
Steph, that's exactly what I thought. I'm not sure why I'm continuing to watch this dross.  :-\
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: BrianI on 26 August, 2011, 01:45:11 pm
Fook me its a damn good episode tonight  :thumbsup:

I thought it was rather tedious.  The sexy scenes didn't really add much to the plot.  Yes, we know Jack was immortal and gay and is now mortal and gay. 
Just get on with the actually story line!

Looking forward to Dr Who!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: rower40 on 27 August, 2011, 11:34:57 am
I gave up on Torchwood many episodes ago.  Partly because Thursdays is club night at my local the Rowing Club.  The Times Reviewer seems to support my view:
Quote
But I have never known an entire series to lose its way so completely as Torchwood.

I'm relying on Real Ale to see me through.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 27 August, 2011, 10:28:17 pm
Anyone else spot the former Babylon 5 DS9 lead inna bulgy minidress ?

(amusing to see some bleak hillside somewhere near Blaenavon pretending to be California too :) )
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 28 August, 2011, 08:52:40 am
Anyone else spot the former Babylon 5 DS9 lead inna bulgy minidress ?

(amusing to see some bleak hillside somewhere near Blaenavon pretending to be California too :) )

Yes  :D and did you spot who is in next week's episode? *Major squee moment*
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: tonycollinet on 28 August, 2011, 11:14:19 am
I'm downloading the 'merkin showing.  Because bittorrent is marginally less faff than iPlayer, and it has extra cock.

I wouldn't have thought you were too fussed about those sort of extras, but apart from the less faff angle, are there any fringe benefits to tempt a boring old hetrosexual like me?   :P

Even Mr R and I thought the butt play was lingered on a little too much in that episode (surprisingly so, given the Merkin religious right's aversion to such things on telly).  It didn't exactly add to the story.

Yes, I think it was around 3 times I said "oh ffs just get ON with it" (and I didn't mean the sex!  ;D )

Had it been straight sex, it would not have gone on so long, I'm certain. And agreed, duration unnecessary for the plot.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 28 August, 2011, 11:57:44 am
Nah, it was needed to get young laddie's emo angst up.  Otherwise he'd never go credible miracle villain nutter.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andyoxon on 28 August, 2011, 12:39:48 pm
There have been complaints apparently...wouldn't be the first time RTD has been, well, a tad self indulgent... but I haven't seen it because I'm giving up on Torchwood.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 28 August, 2011, 12:43:18 pm
Fffft, there are always complaints about gay sex scenes and how it's RTD pushing his gay agenda. Straight sex scenes are never the result of straight writers pushing their straight agenda though.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 28 August, 2011, 01:36:18 pm
Episode 8 is good too :) Several more big names in the cast.
Title: Torchwood
Post by: Manotea on 28 August, 2011, 05:00:14 pm
Basically, the series is tedious drivel.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andyoxon on 28 August, 2011, 10:48:49 pm
I took a bit of a look at Episode 7, and IMO really the whole first 20min diversion of Jack and his man, would probably have been as tedious if it had been any two characters (M or F).  Before this series I'd watched it all, but it's hit the buffers IMO, and I should bow out now I guess...   So just to be clear... I'm out.  :)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: andygates on 01 September, 2011, 09:27:50 pm
Q turned up.  ;D
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 01 September, 2011, 09:29:22 pm
Q turned up.  ;D

If there is anyone that can save this series it is Q and Gwen. That Star Trek lass has aged awfully well.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: rower40 on 02 September, 2011, 07:09:00 am
Has Torchwood hjumped the shark?

Discuss.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Jasmine on 02 September, 2011, 11:35:58 am
Has Torchwood hjumped the shark?

Discuss.

In my opinion, yes:


I missed last week's episode and didn't have time to watch it on iplayer.  I watched last night's episode and don't feel that I missed anything.  The only thing I may have missed was the shot of the shark from above as the show jumped it.  :(
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Tim on 02 September, 2011, 01:04:51 pm
I think that the shark was actually jumped in the first episode of the series.

http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=672.msg1003622#msg1003622
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: BrianI on 02 September, 2011, 01:29:31 pm
(click to show/hide)


If there is anyone that can save this series it is Q and Gwen. That Star Trek lass has aged awfully well.

I knew I recognised that face from somewhere, that lass out of Star Treck.  I wonder if William Shatner will make an appearance next episode?
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 04 September, 2011, 02:30:24 am
Now that was a good episode!
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: BrianI on 09 September, 2011, 07:24:28 am
Last night's wasn't toooo bad. 
(click to show/hide)

Although at times I found it more interesting watching the co2 bubbles bubble out my co2 injector in my fish tank......
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 09 September, 2011, 12:41:00 pm
yeah, at least the story moved along a bit.  Now where it should be by the end of episode 2.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: BrianI on 09 September, 2011, 03:23:19 pm
yeah, at least the story moved along a bit.  Now where it should be by the end of episode 2.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 09 September, 2011, 04:08:09 pm
(click to show/hide)

Indeed, but

(click to show/hide)

and

(click to show/hide)


Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: border-rider on 09 September, 2011, 10:42:05 pm
oh yeah, while I remember; I loved the cameo role by the lovely piebald pet rat masquerading as a wild beast in Gwyn's cellar :)

"Quick, we need a rat"
"OK, I'll borrow my daughter's pet one"

:)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Valiant on 10 September, 2011, 02:57:19 pm
That was a good episode for once :)
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 15 September, 2011, 09:10:32 pm
Oh let this please get better tonight. Gwen's freckles are cute  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: nicknack on 15 September, 2011, 10:21:49 pm
All the whinging buggers will be along in a minute to say how crap it was and that they could drive a double decker bus through the plot (and, of course, do a much better job of writing the script themselves), so I thought I'd just get in early and say - me and the missus loved it. So ner.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: her_welshness on 15 September, 2011, 10:56:46 pm
All the whinging buggers will be along in a minute to say how crap it was and that they could drive a double decker bus through the plot (and, of course, do a much better job of writing the script themselves), so I thought I'd just get in early and say - me and the missus loved it. So ner.

+ 1.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 18 September, 2011, 02:26:14 pm
Just watched the last three.

So the Blessing was a giant vagina? And Gwen shot Jack in the back and he didn't once mention she must have ruined his coat?

I loved the last episode and I hope Mekhi Phifer joins the Torchwood cast, but I really hope they bring it back to how it was.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: AndyK on 18 September, 2011, 03:35:52 pm
All the whinging buggers will be along in a minute to say how crap it was and that they could drive a double decker bus through the plot (and, of course, do a much better job of writing the script themselves), so I thought I'd just get in early and say - me and the missus loved it. So ner.

I think you'll find those of us who decided Torchwood has become dumbed-down Americanised crap stopped watching at about episode 4.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: nicknack on 18 September, 2011, 06:42:31 pm
Ah, well you won't know how good the rest of it was then.
Title: Re: Torchwood
Post by: Steph on 20 September, 2011, 07:24:05 am
I did like one line in the last episode, where Gwen smacks the ginger one in the mouth while asking how much lipstick it is possible for one woman to wear....