How to Improve Torchwood

[pyan]

That's possibly the best rationale I've heard yet for the whole Torchwood Three set-up, Marauder - as you say, so much slots into place if it's right.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by pyan

That's possibly the best rationale I've heard yet for the whole Torchwood Three set-up, Marauder - as you say, so much slots into place if it's right.

I would agree, the only question would be who pays for it all?

Look at the facts - well paid employees who can afford modern flats in the centre of Cardiff, heating and lighting for a vast complex under Cardiff Bay, with state of the art medical, scientific and electronics equipment, and taps into every other known networks, the food and upkeep of vast numbers of caged Weevils, and the island hospice for human victims of Rift activity. None of that would come cheap. Not to mention the Pterodactyl food bill.

One could more easily understand Government funding, but your scenario of 'Jack's Pet Project' would mean it would need to rely on Jack's personal fortune, or else on some other mysterious benefactor or organisation for funds.

That is entirely possible - Jack must have been able to invest in the stock market or property, and bet on sporting events, with the full knowledge of the future - they could de-construct and re-engineer alien technology, or alien science and medicine, and sell it to Earth companies - they could harness power from the rift and supply it to the national electricity grid.

So, I think it is possible for them to be self-funded. I would just like to know who ultimately pulls the strings.

[Marauder77]

For all we know, Queen Victoria established some form of trust, where the revenue would go to founding the institute through secret accounts beyond normal government channels. If Torchwood-3 now is the only remaining branch, they would get all the proceeds for themselves. Or they are funded through the normal national budget, for instance as part of the defense budget, by old habit more or less, over some budget post with a cryptic name no one checks where really is going. (I'd say the basic operating cost would probably be less than a platoon of soldiers or two, hardly a very large sum. Even with the island facility, the whole operation would cost less than running a normal military base.)

And the notion that Jack would use his knowledge of future events to "scam" the stock marked or national lottery for funds is not that far fetched, he is a con man after all...

All in all, I don't really see funding as being hard to explain.

[sdoidge]

two words..."Dalek holocaust"

[Marlon]

Well, I like Jack when he interacts with the Doctor. He seems to be seeking the Doctor's attention, and is an active player in the universal affairs of the Doctor and ably so. Jack with the Doctor poses a bit of a puzzle. In TW what is his playing field? Detective work with a bunch of 20-something friends. I'm not really certain how you fix that. But I think if they could get back that puzzle, it might increase my appreciation of the series. He just seems shallow and self centered without it.

I am a season behind on both series so maybe I'm a little behind in any attempt to analyze too.

[Momoka]

I think a very obvious and overlooked way to improve Torchwood would be change the writers.

I nominate Peter J. Hammond - did anyone else think the season 1 ep "Small Worlds" and last season's "From Out of the Rain" were a cut above the rest of the usual writing? I could spot which he had written a mile off, they left me with chills rather than derision.

It was also interesting that these episodes each gave us a glimpse into Jack's past; his days in the army when he encountered the fairies first, and his soujourn into circus performance. Yes, not much of an insight into the man, but still nice that they fleshed out some of his history, all the same.

Plus, it is possible to write 'gay' references into an episode without being too overt or childish.

It was like watching new episodes of 'Sapphire and Steel' with people and creatures in situations 'out of their own time'. That's not to say it didn't have it flaws or was original - in "Small Worlds" in the closing scene when Jack looked at the original fairy photo roand saw the little girl in it as one of the fey folk I had to roll my eyes - but they stand out as a better calibre of plot overall.

Now if he could just team up with Steven Moffat...

Or. failing this, replace the cast with people who can act... They're half way there, with this season's ending... *crosses fingers*

[Ehkzu]

Agree with a lot of what Momoka said. I'm fine with Cap'n Jack being homosexual but I don't want to watch any more guy on guy tongue wrestling.

But yes they need to do what Buffy did: make Jack's team into real Scoobies. So far they lack unit cohesion, if I might lapse into milspeak for a moment. I want to care about them more than I do.

Joss Whedon discovered people were less interested in the monster du jour than in the ongoing ensemble and their interactions/evolution.

And it needs to develop some good plot arcs, be less episodic. This is a constant argument among TV people, but you can and should provide both.

Can't tell how good the actors are until they're given more interesting words to say.

More humor. I don't mean comedy, but again as from Buffy, even the most serious episodes had a little leavening. Even Hamlet has the gravedigger scene.

[Nyomimi]

Originally Posted by the_faery_queen

i've not seen it, but i have seen the captin jack character in doc who and for me it's the character that's the problem. he's a good looking guy (yum) but he's such an ass! i couldn't stand to watch a series about someone so fuill of themselves, chatting everuone up, showing off, just being so conceited and assish!

But the whole premise of Cpt. Jack is that he is full of himself. LOL Take that away and he's just not the Captain -- though, admittedly he's not the "captain" anyway -- but in TW you do get to see his softer side.