Confessions of a Torchwood Sceptic

[Coolhand]

Hey dudes.

As some of you might know, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the first season of Torchwood. In fact, I hated it so much it became something of a perverse pleasure for me to watch the latest ep and then write a scornful review of it.

Well, it got renewed for a second season and when the first episode came around I sat down in front of the TV, with a notepad and pen, salivating like a shark at the annual beach party of the American Association of Overweight Swimmers.

And then I had a moment of self realization. I was actually going to waste irrecoverable seconds of my finite life watching a show I was convinced would be awful, just so that I could then go on line and scream about how much I hated it. So I turned off the TV mere seconds into the episode and went off to do something else.

But every so often, I’ve ducked back in here and read the discussions of the new episodes.

And I get the impression that the quality of Series 2 is much higher than the series 1.

And I wonder if I should I give it another go? Rent the DVD’s or maybe catch the repeats. So I was hoping I could ask you guys for your opinions of the new season overall. I’m especially curious to know if the writers resolved the following problems:

The GAPING plots holes: “Sorry pilot babe. We can order UNIT around; we are beyond the government, above the law. But, er, we can’t get you a pilot licence. Why not? Because the plot can’t take the strain, that's why not!”

The ludicrous sexual escapades. Do the characters actually manage to meet aliens without shagging them?

The blithering incompetence? Do Torchwood now come across as an elite black ops unit, rather than a slightly overwhelmed shelf stacking team from ASDA?

The emotional get-out-of-jail-free card. “Yes I betrayed you all, shot some of you and almost got the human race wiped out, but I was feeling upset/was in love/ wanted to shag something so therefore I get out of jail free and keep both my job and your friendship?”
Does that still happen? If so, how often? Or do Torchwood actually show some backbone and take responsibility for their actions now?

I’m really hoping you guys will say these things are fixed to a degree, because one of the reasons I was so pissed off with Series One was that I could SEE the potential, and was furious about the waste. I’d really like to settle down and watch an enjoyable Season Two without flinging chairs at the screen.

Please help. Pretty please?

[Lenny]

Thinking back, I can't remember a Series 2 episode in which one of the Torchwood crew gets down a jiggy with an alien. Well, there's Tosh and a fella from WWI in one episode, but he's not really an alien.

There are probably one or two moment where being beyond the government means they can't get out of a parking ticket, but I didn't notice them.

Tell a lie, there is a bit of fun with an alien, but it's not one of the TW team who forms the second of the pair.

I can only really think of one instance where the get-out-of-jail-free card is used... but there is a reason behind it.

To cut straight to the chase - Series 2 was a lot better than Series 1. I rewatched Series 1 a couple of weeks ago, after 2.12: Fragments, and it's easy to see the differences. My opinion is that there's only one Series 1 episode which is up there with the best Series 2 episodes, and that's Countrycide.

Obviously you're a lot more critical than me, though, but I think you'll like it. The only way you'll find out is to watch it yourself.

[High Eight]

I'm probably a bigger sceptic than Coolhand and I gave up on it about halfway through. I'm not sure if it was the plot-holes, the grimly determined non-acting, the lack of a coherent series 'bible' or the ludicrous dialogue. Probably a combination of all four.

I came back in for the last two episodes and sincerely wished I hadn't bothered. I won't be back for series three (assuming there is one).

[SJAB]

Originally Posted by High Eight

I'm probably a bigger sceptic than Coolhand and I gave up on it about halfway through. I'm not sure if it was the plot-holes, the grimly determined non-acting, the lack of a coherent series 'bible' or the ludicrous dialogue. Probably a combination of all four.

I came back in for the last two episodes and sincerely wished I hadn't bothered. I won't be back for series three (assuming there is one).

I totally agree, sadly. I also gave up on Ashes to Ashes as well.

[Ice fyre]

Well I'm going to take an opposite view to he last two posters.

Overall I think the second season was a major improvment on Season 1.

Why? Well I think the scripting was much tighter, the effects while not brilliant did the job. The actors really seemed to get into their roles. I think the acting was better. The scrips were better controlled I suspect better editing. They do say the difference between a good writer and a brilliant writer is good editing.

I liked it and I would reccomend you watch it and make up your own mind.

The First season had some rather nasty problems but I do think somebody took the production team by the scruff of the neck and said oi, here's what you should be doing. I will be interested to hear your reactions.

[pyan]

I'm with you, Ice.
Whereas it's not brilliant by any stretch of the imagination, Series 2 is so much better than Series 1 as to be almost unrecognisable as the same show.
As long as you don't expect too much from it, it's a pleasant enough way to while away the odd hour.
One or two stand-out episodes for me: Adrift, a tour-de-force by Eve Myles, and Something Borrowed, which made me literally laugh out loud.

[Dave]

Coolhand, Season 2 was so much better than Season 1, however I disagree with the others. I thought the first few episodes were very good, especially those which had Martha, then something went wrong about half way through, and it all went downhill again. Some character developments were handled badly. The last episode was interesting but needs a huge suspension of disbelief.

I also agree about 'Ashes to Ashes' - very disappointing compared with 'Life On Mars' - and yet there is to be another Season!

[Coolhand]

Thanks for your feedback guys.

Hmmmm. Well, when the DVD's come out to rent, I guess I might go off and prod the first couple of episodes with a stick. I don't demand awesome TV from Torchwood, coz I doubt this series can EVER provide that, but as long as I can watch it through without shouting, that might be enough for me.

[Interference]

Originally Posted by Coolhand

Hey dudes.

As some of you might know, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the first season of Torchwood. In fact, I hated it so much it became something of a perverse pleasure for me to watch the latest ep and then write a scornful review of it.

Well, it got renewed for a second season and when the first episode came around I sat down in front of the TV, with a notepad and pen, salivating like a shark at the annual beach party of the American Association of Overweight Swimmers.

And then I had a moment of self realization. I was actually going to waste irrecoverable seconds of my finite life watching a show I was convinced would be awful, just so that I could then go on line and scream about how much I hated it. So I turned off the TV mere seconds into the episode and went off to do something else.

But every so often, I’ve ducked back in here and read the discussions of the new episodes.

And I get the impression that the quality of Series 2 is much higher than the series 1.

And I wonder if I should I give it another go? Rent the DVD’s or maybe catch the repeats. So I was hoping I could ask you guys for your opinions of the new season overall. I’m especially curious to know if the writers resolved the following problems:

The GAPING plots holes: “Sorry pilot babe. We can order UNIT around; we are beyond the government, above the law. But, er, we can’t get you a pilot licence. Why not? Because the plot can’t take the strain, that's why not!”

The ludicrous sexual escapades. Do the characters actually manage to meet aliens without shagging them?

The blithering incompetence? Do Torchwood now come across as an elite black ops unit, rather than a slightly overwhelmed shelf stacking team from ASDA?

The emotional get-out-of-jail-free card. “Yes I betrayed you all, shot some of you and almost got the human race wiped out, but I was feeling upset/was in love/ wanted to shag something so therefore I get out of jail free and keep both my job and your friendship?”
Does that still happen? If so, how often? Or do Torchwood actually show some backbone and take responsibility for their actions now?

I’m really hoping you guys will say these things are fixed to a degree, because one of the reasons I was so pissed off with Series One was that I could SEE the potential, and was furious about the waste. I’d really like to settle down and watch an enjoyable Season Two without flinging chairs at the screen.

Please help. Pretty please?

Nooooo! Protect yourself. Stay out of the Light! Captain Jack is still snogging everything in sight and now he's got Spike at it (Captain John ????? [:where's the puking icon when you really need it :])

Maybe the plots are stronger, maybe there's a bit more characterisation, but essentially it's still unwatchable tripe. (Why am I here?)