Nobody's really talking about this show around here, and I'm hoping there are more visitors to this thread than just me and BuffyMars.
The US premiere of the second season was last night:
KISS KISS, BANG BANG Season 2, Episode 1 Special Guest Star James Marsters
Jack is in for a surprise when Captain John Hart, a man who he long thought was gone, comes to greet him...
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"A movie is not good because it arrives at conclusions you share, or bad because it does not. A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it: about the way it considers its subject matter, and about how its real subject may be quite different from the one it seems to provide." - Roger Ebert, from the introduction to "Awake in the Dark" (2006)
I watched. Big fan of the show, even though the first season was frustratingly uneven. But even the lesser eps were entertaining.
BTW: The first two episodes of cycle two garnered 3.7m and 3.4m for BBC Two, the highest-rated for the series to date. Good news for a third series.
For BBC America, the first series premiered with 500,000 viewers. Sounds tiny, but it was the highest-ever premiere for the basic cable network and cleaned up, also, in target demos. So I'm curious to see how series two does, considering the promotion and good reviews.
Good mix of action and humor; "Pardon me, have you seen a blowfish driving a sports car?" Nice, zesty interplay between Barrowman and Marsters, even if they went a tad over the top (lusting after a poodle?!) but that's kind of the style of "Torchwood" and "Doctor Who" (the Eccleston/Tennant run).
We had a thread for the first run of episodes, but it died out. Considering it's a well-crafted, dark sci-fi action series, the lead is a handsome bisexual action hero, and most of the characters are somewhere on the bi spectrum, it's interesting that it doesn't have more fans on these boards. Not enough Edie Britt/Wilhemina Slater bitchy women?
Hell, people will devote dozens of entries to marginal gay characters on "Desperate Housewives" and yet "Torchwood" has lesbian action, plus hot guys flirting and kissing and throwing punches, not to mention one of the most emotional and romantic male-male kisses ever on American TV in the first-series episode "Captain Jack Harkness."
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Posts: 2279 | Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA | Registered: November 04, 2001
Love the show, even if it is a little uneven. It's just so much fun. I can't wait for Marsters to return in future episodes. He and Barrowman share great chemistry and who doesn't want to see them get it on some more? Or Jack with Ianto? Or Jack with Owen? This really is like the gayest show on tv.
Even though I'd already seen the 1st 2 episodes, I tuned in again to watch last night. It doesn't appear like they cut out anything from the original UK broadcast. I thought they might, since each episode runs 3 or 4 minutes longer than most US shows. I enjoyed some of the behind the scenes stuff from the cast. I'm assuming that is the stuff from Torchwood Declassified?
Alan Dale and Martha from Doctor Who will also guest star this season, so that is exciting. Just a really entertaining show and it's nice to have something to watch on Saturday night.
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Okay, Lindsay, are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over— an analyst and a therapist. The world’s first analrapist.
Even though I'd already seen the 1st 2 episodes, I tuned in again to watch last night. It doesn't appear like they cut out anything from the original UK broadcast. I thought they might, since each episode runs 3 or 4 minutes longer than most US shows. I enjoyed some of the behind the scenes stuff from the cast. I'm assuming that is the stuff from Torchwood Declassified?
Yeah, those are bits from "Torchwood Declassfied." I wouldn't mind seeing more of them, actually.
You know, it never occurred to me that the BBC America runs would be shorter, but now it makes sense. I was never a "Doctor Who" fan but David Tennant is winning me over. It puzzled me that I'd read summaries on Wikipedia that contained stuff that wasn't in the American broadcast. Now I know why; they cut 3-5 minutes out of each one. Duh!
Off-topic, but I really dig "The Graham Norton Show," as well, and until now I could only take Norton in small doses.
Really, BBC America is where it's at right now: "Doctor Who," "Torchwood," "Graham Norton," "Hotel Babylon," the new "Robin Hood" and more.
Posts: 2279 | Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA | Registered: November 04, 2001
I agree that the show is uneven, but it's also unusually inspired (I've already seen episode two, "Sleeper," which is all over the map, but what a map!). The broad sexuality of its characters is revolutionary in a way that receives surprisingly little attention (in the season premiere, Jack puts the moves on a girl and two guys), and it's refreshing especially in the science fiction genre, where there's human/Cylon nookie and Trill/Klingon nookie, but nary a same sex kiss. So the human race gets over its hang-ups with interspecies relations before it learns to deal with the male-female stuff?
But I digress. The season premiere was good, but the show has done better. The story was a kind of threadbare plot that I might make up when I'm not trying too hard. I was satisfied with it mostly as a primer for things to come. And the show boasts one of the most exciting ensembles on television, which keeps me hooked even though the show still hasn't achieved the consistency of genre greats like "Buffy." This show taps into my inner geek.
"A movie is not good because it arrives at conclusions you share, or bad because it does not. A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it: about the way it considers its subject matter, and about how its real subject may be quite different from the one it seems to provide." - Roger Ebert, from the introduction to "Awake in the Dark" (2006)
Originally posted by 742: I agree that the show is uneven, but it's also unusually inspired (I've already seen episode two, "Sleeper," which is all over the map, but what a map!). The broad sexuality of its characters is revolutionary in a way that receives surprisingly little attention (in the season premiere, Jack puts the moves on a girl and two guys), and it's refreshing especially in the science fiction genre, where there's human/Cylon nookie and Trill/Klingon nookie, but nary a same sex kiss. So the human race gets over its hang-ups with interspecies relations before it learns to deal with the male-female stuff?
But I digress. The season premiere was good, but the show has done better. The story was a kind of threadbare plot that I might make up when I'm not trying too hard. I was satisfied with it mostly as a primer for things to come. And the show boasts one of the most exciting ensembles on television, which keeps me hooked even though the show still hasn't achieved the consistency of genre greats like "Buffy." This show taps into my inner geek.
You're right that the season premiere plot was threadbare, but it was so damn entertaining, I didn't mind. (Funny how poor Owen keeps getting himself shot.)
As to the show's treatment of sexuality, I am shocked "Torchwood" wasn't up for any GLAAD Media Awards. They usually have their heads stuck up their arse, particularly galling for a media watchdog group, but to ignore or overlook "Torchwood" is ridiculous when it's exactly the kind of programming they should champion.
BuffyMars, agreed about David Tenant being Emmy worthy for "Doctor Who." Somehow he makes it work, and he does it with total and complete commitment to whatever crazy sh*t they ask of him. That's the only way to pull it off. (John Barrowman does the same thing as Captain Jack, otherwise it would never work.)
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Posts: 2279 | Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA | Registered: November 04, 2001
I third the praise of David Tennant's Doctor Who, but for the uninitiated, I don't want to give the impression that he's just a gifted clown. Yes, the storylines are outrageous and gleefully silly (fighting alien witches with Shakespeare), and because Tennant has such an unabashed conviction to them they work. But he's also a gifted dramatic actor. I urge anyone who doubts his talents to look for "The Family of Blood" from the third season; it's an Emmy-caliber dramatic performance that's probably better than most of this year's Emmy nominees will submit. He has a range that extends from broad comedy that seems right out of the silent era to existential crisis that cuts to the bone.
Barrowman has some of that, but I don't think he quite has Tennant's chops. Barrowman coasts on his tremendous charisma; the real dramatic weight of "Torchwood" is carried by his co-star Eve Myles. She brings the gravitas that makes us emotionally invested; her work in the first season finale, mourning first her then-deceased boyfriend and the then-deceased Captain Jack, proved that she's the emotional anchor of this show
"A movie is not good because it arrives at conclusions you share, or bad because it does not. A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it: about the way it considers its subject matter, and about how its real subject may be quite different from the one it seems to provide." - Roger Ebert, from the introduction to "Awake in the Dark" (2006)
I emailed Jace at [ TelevisionaryBlog.com ] to ask if he had any info on ratings for last week's ep, if anybody was curious about that, and he checked his contact at BBC America. They're apparently not releasing ratings info at the moment. Argh. Jace thinks they might be waiting for time-shifted numbers to come in (meaning DVR replays, which is measured same-day and same-day-plus-seven).
Posts: 2279 | Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA | Registered: November 04, 2001
When a burglary turns into a slaughter, Torchwood suspects alien involvement. However, when the investigation escalates into a city-wide assault, Captain Jack realizes that the whole planet is in danger.
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"A movie is not good because it arrives at conclusions you share, or bad because it does not. A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it: about the way it considers its subject matter, and about how its real subject may be quite different from the one it seems to provide." - Roger Ebert, from the introduction to "Awake in the Dark" (2006)
Good episode. The actress who played Beth was very good and she had some really fine scenes with Gwen. I had hoped she would stick around. Maybe she'll back in some form. It appears as if the Sleepers will be somewhat of an arc for the season, so that might be interesting. Though, for a species set out to destroy Earth and the human race, the sleepers weren't too smart when it came time to actually execute their plan. There was a lot of blood in this episode, which is unusual for this show. But it was enjoyable and filled with great humor and one liners, as always.
Okay, Lindsay, are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over— an analyst and a therapist. The world’s first analrapist.
Originally posted by BuffyMars: Good episode. The actress who played Beth was very good and she had some really fine scenes with Gwen. I had hoped she would stick around. Maybe she'll back in some form. It appears as if the Sleepers will be somewhat of an arc for the season, so that might be interesting. Though, for a species set out to destroy Earth and the human race, the sleepers weren't too smart when it came time to actually execute their plan. There was a lot of blood in this episode, which is unusual for this show. But it was enjoyable and filled with great humor and one liners, as always.
Surprisingly violent -- with a baby rolling into traffic no less -- but after season one's "Countrycide," which was a total bloodbath, it's tough to surprise me, LOL.
"A movie is not good because it arrives at conclusions you share, or bad because it does not. A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it: about the way it considers its subject matter, and about how its real subject may be quite different from the one it seems to provide." - Roger Ebert, from the introduction to "Awake in the Dark" (2006)
Originally posted by 742: Surprisingly violent -- with a baby rolling into traffic no less -- but after season one's "Countrycide," which was a total bloodbath, it's tough to surprise me, LOL.
Not just a baby carriage rolling into traffic (offscreen, thankfully) but another baby carriage being SHOWN caught in a bomb blast, and a man being stabbed to death in front of his wife and young kids. Yeesh.
I'm not sure the mix of that kind of horror and yuks worked this time. The balance felt off, on both sides. But that's "Torchwood," man. They really go there and show violence and its painful aftermath.
Agreed, the actor who played Beth was excellent. I looked her up, she's Nikki Amuka-Bird, and just wrapped "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency," which we'll see in theatres at some point in 2008, I think.
I also noticed that the producers have given Ianto more of a personality this season, but I'm not sure, yet, I like the inappropriate wisecracks and goofy antics. Need to think on that for a bit.
Posts: 2279 | Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA | Registered: November 04, 2001
not Torchwood, but season 4 of Doctor Who will air starting in April on SciFi. That's right around the time season 4 will air in the UK as well. SciFi also will air the spinoff The Sarah Jane Adventures, though I'm not sure how that show will fare. It's very much a kids show.
Okay, Lindsay, are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over— an analyst and a therapist. The world’s first analrapist.
Hey, 742, with your indulgence I'm changing the title of this thread to cover both "Torchwood" and "Doctor Who" since we seem to be covering both shows in this thread...
Posts: 2279 | Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA | Registered: November 04, 2001
Glad you mentioned the Ianto lobotomy from the "Sleeper" episode. The episode was written by James Moran, and according to IMDb it's his first "Torchwood" episode. That's what I expected, because it gave me the sense that the writer didn't quite know what he was supposed to do with the character, and stuck him with a few off-hand, out-of-character quips just to give him something to do in each scene.
Matters improve with next week's episode "To the Last Man." I saw the BBC broadcast of it, and it's the show's best episode since "Random Shoes" last season. And all the characters make sense, LOL.
"A movie is not good because it arrives at conclusions you share, or bad because it does not. A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it: about the way it considers its subject matter, and about how its real subject may be quite different from the one it seems to provide." - Roger Ebert, from the introduction to "Awake in the Dark" (2006)
What station number does this air on/ I Live in Brooklyn New York and I like Scifi stuff so this should be interesting...I'll rent the dvds tommorow see if I like it.
Originally posted by laserfox: What station number does this air on/ I Live in Brooklyn New York and I like Scifi stuff so this should be interesting...I'll rent the dvds tommorow see if I like it.
It airs on BBC America. Saturday at 9, with the episode from the previous week airing at 8.
Okay, Lindsay, are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over— an analyst and a therapist. The world’s first analrapist.
Originally posted by 742: I third the praise of David Tennant's Doctor Who, but for the uninitiated, I don't want to give the impression that he's just a gifted clown. Yes, the storylines are outrageous and gleefully silly (fighting alien witches with Shakespeare), and because Tennant has such an unabashed conviction to them they work.
I just caught the battling-alien-witches-with-Shakespeare episode. Tremendous fun. That final bit where Martha suggests a bit of JK Rowling to complete the spell was laugh-out-loud funny.
Another great bit was when Shakespeare flirted briefly with the Doctor. Fantastic line reading from Tennant when he quipped, "Oh...52 scholars just punched the air."
The whole tone of the episode was just this side of over-the-top and it worked.
Posts: 2279 | Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA | Registered: November 04, 2001
I remember both moments you mention, Turtle, and I loved them both. Gleefully funny.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: 742,
"A movie is not good because it arrives at conclusions you share, or bad because it does not. A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it: about the way it considers its subject matter, and about how its real subject may be quite different from the one it seems to provide." - Roger Ebert, from the introduction to "Awake in the Dark" (2006)
