February 19, 2008

Torchwood, Season 1

What a disappointment. Since I've fallen in love with the new Doctor Who series, and since I've loved John Barrowman since watching Putting It Together, I had high hope for this sort of X-Files-ish spin-off. But those hopes went mostly unmatched by what the series has had to offer so far. There are major tone inconsistencies, plot holes you could steer a zepplin through (don't get me started on the series finale), and unfortunate tendency to end episodes with bits at the end that are seriously disappointing or annoying (like in Countrycide and End of Days), and after 13 episodes I can't say I have a clear hold on what Torchwood itself is or how it functions.

Now the show has its strengths. There have been some good episodes (I particularly liked Out of Time, Greeks Bearing Gifts, and Captain Jack Harkness), and it regularly features some of the best guest starring turns I've seen on any tv series, ever. And Barrowman is good when they know what to do with him. And I still have hopes that they can turn the character of Ianto into someone interesting (I've given up hope that'll happen with Tosh). And best yet I hear the next season is a good deal better. But after the great success that the new Doctor Who has been it's a shame this has gotten off to such a fitful start.

Posted by armand at February 19, 2008 09:05 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Culture


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