Torchwood

[sqbr]

So I've been watching the new Dr Who and enjoying it well enough, and getting into season 2 there's a bunch of intriguing mentions of "The Torchwood Institute". Unfortunately, I watched an episode of Torchwood season one and it was terrible, and from all accounts it doesn't get any good till season 2. So, is it worth starting in season 2? Or are there individual season 1 episodes I should watch to get the backstory? They have season 1 at the local video store so that's no trouble. Or should I not bother at all?

And is there a point in Dr Who I should get to before starting Torchwood? I just finished season 2 disk 2.

Thank youse all :) I really shouldn't be asking more questions before answering my mail (the point of a poll was to avoid having lots of comments to reply to) but I want stuff to watch! (Video store doesn't have disk 3, dammit)

Comments

[edible-hat.livejournal.com]

It doesn't hurt to know what's been going on in both shows but it's not essential. Torchwood season 1 is set between seasons 2 and 3 of Doctor Who.

I haven't seen S2 of Torchwood (which just finished in the UK).

Probably the best episodes of S1 are the one with the town full of cannibals (which is a rip off of The Hills Have Eyes) and the one with the guy who keeps taking photos of shoes. The season finale is an absolute shocker.

[alias_sqbr]

Oh, so I already know enough, should I choose to start watching. Cool.

[velithya]

I'd recommend watching season one, if only to get a handle on the characters etc. If nothing else, watch it for Captain Jack, who is awesome \o/

[alias_sqbr]

He is, but I'm not sure he's awesome enough...

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

The problem is that, while there are several relatively good Torchwood episodes, due to huge inconsistency in the tone of the show, people don't really agree on which ones they are. Most people seem to like episode 8, "they keep killing suzie" (which really depends on you having seen the pilot). Some other episodes that some people are good are episode 6 "countrycide" and episode 5 "small worlds", but both are quite inconsistent with the tone of the rest of the show (and have nothing to do with other episodes).

[alias_sqbr]

So...episodes 1 and 8 then? :)

Thanks.

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

The second last episode is the stuff of fangirl fantasies -- lots of people like it. Many others have their moments (Toshs lesbian adventure, etc).

But 8 was the only one where I thought the actual plot was good, AND it was consistent with the rest of the series. You might not care as much about plot or consistency as me.

[alias_sqbr]

You might not care as much about plot or consistency as me.

Well, I'm hugely picky about character consistency. And am pretty fond of good plot and consistency in general, it's one reason I've never really gotten into Dr Who or Star Trek (or most tv sff)

I really didn't like S1

[greteldragon.livejournal.com]

Torchwood is shit. Some cool ideas BUT that combined with incredible inconsistencies (it will go from middle of the night to day in about 2 minutes) plotholes larger then the episode and incredibly bad acting and very lame storylines and dreadful dialogue. AND RETARDED STOPWATCH. Oh and I forgot the bad inconsistent (I'm out of new words)2D characters. The best thing I saw while watching this season was not actually part of the show but this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE_-FeVNOZE video clip. (May have slight spoilers for a particularly nonsensical timefiller in S1)

I also should mention I watched them out of order. I watched S1E1 then S2E1, then went back to watch the rest of S1. I regret those hours watching the rest of S1, shooting myself would have been a better option, but sadly there was nothing else to do while being an insomaniac. It wasn't even good enough to sleep to.

That said, that's all in s1. I've only seen one episode and it had James Marsters making out with another guy. I'm going to watch the rest of this season.

So yeah, seriously not worth the time and effort. I mean you don't miss anything plot or characterwise.

Re: I really didn't like S1

[alias_sqbr]

Good to know I can miss it if need be, thanks.

Re: I really didn't like S1

[greteldragon.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the chance to rant :D

Re: I really didn't like S1

[alias_sqbr]

That's what lj is for!

[vegetus.livejournal.com]

I *love* Torchwood. I love season 2 more than new Dr Who (and I have rewatched season one more than I have Dr Who). This means that many people may wish to beat me up. But I am in an air port and am running away to Fiji soon so hehehe.

OK TW season one is set between season 2 & 3 of Dr Who and TW season two is set after Dr Who season 3. The first ep of season two has references to Dr Who season 3 ending and there is one little bit with character cross over in soem later eps.

Some bits of TW season one were less than great, but it is worth while watching to get background to the different characters and how they tie into the Dr Who timeline.

[alias_sqbr]

Heh. I think new (and old) Who is fun but frequently crap, so feel free to bag it :) I think I'll watch the pilot and as much of the rest as I can stand then stop, and then watch season 2 when it comes out on video.

[vegetus.livejournal.com]

I just watched the last two eps of Season Two Torchwood yesterday- there were tears.

Actually what's interesting is that some eps of Season1 weren't the best, but do actually have character background stuff, like the Cyberwoman ep.

[alias_sqbr]

I just watched the last two eps of Season Two Torchwood yesterday- there were tears.

I'll take that as a good thing :)

[vegetus.livejournal.com]

*must not mention spoilers*

but yes- was a very sad ep, but sill enjoyable.

[i-palimpsest.livejournal.com]

So far you can skip Torchwood completely without mising anything in who alhtough.

Torchwood is very inconsistent as others have said. I like small worlds and countrycide.

I do watch it - I rather enjoy it - most of the time. Although partway through S2 we were watching it because it was "better then no who at all". Give it a try - you can always skip the episodes you don't enjoy,

[seaya.livejournal.com]

No you can't skip the Martha episodes ;). Well, the one in which she kicks ass anyhow.

[emma-in-oz.livejournal.com]

I never got past the first episode, the funny date rape one.

[alias_sqbr]

Yeeesssssss...I heard about that. Hmm.

[tevriel.livejournal.com]

First season Torchwood is semi-unnecessary. (Also, I *hated* Countrycide, the one getting lots of recommendations, and it's the least-fitting of the season.) Their's *some* character background stuff in season 1, but I'm not sure it's that necessary, and some of the episodes are frankly bad. Also Captain Jack is badly written in first season, and it's all much better in the second.

If you think you could handle watching some moderately bad television as precursor to better television, go for it, and it has some cool ideas, but they're cool ideas badly handled. (On the other hand, if you only watch season 2, you may not have adequate reason to loathe Owen.)

As for relative to Doctor Who - well. That gets a bit interesting, because the Torchwood Institute you hear about is a bit... different. Which you only really hear about in season 3 Doctor Who, which comes between seasons for Torchwood.

I think overall I recommend watching Torchwood, just seriously, bear in mind that at least one character will be kind of infuriating, some of it is extremely dodgy, and season two will be SO MUCH BETTER.

[alias_sqbr]

Yeah, Torchwood in Dr Who seemed fairly unsympathetic, which is interesting. I think I'll watch it, but give myself leave top give up pretty easily :)

[seaya.livejournal.com]

Watch the first season of Torchwood after the season of Dr. Who that has Torchwood in it.

Watch the second after the season with Martha.

I am surprised at the opinions of people here. In my opinion, Torchwood season 1 starts out quite crap but gets amazingly fucked up and good about halfway in.

Torchwood season 2 is total absolute shite except for the one episode where Martha kicks ass. But, I watched the whole thing anyhow.

[alias_sqbr]

Name any opinion and large swathes of my friendslist will have hugely varying opinions on it :)

[mpfl.livejournal.com]

You could watch shows that are far better, like Dexter.

My guilty pleasure at the moment is New Amsterdam, a horribly cliched show about a 400 year old cop in New York.

[alias_sqbr]

Oh, yes, I have been, which is why I've taken so long to get around to watching these shows (and, then, only from the local video store, I'm still watching better stuff via Quickflix etc)

I never got into Dexter but it is certainly v. interesting.

[mpfl.livejournal.com]

goth_grrl and I started watching 3 to 4 episodes of Dexter season 2 at a time. We're both horribly addicted.