Torchwood

[caddyman]

Now I've spent most of the season wondering what precisely people are watching when I watch Torchwood. It's not classic sci-fi (sadly), but it is generally watchable and usually enjoyable if ultimately disposable. Whereas there are few episodes of Dr Who (since the relaunch) that I don't feel like rewatching (in fact, it will surprise no-one to know I have seasons 1 & 2 on DVD), I haven't felt like rewatching any Torchwood so far. Watch once, enjoy it for what it is and then forget it. A video Big Mac if you will. Transitionally tasty if you're in the mood, but not something to savour if there's a steak to be had instead.

Tonight was unusual as far as I was concerned, but I suspect most detractors will feel that they spotted it all well in advance. I must have blinked when the bit that warranted Torchwood intervention was made manifest to the crew. So did most of the team as the story revolved around Gwen following up an apparent Road Traffic Accident with no reason to suppose there was anything that the Plods shouldn't do. That there happened to be an alien artifact was incidental to most of her ham fisted police work and the entire plot hung together like a loosely woven string vest. With holes.

Next week's looks better. But then this week's didn't look bad from the trailers either.

I feel like I watched a clip episode without the benefit of the clips.

Comments

[romney.livejournal.com]

...and yet, I enjoyed it very much; one of the best yet, albeit out of a poor bunch.

[velvet-the-cat.livejournal.com]

A bit of hackin' eBay from the desk would have solved most of the mystery in five minutes. [sigh] I think that's why we were so hacked off with it. It wasn't necessary and didn't even reward you with anything for sitting through it!

[mr-h-r-hughes.livejournal.com]

TESTIFY BROTHER STEED!

I think the current state of TV is lowering people's standards. I like simple, fun, silly enterainment as much as the next fellow but simple, fun and silly are not the same thing as poorly conceived, badly written and awfully acted shite. I wish people would stop excusing bad TV with the old 'well it's not a classic but it's ok' thing. Being prepared to call rubbish rubbish does not mean you are some twat who's completely up their own backside and incapable of enjoying brains-off telly. When I'm watching something in the fantasy/sci-fi sphere and I keep thinking 'I've been to LRP events with better plots than this' something is not right.

On a more general level, I wish lazy writers would stop using the internet as an excuse to not have their characters investigate things properly and/or ram in exposition.

Grumblegrumblegrumble.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

If everything was a classic, nothing would be a classic.

There is room for expendable but entertaining telly; it's not an excuse, it's a niche. Torchwood falls into that niche, which is sad since I'd hoped it would be better. I'm prepared to call rubbish for what it is when I see it, but there are many fine gradations of quality and disappointment and Torchwood just isn't bad enough or good enough to fall into the memorable sections.

What is silly, is to have decided after two or three episodes that you don't like something and then to be destroying your blood pressure and equanimity watching it seven or eight weeks later.

[phil99.livejournal.com]

I've been watching this series of Torchwood perhaps partly by proxy, and have been less than impressed overall. It had a shaky start, botched storylines and flaky acting and dodgy scripting. It improved partway through (maybe eps 4-5? Can't remember right now) and seems to have nosedived again...

[ladkyis.livejournal.com]

For me there are two ways to classify a classic
1. Something is so dreadful it builds a cult following and becomes a classic
2. Something is so breathtakingly good that everyone wants to see it and will watch it again and again - even when the *meeja* knock it and mock it.

from my point of view Monty Python is a classic from the first catagory ( personally I think it is an "Emperor's new clothes sort of programme) and West Wing is in the second. Of course, this just proves how personal it all is

[bluesman.livejournal.com]

Interesting. So you think Monty Python was dreadful? I think its continuing appeal lies in how different it was from other comedy at the time (especially in America, where it is revered), one might even say groundbreaking, and its inherently hit-&-miss nature. Some sketches were jolly funny, some were flat or boring.

[the-hooded-crow.livejournal.com]

I've been disappointed by Torchwood too. I didn't bother to watch it last night. That's not a good sign for a fledgeling series that promised so much. I can see the series being axed if it continues in this fashion.
It is a pity.

...

And the thought occurs to me that I know some excellent writers who are no longer working on a HUGE project.

;)

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

As long as that "HUGE PROJECT" is Torchwood and NOT Dr Who!

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

...and it occurred to me on the way home that that is reet dim comment...

[pipsytip.livejournal.com]

I was bitterly disappointed with last night's episode.

I think the Torchwood team are trying to do 'Angel' in Cardiff. Gwen as a character is really beginning to grate on my nerves.

I have been obsessively watching this series because I desperately want it to be as good as Doctor who and last night's ep was compared to Love and Monsters which I loved but Love and Monsters had Peter Kay in it and MArc thingy from Hustle.

They had better pull there socks up or I'm going down to cardiff to shout at the building with the big words on it until it improves.

but it was also missing the paving slabjob bit

[suitandtieguy.livejournal.com]

which makes the TW variant of the concept inherently superior to my viewing sensibilities for some reason.

Re: but it was also missing the paving slabjob bit

[pipsytip.livejournal.com]

I get a thrill from the cheap gag.

[fredlums.livejournal.com]

Would like to make an intelligent and articulate comment but as I keep falling asleep and going to bed about half way through the last few episodes I can't.