Doctor Who/Torchwood/other spin-offs

[Vipervertical]

Since my last British thread was so popular (2 people! WOW!) I've decided to give you guys a thread about the best British action TV show. (James Bond is movies)

[Jenno]

There will be spoilers in this, so if you don't like them look away.

Ahh yes, sadly I only just saw this, but I have to say, I am a big fan of both of the above.

Now, I never really watched the old Doctor Who much, saw bits of it every once in a while but I was never a big fan. However, when Christopher Eccleston took up the role, I found myself enjoying the episodes quite a lot. And then after a, sadly, short streak, David Tennant assumed the mantle. Now at first I wasn't really sure about him but I've certainly come to enjoy seeing him play the doctor. One thing I will say though is that there doesn't seem to be a side of David that comes across as... threatening at all. After all, The Doctor is meant to have a side of him where he could potentially be quite menacing and assertive, I certainly found that with Christopher. This new guy who's set to play the Doctor really isn't putting me in high hopes :/.

Now, my favourite episodes. Written by Steven Moffat, Blink has to be my all time favourite, out of all of the episodes that have come and gone this was easily my favourite. I also enjoyed the two part one in the library world which was also written by Moffat, however Blink, for me, stole the show. I can't wait for him to become lead writer in, I think, 2010.

And now Torchwood. This show I absolutely loved. Haven't seen anything British made that was this good to watch for a long time. I have to say that I loved all the characters, they were quite realistic in that they were all flawed, some quite majorly. Owen, for example, was really quite a jerk, yet he came to be my favourite character and the ending between him and Tosh was really quite raw and emotional, I'm sad to see them both go but it is stated that the life expectancy in Torchwood isn't long, and that proof will now keep viewers on their toes. My only concern in this would probably be Gwen, some times she really annoys me but every once in a while she makes up for it.

Both great shows in my opinion and I most definately look forward to seeing future episodes of both shows.

[Vipervertical]

OMG! Blink is my favorite episode too, and Owen made me sad when he died as he was my FAVORITE! Toshiko was second. *grumble grumble*
WOW! I must have been on a sugar rush when I wrote that. Blink is my favorite episode but I could have been less...hyper... when I typed that.
I acctually prefer David Tennant to Christipher Ecclenston(However its spelled), and I don't trust Matt Smith to correctly perform as the Doctor...


UPDATE: I've watched that other spinoff: Sarah Jane Adventures. I only watched it because it was a Doctor Who spinoff, and I didn't like it that much. You could tell it was aimed at kids, I never would have watched it if I wasn't such a Doctor Who junkie.

[Jenno]

Well, to the above, never was interested by the Sarah Jane adventures so I never watched it.

Now onto my main response. I caught series three of Torchwood a little late (BBC iPlayer and Stagevu are thankfully about) but I have to say I once again really enjoyed this show. Although it's been deemed more of a 'mini-series' considering it is only five episodes long I loved every minute of it, and it was far better than many British TV shows out there. 'Children of Earth' was the title of this little series with it being set over five days and with one episode being shown every day which I think added to it somewhat, even if I didn't watch all of it like that.

I believe it's being shown in America soon, though I could be wrong, I would recommend people try and get their hands on this, even if it's just the DVD release, a show this good being made over here is rather rare and I feel really pleased at this step (or rather leap) in the right direction. It's always been a show that interests me and whilst I have been somewhat put off by some of the events of previous series (death of my favourite character for one) I watched onward, only to have James Marsters turn up for a few episodes in season two (he's an actor I quite enjoy watching) and then these five episodes have done a great job of reminding me how good Torchwood actually is.





*SPOILERS AHEAD - DON'T READ ON IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ALL 'CHILDREN OF EARTH' EPISODES*





So the question now is simply 'where do we go from here?' With an ending such as that, what is there to with Torchwood, it's likely Jack will turn up in Doctor Who here and there again, but I've personally come to enjoy Torchwood more (darker themes just add a bigger sense of realism that I'm attracted towards). Many think that it should end there with the Children of Earth and I can see why, but I would really like to see a fourth season.

My only concern is how they'd pull it off, how would they make it as good after that ending? I have no clue, I don't write the show, but I can guess that it would be tricky. What I really wouldn't mind seeing however is something along the lines of Jack and John meeting up. However, this doesn't really stick to the title of 'Torchwood', so perhaps season four could start with Jack and John returning to Earth in order to help/save it? Who knows? But I'd like to see a fourth series and I really wouldn't mind having Captain John Hart be there to shake things up a bit.

Now I realise I may just be typing to myself here, but I'm not caring too much. If anyone is reading and has been watching, what do you think? What would you like to see?

~Jenno

[Vipervertical]

Watched the first ep of CoE today. Amazing. No spoilers for me please, I want to know how long it will take Jack to pull himself back together Reading the books, it took him almost 24 hours to reattach a severed leg. So he should have some trouble with this.

[Isan]

I've actually seen some really good Doctor Who episodes with Eccleston and Tennant. I think I liked the Episodes with Eccleston more, but Tennant was more fun. I saw some of Torchwood because I thought the Captain Jack character was interesting when he appeared in the story.

Though it's another show that I don't really have the opportunity to watch any more. The downside of having a GF that doesn't like sci-fi.

[Vex]

I agree with Isan. I enjoyed Eccleston far more, but Tennant was good and the character expands with him more as the series went along (having seen some of the specials). Really haven't gotten to see much of the show past Rose and I need too...but its a downside when you aren't deployed anymore and able to watch entire series at a time.

Not sure how I feel about his new incarnation.

[Jenno]

Personally I really quite like Matt Smith (the new Doctor). Something about him, just not sure what, but he has me intrigued.

After the return of the Weeping Angels I just had to go and watch Blink again (where they first appear). I have to say, that episode is easily my favourite. It strike's along the same line of brilliance as an episode from Buffy The Vampire Slayer called Hush. Both are episodes that are, in my mind, rather interesting television.

[jaydee74]

I also like Matt Smith. I think he did a good job with the role although my favorite is still Tennant. A close second for me actually is the second Doctor. I've been watching a lot of the classic stories and I really love Patrick Troughton a lot.

[Vipervertical]

Alright, been a while since I said my piece in here. I figure it's about time. I never really expressed my position coherently so here goes.

WARNING: WALL OF TEXT INCOMING

I started watching Doctor Who halfway through the Eccleston episodes. As of right now, I've seen every episode from Rose to A Good Man Goes To War. I've watched a few of the classic episodes, but they didn't really appeal to me as much. I'd like to believe I'm not so shallow as to be taken in by the newer CGI, but it could just be that the older episodes don't age as well.

In any case, I quickly fell in love with the show, and even moreso once Tennant took over. Seeing as Eccleston lacked the spotlight long enough to really make his mark (which I think is a shame), Tennant became my ideal Doctor. He'll likely never be surpassed in my eyes through a combination of excellent acting and what I'm sure will become (if it hasn't already) nostalgia, which clouds everything.

Needless to say, I was very upset when I heard he was leaving the show to be replaced by this...kid. I was fully prepared to nerdrage and hate on the new guy. Unfortunately for me, Matt Smith is fantastic. He plays the part of the Doctor wonderfully, and I cannot hate him even when I try. In a way, I think it might be Moffat's superior writing to Davies', but Smith definitely isn't harming the matter. He's genuinely charming and fills the role spectacularly. Which is saying a lot, since Tennant left some big shoes to fill.

The best episode, in my opinion, was probably Blink. I'm not usually a fan of horror in any form, but Blink made me love it. The focus on characters that were not main series-important characters and therefore had no plot armor definitely added to the tension. It wouldn't have had nearly the same effect had the Doctor been the focus in that episode. On a less horror note, End of Time is another favorite because it gave Tennant the send-off he deserved.

Now onto Torchwood. Much like Jennos, I found it a much darker take on the same universe, which (again, like Jennos) drew me in even more. Fell in love with the characters and cried at the end of season 2. No I am not ashamed of that. I think I could continue nerding over the series for a while, but I'll just leave it with the fact that I am eagerly awaiting the release of Miracle Day, not the least of which because I want to see how things "come back together" after the end of CoE.

July 8th. Should be great.

EDIT: REVIEW OF MIRACLE DAY INCOMING

So I just finished watching the second episode of Miracle Day and figured I should throw down a review. I'll avoid spoilers, but since I'll be talking about themes of episodes, I might accidentally give something away. So don't bother reading if you already PLAN to watch it. If you're on the fence, please do.

The big thing to remember is that this season is in America. It's not just set in America, but made in America too. This shows too. It feels different than the older seasons. It has a more American feel over the whole thing. But even so, it is still undoubtably Torchwood. Just with a slightly different feel.

The first episode is pretty good. It drops you in nicely. It stretches a little on the normal Torchwood deal, but not more than I can let slide. The only problem I have with the first episode is that it leans a little heavy on the action. It feels too much like an action movie with explosions everywhere at times. But on the whole it's good.

The second episode is much better, in my opinion. Though the two actual Torchwood members accomplish very little, this episode just has a better feel to it. There's a little bit of spy intrigue, what with the CIA and all, but that's not what makes it good. There's some nice medical jargon and an excellent medical drama section that felt VERY Torchwood. All in all, it felt more like what I'd come to expect.

Episode 3 will come next week, and the plot looks like it will finally kick up after the first two which I believe serve more as exposition than anything else. I only hope they can get this new story with a good blend of the new American and old Torchwood feel. That remains to be seen.