Torchwood

[Matthew_]

Saw episode 3....still not convinced.
I like the idea: dumping ground for alien refuse. It should be dark and gritty but the characters are not real enough to carry it off. A bit of swearing and sex doesn't make it real. Alternatively, a gritty plot played with a bit more gusto would probably obviate the need for any bad language at all. I am not a prude, I simply think swearing and / or adult themes need to have an impact or a point. So far that's not happening, certainly on the impact front.
Its strange because the recipe is the same as Dr Who. Lets face it the Dr Who aliens are just as inconvincing but somehow they manage to convey the darkness, fear and sometimes nihlism of the vast universe. How do they do that?
It has to come down to the characterisation. John Barrowman just doesn't do it for me, he does not convince me at all. I think the actor who plays Gwen is good and the guy who plays Owen has potential (he was brilliant in Pride and Prejudice). But the lead role...nah!
As for the pistol shooting scene....horrific.. I squirmed and cringed my way through that one. I am glad they didn't teach me to shoot like that!
'course, I couldn't hit a barn door with a shovel now anyway!!!

[GarethB]

May not be with a shovel, but I am sure Matthew given a lareg enough gun you could hit almost anything

[Michael P]

I saw episode 3 (yawn, yawn,yawn) .I did nod off but don't think I missed too much.

I liked Gwen but the rest of the cast left me cold. A bit hammy for my liking. I thought Life On Mars was similar but much better.

[John Smith]

Well I think it may be settling down now, and episode 4 (Cybermen!) should be a bit more exciting.

I agree that the setup is good, and that the sex and swearing are not needed at all (how much was there in X-files, Buffy...)

As for the casting, not too keen on Owen yet (though he showed some range in ep3), I think Gwen is fab, but Jack... just doesn't do it for me most of the time.

Still, it's a lot better than most of the twaddle on TV at the moment, so I'll still be watching!

[Matthew_]

John,
You're right, it is better than most stuff and it is still holding my interest, just.
The cybermen may just add that spark we need.....?

As for hitting everything with a large enough gun, Gareth I think that might just be the problem: hitting everything! I can feel another thread coming on....

[Lesley Foster]

Well episode 4 has come and gone. I am enjoying it so far but I do feels it drags a bit, I find myself clock watching at times.

Lesley.

[Michael P]

Well I think it may be settling down now, and episode 4 (Cybermen!) should be a bit more exciting.

Sorry John, it wasn't (yawn, yawn).

I thought the script was atrocious and the acting (apart from Gwen) wooden and hammy.

Unless someone can give me a good reason to watch the next episode, I will be giving it a miss from now on.

Is Dr Who like this as well? Surely not.

[brigid downing]

No Dr Who is different.

I cannot explain why but Dr Who works and this just doesn't - atleast not quite. I cannot put my finger on it - I really want to love it - but I just can't. Maybe it needs more time to develop enough back story to give the characters enough depth to account for their apparent lack of substance.

I don't think it as simple as the acting. I like Gwen and Capt. Jack has been okay elsewhere, so has Owen.

I wonder if the need to avoid sex and swearing on Dr Who forces the writers to be more imaginative.
Brigid

[Michael P]

Brigid, to me it seems that the cast have no belief in the script which is laboured and contrived.

In this latest episode, one of the characters overacted to such an extent that it totally ruined the show for me.

I thought John Barrymam was great as a judge in How Should We Solve A Problem Like Maria and I was looking forward to seeing him in this but I am afraid I am unconvinced by his acting.

[Andrew MacLean]

I saw episode 4, having missed number 3.

The BBC are trying hard to make this work, but the production values are wrong for the type of programme they want to develop. The thing about Doctor Who was that it was made for family viewing, so the 'British' production values were tolerable. Torchwood sets out to take its place amongs programmes like Firefly so needs tighter writing and better production.

Torchwood has the potential to be a great programme. I am afraid that it also has the potential to be rather poor. While I hope for one, I fear the other.

That is not to say that I am going to stop watching. Imagine how I'd feel if suddenly it became good and I had stopped viewing the week before!

Andrew