User Reviews

There seems to be an awful lot of negative comment about Torchwood on these pages and there is definitely a certain 'its not like Doctor Who' element. I love the re-vamped Dr Who, and I was a fan as a child, I grew up with Jon Pertwee as the Doctor and to me he was always the definitive incumbent, until being eclipsed by both the modern incarnations. No, Torchwood is not like Doctor Who, it's a different series; I feel that the characters are very well drawn. They are a team of typical people, they do not have the solutions to all the problems they face, they get scared, they argue, they make mistakes. As far as I see it they behave exactly how most normal people would if recruited and working in a tightly knit team under stressful conditions. There is of course the Russell Davies trademark BLG sexual behaviour, but it is portrayed in a refreshing manner and very much it keeping with the general vibe of the show.

What many of the reviewers seem to miss is the fact that the show is as much about the characters as the aliens, the scripts with a couple of exceptions have been excellent, exploring human relationships and attitudes from a range of perspectives, but most importantly they have been rip-roaring entertainment.

The acting is strong, Barrowman being particularly good, but they all acquit themselves well. The casting is excellent, rather than a stable of beautiful people, they have chosen actors that look, and thanks to good writing, behave, like real people.

A couple of points;

John Barrowman's American accent isn't fake; he lived there from the age of eight.

A lot of comments regarding how derivative the series is; I suspect that Bram Stoker might consider Buffy to be more than a little derivative of his work, but none the less entertaining for it.

This is an excellent series, watch more than one episode before reviewing and please try to approach it with out a particular expectation.

In summary, it is brilliant entertainment.

It's amazing how a high-quality production can sometimes draw reviews that would be more appropriate to low-grade syndicated filler. Torchwood is, at the very least, an imaginative, well-acted, well-photographed and, more than anything, totally idiosyncratic series.

Many seem put off by the sex. Fortunately, that wasn't a problem for the show's writers. This is a series that neither glories in nor shies away from sex. Characters have believable sex lives, that affect their actions in realistic ways. Some episodes are frankly *about* sex, in a brilliantly science-fictional way. (Bear in mind, the series is very definitely *not* aimed at kids. These characters are adults, and the show is written for adults. That in itself is pretty refreshing!)

Some of the interactions may border on soap opera... but that's the format. It works. It's an ensemble show, and it's about how the private lives of relatively normal humans are transformed by extraordinary events. No, these characters aren't as cute and lovable as, say, the crew of the Serenity. They're thorny, often irrational. I love that about them. Like real people, they often act in ways that even their best friends can't predict. And as with real people, one develops an affection for their faults as much as their virtues.

Stories are clever, but not cerebral. This isn't Twilight Zone. It's not 'hard' Science Fiction. It's a 'pulp' show for adults who want to feel like kids for an hour. It creates a world where the bizarre is commonplace. The viewpoint character is a 'normal' policewoman... she moves into this strange world, adapting to its superhuman challenges and becoming addicted to its heady rewards. It's a highly involving formula... if you're the sort of viewer who often finds our 'real' world far too dull and predictable.

Like Doctor Who, Torchwood is a show that, on paper, shouldn't really work. At every point in Doctor Who's long, long run, nay-sayers have proved with inescapable logic that it can't possibly work: it's too violent, it's too dark, it's too silly, it's too intellectual... it's too expensive. Many of the criticisms have been mutually contradictory! The same seems to be true of Torchwood... it's an odd, angular beast, that doesn't really follow any established paradigm. Saying it's "like Angel," or "like the X-Files" really isn't very revealing. In SOME ways, it's like Gunsmoke. Or Bless This House.

I won't give Torchwood a 10/10. Yet. It could be tighter... I have the feeling the first season meandered just a bit. But considering the oddly discordant tone it's trying to hit, that's hardly surprising. It would be even more surprising if the show was able to attract more than a cult following. What does seem ironic is that the cult followings of other, genetically-similar shows such as Doctor Who seem largely unable to appreciate this one. Sci-fi and fantasy used to be about shedding one's preconceptions... now they're cults with preconceptions of their own.

To me, that only adds to the attraction. Torchwood isn't 'like' Doctor Who, or any previous show, in tone, style, pace or perspective. But it has the same essence... the same willingness to take chances, to forge a new myth unlike any other that's gone before. Even if it stumbles a bit at the start, I can't wait to see where it's going.

Torchwood. There is nothing else like it. If you're looking for serious conventional scifi that tackles the universal problems of the cosmos and ends in an epic battle between good and evil this won't be the show for you.

OTOH, if you're looking for a fun sexy romp that gets serious when it needs to, focuses on the human factor and plays fast and loose with just about every "rule" imaginable, you'll find it in Torchwood. It's just what it's billed to be - Doctor Who for the grown-up set, the open-minded set, the slightly skewed set.

John Barrowman does a terrific job as Cap'n Jack Harkness, a man whose lived a life that won't allow him to die and has taught him a flexible sense of morality to match his flexible sense of sexuality. Cap'n Jack laughs, jokes, flirts and fights his way through one set after another of impossible circumstances, but a heart of gold beats beneath his suspendered chest. His team means everything to him and he'll give anything to protect them.

Playing Alfred to Jack's Batman is Ianto Jones. Gareth David-Lloyd is a lovely young talent who adds more depth to Torchwood's favorite coffee boy with each passing episode. He's bright and soulful with a very British sense of humor that hides a deep and painful sorrow. A real find for the producers of the show. He's fascinating to watch and even more fascinating to guess his motivations.

Every superhero needs someone to keep them in touch with their humanity and that exists in the person of Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles). A terrific spunky heroine with the sensibilities of a crafty cop, she keeps her boss focused on the human factor when his instincts tell him to shoot first and ask questions later--a conscience when Jack needs one the most.

But beware, this may not be the show for family viewing on a Saturday night. It deals frankly with human sexuality. It can be violent, gruesome, bloody and heart breaking. It can make you laugh one moment and tear up the next, but it can also send chills down your spine.

All in all if your up for some alternative entertainment this show can be pretty terrific. Open your mind and dive in. It won't be for everyone but if you like, chances are you'll love it.

To all the people that voted low, try watching past the first episode before commenting.

In general the first episode or two aren't the best due to time taken for character development. Get past that and you're in for a fun ride.

If you're looking for good feelings and happy endings, or another Dr. Who, this show is not for you.

It takes a sci-fi element and puts it in real life terms. It's a British Area 51, but they don't have all the answers, and you learn as they do. We have always been told that we are kept in the dark to protect ourselves, but this shows that even the protectors are human, with the same weaknesses and curiosities that we would all have. It's Dark and it's good.

I love this show, from its inventiveness to its style and fashions to the ongoing drama of its plots. The cast is genius, and its the loveliest bit of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, comedy, and romantic drama on television in forever. I'm not privy to lots of the shows my mum's watched, but this show is as boss as it gets. What else is there to say. It's better than doctor who and better than Buffy, plus it's more sophisticated and simpler in some ways. Love it. Love it. Love it!! I need to start reading the books that have come out for it. I bet they're not as good as the show. Anyway I think it's so cool that it's going on, and I hope they make a movie of it soon.

I got addicted to "Doctor Who" a few weeks ago and so I gave "Torchwood" a try. It was worth it. Darker than I expected, heading more for action and thrill. It's different than Doc Who and that's a good thing. Who'd want more of the same :)? And still there are several things here also happening with Doc Who.

"Torchwood" doesn't make a big deal about sexual orientation: The main characters simply are who they are and they don't try to define themselves in terms of sexual orientation. In this world everything is possible – not only considering the visual imagination of the creator of this TV-universe. I find that interesting because so far I have never seen something like it before.

R.T. Davis does a good job - though I strongly doubt it the utter necessity of everyone having sex with everyone. I don't think that really helps to improve the plot and at some moments I think it's just not very credible. I have one core problem with Davies mail main-characters, Captain Jack and The Doctor: to me both seem like a mixture of "head of the family" and (especially "The Doctor") "God". They are just too great for my personal taste. Besides Captain Jack at several points feels like a leader of a cult (which sometimes makes it a little weird). I think that Davies some time projects too much into his characters, but that is only my interpretation of his stories.

Apart from those (for me negative) aspects IMO the biggest plus of "Torchwood" (especially in comparison to "Doc Who") is the strong character development. And the other main characters next to Captain Jack (fascinating but as I said: sometimes too much) are complex and very individual. The cast is great and very likable. While season 1 missed the all episodes connecting plot line (one more thing that reminded me of "Doctor Who"), the character development kept the show thrilling. Right now I'm in the middle of season 2 and here it seems like also a bigger story line is more present and I really enjoy watching it!

Overall: Several things I'm not entirely happy with, but nevertheless a great and entertaining show. R.T. Davies and the BBC made a wise choice doing this spin-off which luckily doesn't feel like a spin-off. Hope it will last for several more seasons. Totally recommendable!

I hated the first season of Torchwood, because it lied. It promised to be a dark sci-fi series for adults. All it was was a show that pretended to be adult, with kisses and swears, but felt like a sillier show than Doctor Who, which is a great show, but Torchwood is supposed to be darker.

But then the second season started. The quality of drama and script and even acting skyrocketed. I suggest seeing it. At least, now I do. And the kisses and swears suddenly feel like they belong. I had some issues with the effects of the episode Meat, but the script for it was about perfect.

I only take off stars because of the crud first season.

From November 1963 until recently I have loved all things WHO (the first Doctor Who hit TV the day after JFK was killed). I've enjoyed all the spin-offs, including, and maybe especially, Torchwood (letters of Doctor Who rearranged, as most people realize). Then along comes 2011 and the move to Starz and the U.S. and the whole show goes flat. All the cool stuff is gone; alien jail; alien artifacts (idea stolen by Warehouse 13), Captain Jack's immortality, occasional Dr. Who crossovers, assorted creatures, etc. Each episode was a complete story with a few ongoing tie-ins. Now it's just another soap opera, and an especially bad one at that. We've had Lost, Heros, V, The Event and others. These things just go on and on, sometimes for years, and just fizzle, or just get left in mid-story. Torchwood: Miracle Day has a weak story, a castrated hero and nowhere to go. I hope it goes back to the BBC as soon as possible.

I'm not the biggest fan of Chris Chinball (or whatever the hell his name is) but I do enjoy Torchwood. We get to witness this organization in it's infancy. Of course things are going to go wrong and the characters are going to screw up continually. It comes with the territory. I think it would be boring if they solved everything amazingly, like Dr. Who . It's much more interesting to see their initial stumbling and subsequent evolution into a functional unit.

I also happen to think the characters are very likable. Yes, even Owen. Especially Owen actually. They are all essentially good people with flaws, desires, and only a bit more understanding of alien life than the Average Joe. I love Dr. Who like no one can possibly imagine and I think its great that RTD and his crew are exploring what would happen if humans tried to do what he did. And the inevitable answer is sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

With that said, can we please get Chinball to stop writing episodes? He isn't the best writer in the world. in fact most of his stuff, and especially the lines he has for jack, are pretty awful. I don't know what he's bribing you with RTD but it can't be so bad that you'll allow him to destroy a potentially good and innovative show, right.

Torchwood was the brainchild of Russell T Davies who is responsible for bringing back Dr. Who to the airwaves and this is a kind of spin off. It dealt with a lot of Dr. Who type situations but focused more on Earth bound issues instead of flying around the universe in a police box.

Originally Torchwood was a government entity designed to protect the Earth from aliens, specifically the good Doctor. In fact Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who. But after they ran afoul of the Doctor he took them down and what we're dealing with now is a smaller and less government funded and more independent organization with the same goals of protecting the planet.

At the helm of this is Captain Jack Harkness. A man literally out of time. He's from the far future, having traveled back and forth and currently stuck in our era. He also has the unfortunate ability not to be able to die. He's tried so many ways and some say that Torchwood was his way of searching for something that could end his life.

It's also a lot darker than Dr. Who ever was. Whereas Dr. Who showed hope, often times Torchwood showed a lack of it. And even when they succeeded in the end there was always a cost. Either in human or emotional terms.

The series started out strong with some good stories but about halfway through the series there were parts that just felt too soap opera for me. Not say it was bad but I felt they were missing something.

In the end it's a good bookend to the David Tennant years as there were several crossovers during that time. Fun fact, David Tennant and John Barrowman became such good friends that John was asked to be David's best man at his wedding.

is what really makes this series. I've watched it a couple of times now, stories are largely good fun, but the self-sacrificing humanity of the deathless man that is Captain Jack is quite heartbreaking at times and so often, it's his own heart that breaks, but something keeps him going (and the series for that matter).

For what was a spin-off then from Dr Who, by focusing on the characters and not the events, it quickly established its own feet as something different and very worthwhile.

The cast is largely fine, each role is stereotypical in a "secret organization", the geek, the streetwise one, the IT guru, the "everyday" police one that we can all identify with, it's just Jack that is out of the ordinary and John Barrowman plays the role perfectly.

Love the show, recommended viewing.

Superb first 2 seasons and a good short story 3rd season. Season 4 was dreadful. Definitely lost its mojo when it lost the original team.

Those who expect this to be another doctor who, don't expect to much, it's clearly a low budget BBC production, but it is excellent in the entertaining aspect.

The problem with the voting on this series is that it's going to be driven by Doctor Who viewers which will expect something completely different, I for one dislike Doctor Who but love Torchwood, why? because it's far more like Spooks than Doctor Who.

Really not suitable for children, full of sex references and the odd scene of the dirty deed itself. It does show a good example of modern Britain with not just it's main characters but also it's extra's (bar the actually bad guys), it shows the drinking culture, the equality we now see in every aspect of life and sadly the growing chav culture.

already a huge, massive doctor who and torchwood fan i was so excited when this was originally broadcast, five episodes in total and shown over one week, Monday to Friday... bought it on blu ray and even though i still knew the story i was amazed to find i was still completely hooked... it was and is an instant classic but still fresh... u don't have to be a previous fan of the series to jump straight in... it is a total emotional roller-coaster, u laugh, u cry, u are totally hooked into the stories and characters... even one particularly disagreeable character i ended up just loving them towards the end and ended up being so bloody upset for them...

i enjoyed series 4 also but for me, this series was amazing... 5 hours long and it just didn't pull any punches drama wise... an excellent story expertly told... to this day there are a few scenes i find damn hard to watch without a lump in my throat... magnificent performances from everyone involved....

this story could come with a money back guarantee!

Torchwood isn't like the good old sci-fi, like Star Wars or Star Trek. I think that's the main source of all the flak it's been receiving. Torchwood is about human nature and homosexuality set against a backdrop of a team hunting aliens in Cardiff.

Give Torchwood a chance. It's not supposed to make you think; just let it wash over you and enjoy the show. Although John Barrowman's acting can come off as cheesy and overly sexed-up at times, there are a few gems. The other members of the team are excellently portrayed by Gareth David-Lloyd, Eve Myles, Naoko Mori, and Burn Gorman.

I'll give Season 1 a 7/10 and Season 2 a 8/10.

The most instantly noticeable problem with this is the overwhelming, dreadful music, which is not only awful in its own right but any kind of atmosphere or tension is more often than not blared out by the terrible, dated, cheesy techno, which also has the effect of making the show sound like a kids program rather than the 'adult' effort it pertains to be.

As to it being 'adult', the throwing in of some swearing and sex doesn't make it so when the script is simplistic, juvenile and utterly lacking in any of the intelligence, edge or wit needed to raise it to the level of a genuine adult drama, it simply comes across as a mish mash suited more for teens than anyone else.

On the limited plus side the main female protagonist is kinda cute and Davies seems to have happily refrained from his usual trick of having at least one character being a hyperactive pain in the arse, more underplayed characters are a welcome relief but neither is enough to lift this much higher than being fairly embarrassing dross.

Captain Jack Harkness is the leader and he keeps the team moving and shaking. He has died and been resurrected. He's head strong and knows what to do. Gwen Cooper a cop. She's ready to investigate it all, the civilians, the cops and the aliens but she is sensitive and caring about them all. Oh, this so much more than Dr Who. An awesome action packed and more adult series. Don't sit the kiddies down for this one though. As the first two episodes can show you, it is adult through & through. Captain Jack is so dreamy. The sci-fi special equipment used as they hunt down aliens is very entertaining as well. I was glued to the screen. I can't wait for the next episode. This may be one of the best BBC series to date. Check it out... you won't be disappointed. My Congrats to BBC, Russell T Davies and John Barrowman you've got a real hit with Torchwood.

Series 1 & 2 were excellent, exciting and innovative. Series 3 was still ok but just a very streched out single story which was a film (almost a remake of similar older films with similar themes) rather than keeping to shorter, better written episodes. Then the US money and 'joint' production came in and the end was quickly coming. Miracle Day was anything but a miracle, other than it got made. The story was disjointed, poorly written, way too long / boring and the acting dreadful. The americanisation spoiled the show as did the move to the US. I can fully understand why the writer chose to place the show on permanent hiatus! My score is 8 for series 1 & 2, 3 for series 3 and 1 for series 4.

I don't normally enjoy science fiction shows, so I was surprised to find myself being drawn into this one.

I initially started watching because I liked John Barrowman but by the time the series had come to an end, I'd enjoyed the series as a whole. It's much more character driven than most other sci-fi shows that I've seen and all of the characters bring something different to the show, as well as being rather nice to look at. If you like your science fiction to focus on character relationships, rather than simply aliens and alien technology, and you don't have any problems with bi-sexuality, then Torchwood is an entertaining and somewhat different science fiction series. It isn't a series for sci-fi geeks, who only watch these shows for aliens, space ships and phaser fights.

Captain Jack Harkness - Leader of the group, 51st century time agent who's currently stranded on modern day Earth, handsome, flirty, can not die using conventional methods, feels sad emotions at times because of his current inability to die.

Owen Harper - medic, a bit rough, a bit full of himself, not afraid to speak his mind, likes the ladies.

Toshiko Sato - technical expert, perhaps the most 'normal' of the group, fairly quiet.

Gwen Cooper - the ex-policewoman who accidentally stumbles upon Torchwood, views situations from a human point of view rather than a hardened point of view, struggles to mix her professional life with her personal life.

Ianto Jones - is to jack what Alfred was to Batman, takes care of the Hub whilst the others are away, young and sexy, likes to wear a suit, quiet and sensitive, keeps his emotions bottled inside until a crisis occurs.

Some people have accused Torchwood of having too much sex. This simply isn't true. Apart from episode two which is a bit fruity, Day One, the sex is kept to a minimum and is never graphic. It would actually be more accurate to say that Torchwood has a fair amount of sexuality and sexual innuendo, not sex itself. And during this first series, there are no male/male sex scenes at all, just two or three fairly heavy kisses.

There's little connection between Torchwood and Doctor Who, apart from Captain Jack himself and a kinky cyberwoman popping up.

It's true that Torchwood is a bit patchy, it's true that the characters are not particularly great at their jobs and it's true that the series does have a few large plot holes - like Jack not knowing that they have a cyberwoman in their basement. But if things like this really don't bother you, give Torchwood a go. Generally the second half of the series is better than the first.

The setting, the background, the cast ... this show could have been spectacular.

Instead I shrug, figure that there were worse ways to spend half an hour and decide to watch the Torchwood episode next week if there is nothing else to do.

New writers are desperately needed. There are plot holes that swallow the story whole, chew it up and spit out a vaguely entertaining but unfulfilling series. The direction is occasionally jolting and the characters can appear bipolar at times, lurching from extremes without any reason or warning. For an adult series, Torchwood needs to grow up.

That said, it is still entertaining and a moderately enjoyable TV experience. Don't expect Dr Who or X-files quality and you won't be disappointed. After watching a few episodes, however, you may feel an ache as you realise how much better this show could have been.

I give it a 6/10 but I can see that it has the potential to be 10/10... someday...

Why does everyone appear to be assuming that Torchwood is vying for a Cannes Film Festival Prize? Most other comments seem to take the view that Torchwood is a serious program - it isn't, guys!It is ENTERTAINMENT - repeat after me - "I am allowed to just sit back and let this drift over me if I feel like it!" Doctor Who and Torchwood are shows written and televised for the enjoyment of the masses. Full Stop. The End. There IS no necessary "hidden importance" in every episode. There are no rules that say we have to believe deeply that Captain Jack and his mates are actually saving the earth (or whatever your particular view of the program's intention happens to be). It is a TV series. A very enjoyable one. One that might make us/you/them THINK occasionally. But it is not the basis on which people should construct their lives, and nor is Dr Who. Bring on Dr Who and Torchwood - I will watch and enjoy them all, without nitpicking about the nuances of someone'e character. Don't be a mob of anoraks or nerds - just watch and enjoy, as I have done, and my children as well, and now THEIR children will soon be old enough to watch the well-aged Dr Who tapes which their parents watched with me.I remember the original 1963 eps in Black and White - and am still happy to watch them all again. Just don't ask me to apply an unrealistic method of measuring their importance to the history of Film (note the the Upper Case and use of the Singular form of this noun, so necessary for the serious student. Well done to all the cast and writers and producers - take no notice of the nay-sayers!

This is the biggest hit and miss show I've ever seen. One episode will be so horrible you want to throw something at your TV and the next one will have you in tears but in a good way. At least that was season 2. Season 1... oh my. No. It's terrible with an occasional decent premise that never gets carried out. I'm determined not to put any spoilers into the review though. But if you want to stick this show out, seriously, skip the first season. It's just trashy TV that's trying to be edgy.

Season 2 is when it gets hit and miss. The first few episodes are pretty weak but then in the middle, it shines in episodes like "Adam" and toward the end with "Fragments." It's great when they aren't making an edgy story just to be edgy. The finale is a real tear jerker, grab some tissues. I cried and I'm not a crier in movies or TV. I don't think that counts as a spoiler though because I'm sure not going to tell you what happens.

But Children of Earth is when the show shines. Gone are the days in which they think they have to make it immature and over-sexed. They deliver a truly amazing and even heart-wrenching sci-fi drama. You won't want to miss it! Again, the end is very sad and while I didn't cry, I advise grabbing some tissues just in case. It is so incredibly well made that you will probably be speechless at the end. It's so powerful.

So that's my review of the show. Mind numbingly horrid at first but if you can get through it, it really pays off.