Torchwood: The Complete Second Season (review)
Bloody Torchwood
(For my episode-by-episode commentary on Series 2, start here, with “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.” This is a spoiler-free look at the DVD package.)
“Torchwood is about ka-boom!” says John Barrowman -- who stars as Captain Jack Harkness in this Doctor Who spinoff -- in one of the making-of Torchwood Declassified on this new DVD set, just out from BBC Video. John’s a doll, cute as hell, a talented actor, etc., etc.... but I’m not sure I agree with him here.
Yes, it’s true that this BBC series, which revolves around a secret agency that fights alien influence in modern-day Cardiff, is packed with action and things blowing up and way-cool science-fictional ideas that I promise you haven’t seen dealt with on other SF shows (and, yes, some that you have). But it’s primarily about how people deal with all that. Because if it isn’t, why should we bother?
And we like these Torchwood people, and are concerned about how they’re dealing with this stuff, even when we don’t like them, which is pretty frequently, actually, because they’re often not very likable. There’s ex-cop Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles), who is awfully inconsiderate to her boyfriend, Rhys (Kai Owen), from whom she keeps lots of secrets... though it’s perhaps no better when she finally clues him in, as she does in these 13 episodes. There’s medical doctor Owen Harper (Burn Gorman: Penelope, Fred Claus), who’s a real son of a bitch... and gets worse when he passes a threshold in these 13 episodes that all of us pass over, though not quite in the same way. There’s scientist Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori: Topsy-Turvy), who’s brilliant when it comes to science and hopeless when it comes to people. There’s tea-boy/soldier Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd), who’s just lost, though he puts on a good front.
And there’s Jack (Barrowman: The Producers, De-Lovely). Sorry, John, but Torchwood is all about Captain Jack Harkness, Time Agent from the 51st century, man about the universe, a lover and a fighter, and one of the most intriguing characters to come out of the 45-year history of Doctor Who. If there is an overarching theme to the second season of this extraordinary series, it is that we learn a helluva lot more about Jack... and are left with a helluva lot more questions and mysteries about him than we had before. For one: the incursion of one of Jack’s former associates -- and former best friend -- Captain John Hart, a rogue Time Agent, whose appearances bracket this season in episodes 1 and 13, raises more questions than it answers. And it doesn’t hurt that Hart is played by James Marsters, who ascended to geek godhood for playing Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Ah, the Mobius strips of pop-culture references that fold in upon themselves with Torchwood...
So, yes, over the course of these 13 episodes, we learn more about Jack’s past (some of which is in the future, and some of which is in the past), as he and the Torchwood gang confront some sticky situations. I won’t touch much on episodes till I get to my episode-by-episode blogging, but Episode 4, “Meat,” is truly one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever seen, and how this season ends is one of the more daring directions I’ve ever seen an ongoing series turn in. As long as Jack returns for next season -- and it seems that he will -- it’s all good.
The DVD: As with Season 1, this set is an exercise in frustration. Why aren’t the deleted scenes available with the episodes they’re deleted from, instead of shuffled onto a ghetto of their own on Disc 4? The outtakes (that is, flubs and bloopers and crackups) on that disc are amusing, though, but I’m not sure that “The Life and Deaths of Captain Jack,” a “handy guide” to Jack’s confusing timeline, which has crossed itself more than once, is any more enlightening that the episodes themselves. (Don’t watch this till after you finish this season, because it’s full of spoilers.) Disc 5 is given over to “Torchwood Declassified,” the series of making-of featurettes that, in England, air immediately after an episode -- it seems that these would be better placed with the episodes they’re about, too.
[buy at Amazon (Region 1)] [buy at Amazon (Region 2)]viewed at home on a small screen
not rated
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comments
posted by Barb Gorczyca (Wed Sep 17 08, 6:12PM)
Series 2 was a mixed bag for me. The content was toned down a bit too much to make more accessible to a large audience. The earlier episodes were at times slow and lacking action while the last couple of episodes were the best.
I also have to say I'm a bit disappointed with the extras on this set compared to the series 1 set. No audio commentaries this time around. The points made about the extras in general I agree with as well. I prefer to see the extras grouped with the episodes they refer to.
posted by Jerry Colvin (Thu Sep 18 08, 12:58PM)
So why did he have to botox-up his face between season one and season two?
posted by MaryAnn (Fri Sep 19 08, 3:44PM)
Because he's vain?
posted by Weimlady (Fri Sep 19 08, 5:32PM)
Because he's in a business that values appearance over substance? And he'd like to carry on making a living as a leading man for as long as he can get away with it?
I'm assuming "he" is John Barrowman, btw. :-)
posted by MaryAnn (Sat Sep 20 08, 3:32PM)
Yeah, cuz men have *such* problems being seen as viable leading men beyond their 40s... :->
posted by Weimlady (Sun Sep 21 08, 12:36PM)
Kind of depends on the man, doesn't it? Some improve with age, some make you say, "Ah, he used to be such a babe and now look at him. How sad." I don't see John falling into the latter category, but maybe he sees himself that way.
And look at us discussing him getting "botoxed-up" on the strength of Jerry's comment with no other evidence to support the claim. Maybe he just got a new make-up artist for season two!
posted by Jackie (Sun Sep 21 08, 5:43PM)
Be fair, it led to a lovely exchange:
Doctor "Have you had some work done?"
Jack "You're one to talk" (hey, decade off ears fixed and big hair).
posted by MaryAnn (Sun Sep 21 08, 6:11PM)
Nope, Barrowman has been totally upfront about having been Botoxed. It's very public knowledge, which I'm sure is where that joke that Jackie refers to came from.
And hey, some of us *like* the way Christopher Eccleston looks!
posted by Weimlady (Mon Sep 22 08, 1:03PM)
Well then. I sit corrected. Didn't know that about John. I think it's a shame since he might well have had crows-feet as sexy as David Tennant's (although that would be a high bar to try to reach). At least he is wise enough to limit his use of it and not turn himself into an Auton.
I didn't know the "Have you had some work done?" line was based in reality--figured it was just the Doctor getting a dig in at Jack's vanity!
And yes, no complaints here about how Christopher Eccleston looks. Now there's a guy I doubt would ever go the botox route! That's an honest face and likely to stay so.