Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Greg]

Torchwood's back - in an episode with plenty of kisses and a few bangs as well.

This episode introduces the other regulars to some information about Jack's past - most by way of Captain John Hart (played by James Marsters), another Time Agent who has a fairly stormy reunion with his former partner.

Maybe I've mellowed, but this episode seemed more - I was going to say mature, though I'm thinking settled, confident - than a large percentage of last episode.

Things have moved on since the end of the first series - Jack's been away to parts unknown, and the team have reorganised themselves with Gwen as the leader, so Jack's return and the arrival of his former partner throws a spanner in the works. Everyone is on the back foot and out of their depth.

The episode is well paced, blending action sequences and character bits quite seamlessly, allowing the episode to appeal to different people who may be tuning in just to see if they want to keep watching.

The wise use of James Marsters (who is best known for his appearances as Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, but may also be known some as Professor Milton Fine in Smallville, shows that Russel T Davies has said influenced his thinking for the return of Doctor Who) in the opening episode will probably attract a few more viewers, who may stay along for the ride. And will Captain John be back...? The 'next episode' bit seems to say yes!

A strong start to the new series, and I hope the basis from which things will improve.

[dave]

The beginning of this episode cracked me up: "Have you seen a blowfish driving a sports car?"

It's been said before, but Torchwood must be the most well known top-secret organisation ever. I'm kind of glad they've lost that whole 'beyond the government' speel from the opening credits, to be honest.

The whole greeting of Jack and John was most predicatable. Really, really predictable. Ah well; it is Torchwood, after all; not sure what I was expecting.

I liked the jokes, mostly. The 'help me, Obi Wan Kenobi' made me smile, and the "That's gorgeous." "That's a poodle" exchange had me laughing out loud. Seems like everyone from the future's an omnisexual then.

And someone's been watching Firefly. At least, that's the only place I've come across the whole 'good night kiss' thing recently.

The DNA bit at the end was complete and utter crap. Injecting John with the DNA of others wouldn't for a second 'corrupt' John's DNA at all. Not to mention it looked a hell of a lot like blood he was being injected with, and that most probably would simply have killed him due to the typical antigen/anitbody reaction you'd get in such a situation. I find myself getting nostalgic for the days when science-fiction writers knew some basic science.

I thought that trailer was for the rest of the season! If not, looks like next episode should be a ripper. And we'll get to see Martha again!

[Tegan]

I hope this series keeps up to the standard of the first episode. I liked the jokes, got a lot of giggles and snickers (not the chocolate) out of them. Although I'd be happy if subsequent episodes steer away from the humour.

Absolutely loved the elderly lady saying "Bloody Torchwood" as the car drove away.

I think the jokes were needed to balance the Spike.. oops sorry... Captain John. Without the humour the character would be too over the top.

The series story arc looks to be about the mysterious Grey. Who or what is "Grey"?

There were no slow spots in "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang" which was a far to common failing of series 1. It kept moving along and apart from the blindingly obvious exposition of the Blowfish listing everyone's failings in lieu of a "Previously on Torchwood" opening was plausible. I can even handle the DNA mix injection.

It's good to see that the Torchwood team have more independence and ability to act on their own volition, rather than waiting for Jack to do all the thinking for them.

[meglos]

Funny and action packed. What more do you need. Excellent

[Greg]

[Panecea]

I will not repeat what everyone else has said. This was a good start and the storyline was much improved on last season (a lot less angst). I do believe it will remain strong if the storylines are rich. John Hart was a good addition (The Master to Jack's Doctor). I like to see how Jack rescues Martha without telling the others about the Doctor.

[Ickabod]

Captain Jack & Captain John.... isn't Jack another name for John???? very origional.....where did you all see this???? I miss out all the time sobbbbbb

[Panecea]

We, the lucky few, are fortunate enough to have in our possession Time Lord technology.

[Ickabod]

[Sulp Niar]

[Ickabod]

[Sulp Niar]

Having now seen it, I can say that I'm both very very impressed and slightly (and I mean minutely) concerned about what the series has become. There was confidence oozing from the pores of this, whether it be the metal-y soundtrack, the characters or the writing (or all of them, really), and it's nice to see a series finding what works and what doesn't.

My only thing is, I hope they don't just stick to that - after finding out what works and what doesn't, you then try and experiment to find out what else could work and what couldn't. But this is me being cynical, because Torchwood was highly experimental in its first series and considering its the sister show to the most changeable series ever, that shouldn't be a concern.

First up; as Dave pointed out, I'm glad they cut the opening montage (assuming they'll retain this for the series). It really didn't fit with the first series. In fact, its relevance reminded me of the "Would you wanna live here? I have to" line that was in the first series of Alex Mack. And boy, I'm going off-topic.

And Dave's right about Firefly as well - the fact that the meeting scene between the captains was done with a western feel made me think that (and of course, the Joss Whedon-James Marsters link).

I see this is written by Chris Chibnall, which suggests he's improving. Apart from the dodgy science at the end that Dave pointed out (god, you're useful), the plot was the best that he's sculpted so far. 'End of Days' was great until the rather pointless ending; 'Day One' and 'Countrycide' were pretty well structured, but they didn't beat this. I didn't imagine that they'd use, for instance, the car again, or that Gwen's phone call to Rhys (which was quite naturally inserted into the scene anyway) would be a little plot point. It shows that Chibnall's thinking a lot harder, and it really helps.

Gwen loves Jack? I'm sorry, what? I'd assumed that the "random sex and love" had been ironed out after the Gwen/Owen to Owen/Diane and continued Jack/Ianto plotlines, but this one really came out of nowhere. Unless of course she wasn't going to say "I love you", but it seemed likely, in the same way we knew the Doctor was going to say "I love you too" in 'Doomsday' even though he didn't.

I wasn't too sure about the music, which needed to calm down a tad and stop telling us that its characters were cool. And although I like Blur's 'Song 2', it sort of just cut in there on first viewing out of nowhere. But that's another minor criticism.

Oh, and I wish it'd stop referencing Doctor Who. Since it's now sculpting its own identity properly, it's a bit silly I feel to keep having to bow to the other show (why can't the Doctor just shoot off into space and not bother them anymore?). Though I must admit, I like the idea of Martha being in the show, so I'm obviously biased.

That's about it, then; minor criticisms. Considering this is but a series opener, and a really confident and well-structured/well-acted/well-directed one at that, this series really does, easily, have the potential to outstrip the "sometimes-brilliant-sometimes-awful" first series.

[El_Zoof]

Well.... it was okay. A bit silly (okay, extremely silly) and more action than plot, but hell, I've seen much worse series reopeners. I give it a 3, but a solid 3 that's been earned.

[Theta Sigma]

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A very good season opener.
When Jack was previously seen in Last of the Time Lords it was daytime and looked like he was heading back to Torchwood. Yet when he appears here seeing the team for the first time since End of Days it is night time. Question is what was Jack doing between saying goodbye to the Doctor and Martha and seeing his team again.
James Marsters makes a welcome addition to the Doctor Who Universe as Captain John Hart.
Somehow it should not be surprising that Excalibur gets a mention. (For those who do not know Torchwood began as an idea called Excalibur. Excalibur developed initially as an unrelated series to Doctor Who before ultimately becoming the Doctor Who spinoff.)
Also mentioned is Bikini Cops. Wow what an idea.
Jack and John makes a very interesting start to their by kissing!
My favourite part of the episode was towards the end with that explosion.
I am very curious to find out who this Grey person that John mentions at the end.

[montypython]

Who needs 10-HD when you've got the boxset on DVD (in the hope that this season will be an improvement on the last)?

I loved the opening bit with the blowfish. Funny.
Found it interesting that Gwen was the new leader, since she's the least experienced of the team.
Hate that she still has something for Jack, especially since he's really got his eye on Ianto now (so cute when he asked him out!). Actually, I hate that Jack seems to have something for Gwen, touching her and kissing her like that...
The Jack/John opening scene was weird. Passionately kissing, then kicking the crap out of each other. It went on a bit.
I'm so annoyed coz I accidentally found out who Grey was before I saw this

The series looks good so far.

[Mister Andersen]

[Greg]

I'm not sure why people have any questions about Gwen as the leader.

Owen, Tosh and Ianto all lack the kind of personality you'd want in a leader. People just wouldn't follow them. Tosh would dither and hide. Ianto, whatever else may be said of him, is still the group's handyman. Owen would hit a hurdle, crack the shits and go home. I expect that, in the unseen time between seasons, Owen would have tried to be the leader - and learned that Gwen could do it better, and he'd rather leave all the messy bits to her in any case.

As for her experience - Gwen's been a police officer on the beat, investigating and solving regular crime, dealing with the authorities and the public. Other tan perhaps Ianto, the others don't have that experience. Yes, they know more about Torchwood's dealings with strange creatures and phenomena, but they can still contribute that with Gwen in charge.

There really wasn't a choice in anything but the short-term.

[montypython]

[Mister Andersen]

As with anything, it depends a lot on who's writing her.