Is Torchwood a Good Blind Buy?

[John Picard]

I bought Series 1 of NuWho for my son (and me) for Christmas. We enjoyed watching the entire run all the way through, including special features and catching episodes we missed the first time (we'd only been able to view Who on our local PBS affiliate). It was also fun to meet Captain Jack again and really catch the cheeky humor of his character.

Anyway, he's been after me to get Torchwood. Neither of us have seen it, so I added everything Nextflix has available in my queue. Well, rather than watching and then probably buying, shouldn't I just buy it outright?

I guess I'm asking you folks to push me into the water

 

[RoJoHen]

How old is your son? Torchwood (especially season 1) is full of lots and lots of sex.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Torchwood, especially series 1, has a lot of adolescent and gratuitous swearing and sexual situations, so it depends on how old your son is, or how open you are to allowing him to see those things. The tone is very different to Doctor Who, and the first series basically is just testing boundaries to see what it can get away with, and finding its feet.

 

[Lindley]

I would call the first season downright juvenile much of the time.

Season 2 works a lot better.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I would call the first season downright juvenile much of the time.

Season 2 works a lot better.

I'd agree, but I kinda like it despite that.

 

[wamdue]

yes the age of your son is important, but generally no I would not call it a good blind buy, its just not as good, S2 could be considered a good blind buy, and obviously Children of Earth should be required watching.

 

[Blamo]

As far as season one goes, I'd call it the worst sci-fi show I've ever seen. Before anyone says it, no it's not hyperbole or an overstatement, that season is the worst I've ever seen of any sci-fi. There are one or two non terrible stories, but for the most part it's just bad.

Here's a clip of a BBC sketch show taking the piss out of season one (beware "adult" language) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqFFFgdo1Zc

Season two is much better though the best of it is still only on par with below average Who stories. It's helped by the fact that most of season one is ignored, both the events and the characterisation.

The five part "special" on the otherhand was brilliant and is in my opinion one of the best attempts at gritty and dark sci-fi (and I usually hate those terms). Hard to imagine it was the same show.

Short answer - No

 

[AdmiralGarak]

Skip the first two seasons, and just watch the third. Best wait until your son is older though. It's not kiddie fare.

 

[John Picard]

Sorry, I forgot that he's 15. I'm not a prude like most Americans, plus he has cable in his room at his mom's, and she isn't the most conscientious parent out there, so nudity, sex, and language aren't a concern. I have started to lean toward the concern that in America, it's OK to show violence but not sex?

Thanks for the input.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Sorry, I forgot that he's 15. I'm not a prude like most Americans, plus he has cable in his room at his mom's, and she isn't the most conscientious parent out there, so nudity, sex, and language aren't a concern. I have started to lean toward the concern that in America, it's OK to show violence but not sex?

Thanks for the input.

Well personally I'd think in that case it should be fine... I'd say go ahead with renting it and see what you think rather than blind buying it though.

 

[DarKush]

I got Season 1 from the library. I really liked it and am looking forward to watching Season 2. It does have a lot of cursing and sexual situations in it. And it can some violence, but I don't think the violence is all that graphic. I agree that in the States its far more acceptable to show violence than sex. But if you're overly concerned about sex or cursing, I don't think it should be a problem.

 

[Chris3123]

While I personally like the show, a blind buy is not a sure bet. I suggest you watch some of it first, get a feel for it. Then decide for yourself whether a purchase is worth it.

 

[Starkers]

15 is about the age S1 is aimed at

The second season is loads better and series 3...absolutely brilliant.

 

[RoJoHen]

I think it probably depends on whether you feel compelled to own the whole set. Odds are you won't want to re-watch Series 1, but 2 and 3 really are quite good and you might want to re-watch those at some point.

 

[wws]

Yes, season 1 and 2 are really good. Children of Earth was just awful. You should see it once but it was hard to get through and the ending was just stupid.

wws

 

[RoJoHen]

Yes, season 1 and 2 are really good. Children of Earth was just awful. You should see it once but it was hard to get through and the ending was just stupid.

wws

Wow, almost the complete opposite of what most people think!

 

[DimesDan]

Yes, season 1 and 2 are really good. Children of Earth was just awful. You should see it once but it was hard to get through and the ending was just stupid.

wws

In your opinion, why do you think that? And most importantly, why do you think the ending of the 456 "incident" was stupid?

 

[Top41]

I really liked the first season of Torchwood--I thought it was fun. Not without its problems, and the show definitely got better as it progressed, but I enjoyed it right from the start. CoE is pretty amazing, IMO.

 

[Joy]

I wouldn't buy the first two seasons blindly. But I would definitely suggest renting them.

I would suggest skipping ahead to just watch Children of Earth (which I just finished watching for the first time last night and WOW), but as crappy as some of the first two seasons were, it's in my own personal opinion that having watched the show straight on from the beginning to end helped me better appreciate Children of Earth, because even if there were some very stupid episodes, you really get to know and care for the characters and that connection you make with them over the first two seasons really increases the impact of Children of Earth.

 

[Starkers]

I still wonder if the limitations of 1&2 don't actually aid Children of Earth because it ensures you're caught even more off guard by it!