Actually, I liked it too. I always wanted Torchwood to do more episodes that went outside of Cardiff. But then, what do I know? I also think "Cyberwoman" is a brilliant, claustrophobic bottle episode.
Thanks for the list, this is what I was looknig for, but it seems the show is so bad that no one could think of must see episodes.
Would there be any problems with just skipping the show and just watching the miniseries? That seems to be the only thing people seem to like.
Well, it's hard to think of "must see" episodes because it's so stand-alone-ish that there's hardly anything you absolutely need to see to understand it. The 1st 2 seasons don't have any overarcing storyline. And there's also not a whole lot of variation in quality. I'd say all of the episodes are pretty middle of the road. It's not like Doctor Who which can have such radical extremes as "The Girl in the Fireplace" and "Love & Monsters" in the same season!
Personally, I really liked the milieu of the 1st 2 seasons of Torchwood. And much as I liked the miniseries format of "Children of Earth," I would prefer it if the next season started with a few stand-alones to set up the new status quo before dragging us through another wringer.
Here's my list of the Season 1 & 2 episodes I would most recommend...
"Everything Changes." The 1st episode. Obviously.
"Ghost Machine." I don't really remember it except that I remember that I liked it.
"Cyberwoman." Like I said, it's a thrilling, claustrophobic episode.
"Countrycide." Gruesome & disturbing like that infamous X-Files episode "Home."
"Greeks Bearing Gifts." Depending upon your gender & sexual orientation, this may be a must see episode!
"They Keep Killing Suzie." An interesting story, albeit not as fun as its title.
"Random Shoes." It's kinda like "Love & Monsters" only...you know...good.
"Out of Time." It's got some great emotions and it's just about the only time you ever really feel sorry for that worthless prat Owen (who still happens to be my favorite character).
"Captain Jack Harkness" & "End of Days." The end of Season 1 (which then leads right into Jack's 3 episode stint on Doctor Who in "Utopia," "The Sound of Drums," & "Last of the Time Lords").
"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang." Season 2 returns with a more fun attitude and a guest appearance by James Marsters of Buffy/Angel fame. (Imagine Spike if he were gay & not a vampire.)
"To the Last Man." Like "Captain Jack Harkness," another great story of World War soldiers. Plus, another romance for Tosh.
"Meat." Fun because of the character let in on the secret.
"Adam." An odd meditation on memories & personality.
"Reset," "Dead Man Walking," & "A Day in the Death." A vital arc to the rest of the season. Plus, Martha Jones gets to hang around for a few episodes (with her heterosexuality surprisingly intact).
"Something Borrowed." Light & fluffy; shockingly so for a Torchwood episode. It's so fun, I have to recommend it.
"Adrift." This one isn't any fun at all. In fact, other than "Children of Earth," it's the closest you'll come to slitting your wrists. However, it's very emotionally effective giving us a raw, real world look at the potential consequences of something like the Cardiff Rift.
"Fragments." A big backstory episode.
"Exit Wounds." James Marsters is back and lots of really serious shit goes down. This is another one of those rare absolutely can't miss!
If you want a more pared down list than that, excising my personal favorites and merely going with the plot meat & potatoes chugging along on the way to "Children of Earth," this is the list I would give:
"Everything Changes"
"Out of Time"
"Captain Jack Harkness"
"End of Days"
"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"
"Meat"
"Reset"
"Dead Man Walking"
"A Day in the Death"
"Something Borrowed"
"Fragments"
"Exit Wounds"
