# Anyone excited about the Torchwood Debut? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 9, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363 "2011-07-09T00:15:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/181 "2011-09-08T18:15:55Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > When a body is incinerated, most of it goes up in smoke. So perhaps The Blessing simply inhales the remains. > > As for the idea that The Blessing is some type of Time Vortex, that seems at odds with the constant references to morphic fields. I got the impression the Morphic Field is a biological thing, not a space-time continuum phenomenon. There’s also the fact that it’s only humans who stopped dying. Like I said, I don’t think it’s that just because I don’t see Davies tying things into Doctor Who so tightly. I was pointing out that it could be something similar since The Blessing seems to sandblast the brains of people who see it. Kind of like the vortex does. The whole thing is it seems to be both giving life energy and feeding off of it, assuming something is being done with the incinerees. So, some big piece of information is missing. Why would they dig it up? How would Jack’s blood lead to digging it up? Okay, we see this vial of Jack’s blood (collected in the 20’s) tugging toward this area…so let’s start digging? That doesn’t seem like a good business strategy. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/182 "2011-09-08T19:35:48Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Why would they dig it up? How would Jack’s blood lead to digging it up? We don’t even know if it was dug up. It may have been created by the Families, or came from somewhere else (through the Rift, perhaps?) It may have dug the hole, or the hole may be part of it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/183 "2011-09-08T20:29:22Z")
It’s a hole from Shanghai straight through to Buenos Aires. I doubt that the three families dug the hole on their own. Plus, how would such a thing be stable? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/184 "2011-09-09T02:25:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It’s a hole from Shanghai straight through to Buenos Aires. I doubt that the three families dug the hole on their own. Plus, how would such a thing be stable? I thought about that, but they could easily justify them with “alien technology”. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/185 "2011-09-09T23:46:35Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It’s a hole from Shanghai straight through to Buenos Aires. I doubt that the three families dug the hole on their own. Plus, how would such a thing be stable? I’ve spent a week wondering what those lizard people who live in the middle of the earth think of having that giant hole bored through their home. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/186 "2011-09-10T04:04:42Z")
Okay, that was actually pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/187 "2011-09-10T04:06:29Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Okay, that was actually pretty good. yeah - the beginning was good, the end was good - it was much of the 11 hours in the middle that sucked the life out of it. ---
**Author:** ![CorneaGenii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@CorneaGenii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorneaGenii)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/188 "2011-09-10T05:01:00Z")
> [@simster](#): > > yeah - the beginning was good, the end was good - it was much of the 11 hours in the middle that sucked the life out of it. That pretty much sums it up for me. Still… Jack: “What?” Gwen: “What?” Rex: “What?” Priceless. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/189 "2011-09-10T06:02:32Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > It’s a hole from Shanghai straight through to Buenos Aires. I doubt that the three families dug the hole on their own. Plus, how would such a thing be stable? > > I’ve spent a week wondering what those lizard people who live in the middle of the earth think of having that giant hole bored through their home. 😛 Coincidentally, I saw that episode of Doctor Who yesterday (as I’m working through the fifth series). I’m still not entirely satisfied, although that little surprise at the end in the mausoleum was amusing. And the reference to Plan B was almost a suggestion that they’re going to continue this storyline next time. I hope not. I’d prefer that they go in a different direction. As for that hole, my guess is that was there the whole time. At most, the families uncovered the locations in Buenos Aires and Shanghai. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/190 "2011-09-10T09:55:14Z")
I must say, the finale definitely made up for the lull the series had been in since episode 6 or so. I liked that they addressed the “but those aren’t true antipodes” and “why isn’t it a volcano?” points, even if just in a hand-wavey, wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey fashion. I liked that Oswald finally got a chance to be a hero in the end, even if he was still a dick and a complete monster about being happy that he’s going to Hell so he can chase down the bad little girls. I was pissed off at the end that they’d apparently killed off all the new Torchwood members they’d introduced. Then Rex came back to life and whammed me. It’ll be interesting to see how they play that in the next series - Rex coming to grips with being immortal and how his relationship with Jack and Gwen develops. (I am SO going to flip out if Davies insists on making Jack and Rex a couple, though.) I’m also intrigued by the “Plan B” that got mentioned in the end. I noticed in the final scene that the Family emmisary’s eyes were an unnatural shade of blue - Were they like that before? Could that be a sign that he isn’t human? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/191 "2011-09-10T13:12:07Z")
Afterthought; The Blessing had the blood of an immortal human introduced to it, and was confused and distressed thereby, so it changed the morphic field it was projecting to what it interpreted as being the new human “normal”. Isn’t that the _exact same plot_ as _The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances_, where Jack was introduced? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/192 "2011-09-10T13:27:50Z")
I’m not too surprised there is a plan B. Per the show, the Families only started to figure out the blessing thing in the 60’s or so - so they had at least 30 years to work on other avenues. I was a little annoyed that Rex lived and Esther died - then Bam! Nice mis-direction (although an obvious clue in hindsight) when they mentioned several times that Jack’s blood had no affect on mortals. I’m assuming that they thought that the Blessing had extended the morphic field long/far enough to save him but not Esther? I thought I heard some reference to that. I was a little surprised that Gwen assumed Jack would be dead. Obviously, we know that Jack needs to live for next season, but you’d think she’d at least wait a beat or two to determine if the field reversal made him immortal again. Of course, if she had, Jilly would have run the elevator up, and I’m not sure that Oswald could/would have held off long enough to get it back down. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/193 "2011-09-10T15:31:53Z")
When Ester and Rex were dying, I was thinking to myself, “I bet Rex is gonna suddenly gasp for air then come back to life.” Nice little misdirection with the funeral. > [@Smapti](#): > > I liked that Oswald finally got a chance to be a hero in the end, even if he was still a dick and a complete monster about being happy that he’s going to Hell so he can chase down the bad little girls. Yep, I think any other show would’ve had him say he was sorry or something like that. Nope, he’s a monster and he’ll always be a monster. > [@Folacin](#): > > I’m assuming that they thought that the Blessing had extended the morphic field long/far enough to save him but not Esther? I thought I heard some reference to that. No, I think they just thought Rex was lucky. All he did was open his wound so Jack’s blood would flow out. He wasn’t shot again or anything. Gwen was just saying that she wished the Blessing could’ve reached out and saved Esther. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/194 "2011-09-10T18:13:00Z")
I’m bummed about Esther too. Looking forward to Jane Espenson’s blog Monday. This tv guide article has a few comments. [http://www.tvguide.com/News/Torchwood-Miracle-Day-Finale-Postmortem-Jane-Espenson-Interview-1037194.aspx](http://www.tvguide.com/News/Torchwood-Miracle-Day-Finale-Postmortem-Jane-Espenson-Interview-1037194.aspx) I hope the next series has a full Torchwood team in place with a base. I don’t want to see another Jack & Gwen adventure. Torchwood should be an organization. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/195 "2011-09-10T18:21:47Z")
If there is another series, I wonder if Rex will acquire some of Jack’s attitude as a result of the immortality. And if the CIA finds out about Rex, they’ll want to recruit him. Just think; a government spy who can’t die. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/196 "2011-09-10T22:03:27Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I hope the next series has a full Torchwood team in place with a base. I don’t want to see another Jack & Gwen adventure. Torchwood should be an organization. Good luck with that. For all intents and purposes Torchwood (the show) IS Jack and Gwen. You can throw in all the other extra characters you want, but those two will always be constant. Also, I hope we get to meet “The Face of Rex” on Doctor Who someday. ---
**Author:** ![LaurenIpsum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@LaurenIpsum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LaurenIpsum)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/197 "2011-09-10T22:05:18Z")
I just watched this episode, and my nitpicky brain is having a field day: -Apparently Noah’s “tracing” software works just as well on a phone as it does on the CIA computers. -When Rex realized Charlotte was the mole, I don’t think the solution is to suddenly shout “Charlotte!” and then run after her, because then she knows the jig is up. As several people said before, when Dr. Juarez lost her temper and got shot, Rex should have played it cool. Of course, since he wasn’t killed, I guess it all worked out in the end. I’m glad Charlotte got her comeuppance - her permanent “sucking on a lemon” expression was really pissing me off. And for the last several episodes, I wondered why she was wearing a low-cut minidress to work. Just to provide some T&A, I guess. -We never really did learn what the families’ connection was to PhiCorp. When the series started, I was thinking PhiCorp was behind the whole miracle so they could profit by selling painkillers. But it sounds like they weren’t responsible, but simply had advance information about the miracle that they tried to profit from. -Is it just me, or was the families’ big plan never really explained? They said that the miracle would bring down the government and the economy, allowing the families to take over, but they never exactly said how they were going to accomplish that. On the other hand, they did keep saying “This is only the first phase” so maybe that was all part of the next phase. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/198 "2011-09-11T00:48:44Z")
I liked that Oswald’s sacrifice had no redemption to it, it was an act of petty revenge and he went down the same sick perv that he was alive. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/199 "2011-09-11T02:56:23Z")
Two more things that occured to me; Jack mentions that he was in China during the Boxer Rebellion, thus explaining why he wasn’t with Torchwood when they exhumed his future self in 1901. Second, the CIA must have hired on the same HR people who used to do hiring for CTU, since I can’t figure out otherwise how the Families got two moles into the same office. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/200 "2011-09-11T05:24:55Z")
One mole, really. They had some sort of blackmail/bribe deal going on with Newman - only Charlotte was a member of a Family. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363.md?page=11)