# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/201 "2011-09-12T13:38:37Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > 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? They were always like that. I don’t spend too much time analyzing peoples’ eyes, but if you look above you’ll see that I commented that all of the Family (except for the one guy, which screwed my theory!) had extremely blue eyes. > [@Smapti](#): > > Isn’t that the _exact same plot_ as _The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances_, where Jack was introduced? Sort of. The difference being one was alien technology and the other was Mother Earth. Plus, one was scared and trying to fix things, the other was hurt and trying to bribe away the bad people hurting it even more. I too was annoyed at the nihilism of both new Torchwoodies getting killed - my wife had actually surmised that Rex was going to be OK when he got up to throw the guy over the railing. Then, of course he dropped so, we figured that was that then. I was glad Rex came back, though I wish it’d been Esther, but that’s just good old fashioned heterosexual desire. > [@Folacin](#): > > One mole, really. They had some sort of blackmail/bribe deal going on with Newman - only Charlotte was a member of a Family. Yeah, complaining about CTU I understand. Every two-bit terrorist organization seemed to have a member of their union in CTU headquarters. The Family, on the other hand, is kind of like The Illuminati, but less public. As for the software running on Rex’s phone, I thought it was more along the lines of Dead Guy’s computer having saved its screens to a server that Rex’s phone was accessing. Could be wrong though. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/202 "2011-09-12T18:09:40Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > T… > As for the software running on Rex’s phone, I thought it was more along the lines of Dead Guy’s computer having saved its screens to a server that Rex’s phone was accessing. Could be wrong though. I can remote-desktop from my phone directly to my home PCs and network, I assume Rex did similar. I didn’t care for the resolution at all. Jack’s acquiring immortality came as a result of hand-wavy Tardis physics, an acquisition via transfusion for Rex didn’t seem to fit within the rules of the universe, especially since it is assured that The Family would have tried themselves to do so with their Jack-blood reserves. The whole episode had a feel of clumsily tying up the big plot while minimizing the cast list for a follow-on season that may never get signed. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/203 "2011-09-12T20:20:01Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > I didn’t care for the resolution at all. Jack’s acquiring immortality came as a result of hand-wavy Tardis physics, an acquisition via transfusion for Rex didn’t seem to fit within the rules of the universe, especially since it is assured that The Family would have tried themselves to do so with their Jack-blood reserves. Two things you’re missing though. Or two sides of one thing… The only way to do the transfusion with Jack’s blood without killing the recipient was during The Miracle. So, the only time one could actually do that an achieve that special Harknessness would have been to transform themselves into a very mortal person when the rest of the world becomes immortal. The big thing I didn’t like about the story was Esther deciding out of the blue to save a couple gallons of Jack’s blood. She knew it was tied to Big Happenings, sure, but making the leap from that to “it’s our secret weapon” was a pretty blind jump. Unless I missed something. -Joe ---
**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 12, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/204 "2011-09-12T20:46:41Z")
I’m thinking that Jack’s blood couldn’t make anyone _immortal_, but it _was_ able to make then immortal Rex _mortal_. The Blessing then reversed things, so Jack, and the then mortal Rex, become immortal and everyone else mortal. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/205 "2011-09-12T21:17:06Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > 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. Face of Langley? 😃 And someone had to knock up the Face of Boe at one point.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/206 "2011-09-12T21:53:10Z")
Rex didn’t turn immortal until being killed, right? Otherwise his old wounds would have healed immediately. I always thought Rex was the one sure goner. His fate was sealed in the first episode when he was all happy and gloating about a coworker’s wife getting cancer which meant him getting a preemo job assignment. Then he immediately got a pole through the chest. Well, that’s what I thought. Maybe he earned his redemption during the Miracle, although I thought he was still kind of a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/207 "2011-09-13T01:14:35Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Rex didn’t turn immortal until being killed, right? Otherwise his old wounds would have healed immediately. Yeah, don’t quite get why people got Jack’s lifespan but not healing powers or more importantly how the Families could have anticipated that. ---
**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 13, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/208 "2011-09-13T01:42:03Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Well, that’s what I thought. Maybe he earned his redemption during the Miracle, although I thought he was still kind of a jerk. I want to see how Rex handles being immortal. Jack has a good mix of joy and guilt, but I see Rex being more of “Fuck yeah, you can’t kill me bitches.” > [@jackdavinci](#): > > Yeah, don’t quite get why people got Jack’s lifespan but not healing powers or more importantly how the Families could have anticipated that. The Blessing basically works by taking in the average lifespan of the people around it as a tempate, and then applying that template to the rest of the world. So they put in Jack’s blood which changed the average lifespan to infinity. It’s didn’t apply Jack’s immortality to the rest of the world, just his lifespan. ---
**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/209 "2011-09-13T05:07:50Z")
…which of course never explains why Jack became mortal. Way too many plot holes. Spent too much time meandering about and becoming Torch24Wood. ---
**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 13, 2011, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/210 "2011-09-13T11:31:05Z")
> [@emarkp](#): > > Spent too much time meandering about and becoming Torch24Wood. 24chwood? Drink every time Jack yells “Dammit!” ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/211 "2011-09-13T11:43:12Z")
I didn’t dislike the series as much as others did, but I think this could have been a solid six part series. There were great things at the beginning and end, especially the distopian society that arose after the miracle. The problem was the three or four middle episodes where it devolved into a generic spy thriller. They had some terrific and truly fascinating themes going on, I just wish they could of cut the fat. Also, I don’t think it was necassary for the show to be set mostly in the US. The same story could have been told in Wales with a quick jaunt to New York after the flashback scenes. All in all, I’m still happy the series happened at all and hope it got good enough ratings to go another season. ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/212 "2011-09-13T12:06:26Z")
I also think Danes would have been more interestin as more of a two episode showcase as a byproduct of the miracle as opposed to a major character (kind of like the Tea Party Lady). With all the attention paid to him I thought he was tied to the miracle somehow. Instead, he was just red herring time sink. So much time wasted on him. I’m dissapointed that the social effects weren’t explored more. The more fascinating aspects of the whole miracle were the death cultists with the creepy masks and the 42 floor club. Also, the jmo forwArd episode where we got to see how people began to caope with the ovens being a fact of life now. All in all, I think RTD missed the boat on what could have been as good if not better than CoE. Instead, he got bogged down with his version of 24. I’m also on board with the idea that if there is another series, PLEASE send it back to Wales!!! Please give them a base again. I’m fine with Rex becoming a member, though I would have preferred Esther. No more Torchwood as persona no gratta. This whole on the run thing is getting old. ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/213 "2011-09-15T02:54:18Z")
One question I still have, what was the point of destroying the blood banks? The Families said Jack’s blood had to be introduced to the Blessing at the same time, but the banks were destroyed days apart. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/214 "2011-09-15T11:39:07Z")
> [@Jormungandr](#): > > One question I still have, what was the point of destroying the blood banks? The Families said Jack’s blood had to be introduced to the Blessing at the same time, but the banks were destroyed days apart. Good question… They were both in cities where Jack had been recently and were being ridiculously over-careful? They didn’t want big convenient stores near the pits that could cause The Blessing to recalibrate humanity Anemic Alcoholic Asians? That might be a little plot hole that got overlooked. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![CorneaGenii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@CorneaGenii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorneaGenii)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/215 "2011-09-15T13:32:52Z")
> [@Jormungandr](#): > > One question I still have, what was the point of destroying the blood banks? The Families said Jack’s blood had to be introduced to the Blessing at the same time, but the banks were destroyed days apart. Just a WAG. My impression was that blood stored in blood banks was taken before Miracle Day, and therefore, mortal blood. Maybe it was a precaution against ANY mortal blood being introduced to The Blessing. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/216 "2011-09-15T19:45:58Z")
> [@CorneaGenii](#): > > Just a WAG. My impression was that blood stored in blood banks was taken before Miracle Day, and therefore, mortal blood. Maybe it was a precaution against ANY mortal blood being introduced to The Blessing. That’s likely the best answer we’re going to find. They couldn’t destroy it all, but they could at least handle the convenient monkey in the wrench. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![MJinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@MJinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MJinks)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/217 "2011-09-15T21:25:47Z")
It’s just aired in the UK. I can’t be the only one who expected the evil redhead women to die in the explosion only for Jack or Gwen to comment that ‘she should have run faster’ right? I was grinning from ear to ear in expectation and then nothing. TBH, I thought this series was average. There’s nothing else worth watching on a Thursday night at least (or most nights). ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/218 "2011-09-17T03:32:47Z")
BBC America is running episode 1 of the original Torchwood series right now. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/219 "2011-09-17T10:46:12Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Drink every time Jack yells “Dammit!” Or every time that Gwen starts going off on some emotional monologue that is supposed to remind us she’s the soul of Torchwood. Or don’t, you’d be dead of alcohol poisoning by the end of one episode. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363.md?page=10)