# 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:** 3
**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:** [July 16, 2011, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/41 "2011-07-16T06:36:50Z")
It just gets better and better. I’m not sure if some fans will like the slower paced character development. I love it myself. I know Russell T Davies is giving us a seat on a roller coaster and we’ll have wall to wall action very soon. This was a very strong episode for Gwen. I’ll put my other comment in spoiler tags. [spoiler]I appreciate that Russell T. Davies has the confidence to take his time and give us an episode that helps develop the characters. We see that Rex doesn’t care much for Jack or Torchwood. He much rather lead the investigation and simply use Jack & Gwen as bait for whoever wants them dead. I doubt Rex will ever be a full Torchwood member that follows Jack blindly. There’s always going to be tension between them. Russell is doing a good job fleshing out Rex’s character. It’ll be fun seeing how he reacts to the CIA’s betrayal. Rex has no choice except to work with Torchwood. I don’t think he’s going to like it. But he has no other options. We also saw tension and resentment from Gwen. She’s still got anger towards Jack and what happened to the team. We learned a lot in this episode. [/spoiler] ---
**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:** [July 16, 2011, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/42 "2011-07-16T06:43:23Z")
Jane Espenson was a writer/producer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, and she’s also a writer/producer for Torchwood Miracle Day. She’s blogging a few comments. Here is the link for ep 1. She’ll probably post ep 2’s blog in a few days. She also posted some live comments on Twitter while episode 1 aired in the UK last Thursday. > **[Logo TV | Homepage | Watch on logotv.com](https://www.logotv.com/)** > > Explore all sides of the LGBTQ+ experience from a diverse array of creators, featuring competition series, reality TV, scripted shows, news and more. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/43 "2011-07-18T21:22:29Z")
So I’m guessing from the thread that you kind of need to be up on your Torchwood continuity for this one to work, right? I managed to miss the finales of both original seasons and then never bothered to watch Children of Earth because I’d missed the finale of the second season. (Also because I’d been spoiled by Doctor Who by that point.) I’d give this a shot, but I’m not enough of a fan to rewatch the first two seasons plus Children of Earth to do 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:** [July 18, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/44 "2011-07-18T21:42:16Z")
Not at all. I don’t think you’ll have any problem following along even if you’ve never seen any previous episode of Torchwood. Very little of the first two episodes have referred to anything that occurred before. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/45 "2011-07-18T22:03:01Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > So I’m guessing from the thread that you kind of need to be up on your Torchwood continuity for this one to work, right? I managed to miss the finales of both original seasons and then never bothered to watch Children of Earth because I’d missed the finale of the second season. (Also because I’d been spoiled by Doctor Who by that point.) I’d give this a shot, but I’m not enough of a fan to rewatch the first two seasons plus Children of Earth to do it… Actually, no. Miracle Day was built to be viewable as a standalone. As long as you know who the main characters are in short, you’re fine. There’s some backstory allusions you might miss, but nothing that should break the series. Everything important is either obvious or spelled out directly. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2011, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/46 "2011-07-19T06:37:17Z")
I quite enjoyed the second episode. Loved seeing the actresses from Dollhouse and Six Feet Under. And the doctor team trying to figure out how to create an antidote out of random things on an airplane. It was very House meets MacGyver! Things are heating up. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/47 "2011-07-19T08:03:01Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > What’s with the Wales humor they hamfisted in? The CIA guy bitched because there’s a bridge and you have to pay a toll. I guess Brits would think that’s funny somehow? Sure seemed like I was supposed to be laughing about something. Wales is like New Jersey? So? Just wanted to clarify this joke, which would be funny to Brits. To travel to South Wales from England you have to cross the [Severn Bridge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severn_Bridge), for which you pay a toll if you’re coming from England, but it’s free if you’re coming the other way (Wales \> England), so the Welsh like to joke that it’s a tax on the English. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/48 "2011-07-19T14:06:32Z")
fell off the couch lmao with the visual of the oriental chick staggering around with her head on backwards. RTD does have a twisted sense of humor at times… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/49 "2011-07-19T14:29:14Z")
Thanks, guys. I’ll be checking out the first ep online when I’ve got a chance. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/50 "2011-07-19T18:44:37Z")
I’m not sure if the medical worries are mainline to the story, but I’m curious about the super-bug/resistance they talk about. Heroine doctor has figured out that there is no longer a ‘golden hour’ - no one is dying. Assuming that we give people antibiotics so that they live long enough for their bodies natural defenses to defeat the infection - is it reasonable to assume that (after much suffering/puking/etc) that the body would throw off most infections, viral or otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/51 "2011-07-19T20:54:19Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I’m not sure if the medical worries are mainline to the story, but I’m curious about the super-bug/resistance they talk about. > > Heroine doctor has figured out that there is no longer a ‘golden hour’ - no one is dying. Assuming that we give people antibiotics so that they live long enough for their bodies natural defenses to defeat the infection - is it reasonable to assume that (after much suffering/puking/etc) that the body would throw off most infections, viral or otherwise? Who knows? I think part of the idea is that anything could be going on and nobody knows. Unintended consequences and all that. Maybe everyone becomes a walking supergerm, which is great, up until immortality wears off. Or, better yet, what happens if you get Ebola and it DOESN’T kill you? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/52 "2011-07-19T22:22:53Z")
Does anybody know why the name “Esther Drummond” seems _so_ familiar to me? I didn’t even watch the trailers for this, but as soon as her name was said, my brain said, “Hey, I’ve heard that before.” Googling it didn’t turn up any obvious answers, though. Was there a reference to this character in previous Torchwood or Who or any similarly-named characters in other geeky TV? ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/53 "2011-07-19T22:48:07Z")
I was positively surprised they actually given thought on the repercussions a scenario like miracle day might bring. RTD usually glosses over the details. Maybe working with Americans has given the show the focus it has often lacked. Some things that puzzled me. In the show they found out that human cells aren’t dying but we’re still ageing. Isn’t old age a product of cells dying out faster than new ones are created? And if cells aren’t dying but presumably still duplicating, wouldn’t humans quickly turn into massive blobs as the old cells aren’t dying to make room for the new ones? ---
**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:** [July 19, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/54 "2011-07-19T23:06:19Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > Does anybody know why the name “Esther Drummond” seems _so_ familiar to me? I didn’t even watch the trailers for this, but as soon as her name was said, my brain said, “Hey, I’ve heard that before.” Googling it didn’t turn up any obvious answers, though. > > Was there a reference to this character in previous Torchwood or Who or any similarly-named characters in other geeky TV? Honestly, every time I hear her name I think of “Wester Drumlins,” the house from the Doctor Who episode “Blink.” ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/55 "2011-07-20T03:07:15Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Honestly, every time I hear her name I think of “Wester Drumlins,” the house from the Doctor Who episode “Blink.” Holy thank you, Batman! That’s absolutely, absolutely it. ---
**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:** [July 24, 2011, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/56 "2011-07-24T07:03:00Z")
3rd episode is the first one written by Jane Espenson. She delivered in spades. Nicely paced episode and we are slowly learning more. I’m not sure we know who caused Miracle Day, but we certainly know who plans to capitalize on it. I didn’t think the sex scenes were appropriate. With everything going on I have trouble believing Jack or the Doctor felt very horny. I guess the bare skin will bring in the ratings. BTW they weren’t boffing each other. 😉 Previews have showed the weird people in masks. Interesting consequence of Miracle Day. People would react to it in many different ways. Some getting drunk, sex, and others religion etc. I’m glad RTD and the writers are exploring this. ---
**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:** [July 24, 2011, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/57 "2011-07-24T09:48:24Z")
Series preview shown at Comic-con this weekend. Best series preview so far. > **[Torchwood: Miracle Day Comic-Con Preview](https://radiofreeskaro.com/2011/07/22/torchwood-miracle-day-comic-con-preview/)** > > Visit the post for more. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/58 "2011-07-24T21:21:01Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I didn’t think the sex scenes were appropriate. With everything going on I have trouble believing Jack or the Doctor felt very horny. I guess the bare skin will bring in the ratings. I think, at this point, it’s a safe bet that Jack Harkness is pretty much a straightahead sex addict, and I’d also assume mortality is going to bring out his established thrillseeker behavior. The scene with the doctor, well, a little more gratuitous. You’d be stunned how little I’m complaining. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/59 "2011-07-25T15:39:56Z")
Jane Espenson’s blog on the third episode. She wrote this episode. > **[Logo TV | Homepage | Watch on logotv.com](https://www.logotv.com/)** > > Explore all sides of the LGBTQ+ experience from a diverse array of creators, featuring competition series, reality TV, scripted shows, news and more. Torchwood was very lucky to get some of the best U.S. sci-fi writers to collaborate with Russel T Davies. Jane and Doris Egan are A list in every way. ---
**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:** [July 30, 2011, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363/60 "2011-07-30T08:49:26Z")
Another decent episode, though the personal calls started getting irritating. The car crusher was particularly chilling. I’m not quite sure what PhiCorp’s endgame is with regards to Oswald. It seems like they set up the Death is Death lady to promote their segregation camps, but then replaced her with Oswald when he became popular again. But Oswald seems to be anti-camps, so it’s not clear how that’s going to work out for them. I liked the “he was just about to tell us!” and “This is disgusting” / “I know!” bits. I wonder if the ‘blast from Jack’s past’ is a villain we’ve seen or heard about before. I’m calling it now - I think they are vampires. They’ll soon have an unending supply of food! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-excited-about-the-torchwood-debut/588363.md?page=4)