James Marsters to guest star on Torchwood - Cast&Crew

Shiny! With him doing the British, right? (which would be fun)
Now, if they allow John Barrowman, to keep Jack on the same tone we saw in the most recent episode of Doctor Who, for the new season of Torchwood, I'll be even happier.

You know who I miss seeing, and would be nice to see in either Doctor Who or Torchwood (well, seriously, in anything at all)? Alexis Denisof.

Numfar PTB | June 19, 01:11 CET

Alexis already got to play with Barrowman, years ago in theatre at Chichester. Now it's James's turn. Wheee!

roadrunner | June 19, 01:31 CET

Wasn't it great to see the "old" Captain Jack back in Doctor Who? Torchwood misfired so disappointingly often during its first season but there was enough good stuff to convince me it still has tremendous potential (and John Barrowman!), getting James Marsters as a guest star is an enormous step in the right direction.

And if we're dreaming of other Whedonverse luminaries making an appearance - what about Stephanie Romanov coming in -er- from Torchwood's US Branch?

silvius | June 19, 01:38 CET

Fantastic news!!!

Good grief, I'm so unbelievably happy about this. I've loved John Barrowman for almost twenty years. And him and James is just hog heaven for me. *beams*

JuliaL | June 19, 01:40 CET

Guh.

OMG. Guh.

Sorry, must call everyone I've ever met in my entire life.

[ edited by ElectricSpaceGirl on 2007-06-18 22:45 ]

electricspacegirl | June 19, 01:45 CET

I've heard that second series of Torchwood is supposed to be somewhat funnier and lighter than the first, which would be a relief for me (and I doubt I'm alone in that.) It would be nice to see a show that's believable as a spinoff of Doctor Who, rather than one that takes place in a parallel emoverse where life is empty and meaningless and it's illegal to be monosexual. I always thought AtS did a great job of having a different, more adult tone while still clearly existing in the same world as BtVS. I'd like to see the same from Torchwood.

While I was already planning on giving Torchwood another chance, the Marsters guest spot clinches it.

Lady Brick | June 19, 01:47 CET

I am too incoherent with squee to do more than jump up and down making " woo hoo!" ing noises

debw | June 19, 01:54 CET

This is just fabulous news - in itself enough to make me inclined to give Torchwood anotgher chance - though the return of Real Captain Jack on Saturday was beginning to do that too.

I'm right with you on the calling everyone I have ever met, ESG!

Gill | June 19, 02:02 CET

I thought the first series of Torchwood was hilarious.

But not in any way intended.

Craig Oxbrow | June 19, 02:02 CET

But not in any way intended.

I haven't even found it hilarious in an unintended way. I'm six episodes in and I hate every single character and I'm weary of plots with holes I could drive my entire apartment through.

The One True b!X | June 19, 02:09 CET

I thought the first half was not so good to put it mildly, but the back half seemed to hit its stride more. I may never forgive Chibnall for foisting Cyberwoman on us, however... Given that, some of you watch Smallville, so, regularly, so ;) All in jest!

zeitgeist | June 19, 02:17 CET

Ok, I'm back.

Yes, Barrowman and Denisof were in "Rope", but guess who was also in "Rope" along with them?

I must say, this is even better than my speculation that Nathan's secret London project was a guest role on TW or DW.

I hope Marsters' episode is the one where Jack finally gets laid. For an omnisexual who flirts with everything that crosses his path, he gets the least sex out of everyone on his show.

I'm still pining for (and here come Torchwood ep 12 spoilers) Real Captain Jack/Captain James Harper in episode 12.

Bring it on, James!

*trying to contain my excitement*

[ edited by ElectricSpaceGirl on 2007-06-18 23:25 ]

electricspacegirl | June 19, 02:22 CET

I may never forgive Chibnall for foisting Cyberwoman on us...

Ditto to that. I haven't liked anything I've seen by Chibnall. Sadly, that includes "42"

ETA: But ElectricSpaceGirl, Jack was shagging Ianto. "Out Of Time" (ep 10) was the only episode I rather liked in the whole series.

Gossi: I like RTD's writing. But he didn't write any of the Torchwood eps.

[ edited by Lady Brick on 2007-06-18 23:33 ]

Lady Brick | June 19, 02:24 CET

For people still on early states of "Torchwood"'s first season, as zeitgeist said, the latter half is better. They even have a great time travel story before the end of the season (it's no "Blink", but was quite fun) and some people even say that the finale was kind of whedonesqu-y

Numfar PTB | June 19, 02:24 CET

I think it's fairly well known I'm one of 4 people online who actually respects RTD. So, great stuff this shall be. And yes, the Cyberwoman episode of Torchwood... It was like watching live action fanfic, with 40% less incest than usual. Sorry, whoever wrote it!

gossi | June 19, 02:25 CET

Episode 10 of TW is really good. I can watch that over and over. But it's 12 that I can't ever get enough of. I'm just a sucker for that type of storyline. *sigh*

I don't really understand not falling in love with TW immediately, because I was hooked in the pilot, fell in love in episode 2, and it's been a passion of mine ever since. I think it must be Barrowman. There's something about him that makes me just want to keep watching him.

And yes, he was excellent in "Utopia". I love his chemistry with Tennant. I'm just a Capt. Jack Harkness fan, and I know he's campy but I dig it.

[ edited by ElectricSpaceGirl on 2007-06-18 23:29 ]

electricspacegirl | June 19, 02:28 CET

Fantastic.

I really liked season 1 of Torchwood, it definitely had it's faults and a few bad episodes, but by the end of the season they had most of the kinks worked out (except Owen, he just needs to die). And while I understand why Jacks been in such a bad mood throughout season 1 it was so much fun to see him back to his old self in Doctor Who (when Jack said "I've missed this" as he was running along with the Doctor I was thinking "yes, so have we") and I hope this lighter mood carries over.

Wonder if James'll be doing the British accent, would be cool if it were a recurring role but I somehow doubt it.

Ghost Spike | June 19, 02:33 CET

Lady Brick, Um, that was insinuated, but we didn't see any shagging. I still doubt Jack/Ianto was more than oral sex, but that's neither here nor there. What I should have said was, I hope James Marsters' episode is the one where we finally get to *see* Jack get laid. Yes, I understand that oral sex is sex. I can't imagine anything *ahem* more than that between the too. Now Marsters... yeah, I can go there.

Did it just get hot in here? Sorry, my little racy comment box needs to calm down.

[ edited by ElectricSpaceGirl on 2007-06-18 23:35 ]

electricspacegirl | June 19, 02:33 CET

I thought Torchwood had a lot of potential at the start but then it had stories that were just cringe worthy to watch. I mean really really bad. At one point the characterisation was so bad and all over the place that I even stopped caring about Captain Jack (note to writers, he's not Angel). Saying that, it was better than Hex and the last two episodes were pretty decent. So I have moderately high hopes for the second series (note not season).

Simon | June 19, 02:52 CET

Given what we found out this week in Doctor Who, I can kind of understand why Captain Jack was in a foul mood for the entire first series of Torchwood. You know, not many people cope that well with waiting 150 years for something...

I expect after his recent adventures in time and space, he'll be a bit more well adjusted - and he can return to the Hub and slap the sour looks off everyone else's faces!

crossoverman | June 19, 02:57 CET

This is the best news ever! Or at least this week. I think I melt into a tiny puddle seeing them on the screen together. And I mean together. ;)

IrrationaliTV | June 19, 03:03 CET

ElectricSpaceGirl: ...you've clearly thought about this a hell of a lot more than I have ;) Honestly, I didn't care enough about the characters in Torchwood to ponder who shagged who and how. Jack's character was explored more in two scenes in "Utopia" than than in 13 episodes of Torchwood... it was the first time I cared about him since his last DW appearance. And sex doesn't even exist in DW, just "dancing" ;p

Lady Brick | June 19, 03:04 CET

Oh My....two actors that I've always said could generate chemistry with a concrete block together (and I'll second TamaraC - "together"), whew! I'm hot just thinking about it.

Does that make me a shallow person? Not that I care, because, whew!

Znachki | June 19, 03:15 CET

While this is all great, I wish we get season one of Torchwood on DVD here in the states. YouTube is a good source, but I'd like to see it in the big(ger) screen. Anyone have BBC America's phone number?
Otherwise, I would like to see John and James on the show.

impalergeneral | June 19, 03:21 CET

I'm only just warming up to the new Doctor Who series at the moment. It's taken me a while to understand and enjoy the tone. There were certain moments or episodes of the first couple of seasons which really impressed me, but I had a hard time reconciling that with some of the silly, repetitive elements of the show. Not having seen any of the earlier series was a bit of a disadvantage too.

But the third season has begun to really improve in my opinion, and I think Eccelstone and Piper's early departures affected the foundation of the series but Tennant has done an excellent job of picking up the pieces and made me interested in the show, and although a lot of my friends disagree and feel Eccelstone was the better Doctor, I have to say he's one of the main reasons I watch it. The past four episodes have really been very strong and watchable, striking the balance between serious and silly very carefully.

As for Torchwood, I watched the first episode but it didn't interest me enough to continue watching regularly although I caught a couple of other episodes. I thought it was missing the point somewhat- it felt like they were trying too hard to make it an edgy, adult version of Doctor Who, by shoehorning in a lot of sexy plots and using bad language, not realising that it's mature writing and adult themes which make something more mature, not simply acting like a teenager keen to show off their repetoire of swear words and knowledge of sex.

Maybe I'm wrong though- I'd definitely need to rewatch the entire first series to see if I'm right, although a few of my friends who are really into Doctor Who share the same sentiments. But I will definitely watch James' episode.

Razor | June 19, 03:27 CET

I thought Torchwood had a lot of potential at the start but then it had stories that were just cringe worthy to watch. I mean really really bad. At one point the characterisation was so bad and all over the place that I even stopped caring about Captain Jack (note to writers, he's not Angel). Saying that, it was better than Hex and the last two episodes were pretty decent. So I have moderately high hopes for the second series (note not season).

Simon, I don't agree about the bad characterization, but I definitely agree with the Angel comparison. I keep hearing fans refer to it as being like The X-Files, and it's not. It's more Angel with a little bit of Firefly thrown in (I'm referring to the scene where they're playing ball -- it's shot very much like the way the ball game was played in Firefly, and also the look of inside the Hub is kind of Serenity-like). I don't mind it so much though. RTD is obviously a Whedon fan, and I like the "homages" very much, but sometimes I wonder if RTD is trying a little too hard to be "Whedony".

*shrugs* Could it be that the show caters more to the female fans who love slash? I don't know.

Lady Brick, yes, I've thought about it a lot. I see a lot of character exploration on TW. Not development necessarily, not with Jack anyway. He's static -- until the final shot of him when he hears the Tardis. But they explore *a lot* of his backstory, his feelings, his loves and losses, so I feel like I do understand him.

What is interesting about Jack being on DW again is how much the dynamic changes. Did anyone notice how suddenly, in the presence of The Doctor, Captain Jack Harkness is submissive? He took The Doctor's coat, for freak's sake. That's Ianto's job. And it's my theory that Jack is The Doctor's Ianto. And I'm fascinated by that.

Oh, but see if Barrowman were to join DW for good, that would be my favorite show. It's all about Barrowman for me. Right now, DW is better, but TW turns me on more. I'm just saying.

Does anyone else feel the same way? I can't be alone in this.

[ edited by ElectricSpaceGirl on 2007-06-19 00:36 ]

[ edited by ElectricSpaceGirl on 2007-06-19 02:31 ]

electricspacegirl | June 19, 03:33 CET

Impalergeneral, Torchwood will be airing on BBC America this year. Does anyone know when? I can't remember.

[ edited by ElectricSpaceGirl on 2007-06-19 00:43 ]

electricspacegirl | June 19, 03:43 CET

Thank goodness! I was wondering if it would bring the show here. I guess they may start running it after they finish Hex.

impalergeneral | June 19, 03:58 CET

ESG. I agree with everything you are saying. For me, Torchwood is scifi porn for women and I don't want it to be anything else.

IrrationaliTV | June 19, 04:02 CET

Torchwood will be airing on BBC America this year. Does anyone know when? I can't remember.

According to this Chicago Tribune blog, not until December.

karosurly | June 19, 04:03 CET

TamaraC, bwah! Well, see, to me it's more than that, but yeah, I get what you mean.

electricspacegirl | June 19, 04:13 CET

Well, I guess gay men would enjoy it for the same reasons. Sorry, I can't think straight thinking of James and John together.

IrrationaliTV | June 19, 04:19 CET

LOL. Same here.

electricspacegirl | June 19, 04:32 CET

OMG!! I have never even heard of this show and now it's become my favorite!! Go James!!!

luvspike | June 19, 05:03 CET

Is it just me, or are the women starting gush a lot in this thread.

While this is all great, I wish we get season one of Torchwood on DVD here in the states. YouTube is a good source, but I'd like to see it in the big(ger) screen. Anyone have BBC America's phone number?

Actually there are other as illegal ways to get it, with decent quality, that's how I watch most of the shows. (Just pretend I never mentioned that.)

Numfar PTB | June 19, 05:16 CET

Is it just me, or are the women starting gush a lot in this thread.

For me it's all about Barrowman, but there's also something about Capt. Jack... any guy you put next to him just starts looking hotter than usual. First David Tennant, now James Marsters. Huh.

electricspacegirl | June 19, 05:28 CET

I couldn't watch more than the first four or five episodes of Torchwood Season One, I thought it was so disappointingly bad - kindof a waste of a good cast & premise. (I did enjoy watching Saffy's neurotic little friend, played by Naoko Morim, all grown up and considerably less troubled.)

But if some of you say it gets better later on, I'll give it one more shot. I would enjoy seeing James on the show.

And, honestly, I have truly never gotten the turn-on of seeing two men together... maybe I have a gene missing or something...

QuoterGal | June 19, 05:34 CET

Barrowman makes anyone, regardless of gender, hotter than usual.

IrrationaliTV | June 19, 05:40 CET

Torchwood for me was unbearably campy at times, like a throwback to Space 1999, and then it would give us these incredible episodes like Countrycide (shades of Wes Craven), Random Shoes, Out of Time (I swooned), Captain Jack Harkness, and End of Days.

James Marsters guesting can only be a good thing. I wouldn't want them to go too far away from being dark but I would like to see consistency. And for those of you wanting more sex (well, who doesn't want to see Captain Jack getting his groove on) I found this rather risque passage in the Torchwood Wiki:

Davies told SFX: "We can be a bit more visceral, more violent, and more sexual, if we want to. Though bear in mind that it's very teenage to indulge yourself in blood and gore, and Torchwood is going to be smarter than that. But it’s the essential difference between BBC One at 7 p.m., and BBC three at say, 9 p.m.. That says it all — instinctively, every viewer can see the huge difference there." According to Barrowman:

"I don't do any nude scenes in series one; they're saving that for the next series! I don't have a problem with getting my kit off. As long as they pay me the right money, I'm ready to get out my cock and balls."

Davies also joked to a BBC Radio Wales interviewer that he was "not allowed" to refer to the programme as "Doctor Who for grown-ups".

[ edited by Tonya J on 2007-06-19 02:52 ]

[ edited by Tonya J on 2007-06-19 02:56 ]

Tonya J | June 19, 05:40 CET

Naked Jack! *faints*

electricspacegirl | June 19, 05:53 CET

Razor: I thought [Torchwood] was missing the point somewhat- it felt like they were trying too hard to make it an edgy, adult version of Doctor Who, by shoehorning in a lot of sexy plots and using bad language, not realising that it's mature writing and adult themes which make something more mature, not simply acting like a teenager keen to show off their repetoire of swear words and knowledge of sex.

That is almost word-for-word what I said about Torchwood after the premiere. That's just eerie. Great minds!

Marsters guesting on T'wood will be interesting. I really hated the first half of the season (thanks, Chibnall, for giving us "Day One", "Cyberwoman" and "Countrycide" *vomits*) but it seriously picked up with "They Keep Killing Suzie" and by the end of the series, while it wasn't great television, it was watchable enough.

janeway216 | June 19, 05:56 CET

Finally, James Marsters on a show that's worthy of his talent! I may have to move mountains to see it before 2010, but at least I won't have to watch him on a show like "The Mountain" again!

I liked "Torchwood" just fine, but "Random Shoes" (ep.9) totally won me over. The show does pick up and get better in the second half of the series.

Nebula1400 | June 19, 07:09 CET

Eh. I didn't find the second half of the season all that great. But I suppose it was less painful. I just can't gush about the show, sorry. I like Barrowman plenty when he's on Doctor Who, though. He had great chemistry with Tennant.

Lady Brick | June 19, 07:36 CET

Ah, good, Marsters back on the screens - as long as he isn't just a love interest for Captain Homo (though he does look at bit ... like he's up for it on his home page *g*)

I do hope season 2 will have some stories instead of it being the overcharged sex hell that RTD seems to think is adult story telling.

But it was interesting to see Barrowman back on Dr. Who. I don't think he has what it takes to be a leading man (lady? ;) - he is better much better as a sidekick.

And Simon, you brits clearly got it wrong, a series is all the episodes, its devided into seasons ;)

Pumps | June 19, 07:47 CET

Pumps, some (read: me) might find your post offensive.

IrrationaliTV | June 19, 08:05 CET

Season one wont be on BBC USA until December? Well I guess that means a long wait for us James fans in the US, until season two. So how much do I love James Marsters? I really don't like Dr. Who and know nothing about Torchwood, but I intend to start finding out what it's all about, ASAP. :)
Sorry Dr. Who fans, just not my thing.

Shey | June 19, 09:16 CET

I love the first series of Torchwood. And I hope they don't change so much in series 2!!!

Medusa | June 19, 09:20 CET

Yeah, gotta second that, TamaraC, "Captain Homo" strikes me as offensive and a bit hostile, as well...

QuoterGal | June 19, 09:38 CET

It's also inaccurate. Jack isn't homosexual. He's... pansexual? I think Barrowman put it best when he said Jack would shag a Dalek if it were wearing a short enough skirt :)

Lady Brick | June 19, 10:12 CET

Please excuse me while I die.

They gotta give him back when they're done with him! Resonably undamaged! Barrowman, this means you!

BrightShiner | June 19, 10:25 CET

Captain Jack Harkness,Time Agent and omnisexual space adventurer ... it has a pulse... does it have a phone number ?

debw | June 19, 10:49 CET

The absolute sexiest thing about the man (and he is ALL man) is that he is attracted to everyone and everything.

IrrationaliTV | June 19, 10:58 CET

I thoroughly enjoyed the first series of Torchwood. This is such wonderful news.

debw, that is such a great description of Captain Jack !

Shade of Pale | June 19, 11:14 CET

Yes, whoever asked, the women are starting to gush.

There's good reason for it.

roadrunner | June 19, 11:16 CET

You know, not many people cope that well with waiting 150 years for something...

I think he was very 'glass half empty' about the whole thing. I mean, a 150 year wait could get old but a 150 year wait as an immortal (and an actual immortal, none of yer "Don't lose your head" shenanigans for Jack, his being alive seems, after 'Parting of the Ways' to be basically written into the physics of our universe) ? Loads of possibilities e.g. the chance to climb Everest or K2 or become involved in the space programme or early flight or be an incredibly wealthy philanthropist or, or, or ...

That said, I dunno how much of a thrill you'd get from most of those things if you knew there was no danger. Hmm, maybe not all i'm cracking it up to be.

And feel free to gush away about the guys, ladies but i'm afraid I have trouble understanding gushing about the programme itself. 'Cyberwoman' (where I stopped watching) was maybe the worst hour of TV i've seen in 10 years (and i'm one of those that still watches 'Smallville' ;). There are things you can get away with on 'Doctor Who' that just won't wash on another show, even a spin-off and 'Torchwood' seemed intent on trying them all.

Probably going to watch the rest just to see how it ties in with 'Utopia' but it'll definitely be with a sceptical eye and only really because of what a few people on here have said about it improving (that and i'm a total sucker for time-travel stories).

Saje | June 19, 13:03 CET

Hmm, I found the first two eps of Torchwood painful. Seeing as JM is making an appearance in S2 I may go back and try watching it again - seeing as most of the US shows are on their summer break, I'll have the time...

The Do That Girl | June 19, 13:41 CET

I'd hate for people to judge Torchwood solely on Cyperwoman - every show has a few duds in its lineup (does anyone remember "I Robot you Jane"? No? Good.) I'm not sure the show ever hit its stride in the first series but there were enough good episodes in the latter half to make me hopeful that the writers are on the right track now. Adding JM can only be the icing on the cake (and who isn't dying to know what will happen when two men who normally can generate chemistry with a piece of lint meet up).

loa | June 19, 14:05 CET

Woah, check out my powers of intuition. I've heard my friends in the UK talk about Torchwood and never once realized it had anything to do with Dr. Who...huh. Maybe I just filtered out that info, since I don't watch DW.

Guess that also explains how I remained unspoiled for an entire season of Supernatural.

But yay! for JM to get a role on a show he'll be enjoyed in.

[ edited by menomegirl on 2007-06-19 11:07 ]

menomegirl | June 19, 14:06 CET

(does anyone remember "I Robot you Jane"? No? Good.)

I do. I might be alone on this one, but I love that episode!

I thought the first season of Torchwood was great. I don't seem to have responded as badly to the Cyberwoman episode as many other people and a few of the episodes were nearly as good as the best of Dr Who. I thought Gwen was a particularly interesting character and played superbly by Eve Myles.

alien lanes | June 19, 14:27 CET

I've heard my friends in the UK talk about Torchwood and never once realized it had anything to do with Dr. Who...huh.

It's even an anagram of 'Doctor Who' ;).

For me 'Cyberwoman' was the proverbial camel paralysing straw, the first 3 hadn't been exactly flawless either IMO (though they had their pluses - Gwen being one of them - as well as minuses). Usually if I get 4 episodes into a show and I still don't like it i'm on the fence about continuing. If I get 4 in and there's an episode that actually made me throw things at the TV in disgust ? I'm probably not gonna watch it anymore ;).

Saje | June 19, 14:37 CET

I thought Torchwood was almost uniformly awful in the first series, even though I tried really really hard to like it and had such high hopes for it. Will have to give it a second go now though! This season of Who is picking up now at last too, the last few episodes have been cracking after (IMO) a more-than-shaky start.

Mehitabel | June 19, 14:58 CET

Well I was going to post about how I hated Torchwood but I was worried I'd be the only one, but it seems I was not alone. I kept watching the show hoping beyond all hope it would carry the same spark that got me interested in the new Dr Who but it never quite got there. It almost completely ruined the Captain Jack character for me until he popped up again this week. I wasn't even going to give the second season a chance but now it seems I have to.

war_machine | June 19, 16:05 CET

Whoa. I used the term "omnisexual space adventurer" to describe Cap'n Jack in my blog.

Craig Oxbrow | June 19, 17:20 CET

Wow. Now I have to start watching Torchwood...

Moscow Watcher | June 19, 17:42 CET

This sounds like a great career move for JM. Always glad to see him getting exposure in new areas. ("In" new areas, not "of" new areas. Minds out of the gutter.)

Unfortunately I have never heard of Torchwood and have no idea how to see this once it has aired. Maybe some internet fairy godrelative will give me a clue. (My e-mail is in my profile.)

And, honestly, I have truly never gotten the turn-on of seeing two men together... maybe I have a gene missing or something...

I guess I am missing the same gene...or I just can't get past the practical realities of guys who like guys, not usually having the same level of interest in someone who has my parts, as guys who only are into women...not to mention having to compete with the entire human race rather than just half of it. ;-)

Actually, I sometimes wonder if the amount a heterosexual person is turned-on by fantasy homosexual activities involving the opposite sex, has a direct relationship with the level and type of real life interaction they have or have not had with actual homosexual men and women. When I think of the how popular so many women would apparently have found the tales and intimate discriptions of his sex life that a friend of mine used give me, I feel like he really wasted it all. Oh well, I guess that would be a question for a human sexuality researcher somewhere.

newcj | June 19, 19:21 CET

Torchwood is coming to CBC (Canada) this fall. Many USA Border States can get it with a good antenna. They did a promo during Dr Who Series 3 premier, antenna guys can go for this too!

demon magnet | June 19, 19:25 CET

Got a couple of things to say in response to what's been said here:

1) Maybe I am easily entertained, but I quite enjoyed the first season of Torchwood personally. Was it perfect? Uh...far from it. While I didn't despise "Cyberwoman," I did think it was the weakest of the bunch, since the logic holes were massive and the characters were at their least likable. Still leagues more watchable than stuff like Survivor or American Idol though, IMO. That and I generally have to agree with the sentiment that the second half of Season/Series 1 was better than the first.

2) This news has already sparked off massive speculating in my mind as to what role RTD and the rest of the Doctor Who-Torchwood-Sarah Jane Adventure crew will give James. A relative of Jack's (so James can use his "normal" accent)? The mysterious "Saxon" introduced in the final two-parter of Torchwood's premiere season/series? Or are we finally gonna meet the previously-mentioned odd duck commander of Torchwood 2 (the one in Glasgow mentioned by Jack in "Everything Changes")?

BlueEyedBrigadier | June 19, 20:11 CET

Was Saxon mentioned on Torchwood? *HUGE HUGE HUGE DW SPOILER* The latest episode of Doctor Who (Utopia) revealed that Saxon is really the Master, so I don't think he'll be of any further consequence on Torchwood.

I'm also interested to see what sort of role Marsters will be playing. And who will be writing the script.

Lady Brick | June 19, 20:30 CET

Who else thinks Captain Jack Harkness is the one responsible for chaining up Spike and Angel in "The Girl in Question"? Thanks to someone on LJ, I now think The Immortal must have been Capt. Jack. Come on, anyone? It fits if you really think about it. And this news proves it! Spike has tracked down The Immortal to exact his revenge! Or maybe he just wants more of the same kind of treatment.

Was Saxon mentioned on Torchwood?

Saxon was not mentioned in Torchwood. He was mentioned earlier in Doctor Who this season. He's the one who was warning Martha's mother about The Doctor.

BTW, has anyone noticed the Bad Wolf graffiti in Torchwood? Nice continuity.

[ edited by ElectricSpaceGirl on 2007-06-19 18:25 ]

electricspacegirl | June 19, 20:43 CET

I was going to post something here, but it totally escapes me after reading this thread :) I still recommend giving the back half of Torchwood series 1 a try if you were as thoroughly put off it by Cyberwoman as I was. I couldn't bring myself to watch it for weeks after Cyberwoman, but then I sat down and watched the back half of the series in less than 48 hours. The last bunch are actually good. Still some flaws, but I feel it may have finally found what it is. I really feel as if Doctor Who has found the balance between the silly and the serious the past few eps, due in no small part to Mssrs Moffat and Cornell who turned in brilliant eps (as always, for Mr. Moffat!).

I would really prefer that Moffat be running Torchwood as opposed to Chibnall, failing that I want to see Moffat running Doctor Who when RTD leaves (rumors abound about S4 being his last). I am one of the other four people who like and respect RTD. Thoroughly enjoyed some of his other stuff (just recently caught Mine All Mine and had seen Bob & Rose years ago) and looking forward to seeing where the end of S3 of Who takes us. Anyway, babbling. Marsters fans, you are fooling no one ;) You will only watch the eps he's in and read the Wikipedia entry or something similarly Cliffs Notes-esque.

p.s. - some of you need to go take a cold shower... outdoors... in the ANTARCTIC!

zeitgeist | June 19, 20:54 CET

p.s. - some of you need to go take a cold shower... outdoors... in the ANTARCTIC!

Ha! Zeitgeist, I almost spit water on my keyboard. Yes, cold showers, most definitely. But can you blame us? This is James Freaking Marsters and Sexy John Barrowman. Both men would have chemistry with a block of wood. Imagine them together. Sparks'll be a'flyin and I can't wait.

[ edited by ElectricSpaceGirl on 2007-06-19 18:07 ]

electricspacegirl | June 19, 21:05 CET

Captain Jack as the Immortal...

...that could actually work. Does anybody have the dates of the flashbacks from "The Girl In Question" handy?

Is there really that much dislike for RTD? While Moffat and Cornell are my favorite writers for the series, RTD has written some amazing episodes as well. I personally don't have any complaints about his job as showrunner. Aside from the 1996 movie, the new series was my first exposure to Doctor Who and I've really enjoyed it.

Lady Brick | June 19, 21:14 CET

Was Saxon mentioned on Torchwood?

Yes but only indirectly. There was a poster of saying Vote Saxon in the second last episode (or it might have been the finale.

Simon | June 19, 21:43 CET

Doh! You're right, Simon. I never noticed it but now I remember reading it somewhere.

electricspacegirl | June 19, 22:17 CET

SQUEEE and double SQUEEEEE!
Damn. This is just tooo much to HANDLE!

starfishncoffee | June 19, 22:33 CET

OT, but had to say something: Simon, you and zeitgeist are bright pumpkin orange (instead of gold) today. Anyone else see that?

Willowy | June 19, 22:48 CET

Yeeeess, we all see it. Now just back away from the pointy objects ...

;-)

(they've always looked orange on my browser, never really got everyone else going on about 'golden' or 'wee coloured' for that matter - also mentioned previously. I'm sure whoever it was meant the good wee though ;)

Saje | June 19, 23:27 CET

Indeed... ;) "Its too orangey for crows!"

zeitgeist | June 19, 23:38 CET

"We few, we happy few ... orange."

Tonya J | June 19, 23:40 CET

"... we band of orange,
for he today that sits between red and yellow with me,
shall be my brother, be he n'er so hard to rhyme,
this day shall gentle his condition,
and gentlemen in England now abed shall think themselves accursed, albeit NOT with heartburn due to excessive consumption of citrus products but something much, much worse,
which currently escapes me, err, ..., rhymes with ... buggrit ..."

Little known early draft. Don't shoot me, I am merely the messenger.

(zeitgeist, i'd respond "I'll be your dawg" but that's just weird ;)

Saje | June 20, 00:04 CET

LOL :) Well played, sir, well played, indeed!

zeitgeist | June 20, 00:07 CET

Captain Jack as the Immortal...
...that could actually work. Does anybody have the dates of the flashbacks from "The Girl In Question" handy?

The Magic of interweb will solve our inquiry: 1894, Italy.
You know (well ESG, you can nod now), John Barrowman would be a perfect casting for The Immortal, if there ever was one.

Numfar PTB | June 20, 00:25 CET

(they've always looked orange on my browser, never really got everyone else going on about 'golden' or 'wee coloured' for that matter - also mentioned previously. I'm sure whoever it was meant the good wee though ;)

That might have been me, except I said it was pee-colored. It is, if you've taken Vit. B2 beforehand.

Nebula1400 | June 20, 00:54 CET

Or a lot of 'Lemsip' (which might well contain B2). Scared the bejesus out of me the first time I used it over a protracted period.

Saje | June 20, 01:13 CET

The Magic of interweb will solve our inquiry: 1894, Italy.

That settles it... Captain Jack Harkness is the Immortal. Numbers don't lie. Does that mean the that Rift=Hellmouth?

ETA: Come on, people... this is a discussion about hot fictional characters. Not urine. Focus.

[ edited by Lady Brick on 2007-06-19 22:31 ]

Lady Brick | June 20, 01:26 CET

Saje: "...which currently escapes me, err, ..., rhymes with ... buggrit ..."

Agincourt. Buggered? Liturgical? Contumely? Fondue??

Hell, I give up.

And the Mods have always looked almost pumpkiny-orange to me. They remind me of pumpkins in many other ways.

Theme in Yellow

I spot the hills
With yellow balls in autumn.
I light the prairie cornfields
Orange and tawny gold clusters
And I am called pumpkins.
On the last of October
When dusk is fallen
Children join hands
And circle round me
Singing ghost songs
And love to the harvest moon;
I am a jack-o’-lantern
With terrible teeth
And the children know
I am fooling.

-- Carl Sandburg

QuoterGal | June 20, 01:37 CET

Confess now, it's the beta-carotene ya'll been dippin' into.

And you guys are all too funny. In my world, everything occasions a Spaced reference! Good job! :D

Willowy | June 20, 02:39 CET

Marsters fans, you are fooling no one ;) You will only watch the eps he's in and read the Wikipedia entry or something similarly Cliffs Notes-esque.

Now just wait a second here. I read the Wikipedia entry, and the show sounds pretty interesting. I am wondering though, would it be best to watch Doctor Who first? And would I just have to watch the current incarnation, or go back to previous Doctors? Because after reading the posts here, I think I might want to check this show out (even with the bad episodes). So, any advice?

deepgirl187 | June 20, 02:42 CET

deepgirl187: You should at least watch the first series of the new Doctor Who before watching Torchwood. Personally, I'd recommend all three series (the third has two episodes left in the UK and will begin airing the first weekend in July on Sci-Fi.)

Lady Brick | June 20, 02:49 CET

Very exiting news! Captian Jack as the Immortal,perfect! Of course Angel and Spike would fall for Jack and totally forget about Buffy!LOL!
By the way I'm a gay man and I think it's great to finally see gay/bi characters on a show like Torchwood! I thought the chemistry between Jack and Doctor Who was awesome!

angelusiredspike | June 20, 03:34 CET

deepgirl187 - just joking :) But watch the current series and decide if you wanna go back from there. Be prepared for camp and no budget the further you go back, plus there were like 800 eps prior to the current run (!).

zeitgeist | June 20, 05:17 CET

Actually, Zeitgest, the combined total of both Old and New are nearing 750 episodes...

If people want to watch Torchwood, they could just start watching Torchwood. The show just began airing in Australia and the promotion does not mention the connection at all. Even the press it's been getting, Doctor Who is only mentioned tangentially - and a few of my friends started watching Torchwood this week without knowing the connection.

Otherwise, I recommend watching Seasons 1 and 2 of New Who before Torchwood - Season 1 introduces Captain Jack and Season 2 introduces Torchwood itself. Then watch Torchwood Season 1, then Doctor Who Season 3.

No need to watch all 700 episodes of Old Who, though. Especially since many episodes from the first few seasons no longer exist...

crossoverman | June 20, 06:00 CET

I've had all the TW episodes for months, but I've only managed to get through half of the season because it's just so painfully bad. Even the better episodes are just mediocre. All the characters are completely miserable and charmless, the stories aren't particularly interesting, and as others have said, for a show that was pushed as being "mature" and "adult", the swearing and sex make TW come off as being more juvenile than anything else. We're not exactly talking about an FX- or HBO-quality show here. I keep wondering to myself, if it wasn't for the Doctor Who connection, why would anyone watch this?

I know that the later episodes are supposedly better, but working my way up to them is such a chore. , and besides, how good could they possibly be?

areacode212 | June 20, 07:09 CET

Some of make it sound like a painful chore to watch this fun, light, sexy, charming show. I thought it was good from the first ep. Of course, I didn't have expectations for high production values or really anything else for that matter. I just like all the pretty, but I'm shallow like that. :)

IrrationaliTV | June 20, 07:24 CET

I actually had no expectations whatsoever - never having watched Dr. Who, known about the connection, nor having heard anything about it - and they managed to disappoint me.

That takes a very special and rare kind of show...

QuoterGal | June 20, 07:38 CET

I know nothing about Torchwood, but since a lot of my online friends are very excited I am wagering that if James is in it, I am gonna like it.

Now I just have to figure out where to find it.

I am one of those sad fans who watched the Mountain for weeks before James' appearance, and weeks afterwards, just in case they mentioned him.

And I spent almost a year and a half with Smallville before I just couldn't take it anymore!

James could make me watch the Weather Channel obsessively if he was going to be on it.

So bring it on!

Xane | June 20, 08:22 CET

I know that the later episodes are supposedly better, but working my way up to them is such a chore. , and besides, how good could they possibly be?

Episodes 8, 10, and 12 are my favorite. 13 is great too. But if you ask the question, how good can these episodes possibly be, my mind immediately goes to episode 12. I think that's the best episode of the season. It's beautiful, romantic, sorrowful, and makes me ache in my heart. I know not everyone is going to have the same reaction, but it's a common one among TW fans -- of the female persuasion, I suppose. ;)

electricspacegirl | June 20, 10:06 CET

Xane said:
And I spent almost a year and a half with Smallville before I just couldn't take it any more.

James could make me watch the Weather Channel obsessively if he was going to be on it.

You are not alone, Xane :)

Shey | June 20, 15:33 CET

Okay, confuzzled. Does anyone know if Torchwood is available here in the States? I can't seem to find it.

deepgirl187 | June 20, 17:49 CET

The first season is supposed to start airing on BBC America in September. But those of us here in the U.S. who have already seen it have done so by other means.

areacode212 | June 20, 18:24 CET

Series 1 of "Torchwood" is supposed to be broadcast on BBCAmerica this fall. It's more adult and a good bit rougher than Doctor Who. But the magic that is John Barrowman...damn! John can work a long overcoat that way that James does. Plus: very nice to look at! Double plus: John rocks a pair a suspenders!!

Selannia | June 20, 18:25 CET

deepgirl87, Torchwood will begin airing on BBC America in December. At some point after it's run, I imagine it will be released here on DVD. Right now it's not available here unless you resort to illegal means -- it's not hard to find if you know where to look.

[ edited by ElectricSpaceGirl on 2007-06-20 15:41 ]

electricspacegirl | June 20, 18:38 CET

"Double plus: John rocks a pair a suspenders!!"

LMAO!!! *blushes* Suspenders are those things that keep stockings up over here in the UK. I like his braces though. ;0)

JuliaL | June 20, 19:06 CET

Suspenders are those things that keep stockings up over here in the UK.

Thoughts of ASH in Rocky Horror here ;)

zeitgeist | June 20, 19:15 CET

Thoughts of ASH in Rocky Horror here ;)

As if I weren't already distracted enough reading this thread!

Mehitabel | June 20, 19:26 CET

Some of make it sound like a painful chore to watch this fun, light, sexy, charming show.

If it HAD been fun and light, it wouldn't have been such a chore :p

Seriously, my biggest issue wasn't the writing. Even bad writing can be fun, on occasion. My problem was the fact that the show felt that being darker and more adult required wallowing in an ocean of "life is meaningless and then there's nothing" existentialist rhetoric. That message is so far removed from the "life is full of beauty and hope and adventure and knowledge to be sought" themes that shines through on Doctor Who that it's incredibly hard for me to reconcile the two as being part of the same universe.

I would never go as far as to say that Torchwood ruined Doctor Who for me, but... well, imagine how Buffy fans would have felt if AtS had just been about the big strong brooding hero man saving the poor helpless weeping women of L.A. from the scary monsters.

Of course, Doctor Who fans say the show HAS no canon, so I guess I can just ignore Torchwood if I want. Most everyone I know does just that :p

Lady Brick | June 20, 19:28 CET

Of course, Doctor Who fans say the show HAS no canon ...

Doesn't stop them rowing about it though ;).

(i'd imagine most things will go one way i.e. from Who to 'Torchwood' - as with the Doctor's hand, Jack's immortality, the Cardiff rift etc. and any stuff you really need to know will probably crop up on the 'Previously on...' anyway. Crossover's would create too much dissonance for me, as you say Lady Brick they're almost in different universes as far as tone and outlook are concerned much moreso than 'Angel' and 'Buffy' ever were IMO)

Saje | June 20, 19:42 CET

I guess I didn't see it that way, Lady Brick. I was too distracted by the pretty and my own world view is pretty dark.

IrrationaliTV | June 20, 20:46 CET

I think that deepgirl187 should go to my profile, get my e-address and email me.

E-soon, e-okay? If she e-likes. (It's actually a totally legal method...)

[ edited by QuoterGal on 2007-06-21 01:41 ]

QuoterGal | June 20, 22:10 CET

I think that deepgirl187 should go to my profile, get my e-address and email me.

E-soon, e-okay? If she e-likes.

Are you guys trying to get me in trouble? :)

It's okay, I can wait. Besides I wanna watch Doctor Who first. *mmmm Christopher Eccleston-y goodness*

deepgirl187 | June 21, 04:16 CET

"Torchwood are borrowing everyone's favourite demon. Why don't they borrow some of Buffy's humour, plot and characterisation as well?" so says a Guardian blogger.

moley75 | June 21, 19:45 CET

Sweeeet news- love Doctor Who, but the first series of Torchwood doesn't start here until the fall, interesting to see the divided opinions on it. Whether I end up liking it or not, can't wait for James's appearence, whenever the second series airs.

Trek_Girl42 | June 21, 22:02 CET

Thanks, moley75, for finding the great blog - I heartily agree with Guardian blogger Mhairi McFarlane, who also links us to a well-doneTorchwood parody by Dead Ringers and notes, "The scarily accurate Dead Ringers spoof accused Torchwood of having 'the scrapings off the floor of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer script meeting.' "

Indeed. In the spoof, the Captain Jack Harkness character also enthuses, "We're up here all of a sudden on the roof for no reason at all. That's Torchwood, Gwen! Temporal disruptions and fissures in space create enormous plot holes that we just have to deal with!"

*giggles*

QuoterGal | June 21, 22:29 CET

June 19 2007