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Torchwood - Series 1 - Complete (Box Set)While occasionally clumsy in the way it goes about things, the first season of Torchwood ultimately makes good on its promise to be a science fiction programme for an older market. So while it's spun out from the more family-friendly Doctor Who, it does carve out an edgy, entertaining niche for itself.
The programme follows the adventures of the Torchwood agency (who we met in far more prestigious form at the end of Doctor Who's second series), a small team led by John Barrowman's Captain Jack Harkness who investigate the extra terrestrial and the paranormal. And across the thirteen episodes of this maiden season, they have a lot to look into, from the likes of a sex-craved alien and cyberwoman, through to cannibalistic foes and strange, spooky fairies. Admittedly, particularly in the early stages when Torchwood is finding its feet, there are a few missteps, and a little too much side-indulgence in exploring material that the more mainstream Doctor Who wouldn't allow. But it'd be to your folly to write Torchwood off: by the time it gallops into the second half of this first season, the quality is strong, the storylines are interesting, and the show proves to be a real winner. Intertwining with the narrative of the main Doctor Who show, Torchwood nonetheless then works as an independent programme in its own right, replete with a strong cast of characters (led by the terrific Barrowman) and scripts that have more of an experimental edge to them. It's certainly one of the most interesting science fiction shows Britain has produced in the last decade or two, and there's much to enjoy again and again in this box set. --Jon Foster |
Average User Rating: 80% (39 Reviews) | |
| 5 / 5 | The Darkside of Who...
Abominable Snowman Productions "Footprints in the snow lead away from the abandoned laptop where this review was written..." - 22 October 2007 The greatest thing about the new-Who series is that it focused on an aspect of Doctor Who that had never really been addressed before, the worlds that the Doctor leaves behind him, the influence he has on the world and how he changes it for the better, or for the worse. Examples of this include the new series episodes: Bad Wolf, Love and Monsters, Blink, Army of Ghosts and (to a lesser extent) the Year Five Billion trilogy. It makes us look back on what might of become of some of the characters from the earlier stories in the franchise, like the humans in 'Dalek Invasion of the Earth'. In the case of Torchwood we get to see the things that lurked in the shadows of Kaldor city, or that were just out of site when Nerva mad a full orbit. Specifically we see the world that the Doctor created when he offended the wrong monarch and dropped off the right, brilliant toothed action hero. The world of Torchwood is one when we get to see what the camera pans away from in the regular Doctor Who series, mixed with a terriffic cast of actors that have you believing every second of the programme. John Barrowman in particular is a firecracker in a great coat, with a flawless charm and a hilariously liberal attitude. You can't help but love him. That came out wrong... The magnificent casting, coupled with a no-holds-barred sexual tangent make for great viewing and really treat the long-term Who fans with getting to see things that they'd always wished Leela would do when they were fifteen... Despite these strong sexy and violent elements in the programme, it doesn't stop it from providing heartfelt storylines like Out of Time and Random Shoes. Nor do you lose out with psychological thrillers like Small Worlds, in which you feel the whole fabric of your world shaken just a bit... All in all, Torchwood makes for excellent television viewing. The first series is a tribute the phenomenal effort of Russel T. Davies in the ongoing New-Who franchise. As always, can wait for more.... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | Slightly patchy but superb entertainment nonetheless.
G. Thomas (Canterbury UK) - 8 October 2007 By the time I reached the last episode of Torchwood, the series had developed far beyond my expectations into something rather wonderful. You could accuse it of slightly over-egging the "adult" tag, at first, but it eventually matured into something a whole lot better than TV Sci-Fi has ever offered us before. Torchwood joyfully pinched ideas from several well known films and mythologies but added it's own twist to each episode and created something altogether different. It was rarely predictable and quite often genuinely spooky (the fairies, anyone?) We explored each of the characters and their human frailties but the series never lost it's sense of fun and continually delivered quality science fiction/horror week after week. I really hope they bring back Bilis in series two, he was a wonderfully creepy character with so much potential. The continuity between Torchwood and Dr Who should also be applauded. It's nice to see separate dramas that inhabit the exact same universe. (very late edit!) It's odd but I seem to be one of only a few people who thought Season 2 was awful. I just rewatched the season 1 boxset and it is truly astounding with only a couple of weak episodes (Cyberwoman & Combat). Episodes like "They keep killing Suzy, Random Shoes and Out of Time are, quite frankly, some of the best TV drama I've seen for years. Beautifully and intelligently scripted with mostly excellent performances.....why does season 1 get such bad press. Even the (oft-trotted-out-complaint about) sex and swearing is nowhere near as overt as you possibly remember. Give it another look. It's exceptional.... Read Full Review » |
| 4 / 5 | A cross between a sci-fi series and a soap opera
Ms. K. M. Shand (Derby, Derbyshire United Kingdom) - 22 August 2007 ""The British sci-fi crime thriller for adult audiences will follow the adventures of a team of renegade investigators, led by the enigmatic Captain Jack. It will see the investigators scavenge alien technology in a very real world to solve crime, both alien and human."" I don't normally enjoy science fiction shows, so I was surprised to find myself being drawn into this one. I initially started watching because I liked John Barrowman but by the time the series had come to an end, I'd enjoyed the series as a whole. It's much more character driven than most other sci-fi shows that I've seen and all of the characters bring something different to the show, as well as being rather nice to look at. If you like your science fiction to focus on character relationships, rather than aliens and alien technology, and you don't have any problems with bi-sexuality, then Torchwood is an entertaining and somewhat different science fiction series. If anything, the sci-fi element in Torchwood takes a back seat to the relationships element. Some people have accused Torchwood of focusing too much on sexuality. Whilst this is true to a certain extent - Torchwood is meant to be a sexy series - most of the time it does suit either the character or the story. And apart from episode two which is a bit fruity, Day One, the sex itself is kept to a minimum and is never graphic. It would actually be more accurate to say that Torchwood has a fair amount of sexual innuendo, not sex itself. And during this first series, there are no male/male sex scenes at all, just two or three fairly heavy kisses. There is very little connection between Torchwood and Doctor Who, apart from Captain Jack himself and a kinky cyberwoman popping up. You don't need to have seen a single episode of Doctor Who to get into this series, as it is very much its own show. It's true that Torchwood is a bit patchy, it's true that the characters are not particularly great at their jobs and it's true that the series does have a few large plot holes - like Jack not knowing that they have a cyberwoman in their basement. But if things like this really don't bother you, give Torchwood a go. Generally the second half of the series is better than the first. Captain Jack Harkness - Leader of the group, 51st century time agent who's currently stranded on modern day Earth, handsome, flirty, can not die using conventional methods, feels negative emotions at times because of his current inability to die. Owen Harper - medic, a bit rough, a bit full of himself, not afraid to speak his mind, likes the ladies. Toshiko Sato - technical expert, perhaps the most 'normal' of the group, fairly quiet. Gwen Cooper - the ex-policewoman who accidentally stumbles upon Torchwood, views situations from a human point of view rather than a hardened point of view, struggles to mix her professional life with her personal life. Ianto Jones - is to jack what Alfred is to Batman, takes care of the Hub whilst the others are away, the youngest of the group, likes to wear sexy suits, quiet and sensitive. ... Read Full Review » |
| 1 / 5 | Over hyped and very disappointing
Ettrick 8 (UK) - 26 September 2007 After Christopher Eccleston, John Barrowman was the best thing in the return of Doctor Who and I was really looking forward to this spin off, which was hyped `ad nausea' throughout the second series of the New Dr Who. When it finally arrived on the screen it was a total disappointment, full of clichés, plots holes you could drive a star cruiser through and who ever heard of a super secret organisation that everyone knows of. I certainly wondered what Russell T Davies & co where thinking, when they made the subject of date-rape a laughing matter in the very first episode. When one of the "heros" used an alien drug to get off with a girl and her boyfriend against their will. In summary Torchwood has all the problems of David Tennent's period as the Doctor in that shouting, running and special effects have replaced a convincing story and good acting. ... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | Doctor Who For Us Adults
Andrew Kerr (Scotland) - 11 January 2008 The 21st century is when it all happens and Captain Jack Harkness and his team are arming the human race for the future. At first I wasn't expecting much from Torchwood, as a life time Doctor Who fan, I felt that any spin off would be substandard. And as I expected I didn't really like the first two episodes of Torchwood but I stuck it out and before I knew what happened, I was hooked and left wanting to watch more. Torchwood has a certain quality about it, which I found addictive. Maybe because it essentially Doctor Who for adults (i.e. more scare, sex, and swears.) Despite some of the episodes being a bit disappointing (such as `Random Shoes') and slightly unbelievably (a dinosaur verses a cyberwoman?) the program generally delivers on a silver platter and each story is powerful and involving. The acting from the lead characters is nothing less than astounding. Especially from John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) and Gareth David Llyod (Ianto Jones). Also the special effects and props have been done to a high standard. Torchwood is full of emotion and everything considered I feel that it is a great program and a great sci-fi show fit for the 21st century. I eagerly await series 2.... Read Full Review » |
RRP
£356.00
Release Date
19 November 2007
Price Range
£17.97 - £54.99