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Torchwood: Complete BBC Series 2 Box Set (2008)In many ways a far more experimental and variable series than the show it spun out of, Torchwood demonstrates many of the qualities of Doctor Who, but has certainly developed a tone all of its own.
Season two finds the Torchwood team still under the pavements of Cardiff, and still led by John Barrowman's Captain Jack Harkness. But there's a lot going on this second series, with a variety of guest stars--including Alan Dale (yup, Jim Robinson from Neighbours), James Marsters (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and Richard Briers--along with the arrival of Freema Agyeman's Martha Jones. There are also a variety of intriguing threats that the Torchwood team face, and while the tempo is often uneven, at worst it's always interesting. What's more, Torchwood isn't afraid of pulling its punches. Unpredictable at times, right through to the explosive final episode, this second season is an improvement on the show's already-impressive debut. And while it sometimes makes familiar mistakes as it tries to play to a more mature audience, it nonetheless feels riskier than before, and better for it. Furthermore, where they take it now for season three is a fascinating proposition: fortunately, there's plenty of rewatch value in the show's second series to cover the wait to find out. --Jon Foster |
Average User Rating: 80% (42 Reviews) | |
| 5 / 5 | No shame...just humanity. (And the rest)
TC (Bromsgrove, Worcs United Kingdom) - 4 March 2008 Torchwood's great: it's a good mix of semi serious 'dark' (their word!) sci fi and fluffy fun with a generous dose of sheer humanity. ('tho those who bring this out aren't always human!) The much maligned (and celebrated) snogging between same/opposite sexes and aliens is a part and parcel of the whole series aim to present the bizarre within a very normal (Welsh) world. The snogging, the cameraderie, the Cardiff backdrop are the normal bit and I strongly recommend you allow your kids to watch it because guys do snog guys and gals gals and the sooner they accept this, the sooner the world will become a more pleasant place to live in. Torchwood Series 2 has been pre-watershed-ed to make it more watchable by kids and they've taken out some of the violence. I'm pre-ordering despite being only part way thru the series on TV because I applaud Russell T Davies and his team for making ground-breaking, mould-breaking TV within the genre least likely. Oh, and let's face it, JB IS eye candy!... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | Getting Better
Elizabeth P. Coyle "Liza" (Glasgow) - 3 March 2008 I loved Series 1 but series 2 (so far) has blown s1 out the water! The fact I'm pre-ordering this even though the series aint finished tells you really what I think of it. There have been a couple of....dull episodes good but not brilliant and then there has been some fantastic ones. Some really good writing. I hope the extra's on this DVD boxset are better than on the previous one. |
| 5 / 5 | Star trek take note
A. T. Storm "antstorm" (ecstasydney Australia) - 18 March 2008 Im proud of this show , i have a younger gay brother that is truely in awe of this show and so am, im a trekkie fan myself and have always been disappointed at the lack of gay role models in sci fi its about time something like torchwood came along to show that there can be strong positive role models for gay kids that aren't parodies ala will and grace Kudos to the torchwood/Dr Who team from a proud brother of a younger gay brother ... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | The 21st Century Is Ready
Andrew Kerr (Scotland) - 13 April 2008 Captain Jack and his team are back and here to protect us from the alien threat. The second series of Torchwood is magnificent and nothing less than genius. It's safe to say that we need more decent science fiction programs like this. Torchwood is dark, heart pounding and moving while also being fun, exciting and comical. The acting is second to none with stunning performances from all. The characters have been so well created and in places are so real and believable. This second season is (thankfully) less about Gwen, and pays more attention to the rest of the cast. We've also been giving James Marsters who is fantastic in his role as Captain John (mind you he will always be Spike to me.) The stories are fantastic, well thought-out and produced to such an entertaining standard. If I had to pick my favourite episode from the season I would struggle as I thoroughly enjoyed them all. But I guess it would be a tie between "Reset," "Something Borrowed," and the stunning final episode "Exit Wounds." I enjoyed the sneak peeks of Torchwood in times past and look forward to seeing more. The tone and atmosphere throughout is very impressive and gives that unique Torchwood feel. The show has been cleaned up in terms of violence, sex, and language. Sadly I think that this was a mistake. I know that it makes it appeal to a wider audience and more friendly for kids but they've got doctor who, let us adults have Torchwood. Personally I never thought that the first season was over the top in anyway. Still it's a minor 'fault' that doesn't really affect my opinion of the show. Torchwood isn't for everyone but it really can't be missed. I've always been and remain a doctor who fan, but it's good to have and be able to enjoy both. I've always wondered where Torchwood got the Pterodactyl from but now we know. As Captain Jack says "We needed a guard dog." I'm looking forward to the third season and hope that the quality remains as high as the previous. ... Read Full Review » |
| 2 / 5 | Carry On Alien
Philip Henry "philaxeman" (Northern Ireland) - 6 April 2008 OK, everyone admits that the first season was wobbly at best, but we, the sci-fi starved British public, came back for season two confident that all the immature swearing, pointless sex scenes and gaping plot holes would be remedied. And we were disappointed. Though the sex quotient was noticeably down, the innuendo count was up, making this about as scary as your average Carry On movie. Captain Jack has now been replaced by John Barrowman as the head of Torchwood. It seems the actor's charisma and ebullient personality on the talk show/ reality show circuit has inspired the writers to scrap the mysterious, brooding hero and replace him with his camp alter-ego. So how do they even screw this up? Why do all the gay kisses look so ridiculous? The `let's try to swallow each other's head' approach to kissing just makes it look like the zeal of a straight actor trying to pretend it doesn't bother him. Which maybe some of the other actors were. I have never seen another show with such inconsistent characters. Do the writers ever speak to each other? It seems new (often contradictory) traits are introduced just to serve whatever the story is that week. Toshiko's in love with Owen, no wait, she's in love with some World War II guy, no wait, she's back in love with Owen. I have to ask myself why, as Owen is one of the most unlikeable characters on TV. We had this problem in series one as well; Ianto was so in love with his Cyberwoman that he risked the lives of the entire team, still, two weeks later he's apparently sleeping with Jack. How quickly they forget. Gwen, who's engaged to Rhys, is also in love with Jack when her character doesn't have much else to do that week. I think if RTD would put aside his gay agenda (after the Countrycide episode I heard the show nicknamed Brokeback Mountain Rescue) and let the writers just write sci-fi stories, AND John Barrowman was reminded to play Captain Jack and not himself, this show could have potential. There are moments of brilliance in this series, though sadly they are only moments, and they're usually followed by one of John Barrowman's `Oh, Matron!' lines that ruins any tension. These moments are the reason I've given this series two stars instead of one. Good SFX, bits of good stories, some good acting (especially by Naoko Mori in the last episode) and a good musical score are the highlights of this patchy show. At the moment there is no firm word on whether there will be a third series. I would probably watch it if there were, but only because as far as home-grown sci-fi goes, there isn't a great deal of choice and if this cross between The X-Files and a Carry On movie is cancelled it won't bode well for future sci-fi TV shows. ... Read Full Review » |
RRP
£59.43
Release Date
30 June 2008
Price Range
£31.49 - £51.43