What is the difference between torchwood and torchwood miracle day

Made in collaboration with the US channel Starz, the show mostly jettisoned its UK-centric view and the British cheekiness that had made it unique. American actors filled the gaps left by the character deaths of previous series but none made any lasting impact. Ending the series on a cliffhanger did not force the show producers to renew it but did leave viewers annoyed.

For a show that dealt with themes of immortality, its death came as a sweet relief. Doctor how? Jack it in, captain He probably thought it was a little too inside-baseball, a little too cute maybe I think he found the right medium. Oswald Bill Pullman went very quickly from being a virtual TV messiah to a celebrity whose minutes were about up.

What happened in the time between, in those two episodes in which he and Jilly don't appear? Espenson: That was a way to make very really realistic his arc, that he would be elevated and then dropped. That just felt right — humanity doesn't seize on heroes for the longterm right now. Humanity's flailing around, they seize on him for awhile and then he's out of fashion. Also, he's an interesting character to put under stress. This is a guy with a poorly developed sense of empathy, self, dignity, everything.

You want to stress him — he's going to be as interesting in the fall as he is in the rise. He can't guard his own impulses, so you want to put him in a situation where you see that play out. How did you come to the decision that he'd have a quasi-hero moment at the end in allowing Captain Jack John Barrowman and Gwen Eve Myles to leave before sealing the void?

Espenson: We loved this idea that he knows deep down that he shouldn't be on this earth, that he's a net loss to humanity and wants to die but can't bring that about himself. He's waiting for mortality to return so he can die. So he dies and he helps them, but we didn't want to outright redeem this horrible, horrible man, so he says, "I'm coming for you, little girl.

You wrote one of the more Jack-centric episodes in which we flashed back to his relationship he had with an Italian named Angelo. Do you wish you could have played that out over more episodes? Espenson: In early drafts, there was more geographical scope to that relationship. At first, they were on foot in Little Italy, New York, , pitching pennies with other guys in the neighborhood, doing robberies, setting up a shell game.

The bootlegging operation was a more complicated thing Angelo wanted to be a part of the jazz scene! In the end we had to cut it for budget, but that was a blessing, if you will. It allowed us to stay in that room with them, do some more close-up emotional talking.

It all worked out perfectly. Sure, you always want to spend more time with a big relationship like that, but it's almost always better to resist that impulse because you end up sort of indulgent.

That relationship had a specific function in the history of what happened to mankind and if you keep playing it out, it loses its purpose in the big story.

Was there any impulse to give Jack and Angelo a final moment right before Angelo dies? Espenson: Yeah, actually, we did talk about that. Russell I believe really wanted to play that tragedy — no, he is gone, they missed their moment.

However that relationship happens for you is what's important. As long as you're not hurting me, I don't care what you do. And although sci-fi fans deeply identify with the characters on the show, it's the writing on "Torchwood" that keeps fans dedicated, DeGruy said.

He can write conversations probably better than anyone in the business today. Russell T. Davies being a very close second. Barrowman says the secret to the show's success is that the entire creative team is made up of science-fiction fans. It's made by fans, which is incredible. Share this on:. Most Popular. Fine art from an iPhone? I watch this series because it raises interesting broader issues through sci-fi. I am a huge fan of Dr Who and Torchwood. This series has a great storyline except for one problem - the pace.

It;s quite apparent they are pandering to John Barrowman now by including the gay sex scenes. The predatory nature of these scenes adds nothing to the story and the only logical explanation is he has insisted on this change. There have been gay scenes in the past which added to the program or at least never detracted. I am fairly certain it is the lack of a warning before the episode airs and the very nasty way in which the scenes are protrayed which causes a problem.

At a very minimum the warning should say contains scenes of a sexual nature. This is within the BBC guidelines. If the scenes were between straight couples I would expect this as well. Scenes should add to the story and last nights episode contained far too much 'fluff'.

Tighter writing would have moved the series along and the previous series' edgier pace. I hope you learn a lesson from this - more is often worse.

For all the people who have said that Jack is a sexual predator - could you please define the term as you understand it. I didn't see what Jack had done to deserve the designation, "sexual predator" so I did a quick Google to check out various definitions of the term.

I did this just in case I didn't understand the term or how it is used. It looks like the people here who have been using the term either don't understand it or are using non-standard definitions. So could you explain what you mean when you call Jack a sexual predator?

Could you give examples of sexually predatory behavior by Jack? Do you use the term for anybody who has casual sex? For someone who has sex with someone that they aren't married to? Is someone who has sex on the first meeting a sexual predator? If so then many young and not so young people found in bars and clubs throughout the world are sexual predators.

So many people would come under that category that the term then becomes meaningless. Sexual predator would simply be a synonym for horny. So, again, what did Jack do that constitutes sexual predation? Did he groom children? Stalk someone? Rape or apply coercion? Further to my previous comments, I note that Jane Espenson responds to the critiques that the show is now apparantly geared to the US market, but does not comment on complaints that the current series is slow and overblown, nor the over emphasis on sex.

Incidentally, I would venture to suggest that most of this blog's correspondents are not concerned that the overt sex is gay, just that it is overemphasised and of little relevance to this particular sci-fi plotline. The same would apply if Cap'n Jack was involved in heterosexual high jinks. Whatever happened to the dramatic effect of understatement?

I'm surprised at the outcry over the love scenes in last week's episode of Torchwood. Expecially the accusation that it's not suitable for children. Well spotted. Torchwood is NOT for children. It is a post watershed programme that explores adult themes through it's stories. I love it's mixture of heart, humour, intelligence and an ethical undercurrent. It takes risks exploring dark themes in humanity. In this case the awful history and prevalence within us to create concentration camps, and to murder en masse all those we consider 'other'.

Not a squeak about the themes of people burning alive in ovens but over complaints about a consensual realtionship between two adults. Strange world. As a fan of past episodes of Torchwood, I hope that the BBC are getting the message about Tourchwood Miracle Day, i'm sorry but the only miracle will be if it survives this series season?

I apologize to the American writers but i,m sorry, it's not working, Please, Bring it home or lay it to rest. Isn't it about time Mr Russell T Davies stuck his head above the Parapet and answered the growing criticsm of how he has ruined what was a much loved show? Wheher he likes it or not, the truth is we pay his wages, and as such are his employers and deserve an adequate response and apology from him.

My name is Sylvia, and I'm from Spain. I started following the series when they announced the participation of James Marsters in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and its subsequent appearance in Exit Wounds, and I was in love with the series!

So I started to see it in English with subtitles. Never let me down, its cast was impressive and remains so despite the loss, especially Ianto: At first, saw the character of Jack as a bastard, really, but as the seasons have passed, and the flashbacks to the events of the past have taught more about did I come to understand why it was so hard and inflexible.

Especially in this fourth season, The Miracle Day, imrpesionante and really good, we have been watching at all times, and when he, although I do not try to be a partner, things went wrong. Even after Colasanto Angelo react so badly to find that dying and rising, leaving these people after he was tortured for days, even weeks to know if you saw him die and rise again and again and never stopped loving him, inlcuso forgave him. But I could not stay with him after that. And of course, often betrayed him from Gwen every last one of them.

I missed you so much for your character from that last chapter and I hope to see him again with Captain Jack, the two together would be something epic in a full season! By the way, I'm seeing the chapters at the same time in UK, and I wonder if, with just two episodes to issuing complete, discuss the issue of what happened at the end of the third season, when witnessing the death of his nephew , sacrificing for the greater good I have been reading post after posting mine early yesterday, and I do not understand why everyone criticizes sex scenes with Angelo Jack Colasanto.

We all know that Jack was gay from the first chapter in my case it was after seeing the trailer for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang with Captain John, who are also women XD and away from bother to see this wonderful acotr that I love for his work as Spike on Buffy and Angel series, I loved him in this new record, like discovering a wonderful series such as Torchwood I've seen some individual chapters of Doctor Who, but I'm no fan of it I applaud the value of this series, and other current, demonstrating the love between two people, and sex between them, in whatever form, as it did in Buffy and Willow with Tara at the time, later with Kennedy who never approved, that character did not match anything.

Sex is not dirty or pornographic, at least in my humble opinion, is shot tastefully and it's light. And sexual predator call Jack This definition is basically what is the character of Bill Pullman. And I have not seen anyone criticize a pederast character Simplememte Jack seizes the moment, you see someone you love, seduces him, and if there is opportunity to have something with that person, then why not, Jack is not involved with anyone in that sense, is free and can sleep with whomever you want, come on, I say.

The writing team is doing a great job, a fantastic season, and who does not want to keep seeing it, has every right, too bad you're missing a great story. And nothing has been lost, in my humble opinion, again, the soul of the series.

When I saw that person on table burnt and mangled and even after they had severed all connections from the head to the body I was pretty shocked because it's the brain that controls eye movement. I thought 'dear me' the torture that that person must be going through. And when the doctor was burnt alive and you showed a good part of her suffering I thought 'goodness' the BBC have really made Torchwood for adults and not just a spin off of Dr Who but more scary.

Then when I saw Jack being himself with Angelo, it really did sink in. Torchwood is finally a television series in it's own right. It is for at least older teenagers and adults and deals with adult themes, corruption, greed, man's inhumanity with man, discrimination, sex etc.

People have complained about the sex scenes, these are nothing compared to a person throwing the switch and another conscious person burning alive, or have we become immune to the suffering of others? Others have complained about the introduction of American characters, the thing is the enemy strikes world-wide and it is totally logical that the CIA would be involved.

I just see this as another step to Torchwood standing on it's own as a sci-fi, drama series. I am a mother and a nana and enjoying it tremendously. The only thing is the BBC probably should, because lots of people still think of Torchwood as a slightly more scary Dr. Who, warn people of the adult content and then if they still let their children, grand-children watch they have only themselves to blame if they do not approve of the content.

Anyway, Spikes in it and he never failed to get to the point. Thank you BBC for ruining yet another once great show with an overly complicated plot, gratuitous sex scenes gay or otherwise, they add absolutely nothing! I can understand the all inclusive policy at the BBC, but shouldn't that mean that my 12 year old son is all included?

It's supposed to be good old fashioned science fiction but when he asks me why a man is showing his willy, it's time to switch over.

I hate to say it but this programme is starting to resemble the mess that Doctor Who has become. Shame on you BBC. One day the Government will realise that the only people you are writing and making programmes for these days are yourselves. Shadoir are you in the UK? Did you let a child watch an adult program after the nine O'Clock watershed? Had you no idea what Torchwood was like? It was the brainchild of the guy that wrote Queer as Folk the show with the nears thirties guy who had sex with a fifteen year old virgin.

Torchwood has always been an adult program. In the first episode of the first season we saw Owen use a 'pheromone' spray to get off with a woman.

When her boyfriend threatened to punch his lights out Owen sprayed him and had sex with both. The bf made it clear that his intention was to shag Owen senseless, it wasn't going to be two guys taking turns to satisfy one girl. In another episode a guy had sex with a girl in a nightclub toilet and one of the doormen was masturbating whilst watching them via CCTV.

That is Torchwood's history. There is no point in complaining that an adult program is not suitable for children. If you are saddened that your children are too young to watch Torchwood you can be consoled by the knowledge that they can watch it later as adults. Your 12 year old only has to wait 4 years. He can even watch Queer as Folk then. I'm sorry, but in many ways you are not very good at your job.

However, if you can manage to make money out of it, why would you care. I think American audiences are very different from British audiences, and are probably happier with so much drivel to pad out a sketchy plot. Previous series were certainly better. Is it the lack of humour? Hi Jane, thank you and the rest of the team for keeping me well entertained and interested so far. This series has been my first exposure to Torchwood: all I knew about it previously was that the word was an anagram of Doctor Who.

By the way, I watched the very first episode of that show way back when TV was monochrome and far from rectangular. Now I feel a strong affinity with Americans, and one of the things I enjoy about Torchwood is the very melding of cultures and characters that some other commentators seem so vexed about. In particular, though, it's the character of Gwen I love. She kicks more ass than a five-star ass-kicking instructor, and her being delightfully and comprehensively Welsh is nothing but a thrilling bonus.

This is no Barbie, no sidekick. This is gutsy, in female form. Go Gwen! I have always been a big fan of Torchwood and was delighted when BBC had the courage to bring the initial offerings to our screen. They were brisk, enjoyable and where necessary funny with "full" characters.

The latest production is slow and drawn out with much padding of plot and wooden acting. Perhaps if Suzzy had seen the previous programmes she would see how good the series used to be. As for Captain Jack's romp with his lover while no doubt of interest to some appears to have nothing whatsoever to do with the plot and simply was indicative of the abundant padding now evident.

Please remember that this is a Sci Fi adventure and lets for goodness sake keep such initimate scenes for another day or do all the programmes produced nowadays require an enforced sexual ingredient in order to attract viewers. I feel many followers of Captain Jack will feel let down not only with the lack lustre episodes to date but especially with last weeks which spent more time in Jack's bed sit than developing the real sci fi plot.

I am sure BBC have now written off a large following unless tonights offering pulls out some "stops" Disenchanted Avis I think this series of torchwood is the worst ever, why on earth have they handed all the good bits over to the americans, and what a stupid storyline, please go back to the other format it was much much better.

I think there's a lot of harsh criticism here. All I have to say is compare Torchwood though not for kids with the truly dire Dr. Who under Moffatt incomprehensible rubbish. I find the gay theme a little overdone, we all know Jack is "pansexual" so the amount of time banging the gay drum is akin to over egging the pudding. He's still a superb character though. Miracle Day is an hour a week of enjoyably sci fi drama with a likeable cast, well produced and well acted.

Now go watch one of the new episodes of Dr. Who and seei if you can say the same, let alone follow an episode! I have just deleted my 'series link' for Torchwood. It suddenly dawned on me that I really didn't care any more who or what miracle day was.

It is too long, too complicated and far too sexually explicit. Bring back the fantastic writing of past series. This show used to be a British Icon - it is now rambling American twaddle - I cannot tell you which episode this is about - 5 minutes in I gave up and decided re arranging my sock draw would be a more interesting way to spend the evening - If you are unable to improve - and by improve I mean bring in British writers!

I suggest that you change the name from Torchwood to Torturous. Yes we all know that he is gay he likes men do i need it rammed down my throat for over 20mints in one episiode no i dont it was so baddly done i had to turn over the tv the bed room sceene was not revlavant one kiss and leave it up to the viewers imagantion i dont need to hear him turn the other guy on im not into gay porn whats wrong with you in torchwood jack is gay i know its part of the story line i dont expect to see his bum just after the watershed i have allways watched torchwood and his relationship with his college was tastfully done im sorry this story line is great and has been ruined by this as in america market is this really what they called for because if it is you will lose us we will turn over.

And speed it up will you watch fringe and 24 this is too slow and yes we all know whats going to happen before it happens its that slow im supprised know one told u when u were writting it u all sit in a room u should have watched torchwood from start to get the fill of it you started with a bang and have fizzled out. In short, I am very disappointing with this series of Torchwood. In length I miss the days with ridiculous one-episode plot lines with a running theme throughout the series which Dr Who seems to have ditched also!

But seems it may be back next week? Like others have said, it's very slow. Considering it was always about short-and-sweet episodes, I feel the writers have almost completely destroyed the Torchwood soul. I feel obliged to watch it just because it is Torchwood, but feel very annoyed every Thursday at 10pm.

If you are going to write such a slow-going show, you need a script to create more of an emotional attachment between the characters and the viewers. But that hasn't happened- I don't really care so much if Rex or that blonde girl dies.

There was no heavy background story to go with their characters which need to exist for a slow plotline development Yes they have family problems, but it's highlighted so briefly that it doesn't form an emotional response.

It goes along the lines of: Oh, my sister said she wants to die. And anyway, torchwood and dr who isn't about deep character development within episodes.

It's about meeting a character in an episode, not knowing so much about them, and experiencing many, many ridiculous events with them.

And you are rewarded little by little with extra information on the character. That is why the viewers care about Jack and Gwen. That's why we are quite interested in River Song though not sure about her being Amy's daughter That is why one-off Dr Who specials with one-off heroines aren't as good. That is why we don't really care about Rex and that blonde girl. See, it's a simple formula they've meddled with and destroyed. AND, finally, and most importantly, I am also confused as to why the writers suddenly decided to make Jack so gay.

He was always excessively sexual, but liked men and women. Remember when Rose met Jack? Remember how he fell in love with a woman and had a child? I hope the writers for the next season take on board the comments here, most of which reflect a negative feeling towards this series. You need to do better! Its not sci fi any more sarah jane adventures on the bbc is more sci fi than this they cant even be bothard to show the bodys that they kill as cat 1 from episode 3 that bit has been forgotton opps his blown up but the viewers wont notice his now dead even though they cant die dont call this sci fi its not.

Having watched Torchwood from the start, I believe that the second and third series built and improved upon the original series, however series four Miracle Day has literally lost the plot.

It is plodding and could easily have been and should have been condensed into five episodes. Sadly the plot has been packed full of irrelevant filler to pad out the series to 10 episodes. Captain Jack's scenes with Angelo went on for far too long. Who cares about Esther's sister and kids? What relevance did Rex's visit with his estranged father have to the real story?

Also it appears that Gwen's family were taken hostage for no real reason other than maybe to create a 'link' with the uk?? The characters of Gwen, professional, feisty and witty and Jack, competent, charming with a cheeky glint in his eyes have been developed over previous series but have totally changed in this one. The likability factor has been lost.

Of the newly introduced characters, Vera was the only new character who was not one dimensional, her character was written and acted well enough not to need padding. Unfortunately the others are so one dimensional, it's difficult to care what happens to them. Presumably some of the padding was to address this but it hasn't worked. Contrast that with the deaths of Tosh and Owen in series two, and the emotional demise of Ianto in children of Earth and maybe RTD will realise that this series of Torchwood has lost it's individuality and soul and has become a bland formulaic American series.

Well, I have seen just about every episode of every series, and I am really enjoying this. Yes, it is different to the old Torchwood, but then I found Children of Earth was also very different to the previous series since the old team was killed off. So, I am taking it for what it is - a bit overblown, Americanised, and Hollywoodish, but with a gripping plot based on a good idea.

However, I agree with the comments about the lack of humour in Jack's character now - he used to be fun and charming in the early days - and the way Gwen has also become a charicature. I also agree that the graphic sex and violence in episode 7 were unnecessary and out of place in Torchwood. I just hope it has a really good ending, unlike the disaster that was Flashforward. Just forced myself to watch an episode 8 hoping for the best, but most of acting is so wooden and the plot is too difficult to follow.

The best scene was when Captain Jack sees Angelo, but it was cut too short and there were no time to explore his emotional shock. The Oswald's character is good, but seems totally irrelevant to the plot and how Esther's character has made it in CIA is a total mystery. The episode 7 is the best, the love story is excellent and John Barrowman acts his best in my opinion. I can imagine him in a leading role in the beautiful costume historical drama where a famous historical figure is a gay.

Personally I found the Doctor's Who story about Emily's pregnancy much more disturbing in a way how the Doctor intervenes in what is supposed to be a private matter remembering that once Emily offered him to have a sex with her.

I agree that the show is too slow paced and aliens somehow gone missing, but with two episodes ahead I am still hoping to get a answer. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but after the special a couple of years ago Children of Earth? I was lead to believe that was it for Torchwood - dead and buried. Fast forward to , would you want same old story over and over?

Because god only knows you'll all end up complaining that you've seen this exhausted storyline and the themes in previous series, not to mention in Doctor Who.

Russell T Davies has been quoted as saying that is is not a reboot or a new version but simply moving countries. By using the influence of American writers, the series has had a new lease of life injected into it the miracle?! No-one complained when Torchwood began that there were very graphic sex scenes from the very first episode. Not only that, sex seemed to be a common theme among Torchwood headquarters, with relationships and affairs brewing amongst the main cast, some would say they couldn't keep it in their pants.

Miracle Day has has ONE episode containing such scenes, while these are not always necessary in TV shows, this was detrimental to convey the depth of the relationship between the two men.

If it wasn't shown how else would you explain the older Angelo and Jack's parting words to him; it would appear pointless and completely random. If such a scene offends you so, fast forward or just switch over. We live in the 21st century where gay marriage is legal in places, what do you think they did before - purely hold hands?

I digress. I find this new series highly entertaining and I am glad it is being introduced to a new audience; those who would not have necessarily watched it before may be more inclined to get into previous series. I find the majority of comments on here going with the standard human take of "I don't like change".

Adapt your perception and be entertained! I've enjoyed this Torchwood series..