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Torchwood: Complete BBC Series 2 Box Set (2008) [2006]

RRP: £49.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

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

Better then season one.
Review date: 2008-05-09 Rating: 10 out of 10

Over all i tought it was a very good season, better then the first season. as in I liked it because of the story-lines and character delvelmoment (some eps made me cry, as well as in season one, if a show can make you cry or fell something about a character then i think that it makes it a great show, among other things.)
But i did notice that the feel of the show changed it wasnt as dark and adult like the first season, like the dumbed it down for little brats to watch. Plus some big changes happened, not going to say what just in case someone hasnt seen season 2 yet.
I have a felling because of this it wont be good when season 3 starts up, who knows maybe it will. As for the rumors 2 have come to pass, 1. two people leaving the show as well as making it 2. so younger viewers can watch it.

Also i hope the big guys or woman at the bbc notice this this last part, maybe they will see this and if the rumors are true about torchwood, maybe the wont frak it up as much as they would if the rumors are true. i wont watch it anymore, it was good the way it was!!!

As for Captain Jack leaving the show, only to be seen here in there, i hope it not true, you just cant take the main person and get rid of them or put them on the side line (YOUR NOT AMERICA, your BRITISH last time i checked. So if you want to FRAK up a show, if you take after us!!!, torchwood would not last is these rumors are true!!). I wouldnt mind of Martha jones joins up again, as for Rose (who is a GREAT character) frak just give her own show, as well as micky, who are rumored to join torchwood....

Reviews

I'm converted!
Review date: 2008-05-06 Rating: 10 out of 10

Ok, as I write this I am prepared for a lot of critisim. So deep breath and here it goes.

I prefer this to Dr Who. OK, there said it! Don't get me wrong I loved season 2 and 3 of the parent show but for me Torchwood has got that edge that Dr who seems to lack. I don't know what it is, but I found myself more upset that Torchwood hadn't recorded than when the latest Dr who failed.

It just seems to me to deal with more the human emotion behind situations that the gang end up in, than Dr who does. They took risks in teh second season which only improved it. Case in point. the last episode. Not since the Great Joss Whedon has any show had the guts to kill off one main player. Yet Torchwood gave you the sucker 1-2 punch by killing two. All in a matter of minutes. the dramatic impact of that isn't lost.

Here we have Torchwood facing a new era, with two of its main players no longer with the team. the possiblity of a third drifitng off hangs high in the air. You just don't know what is going to happen in season 3. (which there better be!)

then we have the fantastic James Masters as Captain Jacks opponent/love-intrest/ex! He was fantastic and a joy to watch. He had all the ego of Spike (Mr Masters previous character in Buffy and Angel), but with a bit more gutso.

there is the usual filler episodes and those which don't match the same standard, but overall a great series.

***** out of 5.

Really enjoyed this series!
Review date: 2008-04-28 Rating: 8 out of 10

I felt this series ofd Torchwood was the best yet, it removed the constant and unnecessary bad language which failed to make the first series 'adult' as was it's intention and the sex scenes that spoiled the first series were no where to be seen. The finale to the series was incredibly moving and justified the time spent watching the whole series, characters emotions were finally seen and what the team could do under pressure was portrayed perfectly! This series had action, romance and humour intertwined and in my opinion the series was quite simply fantastic!

So much potential, so little substance
Review date: 2008-04-22 Rating: 4 out of 10

Torchwood is a programme that makes me deeply sad because it has got so much potential to be absolutely fantastic and yet each week I found myself completely uncaring about the characters and, quite honestly, wondering why I was wasting time watching it when I could be doing something else. In fact, the only part of the show's entire history that gave me any real joy was the closing moments of the final episode in season one when the TARDIS could be heard in the distance.

With the second season, I approached it hoping it would learn from the mistakes of its first and grow into all the promise it held.

It did not.

The show's attempts to divorce itself from Doctor Who are, at times, utterly childish. It honestly felt at times like the writers sat down and decided that lots of swearing and lots of sex was all Torchwood needed to prove how "grown up" it was. The second season was better in that respect but I still felt like I was watching something that didn't quite know what its target audience was.

Character-wise, I only liked Owen because he was so incredibly horrible at times he stood out from the crowd. The Owen-centric episodes were probably among the second season's best. However, I was absolutely horrified with the treatment of Martha. She was totally wasted. What were the writers thinking? Did they forget her backstory?

John Barrowman also works better, for me, as a supporting actor. In Doctor Who he is absolutely brilliant but I can't take him seriously in Torchwood because he over-acts. I don't connect to him as the central character and a lot of the love I had for Captain Jack from the first season of Doctor Who is now just a distant memory.

Also, in a show aimed at an older audience, it should be scarier than the family show that spawned it. Torchwood has yet to leave me wondering if maybe I should leave a light on over night...

I know people hate comparisons between Torchwood and Doctor Who but it's unavoidable when they are inextricably linked. By no means do you have to watch both, but Torchwood fails to live up to the expectations many people had for it - which is truly sad.

The only thing this show has going for it is its liberal and open-minded attitudes towards sexuality. The show's approach to sex has calmed down a lot from the first season when it was overly excessive (is that putting it too mildly? There was that sex gas alien after all...) but a smidge more subtly could be even better in terms of making the characters' romantic relationships more believable.

Other than that, sorry Torchwood but you fail, especially after the finale when the only reason I watched the show (which I shan't mention due to spoilers) was removed. If there is a third season, I won't be watching...

...unless it actually has a proper crossover with Doctor Who, which is the only reason I started watching originally.

Fantastic sci-fi!
Review date: 2008-04-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

I really enjoyed the first series of Torchwood (even if it did have a bit too much sex in it) and was really excited about this second series.

Torchwood succeeds where Doctor Who stumbles, which is to create realistic storys and make them in such a way that is believable. I sometimes find that Who is too silly and unbelievable.

Overall, the second series is perfect. The first 8 or so episodes are fantastic, but a couple of episodes (namely Something Borrowed and From out of the Rain) are a bit rubbish. There is just something about them that isn't right. But then the series gets its act together with the last few episodes, espeically Fragments and Exit Wounds.

This series surpasses the last one mainly because it doesn't just rely on the sex, violence, gore and swearing as the first series seemed to. It has grown up into something much more mature and is up in the ranks of the best sci-fi series like Battlestar Galactica, Firefly and Stargates SG-1 and Atlantis.

Product Details/Specifications

Actor(s):
John Barrowman

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503261825
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 5
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-06-30
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 650 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2006-10
Language: English (Original Language)

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Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Torchwood: Complete BBC Series 2 Box Set (2008) [2006]

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