As if you didn't know, the new, third series of Torchwood starts next week. I've already given my initial verdict (see link at the bottom of the page), but expect more detailed and even reviews from Our Anna. The big thing about this series of Torchwood is that it's being stripped across five weeknights in one of those 'event TV' thingies. Whether this is a good thing or not is up for debate, but for one John Barrowman, Captain Jack himself, it's not good enough. Why?
Related: First Look: Torchwood: Children Of Earth | Trailer Trash: Torchwood: Children Of Earth | Our full Doctor Who/Torchwood section
It was interesting reading JoBa's words in The Sun, The Guardian etc etc this morning. It seems he's really not happy that the show has been slashed from 13 episodes to five.
This is what he said:
"We were the most successful show on BBC Three, ever. We moved to BBC Two because the ratings were so good. The decision was made to go to BBC One - and then we were cut. From 13 episodes down to five. The five episodes are incredible. But I felt like we were being punished. It felt like every time we moved we had to prove ourselves."
You can't blame John for being passionate about a show he stars in that inspires large, cult fan bases all over the world (they love Torchwood in America), and he's damn straight about the fact that Torchwood is perhaps the most moved show in British television history. It started on BBC Three, went to BBC Two and now it's on BBC One. All in the three series. That's lot of shifting about.
But the real issue to come out of Bazza's comments is whether five episodes stripped across is actually a downsizing, or whether it's actually a promotion of sorts. There may not be the quantity of episodes in this series, but stripping it across the five weeknights does give the whole thing a bit of an elevated status.
So what do you think? I know there are lots of Torchwood/John Barrowman fans out there. Do you think this is downsizing or a promotion to 'event TV' status?
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It is downsizing as they could have done two 5 episode series instead. They're probably just trialing it on BBC1 to see what sort of ratings it gets.
I totally see where John is coming from.
When they first announced that it was only going to be 5 episodes long, I felt really cheated. Its one show that I have been looking forward to seeing.
5 eps on 5 nights is pretty cool. A whole week of torchwood, but after that, we have to wait another year. Its not exactly going to fill up 13 weeks of speculation and cliff hanger build up now is it?
This effectively kills the series. Here is why: It sets up impossible expectations. It may be good, but won't hit it 'out of the park' so then there is a lot of off time before a new season. John seemed to play cagey about if he was even coming back for a second season. He's got all these other projects he is intersted in. Verdict: No season 4.
From everything I've seen and heard, series 3 is kick ass awesome, so yeah, he's absolutely right to complain. When series four comes around, and I have great faith that it will, I hope they do at least two, or better yet, three of these five night event formats.
I think saying, "there may not be the quantity of episodes in this series, but stripping it across the five weeknights does give the whole thing a bit of an elevated status," is just trying to gloss over a clear case of downsizing. It's basic math. 13 - 5 leaves 6 whole episodes downsized right out of existence. Of course Russell T. Davies has said, "I know if this was America, they'd try to keep it going for seven years, doing the same thing every week. And BBC America, who show Torchwood, are furious that we've changed the format. But they're not our paymasters. It's the British audience we make these for," making it perfectly clear he doesn't give a damn what I as an American viewer think of this treatment of Torchwood. I can't say as I'm surprised by RTD's words. I've gotten use to the size of his ego. I'd like to see Torchwood free to go on without him like Doctor Who now is.
Excuses my inability to do basic math at this hour, and with this level of disgust at RTD. I do know that 13 minus 5 is in fact 8. Call it denial in action over the thought of how many episodes we're getting cheated out of for Uncle Rusty's ego.