Absolutely.

Fucking.

Brilliant.

Just unbelievable what they pulled together here.  Tense, gut-wrenching, moving, and handled and presented with such believability that every last moment leaves you hanging because you actually start to believe it all yourself.  There is a verisimilitude here that is absolutely unfathomable in a sci-fi television series, especially given a plot that at it's heart is frankly a bit ridiculous.  Yet it's all handled so deftly, performed so well, directed so well, that twists that might've seemed predictable or trite or even silly, instead provoke shock and horror.

Everyone was at the top of their game here, but the most incredible weren't the main cast, but the facesmackingly good supporting cast.  Everyone here is played flawlessly, everyone there is given to their role so completely, as to stun the mind.  Even that godawful American general goes amiss in the sea of incredible talent and masterful performance.  The casting was, barring that marr, and perhaps Ms. Faceless Goon, was superb.

Of particular unnerving sidenote to an American television fan, however, was the casting of Ian Gelder, as Mr. Dekker, who is such a dead ringer for the late John Spencer that it honestly was a touch distracting.  I kept expecting to hear the voice of Leo McGarry, and I could swear I picked up traces of that character's mannerisms in the performance.

Look at this man, and tell me the resemblance isn't at least a tad uncanny:


But I digress.

In the final balance, I haven't been this grabbed by a piece of television anytime in recent memory.  If Russel T Davies was looking for a true sendoff to his work in the Whoniverse, this was it, this right here is absolutely his finest work, and makes all the Messianic wanderings of the last two Dr. Who finales look frankly pathetic.  

It is to me a shame they're talking about bringing Torchwood back for a 4th series.  This would've been a fantastic way to end it on a perfect, bittersweet note, and I really can't see Davies living up to even a shadow of what they've accomplished with CoE.  Better to let the thing die with a bang.  If they are going to bring the thing back, at the very least, start from scratch with the next series, give it a proper reboot and repurpose, or it's all going to feel very cheap and hollow next to an absolute television event like this one.  

To all the American viewers out there, and the skeptics who've given the previous series short shrift (and I'll admit, it was tough to like at times), give this a go.  We haven't seen SF this good in a very, very long time.

(crossposted from Colony of Gamers)

Yes, very true.

 Loved it a week or two ago when it aired here on BBC America.

- Ed C.

The gossip goes that this was indeed the swansong of Torchwood, but as a concession to the cast & crew for it being 5 eps long (and the end of the show) it would be aired on BBC1 instead of BBC2. Then, it goes and gets all popular...

It's much better as an action show than trying to be all edgy and shit.

Quote from: One Horse Town;320232The gossip goes that this was indeed the swansong of Torchwood, but as a concession to the cast & crew for it being 5 eps long (and the end of the show) it would be aired on BBC1 instead of BBC2. Then, it goes and gets all popular...

It's much better as an action show than trying to be all edgy and shit.

It's like Davies finally grew up, got past the "Edgy cool" phase, and started doing some work with actual maturity, not the pale shadow of it presented through the mind of a 13-yo boy.

I liked Torchwood, and it got better last season, but the critics also had a lot of fair marks against it until this season.  There's lingering traces of the old days, but at this point making light of them would just seem petty.

Quote from: One Horse Town;320232The gossip goes that this was indeed the swansong of Torchwood...

It's been picked up for another season.

Seanchai

So... should I watch the previous seasons to get it? Because if I have, I'll have an ugly dilemma here...

Quote from: SunBoy;320503So... should I watch the previous seasons to get it? Because if I have, I'll have an ugly dilemma here...

Many folks don't like Torchwood, but outside a few episodes in season one, I do. If you like sci fi, don't mind sex and gay characters, I'd pick it up...

Seanchai

Quote from: Seanchai;320593Many folks don't like Torchwood, but outside a few episodes in season one, I do. If you like sci fi, don't mind sex and gay characters, I'd pick it up...

I have it on DVR (the miniseries, not the whole season) but that's something about the Dr. Who series that has begun to bug me. I mean, fine, there are gay people - but in almost every episode? Its gotten to the point that as soon as there's a "group shot" of the characters, I subconsciously start trying to figure out which one is gay. And it rarely if ever has any impact on the plot. So, really, why bother announcing it? Honestly, the key point of "I'm on holiday to get over my breakup with my lesbian lover, oops, I've been posessed by an energy creature, rar!" (to use the most recent episode I watched as an example) seems, to me, to be the takeover.

I know, I know, I shouldn't even notice it - but I do, and its distracting sometimes.

Well, Russel Davies himself is gay.  I can't fault him for wishing to present a world in which being gay is no longer a big deal, but simply something someone is, which has generally been his intent.  There are gay people in his Whoniverse because there are gay people in the real world, the only difference being how each universe reacts to said gay people.

Well, like I said, I shouldn't be bugged by it I guess, but I suppose it figures he'd be gay and make sure to have at least one gay person/creature front and center more often than not. Still, it really does feel shoehorned in sometimes just to HAVE it there, rather than actually contributing to the story. Kinda like having a character dressed in head to toe all-concealing robes casually mention he's black, just so we can have a black guy in the episode. IMO of course.

Quote from: Werekoala;320812Well, like I said, I shouldn't be bugged by it I guess, but I suppose it figures he'd be gay and make sure to have at least one gay person/creature front and center more often than not. Still, it really does feel shoehorned in sometimes just to HAVE it there, rather than actually contributing to the story. Kinda like having a character dressed in head to toe all-concealing robes casually mention he's black, just so we can have a black guy in the episode. IMO of course.

Also it should be noted, John Barrowman, the man who plays the dashingly omnisexual Jack Harkness, is also himself quite gay.

Quote from: J Arcane;320815Also it should be noted, John Barrowman, the man who plays the dashingly omnisexual Jack Harkness, is also himself quite gay.

Well, he's not gay, he's omnisexual, as you pointed out. I love me some Captain Jack, no fear! At least, in small doses in Who episodes. How does he play out over an extended period?

Quote from: Werekoala;320821Well, he's not gay, he's omnisexual, as you pointed out. I love me some Captain Jack, no fear! At least, in small doses in Who episodes. How does he play out over an extended period?

Well, I mean the real actor is gay.

I brought up the gay characters issue because some of my friends are religious and dislike books, shows, and movies with gay characters. I know, but...shrug.

I agree with Werekoala that it can be a little conspicuous at times. I get that Captain Jack is what we would consider unconventional sexually - stop hitting over the head with it!

Seanchai

Quote from: J Arcane;320835Well, I mean the real actor is gay.

Oh, didn't know that. (Sorry, I really REALLY misdread your original statement, but it was late... yeah, that's it). Doesn't matter, it's the character I was interested in.

See, very progressive attitude. (gives self brownie point)