Anna's Pick: Torchwood

Host Name: Anna B

Date For TVBC Session: 3/7/2021

Show Name: Torchwood

Episode Title(s): Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

Season(s): 2

Episode #: 1

Source(s): HBO Max or Amazon Prime ($)

Episode Length: 50 min

Show Description/Introduction: You've all seen the origin of Torchwood in Dr. Who, but some additional background may be helpful since we are jumping in at the beginning of season 2.

The show focuses on the Torchwood team in Cardiff, where a "rift" in space-time leads to lots of weird alien activity and time travel shenanigans. The team is led by Captain Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman, an immortal rogue time agent and conman from way way in the future. Because he comes from a future where humans have moved beyond the constraints of society as we know it, he is... um... quite open minded, sexually speaking. Jack was a companion (lover?) of the Doctor and traveled with the Doctor and Rose until he became immortal and was abandoned on earth (for unknown reasons that form central questions in the show) in the 19th century on Earth where he was eventually made to join Torchwood. Torchwood picks up in modern times and he has presumably been part of the group since then.

Gwen Cooper, the newest team member, is a former police officer who finds out about and joins Torchwood at the beginning of the series. She is kind of the co-lead with Jack, and they have a special and confusing relationship.

Ianto Jones, Toshiko Sato, Owen Harper are the other main team members, who have various special skills a la CSI or similar shows.

At the end of season 1, Jack survives a near death experience (I mean, duh, immortal) and some nearby tardis sounds imply that the doctor has come to visit/collect him.

The show generally has a mix of soapy drama, sci-fi goofiness, and crime solving procedural elements. Enjoy!

Discussion Topics: Let's just see where this one takes us?