Torchwood

There's a mild spoiler in here, so if you're gonna be a big baby about it, don't read this entry...

I was going to bitch and moan about the CBC not showing season 2 of Doctor Who, when I saw that they're actually on episode 3 of season 2. So much for paying attention to the network that will save us from all things American. Hey Tories, where's that privatization bill?

Considering that I just saw episode 1 of the Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood (through nefarious means) and in the end credits I believe I saw a CBC production credit - we should get it here in Canada in, oh, about 2 years...

How's the show? The problem I've always found with pilots is that they have to spend way too much time setting up characters, places, technology etc. and they do that here, too. If you've seen the second season of Doctor Who, you already know about Torchwood, if you've seen the first season, you already know about Captain Jack. Trying to keep them in the shadows as everyday normal non-alien hunting policewoman Eve Myles [love the Policewoman's hat! damn that's sexy!] tries to delve into the mystery took way too long for my taste - then again, my attention-span lasts about 20 minutes and this episode started to challenge it.

There are flashes of what this show could be- there's gore, same-sexiness (here's the spoiler! - rather than fight the behemoth whose girlfriend he just stole in a bar using Alien pheromones one intrepid Torchwood scientist simply doses himself again to make himself attractive to the girl's boyfriend as well and heads off with both of them - don't think we'll see that happen on Doctor Who) and a surprising bit of violence at the end that made me jump when it happened, even though I kinda expected it.

Next episode supposedly features alien sex gas.

Yes you read that correctly and yes that's enough to make me watch it.

So all in all, a good, if not original, start. Captain Jack will have to be more roguish in the next few episodes though - that whole "ooo, look at me, don't I look tragic and thoughtful" schtick won't work for very long and treads on Doctor Who's territory - there's only room for one tragic and thoughtful hero and Captain Jack better ditch that before he rejoins the Doctor in season 3 of Doctor Who.