I think that Torchwood never goes utopian....  remember Children of Earth?  Miracle Day is definitely going to be different than previous seasons because the Americans were involved in writing, planning and filming this season, I just hope they don't maul a very good show.

I loved Children of Earth. I thought it was a brilliant exposes of functional socio-paths inside large systems. I also like the analogy showing how child abuse is tolerated by good people using an ethical system that is based on choosing the greater good, over one that does what is right.

There is a minor uproar in the UK over the fact that it will be broadcast a week earlier in the US. Also it appears that there will be two different versions, a US one and a UK one. leading anal Sci Fi fans to ask: which is the correct version? Space has a typicalcanadian response to this question. It will air both versions and let viewers decided.

I wasn't a huge Torchwood fan until The Children of Earth.  I've clearing my schedule for the premier of the new season.  Can't wait.  I didn't know that Space was airing both versions, I'm looking forward to seeing what the difference is. 

UK version all the way...  I don`t even have to see it to be pretty darn sure I`ll like the UK version better.

I went on the space network and they are showing the UK versions on Saturdays and the US versions when they repeat on Tuesdays.

UK fans are furious. Not only is it airing first in North America, but Space will be broadcasting the BBC version 6 days before the BBC does .

Remember, we're talking aboot the UK here, who used to have an Empire where the Sun never set, and then they lost it...so, in anything they do, their is a bit of delicious melancholy in it...even their children's shows :3

As the July 1st weekend Torchwood marathon was the one thing that kept me alive - or at least semi-conscious - for three days, I too am looking forward to the launch of Miracle Day.  Perhaps it will be the miracle cure to finally end this nasty bug I have.

Somegirl, thank you for the heads up about two different version schedules (I missed the two version thing, must have happened during one of the feverish delusion moments).

What can I say Inannawhimsey, there are some things the Brits still get right and the Yanks will never understand - its called Intelligent Dialogue or ID and that not's to be confused with intelligent design, which, frankly, the Brits are better at as well....

LB

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The speed of light is 299,792,458 metres per second. Pain travels through the body at 350 feet per second. Even a sneeze can reach a hundred miles per hour. And as for life? Well... that just bloody whizzes by.

     Eugene, Random Shoes

Quick, before it dissappears.

The vaunted 1st episode!

Part 1 of 5 (you can find the others in the sidebars etc)

10 episodes of real science fiction -- exploring ideas! :3

Well I went ahead and took a look at this first episode, US version.  Definitely not utopia that's for sure.  Not sure what I think of it other than that.  Doesn't really have the typical Torchwood feel yet.  Not too impressed that they didn't keep the old intro music.

Oh, something else that occurred to me, the show is also Horror* -- an alien reality (no humans die, the Captain is mortal) is impinging upon the 'normal' reality of the Torchwood universe.  An example of the horror feeling is when Rex is concerned as to what will happen to him if the effect ever 'wears off'.

I found the first episode to have QUITE violent bits in it; this adds to the horror (fear of death, disfigurement -- permanent change in the self).

It seems the creators of Torchwood are now really able to tell longer stories that are free of the constraints of the previous Torchwood series -- so, it's like a brand new series with some of the same cast members and locations.

Gwen is awesome with a gun now :3

* Torchwood:  I consider Children of Earth to have this as well.

I am not so sure I wil like it as much as I did Children of Earth.however it is off to a promising start. I was looking at how they are making it changes in order to appeal to US audiences. For one they need guns and violence to make it fit in the US. A
So I wonder if we will see them leave out references to Jack's bisexuality.

Alex,

one of my friends made a comment aboot Torchwood that the organization itself seemed to turn everyone into sex-crazed maniacs :3

I say "sounds good" :3

Seeing the teaser at the end, I would say, have no fear about Jack although I am seriously going to miss Ianto.

Nor did I see any character with the promise of replacing Owen and his cynical language that really masked a big soft heart.

The whole helicopter, open jeep, chase on the beach I found tedious, but the sight of Gwen holding the baby and shooting down the hallway - well that was classic.  If they can manage at least one of those scenes per show it will be worth watching.

LB

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Jack: If we go in there, guns blazing-
Owen: I wasn't suggesting blazing. Just waving.

     Torchwood, Meat

I always found Torchwood to have a fair bit of the guns-and-violence to begin with.  As for Jack, well he wouldn't be who he is without what someone referred to as his being not so much Bi as omni-sex.

I don't know what a "Torchwood" is,  but if there was one day when nobody in the world died, the obvious answer is that we would finally have some very good evidence in favour of some omnipotent, god-like force in action.  Assuming you don't count burn marks on toast that look kinda like Renaissance era renderings of Jesus.

Actually they are pointing the finger at some alien life form. Torchwood is a Dr Who spin off.

the grossest part was when they were dealing with a bomb vicitim, who would not die. His body was burnt so they cut off his head, and yet he would not die.

I'm pretty sure Torchwood as a show maintains that while the universe is abundant in alien life, there is likely no afterlife. In the very first episode of the first season, they use an alien device to briefly bring someone back from the dead so they can ask him how he died. When he learns he can only come back for two minutes (a technical limitation of the device they used), he panics and begs not to die again as he saw nothing the first time. It was a chilling moment.

The new season's subtitle, "Miracle Day" is likely meant ironically as the sudden inability to die creates a lot of problems for the planet.

It is very likely an alien life form that caused it but for what purpose and why did one pharmaceutical company know it was coming for decades? That's what the coming episodes will explore.  

Something like the 456 scenario perhaps, these aliens have been to earth and done  this before to a small group?

Perhaps but I wouldn't expect a re-run of Children of Earth quite like that.

There are also some things about the series that don't quite add up, which has been a Torchwood drawback for ages. Why would an evil drug company choose at its spokesperson a convicted child-killer? Just so that we know that they're eeeeevil? And what government in its right mind would allow drugs to be made available without a prescription. Morphine might be freely available but it doesn't make it a good idea for me to start using it.

I'm hoping some of this will be explained better in the coming episodes but so far, I don't find it as good as Children of Earth.

they have already partially explained that. Any publicity is good publicity. the child killer is getting a lot of press because he survived his execution. Remember after they beat up  Jack, a women outside wanted to see if he had sen/touched him.

 Also he is not openly working for them. he is presenting an idea that meshes with their agenda.

I think the Oswald character is supposed to portray the power of redemption.  He did not attract sympathy until he sobbed 'I'm sorry' in his first interview - remember the PA who at first condemned him and then with tears streaming applauded him.  I equally suspect that as Oswald's celebrity rises, his redemptive qualities will recede and the portrayal will become one of the power of corruption; which parallels Big Pharma.  Pharmaceuticals have the power for great good but equally are susceptible to the corruption of money.

A government that believes in a capitalistic "free" market economy where business is allowed free reign with few controls.  In the US for example,  recent administrations have reduced government watchdogs and restrictions in response to intense lobbying from mega corporations including pharmaceuticals.

I agree.  So far I am not as interested in the characters as those in Children of Earth.  IMHO, there has been no replacement of characters like Owen and Ianto and the dialogue is not nearly as witty.  I'm also missing the weird and wonderful alien creatures and I want more Rhys not less.

LB

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Rhys: You're too late, it's gone! I've had a gutful of you. You get my girlfriend pregnant, you impersonate mum, and you ruined my wedding day! {the chainsaw dies.} Fu...

     Series Two

" IMHO, there has been no replacement of characters like Owen and Ianto"

I've read a few posts and articles elsewhere that suggest that they are putting Rex forward as a kind of replacement for Owen, the whole dead man walking bit.  The general consensus is that they aren't going to try to replace Ianto, not in this season anyway.  The thought being that it would go over very poorly with the fans to set Jack up with a new love interest so soon given how very unpopular killing Ianto off in CoE proved to be with the fan base.

I am really starting to enjoy the new series, it is much more overtly political than before. It was always a series that challenged the status quo, but it was just implied. In this series, they have so far directly slammed the Tea Party, Fox News, and other media, Big Pharma, and conservatives in the church.

I have to say that the Oswald Danes plot thread is seriously not one of redemption and forgiveness.  He's getting to be one of those characters that I really hope is going to have something nasty and permanent happen to him before the end. 

I did notice that they most definitely did not shy away from Jack's sexuality.

I do not know who is more despicable, Oswald, or Jilly Kitzinger, the PR person.  Oswald is clearly evil, however Jilly looks pretty, but operates in a complete moral vacuum.  

Which one do you find more dangerous?

I think they are most dangerous in combination actually.  With out Jilly's talents Oswald wouldn't be in the spotlight to nearly the same extent.  Although I get the feeling that Phi-corp is really just using the both of them and that they will be gotten rid of the moment they are no longer useful.  Phi-corp has amply demonstrated it's ruthlessness in that regard already with that poor 'dead is dead' lady.

The dead is dead lady was a hoot. this darling of the Tea Party only demonstrated too well the many flaws of the Tea Party's reasoning.

Boy are people really as violent Torchwood shows.

Also wtf wwsnthe whole Antonio story about. I mean could it had not been done in 1 show instead of two?

It has also become much more apparent that Jilly is more dangerous than Oswald. I think the character is representative of the type of person on the Children of Earth, who were civil servants that did the evil deeds of the politicians. I wonder if she too will end up killing herself when the chickens come home to roost.

 Love Torchwood (by the way, it's an Anagram for Doctor Who). 

And in another thread somewhere here there was bitter complaint about not enough gay characters: well, Jack is GAYGAYGAY (ish. He's bisexual, actually. Does that count?)

I did NOT know about 2 versions, though.  And I would agree that for the most part the UK versions tend to be 'better', although:

Life on Mars: both the UK and US versions were GREAT. But, very different.

Being Human: I didn't like the UK version. Why??...I just.. the actors...?  I don't really know. The US (Can) version, however, was GREAT, and I'm really looking forward to Season 2.

And I like Jilly (as in: this is a situation many pr folk can find themselves in...Angelo Persichilli --the Newest PMO communications chief, perhaps?).

Heyo there editor martha (one of the most unsung jobs out there -- the authors get the credit for the book, but it is really a collaboration),

if you like, there is another thread created by fellow Whovian somegirl called "The Waters of Mars" that seems to have developed into a Dr. Who discussion thread :3

Feel free to get us to use our Whovian minds with trivia and such as well :3

"There's an app for that"

Good thing nazis or Stalinists did not have iphones, or android phones.

the two versions are the same production, just edited differently. Unlike the other shows you mention in which the UK and US versions were different productions with different actors and different scripts.