RDM vs RTD
Adapted from a comment left torabid1st 's entry regarding Day 5 of "Children of Earth" (Torchwood S3) and including mentions of the Finale of BSG.
Frak! That just about ripped my heart out and smashed it to bits. Probably would have if I'd been slightly more invested in Torchwood. But RDM still comes out as my more hated R__ and here's why.
At least Russell was consistent. The tone of this mini-series was consistently dark, brutal, and completely destructive. But at least the ending fits with the message RTD seems to want us to take away from Who as well. Jack has become the Doctor (early 9/ post-Rose 10) willing to sacrifice anyone, anything in order to save the world (even at the cost of his own potential sanity) but unwilling to stay and deal with the consequences, to examine the life he leads. But it's a progression that was foreshadowed even if I chose to hope it would be played out. Bridget didn't kill herself because John did. Gwen didn't suddenly decide to change jobs. Jack didn't change his mind about his biggest fear and poof away without a word. Though the only reason I'm not completely bent about this may just be that I'm just barely recovering from having RDM school me in the ways that self-obsessed, arrogant bastards can frak up their shows.
As for Torchwood in general, it seems to have a pretty bleak future as a series. Bad enough RTD felt the need to kill off both Own and Tosh but now Ianto to? And Jack's running away? Way to do exactly what you hated the Doctor for doing bastard. I want to hate Jack but I find I can't anymore than I could hate 9 or 10; though I am tired of the fact that they're both (all?) given free passes to run from it. The problem with this is that from what I've seen of the fandom there's a LOT of Gwen hate and Ianto woobification. How many of those fans are going to want to watch now? And how many of the regular viewers are going to tune into a show where the only thing that ever happens is death and destruction without even fleeting moments of true happiness, because that is the world which RTD has built.
I'm going to watch through Christmas because I want to see how it ends. And while I think whatever happens then will have a strong impact on the future of Torchwood as a series, I don't really see it happening right now. Honestly, I thought RTD was leaving Who to focus on Torchwood - wasn't that the original story?
I'm tempted to say I won't continue watching after the upcoming regeneration, but I'm not sure that'll be true. After all it's a new doctor and Moffat. And while neither of them are strong draws on their own they are different from the status quo and there's nothing quite like traveling time and space in a blue police box.
But really - Why does everyone believe that they can't end their series by giving the viewers a damn pony? Is it really that hard?
Frak! That just about ripped my heart out and smashed it to bits. Probably would have if I'd been slightly more invested in Torchwood. But RDM still comes out as my more hated R__ and here's why.
At least Russell was consistent. The tone of this mini-series was consistently dark, brutal, and completely destructive. But at least the ending fits with the message RTD seems to want us to take away from Who as well. Jack has become the Doctor (early 9/ post-Rose 10) willing to sacrifice anyone, anything in order to save the world (even at the cost of his own potential sanity) but unwilling to stay and deal with the consequences, to examine the life he leads. But it's a progression that was foreshadowed even if I chose to hope it would be played out. Bridget didn't kill herself because John did. Gwen didn't suddenly decide to change jobs. Jack didn't change his mind about his biggest fear and poof away without a word. Though the only reason I'm not completely bent about this may just be that I'm just barely recovering from having RDM school me in the ways that self-obsessed, arrogant bastards can frak up their shows.
As for Torchwood in general, it seems to have a pretty bleak future as a series. Bad enough RTD felt the need to kill off both Own and Tosh but now Ianto to? And Jack's running away? Way to do exactly what you hated the Doctor for doing bastard. I want to hate Jack but I find I can't anymore than I could hate 9 or 10; though I am tired of the fact that they're both (all?) given free passes to run from it. The problem with this is that from what I've seen of the fandom there's a LOT of Gwen hate and Ianto woobification. How many of those fans are going to want to watch now? And how many of the regular viewers are going to tune into a show where the only thing that ever happens is death and destruction without even fleeting moments of true happiness, because that is the world which RTD has built.
I'm going to watch through Christmas because I want to see how it ends. And while I think whatever happens then will have a strong impact on the future of Torchwood as a series, I don't really see it happening right now. Honestly, I thought RTD was leaving Who to focus on Torchwood - wasn't that the original story?
I'm tempted to say I won't continue watching after the upcoming regeneration, but I'm not sure that'll be true. After all it's a new doctor and Moffat. And while neither of them are strong draws on their own they are different from the status quo and there's nothing quite like traveling time and space in a blue police box.
But really - Why does everyone believe that they can't end their series by giving the viewers a damn pony? Is it really that hard?