What next?

[stuffphile]

 I've been wondering what kind of speculative thoughts other fans are having about series 4, and Doctor Who.

Does anyone else share my suspicion that the reason Torchwood series 4 is still up in the air, is because TPTB are keeping it under wraps 'til after the  Doctor Who end-of-year specials?

Also.

Comments

[fide_et_spe]

I agree about JB, sometimes I think he says what the people around him want to hear, then sometimes he has a kind of tourettes moment. Thing is, I do the same thing, at work meetings usually, so I know what it's like.

I'm still hoping for TW in the past. Which is what JB is suggesting. The fact that he wants that is very interesting as I think he feels Jack is broken and wasn't happy with it. A steam punk Victorian TW, how cool is that? EM would of course hate it! If they do an S4 with just a new team, well what the fuck is the point of that? Why did they waste three years and just kill it all? I know RTD and EM are talking as if that is what's going to happen. With him in Hollywood though, I wonder if he can dictate it the way he thinks he can really.

I expect DW to waste Jack the way they always do. If he starts flirting immediately with Frame, well that would be awful.

Re the relationship thing. I think it is a problem as if they had Jack shag about, and we saw a string of characters that he had shagged, or had brief flings with, you get the Kirk factor, and it becomes so tedious. Also Jack just ends up being sleazy and a bit pathetic as those men inevitably are. So I think relationships are good for character depth. However I agree with you, it is too painful if they do it like this. The only other thing that could work is to have him shag about off screen, and just be a bit aloof and unavailable on screen. That would work with broken Jack as well. I think a character who shags casually and anonymously is much less pathetic somehow, than lots of sleazy pick ups. I would find it difficult if he "finds a new piece of arse" as it were. You know I almost would cope with it if it were interesting. Say for example, Sarah Jane? Or a man who was a similar age to Sarah Jane? So someone a bit older, mature, and interesting as a person. I could not bear a pretty young thing.

[stuffphile]

While a series about TW in the past is a neat idea, I don't think I'd be happy if it meant we would get no continuation. I want to know where Jack goes from here. They should write Torchwood novels about Jack's past, though. And even pre-series novels with the team could be good. And novels all about Ianto (and his stopwatch/TARDIS/coffee machine).

Relationship thing indeed. I have qualms about every possible type of romance/relationship that Jack could have, in a new series. It seems like natural progression from Jack getting broken so utterly would be for him to try to do things in an entirely new way. Do you think he might not use what happened with Ianto as an excuse to be a broody loner immortal again?

If they give him a new love interest only to write badly again, as with Ianto, it would be horrible. It would be even more horrible if they gave him a new love interest and wrote it well.

[fide_et_spe]

Yes I think the lonely broody thing would make sense. You know I suspect that JB thinks there is nothing more to do with Jack as he is broken, which is why he suggested the past thing. I don't see how there can be a future that is at all interesting. Gwen and a new team? Like I said, that seems so reductive. Why did they waste three years? IT makes no sense. Not to say it won't happen. I think if it's more mini series, there is lots of potential to have stories at various points. So yes, one with the team pre Gwen, let us see what drove Suzie mad. A mini series set between S2 and CoE, maybe with a bit more of actual Torchwood, and dealing with the fall out of exit wounds, proper adventure and not just nihilism. I think it has great potential.

I suppose I'm not really ready to care what happens to Jack after CoE and we will get to see the aftermath in DW, I think we won't like it though.

[stuffphile]

A mini series set between S2 and CoE, maybe with a bit more of actual Torchwood, and dealing with the fall out of exit wounds, proper adventure and not just nihilism.

You have hit on the best idea yet. I want this, and lots of this.

[fide_et_spe]

Yes it would be great. I've noticed since JB said this was what he wants, that lots have commented with something similar. I think it will happen because the BBC will listen to the ideas, that are currently in my head! Still all the fall out from CoE may not hurt this cause, and RTD being largely out of the picture no matter how much hubris he displays about it.

[stuffphile]

Yes -- I'm not sure, but isn't the save Ianto campaign still kind of getting public attention? I've not joined any comms or the like because I'm not usually hopeful about these things, but it does seem from various things that I might be wrong about that.

[fide_et_spe]

Yes I think it is, and as we were saying, the huge charity money is all a bit embarrassing for RTD and co. Thing is, save character campaigns have worked in the past, gosh look at Spock. He even wanted to leave, unlike GDL, and the fans just wouldn't have it. Now he is technically the only one still doing Star Trek! I haven't joined, although right behind the pony campaign, and I've donated to that. Also this comm is protesting in a way I guess. I do support the saveianto lot, I think there is no harm in it. I'm just not that good at that stuff, too cynical I think.