TW Series 4 Announced - no American reboot, but it's going to be 'bigger and bolder than ever'

[a_silver_story]

Torchwood series 4 Announced


According to the quote in the article, it's going to be 'bigger and bolder than ever' (what? again? Bigger and bolder than ever ... again? FFS! 'bigger and bolder' doesn't exactly translate well. Look at Jurassic Park II and the TRex in San Diego! May have been bigger ... certainly wasn't 'better'.)

Thankfully not an American reboot (thank Christ they dropped that idea), but it will be a ten episode, three-way production between BBC Cyrmu, BBC Worldwide and American network Starz with RTD, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter in charge. Instead of being based in Cardiff, it's going to be all over the place in 'international locations'.

Just what the Torchwood fans wanted. Definitely. Without a doubt. I mean, one of the things we LOVED about CoE was that it wasn't in Cardiff, right?


Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why can't they just FUCKING. STAY. IN. CARDIFF? And WTF? Gwen's still in Torchwood? Does she lose her baby somehow? Surely Gwen isn't so irresponsible (okay - she's had her moments, but when it comes to kids, parents generally have some form of clarity) as to continue work for Torchwood with a dependent child? I mean ... it's not like she KNOWS RTD will NEVER EVER kill her ....

Maybe she'll just be wandering around in the background like Donna did in the End of Time, with no discernible or real reason for being there other than LOOK AT THE POPULAR ACTRESS! LOOK! WE DIDN'T FORGET HER AFTER WE BALLSED UP HER STORYLINE!

And JACK - sending Jack off-planet at the end of CoE always confused me. Cuz ... there was no way they weren't gonna bring him back. What a waste of my screen time.


JACK: I'm going. I can't ever return here. This planet is a graveyard to me.

[an appropriate amount of plot happens (though probably not very much, really)]

JACK: IMMA BACK, AND IT'S GONNA BE BIGGA AND BETTA THAN EVARRRRR!




Maybe series four will be Jack taking Rhys, Gwen and Baby around all the places he visited on his six months travelling after torturing his grandson to death.


Despite my instantly negative reaction, I will have to give it a go. There is the teeniest, tiniest smidgen of chance that it might actually be worth the time and effort. My biggest drawbacks are a) WTF NOT IN CARDIFF? WHY WHY WHY??? WHAT ABOUT THE RIFT?

REMEMBER THE RIFT???????

and b) RTD is writing again. Could he at least have a beta this time? Please? Maybe a continuation whiteboard to go with his new, shiny, US office?

Cuz ... srsly ... USA can keep him.



EDIT: As iantogodeo pointed out, there's no mention of Kai Owen or Tom Price. Maybe Rhys and Andy ran away together with Gwen's baby, and that's why it's vaguely sane for Gwen to still be with Torchwood. Rhys + Andy= Rhandy. CSI: Cardiff could still happen.

Comments

[kiraclara.livejournal.com]

I read the article and was "Wait your waiting for money from the US?" Okay I understand= recession. Everybody has to cut back on a few things.
I'm still mourning the loss of a great television character, so I don't know if I will watch the new series. I can't believe it's already been a year since CoE. (denial!)I hoping they bring Ianto back. HOPE is on my knees praying.
It's a little weird that they will move the show around the world. I mean for all we know the rift covers the entire world, but who's guarding Cardiff. Hope these new characters are worth it.
Still mad at RTD killing three MAJOR characters within a four or five episode span.

[arixtotle.livejournal.com]

I agree as well actually. I think that's the only reason I would ever stop watching Torchwood.

[a-silver-story.livejournal.com]

The Rift is through the middle of Cardiff, and the only time it's ever reached outside of it is when it was splintering at the end of S1. Compared to the globe, the Rift isn't that big - hence the tiny outpost in Cardiff.

And even if the new characters are worth it, I'd be too busy wondering when they're going to die suddenly to get attached to them :(

[deathbymutation.livejournal.com]

Well it makes sense for it not just to be in Cardiff. The main character/focus was/is Jack and the last thing he said was he was never coming back. After such a long time in that city and all that death, why would he immediately go back.

I'm thinking he starts of a bit after we left Jack and he's been traveling. Slowly along the way he starts recruiting, or hell just making friends. And near the end of the season Jack says something like "It's time to go home." and BAM he's back in Cardiff.

I kind of always pictured Jack hitchhiking onto a ship and finding it terrorized by something or someone and along the way he meets a survivor who decides to tag along after they destroy whatever is on the ship and then he keeps collecting people along the way.

I think it all ends back in Cardiff but then again I could be wrong.

Sorry for any spelling mistakes, I've been awake a total of 10 minutes. Great news to wake up to though!

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

I'm sensing a Mission Impossible reboot with aliens. That way Jack and/or Gwen can go investigate aliens all over the world (and the actors can get some comped trips to places like.uh..Dubai).

If RTD is involved + Gwen and Jack there will be Gwack and I so won't be watching.

Much like Owen and Tosh's deaths there will be a 10 second tribute to Ianto and Rhys (who tragically fell under a bus). Maybe Gwen can tap her fingernails on two pictures this time. Baby will be with her Mom or some such so no problem there. Leaving Gwen pretty much a swinging single once again.

[arixtotle.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I like the type of Sci Fi that has a lot of character interaction. I'm very big on characters and their drama and interactions. I actually think that Torchwood was a good mix of typical Sci Fi escapism and drama. The thing is that it's a sci fi show that takes place on earth so there's never going to be as much escapism as there is on Doctor Who or any other Sci Fi show that takes place off planet.

Maybe Gwen will just be a supporting character? I doubt it but there is the hope. Or Rhys ends up as a stay at home dad. There are parents in special ops and other government agencies that go all over the world and do missions. It's not too far from reality if she does end up working at Torchwood still.

I will admit that bringing in new characters can kill a show. I mean, House got so much worse when they started to bring in new main characters. The only reason that it's even slightly good is because they still have the old characters running around and showing up every once and a while.

That's Jack's character though. He'd go on without talking about Ianto or anyone else he's lost because that's how he copes. I'd see it as OCC if he started to talk about Ianto to others constantly. Now if we scenes of him alone where he's looking at a picture of Ianto and looks sad or something then that would be in character.

[a-silver-story.livejournal.com]

I don't mean talking about Ianto constantly. I don't mean wistful gazes into the middle distance at the mention/scent of coffee. I'm talking about the scenes of him alone with a photograph, or a memento. But chances are, we won't get that. And if we do there'll be no real significance to it.


And there was the right balance of escapism and sci-fi in TW S1+2 = CoE was just ... no. It was death, and hopelessness and despair and there was no chance of saving the day - not really. You were left hopeless and hanging, having just seen the mass slaughter of hundreds of people - including one of the main characters - the painful and traumatising death of a defenceless child (brought on by his own grandfather) and witnessed all those screaming children being dragged away from their parents and bundled into buses. There was nothing to feel good about. There was nothing to remind you that maybe there is hope. I watched Torchwood for its balance of escapism and drama - CoE was a very, very painful slap in the face and taints the genre.

And a sci-fi show on earth can have much escapism as it once. It's a sci-fi show. The whole point is anything can happen.

And it's all very well that there's parents in special ops and government agencies - but the point of Torchwood is that there is no chance of you surviving long. And with Gwen, it's not about protective people - it's about her doing what she wants, even if she leaves a her child without a mother when simply stepping back and saying 'my child comes first' could save so much grief (and terrible Gwack sequences).

[a-silver-story.livejournal.com]

I sincerely doubt this would be the case. First of all, if it was following Jack, it would be off-planet, rather than in 'several international locations'. And why confirm Eve, unless they were planning on interspersing Jack's story with scenes from Gwen's struggle into motherhood while also guarding the severely volatile and from 2009-10-ignored Rift-spillage.

There's no sense in it not being in Cardiff. Torchwood is in Cardiff. That is the point and essence of the show. It doesn't need to be anything or anywhere else. The Rift is in Cardiff. Torchwood guards the Rift. Torchwood is in Cardiff.

If they want a show set somewhere else, make a new one rather than ruining ours.

[deathbymutation.livejournal.com]

Woh hostile. I was just expressing an opinion.

[zsazsa4168.livejournal.com]

RTD creates decent but deeply disappointing, confusing, aggravating stories. He aspires to be cutting edge but works in such a juvenile and ham-fisted way that what results is even more carnage than "keeping it real" can justify. His disdain for his characters at times is surpassed only by his complete and utter fuck you attitude to people who bother to appreciate his work, his fans.

And I want to watch why?

[a-silver-story.livejournal.com]

argh sorry I didn't mean to be hostile! I'm writing on my phone, so being as brief as possible, so I might have come across wrong and short. I really didn't mean to. I was jut trying to get all my ideas and thoughts down :(

[deathbymutation.livejournal.com]

It's ok. I hate writing on my phone, takes so much time and the keys are so small.


I like the idea of the first 2 episodes or so being focused on Jack and his travels and then eventually it leading back to Cardiff. That seems the most plausible.

[a-silver-story.livejournal.com]

That's what I always thought would be best - but slow burn isn't the most commonly used technique in TW forte. No doubt there will simply be a fly away yet mysterious comment to previous events, and everything will just carry on as if nothing had happened, a la YTNW.

As I said, though, I will definitely watch the first episode in the hope it's not a completely different show, and that there's something there worth watching and not just a new show with a sellable name.

[mercury-pheonix.livejournal.com]

They start on Friday, I then have one on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. FML.

Worst possible time for this news to come out *sighs heavily*. Why the conspiracy Torchwood, first you giveth and then you fucketh up?

[magicmalcolm.livejournal.com]

Ehh...I hate to say that I can't bring myself to care about this development...

But, really, I can't. I'm going to be one of those irritating people who insist that Torchwood only had two series no matter how much people say otherwise. Well, at least until I start writing Fix-It-Fic.

I'll wait and see what other actors might be appearing before jumping straight to a DO NOT WATCH conclusion, because John Barrowman alone isn't enough of a draw for me. The characters I watched the show for are gone, and I have no reason to try caring about anybody new because they'll probably get offed too.

Really, it's hard to be optimistic after the dreary, depressing, abandon-all-hope-ye-who-watch-this-mini-series that was CoE.

[angelkitty101.livejournal.com]

*sends supportive hugs*

2 weeks and it will all be over *scary* I'll send positive exam force to you over the next few weeks.

Am still 'meh' about the TW news and wishing I could gather ppl together for a good chin-wag about it. Even the idea of Unexpected!John doesn't make me feel happier!

[kiraclara.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Agh. Damn you RTD making me confused about the new series.

[arixtotle.livejournal.com]

I honestly think RTD is good enough with character writing to understand we need something like that. I also think (hope) he's smart enough to know that making Jack 'all better' right away would lose a lot of fans and since he already lost fans due to Ianto's death that he wouldn't risk it. Then again, I could be completely wrong since he's shown in the past to make some rather stupid decisions.

Yeah, I didn't like CoE that much and I agree with every point you said. It was more an action show with a few aliens then a sci fi one. When I say Torchwood 999 times out of 1000 I mean seasons 1 and 2 since I'm one of those people who denies CoE's existence.

And anything does happen in Torchwood. I mean, the only thing in all of the Whoniverse where I went "WTF? How does that work?" was Owen coming back to life in season 2. Everything else in DW, TW and SJA makes sense in a psudoscientific way except that. It really proved that anything could happen. There's just slightly less escapism since it is based in a place people can go.

But Gwen will do what she wants no matter what. >_> I dislike Gwen a lot actually and I do think she should stay home with her kid I just know that it's not completely inconceivable and 'wrong' for her to keep on in Torchwood. In other words, if it does happen I can see RTD's reasons behind it even if I don't agree fully.

[arixtotle.livejournal.com]

I'm just wondering if they're going to pull the "since the TARDIS used the rift to pull the Earth back to where it belongs it got bigger" card or something.

[(Anonymous)]

First of all, thanks for posting this. I actually KNEW I would end up earing about the fourth season first on you lj. I just knew you would be this great.
(and that's why I'm here every day, not because the mind blowing smutness plus wonderfull plot. gett it now?) rsrsrrrs
Okay, and now I must say I understand everything about your sadness over the new show, but I just think we should give it a small try. I know it's kind of hard to thrust RTD right now, with all the pain we have been through (god, I hope you guys can understand my sh!t english), but hell, he did created every one we once loved, even if we had to loose than.
I do believe someone very smart in here have sad something about here being wonderfull at carachters and sucking in plots.
I don't think Torchwood can ever come back to what it was. but please people, we have been writing and reading and watching videos an reprises of this for over a year, we still love it, we can hide it! we can, of course, be angry about how CoE was. But I still think its John, and it's sci-fi, and it's the rift (hopefully), and it's Torchwood. We're in the fandom.
okay, if it's a totally deformed Torchwood, I can't say I'll watch it. If it's Gwack, can't watch it. Rhy's dead, can't watch it. But hopefully, they'll try to make up with the fans.
I know I'm playing the devil's lawyer here, but hey, people, hope it's the last thing that dies (not sure if this is a saying outside Brazil) and maybe, just maybe, they'll bring Ianto back. and maybe they'll make our time worth it.
And after all that, I can only say I was waiting for that piece of news for a long time, so I have to be happy.
SOWWY THE HUGE COMMENT. sowwy my bad grammar.
Love you, silver! brazilian kisses

[theorclair.livejournal.com]

And even if the new characters are worth it, I'd be too busy wondering when they're going to die suddenly to get attached to them :(

Which is why a new season concerns me. Unless there's a reset.

[shelbynm.livejournal.com]

I will be suprised if it is going to be any good.
By the way the USA does not want he either. At least I sure as hell don't

[delennbr.livejournal.com]

I promised myself after Coe to NEVER watch a thing rtd writes... it's better for my sanity, so Torchwood is over for me... maybe if Ianto return I might give it a chance, but the fear to see him dying in a very stupid way AGAIN is bigger.
And I don't want a Torchwood around the world! I'm with you, it has to be in Cardiff!!!!!!!!
And I realy don't know what to expect of the show.. Jack is broken, Gwen will never die and has a baby, and all the good ones are already dead.
I really can't watch it all again to like a new character and discovering that he will have the most stupid death rtd can think of.

[blucougar.livejournal.com]

I know I'm a fool, but I live in hope that the network will come to its senses, sack RTD, employ Steve Moffat in his place and kill off Gwen once and for all.
I will watch a new series for John Barrowman, but if it's just going to be The Gwen Cooper Hour with Captain Jack as a token background extra, I'll just go back to pretending Torchwood finished with series 2.
And now I really am not going to Armageddon in Melbourne this year. Eve Myles will be there, and I may get myself arrested for what I'm likely to say to her.

Another link with more specific info

[bettathnbarbie.livejournal.com]

More info at this link: http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2010/06/torchwood.html

Highlights:

Davies said the upcoming season of "Torchwood" involves a global crisis, "but always being handled with a lot of wit and a lot of truth and a lot of darkness...The coming season will contain a story arc that comes to full completion at season's end. It will pick up after "Children of Earth" left off, but in a fashion that doesn't require new viewers to have knowledge of previous episodes, he said. ...

In addition to John Barrowman's Capt. Jack Harkness and Eve Myles' Gwen Cooper (pictured above), there will be two other series regulars and a host of recurring characters.

And finally, for those of us worried that he'd keep killing off main characters, it doesn't sound good:

As evidenced by the tumult of "Children of Earth," "Torchwood" isn't exactly a show afraid of confrontation and change, and above all, that's what Davies hopes will continue forward.