Torchwood | Series | Telescope Film
Torchwood

Torchwood

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  • United Kingdom,
  • Canada,
  • United States
  • 2006-2011
  • · 4 seasons

Creator Russell T Davies
Cast John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Alexa Havins
Genre Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

A spin-off of the wildly popular Doctor Who series, this show is set inside a branch of a covert agency called the Torchwood Institute, where commander-in-chief Capt. Jack Harkness leads Torchwood Three, a team of experts, as it investigates unexplained extraterrestrial incidents on Earth. Each week they explore a new extraterrestrial situation.

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What are critics saying?

100

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by Rob Owen

There are a fair number of leaps of logic in the light-hearted Torchwood and mysteries abound. The special effects are generally decent and the writing and characterizations leaps and bounds better than in "Flash Gordon," "Eureka" or "The Dresden Files," to name just a few pathetic contemporary sci-fi shows.

100

TV Guide Magazine by Matt Roush

Torchwood: Children of Earth is one of the TV events of the year, and anyone with a taste for serious dark fantasy is encouraged to strap in for the thrilling, chilling and unnerving ride.

91

Entertainment Weekly by Alynda Wheat

You know this Dr. Who spin-off aims to please when the return of Capt. Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) isn't even the big news.... With [Capt.] John [James Marsters] adding such a fun, unhinged element, it's a shame these two crazy kids broke up in the first place.

91

Time by James Poniewozik

There's plenty of action, suspense and sci-fi stuff in Torchwood: COE, but what makes it an unmissable event is how well it sets up its dilemma--a classic conflict over whether the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few--and how maturely it deals with both the morality and the politics of the premise.

91

Entertainment Weekly by Ken Tucker

Juggling the themes of famine, fame, and family, Torchwood: Miracle Day--conceived by series creator Russell T Davies, with some episodes written by Buffy and Dollhouse vet Jane Espenson--makes a smooth transatlantic shift that will, I hope, broaden this marvelous, tense fantasy franchise's audience.

91

Uncle Barky by Ed Bark

A summertime winner here on the strength of strong acting, engaging writing and an immediately gripping premise.

88

Chicago Tribune by Maureen Ryan

Amid the emotional crescendoes of the final hour (which the cast pulls off beautifully), in the pell-mell race to the finish line, there is some rushed storytelling and there are more than a few gaps in logic. But aside from those issues, Children of Earth is, as the Brits would say, bloody brilliant.

88

USA Today by Robert Bianco

For today, enjoy a home-grown version of a great series that's suspenseful, exciting and flat-out fun. That may not count as a miracle, but it's awfully good news nonetheless.

83

Entertainment Weekly by Ari Karpel

After a riveting pilot, this third episode is more of a run-of-the-mill procedural, but thanks to the charismatic Tom Cruise-y Barrowman, this Captain Jack will get you bi tonight. [21 Sep 2007, p.76]

80

Kansas City Star by Aaron Barnhart

Torchwood is so much more tricked-out with talent and visual wizardry, moves at such breakneck speed and makes such demands on its viewers that it leaves most American TV shows in its dust.