Torchwood - Children of Earth

[DanaC]

The audiobook "Everyone says hello" is excellent. Read by Burn Gorman (Owen).

I've got really into audiobooks ever since I got landed with a council laptop :P I don't use the thing much for work (use my own comp mainly) But I have discovered the joys of nighttime audiobooks (and plays) using the laptop.

So far the best audiobook I've listened to is Darkly Dreaming Dexter. (not a Torchwood) It's so beautifully written and the guy doing the reading has such an amazing voice. It just flows over you.

Sundae did you hear the Torchwood radioplays? A couple of them were a bit so-so, but "Asylum" was just brilliant. The acting was excellent, it was intelligently written and had something to say. Gwen came out particularly well in that one.

[Ibby]

I love the show so much, I really should get around to reading Darkly Dreaming Dexter. They should have gotten Michael C. Hall to read the audiobook, if they didn't already...

[DanaC]

They didn't. I think it predates the series.

The book is similar but not identical to the first series. The series drew from the book and followed most of the arc of the story. But there were important elements in the book that woudn't have worked so well on the tv. So much of it is to do with Dexter's internal landscape, and the effect events have on that landscape. I am being careful not to say too much because I found even having watched the show, I wasn't entirely certain where the book was going to take things. I wouldn't want to spoil that for you. It is different enough to throw in surprises and twists you won't be expecting.

The characters are for the most part very similar. But again there are important differences. Mostly this is because the book takes them to different places and leaves a very different emotional legacy for the characters to pick up in the next book.

The tv show, to an extent tones down Dexter's darker side. The books go into much more detail about his rituals and killing methods. The tv show hints at some of it, but misses out stuff that might have risked making the character harder to sympathise with. Probably a good decision, because we don't have so much of Dex's internal world to fall back on in the show. Even where Dex is doing things and rationalising things in an entirely unsympathetic manner, the fact that we are viewing things entirely from his perspective counters that.

The guy who narrates the book is wonderful. I now have two very clear and very similar Dexter's in my mind. They're different but they merge. It threw me for the first minute or so, but the man has such a beautiful voice and he acts the reading so well, revels in the wordplay just as Dexter's character does. There are passages in it that are completely haunting, then there will be a witty, clever little line that raises a wicked smile.

It's one of the best audiobooks I've listened to. That and Paul McGann's reading of 'Vurt' are my top two audiobooks. Alas I only have Vurt on an old cassette (ask your parents what they are Ibby:P) and it goes a little shaky half way through. Whoever I bought that off on Ebay must have listened to that section a lot.

I don't think it was ever released as a cd...but if it is and you can find it it's a fabulous listen. Vurt's a wonderful book. I read it years ago, long before the audio. By a Manchester author called Jeff Noon. A very strange surreal Manchester is the setting of his books. Has an amazing way with words. It's almost poetry. And Paul McGann's voice. Woof!

[Sundae]

In my post-series 3 mourning, I found this.
Just cos I'm not drinking, doesn't mean drinking games don't make me laugh.

In fact the only time I've really played one was an Only Fools & Horses Christmas Special - and we made that up ourselves. We were drinking real Jamaican rum - at a ridiculous proof rate- and it took Rob most of the night to get home. He lived approx half a mile away (on foot I should add!)

Oh, should say - this one is from here

The Torchwood Drinking Game
Take one drink when
- There is a swooping aerial shot of Cardiff from a helicopter.
- Someone delivers or orders a pizza.
- A main character says “snog” or “snogging”
- A main character says “shag” or “shagging”
- A hetrosexual snogging occurs
- Someone says “special ops”
- You can read “Torchwood” on the side of the “top secret” Torchwood mobile.
- Rhys Williams phones Gwen, or is used for comedic relief.
- Tosh gives Owen a knowing look
- Gwen gives Jack a knowing look
- Owen gives Gwen a knowing look
- Jack gives Ianto a knowing look (can be substitued for an ‘evil’ if knowing looks are not going spare)
- Ianto looks guilty or vulnerable for no apparent reason.
- Owen wears his white coat.
- Tosh says/does something that makes her look really uncool and then tries to act normal.
- Some unsuspecting soon-to-be victim does something really stupid (generally near the beginning of the episode).
- We see a scene featuring the Torchwood crew chilling together in the bat-cave.
- Gwen starts worrying about her (now SHAM) relationship with Rhys.

Take two drinks when
- Jack comes back to life
- Lesbian/gay snogging occurs
- Hetrosexual snogging occurs between two main characters
- Hetrosexual shagging occurs
- Myfanwy the pterodactyl appears (exclude during titles)
- Anyone takes an alien artifact home without permission
- Tosh has a good day
- Whole team wears sunglasses outside on a grey day
- There is a shoe-horned Americana reference to a) CSI, b) Basketball/Baseball in order to cater to BBC America etc to cater for potential American Network deals
- There is a shoe-horned stereotypical Welsh reference, eg: Millennium Stadium, anything in Welsh, rugby, to take full advantage of Cardiff potentially being marketed over in America.
- Someone/ anyone says something/ anything derogatory about London.
- Someone brandishes an impressive weapon (Owen’s not included!) with a torch.

Take three drinks when
- There is a swooping aerial shot of Jack (or other cast member) astride a Cardiff landmark.
- A Torchwood member betrays the trust of the rest of the team
- Lesbian/gay shagging occurs
- Lesbian/gay snogging between two main characters occurs
- Hetrosexual shagging between two main characters occurs
- There is a cover up for the murder/death of a member of the public
- Anyone refers to sex without resorting to euphemisms like “snogging” and “shagging”. NB: F-words don’t count.
- The CGI utterly lets you down
- There is no CGI in the episode
- Subtle “Who” reference is used knowingly (Can also be interpreted as knowing look between RTD and the Whovians tuning in). Clunking great lady-cybers do not class as subtle.
- Someone brandishes an impressive weapon (Owen’s not included!) in a montage.
- During any montage.

Take four drinks
- Lesbian/gay shagging between two main characters occurs
- A main character get stabbed, shot or otherwise seriously injured or mutilated.
- A dismembered body part appears on screen
- There is a direct reference to Doctor Who

Drink the entire bottle when
- The main characters leave earth
- The Doctor, the TARDIS or genuine companion appear in the episode (not just a body part) [Series one only]
- An episode ends with no sexual references at all
- The Torchwood Blimp takes its inaugural flight
- Weevil gives Jack a knowing look
- Little man from office in Glasgow pops in and after thirty minutes learns the art of the knowing look and leaves to go and grow his own little nest of iniquity in the windy Scottish highlands.
- A homosexual snog occurs under no alien influence whatsoever [again, series one only!]
- Harkness says “What?” in response to his co-workers’ incomprehensible Welsh accents.
- Gwen shoots herself in the behind while reholstering her unfamiliar weapon.
- The pterodactyl poops on someone’s head.
- The severed hand [risen mitten I assume] crawls into someone’s pants with the intention of committing an obscene act.
- A member of the Royal Family guest stars as a werewolf.
- Harkness shags a sheep.
- We see someone’s bare bottom (be honest – it’s only a matter of time). [I think we saw Rhys's in series one to be honest! This may be an American list, I think it was cut there]
- Someone says “Torchwood? Who on earth are they? I’ve never heard of them. They must be ultra-secret.”

Throw up when
- Gwen/Owen snog, shag or even think about it.

Drink the entire case when
- Jack shags the Weevil

It's not perfect, but parts of it made me smile.
I think the dig about Americanisms could only have been made by an American (bear with me) because these shows are very popular in the UK and are often referenced in normal conversation. My parents for example, watch all three CSIs and will mwention them occasionally in day-to-day conversations. And my bro loves American sport.

[Cloud]

That is pretty funny. Don't understand about the brandishing weapon with a torch. Is that when people hold a gun and a flashlight, together? That always seemed pretty awkward to me.

There must be some way to play that game without drinking. With pennies, maybe?

[DanaC]

Wouldn't they stick in your throat a bit?

[Cloud]

(giggle)

[Sundae]

Chillies!
Then you could have the shits next day and pretend you are Owen when he's dead. Unable to process food I mean... the unfilmed scene before the spectacular projectile vomiting, where everything Owen had previously eaten heads for his arse on express delivery.

I haven't thought about this at all.

[Sundae]

Just listened to a podcast interview with John Barrowman by The Stage (UK theatre paper which my Mum gets). He seems pretty positive that Torchwood will be back for a 4th series. He says that given the ratings (especially in America) the BBC would be stupid not to and there have already been some discussions.

It would make sense to have the filming at the same time as the 11th Doctor's 2nd series (the first is already well underway) because they share a studio complex and it's more financially viable.

Then again, he (Barrowman) is also in talks about joining Desperate Housewives... He says he has no intention of leaving the UK, but you have to wonder about how he'd fit it all in - American shows film in seasons which are far longer than UK series - Torchwood 1 and 2 had long runs by UK standards, as does Dr Who.

Still, this is a man who is currently doing 8 shows a week in the West End, filming a children's TV series during the day (Animals at Work - it's worth watching just for him!), promoting a book - within signings and interviews and has a concert DVD coming out for Christmas so no doubt will be promoting that too. Oh and of course will be in panto in Cardiff from 12 December onwards. So I suppose if anyone can manage a trans-atlantic filming schedule it's him!

[Sundae]

I know I said I'd start a proper Torchwood/ Barrrowman/ Dr Who thread.
But I forgot. Or couldn't be bothered or something.

Anyway - quick news. For those in the UK, John & family are on Family Fortunes this evening. Yum yum. For those outside, I'm sure it will be on YouTube before too much time has passed.

And we've got a new Dr Who coming very soon. The Waters of Mars is on Sunday 15 November. This time next week! Yay! Supposed to be very dark. No JB in it though. I should stop being so greedy.

[Sundae]

John Barrowman has confirmed that he will be appearing in Desperate Housewives later this year.

From the Mail:

John Barrowman is heading to Hollywood to play the 'bad guy' on TV hit Desperate Housewives.
The Torchwood and Dr Who star will guest star in several episodes on the long-running show about the goings on in fictional Wisteria Lane.
Barrowman, 42, will fly to Los Angeles early March to film with Desperate Housewives leading ladies Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria Parker.
Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry is keeping the plotlines involving Barrowman secret.
However, The Daily Mail can reveal that he will be the show's main villain in the last section of the current season, series six.
The show returned to British TV this week but has been running in the U.S. for months.
Episodes featuring Barrowman will be broadcast in the America later in the Spring and around May/ June in the UK.

So I might even sit through an episode!

[DanaC]

There's been a rumour flying about teh interwebz that one of the reasons RTD has moved to America is that there is a possible American verson of Torchwood planned: still with Jack, but set over there instead of in Cardiff.

I have very mixed feelings about that idea. It'd get a hell of a lot more budget, and probably be much slicker; but I can see it would probably lose a lot of its core (the sexuality of the show, the British camp element, and its humour, which is that very quirky Brit humour).

I also think it'd be a real shame if 'we' lost RTD and his creations so completely. I know he's grown increasingly annoyed and frustrated by the budget restrictions of the BBC and the narrowing vision of its production since the economic slowdown; but flying away just speeds that process up. If we lose the champions of BBC drama, then we lose what makes it great.

Oh, and my usual gripe about US networks preferring to remake British shows rather than just air them (as we do with American shows); with the obvious exception of The Office which relied on a familiarity with a particular kind of culture.

[Sundae]

I've certainly hear dthat RTD is making an American Torchwood. It's wrong in my book. Make a new series. Don't piggyback off the quintessentially British Dr Who. Call it Excalibur (one of the original names) and divorce it totally from the Whoniverse. Which also means keeping Jack out of it.

I'm sure JB would be in it if time commitments allowed. I mean however big the original is, Torchwood USA would have a far wider audience, run for longer and pay a lot more (look at Queer As Folk for example). And he's a businessman as well as an entertainer. I would be grieved all the same - I think of him as "ours" too. After all, all his family are already in America

[Happy Monkey]

Bob's take on "Children of Earth", from the other side.