Hi #BarrowFans Mickie here. I said one of us would post a blog about the news! lol And as I already had my little Netbook booted and at the ready I thought that now was a good a time as any! Lol
As many of you know I am in the UK so with Torchwood starting here etc we UK peeps tend to have a strong opinion on what happens with torchwood, and rightly so, after all it was spawned from our beloved Doctor Who (DW) and for many of us has become more special to our hearts than DW. Not that I am saying our US friends don’t get as upset when someone starts to mess about with TW. When it was first announced that the BBC was looking to the US for funding for the series and so there for a US finger in the TW pie I think the US fans were more worried than the UK fans lol
So to the air date…It’s great that the date is when it is because July wouldn’t clash with my holidays (how selfish lol)…What worries me is that the rumours could be true and that Starz has the upper hand when it comes to airing and we in the UK see it later. Like I said it’s still largely UK owned and so it should be. I’m glad we found someone to put some extra money into it because Torchwood deserves to have money thrown at it.
If I was REALLY honest the fact that Starz has the upper hand when it comes to the money side I am concerned that A: they will put the US stars to the forefront over original cast (except John because he’s their star), as it is Kai (Rhys) and Tom (Sgt Andy) are rarely mentioned and THEY are original cast members who as important as Jack and Gwen in my opinion. I have, of late, seen Bill Pullman mentioned as the star of the BBC series Torchwood, it hasn’t even aired yet and he’s been put on the same level as the UK original cast. And then there’s B: I’m worried that if it works the US will become the new Torchwood Hub and the UK will be left out in the cold and if RTD does what he said he might who will have control over Starz? All this may seem picky by some, but I live in the UK and I see TW as part of our television history as I do DW! Yes I am being selfish when I see it as ours! But that’s my right as a UK fan and so I worry those things.
I have huge amounts of faith in RTD and of course John, that goes with out saying. And we ALL know how much both Captain Jack and TW means to John! He has turned down other work just so he could be in TW! So I trust in what he says when he says it’s brilliant! It’s the beyond 2011 that worries me some what…
But enough of my moaning lol…Now to the poster! Lol
Well no poster has ever sold me any film or TV show. It’s the content of the show that counts not the art work! Saying that, I have few real feelings for the actual work. As I said to Dana, when I look at it I instantly think Rock poster, not Sci-Fi TV show and I definitely don’t think Torchwood. Someone did mention in a tweet that the font was wrong, but I thought it was familiar, so I had a look around and it’s the same as Torchwood: Children Of Earth. I am disappointed that there are no cast members featured or at least to have Jack on their. But I do know they have been doing the usual cast promo work recently, so that’s something to look forward too. But still the poster leaves me feeling a tad chilly lol
Well I am VERY aware that my blog has become a small essay! Like our lovely John Barrowman, I rarely do things by halves!
Do please let us know what you think of the above subjects!
So this is Mickie signing off…*poof*
This blog will be vastly different from the other two that have been posted. I am sorry for that. I have spent a while debating on if I should write this, myself. After much debate and wise counseling from another BarrowmanGirl ,the choice was simple. Write it. There are times in life when our opinions are not always butterflies and rainbows, but sometimes just flat and realistic. For me, this one of those times. Please read the following blog with a grain of salt and understand that you may not agree or approve of my thoughts, they are my thoughts just as you have your own on the series. I do not want this blog to incite the same issue that faced Gillian on the Barrowman Boards. Please keep your comments to the blog and the opinions stated in the blog.
I am not a prude, Ianto hater or a newbie to this fandom.I state this only because the article in which you are about to read will make you believe that one or all of these stereotypes are correct upon me. Please take this article as what it is , a work of opinion. Something we all have and I am sure express it. I shall only do this once, so gather round my lovelies: I would like to apologize to anyone that sees this as A)- A hit at the sexual revolution B)- A I hate Ianto campaign ( Which must mean I have an issue with two men being in a relationship ) or C)- An attack at the fandom, to include but not limited to : Cosplay,Comics,RP,FanFic ...etc.... Now that, that has been said shall we continue down the road ?
The first question on everyone's mind is: "Are you happy,excited, thrilled, overjoyed that Torchwood is returning?" Of course I am enthralled with joy that 'Torchwood' will be returning to our screens.If you were a fan would you not be happy? The second that always follows that one is: "So, do you have any concerns?" Of course, I have concerns but I can tell you that my concerns are not mainstream concerns. This the part of the blog that the above mentioned statement refers to. You may stop at anytime along this journey.
My first concern, the channel in which 'Torchwood' has found a home and really not so much the channel as the fact that the channel is based here in the states. Please let me say this before the comments arrive, I am aware the lovely Russell T Davies will be on the staff as the main producers and handler -just like before. Now with that said let me explain my fear or rather the reasoning behind the fear. Americans see television in a different light or understanding than the British and in my opinion it is not a better light. First let me say this, I have no issue with sex nor do I have an issue with sex being placed in cinema and series when the moment or situation is correct.'Torchwood' was and always will be a show that has very strong sexual undertones. That is fine, in fact great. John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness is lovely and cheeky and no one wants to change him. Now back to the sex statement, American producers seem to use it as a filler. If a show lacks a story line or good character, or say our ratings are down -they will not think twice about filling their schedule block of time with mindless sex. There is currently a show on the 'Starz' network that is an example of this. The first thing you hear from so many when they find out that 'Torchwood' will be on 'Starz' is that there is no censor, mainly this is from Americans but I also assume it is said by those that wish to see a bit more of Barrowman. However, ladies and gentlemen it is rarely the leading gentleman that has the action, it is the supporting cast and add ons. Basically my fear on the channel and sex issue , boils down to this simple statement : I am afraid that 'Torchwood' will become another watered down, sad sexed up excuse of American television. I don't want 'Torchwood' to be lost to the mainstream grouping of an American network, simple as that. I want to see the series that has the same passion and heart that I fell in love on BBC.
Now that my biggest and worst fear of the new series is stated I can share with you some of the random thoughts I have in general to the new show. There are some in the fandom that believe without 'Ianto Jones' 'Torchwood' is a lost cause and refuse to watch the show . This has been displayed by the hate mail that the BBC has received as well as mass campaigns on social networking sites. Before you knew 'Ianto' you loved the show, or maybe you loved John Barrowman and followed him to the show. But there was a reason that you came to 'Torchwood'. Before 'Ianto' there was 'Captain Jack' and this is how it will be now. No, I am not saying that I didn't love 'Ianto' or I am glad he is deceased. That is not the case. But I will say, I understand why the character was killed. (Please post all hate mail in the comment section with subject line - "Ianto Hater". Thank you) I shall explain, for those that are curious as to my feelings, if you are not one of those followers you may fast forward to the next section. 'Jack' has grown in each series. Within series one, we see him struggle with who he is , his team as well as finding his place in the world. He is constantly searching for 'The Doctor' to fix him or to make him right. In the second series, we see 'Jack' deal with personal relationships. It is here in the second series, that we see 'Jack' understand who he really is.He learns toopen up and trust. Then to even love.. Once we learn to trust and love, what else is there to learn? Simple - loss. To truly understand how important something is we must understand great loss. Of course 'Jack' has dealt with loss before, but not once he knew and understood who he was. This is where series three enters, we see 'Jack' deal with loss and grief. What many people forget is that in addition to losing his partner, he lost something greater. ( Once again,please note the comment on hate mail. Thank you) 'Jack' was forced to make a decision that only he could make, to sacrifice something that he may never have again. 'Jack' sacrificed his family, for the good of the world as whole. Giving up his grandson, which in effect forced him to lose his daughter. The loss of 'Ianto' and his grandson allow 'Jack' to grow and experience loss. This moment in 'Jack's ' life allows for series four to show the true depth and growth of his character. Will it be darker and colder-maybe but then you might see a softer more understanding of life 'Jack' one that see and accepts that sometimes you only have this moment. With that being said, the fact that the show ,at it's current stage of production only has the characters of 'Gwen Cooper' and 'Jack Harkness' returning is not an issue for myself. Seeing that those two carried the weight and were in fact the center of the show. The character of 'Ianto Jones' was a way in which we could see 'Jack' grow and become the captain that we all love and care for. I am sorry for those that still mourn the 'death' of 'Ianto Jones', but it was a required action in the scope of the series.
I can see that some may take my views as a slap against the fandom. But it is important to realize that we all have different opinions and thoughts. It is these thoughts that make us a wonderful and diverse section of the human landscape. Yes, my views do not follow the mainstream idea of saving "Ianto" but that is what makes it,my view. The thought that I want to see Jack, suffer and grow into a deeper ,stronger man for it- does go against 90% of the viewers. But in the back of all of your minds, I am sure you all would like to see Jack grow also. Let's be honest, we all will never agree. Simple as that, but it is the fact that we won't agree that makes this fandom great. It allows for us all to have a creative and respective debates on the subject. At times there are some that lose sight of the bigger picture and it is those that create a less than flattering name for 'Torchwood' fans, but in the end it is our love for the characters and the story that unites us all. Let's try to focus our energy to promote a healthy and well rounded new chapter in the fandom with series four. At the end of the day, yes I am happy that 'Torchwood' is returning. But that doesn't mean I don't have fears and concerns that the series we all fell in love with will be changed forever. However, these fears are not enough to stop me from opening my mind and embracing a show that I care about. I hope that others, who for whatever reasons ( Ianto) were not going to watch the series, take a moment and think about what first brought them to the 'Torchwood'. That is the same reason you should embrace this series now. Don't turn you back on something that you loved and followed for three years, just because a character is not returning. We all experience loss in our life at one point or another, but do we stop living? No, embrace who they were and more forward. 'Ianto' would not want 'Jack' to stop living and being himself because of his death, just as Garth David Lloyd doesn't want you the fans to stop watching 'Torchwood'. '. I will be returning to the series, even with my fears of the network because I love characters. I love what they represent and who they are. I hope you will put aside your fears and hate, and allow yourself to at least give the series a shot with an open mind. Everyone was fearful when David Tennant left as "The Doctor" and Matt Smith arrived, but did everyone in the fandom stop watching? No! You embraced the change and moved forward. That is what we need to do with 'Torchwood'. Let's have faith in John Barrowman, Eve Myles and Russell T Davies to give us what we loved before but in a new and dramatic way.
Well I am so pleased I was proven wrong when I felt that Children Of Earth was it with regards to our beloved Torchwood and that I would ONLY ever own 3 box sets! Now Startz TV has taken up the reins, along with BBC Wales and BBC Worldwide, who will be making Season 4, due out summer 2011. So I really CANNOT write about Tonights The Night or anything else JB related other than Torchwood...lol
Now all I need to do is get my brain working, I didn't get to bed 'till late watching carefully the RTD interview with BBC News 24! I have read uber amounts of stuff this past 30 odd hours since the announcement. But what I have mostly been reading is fandom stuff on places such as twitter. I think one of the things that made me feel that CoE was IT was how the story had evolved and how it ended, with Jack suffering terribly from both the loss of Ianto and ultimately the loss of his grandson Steven. And so Jack leaving earth, seemingly forever. I imagine that the first episode is going to be powerful and VERY emotional as Jack will still be reeling from all this awful pain and still trying to come to terms with what has happend. But I digress, much like JB does in his books! lol!
What I have seen on Twitter especially is so many people saying they will not watch the new series because Ianto is not it in. Well I say this...Why did you originally decide to tune into this amazing series? Ianto? I think not! Most people, like myself, had seen Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and to see a series following his exploits witn Torchwood seemed too good to miss. I decided to take a look at torchwood BECAUSE of Captain Jack/John Barrowman. The fact that I grew fond of Ianto and their lovely and sweet relationship was a bonus. I loved Ianto wonderful quips and how much he cared for Jack and how much Jack cared for Ianto And I will most deffinately miss that, that cannot and should not be denied. BUT, and as you can see that is most deffinately a massive BUTT, I would not turn away because the writter, wether I agree or not, chose to take away Ianto. To an extent I could see WHY RTD did it. Jack had a terrible choice to make at the end of the story and he needed to be hurt and in pain to make it. Without that awful loss that he felt, that terrible guilt in the pit of his stomach Jack would NEVER have been able to do what he did. And wether we like the result or not, a child HAD to die and Steven was the oly one close to hand. Time was of the essence.
So no amount of "I'm not watching Torchwood unless they bring back Ianto" or "They saved Rhys and the brought back Suzie and Owen, so they can bring back Ianto, it is SciFi after all!" will change anything. What is the point of killing someone, to bring a dramatic end to only bring them back to life. the only one who can cheat death is Jack and that is by no choice of his. That was the doing of Rose Tyler in S1 of Doctor Who.
Davies has ALWAYS said, and it's been said in TW time and time again, that Torchwood members die young. whats the point in saying this if your going to bring them back?! Owne and suzie came back, but too only die again later and for good. Rhys died, but he wasn't meant too. And technically he wasn't and isn't a member of Torchwood, so he doesn't really count in the "they all die young" thing.
Like I said, to a great extent I didn't like what RTD did, but mostly because of the pain and loss Jack felt when he died in his arms. That sad and heartfelt kiss of life from Jack in the hopes it would once again bring him back, to only wake at the side of Ianto's body was painfully sad and terribly horrible, more horrible than any monster that Davies or Moffat could conjour up!
But I am, as JB puts it, a true Woody fan, just as much as I am a Whovian fan, and WILL be watching when TW S4 returns in 2011 and the ONLY thing that would stop me is if Jack didn't return because he was why the series was created and so is Torchwood!
Anywhooo...I feel I have gone on way too long and so I shall leave you for now. And next time I will think of something new to talk about with regards to Torchwood. That is unless something new comes up about JB that ISN'T Torchwood related! lol
~ Mickie x
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