With alien dangers, “Torchwood” never grows stale
From Friday’s The Oklahoman:
By Matthew Price
Assistant Features Editor
Aliens and conspiracies; temptation and betrayals. The BBC America program “Torchwood” follows the adventures of the Torchwood Institute, the beyond-the-government secret organization formed by Queen Victoria that deals with supernatural and alien threats.
“Torchwood” stars John Barrowman as Capt. Jack Harkness and Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper. Also on the team are medical officer Owen Harper (Burn Gorman), computer expert Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori) and Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd).
Prior to joining Torchwood, Gwen was a police officer who becomes the audience’s point of view in the first season, now available on DVD.
“She comes across that there’s more to life than getting up in the morning and going to work, and having a glass of wine with the boyfriend and going to bed at night,” Myles said in an interview with The Oklahoman. “She finds out there’s a rift in time and space running right through Cardiff. And aliens are dropping through it. And alien artifacts are dropping through it. And danger, basically. To summarize it, there’s danger dropping through it constantly, and it’s endangering the human race.”
“Torchwood” is BBC America’s highest-rated show and has featured guest stars including James Marsters (”Buffy: The Vampire Slayer”) and Alan Dale (”Ugly Betty”).
The show was created by Russell T. Davies, the lead writer on the current “Doctor Who,” of which “Torchwood” is a spin-off.
The ninth episode of the second season airs Saturday on BBC America. It features Gwen’s bachelorette party and an alien shape-shifter.
Myles said one positive attribute of the show is its ability to change from week to week while remaining true to its overall theme: “One week it’ll make you cry, the next week you’ll fall of your chair laughing. The other week is very sinister and dark, then you’ll get beautiful love stories. You’ve got fabulous new special effects and wonderful monsters.”
John Barrowman, best known to U.S. audiences for his roles on primetime soap operas “Central Park West” and “Titans,” brings his movie-star good looks to “Torchwood” as Capt. Jack Harkness, a time traveler and former con man who now heads up Torchwood with Gwen.
“John and I are very, very good friends, and he’s great fun, and you’re never frightened to work with John,” Myles said. “Sometimes you work with people, and you feel a little bit frightened about working or a little bit anxious or a little bit intimidated, depending on who and what they are. But with John, I just look forward to all my scenes with him.”
Related posts:
- “Torchwood” on DVD today; season 2 premieres Jan. 26
- Torchwood at NY ComicCon
- “Torchwood” season 2 premiere Sunday
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