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Torchwood: Children Of The Earth Is Like 5 Hours Of The Mist

giantfreakinrobot.com — If there's a problem, it's only that the whole thing is a huge, huge downer. Remember that sickening ending to The Mist? Now imagine that emotional punch in the gut stretched over five hours and you'll have some inkling of what Children of the Earth has in store for you. It's a wrenching story, thoughtful and smart, but also dark and depressing

Who dugg this? Made popular Jul 20, 2009

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  • belola, on 07/20/2009, -0/+31This was a brilliant mini series!
    They better not cancel the show!
  • Subjectv, on 07/20/2009, -0/+20I'd say so, yes. The few main characters don't require backstory to understand their role in the miniseries. The story itself is pretty stand-alone involving lots of new characters, so as long as you understand what it is the Torchwood crew does, I'm sure you'd be fine watching the show.

    However, I highly recommend you watch the first two seasons. They're great! :)
  • letum89, on 07/20/2009, -3/+22I thought the end of The Mist was kind of funny.
  • inactive, on 07/20/2009, -0/+19This was one of the best Sci-fi's I've seen in years. Each episode grabbed you and pulled you in, not letting go for an instant. I haven't watched the first two seasons of Torchwood, but this has sold me. I mean really how many times can you watch the crew of Stargate save the day in 44 minutes?
  • inactive, on 07/20/2009, -0/+17Unfortunately I think this may be the beginning of the "Face of Bo" storyline for Jack at the end.
  • hamishmacdonald, on 07/20/2009, -0/+14The whole cabinet decision sequence was a really daring bit of social commentary, proving that science fiction doesn't have to all be empty gadgetry, and, while "Doctor Who" is fun, this addressed issues that "Doctor Who" would never be allowed to.

    And they kept the rubber-monster-ness to a minimum, seemingly aware that, no matter how good the monster is, there's always that awareness that it's fake, whether it's given away by a zipper or obvious CGI, so I think they were wise to generally just suggest what it might be.

    But, yeah, what a downer. It certainly ups the stakes that characters can die in this show, but there's a level of attrition beyond which you just feel sad about the loss of all these characters they went took such pains to make unique and compelling. Do we just start all over again with new characters in a future series, only to lose them, too?
  • magusg, on 07/20/2009, -0/+12Just finished the last ep not an hour ago, great series, can't wait for more.
  • MaTT2011, on 07/20/2009, -2/+11that "funny" part you got from the ending was intentional, thats why its tragic; he did something he didnt have to do all because he didnt KNOW enough! But could he have of known?

    I thought the ending was, to put it in a word, gnarly. People like to think that they would be able to make certain sacrifices if the occasion arises, including the sacrificing of oneself. But when it really comes down to it, if you had to live, aka THINK, with such a decision it would be the worst thing possible.

    Sacrifice is a fine and dandy concept when you don't have to deal with the consequences.

    /Food4Thought
  • steelersfan7roe, on 07/20/2009, -0/+9The mist is a good movie. Maybe I'll give torchwood a chance.
  • dkmccue, on 07/20/2009, -0/+9The mini-series was freaking brilliant! I couldn't wait for the next installment!

    But, seeing as it's on BBC America here in the states, expect it to be cut, just like the regular series was. 15-20 minutes from each hour will be removed for commercials.
  • Sifor22, on 07/20/2009, -0/+8Is this watchable for someone who has never seen anything else? Like, as a standalone?
  • MorpheousMarty, on 07/20/2009, -0/+7Well, I watched every episode of stargate, and they are all over now so I'm going to say at least 14 season's worth.
  • sexybobo, on 07/20/2009, -0/+73 month later Gwen will have given birth, Captain Jack might be less depressed, Lois will replace Ianto, Johnson will probably join torchwood and maybe Martha will replace Owen who might not be dead and could come back.
  • hamishmacdonald, on 07/20/2009, -1/+8Gosh, I wish I could "fix" having to encounter straight sex in every damned movie, TV show, and song, but we don't all get to choose our worlds, do we?

    (In mine, for instance, there would be no Scarlet Johannsen, since that's entirely what she seems to be in this one for.)
  • Nekura20x6, on 07/20/2009, -0/+7You've seen the regular series run of Torchwood, right? That kind of stuff is par for the course. While Doctor Who deals with depressing fare with a lilt and cup of tea, Torchwood is brutally emotional at times and killed off major characters just for the sake of story. I was expecting nothing less with the new series.
  • GuitarHeroDenn, on 07/20/2009, -0/+7See, I kinda thought the monsters were a form of the Macra. They were crab-like, which would explain the claws. They lived at the bottom of New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York's transit system breathing automobile exhaust which can be considered as poison.
  • satori3000, on 07/20/2009, -0/+6It's classic Brit-tv, with a nice downer ending and the knocking off of some well loved characters. All in all I enjoyed it and am a little taken aback by this barbed review.
  • inactive, on 07/20/2009, -0/+6Im sorry, but I rather enjoyed the latest offering of Torchwood. You get five, very different, solid episodes or British Sci-Fi. Pitty its only 5 episodes, instead of a typical 10-12 per season.

    Also, I liked the end of The Mist, but most of the movie seemed like a recycled generic Stephen King plot. I do not think its a proper comparrison as Torchwood COTE was much better.
  • Subduction, on 07/20/2009, -0/+6I just don't like the fact that Torchwood eviscerated the character of Jack Harkness.

    On Doctor Who he was a real devil-may-care raconteur-type, but apparently in an effort to make things more "serious" they've made him much more responsible and humorless. Very dull.
  • roysorlie, on 07/20/2009, -0/+5It should be said that Ianto isn't normally gay or bi, it's just Jack's fantastic 51st century pheromones.

    And Gwen only really made out with a girl when she had some kind of alien in her that fed off "orgasmic energy" whatever that's supposed to be.
  • Swivelstick, on 07/20/2009, -0/+4Think you might be in for some disappointment.
  • Sifor22, on 07/20/2009, -0/+4Thank you for your response. I appreciate it. I think I will check out the two seasons. I need a good new show to get into. ;)
  • Nevasleep88, on 07/20/2009, -0/+4Majority of it was filmed in South Wales :)
    Cardiff, Swansea and Newport.
  • Swivelstick, on 07/20/2009, -0/+4You watch Pobol y Cwm doncha...

    But what gave it away the cast mentioning Wales - Cardiff frequently or Produced by BBC Wales at the end of each episode?
  • Yage2006, on 07/20/2009, -0/+4Warehouse 13 was total crap I stopped and deleted it when I heard the bermuda triangle mentioned. Xfiles was at least having some science in it. Not all out BS.

    I can suspend my disbelief but only to a certain limit. And warehouse 13 is one of those shows aimed at the slack jawed un-intelectuals.

    Torchwood could have potential with a bigger budget and better writers but its too late now I stopped watching the series its too corny for my tastes same for Dr. Who which as a kid I loved.

    If Dr Who only had a good budget and better writers and they made the show less corny and more dark it would have tremendous potential.

    I liked the ending of The Mist and the movie in general.
    Endings don't always have to be happy.
  • fuelcell, on 07/20/2009, -0/+4BBC America *will not* be cutting the show. This has already been verified. Great news for American fans.
  • MorpheousMarty, on 07/20/2009, -2/+5 (Spoiler) everyone's dead or otherwise not in the alien fighting way. What kind of show could you have?
  • BillCStickers, on 07/20/2009, -0/+3You do realize he's hundreds of years older now? not counting how everlong he was buried under cardif for as he was "dead"(iirc) for most of it
  • sexybobo, on 07/20/2009, -1/+4You really enjoyed watching Ianto suck Jacks face?
  • Jdban, on 07/20/2009, -1/+4Sure, though I hated how it ended.
    I like torchwood season 1 and 2, but was unhappy with this one.
  • Swivelstick, on 07/20/2009, -1/+4The first 2 seasons will let you done somewhat in comparison to Children of Earth as someone eluded to earlier the first season especially is rather sophomoric in many aspects.
  • sexybobo, on 07/20/2009, -0/+3Owen might not be dead.
  • jasmus, on 07/20/2009, -0/+3Be prepared for the "I'm the grown-ups Doctor Who" of season 1. Lots of sex and swearing. I love Torchwood, but it was hard not to see it as "Here's the sex and violence you all wanted from Doctor Who".

    Children Of The Earth was amazing. A lot less time was spent with effects and fighting aliens, and concentrated a lot more on character. The series opened up a whole new level of understanding of the Captain jack character. Before he was almost cartoon like in his presence.
  • inactive, on 07/20/2009, -1/+4thats why god gave us torrents
  • Kanten, on 07/20/2009, -0/+3Don't forget Universe.
  • monxes, on 07/20/2009, -0/+3The religious fanatic woman from The Mist is the character I hated the most from any movie I have watched.
  • milomilomilo, on 07/20/2009, -1/+4The movie was alright. Didn't think the bugs from the other worlds (or were they from to-dash space?) would be purple but whatever.

    You should read the mist, it's better, and while your at it, if you haven't already, read "the long walk". The long walk is probably kings best short story.
  • fenrillx, on 07/20/2009, -0/+3I will not be watching next series if there is even one. It will be more The Gwen Cooper Show less Torchwood. They ***** killing characters like that. I want Ianto back.
  • SirFoxx, on 07/20/2009, -1/+4While I the impact of the ending of The Mist(movie) was intense, within 1 minute of seeing it I was already having a major problem with it in that it was completely out of character for the father to do something so rash. He fights for his son's life and his own the entire movie just to give up when no immediate danger presented itself? I just didn't buy that, he would waited until something was half way breaking in the car before he would have done what he did.
  • Oronar, on 07/20/2009, -0/+3http://www.denofgeek.com/television/266944/torchwo ...
  • jasmus, on 07/20/2009, -0/+2Season 1 set out to position itself as the "Adult" version of Doctor Who. As such, it was a little too "look at me" with the sex and swearing. Seasone 2 got a lot better.
  • Swivelstick, on 07/20/2009, -0/+2*down*
  • popzero, on 07/20/2009, -0/+2One of the small things I liked about this series was Ianto's brother in law. He shows up and appears to be just an oaf, but he basically just give Ianto a punch on the shoulder and a teasing, "So I hear you take it up the ass now?" And then he gets on with being an oaf who's a great guy. If this was a show from the US we would have had to see him be a prejudiced moron who takes the rest of the show before he eventually comes around and pitches in to help. I get tired of seeing the stereotypical "regular guy" being a total tool all the time. It was a small thing, but I being a regular guy I found it refreshing. I just felt like it showed that sexuality doesn't always have to be a big deal unless you make it one.
  • Subduction, on 07/20/2009, -0/+2Well sure, but do you tire him out realistically to conform to canon, or keep him an interesting character?

    Will the next series just be an hour of the Face of Boe bubbling away in his tank?

    Anyway, most of the people I know got far more fun as they got older.
  • Jdban, on 07/20/2009, -1/+3I liked all the other seasons (1 and 2), but hated this. Its not okay how they ended it, it just left me thinking there's no possibility of more torchwood
  • GreatSunJester, on 07/20/2009, -0/+2I think they did this one simply because they knew it was the last. They were free to do anything to any character they wanted, and pretty much did so.
    Was it a good story? I think so. Did I enjoy it? Not as much as I have enjoyed other stories.
  • Akaziel, on 07/20/2009, -0/+2I think he's saying that while it is a Stephen King plot, it still feels like EVERY Stephen King plot. Maybe.
  • Elranzer, on 07/20/2009, -0/+2I liked the big AT-AT walking around at the end.
  • Akaziel, on 07/20/2009, -0/+2Well yeah but you were supposed to.
  • sexybobo, on 07/20/2009, -0/+2There are 765 episodes of DR who.so far
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