I have been watching Torchwood in Australia: It started out on Channel Ten (a commercial channel, Dr Who being on the ABC, the national broadcaster) on Mondays in Prime Time. It has now, after 4 weeks, been shunted to the graveyard of midnight Tuesdays.

And I'm not surprised because I was waiting for it to show some promise, but I really have wasted my time/video tape here. Dr Who might be cheap TV but so was Star Trek in it's day, but there was heart and story lines and characterization in both . TorchWood just doesn't have any of  that. It relies on "alien gadgets" and near magic to get through each turgid tale. I don't get how the BBC can make both of these shows and get one right and the other sooooo very wrong.

I think Torchwood is geared towards a different fan base than Doctor Who. I really do not think you can lump the two in the same category. I also think it was geared towards those fans of John Barrowman.

Yeah, I agree, the two are very different and aimed at very different audiences.

I don't think Torchwood is a brilliant series but there have been the odd one or two fantastic episodes so I'm looking forward to the next series.  Of course, the fact that I lived in the city where it takes place for eight years might have something to do with the fact I like it.

Maybe so.

But the comparisons, similarities, and complimentary nature are there for all to see. And it is no secret that Torchwood is a direct spin off finding its TV roots (and its anagramatic name) in DOCTOR WHO

Not to mention the same writers, producers, directors and production arm of the Beeb : BBC Wales.

To be honest I don't think it is aimed at a very different fan base. Maybe an older one, it's certainly the more adult show, but it's the same fan base.

I think with a little time, and patience, the end result might just surprise you.

How much have you seen so far? I have only seen the first six episodes of season one and I won't say there is nothing I like, but still I'm ....well......waiting.

I have seen all of the first season.

And the last episode in the first season ties into Doctor Who, towards the end of Season 3.

So it is the same target audience?

Hasn't it already tied into/crossed paths with Dr Who several times?

Still I wait with patience.

I think they do that so the Doctor Who fans who like John Barrowman, could get a chance to see him for a few episodes. Kind of like how Xena and Hercules would cross into one another, or how Family Matters and Full House crossed over once.

I'll have to look out for it.

I was really not impressed at all by the show .  The effects are to fake and silly and the acting is pretty bad.

Well everyone is entitled to their own opinion!

@ atuarre "I think they do that so the Doctor Who fans who like John Barrowman, could get a chance to see him for a few episodes. Kind of like how Xena and Hercules would cross into one another, or how Family Matters and Full House crossed over once."

So once again you are arguing it is aimed at the same audience. I am still of the opinion that this is a very poor relation to Dr Who. To keep arguing that the crossovers are there to allow fans of John Barrowman a comparatively unknown actor, a chance to see him isn't an argument. It is fans of Dr Who who are watching for the story crossovers. That is the selling point of the show.

I go back to what I said earlier I don't understand how the same people who make Dr Who can get it right and get this so wrong.

@Kaz22: "The effects are to fake and silly and the acting is pretty bad." The effects were always pretty cheap or silly or comical on Dr Who, so they were not to be expected to be very different on Torchwood. But the acting isn't bad. It's bad scripting, storylines, and direction. The odd thing for me is that it's from the same production team that brought us Dr Who.

@ Mick: It's on at midnight Tuesday night/Wednesday morning on Ten, (but no doubt subject to movement).

This is a Channel Ten Link

This is the BBC Home page link

Have fun.

I liked most of it.. maybe I'm just a sucker for the action and aliens 

The last episode felt cheesy though, I won't say too much for those who haven't seen it but the big enemy at the end seemed like something from an old black and white B-movie or a cheesy 60s horror film, it was kinda painful to watch

The sex was kinda.. blatant as well, sometimes made sense, other times it was just for the hell of it

...and why not

...how Family Matters and Full House crossed over once.

I can see how you went from Torchwood/Doctor Who to Family matters/Full House.  Although I think Torchwood is more "Mad about you" to Doctor Who's "Seinfeld"