DVD Reviews

Torchwood: The Complete Original UK Series - Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Jul 20, 2011, 15:22 GMT

The BBC\'s Torchwood is such a hit on U.S. television, breaking ratings records for BBC America and acclaimed by critics as "sci-fi with attitude" (Chicago Tribune) and "one of TV\'s most entertainment of sci-fi romps" (USA Today), that it is being remade for U.S. cable network Starz. Timed to coincide with the premiere of the new series on Starz, BBC will bring together the complete, original UK series in this ...more

Doctor Who begat Torchwood and now the new series tries to find a home at Starz.  To welcome the series “crossing the pond” onto American telly, the BBC has collected all of the previously released Blu-ray content onto a new set.  Those expecting something new will be a bit disappointed. 

Torchwood is a shadowy UK government agency founded by Queen Victoria to prevent alien invasion.  The head of the unit is the immortal, literally, Capt. Jack Harkness (John Barrowman).  Dr. Owen Harper (Burn Gorman) is the medical officer, Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori) is the computer specialist, and Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd) is the doorman that handles most other duties. 

Police officer Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) gets involved in a case that the group is brought in on and eventually is asked to join up.  A secret she has to keep from her boyfriend, later husband, Rhys (Kai Owen). 

The team would fight all sort of alien menace (sometimes bleeding back into parent show Doctor Who) but would do so with its own flair.  Since the series were geared more towards adult content it was able to get away with things that the children’s show it originated from could never get away with, such as having a bisexual (omnisexual?) lead character. 

The show is now switching from the UK to the US and airing on Starz.  I’ve not caught up with its new incarnation, but plan on doing so.  The BBC has packaged all the original Blu-ray releases and content into a series encompassing set so that everyone who is interested can get the series with one swipe.  So don’t expect any new content (a preview of the Starz show would’ve been nice). 

Torchwood is presented in 1080p high definition transfers (1.78:1).  Season one’s special features include commentaries by cast and crewmembers on very one of the thirteen episodes, the 24-minute “Welcome to Torchwood” and 15 minute “Torchwood on the Scene” which covers the making of the show, the “Torchwood: Out of this World” (25 minutes total) sections contains short featurettes about specific items in certain episodes, 31 minutes of deleted scenes,  and the 15-minute “Sex, Violence, Blood and Gore.” 

The “Team and Their Troubles” sections have short featurettes on the team (21 minutes total), the 9 minute “Torchwood on the Road” which goes into the other character on the show – the Torchwood SUV, “Torchwood: Moments in the Making” that highlights bits of certain episodes (20 minutes total), the 10-minute “Captain’s Log” is a video diary by John Barrowman, the 10 minute “Torchwood: On Time,” 5 minutes of outtakes, and “Torchwood: Declassified” which are 80 minutes of making of specials. 

Season two has the 22 minute “Life and Deaths of Captain Jack” which is all about the captain, 8 minutes of outtakes, 17 minutes of deleted scenes, and 2 hours and 24 minutes of “Torchwood Declassified.”  Season three (aka Children of Earth) has the 31 minute “Torchwood Declassified” about making the miniseries. 

I enjoyed Torchwood and each season (series) had much to offer.  So if you want to own all of the original UK show on Blu-ray and haven’t bought any of the show before this collection allows you to pick it up.  If you have bought it, then this set offers nothing new. 

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