DVD Review: Torchwood: The Complete Second Season
Reviewed by Craig Byrne
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Anyone who's read this site for a while knows that I am a huge Doctor Who fan. Heck, there's even a Doctor Who & Torchwood forum on this very site. When a spin-off series, Torchwood, was announced, I was excited because it would feature one of my favorite Doctor Who characters, Captain Jack Harkness, as played by John Barrowman.

The first season was a bit of a mixed bag: The show was touted as "adult" but it often times tried too hard to be grown up by throwing in sex and language, but otherwise it was pretty standard and GOOD sci-fi fare. I was also a little disappointed with Season 1 because my favorite character - Jack Harkness - seemed to be more in the background, aside from two episodes at season's end. (Season 1 also gave us a fantastic episode called "Out of Time." Sadly, it also gave us "Cyberwoman.")

The series' creators seemed to get their acts together a bit more in Season 2. You really came to like these people and understood the dynamics of the team. The production values were also at a high level equivalent to a lot of American sci-fi programming. Another bonus, of course, is that they brought in one of my favorite actors from Smallville - James Marsters - as "Captain John Hart."

"Captain John" is a lot of fun, and to be honest, he's even more calculated and fun to watch than Marsters has been as Brainiac. He's mischievous and sneaky, and rocks an outfit that has to be seen to be believed. A lot of hype came around the season premiere, where Marsters made his first appearance; "Spike from Buffy making out with another guy" inspired thousands of fan videos. Somehow I don't think Ianto would be pleased.

Sensationalism aside, there are some really good episodes here in a very consistent package. Beware that you may have some heartache by season's end. And look for ANOTHER of my favorite Doctor Who characters, Martha Jones, around midseason. I wish she was joining the cast for Season Three, but she has instead signed on to a new project.

DVD extras include deleted scenes, outtakes, and snippets from Torchwood Declassified. The highlight extra is "The Life and Deaths of Captain Jack," a featurette looking at the history of the character which also shows the viewer where he went between Seasons 1 and 2. (Doctor Who fans already know the answer to that one)

My only complaint? Nowhere in the packaging does it say what can be found on which disc. That made it hard to find some of the extras - which, being me, are usually the first things I check out. Even so, I give Torchwood: The Complete Second Season a solid 8 out of 10. It's better than a LOT of current similar American programming (I'm looking at you, Fringe), and I think you'll really like it - even if you have not seen the first season. And for James Marsters fans - this one's a must-have. It's also better to see on DVD because honestly, BBC America is surely editing some things and these shows (at least the main series) are uncut. Please note that Torchwood is NOT for all ages.

Torchwood: The Complete Second Season hits stores on September 16.

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