(no subject)

[shapinglight]

Finally got around to watching the first of the final 12 episodes of BSG last night. At the end of the previous 12 (ie. the end of season 4 part 1 in the US/Canada), I said that just as you think things can't get any worse, BSG finds a lower place. And blimey if they haven't done it again! Great stuff, though I am very displeased with what happened to one of my favourite characters. :(

Behind cut, a short piece transcribed from the Radio Times article about next week's 5 part Torchwood: Children of Earth. Must say, this looks more and more like TW's swan song to me. No spoilers.



Julie Gardner says re: the decision to air the series over 5 consecutive nights : '"TW is very much more than a sci-fi show....but it has sci-fi elements (you think, Julie?) and it's exciting to take something that is often niche and look at how you make it accessible to as wide an audience as possible. That's partly about making it an event."'
'Hence airing Children of Earth across 5 nights - "event television", in TV-speak - following successful similar broadcasts for BBC1 crime dramas Five Days and Criminal Justice. Which might feel like a step-up depending on your viewpoint. "I'm gong to get a little political and I'll probably get in trouble for it," says John Barrowman, "but...we were the most successful show on BBC3, ever (averaging 1.3 million a week; the opener drew 2.4 million). We moved to BBC2 because the ratings were so good; the ratings were great again (averaging 3.1 million) and we were beating shows that had been on BBC2 for a long time. The decision was made to go to BBC1 - and then we were cut. From 13 episodes down to 5. The 5 episodes, the miniseries, as I call it, are incredible - I have no doubt about that - but personally I felt like we were being punished. Other shows move from BBC3, and 2 to 1, and they don't get cut. So why are we? It felt like every time we moved we had to prove ourselves."
'Over to RTD: "Part of us thought, 'We could do another 13 episodes, we've learnt how to do that, and the second series was better than the first. But why not change it? I know if this was America, they'd try to keep it going for seven years, doing the same thing every week. And BBC America, who show TW, are furious that we've changed the format. But they're not our paymasters. It's the British audience we make these for. And I don't think audiences are remotely lost by a change in format."'

So there you have it, from the man himself. We're getting cut down TW because we, the British audience, are so sophisticated we can cope with change, unlike those stupid Americans (that was in sarcastic font, in case anyone doesn't realise). Personally, I don't believe a word of it.

Otherwise, the TV trailers are great. I'm looking forward to it, and am not nearly so anti-Jack/Ianto as I was because GDL is such a sweetie. Still wish there was room for Captain John, but it's plain there isn't this time (which, sadly, may be the last time).

And in better news, the week after next, the lovely Mitchell from Being Human is back on telly as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, with scary sideburns!

Comments

[cafedemonde.livejournal.com]

Re: BSG, which character are you upset about? I'm upset as well about one in particular.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think this is going to be TW last series too. The whole set up reeks of it imo. :(

[shapinglight]

It was Dee Doualla. I loved her. Hated that her story ended that way.

[shapinglight]

Definitely. Which is a real pity.

[kitty-poker1.livejournal.com]

It does seem unfair. I wonder if it's something to do with budget that they've cut the number of eps and, by the sounds of it, decided to make this the last series. A shame, on a lot of levels, and makes me worry about Ianto's prospects!

[shapinglight]

A shame, on a lot of levels, and makes me worry about Ianto's prospects!

Not to mention no more Captain John ever, which is a pity. After the Marsterclass I'm more keen than ever to have that character back.

And I think lack of money definitely comes into it, no matter what RTD says.

[ladypeyton.livejournal.com]

And in better news, the week after next, the lovely Mitchell from Being Human is back on telly as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, with scary sideburns!

Oooh! What is the name of the show on which he will appear as Rossetti?

I don't understand the BBC. If Torchwood is such a popular show why is it ending?

[shapinglight]

Oooh! What is the name of the show on which he will appear as Rossetti?

I don't know, I'm afraid, and a look at the BBC's website has left me none the wiser. Will let you know when I can. Am assuming it's a series about the torrid goings on of the Pre Raphaelite painters and their hangers on.

I don't understand the BBC

I don't think anyone does. They have their own weird logic. For instance, their DVD sets are always horribly expensive and have no extras, because they believe nobody watches the extras.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

I know! I mean, I loved that SOMEONE had what I would consider a sane and normal reaction to having all their hopes yanked away *again* but it made me so sad that she killed herself. *SOB!* I spent the entire episode sure that she was going to be revealed as the final Cylon and then ... well, it was certainly surprising. And very well done. BUT OH SO PAINFUL!

[ladypeyton.livejournal.com]

A quick and dirty search of Aidan Turner's profile on IMDB says it's called "Desperate Romantics" which sounds simply delightful!

OH YUM!!!

http://www.rapidtalent.co.uk/buzz_story.asp?StoryID=207

[cafedemonde.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! Dee...that is just more sad than I can say. I was in shock. That show hurts to watch it.

But my character was Sam Anders. I really liked Sam and hated how he went out, although I expect he was cool with being finally connected to that perfection. Talk about prophetic.

[shapinglight]

Interesting. Thanks for the link. The BBC did a series about the Pre-Raphaelites years and years ago, so I suppose they think it's time for another go-round. I think Ben King was Rossetti that time, but I may be wrong.

[shapinglight]

I had been mildly spoilered for that episode so I was expecting it, but even so the manner of it, not to mention the person involved, were still a shock.

Loved Tigh in the episode, though.

[shapinglight]

Well, I've only just started watching season 5 so I have no idea what happens to Anders (no spoilers please), so I'll let you know what I think when I've seen it. This show is tough to watch, though.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

Ugh! I'm sorry you got spoiled - that sucks! But I'm glad that the manner and who were still a surprise - I felt that this was tremendously effective (and thinking back, I'm still sort of shocked and saddened by Dee. Sniffle!)

Tigh has been one of my favorite characters since way back in early season 2 when he was so clearly in over his head :D

A quick warning!

[ringthebells]

If you don't want to be spoilered, you should revise your post to say that you have not seen the the last episode of season 4. Here in the US/Canada, there are officially only four seasons, total. What you called "season 4" is the first half of season 4; what you've just started watching is the second half of season 4. (Even though they aired nearly a year apart!)

Someone glancing at your post and then commenting might assume that you've seen all the way through to the end.

Re: A quick warning!

[shapinglight]

Thanks for the warning. Will amend my post accordingly.

[kitmarlowescot2.livejournal.com]

I have to say but the way BBC manages it's programing sucks. Oh yes, our characters are on tv for seven years. So we can actually watch them, get attach to them, and not have them skip off after only six episodes. How else would you have gotten Joss's season arcs ? We get between 13-24 episodes a year depending on the series, and what network it is on. Cable shows tend to be a bit shorter. And they aren't wondering why American Television is being watched so much in Britian ?
And yes CSI has been over done, but their have many so many moments over the years I wouldn't give up.

For BSG, I enjoyed it, yes it had it's faults. But mostly I liked it, except for a few things. But I enjoyed Tigh, and I was so sorry to see Dee go that way. As for the final cyclon, why that person of people ????

[kitmarlowescot2.livejournal.com]

PS If you can you need to get a hold of the more recent BSG comics about the Final Five. They explain a few things.

[cafedemonde.livejournal.com]

Ok, no spoilers! I thought you'd seen it all (I didn't notice that you said you saw part 1 of S4) Part 2 is amazing!

[shapinglight]

Yes, me too. Mind you, I can't help wondering why it is that my favourite characters in TV shows are almost always nothing like myself.

Not much pleased with the other revelation in this episode - the identity of the final Cylon. Didn't really want to see that character again. Oh well.

And I want to thank you again for the discs. I really, really appreciate it.

[shapinglight]

I hope I get the chance to watch it soon. And no worries. I just hadn't realised that in US the whole thing is referred to as season 4, whereas over here the last 12 eps are called season 5.

[shapinglight]

I have to say but the way BBC manages it's programing sucks

No argument here.

[shapinglight]

I didn't even know there were BSG comics. Are they online?

[kitmarlowescot2.livejournal.com]

No I read about them on BSG wiki, here is the link to the first comic entry. But I must warn you, as they go along they reveal spoilers about who Starbuck really is. Or at least as I discern her to be.
http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Battlestar_Galactica:_The_Final_Five_1

[yourlibrarian]

I'm kind of wondering how the BBC America feeds into the BBC coffers in general. I realize there's not a lot of funding but wouldn't they get some of it on the back end here? I mean FOX renewed Dollhouse in large part because of expected DVD sales.

[shapinglight]

I'm sure they do. In fact, I think RTD is being very stupid if he really believes it doesn't matter what BBC America thinks.

Either that or TW definitely is cancelled (my gut instinct tells me it is) and therefore RTD thinks it doesn't matter what he says any more.

[shapinglight]

Thanks for the link. I'll read them after I've seen all the episodes.