Doctor Who (And it's legacy)

Ok, I've just seen the latest Torchwood episode, and if I didn't comment on it, I'd have the most inconsistent blog ever. So, here goes.

Doctor who
An amazing show. There's a new story nearly every week it's on air, but a consistent plot running throughout. Whether the main character (The doctor) is solving a murder mystery with Agatha Christie, or his spaceship has been put inside a woman and the actual box is run by a sentient rock, there's a simple character running across all dimensions and having zany adventures.

...Writing that, I realize it sounds ruddy daft. OK. An immortal being known, as the Doctor, from a powerful race of Time Lords, steals a sentient box from his people before the show begins (even the classic form). The box, known as the TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space) allows for travel to anywhere and anywhen. The power within it can shut off the sun, win wars in less time than it takes for Rebecca Black to annoy you, and ended and rebooted the entire universe.

Why did the Doctor do it? To sight-see.

He picks up companions, he sends pirates out to space, he replaces every cell he has when he's about to die. Depending on where the box wants to land, he could be in a silly adventure where he has to live with a guy who likes a girl or a scary adventure in a temple of living statues that can do terrible things when you can't see them. Whatever he's doing, it's a great watch for the entire family.

Love it.

Sarah Jane Adventures
Then there's the Sarah Jane Adventures. A former traveling companion of the Doctor's decides to settle down in an off-focus London road with a Zylok supercomputer. She can't exactly leave her old life behind, so all of the alien activity within a short driving distance gets investigated by her, her adopted perfect human son, and a specific selection of his friends.

The series went really well, as it wasn't over-cheesing itself or putting a silly clown nose on everything with teeth, despite being aimed more for kids. It acts like any serious sci-fi would, being as clever as it's parent show with it's reveal and just thinking "the universe really is a wonderful thing".

Rest in Peace, Elisabeth Sladen.

Torchwood
A former dead former companion and former time-agent known as Captain Jack Harkness decides to try and track down the Doctor by sitting in a rift in Cardiff. This takes a while, and he decides to pass the time by gathering a team and dealing with the less than pleasant creatures roaming the streets. This is... less child friendly.

With the third season, they stopped going for weekly adventures and decided to have a long adventure where something horrific befalls humanity and we have to deal with it. It does not just say "the universe is full of big meanies" but follows up with "we are too". It's the pessimist version.

I have to say, I made the entire blog just to criticize Torchwood. It's just... not a good show. Some shows can make themselves darker than the original, but Torchwood just went a bit too dark. And don't get me started on 'Children of Earth'.

The season 'Children of Earth' is based on a species that use children as drugs, and command humanity to give them however many kids they want. Humanity would more likely just say "you want a bunch of our kids? F off mate! I will shoot you!" instead of "oh, a deadly alien race that won't even show themselves. Let's cow-toe to their every beck and call."

And the solution was thrown together in the last 5 minutes and clearly only thought up as the most horrifying solution, aside from the most practical. I believe there's a term for an ending like the one they used: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AssPull

Pretty sure the idea of doctor who is that the universe is amazing, and you should totally check out all it's glorious bits. Torchwood says that is is horrifying, and any contact we have with them will result in complete devastation.

The you learn of the gorn that results from immortal characters. Christ...

So, Doctor Who is amazing, Sarah Jane Adventures is a very worthy follow-on, Torchwood pains me with how it has to be canon.

I'll speak in a nicer tone of voice next time.