http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/09/04/TORCHWOOD----Everything-Changes.aspx TORCHWOOD is a spin-off of the immensely popular BBC sci-fi drama DOCTOR WHO; so right of the bat, I think I’m at a disadvantage. I’ve never seen DOCTOR WHO, so I don’t know this world, these characters, nothing. After watching the first ten minutes of the pilot, I realized that my supposed disadvantage was really working for me. The show opens with a murder in Cardiff, and WPC Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) shows up in the pouring rain to help investigate. All of a sudden, everyone clears out for the “special ops” team Torchwood. Gwen is confused. Who are these people? Why are they messing with the crime scene? Instead of standing by like a good little cop, she goes in for a better look and sees the team resurrect the murder victim with a metal glove that looks straight out of a King Arthur tale. From that point, we follow Gwen as she tries to learn more about Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and his “special ops” team. The episode is completely told from Gwen’s point of view, hence my reasoning that my disadvantage became an advantage. I was on the exact same page as Gwen, and honestly, this was the only thing that kept me interested. If I had been an avid DOCTOR WHO fan, I think I may have lost interest after Gwen’s second mysterious encounter with the group. Alas, I knew nothing of the secret organization Torchwood that’s “separate from the government, outside the police and beyond the United Nations,” and every time Gwen got a little closer to finding out more, I got a little more intrigued. en-US Critics Rant info@criticsrant.com Subtext Version 1.9.4.0 http://www.criticsrant.com/images/default_gravatar_bullhorn.png http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/09/04/TORCHWOOD----Everything-Changes.aspx 77 60