Writer John Fay says that the new series of “Torchwood” will have the same “basic tone” fans have come to expect but that it will have a new “American feel” when it premieres later this year.
“Russell [T. Davies] and Julie Gardner remain in charge,” he says as part of a interview with the Liverpool Daily Post. “[But] there are more American characters in it, so obviously it’ll probably feel more American.”
Fay added that writing the ninth episode of the ten-part run had been “daunting”.
“The other writers in the room were phenomenal,” he said. “I hadn’t met any of them before, apart from Russell Davies, but I knew their work. We got on great, I think.”
The writer, who previously contributed two episodes to Torchwood: Children of Earth, also criticised fans who were unhappy with the death of Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd).
“A universe in which fictional characters aren’t ‘allowed’ to die is ridiculous and limiting,” he argued. “When death is a reality in a drama, the jeopardy is greater [and] the stakes are greater. In Torchwood, anyone can die. That’s a good thing.”
Calysta Rose says
Oh goody, it’ll be even more crass and banal than it already was. And no, I’m not a bitter Ianto fangirl. I quit watching long before that.
Mike H says
I love Torchwood but Americanizing it makes me worry. It was great the way it was. If it ain’t broke, why fix it? I’ll give it a shot, but I’m very wary.
Lejon from Chandler says
What part of America?
Will it be a mid-western feel?
Will it be a Texan feel?
Will it be a Roswell feel?
Perhaps it will be a New York feel?
Most likely: it will be a Hollywood feel.
k9 says
Loved the COE and the show but anytime it is “Americanized” it is usually crap. Lets hope for the best but expect nothing.
TallGrrl says
Uh-oh.
Sounds like trouble.
@Calysta Rose: And by ‘crass and banal’, are you maybe meaning “Grown-up” and “treating the audience like ADULTS who can handle certain types of situations”?
If so, then bring on all of that smart crass and banality.
I’m for it.
You want something that’s less Adult?
Then there’s the Disney Channel.
And they make an App for that.
Vox Arcana says
@TallGrrl: “You want something that’s less adult? Then there’s the Disney Channel”
Call me old fashioned, but it should be possible for something to be for adults without being ‘adult’… your type of reasoning is why I have to go to the young adult section to find fantasy novels that aren’t all about sex or dystopias.
Don’t get me wrong, I like TW, and I’m not proposing censorship – if that kind of stuff fits the feel of the show, then go for it – but the choices aren’t explicit or for babies, there’s plenty of room for grown up storytelling without “certain types of situations”.
slye says
“In Torchwood, anyone can die. That’s a good thing.” …. Um.. This is torchwood right? with the guy who was literally a bag of bone fragments and survived?
bocoe says
Oh an American feel, hmmm, that usually means an all white cast, (even extras), no gays, no flavor.
Sam says
@boscoe: Have you seen American TV of late? Just about every show these days has its token white and straight guy (or gal). Flavor? Now that we can agree on.
Dani in NC says
I watch British TV for a reason. I want to watch a show that has a different sensibility, different accents, and different slang. Even with a sci-fi show I feel like I am getting a taste of a different culture. That’s why I can’t watch American remakes of British shows; they’ve stripped a big part of the attraction for me — the foreignness.