Torchwood: Episode 1 - 'Everything changes'

After about a year of waiting, the Doctor Who spinoff 'Torchwood' finally started on BBC 3 last night.

It was quite good. But I don't think it is really a Doctor Who spinoff.

Going by what I've read over the last few days and having seent he first episode, it seems to me that the idea of Torchwood is almost totally independent of Doctor Who, but references to Torchwood have been shoe-horned into the last series of Doctor Who and no doubt references to events in Doctor Who will continue to be made in Torchwood. But, as far as I can see, the only reason for this is to give Torchwood an instant fanbase. Plot-wise, Torchwood doesn't need Who and Who doesn't need Torchwood.

Episode 1 of Torchwood (I haven't watched Episode 2 yet, I taped it and will watch it tonight) was about 60% 'Angel', 20% 'Men in Black', 15% Welsh and only about 5% Doctor Who. With 'X-Files' vibes here and there. It really looks like an attempt to do a British version of 'Angel' (the 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' spinoff)... lets consider the following:

The main character:

• In Angel: a brooding, immortal, American bloke with a complex back story, likes black coats. (OK, so Angelus was originally Irish, but Angel seems American most of the time)
  
• In Torchwood: an immortal, American bloke with a complex back story, likes black coats. Will probably start to brood soon.

The supporting cast:

• Angel: a mixed bunch of folk, each with their own unique talents.
• Torchwood: a mixed bunch of folk, each with their own unique talents.

The action:

• Angel: mostly at night.
• Torchwood: mostly at night, in the rain.

The camera work:

• Angel: lots of aerial views of LA at night, camera swooshes between views.
• Torchwood: lots of aerial views of Cardiff at night, camera swooshes a bit.

The basic premise:

• Angel: team of supernatural investigators, keep tabs on Demonic activity in the city.
• Torchwood: team of extraterrestrial investigators, keep tabs on Alien activity in the city.

The main baddies:

• Angel: Wolfram & Hart - Evil lawyers.
• Torchwood: none obvious as yet. But W&H weren't obvious in series one of Angel either.

So I think you'll agree that there are a few similarities.

This isn't a complaint. Torchwood has great potential and I'm really looking forward to seeing where they take it. The first episode was a bit derivative, but once it gets going it could have an interesting life of its own. Here's hoping.

___

ps just in case you don't know by now, Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who...