The challenge: When the immovable TV force meets its trans-continental match in the form of the immovable object, who wins? What do you do when you take an outstanding British TV series and do a new season funded by an American cable network?
The answer is Torchwood: Miracle Day.
Already spun out of Dr. Who via lead character Captain Jack Harkness’ appearance in an early season, Torchwood spent two and a bit seasons pushing the BBC’s sci fi envelope. The new season is now a co-production between BBC Wales and US cable network Starz, which left a lot of hardcore fans wondering what in gods name could happen. Is this going to be ala NBC’s remake of the legendary British cop show Prime Suspect, already looking like it’s down the shitter and twice as bland already just from the promos. Or could we have a true meeting of the minds? Is it going to be good?
Well, it is.
Having already purged the majority of its cast down via death and dismemberment in the last three season, Torchwood leads Eve Myles and John Barrowman are left in tact to provide the Torchwoodness to a different and much more Americanized cast. The results pay off as it’s neither too camp nor too washed out.
The scripts hold up to Russell Davies tradition of being solid and thought provoking without being too dumb, it’s actually funny and the presence of solid US actors Mekhi Phifer and Bill Pullman give it a more than sitcom credibility that suggests tons more good in the offing. Who knew immortal aliens could cross even these boundaries?