Does Torchwood Hold Up as Well as It Did 18 Years Ago? Series 3

Hello!

If you’ve been keeping up with my blogs for the past few weeks, then you would’ve seen my overviews on Series 1 and Series 2 of “Torchwood” and whether or not I think it would do as well today as it did back in 2006. Today, I’m doing the same thing but with a focus on Series 3 of the programme, also known as “Children of Earth”. As usual, I’m going to give a brief overview of this series, look at reviews from the time it first aired, reviews from now, and give my opinions.

Series 3 takes on a very different approach compared to the past two series of *Torchwood*. There were only five episodes, and each one was connected. The entire series told the story of aliens demanding a certain number of children and the government’s shady practices in dealing with said demands. Since this series takes such a different format, audience reception would be different too.

The first review I came across instantly praised the series, saying that the previous two series were nothing special, but this was the complete opposite. Within the first paragraph, the writer said it was the best thing they’d seen on TV that year and that it had really reached its potential. Most other reviews I found said that the first three episodes of the mini-series were incredible, praising the commentary on the government, and noting that the dialogue and humour were well-written. Many reviews followed a similar pattern, praising the different approach and calling the tension and more dramatic elements outstanding. The criticisms were consistent too—most reviews disliked the ending, calling the special effects unconvincing. I also found multiple reviews that assumed Series 3 would be the last. Although we now know that’s not the case, back in 2009, audiences had no news on the future of the programme, and the events of the final episode suggested it could be the end. Reviewers who believed this theory said they were content with Series 3 being the conclusion, describing it as some of the best sci-fi they’d seen and among the finest work from the “Doctor Who” franchise.

Now onto the more recent reviews, it’s a similar story. Most called Series 3 the greatest “Torchwood” had to offer, praising the writing and storyline much like the older reviews. Newer reviews also highlighted the emotional moments, applauding the writing and the actors’ performances, which made those scenes even more impactful. These reviews also placed more emphasis on how Series 3 compares to other entries in the “Doctor Who” franchise. Many reviewers considered it some of, if not the best, writing associated with “Doctor Who” in a long time. Another common theme was that viewers believed Series 3 should have been the end of “Torchwood”, as it concluded the series perfectly with no more stories needed. Negative reviews echoed similar criticisms from 2009, particularly about the pacing of the final episodes. They also mentioned the CGI not aging well, which is a typical complaint about older visual effects when compared to modern standards.

Finally, my opinion: looking at “Children of Earth” alone, I think it would do well with a modern audience. In recent times, TV shows that incorporate commentary on social issues have been very popular when done well. I think modern audiences would appreciate the critique of the government and find the less realistic alien aspect entertaining. One particular emotional scene in episode 4 had a great impact on audiences at the time, and I believe contemporary viewers would have a similar reaction. The multi-episode plot format of Series 3 would also appeal to modern audiences, as previous reviews mentioned a desire for more of that structure. Overall, my opinion remains that contemporary audiences would enjoy “Torchwood” as much as they did before, perhaps with even greater appreciation for Series 3, given that the themes explored are more typical in today’s TV landscape.

Written by Amber C.M