Torchwood 2.1: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Review
January 26, 2008 by Cynthia
"Excuse me? Have you seen a blowfish in a sports car?"
And with that we’re off on another exciting season of Torchwood. But wait! This isn’t just like last season! This is Torchwood on steroids! Richer, Sexier, Sweeter and more exciting than ever. If you’ve never tuned in to this British scifi series, you have got to switch it on when it premieres tonight (January 26) on BBCAmerica.
Warning! May contain slight spoilers for the season premiere and upcoming episodes of Torchwood. But it’s nothing you probably don’t already know!
The series opens some time after we left off. Jack is still gone (remember he left to help Doctor Who save the world, again) and the gang is on their own. I wasn’t completely sold on this opening at first because it was shades of Angel meets Lost in Space with the fish guy on the run in a snazzy stolen car. Not that I don’t love Angel or Lost in Space — but it’s so not Torchwood. I did, however, love the oh so Gerry Anderson music playing under the chase. Come on, scifi aficionados, tell me this doesn’t sound like the opening theme to UFO.
What I did like about the starter was the clever turn they used to introduce the team to anyone who might be watching for the first time. A tactic they run with later on when the "hub" is unveiled to the guest star. And just about the time I was beginning to worry, they wow’d me with an entrance that’s ever so Jack.
"Hey kids, did you miss me?"
I sure did.
There isn’t another hero on TV the likes of Captain Jack Harkness. All that charm, all that snark, all those flirty looks and oh — such a heartbreaker! And whose heart is he breaking this week? Oh, I don’t know, maybe Gwen, Ianto and that new guy that looks curiously like Spike!
Come on, you all know by now that James Marsters is the guest star on the season premiere of Torchwood and he’s never been better cast. As Captain John Hart, Marsters is Captain Jack with mood swings. He’s more sarcastic, more violent, a drinking, brawling, lustful man (lock up your poodles!) who still has the hots for his former teammate.
I don’t know about the guys that watch Torchwood, but the women are going to be fainting in the aisles when they get a load of the Captain on Captain action. Have I mentioned that Torchwood is not for the kiddies?
This season of Torchwood looks richer than ever before. There’s a wonderful color pallet of deep velvet reds, rustic golds and warm wood tones. It’s the opposite of what you usually get in a scifi show and that makes it all the more wonderful. Add in heart-stopping aerial photography, Matrix-style camera spins, and a pace that leaves you breathless and you’ve just begun to scratch the surface.
Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang packs more double entendres into one episode than a full season of Stacked. And just when you think you know it all, bam, there’s a twist you didn’t see coming. Because, yes, there is also a plot. I know I haven’t mentioned it much but it’s secondary, really. I was so enamored with the characters and the look and the witty dialogue, I didn’t even care how or why Captain Hart showed up — I was just glad he did.
Last summer I interviewed Chris Chibnall who writes the series and he told me that Marsters was only contracted for one episode. He’d expressed interest in doing the show and they’d had the character of Hart in mind and the two just 
clicked and became one. He said that Marsters’ chemistry with John Barrowman was fabulous (that’s putting it mildly) and that they couldn’t have asked for anymore from the former Buffy star.
Hmm…maybe that’s why the full season teaser I saw at the end of the episode showed Captain John Hart returning to the hub along with some line about an "orgy?" No, one episode is not enough. I want more Captain John, Captain Jack and maybe we should send Captain Jack Sparrow along to fill out the group.
Now THAT would be one heck of a show.
Don’t miss Torchwood, premiering tonight and then running every Saturday night on BBCAmerica. Check your local listings for the exact time.
Photos and episode screener courtesy of BBCAmerica
I love this show for having gay/bisexual characters and not being afraid of showing them kiss and flirt.
I wish USA tv could take a lesson from other countries and stop being scared of fanfic.
I was a huge fan of Supernatural, it was one of the best show on tv, but now it’s total crap thanks to the idiots in charge who got scared of some slash sites and added horrid barbie characters to the show.
Thank God there’s Torchwood now, I’m sure there will be no buffy wannabe here.
I loved this episode. I thought Marsters and Barrowman were fabulous and I’m thrilled we’re going to get more of their chemistry.
Sinfulbatista, I’m afraid Gwen falls squarely into the “Barbie” category for me and worse still the show seems to be forcing a relationship between her and Jack. I loathe the way she’s so callous with Rhys, and essentially as the resident office slut (after Jack apparently) sees no problem with jumping from Owen’s bed to Rhys to back to wanting Jack…who wants to date Ianto, but apparently still wants Gwen. I don’t know - I certainly hope there’s a purpose to the things they’ve set up in this episode, because I didn’t expect Jack to string Ianto along with asking him out on a date, while still apparently jealous/uncomfortable/unhappy about Gwen’s engagement with the “only guy that will have her” - martyr much, Gwen?
Its great to see the insatiable marta Jones making a return after leaving the side of the doctor.