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Torchwood: Complete BBC Series 2 Box Set (2008) [2006]

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Actors: John Barrowman, Gareth David-lloyd, Eve Myles, Naoko Mori, Burn Gorman
Studio: 2 Entertain Video
Category: DVD

List Price: ~~Ł49.99~~
Buy New: Ł34.00
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New (12) from Ł34.00

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

42 reviews
Sales Rank: 68

Format: Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Number Of Items: 5
Running Time: 650
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.6 x 1.2

EAN: 5014503261825
ASIN: B00143XCOS

Theatrical Release Date: October 2006
Release Date: June 30, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW - SEALED - PLEASE NOTE - ITEM MAY ONLY BE PARTIALLY SEALED DUE TO THE UN-PACKING PROCEDURE

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.co.uk Review
In many ways a far more experimental and variable series than the show it spun out of, Torchwood demonstrates many of the qualities of Doctor Who, but has certainly developed a tone all of its own.

Season two finds the Torchwood team still under the pavements of Cardiff, and still led by John Barrowman's Captain Jack Harkness. But there's a lot going on this second series, with a variety of guest stars--including Alan Dale (yup, Jim Robinson from Neighbours), James Marsters (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and Richard Briers--along with the arrival of Freema Agyeman's Martha Jones. There are also a variety of intriguing threats that the Torchwood team face, and while the tempo is often uneven, at worst it's always interesting.

What's more, Torchwood isn't afraid of pulling its punches. Unpredictable at times, right through to the explosive final episode, this second season is an improvement on the show's already-impressive debut. And while it sometimes makes familiar mistakes as it tries to play to a more mature audience, it nonetheless feels riskier than before, and better for it. Furthermore, where they take it now for season three is a fascinating proposition: fortunately, there's plenty of rewatch value in the show's second series to cover the wait to find out. --Jon Foster

Customer Reviews: Read 37 more reviews...

2 out of 5 stars

Unsure about this series... July 6, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

I just watched Torchwood 2, and I am not sure what to make of it. It is fairly watchable, but it does not compare really favorably with the first season, looking like a watered down version of it. Dialogues are very stilted, there is little real tension in the situations and among the characters. First season Owen Harper was more cynical and less noble than in the second, and therefore a lot better developed, and also Jack Harkness was more jaded and weary, being therefore a more interestinc character. The series could have benefited from less action and more incisiveness in the situations the team encountered - as it is, like other reviewers pointed out, the programme seems to be aimed to kids. I found myself fastforwarding a lot...
Far from being a fault, however, Gwen Cooper having rosen from the ranks to the lead of the team in the absence of Jack Harkness, was a good idea, but not properly exploited - I would have loved to see a few *real* clashes between the two over command and seniority. And I do not think that before World War I, even Torchwood would have hired blacks and women as field operatives.

3 out of 5 stars

Getting better, but could be so much better!! July 5, 2008
Gwen is still annoying but is cutting out the constant yelling of "JAAACCCK" which is a major improvement.

Like Series 1, the constant sexual innuendo does start to get boring after a while. At times it appears that the references and indeed the adult-themes are forced into the story at the expense of the overall plot; for example, does anyone really get the "bloke-on-bloke" action in the first episode?

Anyway, this is still enjoyable and worth a purchase.

Looking forward to the 3rd series - anyone taking bets on Martha Jones and Mickey Smith joining Torchwood?

5 out of 5 stars

Why so much Gwen??? July 2, 2008
2 out of 5 found this review helpful

Is it just me or is it that sooooo much of Torchwood is about Gwen??? Is it wrong to hate her for this???

Anyway, rant over. This was a truly wicked series (Even better than the first). Clever, Fast, Emotional, Tense, Exciting, Sexy, Sad, Funny. What more can you ask for??

In my opinion, I would ask for more on Ianto. He is my favourite character, with so much potentional, and yet he is mainly ignored!!

More Ianto and Jack too. They make a cute couple. Go away Gwen, you have Rhys!!!!

Anyway, second rant over.

Long Live Torchwood
Jack & Ianto forever!!!

4 out of 5 stars

This review is for the actual dvd content July 1, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

The second series of Torchwood marks a distinct improvement on the rather patchy first series. I won't go into plot details as other reviewers have already done that. Instead I will concentrate on the dvd set itself. The packaging is rather cheap looking and is made from cardboard with an awful red cover with just the Torchwood logo on it. The main let down for me is there are no audio commentary tracks on any of the episodes. One of the highlights of the first series dvd set was the highly entertaining commentary tracks by cast and crew. Why BBC dvd havn't included them on this release is beyond me. What you do get is some deleated scenes (always welcome), out-takes, a Captain Jack doccumentary and the Torchwood Declassified (regretfully the cut down versions). So all in all a pritty good dvd set episode wise but not the most exciting extras ever. Oh, and don't let the garish packaging put you off either.

4 out of 5 stars

Definitely getting better June 30, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I remember reviewing the first series of Torchwood, it managed to deal with some great concepts, but it often felt as though it was trying to be distance itself from it's Doctor Who cousin by being overly adult and it seemed a bit obvious. I dithered between three and four stars, but decided on four seeing as despite it's flaws, it made a very good impression.

I've got a similar problem with Series 2. I'd love to give it 4.5 stars but that's not possible on Amazon...

...This time round the series felt much tighter - the characters were established and there were nowhere near as many `all-too-convenient' plots slipped into episodes. Yes, it was adult orientated - but it didn't feel like it was desperately attempting it, it was more natural. The programme has `discovered itself' and as a viewer you accept that this is as much fantasy as science fiction - everyone in Cardiff seems to know that Torchwood exists, all you have to do is claim you're from Torchwood to take over a building!

I'm not going to give synopses of each episode, but I did get worried at one point that they'd introduced the Tosh-Owen situation a bit quick, and that it was one of the convenient plot devices for an episode. Thankfully this was a story-arc which spanned the series and ultimately led to a fantastic finale. In fact, the "because it's breaking my heart" comment really tugged on the heartstrings. I can imagine I wasn't the only one stifling back a tear at the series conclusion.

We had a familiar face with Martha Jones, her character managed to fit in well with the series without losing the almost childlike innocence of this Doctor Who family-viewing-time favourite. For series two, the main link-in with Doctor Who isn't the arrival of Martha Jones, it's the fantastic Murray Gold score which regularly has moments of "that sounds familiar"!

A notable mention must go to Richard Briers; familiar to us all as a comedy actor, but his portrayal of the dying man in episode 8 was very moving.

In a nutshell: Some episodes were serious, some were bordering on slapstick (episode "Something Borrowed") - but it didn't feel disjointed like series 1. Rhys didn't feel like a periphery character anymore, I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that he's become my favourite character. The flash directing style which many found annoying in the first series remains - I however love the directing, it gives the series a cutting edge modern feel. A good yarn and by the end of the series you genuinely cared about the characters - which is important when you have a finale which relies on the emotional investment of the viewer.