Now that it's Thursday and everybody has had ample opportunity to see it, talking about Cyberwoman is fair game. Until now I have been reluctant to post my personal thoughts on Torchwood since it started airing. One, because who cares what I think, and two, I really wasn't blown away by the first few episodes to be honest. As there have been more than enough negative critics around since the show debuted I was hoping this spot could be a positive oasis.
The show had been good, but not amazing. The Cyberwoman episode however was what I was waiting for. Great pacing, an exciting memorable story with dynamite performances. Ianto even got us thinking of some new definitions for Cybersex. Let's hope the rest of the season can keep it up and I do fully expect it to only get better.
It was such a pity then, that only about a million folks decided to tune in for the BBC3 broadcast on Sunday. While still very respectable for digital TV at that time slot, it is worrying that over half the people who dropped in for the premiere last month haven't bothered to come back. So what's the problem? The 10pm Sunday slot seems to be a bit of an albatross. Just moving it up an hour to 9 on Sundays could be helpful, next week it also has to start going head to head with LOST.
However if a show is quality you should be able to put it on at any time and people will find it. Other solutions? Thoughts? No slacking off allowed until we hear an announcement that season two has the green light!
18 comments:
It is just how television works. No programme will always match its première ratings, especially on a digital channel.
After last week's dire episode my boyfriend and I were almost put off staying up that bit later on a Sunday night... but Cyberwoman went some way to redeeming the show. I'd be all for moving it up to a 9pm slot though - 10pm is just too late when we're all going back to work the next day.
You were waiting for embarrassing performances and nonsensical writing? Chibnall had no place criticising Pip 'n' Jane back in the eighties...
Was it a slow news day or something?
Of course ratings are going to drop from the pilot, especially a hyped pilot like Torchwood. It always happens. Also, the show is repeated constantly throughout the week, and people have realised that it's not necessary to stay up late on the Sunday to watch the show.
I would have to agree that the time-slot is probably playing a big part in the ratings drop. Also, ITV1 has had some stiff competition, the latest being 'A Touch of Frost' which started a whole hour earlier than 'Torchwood' and would already have had people hooked before they even considered switching over to BBC3. For my part I've been tuning in to the BBC2 repeat, as I still haven't managed to get around to going digital. Anybody know how the BBC2 ratings are faring?
Also, I'd like to state that there is at least 1 person who's enjoyed every episode so far: me!
Same here = I've enjoyed EVERY episode!
I think true viewing figures could only be shown if all the repeats were added to the Sunday figures. To my mind there are too many repeats.
Cyberwoman has provoked a lot of serious debate in the two groups I belong to - about how HUMAN an upgraded "person" is, about cloning and whether a clone is "human" as in being/having the soul/spirit/essence of god given humanity.
Indeed Cyberwoman has raised more discussion than any episode so far, and more serious and involved discussion that Doctor Who series.
This is great, and this IS what makes it an adult series, not the sex bits.
ST, I'd love to know the name of your groups. I've seen far too much moaning about "that's not what *I* call adult drama" and far too little discussion of the issues.
Yup , I agree that the time slot isn't helping - it's too late for a Sunday - would be OK for a Saturday.
Yup , also agree the multiple repeats are spreading out the viewer base thinly.
I too would also like to see the BBC 2 ratings - they are perhaps the most "accurate" gauge to the shows popularity.
Finally, I think that the order of the eps was poorly thought out.
Ending the premiere night with the frankly tacky sex monster was a turn off for a lot of sci-fi fans.
This dropped viewing figures right from the get go.
I would have put the stories on the order 1-4-2-3 so far.
Obviously some script changes would have been needed to make that work but I feel that order would have kept ppl watching longer before giving up on the show rather than dropping it after the first night.
(all that is just my opinion of course)
*IF* the show can pull another 3~4 good eps in a row then it can still reclaim viewers.
But we are now at the stage of "winning viewers back" rather than "holding onto viewers" - a much harder task to achieve.
[MM]
Remember, remember it was the 5th of November (okay bad joke). Some people may have at Bonfire parties to which could also explain the ratings drop.
Cyberwoman has defiantly recliamed at least one disheartened viewer...my friend had stopped watching aftyer episode two, but hearing me rant about Cyberwoman made her decide to give it anither try. And it worked! So yey for that!
I agree about the repeats...too many, too early. Maybe 1 repeat a week, other than the BBc2 one, at most.
And the time as well...my sister is only jusat about allowed to stay up for it, and my dog no longer gets a walk on a Monday morning...plus, two other friends of mine who, as nieghbours, had been planning to spend alternate weeks at each others houses viewing together are no longer able to, and are very cross about it!
So heres to an earlier viewing time! And a few more cracking episodes!
(I can't believe I just said that...cracking...*shudders*...)
LIONESS: if you'd care to e-mail me on: sulamitetepfers@msn.com I shall give you the group URLs. You would be very welcome.
I agree! This episode was stellar.
hi i love this show why the negativity even here it leaves me gobsmacked.No it doest have Dr Whos budget and that show is the best but finally we get a spinoff and decide its crap after 4 episodes(Im thinking of various groups Im in online not here with that comment)
lets celebrate a new show with great potential especially here!
all the best John
definately the best episode so far, though i too have enjoyed them all...
Wednesday's BBC2 ratings were over 2million, so looks like most folks are patient enough to wait for the terrestial repeat.
I think the reason people have stopped watching is Captain Jack's character has been all but erased. He was really funky in Dr Who and now he's just a melodramatic bore. I understand the plot explanation for his new found 'bitterness' but did he have to lose all his charm? And as for cyberwoman - NO!!!! They are cybermen, they don't even have bodies, let alone a sexy, silver space suit, a la Miss World Pageant. Puh-leaze!
Yeah, I'm all for messing around with a plot line for the sake of a good story but not in spite of it. The scary thing about cybermen is they are a connected militarised mob, not some Barbarella throwbacks. I'm not saying there's not room for that kind of thing in Torchwood but please don't trivialise a classic.
I'm enjoying Torchwood but have to say that Ianto's whiny voice is very offputting. And I'm sure Jack will perk up sooner or later, he's still gorgeous.
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