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Torchwood (UK): Season 1
Metascore
74 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
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  1. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    100
    There are a fair number of leaps of logic in the light-hearted Torchwood and mysteries abound. The special effects are generally decent and the writing and characterizations leaps and bounds better than in "Flash Gordon," "Eureka" or "The Dresden Files," to name just a few pathetic contemporary sci-fi shows.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ari Karpel
    83
    After a riveting pilot, this third episode is more of a run-of-the-mill procedural, but thanks to the charismatic Tom Cruise-y Barrowman, this Captain Jack will get you bi tonight. [21 Sep 2007, p.76]
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  3. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    80
    The adult show supplies shocking twists. The tone ranges from passionate to campy to scary.
  4. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    80
    A dark and splendid "Dr. Who" spinoff with overtones of "Men in Black" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
  5. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Tirdad Derakhshani
    80
    Torchwood doesn't disappoint: After tonight's slam-bang premier, subsequent episodes only get more outrageous.
  6. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    80
    There's a lot to love about Torchwood, especially for fans of the early days of "The X-Files," when it was more of a clever horror anthology series and the alien conspiracy had yet to take over the plot.
  7. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    80
    Torchwood, a cheeky and often startlingly adult spin-off.
  8. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Ray Richmond
    80
    A new BBC America sci-fi/thriller that's so good and unsettling and creepy that even grumps like myself can't help but be in its thrall.
  9. Kansas City Star
    Reviewed by: Aaron Barnhart
    80
    Torchwood is so much more tricked-out with talent and visual wizardry, moves at such breakneck speed and makes such demands on its viewers that it leaves most American TV shows in its dust.
  10. San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times
    Reviewed by: Charlie McCollum
    80
    Torchwood is grand fun and great adult entertainment.
  11. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    70
    Briskly paced if relatively unimpressive in its sets and effects (one "alien" more than anything resembles a Vegas showgirl), Torchwood has the fixings of a thinking-man's sci-fi series that doesn't take itself too seriously.
  12. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Ginia Bellafante
    30
    Torchwood is a world I wouldn't mind seeing erased.
  13. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    30
    It at times seems like a pornographic parody of "The X-Files."
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 66 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 41
  3. Negative: 7 out of 41
  1. mark
    4
    A few ok episodes, but a humorless mess most of the time. Have no idea how they managed to make Jack Harkness such a dull and boring character. Can't hold a candle to Dr. Who.… Full Review »
  2. Nozkcb
    6
    Interesting premise. I want to like the show and am close to doing so but, can the show be about the central plot and a little less about Jack being Gay? Yes, yes, we all get it. He's gay and has been gay for a very long time but, the seemingly forced gay thread woven into every episode is a distraction. I don't really care that Jack likes hot guys. . . what does it have to do with the darn plot? It's almost as if, there's a quota of gay sex & love scenes that needs to be worked into every episode whether or not it has anything to do with the central theme of the story to satisfy some count. Producers & Writers episode planning meetings: + Gory chest wound on should be dead actor - Check + One world government conspiracy subtext - Check + Secrete evil society lurking in the shadows pulling the strings - Check + Seemingly pointless 5 minute man on man sex scene - Check Throttle it back a bit already. . . . . we get it! And for the most part, don't care. Is the show a science fiction drama or an audition reel for the LOGO network. Make up your mind already. . . .… Full Review »
  3. aonghusbm
    6
    Torchwood is original, clever, inventive, exciting and all around great sci-fi. Unfortunately, in the first season at least, the tone is completely inconsistent, most of the characters are unconvincing and underdeveloped and some of the dialogue is gut-wrenchingly awful. Good news then that these problems are (almost) entirely fixed by the second series, where the show becomes one of the best around. I would recommend this (occasionally excellent but mostly mediocre) first series simply because of how good it gets in the next.… Full Review »
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