I think RTD might have gotten the message.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

It looks like from this interview RTD has done in america that he has had to back track on who is the main star in Torchwood.

Here'e the quote:

Question: Wow! Torchwood: Children of Earth pretty much ascended to a BSG level of fraktacularness. Is there even the slightest chance that the franchise will continue? Personally, I can't see it coming back from the emotional shock at the end. --Amy
Ausiello: First off, we're only up to Part Four here in the States, so watch the spoilers, missy. Second, yes, Torchwood will most likely live on, according to T-boss Russell T. Davies. "I’m fairly confident the series [will continue] in some shape or form," he says. "I will just sit down and invent new stories and characters -- that’s what I’ve spent my entire life doing." Wait a sec, new characters? Jack will continue to be the show's central hero, right? "Oh, I would think so," he says. "I would hope so. He’s absolutely fundamental to Torchwood." 

I think he has got the message on who is the star of TW and also, by the sounds of it, he isn't confident that John is going back to the show either. Bit of a back tracking thing going there RTD. I mean, RTD, i thought Gwen was the fundermental character of the show?

 

Comments

[maxine-mirkwood.livejournal.com]

I mean, RTD, i thought Gwen was the fundermental character of the show?

Well Eve Myles certainly does in any case:

Gwen constantly evolves. She’s gone from this ordinary woman in Wales to saving the world on a regular basis. She has to constantly learn. Her life is no longer her own, which highlights how important Gwen is. She’s all business, as opposed to Jack and Ianto, who are sort of the comic relief.
SOURCE (http://dailylounge.com/?p=287#)

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

WHAT??!!!

You know, i am really trying to be nice about Eve but she is really pissing me off.

[elanor12.livejournal.com]

WHAT?? O.O
How is Jack a comic relief? Series 3 was litterally the "let's-make-Jack-suffer-fest"

I swear. I liked Eve. I thought she was sweet and lovely. But the more she open her mouth about TW, the more she's pissing me off

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

Yeah, i mean, i always consider Ianto dying and Jack having to sacrifice his own grandson comic relief, i was laughing myself stupid the entire way through. Rolls eyes.


She is really starting to piss me off, i am trying really hard to like her but i just can't keep doing it.

[elanor12.livejournal.com]

I know Ianto is kind of the comic relief. GDL said it himself. Ianto got to say those funny one liners, but he was such a sad character at the same time.
But saying Gwen was all business while the other two are comic relief, like they weren't important, that kind of piss me off. I mean, Gwen has her life outside TW, a husband, a flat (and future house apparently), she's pregnant...while Jack and Ianto were kind of living for Torchwood...

*deep breath*
Sorry. Rant over.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

I know.

I just, i don't know what to say anymore, i really don't.

[michele659.livejournal.com]

Comic relief? Yes,they provided humor-Ianto's one liners,Jack's stories-but calling them comic relief sounds very belittling.
I also don't think Gwen is "all business". I actually like her best when she's doing deadpan humor as opposed to when she's being overly serious,or-emoting.
I don't see how Jack and Ianto's storylines in this series can be thought to be comic relief at all.
Jack and Ianto both have had horrible things happen to themin the past that have been prominently featured in the show,so I'm not sure how they're comic relief.
And I thought the point of Gwen's character was to show that she DID have a life outside of Torchwood? Isn't that what we constantly had forced down our throats for three seasons? Her normal life, her relationship,her marriage,her baby.
It seems like there's a contradiction between Eve's words and the way the character is presented.

[blucougar.livejournal.com]

Is she saying that Jack and Ianto's relationship was just a big joke???
I get the "all business" line, though, because there is absolutely NOTHING even remotely amusing about the way she lies, cheats, schemes and manipulates everyone around her.

I know that John Barrowman loves Eve Myles to death, but I wonder what he would think about the extremely ill-considered comments she's been making in interviews lately. I bet Gareth David-Lloyd wouldn't be too impressed.

Lately, everything she says seems to be hinting that she believes season 4 of TW will revolve strictly around Gwen. I just wonder if she comprehends at all how fast the ratings will drop if that becomes the case, because I honestly don't believe that the die-hard Gwen fans are great enough in number to save the show from being axed for seriously poor ratings.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

To be honest, i don't think Eve and John are as close as they used to be, i know there was one person who told eve at the signings that they hoped there would be a season 4, Eve said i hope so and john said well, if you want to save Cooper, write to the BBC. I think as time has gone on and the more she says, the less impressed john is with it and her attitude towards him, gareth and the show. Him and Gareth seem to be distant from eve but that could just be my interpretation.

As for season 4, i think she does think or knows that season 4 will be Gwen based. I mean, this is what it is has been building to, hasn;t it? It is meant to be about her and know Jack and Ianto have gone, its all hers. What i don;t think she or some of the writers are getting is, she is not a popular character and now jack and ianto are gone, unless you are a Gwen fan, most of the fans are gone. There is no point in watching if you don;t like her.

[elanor12.livejournal.com]

Looks like he's starting to get who is suppose to be the main character. I mean, when they first talk to John about TW, didn't they say it was going to be his own show (well Jack's own show)? Jack was the most popular second character in Doctor Who, so they created a show for him. Isn't it what they were saying 3 years ago?

I would hope so.
This is not reassuring...

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

No, its not reassuring at all.


Yeah, they were saying that 3 years ago but i think, and it sounds horrible, but i think they used Jack and John's name to get what they wanted and then changed it once it took off.

[elanor12.livejournal.com]

Well. It is an horrible thought, but I'm getting that impression more and more too.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

I know, me too.

[maxine-mirkwood.livejournal.com]

I don't think there's any question of it. RTD's original idea of Torchwood as an original sci fi series, then called Excalibur, was meant as a vehicle for Eve Myles. He couldn't get the BBC (or anyone else) to buy it. It wasn't until he tacked it onto the successful Doctor Who brand and added the unexpectedly well receive Captain Jack character that they came on board. As the Americans would say, you do the math...

To be fair however, I don't think the BBC will be any more likely to stump up the cash for a series 4 without JB than they ever were, much as I'm not really a fan of the light entertainment side of John's work there's no denying its (and his) popularity and his value to the BBC.

What I do think is interesting is that Eve has not really got all that much attention out of CoE, in fact has been interviewed even less than Gareth I think, who has at least has been in demand in the genre media due to the controversy. The mainstream media has been a whole lot more interested in the likes of Peter Capaldi and RTD. I'm just wondering if Eve wasn't expecting to receive somewhat more acclaim and notice than she is getting and that's why her interviews have come across as a little miffed and self promoting.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

To be fair however, I don't think the BBC will be any more likely to stump up the cash for a series 4 without JB than they ever were, much as I'm not really a fan of the light entertainment side of John's work there's no denying its (and his) popularity and his value to the BBC.


I agree with you. I don't think there will be a season 4 if John doesn't want to do it. If there is a season 4 without him, there is going to be some major cuts in the amount of money they get, which wouldn't help if they have to bring in power actors to prop eve up. I mean, i don't mind John's lightweight programs but it does show how popular he is and it also does show, he doesn't need TW, he's been offered things in america, he is getting guest roles over here, he has reality programs, he presents, he does albums and tours. He has a lot going on. But i do think they are starting to see, especially from america, that Gwen isn't popular and if Jack isn't in it, people aren't going to watch.

As for Eve, i think she has got an ego thanks to RTD and co and now she hasn't been mentioned by the critics or isn't getting the same press as John or Gareth, she is trying to promote Gwen and saying that she is going to be front and centre, thinking people will like it, but all it is doing is making more and more people turn round and say, i'm not watching.

[jennelldhalrbj.livejournal.com]

I wish someone would tell me why RTD is so obsessed with Eve Myles. Does anyone here have any idea about this? I read somewhere he saw her first in a Welsh language Soap. I mean, my brother-in -law is a native Welsh speaker and he told me once Welsh language programs mean well but are often rubbish. He seemed quite sorry about it and said they were underfunded. This is just his opinion, of course.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

I have no idea at all why he likes her so much. She's pissing me off, i can tell you that, lol.

[maxine-mirkwood.livejournal.com]

RTD is a huge fan of soap opera, it kind of makes sense I suppose he'd be a fan of Eve's very much soap opera based style of acting. I read an interview ages ago where RTD was saying that when he was young he wanted to become a writer because he wanted to work on Coronation Street and that he was glad in a way that he didn't get a job there because he would have been so happy that he would never have left and done anything else. At the time I was somewhat happy about that because I've mostly been a fan of his work... lately however I'm kind of wishing he'd got to live the dream. ;-)

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

Same Here. At lest in soaps you can screw things and fans about and not have to worry about it.

[michele659.livejournal.com]

Actually,speaking only for the U.S.,fans of soap operas are very aggressive in speaking up when their favorite storylines or characters get screwed up (or screwed over). It's become a cutthroat business since soaps have lost so many viewers due to cable and all types of programming being available during the time of day that soaps genreally run. Many soaps are struggling to survive,and when the fans organize-the shows generally pay attention. Not as much as they should sometimes,but then again,those shows are either hanging by a thread or get cancelled.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

Well, in england are soaps are a little less complicated, people just die for no apparent reason or the relationships break up, etc. There seems to be no point to ours.

American ones confuse me, i have tried watching them on one of the channels over here and i got lost, lol.

By the way, i am not a big english soap fan.

[michele659.livejournal.com]

LOL-that happens here,too. People die for no reason and relationships break up-also for no reason-but the fans protest this and,in many cases get what they want.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

Well, lets hope we can do the same here then.

[jennelldhalrbj.livejournal.com]

Oh thanks, that explains a great deal. What a pity he didn't get a job writing for Coronation Street too.

[jsks.livejournal.com]

oh! poor eve and rtd how the mighty have fallen. i don't believe in kicking a person when they are down but for them i will make an exception. now is the time for savethecoffeeboy and other groups to let bbc know that fans are not interested in gwenwood and if torchwood comes back we want jb and gdl back.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

You want to go and tell the groups for us.

[blucougar.livejournal.com]

Another possibility for series 4 - RTD creates a spin-off show from Torchwood specifically for Eve Myles, because she's just so popular, and everyone loves Gwen so much.
It's cancelled after the pilot episode attracts approximately 300 viewers (the sum total of the Gwen Cooper fan base).

Torchwood as we know it continues on with Jack at the helm and a new and exciting team - all of whom are nothing like Gwen.
A couple of eps in Jack discovers a chemical agent to reverse the effects of the 456 virus and cures and revives Ianto, whom he had placed in cryogenic storage just in case....

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

Oh god i hope so.

[jsks.livejournal.com]

or we have our turn left moment and gwen is never hired and 456 stays locked in rtd's basement.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

Can't we lock her in the basement as well? Please?! LOL!

[slns7552.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry but what does "BSG level of fraktacularness" mean?

Just watched Ianto die. Very upsetting. Jack may not have admitted he loved him but you could tell he did.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what it means.


I have to say, i haven't been able to watch it since the episode was aired. I can watch ep 5 but i can't watch ep 4.

[slns7552.livejournal.com]

First time watching it. Someone said Ianto told Jack he loved him. I didn't hear that but I was crying at the time.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

Aww, hun! Its ok. Just cry it out and get yourself something sweet, it'll make you feel better.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

Well, it won't make anything better but there are sometimes when only something sweet will do and this is one of those times.

[techmuse.livejournal.com]

BSG is Battlestar Galatica...and the show uses frack as there form of swear. I have not seen the new show but I have heard some fans rant over how fucked it had got in some cases.

[slns7552.livejournal.com]

Ok thanks for the explanation. My husband and I liked the original and he watched the new Battlestar Galactica but I couldn't get into it.

[techmuse.livejournal.com]

I was the same as you, liked the original but could not connect with the new one. I actually remembered frack from the original, tried to use it as a kid, my mom was not amused.

[holdingoff.livejournal.com]

it was a comment that Torchwood decided to screw over its fans almost as bad as Battlestar Galactica did.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

Oh! Thanks for that.

[jennelldhalrbj.livejournal.com]

I contented myself by making a Vegan Jam Roll and then eating the whole thing all at once. However, I excused myself when my sister complained by saying the Triplets wanted it.

[techmuse.livejournal.com]

I have not watched CoE pass number 2. After watching the promo of the show making Jack the monster again, I hate that, cause the usually means Gwen gets to be all judgy and bug eyed forgiver and it turns my stomach. I know #4 will be a big boohoo, so I am letting the DVR record them and will watch them when I can have some liquid encouragment and chocolate handy. I just see this as the end of Torchwood for me and I am not ready to let it go....

[slns7552.livejournal.com]

3 set her up as the new head of TW. I loved the interactions between Jack and Ianto in 4 but Ianto's death was totally unnecessary. When he used the forklift to rescue Jack in 2 he had the safety jacket and the hard hat but he and Jack started shooting at the 456 tank knowing it was poisonous and after watching the cameraman go in it wearing the hazmat suit. Made no sense.

[jsks.livejournal.com]

deep calming breath. has anyone been over to the torchwood institute this morning and seen the uproar over rtd interview and what he had to say about the fans.i am only half way through the comments and if they are thing to go by rtd may want to think about the witness protection program. i wish i knew how to link.

[theromangeneral.livejournal.com]

Just copy/paste the URL into the reply box. Please, I could do with some amusement.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

Its also on etertainment weekly if anyone else is interested.

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

Oh i have seen it. What an arrogant arsehole.

[jennelldhalrbj.livejournal.com]

Evidently RTD thinks that fans who actually comment on his work are of no importance and are idiots, and in any case, do not represent the views of the general viewing public.

Unfortunately, the fact that many folk do not go on line and express their views does not automatically mean they agree with him, and it is very self centered of him to assume they do.

The fact is, everything he said is contradicted by his attitude to the character of Gwen Cooper. If he really believes any of the crap he says he should have killed her, not Ianto. According to him, Gwen is the most popular character and is the heart of Torchwood. If this were true, killing her would have had the greatest impact. However, she came out of things unscathed.

RTD has just, like many people who get a lot of praise, become totally obsessed with his own greatness. The best reaction to him is therefore to ignore him completely.

I intend to amuse myself by imagining entertaining ways of his writing career being ruined.