tencrush | MY RANDOM WHO AND TORCHWOOD PREDICTIONS

I've got a few random predictions floating around my head, so I thought I'd spew them out here for posterity. They're based on absolutely nothing, apart from vague gut feelings.

Moffat's Who will have TWO companions. Boy/girl. Mainly because Moffat can't resist being a bit different and can't help injecting a bit of sitcom-esque bitching and UST into the TARDIS, which, having logically taken the Doctor-has-a-penis thing to its zenith, would have to involve two other people. Moffat's great strength is writing for multiple characters, he needs various personalities to bounce around and I am nearly 100% certain about this prediction.

The girl will be a Sally Sparrow-esque capable mix of clever and ballsy and cute, I wouldn't actually rule out Sally Sparrow herself, just because Moffat's a joker like that. The boy will be Ianto. Okay, so that last bit's about 80% wishful thinking, but I'm not ruling it out completely because I'm just... not.

Jack will leave Torchwood at the end of TW series 3. This ties in with my prediction that Jack and Ianto will split up during series 3, but possibly for reasons you're not expecting. John is actually leaving Torchwood behind, but I have a hunch he features in one of the three Who specials, as I believe Jack's story will be tied up BEFORE the eventual regeneration. I don't believe Jack will ever interact with Eleven.

Taking all those things together, yeah, Torchwood as we know it is coming to an end after series 3. I don't actually believe anyone is interested in taking the show any further, specifically I don't believe John or Eve are interested in doing another series, and I think retooling it is NOT actually an option. This whole idea of a family-friendly show called "Torchwood" in the BBC's early saturday evening slot is NOT going to happen, the BBC would be far too nervous about leading the kiddies it's aimed at astray when they innocently ask Santa for the series one and two dvd's for Christmas. It's not happening. Torchwood will be disbanded at the end of series three, the Hub, blowed up and revealed to the world, will stay blowed up. ETA Again: the possibility of a BBC1 post-watershed thing is still there, yes, but I'll wait and see if Bonekickers gets recomissioned to see if Beeb1 is really aiming for a prime time LOLDrama slot, and even if they ARE doing so, that would involve, like Bonekickers, a 6-episode run, 8 at best, and I don't think Barrowman would be willing to sign for that short a series.

I wasn't going to put this in because I thought it was too weird, but the more I think about it, the more sense it makes, and because dick_grayson seems to be on a frighteningly similar wavelength, I'm going to go for: Voluntary retconning for Ianto at the end of TW series 3. For some reason or other to do with his family. It just seems to sit right for me somehow, and I think it's when we'll finally find out what's going on with him and Jack and to what extent. The reason I didn't want to put it in is because it's eerily similar to Donna's story in Who S4, and I figured it didn't make sense to do that again, but the more I think about it, the more I realise that sort of thing hasn't exactly stopped them before. The reason I think it might happen is because it's a good way to put Ianto on ice as a character, but not rule out a possible return somewhere in the franchise at some point in time. So, yeah, I'm definitely putting this one in. That is my S3 ending prediction.

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Aren't all of Moffat's DW women a bit like Sally? I actually like that a bit. Ianto as companion would be awesome, oh yes. Yet I can't see them end Torchwood as long as the viewing numbers are okay and they're making enough money from it. I admit it, I watched too many US shows, which made me believe in that rule. As long as it's profitable, they'll find someone to act/write it. We hear all that talk about TW season 3 that 'things will change' - I think that's actually only a Ianto/Jack breakup, if the actors stay on, I don't know. Haven't they all houses in Cardiff by now? Continuing would be at least convenient, and it's a relatively secure day job...

Profit is not an aspect the BBC take into account, it's against their charter. Their aim is to make quality television with the taxpayers' money, not profit. They don't particularly have a history of dragging a format out past what they believe is its shelf life simply because it's doing well elsewhere.

aw, that's even worse!

Too right. I am constantly amazed when I read posts likening Torchwood to X-Files or similar and suggesting it will have just as long a run. I think sometimes it's hard to look objectively at the show and realize that, while it is a Doctor Who spin-off, it's never going to be that iconic, Saturday tea time franchise that will be around for years and years. Also, yes, X-Files went down the tubes toward the end, but quality-wise, I just don't think Torchwood compares. I'm still waiting for a "Family of Blood/Human Nature" episode out of Torchwood, so I'm not expecting Chris Carter levels of amazing any time soon. Anyway, in answer to your actual post, I tend toward thinking there will be an S4, but that will be it. I also think Ianto's going to end up retconned, his choice.

That's freaky, I was going to put in voluntary retcon for Ianto as well. I don't know why, it just makes dramatic sense to me, and it feels like a logical step, and a way for us to retroactively find out how Jack really feels about him. I wouldn't be hugely surprised if that's the end of this five parter.

Totally makes dramatic sense, particularly with all this talk about "personal sacrifices" and Ianto's family playing a part in the story. I think Ianto does it, in part, for Jack, who wants him to get away from Torchwood and have a normal life. It will be selfish and brave and terribly sad all at the same time. And it will free Jack up to hook up with Gwen or go haring off with the Doctor. But because the powers that be at the Beeb appear to like Gareth, it probably won't be permanent. Or he'll get work on another show, whichever.

Yes, yes to all of those things, those are my thoughts exactly, and I've edited my post to put them in. The reason I think this will happen, is, apart from what you've said, that we've been told there will be some sort of enlightenment for the audience on what exactly is going on between the two of them. Given what we've seen of the filminng so far, the five epiosdes seem pretty action-packed, and I don't think they'll provide us with enough downtime to subtly show the audience what is going on, so I think what will happen is that they'll tell us, in some sort or goodbye scene, and retcon seems to me to be the obvious choice.

'Also, yes, X-Files went down the tubes toward the end, but quality-wise, I just don't think Torchwood compares.'
I was talking about this with someone who had just finished watching series 2 the other day and she said that 'I can so clearly see what it could be, if only the writers would aim for better continuity and stop sacrificing drama for melodrama.' which is how I feel about the show. They (the powers that be) want a great show, but they can't quite pull it off.

I can so clearly see what it could be, if only the writers would aim for better continuity and stop sacrificing drama for melodrama.'

My peeve from day one, minute one.

'My peeve from day one, minute one.'
Yeah, mine too. That's what I like about the fanfic is this fandom, they can fix a lot of the shows problems.

Torchwood is far more successful (globally and financially) than Doctor Who, though. As long as it makes money they aren't getting rid of it.

I don't suppose you have access to financial data on that topic? It would be interesting to compare Torchwood to other Beeb programming in that regard, too. Particularly as I think Doctor Who will keep on going because it's Doctor Who, see also iconic status, while Torchwood is probably more comparable to a show like Life on Mars. Given that Torchwood doesn't even air consistently throughout the Commonwealth (ask any Aussie fan when the next episode is set to air), and given that the number of episodes produced will likely continue to stay very low, I'm not sure how well the future Torchwood can actually do in the global market. Producing only five episodes for S3, with S4 (if it happens at all) likely to have only six episodes, makes it extremely difficult for Torchwood to compete with U.S. programming, where the average show produces 22-24 episodes a year.

Also, in comparing DVD prices for a BBC property with only 13 episodes (e.g., Torchwood S1 and S2) to DVD prices for a U.S.-produced show with four times as many episodes, it's hard to see how Torchwood could ever rise above cult status, particularly in the U.S., where it airs on a cable channel that has the potential to reach only about half of the households in the U.S. Note that "potential to reach" does not equal "actually subscribes to BBC America *and* regularly watches BBC America programming." My parents, who never watch the channel, get it on their cable system, whereas I don't get the channel, but would probably watch lots of the BBC America programming if I did.

Anyway, I suspect the Beeb would be just as happy to authorize a U.S. production house to adapt Torchwood for a U.S. audience, similar to what's been done with Life on Mars or The Office. I don't have access to any financial information, but I imagine that there is a considerable amount of cash involved in authorizing a BBC property for production by a U.S. studio. The Beeb could easily reap whatever financial benefits it gets from some sort of licensing or co-production arrangement, and sit back enjoying the fact that it doesn't have to spend any money to produce the show or pay The Barrowman for his time and the use of his Porsche.

For instance, look at Life on Mars. 2 seasons and that's it. How long do you think the US version will be dragged out?

Have to say I sort of disagree with you, i.e. profit may not be a factor but the license fee which didn't get increased is. If you think about the Johnathon Ross/Russell Brand kerfuffle and the calls for the BBC to be more BBC4 and less BBC3 and politicians threatening to slice the legs of the license fee, well part of the constraints on Torchwood and other shows such as Bonekickers (which I thought was pants) and Being Human is basically budget.

Doctor Who is a legend and an institution and will survive while writers and producers queue up to do good work but the rest?

Hmmm...

And I include Sarah-Jane and her adventures in my reservations.

MY RANDOM WHO AND TORCHWOOD PREDICTIONS

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