This is one of the few shows that I regret deeply being done with and even think about watching all over again. The lower rating is only due to series 4, which I struggled to get past. The two new characters that are introduced aren't Torchwood at all and I couldn't develop any feelings beyond annoyance towards them. While I wish the series would come back, I'm not sure if it would be as good as it used to be, with all that happened in the three previous seasons.
But let's talk about the real deal and just pretend Miracle Day doesn't exist: the first episodes aren't the best, but as the characters develop and you get to know more about the world around them, it becomes more and more interesting.
I, personally, find it better than Doctor Who for the simple reason that I see a deeper development in many points. While the Doctor is the only one who has very substantial changes in his personality (apart from some of his companions), each and every character has their own space to improve as time goes by in Torchwood. Ianto was my absolute favourite, because he starts as a coffee boy and develops into an essential member of the team, conquering his space and voicing his opinions. And he has some of the best lines.
I also see more diversity in the personalities (mainly in the women) of Torchwood's characters and I find it very interesting that Davies explored matters that aren't explored in Doctor Who, such as homosexuality. It is amazing how there are two women kissing or two men in a relationship and everyone there just treats it as natural - and eventually finds it rather sexy. It's just a "background" romance as any other, it comes in various types and it doesn't necessarily enforce or contradict any stereotypes - considering Queer As Folk, you can see a huge development in Davies' way of expressing the matter.
The plot is rather different from Doctor Who; it's set on Earth, and it's not only about saving the day, it's preventing humanity from knowing of the existence of alien dangers while they save everyone. Torchwood is packed with action, but it also has drama, so that you watch it to see what's happening in the corporation and what's going on in the characters' lives.
It is very curious that the series showed how some types of work simply consume one's life, yet some people are still capable of coping and living healthily in the outside world. It also explores the dependency some have, and how work becomes more than merely a part of someone.
The most amazing part, in my opinion, is that Torchwood overcomes fiction, something I don't see Doctor Who doing. The latter shows aliens in situations we know could never be real, but the former manages to show how aliens could be influencing our everyday lives without us even knowing. While in Doctor Who there are spaceships in the sky of London that can only be explained as aliens, a Weevil appears and Torchwood convinces the world that it was just a criminal. It's manipulation "for the people's good".
It is hard to believe that Doctor Who is real, but it's not impossible to wonder if Torchwood is.
But let's talk about the real deal and just pretend Miracle Day doesn't exist: the first episodes aren't the best, but as the characters develop and you get to know more about the world around them, it becomes more and more interesting.
I, personally, find it better than Doctor Who for the simple reason that I see a deeper development in many points. While the Doctor is the only one who has very substantial changes in his personality (apart from some of his companions), each and every character has their own space to improve as time goes by in Torchwood. Ianto was my absolute favourite, because he starts as a coffee boy and develops into an essential member of the team, conquering his space and voicing his opinions. And he has some of the best lines.
I also see more diversity in the personalities (mainly in the women) of Torchwood's characters and I find it very interesting that Davies explored matters that aren't explored in Doctor Who, such as homosexuality. It is amazing how there are two women kissing or two men in a relationship and everyone there just treats it as natural - and eventually finds it rather sexy. It's just a "background" romance as any other, it comes in various types and it doesn't necessarily enforce or contradict any stereotypes - considering Queer As Folk, you can see a huge development in Davies' way of expressing the matter.
The plot is rather different from Doctor Who; it's set on Earth, and it's not only about saving the day, it's preventing humanity from knowing of the existence of alien dangers while they save everyone. Torchwood is packed with action, but it also has drama, so that you watch it to see what's happening in the corporation and what's going on in the characters' lives.
It is very curious that the series showed how some types of work simply consume one's life, yet some people are still capable of coping and living healthily in the outside world. It also explores the dependency some have, and how work becomes more than merely a part of someone.
The most amazing part, in my opinion, is that Torchwood overcomes fiction, something I don't see Doctor Who doing. The latter shows aliens in situations we know could never be real, but the former manages to show how aliens could be influencing our everyday lives without us even knowing. While in Doctor Who there are spaceships in the sky of London that can only be explained as aliens, a Weevil appears and Torchwood convinces the world that it was just a criminal. It's manipulation "for the people's good".
It is hard to believe that Doctor Who is real, but it's not impossible to wonder if Torchwood is.