They’re very strange (but not in the way DW is often strange). Scottish monks mimicking kung fu sterotypes in 19th century Scotland. Really odd given the excellent period setting otherwise.
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They really look like what they probably are - the local Cardiff Mixed Martial Arts club. They just don’t fit, as you say, the period setting.
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Trying to get back into the clubs again after my house move & realised I never posted on this one. This was probably because I didn’t really have much to say about it that hasn’t already been said above.
The “not amused” gag was pure cringe and reminded me of Clara at her worst - it seemed totally out of character for the Rose we had known up to now and seems to imply that Ten is becoming a very bad influence on her.
The treatment of Queen Victoria in this story is another reminder of why I dislike pseudo-historicals with real historical figures so much - & I already know there is far worse to come in that direction! - but it does serve the purpose of setting up Torchwood. Seems very strange thar the Doctor never encountered them before - is this a change to the timeline somehow?
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Yes, because it takes the 10th Doctor in his timeline to effect the change leading to Torchwood. This is why they never appear (or are mentioned) in classic Who.
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I have an explanation. You see, time travel doesn’t actually exist, and the people who made the show back in the 20th century didn’t know about Torchwood, a concept that was invented in the revival era. It’s very difficult for the Doctor to encounter something that wasn’t invented until decades later!
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Yes but you still need an in-universe explanation
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Watching this during lunch. My first thought is… yes, the white kung fu monks versus Scottish manor staff doesn’t make that much sense, but boy is it a fun sequence. So the Doctor and Rose were supposed to going to Sheffield 1979 for a punk concert. Shame, it only took twelve years to actually reach Sheffield. Totally agree on the smugness of the Doctor and Rose. And I have to say the Torchwood Estate is a beautiful building (according to the wiki, it’s Treowen House in Dingestow, Wales). Though I’m unsure how much is actual physical location and how much is CGI. Also, the human host of the werewolf is quite creepy. That glare from Victoria when Rose tries to get her to say the thing after ordering that she be properly clothed is just brilliant. The Brainy Specs!
I don’t care what anybody says, I love this episode. I’ll admit that not everything makes complete sense. But it’s a lot of fun. And as an origin for Torchwood, it works amazingly. I also really love the music. Yes, this is the Doctor and Rose at some of their most smug, but there is a plot reason, both for the episode and the season arc. Pauline Collins shines as Queen Victoria. And I didn’t find the CG of the transformation and wolf as bad as others are saying. It’s not top of the line, but still holds up rather well and doesn’t take me out of the story.
Looking through the notes on the wiki, apparently “At one point, Russell T Davies contemplated surprising the viewers by having the werewolf kill Queen Victoria. This would then be the event which would cause the creation of the parallel universe to which the TARDIS would be drawn in for the season finale. However, Davies became concerned that this ongoing storyline would be too difficult for casual viewers to follow, and decided to drop the idea.” That would’ve been really interesting to have seen. Maybe that’s an idea for a Torchwood audio.
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I’ll admit that this is an episode I really enjoy. I’m a sucker for werewolf stories though, so that is definitely a factor in why I like this episode. I agree that the whole kung fu monk thing is absurd and doesn’t quite fit tonally. They’re definitely the weakest bit of the episode.
I didn’t have a problem with Ten and Rose’s smugness, the dynamic feels like a logical progression from New Earth. And in this episode, their smugness is just clever enough to come off as endearing. Generally, I’m not a fan of a lot of Ten’s smarmy self-importance but I think it works in this context.
The “I am not amused” bit does give me some secondhand embarrassment but the payoff is pretty great. I think Victoria’s speech to them does a good job at foreshadowing how their relationship will end, how their feelings of being untouchable will prove untrue. Queen Victoria is easily one of the best characters in the episode, the actress is great and she consistently has the best lines. Overall, I find it a very fun watch where I can overlook most of the nitpicks I have with it.
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