Torchwood "Children of Earth" on BBC America in 2 weeks!

tiassa · 07-07-2009, 11:15 AM

The BBCA website says "A 5 night miniseries event" -- anyone know how they are going to play this, and more importantly will my already ser Torchwood SP pick it up?

danm628 · 07-07-2009, 11:20 AM

The ads on BBCA are saying it is being shown as a 5 episode mini-series.

Another thing: it starts showing the same day that BBC HD goes live. So even if your season pass picks it up you may want to make a change anyway.

- Dan

Fleegle · 07-07-2009, 01:06 PM

Yea, but it'll be cut up. Anyone know if HDNet will be showing this?

tiassa · 07-07-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danm628

The ads on BBCA are saying it is being shown as a 5 episode mini-series.

Another thing: it starts showing the same day that BBC HD goes live. So even if your season pass picks it up you may want to make a change anyway.

- Dan

Question #1: will my cable system pick up BBCA HD?
Question #2: Will Tivo get the guide data in time?
Question #3: How are they going to show it? 5 nights a a row? 1 ep per week?

Malcontent · 07-07-2009, 01:44 PM

I just finished watching the U.K. first episode of "Children of Earth". It was freaking awesome.

You can find the first U.K. episode on bittorrent and usenet. There is a HD copy available.

Ozzie72 · 07-07-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malcontent

I just finished watching the U.K. first episode of "Children of Earth". It was freaking awesome.

You can find the first U.K. episode on bittorrent and usenet. There is a HD copy available.

Oh, sooooo much this.

This was worth the wait. If the rest of the series is half as good, it'll be great. If the remaining episodes are just as good, my head might explode.

Malcontent · 07-07-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozzie72

Oh, sooooo much this.

This was worth the wait. If the rest of the series is half as good, it'll be great. If the remaining episodes are just as good, my head might explode.

Episode #2 is now out on Bittorrent and Usenet. Also, a HD copy is available.

The_Geyser · 07-08-2009, 08:48 PM

Do you think HDNet will pick it up?

Malcontent · 07-08-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Geyser

Do you think HDNet will pick it up?

BBC AMERICA HD LAUNCHES JULY 20 WITH A SPECIAL SCI-FI WEEK

http://www.press.bbcamerica.com/pres...sp?news_id=113

Quote:

- U.S. Premieres of Torchwood: Children of Earth, Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead and Being Human to Air in HD -

New York, NY - Monday, June 1, 2009 - BBC Worldwide launches BBC AMERICA HD on July 20 with the high-definition simulcast of BBC AMERICA. BBC AMERICA HD kicks off with an extraordinary week of sci-fi U.S. premieres - the return of the channel’s highest rated series, Torchwood, the latest Doctor Who special, Planet of the Dead, the BBC AMERICA co-production, Being Human and the thrilling season finale of Primeval, Season 3.

Anubys · 07-09-2009, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Geyser

Do you think HDNet will pick it up?

there is nothing on the HDNet website that indicates that they will...Torchwood is listed on the bottom of the page with all their "series" but it is the only one with no link to showtimes...

my plan is to record these shows off of BBCA and then wait 3 months to see if HDNet will announce them...if not, I will watch the lousy, SD, cut-up shows from BBCA...

The_Geyser · 07-09-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anubys

there is nothing on the HDNet website that indicates that they will...Torchwood is listed on the bottom of the page with all their "series" but it is the only one with no link to showtimes...

my plan is to record these shows off of BBCA and then wait 3 months to see if HDNet will announce them...if not, I will watch the lousy, SD, cut-up shows from BBCA...

LOL! Thanks, I'll record lousy SD version too!

danm628 · 07-09-2009, 09:57 AM

I checked last night and my season pass for Torchwood did not pick up the Children of Earth. So I added a new season pass for it.

- Dan

Barmat · 07-09-2009, 10:29 AM

I refuse to watch this edited on BBCA. I'll go the route of less legal methods.

phox_mulder · 07-09-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barmat

I refuse to watch this edited on BBCA. I'll go the route of less legal methods.

Already have 1 and 2 ready to go, they took bloody forever to download though, the HD versions are huge, 1.5 gigs.

I think I'm going to wait to watch till I have all 5.

phox

tiassa · 07-09-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barmat

I refuse to watch this edited on BBCA. I'll go the route of less legal methods.

Here's a totally legal HD method, probably unedited as well (you have to wait a week, tho):
http://www.press.bbcamerica.com/pres...sp?news_id=116

Quote:

Torchwood: Children of Earth hits stores on Blu-ray and DVD July 28, 2009 - just four days after its dramatic finale on BBC AMERICA.

It just turned up in my Tivo Guide as well -- had to set a new SP

Sherminator · 07-09-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malcontent

BBC AMERICA HD LAUNCHES JULY 20 WITH A SPECIAL SCI-FI WEEK

http://www.press.bbcamerica.com/pres...sp?news_id=113

Not much use to us Cable customers, as there is no guarantee that Comcast & others with HD-NET will carry the channel the instant it s switched on, if at all.

Malcontent · 07-09-2009, 02:01 PM

*Spoilers*

BBC America has released a full two-minute clip from its upcoming Torchwood: Children of Earth.

*Spoilers*

http://scifiwire.com/2009/07/new-cli...orchwood-c.php

Malcontent · 07-09-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherminator

Not much use to us Cable customers, as there is no guarantee that Comcast & others with HD-NET will carry the channel the instant it s switched on, if at all.

I thought you downloaded U.K. shows from bittorrent.

Sherminator · 07-09-2009, 02:39 PM

That's illegal.

Besides, There was no need for me to even contemplate that last year, with HD-Net showing season 2 uncut, in HD & close to the original air-date. With the emphasis on uncut.

David Ortiz · 07-09-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fleegle

Yea, but it'll be cut up. Anyone know if HDNet will be showing this?

HDNet's press release regarding Torchwood specifically said Seasons One and Two. It's highly unlikely with BBC America HD launching that they would sign over rights for the third season to HDNet.

ewolfr · 07-09-2009, 05:31 PM

I love the fact that the cappers get the UK broadcasts up so soon after they show over there. Episode 4 is coming in as I type this and the HD caps look fantastic and in my opinion well worth the download.

Ozzie72 · 07-09-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewolfr

I love the fact that the cappers get the UK broadcasts up so soon after they show over there. Episode 4 is coming in as I type this and the HD caps look fantastic and in my opinion well worth the download.

Indeed, a huge

to our friends across the pond.

When I've gotten home from work "on time", the SD version is available and seeded like crazy -- I think it took me something like 8 minutes to download eps. 3 and 4. The HD versions are taking a bit longer, but only like 45 minutes. I haven't seen the HD caps yet, as I haven't had time to convert them from MKV. But I have my step-by-step guide all set and will be converting some sweet Torchwood HD goodness this weekend.

And then I'll probably watch all 5 eps again, in a row, on Saturday night.

And then my head will explode.

Lenonn · 07-09-2009, 11:39 PM

I have RCN cable, and wrote them (on the Channel Request section of their webpage), asking them to get BBCAHD. Their response was they they have no plans to add it in the near future.

tiassa · 07-10-2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenonn

I have RCN cable, and wrote them (on the Channel Request section of their webpage), asking them to get BBCAHD. Their response was they they have no plans to add it in the near future.

I wrote RCN as well, and got:

Quote:

Thank you for contacting RCN, this is Brandi. At this time I do not have any information regarding these channels. Please visit the following link to request for these channels to be considered for the lineup.

Oh, well at least I can watch on the SD channel and zoom it!

dbranco · 07-10-2009, 09:48 AM

I've never watched Torchwood, but the blurb in the Tv Guide gave that miniseries a thumbs-up. Would I be completely lost watching the miniseries without any background on the show?

ewolfr · 07-10-2009, 11:01 AM

Someone asked that very same question on Ask Ausiello this week:

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/07/...greys-etc.html

Quote:

Question: I have never watched Torchwood. Will I be able to watch Torchwood: Children of Earth without being lost? --Kelly
Ausiello: Hell, yeah. I'm actually only a sporadic Torchwood viewer, so I too had concerns that the five-night miniseries (debuting on BBC America July 20) would be tough to follow. But it's not. At all.

It would certainly help if you knew some of the backstory while watching but I could see how someone that has never seen an episode before could jump right into it. However there are only 30 or so total episodes and if you are running low on things to watch you could grab them all and save the new mini series until the end. Torchwood is a really fantastic show IMO and you would be well served by seeing all of them if you can.

Langree · 07-10-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewolfr

Someone asked that very same question on Ask Ausiello this week:

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/07/...greys-etc.html

It would certainly help if you knew some of the backstory while watching but I could see how someone that has never seen an episode before could jump right into it. However there are only 30 or so total episodes and if you are running low on things to watch you could grab them all and save the new mini series until the end. Torchwood is a really fantastic show IMO and you would be well served by seeing all of them if you can.

CoE has done a good job of telling backstory for first time viewers. I am finding CoE a much higher level of story telling then the previous episodes.

Skittles · 07-10-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Langree

CoE has done a good job of telling backstory for first time viewers. I am finding CoE a much higher level of story telling then the previous episodes.

I have to agree with this. Children of Earth does a great job at introducing the show to new viewers, while still being incredibly watchable for longtime fans of the show.

My only concern is that it's a bad starting point for anyone new to Torchwood. Children of Earth is, in my opinion, light years ahead of any single episode or any story arc ever done for Torchwood. None of the episodes hold a candle to Children of Earth.

So if you start with Children of Earth, just be warned that the tone and delivery of the show is different during the initial two seasons, and that the general quality of writing, acting, production, and storyline are all downhill after you watch Children of Earth. Kicking off with Children of Earth is great because, honestly, it's one of the best pieces of sci-fi ever. But it's also arguably the best Torchwood's ever been.

aaronwt · 07-10-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skittles

I have to agree with this. Children of Earth does a great job at introducing the show to new viewers, while still being incredibly watchable for longtime fans of the show.

My only concern is that it's a bad starting point for anyone new to Torchwood. Children of Earth is, in my opinion, light years ahead of any single episode or any story arc ever done for Torchwood. None of the episodes hold a candle to Children of Earth.

.....

Wow! This makes me look forward to the BD release even more. FIOS will not be adding BBCA-HD for the premier week so I will just rent or buy the BDs and see the show uncut.

Skittles · 07-10-2009, 08:04 PM

I offer no spoilers here.

I will only say that, after finishing Torchwood: Children of Earth, the show has set an impassable barrier for itself. I suspect it will likely never be this good again. It's certainly (for me) never been this good before. It is just five hours of complete goodness.

Children of Earth operates on a whole different level than the remainder of the show. And not only is it the best of any Torchwood offering, it's truly one of the best pieces of science fiction in far too long.