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[07/20/09 - 12:05 AM]
Interview: "Torchwood" Creator Russell T. Davies
By Jim Halterman (TFC)

For those who have yet to find BBC America on their television dials, tonight is a good time to start when the popular British import "Torchwood" kicks off a compelling five-night miniseries that will run through Friday called "Children of Earth." With parts that include science fiction, romance, government intrigue and family, "Torchwood," a spin-off the "Doctor Who" series, clearly has something for everyone. Jim Halterman talked to creator Russell T. Davies about this short third season of the series and how he juggles genre elements, has a same-sex romance at the heart of the show and whether diehard fans will see a fourth season.

Jim Halterman: The miniseries concerns, among other things, something strange happening to the children of the world and with your background in children's television, how did you merge that with the very adult "Torchwood?"

Russell T. Davies: It was partly because I think when you get to children then you're touching on the most precious thing we've got and it touches everyone and even if you're not a parent, you value children so everyone has more at stake and everyone's involved. At the same time, it was important to involve each of the main characters lives with children for the first time. We discover that Gwen (played by Eve Myles) is pregnant, we discover that Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd) has a family that we've never seen before and Captain Jack (John Barrowman) has a sort of daughter that he's never seen before. It's a great way to take a main cast and wrap them all in the central plot with what happens with the children stopping speaking at once. It makes people watch.

JH: Seeing that schoolyard with all the kids in the uniforms completely frozen and chanting was a great moment. You also balance the emotional side of the characters with the sci-fi elements. Do you favor one side over the other?

RTD: It's hardly something that I've invented. A lot of great science fiction writers over the past decade, especially on television, have been starting to mix the fantasy themes with the domestic and it's a way to get more people watching. I think science fiction sometimes tends to have a lot of distance and be rather hard and rather cold. I think the more you can ground it in reality and the more can have it with real people in real everyday life the more you can reach people. I just think it's more human, more welcoming and that's what it's about. It's about what effect the science fiction ideas have on audiences and a lot of the drama relies on the priest, the medical staff, the law, the judges and that makes for great drama to put those people in the front line. I personally like to take it even further and take it home and see what sort of home it is.

JH: "Torchwood" has been compared to such shows like "The X Files" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Where did you draw your inspiration when creating "Torchwood?"

RTD: I have been a fan of science fiction and I've watched all those shows. I like the whole range of fantasy. I like "Star Wars" to "Buffy." I like "Battlestar Galactica." I'm into "True Blood." Actually, if it's there I'll watch it. You name it, I've seen it.

JH: You also have this great romance in the middle of it all with Captain Jack and Ianto. How does this same sex romance fit into the landscape of this world?

RTD: From the very start, "Torchwood" has had a sort of free and easy attitude towards sexuality, which is true towards everything I write. I invented "Queer as Folk" ten years ago and I know a version ran for five years on Showtime. Even "Doctor Who," which is a family show that sometimes goes out at 6 o'clock in the evening and I introduced Captain Jack, who was this bisexual, swaggering hero and there have been absolutely no complaints whatsoever. Obviously I carried that over into "Torchwood." I think it's great to have a prime time drama with a gay couple at the center of it. When "Children of Earth" aired here in Britain, we were the number one show for the week and it was fantastic. It ran Monday through Friday and I'd hoped it would do quite well.

JH: The show also makes a point of not completely revolving around the relationship. It just happens to be a very natural part of the world.

RTD: I think that's why the relationships seem normal because I've got a long history of writing gay and lesbian characters so it's not new to me so I'm not bothered and it's my life and the more natural thing. There's never been a single producer who has ever told me to stop so that's been wonderful.

JH: Is the fourth season a given based on the solid performance in the UK earlier this month?

RTD: Well, I hope so but nothing is ever set to go when you're facing a worldwide recession but I'm very hopeful that there will be some new "Torchwood" in some shape and form since we've been such a success. It's a very nice position to be in and I can pick and choose. It's lovely.

JH: That's a good position to be in.

RTD: It doesn't happen often! [Laughs.]

JH: In regards to how "Torchwood" has been received, do you see a difference between American and British audiences?

RTD: Well, it's hard to say because, to be honest, I don't dip myself into fandom or into responses. I don't even open my own mailbag. I have someone who does it in the office. But you know that science fiction attracts a ferocious and devoted audience but I cannot bring myself to listen to it. I only got where I got in television by having faith in my own convictions so I literally don't listen to the feedback. This program must undergo a focus group and market testing of 2000 people and yet that's what fandom is. It's a focus group that's way too focused so I gather that there's a great cult following in America for it and I think a lot of the people have picked up on the gay relationship between Captain Jack and Ianto and adore that but I can't tell you how different that is from the British audience. I don't really know.

JH: Now that shows like "Queer As Folk" and "Will & Grace" are off the air, do we need another gay-centric show or is it better that gay characters be peppered throughout television?

RTD: I think we should have a gay-centric show if it's good and it's interesting but if it's solely because it's gay then that's not enough of a reason. It has to have something to say. I'm very impressed by the number of gay characters I've seen onscreen. It's quite regular, quite comfortable and very well written so that peppering that you talk about is very well underway. We should always remain vigilant to make sure we don't disappear again but I think it's a healthy situation. I've been very lucky in that I invented "Queer As Folk" ten years and that seemed to have given me a magical shield and a tradition that because they know I'm going to put gay stuff in there they cannot object to it.

JH: John Barrowman just seems like the kind of performer that can do anything. If the show keeps going, what are the plans for Captain Jack?

RTD: Well, I can't be specific about anything for the character who I started on "Doctor Who" and now on "Torchwood" and I'm so lucky that the timing in my life would be so good to coincide with John, an openly gay actor who looks like the most dashing, handsome hero you could ever meet who is playing a bisexual leading role. It's very rare to have that chemistry there and John carries it off the style and talent. God bless him!

JH: Will we see more of James Marsters, who has a strong fan base from his days as Spike on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer?"

RTD: We love him! What a marvelous man! I was fan struck when I met him! He has a lot of fans and I'm one of them. No plans yet I'm afraid but the man is simply a genius.

JH: Outside of the potential fourth season of "Torchwood," what else are you working on?

RTD: I'm just coming off of five solid years of "Doctor Who" and we're just finishing up our finale so I'm slowly gearing up to planning something new but not in too much of a rush because I'm tired!

The five-part series event "Torchwood: Children of Earth" premieres tonight and airs for five consecutive nights at 9:00/8:00c on BBC America.





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