After that horrid Grey’s finale, I decided to watch a mindless sci-fi finale to wash the palette. Enter “Torchwood” (a Doctor Who spin-off) series 2 finale.

For the record, the finale aired in the beginning of April, though I just got around to watching it. It was definitely worth the wait. Two characters died (for reals this time) and someone from Captain Jack’s past wreaked havoc upon the city of Cardiff. Plus, James Marsters returned in this episode, which was a good bookend to series 2 seeing how he appeared in the first episode of the season.

The series went to a very dark place this time with the near destruction of Cardiff. I’m not sure they could blow up a major city on any sci-fi series in the US. I feel like American tv is sometime too cautious with viewers. They don’t want people freaking out and saying the drama was too real or close to home.

I hope Series 3 will be able to define the characters again as they come together in this new climate of death. The last scene hinted on the idea of healing with Jack embracing the team, but I’m not sure if Jack will be enough to hold everyone together.

With all the shake-ups on “Doctor Who” and “Torchwood”, it’s hard for a girl to keep up sometimes. Here’s hoping everyone still breathing at the end of the finale returns in Series 3.

My first episode of “Wire in the Blood” left me a bit confused since it started off in Luther, Texas. Definitely an unexpected locale, since it’s a UK crime drama. Most episodes follow psychologist Tony Hill and his work with the UK Bradfield CID.

From BBCAmerica.com:
“This season [season 5], the first time Wire in the Blood has ever been shot in America, a case takes Tony all the way to Austin, Texas. Robson Green says of the special season premiere, “Wire in the Blood has a loyal and growing audience in the States and we were delighted to have the opportunity to film this special episode in Texas. I was personally thrilled to be working in America for the first time - it was an opportunity for me to develop the character of Tony Hill in unfamiliar territory as he gets caught up with a prisoner on death row.”

Despite the experimental locale, I was immediately drawn into the show. The episode blended comedy with mystery-suspense quite easily. They had Tony complaining about the Texas heat one second and the next a rattlesnake mysteriously attacks him in his car! I didn’t know much about the show, so I literally just went with the flow. And by the end, I was captivated by the stylish cinematography and deft acting by all the players.

The rest of the season takes place in Bradfield, England where Tony helps DI Alex Fielding solve murders involving voodoo witchcraft, child abduction, and serial killers.

“Wire in the Blood” airs Sundays at 8pm EST on BBC America.

“Spaced” is finally coming to dvd in America (says Pajiba).

“Spaced” is the UK television show where Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg honed their comedic chops. Before slaying audiences with Shaun of the Dead, Pegg was the quintessential slacker, Tim Bisley.

IMDB summarizes it pretty well:
“Tim Bisley and Daisy Steiner rent a flat pretending to be a couple. There, they meet the alcoholic land lady Marsha, the disturbed and troubled painter downstairs Brian, Tim’s best friend the war-crazy Mike, Daisy’s best friend fashion designer Twist, and their pet dog Colin. What follows is the groups hilarious and witty adventures.”

Most uberfans with all-region dvd players bought the show’s two seasons already as an import. The rest of the fans can re-live the laughs with the US release on July 23rd supposedly with new commentary!

The newest season of “Doctor Who” premieres tomorrow on the SciFi Channel (along with BSG and The Sarah Jane Chronicles). I believe it’s just the Christmas special, which already aired in the UK. The UK airs episode three on saturday, so the US airings will be three eps behind. But hey that’s alot better than an entire year behind! That’s almost record breaking. BBC is finally catching on that us Yanks might actually like some their shows. Fancy that?

Regardless, I’m very excited about the premiere. I got into the show late in the game (very late for those who’ve been watching since the PBS days). Since I liked the “Torchwood” spin-off so much, I decided to figure out for myself whether I like its parent show. I was a bit confused about how they could switch Doctors so easily, but David Tennant is funny (and cute!), so I got over it relatively quickly.

I’ve watched all of season one and two in the last month, which is a pretty big feat. I just started season three, so I can’t actually watch tomorrow’s episode. But rest assured, my TiVo is already primed and ready. =)