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Russell T. Davies nearly done with sci-fi

He's left Doctor Who and now writer Russell T. Davies is now looking to exit Torchwood -and the sci-fi genre.

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What would we do with Russell T. Davies writing sci-fi?

It’s on the cards, apparently.

In an interview with the BBC he describes the 10-episode series, Torchwood: Miracle Day, which crosses between Los Angeles and Cardiff, as a “great, big urban thriller”.

But then this:

“It’s interesting to see how long I can stay in a science fiction world. Personally I think I’m coming to the end of it now, and I’ve saved the world and blown up the world too many times. …,” he says.

“It’s time to write something just where people are talking in kitchens after this for me.”

So having left Doctor Who he is now looking for an exit to Torchwood.

You can see the interview here.

18 Responses

  3. Exactly, Jack- both bought the franchises(horrible word) back to life ,with both popular and largely critical acclaim allowing others to step on and take them further

  4. Take it as read that I am 100% opposed to Michael’s comment about both RTD and Brannon Braga! Both have done miracles in revitalising shows and extending their lives for the better!

  6. Another bit of RTD genius that’s often overlooked is “The Second Coming”, made just before he started on Doctor Who and starring Christopher Eccleston. Brilliant writing. The full version has never been shown on TV here; it’s available on DVD though.

  7. I really loved RTD work that -wasn’t- dr who/torchwood. Things like Bob & Rose and Cassanova. I think while some of his dr who stuff was ok, it wasn’t his best work. And I never liked a lot of the things he had to say about dr who and scifi in general either. So I guess I would be pretty happy if he went back to writing other things as I think that is his strength.

  9. Ever since the the first season of the new doctor who Moffat has always written the best episodes while Davies wrote the key episodes to hold the season together. Torchwood was a great spinoff and while in the same universe as doctor who it brought a new life to scifi. Until they killed off all the characters and season 3 that is.

  10. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I kinda miss the whimsical fun that RTD brought to Doctor Who. I hope he stays with Torchwood a while longer though if S3 is anything to go by.

  11. Gotta kind of agree with the general consensus – Davies is actually not very good at writing sci-fi. Some of his Doctor Who episodes were great – Midnight, Untopia – but I have to admit they were the exception rather than the rule. His season finales, for example, were all bloated spectacle and one note waterworks over real substance and narrative cohesion.

    That said, I agree with Jack that the openness and balance he brought to the genre was long overdue. Some of his earlier character work on Who was sublime. He’s done us good by bringing Doctor Who back… but after Stephen Moffat’s excellent first season, I can’t say I’m clamouring for Davies to write another Who episode.

  12. @ Neon Kitten: Absolutley right … I love the new Steven Moffat series of Doctor Who as he has brought new life to what was getting stale and predictable in the last year of RTD and David Tennant.

    Regardless, RTD is a genius and we owe him for a hell of a lot of fantastic TV!!!!

  13. Poor Russell, he get’s beaten up by fans for promoting a “gay” agenda in his Sci-Fi, but I think he is just trying to bring a bit of balance and openness.

    I agree that it is time for him to move on from Sci-Fi. He has created a fantastic team of talented people who are more than capable of sustaining his babies (Doctor Who, Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures).

    Russell has been talking for a while in interviews about a new gay drama/comedy show about the genertion gap between old gays and young gays (sound like the real world to me) which I am really hoping he will get happening soon (probably involving a kitchen)… QAF was exceptional so let’s hope this new one is as successful!

  17. The fact that he relegates sci-fi to “saving the world and blowing up the world” pretty much describes what went so wrong with his tenure with Doctor Who.

    RTD writes relationships and strength-in-the-face-of-adversity brilliantly, and matches the two seamlessly. That’s why his earlier Doctor Who worked. And then it just got, well, silly.

    That said, the last Torchwood mini series was excellent, despite some frustrating elements. But the most excellent bits were the human ones.

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