It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with British sci-fi. So, when Geekadelphia had the opportunity to speak with Arlene Tur from the upcoming season Torchwood; I jumped on it. If you don’t know about Torchwood then, 1.) we’re not friends, and 2.) it’s all on Netflix so get to watchin’.

The new season entitled Miracle Day opens with a simple concept; What if everyone in the world stopped dying? As Captain Jack would willingly tell you, “Take it from someone who knows. Not being able to die… SUCKS.”

Arlene Tur has some exciting things to say about the new season without giving away the juicy details, but it was enough for me to jump up and down with giddy anticipation.

Torchwood is a BBC series, so not many Americans are aware of it. Could you describe the show for our American audiences, and why should they watch it?

Torchwood is a secret service in England that basically is in charge of keeping the people unaware and safe from extraterrestrial activities. They have the top technology, and supernatural things are going on all around them. What’s different about this, is that the show itself isn’t just sci-fi, because a lot of things in the hospital. It’s a hospital show, a secret government agency show, and a sci-fi show. There is also comedy in there. I feel like this is a show that everyone can enjoy.

This season marks the return of John Barrowman (Jack Harkness) and Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper) but now features Bill Pullman, Mekhi Phifer and yourself. Do you feel these American actors will bring something different to Torchwood?

What I think is exciting is– for the first time on a TV show we’re actually COLLABORATING. Instead of the Americans taking the English material and turning it into a more “American” show, Starz is saying to the BBC; look, you really know what you’re doing. Let’s collaborate!

So it’s both of us working together versus what they usually do, and just take what’s there and just basically do it word for word. I feel like this is so smart, and it’s going to bring a lot to the table. It’s going to bring both styles that are obviously successful and they’re going to be united. I’m really excited.

That is really exciting to hear! I love that the American writers and the BBC writers are basically putting their heads together. That’s genius!

Oh yeah, and you should see when we’re doing the table reads. It’s such a different energy than any other show in Hollywood, because I’ve done other shows– and people are pretty serious. People are thinking, “Are they going to like that?”, “What about the wardrobe?”

We sit down to read Torchwood with Julie Gardner and Russel T. Daves (the executive producers) they’re like, “Okay! Hooray! We’re going to have a wonderful read today, and we’re all so excited to be here!” And everybody is like WHAT? This is incredible! And everybody just relaxes and has a blast.

That goes onset as well. It’s so relaxed and there is such a love to work with. And John and Eve too. They’re amazing people. It’s so fun.

This series is entitled Miracle Day, and everyone on Earth stops dying completely. Can you give us a little hint of some of the craziness that will take place?

Well there are all kinds of choices and discoveries. The first episode is mind-blowing, and I even read the script before I saw it! It was like a movie. I was very stoked. What they do in the first episode for example; you would never imagine what we would have to deal with if people stopped dying. Everyone starts to feel supernatural, so they’re crazy cause they’re like “Whatever! It doesn’t matter! I’m not going to die!” They feel super human.

There are people trying to deal with the overpopulation. My character, obviously being in the ER—we have an overpopulation in the ER and we can’t get anybody out. There’s a need for space, and I start teaming up with the government and start going to these panels to see how we solve this problem. People are still being born, and no one is dying. The sick are staying the same. There’s not much improvement. There’s a need for pain medication more so than there is for antibiotics. They need the pain medication to make people feel better even though they’re really not getting better.

There’s a huge scene where we’re trying to figure out what’s going on. My character is like “Why is everyone from the government here?” Well, Captain Jack comes in to this morgue-like room where we’re doing an operation investigation. There’s someone who has basically been ANNIHILATED by a bomb, and we’re talking about what we’re seeing asking, “What are we going to do with this guy?” Captain Jack is like, “Why don’t we try to cut his head off?”

Philadelphia is home to many of America’s historical landmarks. In the event of an alien invasion, which landmark do you think would be their main target: The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, or our William Penn statue on top of City Hall?

I think it would be the bell. It signifies our Liberty and Democracy. That’s what we stand by. The bell—I just see that image everywhere. Definitely The Liberty Bell.

Torchwood: Miracle Day starts Friday July 8th at 10 p.m. on Starz. Be sure to tune in for what is bound to be an awesome season!