So, Torchwood! (spoilers!)
Mar. 12th, 2008 07:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gothams3rdrobinGood grief - I haven't posted any observations about this season since episode four! What am I like?
This is going to take a while - I'll probably be settling down to watch this weeks episodes by the time I press post! :-) Anyone who hasn't read my TW reviews before: I'm not good at in-depth, insightful commentary, I'm all about the Jack/Ianto, and I tend to squee about recognising locations around my home town where the filming took place.
Episode 5: To The Last Man
A very awesome Tosh storyline, but yet another where she gets her heart broken :-( I liked Tommy, and felt sorry for him, having to go through that. The mention of St Teilo's Hospital amused me, as I live not too far from the parish of St Teilos, and its high school. I was talking to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
thaya_rayal over IM during this episode, and she recognised the pub where Tommy and Toshiko played pool - and also made gagging noises in the big Jack/Ianto scene! *grins*
Speaking of which, I was thrilled to see that scene, but not as much as I would have expected. I think this is because I had been soaking up spoilers, and therefore recognised what was about to happen, so my squeeage was unfortunately reduced. Since then I have avoided spoilers where possible, and enjoyed myself more. But I think my favourite bit of that scene was not the snog, wonderful though it was, but the conversation that preceeded it. I loved the whole "Would you miss me?"/"Yep!", and I choose to believe that Jack was, in his own way, telling Ianto that he loves him. Everyone's mileage varies, of course, but that is my own take and I'm happy with it.
Episode 6: Adam
Oh god - what a heart-rending episode this was. I loved how they worked Adam into the opening titles - that was very clever. Couldn't get myself to like him, but then I probably wasn't meant to, even when he still appeared to be a good guy. Everyone did really well playing 'alternate' versions of themselves - Owen in geek-specks FTW! Tosh-boobies!! - but the best part was learning more about Jack's past. I wasn't surprised to learn 'Grey' was Jack's little brother - the kid who played him reminded me so much of Rowan's friend Gwyn and his little brother Heddyd - though it certainly put paid to several hundred fanfics! *grins* But then again, that was highly likely to happen anyway, even if RTD and crew are known for running with seemingly throw-away comments.
I loved their use of the beautiful beaches at Ogmore-On-Sea, and using the corner wall of the pub down Cardiff Bay as the outside of Jack's house on Boshane? Fantastic! *grins*
The whole 'Jack's love for Ianto saves the day' thing wasn't quite as advertised, but I do see what they meant. It was a fantastic scene; Jack returns to the Hub, thinking he's alone, when he hears Ianto croak out his name. He grins, thinking Ianto's dozed off on the sofa waiting up for him, and his small-head likely starts doing the 'gonna get some!' dance as he turns around, only to find Ianto's in quite a state. So protector!Jack investigates, and what he hears is so out of sync with the Ianto he knows that he refuses to believe what the other man tells him and moves heaven and earth to uncover the truth. It shows that, since Cyberwoman, Jack has gotten to know Ianto much better - well enough to know that, while he'll sneak his cyber-converted girlfriend into the hub and lie his ass off if he feels the situation requires it, he's not capable of cold-blooded murder.
Episode 7: Reset
Martha!! Also Jim Robinson!! As a bad guy!!! *grins*
The best bit of this episode has to be the steady-cam from Martha's POV, when she first enters the Tourist Office and meets Ianto, who's reading a magazine while he waits to close up for the night. The look on his face, and the stammering, on seeing Martha's UNIT ID is absolutely priceless! *loves on Ianto* And how thrilled Jack was to see her again! I loved their conversation about how much they don't (but really they do) miss travelling with the Doctor - and Jack asking for a UNIT cap for Ianto to wear? Bwah! And the scene between Martha and Ianto where she grills him about his relationship with Jack, and tells him about the cap idea? So made of win! I also loved Ianto's comment about how disturbed in the head Tosh must be to come up with her solution about how to smuggle them all into The Pharm, once things have gone ca-ca. *grins* Tosh's "I'll take that as a compliment!" capped off an awesome bit of interaction beautifully.
Martha is, as usual, awesome in this episode, as was Alan Dale as the baddie. But oh! Owen! *tears up* Just as I was getting to like him, he gets shot dead by Jim bloody Robinson! (I really should stop calling him that...*grins*) This, of course, was all in the game plan, damn their eyes, to make us like him before they sprung this on us....
Episode 8: Dead Man Walking
What's that you say? Owen's dead? But this is science-fiction, surely dead doesn't mean dead! Except where it kinda does?
So, Martha's preparing to perform the autopsy on Owen (gotta wonder why, though? Dead by gunshot wound, case shut, right? Do you really need to know the weight of his internal organs? What he had for lunch the day before?) when Jack comes storming in screaming that no-one touches Owen until he gets back. Then, after a weird conversation with some freaky ten-year-old and a hunt through a Weevil nest in an old church, he returns with the partner of the 'Risen Mitten' that caused such problems in season one. Even though the first one apparently didn't work for Jack, he manages to bring Owen back and everyone says their goodbyes - and Jack asks for the code to the morgue (nice one Jack!) Ianto apparently has a very good memory, though, as he mouths the code to himself before nodding.
Now, there's a time limit for how long the glove can reanimate a corpse, and Owen predictably collapses after about two minutes. Everyone's stood around grieving, when shock! Owen sits up again! So, once again, death isn't the end in sci-fi - though Owen is definitely dead. He's just...still walking and talking.
I'm not going to go through the entire episode, good though it was, as I've already been at this for an hour and a half! *grins* The BBC2 showing of 'Something Borrowed' is distracting me. Owen was fantastic, though.
Episode 9: A Day In The Death
I absolutely loved this one! The way it showed how Owen's dealing with his new 'un-dead' status was fab, and totally believable. I did think Jack was a bit of a swine, suspending Owen while Martha did her tests - after all, wouldn't it have been better to keep Owen close? And Owen getting relegated to 'tea-boy'! *grins* Certainly gave him a better idea of Ianto's daily life, especially during season one - particularly when the others were so weirded out they could barely look at him.
I'd heard about the scene where Owen jumps into the marina, and that Burn Gorman did the stunt himself *grins*
My love for the character grows exponentially with each episode this season. And Richard Briers! The guy's a UK tv legend, has been since the seventies. At the moment, though, he's mainly known as 'Bob's Dad' from 'Bob The Builder', with the equally legendary June Whitfield as 'Bob's Mum'.
My only real problem with the episode is, if Owen has no breath, then how the heck is he able to talk? Oh, and when Martha heads home? Why does she walk down the Plass towards the water, in the direction of the Tourist Office? When the SUV was parked alongside the bus stop?
Episode 10: Something Borrowed
This has got to be my favourite episode so far - it's fantastically cracked, with a suddenly-pregnant Gwen trying desperately to get married, whilst being stalked by the mother of her alien baby. I even liked Gwen in this episode, despite the occasional re-emergence of the whole 'I love Rhys, but I'd drop him in a heartbeat if you asked me to, Jack' *rolls eyes* Ianto is very cool, as are Tosh and Owen - and I bet John had a blast playing the shapeshifter-Jack!
Once again they've brought in excellent Welsh actors as guest stars; I can't remember who it is that plays Gwen's dad, but he's very well known, and Nerys Hughes as Rhys's mam! Excellent! The friends of the bride and groom were very stereotypical, and did my head in - particularly Banana Boat *slaps him* I could very easily have worked or studied with any one of those losers, alas.
Loved, loved, loved when Gwen shot at the shapeshifter, having concealed her gun in her bouquet! *grins* That was inspired.
Naturally my favourite scene was the dance at the reception. I don't quite agree with those shippers who are up in arms about it; I can see how Gwen could misinterpret the way Jack was treating her, but I think it's partially continued fear that Gwen could be slipping away from Torchwood - and Jack has come to care very deeply for her indeed - and partially nostalgia. I didn't see any real jealousy, just loneliness and nostalgia. Poor Ianto for having to work at getting their attention so he could cut in and dance with his boyfriend - but how cool was it that they didn't need to hide? Though I think it was probably quite a pleasant surprise for the parents of the bride and groom, after Jack's whole 'STOP THE WEDDING!!!', just at the 'just cause and impediment' bit of the ceremony. And hee - Owen and Tosh, watching them dance from the side of the room, where they're propping the bar up together.
Gotta feel sorry for the gang though - after that hard day, having to deal with several dozen retconned wedding guests. And awwww, that picture of Jack and his bride, from waaaay back. I hope we find out more about that. I think that's why he was quiet and sad through the wedding, remembering that. It's speculation whether he would feel he could ever offer Ianto that, since we have civil partnerships here these days. The writers aren't exactly giving us much to go on yet, where their relationship is concerned; one minute they're just 'dabbling', the next Ianto's such a lovesick puppy he's looking to dance with Jack at a wedding. Liked the comment about Ianto's father, too; they are close enough to discuss personal stuff, but I don't think Jack was expecting it at that moment in time.
Okay, since it's now five to eleven and I've seen the next episode too, here's my initial thoughts. Remember, this is the episode that aired on BBC3 today, so it's a week ahead of those watching on BBC2.
Episode 11: From Out Of The Rain
This was also very awesome, and quite Ianto-centric. He's the one who gets Owen and Gwen to go to the old cinema with him, and the one who spots Jack on the old cine-footage, and the one who does most of the research, and the one who notices the missing people on the film, and, and...*exhales*
There was nothing overtly Jack/Ianto about tonight's episode, but the two of them worked together all the way through, sharing fascinating conversation about Jack's time in a traveling circus (And who was he working for when he infiltrated that troupe? Surely he'd have said outright if it was Torchwood, and he was already immortal so not the Time Agency...Hmmm.....). And poor woobie Ianto with the vial of breathe.... *snuggles him* He really did get very emotionally invested in this case.
Didn't recognise any locations, on first viewing, but I may well at a later date.
On the whole I'm thoroughly enjoying this season. I can't believe it's nearly over! *whines*
I also can't believe how bloody long it took me to write this post! Seems all my posts these days take most of the night, for one reason or another. I should probably go get some sleep now - not working tomorrow, since it's Rowan's school assembly, but I still have to get up and do the school run and stuff. No rest for the wicked - or even those with no opportunity to be wicked! *chuckles*
This is going to take a while - I'll probably be settling down to watch this weeks episodes by the time I press post! :-) Anyone who hasn't read my TW reviews before: I'm not good at in-depth, insightful commentary, I'm all about the Jack/Ianto, and I tend to squee about recognising locations around my home town where the filming took place.
Episode 5: To The Last Man
A very awesome Tosh storyline, but yet another where she gets her heart broken :-( I liked Tommy, and felt sorry for him, having to go through that. The mention of St Teilo's Hospital amused me, as I live not too far from the parish of St Teilos, and its high school. I was talking to
thaya_rayal over IM during this episode, and she recognised the pub where Tommy and Toshiko played pool - and also made gagging noises in the big Jack/Ianto scene! *grins*Speaking of which, I was thrilled to see that scene, but not as much as I would have expected. I think this is because I had been soaking up spoilers, and therefore recognised what was about to happen, so my squeeage was unfortunately reduced. Since then I have avoided spoilers where possible, and enjoyed myself more. But I think my favourite bit of that scene was not the snog, wonderful though it was, but the conversation that preceeded it. I loved the whole "Would you miss me?"/"Yep!", and I choose to believe that Jack was, in his own way, telling Ianto that he loves him. Everyone's mileage varies, of course, but that is my own take and I'm happy with it.
Episode 6: Adam
Oh god - what a heart-rending episode this was. I loved how they worked Adam into the opening titles - that was very clever. Couldn't get myself to like him, but then I probably wasn't meant to, even when he still appeared to be a good guy. Everyone did really well playing 'alternate' versions of themselves - Owen in geek-specks FTW! Tosh-boobies!! - but the best part was learning more about Jack's past. I wasn't surprised to learn 'Grey' was Jack's little brother - the kid who played him reminded me so much of Rowan's friend Gwyn and his little brother Heddyd - though it certainly put paid to several hundred fanfics! *grins* But then again, that was highly likely to happen anyway, even if RTD and crew are known for running with seemingly throw-away comments.
I loved their use of the beautiful beaches at Ogmore-On-Sea, and using the corner wall of the pub down Cardiff Bay as the outside of Jack's house on Boshane? Fantastic! *grins*
The whole 'Jack's love for Ianto saves the day' thing wasn't quite as advertised, but I do see what they meant. It was a fantastic scene; Jack returns to the Hub, thinking he's alone, when he hears Ianto croak out his name. He grins, thinking Ianto's dozed off on the sofa waiting up for him, and his small-head likely starts doing the 'gonna get some!' dance as he turns around, only to find Ianto's in quite a state. So protector!Jack investigates, and what he hears is so out of sync with the Ianto he knows that he refuses to believe what the other man tells him and moves heaven and earth to uncover the truth. It shows that, since Cyberwoman, Jack has gotten to know Ianto much better - well enough to know that, while he'll sneak his cyber-converted girlfriend into the hub and lie his ass off if he feels the situation requires it, he's not capable of cold-blooded murder.
Episode 7: Reset
Martha!! Also Jim Robinson!! As a bad guy!!! *grins*
The best bit of this episode has to be the steady-cam from Martha's POV, when she first enters the Tourist Office and meets Ianto, who's reading a magazine while he waits to close up for the night. The look on his face, and the stammering, on seeing Martha's UNIT ID is absolutely priceless! *loves on Ianto* And how thrilled Jack was to see her again! I loved their conversation about how much they don't (but really they do) miss travelling with the Doctor - and Jack asking for a UNIT cap for Ianto to wear? Bwah! And the scene between Martha and Ianto where she grills him about his relationship with Jack, and tells him about the cap idea? So made of win! I also loved Ianto's comment about how disturbed in the head Tosh must be to come up with her solution about how to smuggle them all into The Pharm, once things have gone ca-ca. *grins* Tosh's "I'll take that as a compliment!" capped off an awesome bit of interaction beautifully.
Martha is, as usual, awesome in this episode, as was Alan Dale as the baddie. But oh! Owen! *tears up* Just as I was getting to like him, he gets shot dead by Jim bloody Robinson! (I really should stop calling him that...*grins*) This, of course, was all in the game plan, damn their eyes, to make us like him before they sprung this on us....
Episode 8: Dead Man Walking
What's that you say? Owen's dead? But this is science-fiction, surely dead doesn't mean dead! Except where it kinda does?
So, Martha's preparing to perform the autopsy on Owen (gotta wonder why, though? Dead by gunshot wound, case shut, right? Do you really need to know the weight of his internal organs? What he had for lunch the day before?) when Jack comes storming in screaming that no-one touches Owen until he gets back. Then, after a weird conversation with some freaky ten-year-old and a hunt through a Weevil nest in an old church, he returns with the partner of the 'Risen Mitten' that caused such problems in season one. Even though the first one apparently didn't work for Jack, he manages to bring Owen back and everyone says their goodbyes - and Jack asks for the code to the morgue (nice one Jack!) Ianto apparently has a very good memory, though, as he mouths the code to himself before nodding.
Now, there's a time limit for how long the glove can reanimate a corpse, and Owen predictably collapses after about two minutes. Everyone's stood around grieving, when shock! Owen sits up again! So, once again, death isn't the end in sci-fi - though Owen is definitely dead. He's just...still walking and talking.
I'm not going to go through the entire episode, good though it was, as I've already been at this for an hour and a half! *grins* The BBC2 showing of 'Something Borrowed' is distracting me. Owen was fantastic, though.
Episode 9: A Day In The Death
I absolutely loved this one! The way it showed how Owen's dealing with his new 'un-dead' status was fab, and totally believable. I did think Jack was a bit of a swine, suspending Owen while Martha did her tests - after all, wouldn't it have been better to keep Owen close? And Owen getting relegated to 'tea-boy'! *grins* Certainly gave him a better idea of Ianto's daily life, especially during season one - particularly when the others were so weirded out they could barely look at him.
I'd heard about the scene where Owen jumps into the marina, and that Burn Gorman did the stunt himself *grins*
My love for the character grows exponentially with each episode this season. And Richard Briers! The guy's a UK tv legend, has been since the seventies. At the moment, though, he's mainly known as 'Bob's Dad' from 'Bob The Builder', with the equally legendary June Whitfield as 'Bob's Mum'.
My only real problem with the episode is, if Owen has no breath, then how the heck is he able to talk? Oh, and when Martha heads home? Why does she walk down the Plass towards the water, in the direction of the Tourist Office? When the SUV was parked alongside the bus stop?
Episode 10: Something Borrowed
This has got to be my favourite episode so far - it's fantastically cracked, with a suddenly-pregnant Gwen trying desperately to get married, whilst being stalked by the mother of her alien baby. I even liked Gwen in this episode, despite the occasional re-emergence of the whole 'I love Rhys, but I'd drop him in a heartbeat if you asked me to, Jack' *rolls eyes* Ianto is very cool, as are Tosh and Owen - and I bet John had a blast playing the shapeshifter-Jack!
Once again they've brought in excellent Welsh actors as guest stars; I can't remember who it is that plays Gwen's dad, but he's very well known, and Nerys Hughes as Rhys's mam! Excellent! The friends of the bride and groom were very stereotypical, and did my head in - particularly Banana Boat *slaps him* I could very easily have worked or studied with any one of those losers, alas.
Loved, loved, loved when Gwen shot at the shapeshifter, having concealed her gun in her bouquet! *grins* That was inspired.
Naturally my favourite scene was the dance at the reception. I don't quite agree with those shippers who are up in arms about it; I can see how Gwen could misinterpret the way Jack was treating her, but I think it's partially continued fear that Gwen could be slipping away from Torchwood - and Jack has come to care very deeply for her indeed - and partially nostalgia. I didn't see any real jealousy, just loneliness and nostalgia. Poor Ianto for having to work at getting their attention so he could cut in and dance with his boyfriend - but how cool was it that they didn't need to hide? Though I think it was probably quite a pleasant surprise for the parents of the bride and groom, after Jack's whole 'STOP THE WEDDING!!!', just at the 'just cause and impediment' bit of the ceremony. And hee - Owen and Tosh, watching them dance from the side of the room, where they're propping the bar up together.
Gotta feel sorry for the gang though - after that hard day, having to deal with several dozen retconned wedding guests. And awwww, that picture of Jack and his bride, from waaaay back. I hope we find out more about that. I think that's why he was quiet and sad through the wedding, remembering that. It's speculation whether he would feel he could ever offer Ianto that, since we have civil partnerships here these days. The writers aren't exactly giving us much to go on yet, where their relationship is concerned; one minute they're just 'dabbling', the next Ianto's such a lovesick puppy he's looking to dance with Jack at a wedding. Liked the comment about Ianto's father, too; they are close enough to discuss personal stuff, but I don't think Jack was expecting it at that moment in time.
Okay, since it's now five to eleven and I've seen the next episode too, here's my initial thoughts. Remember, this is the episode that aired on BBC3 today, so it's a week ahead of those watching on BBC2.
Episode 11: From Out Of The Rain
This was also very awesome, and quite Ianto-centric. He's the one who gets Owen and Gwen to go to the old cinema with him, and the one who spots Jack on the old cine-footage, and the one who does most of the research, and the one who notices the missing people on the film, and, and...*exhales*
There was nothing overtly Jack/Ianto about tonight's episode, but the two of them worked together all the way through, sharing fascinating conversation about Jack's time in a traveling circus (And who was he working for when he infiltrated that troupe? Surely he'd have said outright if it was Torchwood, and he was already immortal so not the Time Agency...Hmmm.....). And poor woobie Ianto with the vial of breathe.... *snuggles him* He really did get very emotionally invested in this case.
Didn't recognise any locations, on first viewing, but I may well at a later date.
On the whole I'm thoroughly enjoying this season. I can't believe it's nearly over! *whines*
I also can't believe how bloody long it took me to write this post! Seems all my posts these days take most of the night, for one reason or another. I should probably go get some sleep now - not working tomorrow, since it's Rowan's school assembly, but I still have to get up and do the school run and stuff. No rest for the wicked - or even those with no opportunity to be wicked! *chuckles*
