Torchwood 2.12 & 2.13
Jun. 7th, 2008 11:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
osprey_archerMeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh.
Books, shows, and movies always kill off my favorite characters. However, I think this is the first time that a show has killed off both my favorite characters in one episode.
*cries for a while*
I like the fact that we finally got some back-stories for the team members in Fragments. I’m not sure that I actually like the back stories themselves. In particular: pre-Torchwood Owen was a fluffy cuddlebunny type of guy? Really? I realize Torchwood is a corrupting influence, but this goes rather beyond influence to personality transplant.
I like Tosh’s back-story, but I wish that the writers had thought of it earlier instead of just making it up for this episode. Because Tosh could have used some depth beyond “love-hungry geek girl,” and the simultaneous adoration of and resentment toward Jack that such a back-story could engender would have definitely aided in the cause.
I could always write a fanfic, I suppose.
Also, even by Torchwood standards this was an idiot plot. I can accept John Hart doing all this because of his sick and twisted love for Jack, or Gray doing it because of his general sick and twistedness, or even John Hart doing Gray’s bidding because he’s a coward and prefers killing half the population of Cardiff to dying himself.
But if he’s that afraid of death, why does he come back to help Team Torchwood at grave peril of life and limb? It doesn’t make any sense.
And I resent the fact that his return is presented as if it excuses the fact that he blew up Cardiff. It doesn’t. It really doesn’t. No more does the fact that he was under threat of death at the time. Half of Cardiff is too many dead to be morally excusable for mere self-preservation. Especially considering that he could have cut off his arm and been rid of the problem.
And did Gray have some kind of magic monitoring device in John’s exploding wristband? Because if he didn’t, it doesn’t make any sense for John to pretend to be doing this out of love for Jack, only to show up the instant the wristband falls off and lay down his life to help Team Torchwood.
Really, I think the episode would have worked better without Gray in it at all. John Hart clearly had enough motive of his own; Gray just muddied matters. Also, the actor playing him was not the best.
One last thing: if next season becomes the soap opera of the Gwen/Jack/Ianto love triangle, I am going to be very put out.
Books, shows, and movies always kill off my favorite characters. However, I think this is the first time that a show has killed off both my favorite characters in one episode.
*cries for a while*
I like the fact that we finally got some back-stories for the team members in Fragments. I’m not sure that I actually like the back stories themselves. In particular: pre-Torchwood Owen was a fluffy cuddlebunny type of guy? Really? I realize Torchwood is a corrupting influence, but this goes rather beyond influence to personality transplant.
I like Tosh’s back-story, but I wish that the writers had thought of it earlier instead of just making it up for this episode. Because Tosh could have used some depth beyond “love-hungry geek girl,” and the simultaneous adoration of and resentment toward Jack that such a back-story could engender would have definitely aided in the cause.
I could always write a fanfic, I suppose.
Also, even by Torchwood standards this was an idiot plot. I can accept John Hart doing all this because of his sick and twisted love for Jack, or Gray doing it because of his general sick and twistedness, or even John Hart doing Gray’s bidding because he’s a coward and prefers killing half the population of Cardiff to dying himself.
But if he’s that afraid of death, why does he come back to help Team Torchwood at grave peril of life and limb? It doesn’t make any sense.
And I resent the fact that his return is presented as if it excuses the fact that he blew up Cardiff. It doesn’t. It really doesn’t. No more does the fact that he was under threat of death at the time. Half of Cardiff is too many dead to be morally excusable for mere self-preservation. Especially considering that he could have cut off his arm and been rid of the problem.
And did Gray have some kind of magic monitoring device in John’s exploding wristband? Because if he didn’t, it doesn’t make any sense for John to pretend to be doing this out of love for Jack, only to show up the instant the wristband falls off and lay down his life to help Team Torchwood.
Really, I think the episode would have worked better without Gray in it at all. John Hart clearly had enough motive of his own; Gray just muddied matters. Also, the actor playing him was not the best.
One last thing: if next season becomes the soap opera of the Gwen/Jack/Ianto love triangle, I am going to be very put out.
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no subject
Date: 2008-06-08 01:39 pm (UTC)Owen though? I think we saw a little bit of the cuddley-ness with Diane. Realistically, though, it's not as if we were seeing him on a regular day with his relationship with Katie. The woman he's about to marry is forgetting who he is...yeah, I figure I'd be sobby and overprotective too.
As far as Gray, he was the lowest point of the episode for me. Not only was the character pointless, the actor was pretty horrible.
Last random comment: how cool was Gwen during the speech in the police station. I feel like that's the Gwen that the writers have been telling us she is all along. It's a little late, but I loved her for it anyway.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-08 03:23 pm (UTC)It was a pretty good episode for everyone (except Gray). At least Owen and Tosh got good send-offs. I wish there had been a bit more "I'm brilliant" Tosh in earlier episodes to balance off lovesick Tosh. Because she's cool!
Admittedly, if I was writing Torchwood, all the characters would have burst on the scene with incredible coolness factor already in place, (leader!Gwen, brilliant!Tosh, badass!Owen, and cheeky!Ianto) instead of waiting for the second season for it to develop.
They could have started doing despicable things after a few episodes, once the viewers had been lulled into adoring them. Because wouldn't Cyberwomen have been a better episode if Ianto had more than three lines in the preceding episodes?
Gray--*twitches*--I have no idea why they thought he was a good idea. It would have made perfect sense with just John! And there still could have been plenty of emotional resonance for Jack with just John, so it's not like they NEEDED to bring Gray into it.
Also, I have the horrible feeling that Gray will come back. Because he's in cryo, and he'll wake up, and horrible things will happen--not horrible things in a good way, but horrible things in a "Kill Gray already! He's boring!" kind of way.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 04:34 am (UTC)I only watched four episodes of Torchwood back in S1, but, isn't that pretty much half the cast?? They already killed Suzie. A lot.
Does this mean it's not an ensemble show anymore? --Imo
no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 04:50 am (UTC)I'm not quite sure what it means, besides that the Torchwood writers are psychotic. I would assume that they'll have to hire new people next season, because it would be hard for Torchwood to save
Cardiffthe world with only three people.But that would be logical, so there's only a fifty percent chance that it will occur.
But you know, now that I think about it, Tosh at least deserves to be brought back to life at least once. Both Suzie and Owen got that chance, after all. And Jack comes back from the dead every other episode, so...
By the way, I hope you're happy: Taybur/Rubinyan/Imajane has EATEN MY BRAIN.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-10 02:35 am (UTC)I watch Stargate Atlantis. I love it a ridiculous amount but it makes me cringe on a regular basis. Probably the worst moment was in S3, when the show's doctor died by exploding tumour-- someone else's, not his own. Then there was bagpipe music. I sat and tried to pretend it wasn't my show.
Taybur/Rubinyan/Imajane is my new OT3!! When will you write their 20,000 word epic of love, smut and heartbreak (and My Little Ponies)? --Imo
no subject
Date: 2008-06-10 03:22 am (UTC)How did he die by exploding someone else's tumor? I don't recall Stargate being that good at making sense (I only watched the first season) but that seems a little far out.
It will probably be more like 2000 words and the smut will probably stop at the point where anatomical detail would be necessary for the action to make sense. I'm not sure how in love any of them are with anyone. Although Imajane and Rubinyan may love each other. Which could be so creepily schmoopy.
But I'm working on it! At the moment, Rubinyan has a fetish for Taybur's hair. And he's considering sharing Taybur with his wife.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-10 10:19 pm (UTC)Share away! Love is optional; creepy smut is not. --Imo