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Torchwood

Oooooh, this was another episode I really liked. It's S2's "They Keep Killing Suzie" for me. Joseph Lidster has now completely redeemed himself from writing Martha's Myspace blog. Well...redeemed himself as long as I don't actually look at the blog.

Torchwood is cheesy, cracktastic, and completely insane, but it does do some really provocative episodes from time to time. Watching Owen descend into a sort of madness was very well done when it could have been completely over the top. And then the twist of "hope" at the end when everything leading up to it (in this and past episodes) had been negative negative negative...I liked it. Yeah, the world can be crap at times, but there are those things - sometimes even small things - that keep us going. Otherwise we'd all be jumping off buildings.

This was obviously an Owen-centric episode, but I really liked the handling of all the other characters in this episode. Even Martha had something to do this week.

It wasn't completely perfect though:

Owen: I [gasp] can't give CPR [sobs] because I can't breathe!! [gulps for air in an emo manner]

Me: Ahem.

Right, in spite of the fact that he was breathing audibly when he said that, don't you need air to speak? I could be wrong.
I'm really not sure if I like Owen/Tosh. I think they did a great job of laying out just how fucked up the relationship is, down to Tosh now thinking he's "safe" and therefore approachable. But it still kinda weirds me out. Maybe because it is so damaged, and I'm generally not one that's attracted to damaged relationships on shows. But everyone's relationship on this show is pretty fucked up, so why not them? On the surface Gwen/Rhys is healthy, but... And Jack/Ianto is a bit insane when you remember Lisa.
Jack seemed incredibly weirded out when Martha kissed him. I mean, this was beyond surprised. Not exactly sure why, and don't think I've ever seen him that uncomfortable when kissing someone before. Weird. O_O

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I thought this was a really good episode, too, and I was very surprised that Owen remained undead at the end of it. Pleased, but surprised. I was sure the alien message whatsit was supposed to bring him back to life.

I'm really not sure if I like Owen/Tosh.

Ditto. It just makes me very uncomfortable. I suppose you're right about everyone else's relationships being fucked up, too, but I can't help but like the friendship vibe between Owen & Tosh more than anything romantic.

Jack seemed incredibly weirded out when Martha kissed him.

Yeah, that was really strange. Not sure what was up there. Awkward, much?

I was actually less thrilled with this episode. There were all sorts of little things that just kept bothering me.

Owen's gasping, "I have no breath,"
Jack's hair (I know that's a strange thing to get hung up on but just wanted to comb it and say, "Sweet, sweet Papa Jack..you are not the Doctor. You can't pull the ruffled look off. Please straighten up and be the Captain."
Martha will just never be a character I'm happy to see, although I wish she was. So I laughed at Jack's face when she kissed him.

But the kicker was definitely the Owen/Tosh thing. It's squicky.

The funny thing is that I actually liked the story idea. (Which should probably frighten me a bit seeing as I've never really watched for the plot before!)

I think I wanted more crack and I got an attempt at deep and meaningful. I wanted more funny.

I thought this was a really good episode, too, and I was very surprised that Owen remained undead at the end of it. Pleased, but surprised. I was sure the alien message whatsit was supposed to bring him back to life.

I was a bit surprised too. The typical sci-fi route would have been to undead him somehow. But I suppose they can use the dead thing as a plot device in the future.

Ditto. It just makes me very uncomfortable. I suppose you're right about everyone else's relationships being fucked up, too, but I can't help but like the friendship vibe between Owen & Tosh more than anything romantic.

I think part of it is that it's really pretty one-sided so far - Tosh gives and Owen takes. Owen doesn't deserve it, and Tosh has a severe lack of self-esteem. I get annoyed to a point, and then have to remember that they're writing these characters this way. It's intentional. But still...it's just kinda creepy.

A relationship where someone's dead and that's not what's creeping me out. Damn you, Torchwood!

Yeah, that was really strange. Not sure what was up there. Awkward, much?

I'd kinda like to know what that was all about. He seemed quite willing to give her a snog at the beginning of Utopia. And I don't think it's a Doctor thing, since you know Jack would jump the Doctor like a dog to a leg if given half a chance.

Owen's gasping, "I have no breath,"

That one was a big one for me. I actually laughed out loud. :D

Jack's hair (I know that's a strange thing to get hung up on but just wanted to comb it and say, "Sweet, sweet Papa Jack..you are not the Doctor. You can't pull the ruffled look off. Please straighten up and be the Captain."

HEH. I didn't notice the hair.

Martha will just never be a character I'm happy to see, although I wish she was. So I laughed at Jack's face when she kissed him.

I was hoping to warm to Martha a bit more in these episodes, and she somewhat won me over while on Torchwood. I'll be interested to see her on DW again, but won't be doing handsprings.

But the kicker was definitely the Owen/Tosh thing. It's squicky.

I wanted to "awww" when she took his arm at the end, but just couldn't.

I think I wanted more crack and I got an attempt at deep and meaningful. I wanted more funny.

Yeah, this was one of those Very Serious Episodes and relatively low (for Torchwood) on the crack scale.

Burn Gorman did a fabulous job in this episode. It was painful but believable.

Is it me, or is Ianto protesting a bit too much about his relationship with Jack? "We...dabble." I think that would have been incredibly hurtful for Jack to hear after he farily well admitted loving Ianto. And this week, saying they're "not like that." It could have been Ianto denying that they were casual, since Owen's definition of sex has generally been casual...but Ianto also knows how Owen felt about Diane.

Just still wondering if another shoe is going to drop.

The Jack/Martha kiss was a disappointment, really. Although it would be kind of tough for martha to get the drop on Jack when he stands nearly a foot taller. (And something in me says jack is thinking, "The Doctor will FIND a way to kill me if I don't behave.")

And one more thing that bugged me. They let martha go lugging baggage all the way across the Plas? They couldn't have taken her to a spot to get a cab? Really!

Owen: I [gasp] can't give CPR [sobs] because I can't breathe!! [gulps for air in an emo manner]

That's a constant gripe of mine with vampires/zombies/what have you. To talk they have to be breathing pretty much, or at least have some control of air passing through their sound production body parts so...I can buy they don't *need* to breathe but that they *can* is clear. That and they often wind up panting like Owen here so umm, yeah breathing so I have to laugh at it (and gripe).

Jack seemed incredibly weirded out when Martha kissed him. I mean, this was beyond surprised. Not exactly sure why, and don't think I've ever seen him that uncomfortable when kissing someone before.

That was a funny bit, because really in Utopia and SoD (I don't think they really ever interacted in LotTL) I could totally have seen Jack and Martha kissing but then here they do and it's like Jack has no idea what's going on. I'm not really sure why she did it, but Jack's reaction was both funny and weirdly close to "Eww, girl cooties" (or maybe just Martha cooties).

I loved the episode but what threw me for a loop is that Owen said he had no emotions. Unless, they redefined the definition, all I saw was Owen emoting.

Ha ha ha ha. Jack was really sketched out. And so was, kind of, everyone else around them. What was Martha's motivation? Blerg. If I were friends with Jack, I'd think I'd be rather proud that I a)had a hot hot boyfriend (we MUST meet him) and b)was the only person who hadn't kissed Jack. But ahem. I'm weird like that.

I also REALLY loved this episode. And it made me love Owen even more (I never really jumped onto that hate train). Gaaaahhhhh. I'm so sad for him, and even though it's not subtle at ALL I love that Jack = light and Owen = dark. But I'm still ready for him to come back to life for realsies--if only so that Tosh can shag someone and have them not die*

*Unsure if on the Tosh/Owen ship, but I REALLY want Tosh to be happy. So, if thats what it takes, I can deal.

Inconsistency, thy name is Torchwood.

I agree with you - I really enjoyed this episode despite the various logic-holes and the somewhat creepy Owen/Tosh thing. Though I find myself really missing the old badarse Owen. I mean sure, Ianto may have suddenly mastered the art of the zinger, but there's no real snark behind it the way Owen had.

Yup, me too. That and the breathing issue were the big issues for me in this episode.

Jack seemed incredibly weirded out when Martha kissed him. I mean, this was beyond surprised. Not exactly sure why, and don't think I've ever seen him that uncomfortable when kissing someone before. Weird. O_O

Yes, I was very surprised by his reaction. After all he did not object to the idea of Martha kissing him at all in Utopia.

I think, perhaps, that Jack has firmly put Martha in the 'little sister' category, so to him it was like unexpectedly being kissed by your sister. In a romantic way.

Burn Gorman did a fabulous job in this episode. It was painful but believable.

Totally agree. For me it had just the right amount of drama without going melodrama.

Is it me, or is Ianto protesting a bit too much about his relationship with Jack? "We...dabble." I think that would have been incredibly hurtful for Jack to hear after he farily well admitted loving Ianto. And this week, saying they're "not like that." It could have been Ianto denying that they were casual, since Owen's definition of sex has generally been casual...but Ianto also knows how Owen felt about Diane.

It's really hard to figure out what Ianto means - or where his head-space is really. I kinda hate that they're still keeping everything about Jack - including a relationship - in the dark.

The Jack/Martha kiss was a disappointment, really. Although it would be kind of tough for martha to get the drop on Jack when he stands nearly a foot taller. (And something in me says jack is thinking, "The Doctor will FIND a way to kill me if I don't behave.")

Heh heh. Maybe that was it.

And one more thing that bugged me. They let martha go lugging baggage all the way across the Plas? They couldn't have taken her to a spot to get a cab? Really!

Poor Martha!

That's a constant gripe of mine with vampires/zombies/what have you. To talk they have to be breathing pretty much, or at least have some control of air passing through their sound production body parts so...I can buy they don't *need* to breathe but that they *can* is clear. That and they often wind up panting like Owen here so umm, yeah breathing so I have to laugh at it (and gripe).

It completely threw me out of the show. I wouldn't have even really thought about him needing air to speak if they hadn't made the whole "I can't breathe!" a big deal.

That was a funny bit, because really in Utopia and SoD (I don't think they really ever interacted in LotTL) I could totally have seen Jack and Martha kissing but then here they do and it's like Jack has no idea what's going on. I'm not really sure why she did it, but Jack's reaction was both funny and weirdly close to "Eww, girl cooties" (or maybe just Martha cooties).

It was just...weird. Just really, really weird.

It reminds me of the Futurama joke where Bender says: "I'd like to know what it's like to be human, because robots don't have emotions, and that makes me sad."

Ha ha ha ha. Jack was really sketched out. And so was, kind of, everyone else around them. What was Martha's motivation? Blerg. If I were friends with Jack, I'd think I'd be rather proud that I a)had a hot hot boyfriend (we MUST meet him) and b)was the only person who hadn't kissed Jack. But ahem. I'm weird like that.

Maybe they're going for a running Torchwood joke where everyone gets to kiss Jack - like the Doctor in DW?

But I'm still ready for him to come back to life for realsies--if only so that Tosh can shag someone and have them not die*

Now that would be interesting to see what would come of that - if Owen did come back to life. I don't think that Owen really loves Tosh in that way.

I wonder if Owen will go back to being pretty typical Owen after this, or if they'll actually change his character for good.

It was almost like Jack had suddenly turned prude, and we CAN'T BE HAVING THAT.

Maybe that's it? You know, one of these days it'd be nice not to have to throw darts in trying to figure out what the hell is going on in Jack's mind.

I completely agree.

Now where would be the fun in that? Jack needs to keep wanting to snog everything in sight. Surely Ianto doesn't expect monogamy?

Edited 2008-02-29 15:53 (UTC)

I don't know what to think of jack/martha.

Me either, really. I'm thinking a nice squishy hug would have been really sweet. But instead we got...awkward.

I'm not sure wtf it was about. And Jack didn't seem happy to snog, that's... that's making me question my entire world view.

About the fact that Jack has an off button? I think it's coming as a shock to most people. Hopefully we'll be able to get through it all.

And that the off button who is Martha. Who is really hot! I think I need to make some sort of poll about this.

Further study is perhaps needed.

*is making the post*

\o/ This is perfect timing as I'm currently bored.

I AM TOO. /o/

*waits for post*

IT'S DONE.

*I* was so uncomfortable when watching that kiss! And it was only because of Jack's reaction. Maybe because his feelings on her are more siblingey (for once, Jack has an appropriate relationship with someone). Maybe Martha figured what the hell, she can't kiss the Doctor, but she has the next best thing? Mmdunno. Weird.

Very weird. Like I mentioned to someone else, you could pretty much throw darts to try and figure out motivation on this one.

Loved the ep and I'm not a massive fan of Owen in general. I'm sort of glad they haven't resolved him being dead though, I figured they might go the usual route and by the end of the episode we'd realise that the glowy alien thing would be the thing that gave him life and so he would have been alive the whole time on the roof but we didn't realise till the end. But it wasn't to be, good old Torchwood.

I am kinda glad they didn't fall into that trap either. I wouldn't mind if eventually they revived Owen, but am fine with him being a zombie for now. And they really will be able to take his character to a different place with this since so much really has changed for him.

OH! Yes. The preview for next week made me gag.

Yes. I have the feeling I won't deal well with the next episode. BLECH. (Although I'm amused they're doing an alien pregnancy storyline.)

Aww, icon of cuteness.

Yeah the general plot looks highly amusing! You know the particular scene I'm referring to re: gag reflex. Whywhywhy. I don't want to pre-judge what I saw too much, though it's hard, I just hope it's not as cringeworthy as what it seems right now. Feh with a big pile of blergh.

Well, I have a very low tolerance for stuff like that. I still get gaggy just thinking about the person sucking blood in Smith & Jones. And there was much fast-forwarding through Countrycide.

Thanks!

I have a higher tolerance for icky stuff than I do for bad writing (see: X-Files).

What I really really really want, is more Jack/Ianto touching and then I can icon and then it really doesn't matter about the plot anymore (if it ever mattered!).

I still can't believe that they *haven't* been more explicit with Jack's character. I mean, I thought that was the point of starting Torchwood!

Omnisexual Hot Guy on children's show = hands tied behind his back, and not in a good way.

Omnixesual Hot Guy on post-watershed show = woo hoo!

Yeah I know it's weird! But I assume that's why they brought Captain John in, he's introduced Jack's backstory to us, especially intriguing the last line he left us with about his brother. I don't know but I assume JM will be back with us this season at some point so Jack's character can be expanded on. Or more boy kissing, whichever.

I have no idea where they're going with J/I but ideally, I'd like Ianto to share in some of that backstory (like an actual relationship as opposed to just a shag, which I'm convinced it's not just a casual shag but we know so little of Jack who knows for sure?). If they are going to completely overshadow J/I with J/Gwen then at least give us something substantial with J/I to hold on to.

I have had wine so I'm not completely coherent at this point, sorry! Hee.

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