Review: Torchwood S2 04 Meat

[crabby_lioness]

Or Torchwood's Debt to Irving Berlin

I'm beginning to see some patterns here.  In the grand old Doctor Who tradition, this is the fourth episode out of four where we've had a classic plot from the Giant Book of Classic TV and Film Plots.  The first was "conning the con man", the second was "undercover sleeper agent", the third was "fix the time

Comments

[ola_sw]

And during the combat scene there isn't a moment of doubt or hesitation on the part of either of them. Either they don't have the same level of concern for each other that Gwen and Rhys share (which I doubt) or they are very confident in each other's abilities.

I haven't read through all the comments (and probably will do it only after watching the episode for the second time), so maybe someone else already pointed out what I'm about to say, and if so - sorry for the repetition.

What actually stood out for me in the combat scene is the fact Jack didn't shoot when the bad guy was struggling with Ianto. Sure, it could've been because they were moving to fast, or something was blocking them from view, but I doubt that. There's a reason for that scene in the beginning of 2x01 when he appears behind Ianto - Jack's not afraid to shoot. Giving us those two seconds of Jack trying to aim and then, frustrated, lowering his gone must mean something, especially after that look they shared in the conference room.

[crabby_lioness]

I and some of the fic-writers I've read, including sarcasticbabble, assumed Jack was giving Ianto time to free himself by distracting the goons.

[ola_sw]

As I said, I need to rewatch it, but I'm pretty sure he tried aiming and gave up.

[ceindreadh]

I and some of the fic-writers I've read, including sarcasticbabble, assumed Jack was giving Ianto time to free himself by distracting the goons.

As I said, I need to rewatch it, but I'm pretty sure he tried aiming and gave up.

I think you're both right.
Initially when Jack and Tosh are spotted and they step into view and drop their guns, I think that at that point Jack was talking so as to keep the bad guys distracted (and not shooting anybody) and to give Ianto a chance to get his hands free.

It's only after Rhys gets shot/Ianto gets free, that Jack has a chance to try and take a shot, but he can't get a clear shot, or at least not one that's clear enough for him to risk taking. So he gives up.

[ola_sw]

Rewatched it now and I think you're right.

When Ianto's bound, Jack works in trying to avert the bad guys' attention as well trying to solve the situation without using violence, obviously noticing Ianto's "well-isn't-this-tricky" face expressions.

But the moment the leader, Jaz - if I'm not mistaken, shoots, he's all blazing guns and tries to rescue Ianto, but can't- if it's for fear of hitting Ianto or the alien Moby Dick, it's a Jack we haven't seen yet.

[duikermeisie]

It also fits in with the nonlethal emphasis. Jack bought Ianto and Rhys some time, but he also attempted to solve the situation with words rather than weapons. He had the attention of at least two of the flensers, just not the leader.