(no subject)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang! Torchwood 2x01 was a pleasant surprise from Chibnall.
Some random thoughts/observations beneath the cut.
* The Obi-Wan reference was cute, but does that mean that Star Wars is still around by the 51st century, but Star Trek is not? My reaction to this is similar to my reaction to most of the pop culture refs in Who-- they tend to be little more than cheap laughs.
* Gwen's in charge. Huh. She seems to be rather good at it. I am a little confused about this because A) she's the newbie and B) in the field, Owen seems to be giving the orders. Interestingly, I kind of like that she's touchy-- she touches Tosh's back and Ianto's chest-- because it's a mannerism that's simultaneously very Jack and very Gwen. Anyway, I maintain that she gets to be leader because she's the one with the blurriest job description. And I don't necessarily mean that as a bad thing.
* The bit in the Hub with them all reporting to Gwen? I think this is the most competent we've ever seen team Torchwood. Maybe Jack ought to take notes. (Hooray for no world-endangering mistakes this episode! Well, except for trusting John, maybe, but that was all Jack's fault, which is new.)
* Anyone else notice that they're using more (alien) technology here? Gwen scanning John for weapons, for example, and Tosh tracing the Rift activity, identifying algae, CONVENIENT MEDICAL SCANNER, etc. It's nice to see that they don't just shoot things.
* Um, completely expected naked Jack Chibnall plothole here, but just how does the Blowfish fit into all this? He knew the team, he had one of the parts that John was looking for... was he a plant? A partner gone rogue? A tech scavenger? How did he know the team, and for that matter, why did he shoot those civilians, anyway?
* That Jack and Gwen scene baffled me. I wasn't sure what we were, ultimately, supposed to take away here. There's some kind of "connection" between them, which is something we've been shown time and time again, but Jack has also been pushing Gwen towards Rhys from the start. I do wonder if Jack's defenses are down as a result of Year That Never Was trauma, and that's why the physicality of that exchange seems a bit out of nowhere. (I like to imagine that he would have said "coming back to you" like that to every one of them, but that's probably just wishful thinking).
He also seems honestly surprised that their lives went on without him-- the most prominent display of this being Gwen's engagement. The last he saw Gwen and Rhys were not doing so well (including the bit where Rhys was dead), and we all know how Torchwood relationships usually go... Is he just now realising how much time has passed, and that he can't take anything for granted?
* In terms of Jack/Gwen shippiness, I did find it heavy-handed and distasteful. But then again, it's pretty obvious that when Gwen says no one else would have her... all Jack had to do was say "I would," and things would have gone completely differently. Gwen seemed to be daring him to say it, too. But he didn't. If that was her saying "it's now or never," then Jack's answer was quite clearly "It's never." I can hope that this was tossed in as some kind of overblown resolution to the forced Jack/Gwen of S1...? God knows there are not enough male/female platonic relationships on TV.
I've seen a lot of people comment on the way that this episode sets up Ianto as Jack's second choice, and while I don't necessarily agree, I am annoyed that the episode can be seen as suggesting such a thing. I don't trust you, writers.
* Oh, but Rhys just gets more and more lovely, doesn't he? Though Gwen should think about putting her phone on silent now and again.
* The office scene! I LOVE IT. I love the understated quality-- and the fact that Jack seems truly vulnerable here. I love the background music, and the little 'heartfelt conversation' note that plays right as Jack is about to ask "How are you, Ianto?" (JB's delivery on that is perfect. I wonder if this question isn't informed by that earlier conversation with Gwen, and if the vulnerability isn't partly because of the realisation that Ianto too may have gone on with his life.) I love that Ianto is standoffish and stuttery, and trying to focus on doing his job. That really isn't the best place or time to ask him out, Jack. (Office fetish, office romances, 'office boy promoted beyond his measure'... pattern here. "As long as it's not in an office" is a lot more than it seems.)
* The smile Ianto gives Jack when he says "Don't want you getting over-excited." gets its own bullet point. Just because.
* I'm very unclear on where Ianto keeps his gun. Last season he seemed to keep it tucked into the waistband of his trousers. When I first watched this episode, it looked like he was removing it from some kind of holster, based on the position of his hand when he reached for it-- but now, upon rewatching that scene, I can't really confirm that. (I hope for a shoulder holster. Suits + shoulder holsters = really sexy combination.)
* "You used to have better taste." "Doesn't look like that from here." XD Jack and John have a truly, truly fabulous dynamic. I do wonder what their relationship was like, and if it was Jack or John who was different then. They do seem to still honestly care for eachother.
* John's "join me" speech is just a biiiit cheesy. The music doesn't help. It's all painfully Doctor Who, isn't it? I suppose this is intentional. Those of us who watched S3 saw Jack turning down a chance to travel the universe, and now even those who only watch Torchwood see Jack doing essentially the same thing. We get it: he wants Earth, wants Cardiff, wants his team.
* Vegas galaxies! I think I love that they're not even trying anymore. It's utterly fantastic.
*Um. Handcuffs. Couldn't they have just, I don't know, cut off his hand? He came in with a SWORD, after all. I mean, John already referenced Star Wars, so it would serve him right, right? Is it wrong that this was my first thought?
* I adore that the little blood vials have the Torchwood T on them. I'm utterly unsurprised, but I adore it just the same.
Oh, and is it just me or is the vial-- of Ianto's blood-- that Jack holds up labelled "IANTO, JONES"?
* Ianto is all about color this season. If I'm not mistaken, even his jacket has a pink lining.
* Dodgy bit of science with the DNA stuff, y/y? But it works, as long as I don't think too hard about it.
* As much as I would have liked to see Torchwood without Jack for an episode, this worked. We got to see a Torchwood where Jack didn't quite fit in. Gwen and Jack butt heads. Later, in the office, Ianto is essentially ordering Jack around. Still later Owen drags Jack off by his shirt. It really isn't until the end, when Jack barrels in to save the day at the last moment, and then leads the team off in slow motion, that it's really clear that he's still the boss.
Overall? Quite fabulous. A couple of off bits-- Exposition Fish, the clunky scene with Gwen-- but nothing that made it any less enjoyable. And quite a bit that made it more so. Bring on S2!
Some random thoughts/observations beneath the cut.
* The Obi-Wan reference was cute, but does that mean that Star Wars is still around by the 51st century, but Star Trek is not? My reaction to this is similar to my reaction to most of the pop culture refs in Who-- they tend to be little more than cheap laughs.
* Gwen's in charge. Huh. She seems to be rather good at it. I am a little confused about this because A) she's the newbie and B) in the field, Owen seems to be giving the orders. Interestingly, I kind of like that she's touchy-- she touches Tosh's back and Ianto's chest-- because it's a mannerism that's simultaneously very Jack and very Gwen. Anyway, I maintain that she gets to be leader because she's the one with the blurriest job description. And I don't necessarily mean that as a bad thing.
* The bit in the Hub with them all reporting to Gwen? I think this is the most competent we've ever seen team Torchwood. Maybe Jack ought to take notes. (Hooray for no world-endangering mistakes this episode! Well, except for trusting John, maybe, but that was all Jack's fault, which is new.)
* Anyone else notice that they're using more (alien) technology here? Gwen scanning John for weapons, for example, and Tosh tracing the Rift activity, identifying algae, CONVENIENT MEDICAL SCANNER, etc. It's nice to see that they don't just shoot things.
* Um, completely expected naked Jack Chibnall plothole here, but just how does the Blowfish fit into all this? He knew the team, he had one of the parts that John was looking for... was he a plant? A partner gone rogue? A tech scavenger? How did he know the team, and for that matter, why did he shoot those civilians, anyway?
* That Jack and Gwen scene baffled me. I wasn't sure what we were, ultimately, supposed to take away here. There's some kind of "connection" between them, which is something we've been shown time and time again, but Jack has also been pushing Gwen towards Rhys from the start. I do wonder if Jack's defenses are down as a result of Year That Never Was trauma, and that's why the physicality of that exchange seems a bit out of nowhere. (I like to imagine that he would have said "coming back to you" like that to every one of them, but that's probably just wishful thinking).
He also seems honestly surprised that their lives went on without him-- the most prominent display of this being Gwen's engagement. The last he saw Gwen and Rhys were not doing so well (including the bit where Rhys was dead), and we all know how Torchwood relationships usually go... Is he just now realising how much time has passed, and that he can't take anything for granted?
* In terms of Jack/Gwen shippiness, I did find it heavy-handed and distasteful. But then again, it's pretty obvious that when Gwen says no one else would have her... all Jack had to do was say "I would," and things would have gone completely differently. Gwen seemed to be daring him to say it, too. But he didn't. If that was her saying "it's now or never," then Jack's answer was quite clearly "It's never." I can hope that this was tossed in as some kind of overblown resolution to the forced Jack/Gwen of S1...? God knows there are not enough male/female platonic relationships on TV.
I've seen a lot of people comment on the way that this episode sets up Ianto as Jack's second choice, and while I don't necessarily agree, I am annoyed that the episode can be seen as suggesting such a thing. I don't trust you, writers.
* Oh, but Rhys just gets more and more lovely, doesn't he? Though Gwen should think about putting her phone on silent now and again.
* The office scene! I LOVE IT. I love the understated quality-- and the fact that Jack seems truly vulnerable here. I love the background music, and the little 'heartfelt conversation' note that plays right as Jack is about to ask "How are you, Ianto?" (JB's delivery on that is perfect. I wonder if this question isn't informed by that earlier conversation with Gwen, and if the vulnerability isn't partly because of the realisation that Ianto too may have gone on with his life.) I love that Ianto is standoffish and stuttery, and trying to focus on doing his job. That really isn't the best place or time to ask him out, Jack. (Office fetish, office romances, 'office boy promoted beyond his measure'... pattern here. "As long as it's not in an office" is a lot more than it seems.)
* The smile Ianto gives Jack when he says "Don't want you getting over-excited." gets its own bullet point. Just because.
* I'm very unclear on where Ianto keeps his gun. Last season he seemed to keep it tucked into the waistband of his trousers. When I first watched this episode, it looked like he was removing it from some kind of holster, based on the position of his hand when he reached for it-- but now, upon rewatching that scene, I can't really confirm that. (I hope for a shoulder holster. Suits + shoulder holsters = really sexy combination.)
* "You used to have better taste." "Doesn't look like that from here." XD Jack and John have a truly, truly fabulous dynamic. I do wonder what their relationship was like, and if it was Jack or John who was different then. They do seem to still honestly care for eachother.
* John's "join me" speech is just a biiiit cheesy. The music doesn't help. It's all painfully Doctor Who, isn't it? I suppose this is intentional. Those of us who watched S3 saw Jack turning down a chance to travel the universe, and now even those who only watch Torchwood see Jack doing essentially the same thing. We get it: he wants Earth, wants Cardiff, wants his team.
* Vegas galaxies! I think I love that they're not even trying anymore. It's utterly fantastic.
*Um. Handcuffs. Couldn't they have just, I don't know, cut off his hand? He came in with a SWORD, after all. I mean, John already referenced Star Wars, so it would serve him right, right? Is it wrong that this was my first thought?
* I adore that the little blood vials have the Torchwood T on them. I'm utterly unsurprised, but I adore it just the same.
Oh, and is it just me or is the vial-- of Ianto's blood-- that Jack holds up labelled "IANTO, JONES"?
* Ianto is all about color this season. If I'm not mistaken, even his jacket has a pink lining.
* Dodgy bit of science with the DNA stuff, y/y? But it works, as long as I don't think too hard about it.
* As much as I would have liked to see Torchwood without Jack for an episode, this worked. We got to see a Torchwood where Jack didn't quite fit in. Gwen and Jack butt heads. Later, in the office, Ianto is essentially ordering Jack around. Still later Owen drags Jack off by his shirt. It really isn't until the end, when Jack barrels in to save the day at the last moment, and then leads the team off in slow motion, that it's really clear that he's still the boss.
Overall? Quite fabulous. A couple of off bits-- Exposition Fish, the clunky scene with Gwen-- but nothing that made it any less enjoyable. And quite a bit that made it more so. Bring on S2!