Torchwood & Trek
I have watched the first episode of Torchwood's Children of Earth and it's good. It's really good. There were plot twists I didn't see coming and creepy kids and all sorts. I hope it stays as good for all five episodes. Yay for the presence of Peter Capaldi and Paul Copley (a.k.a Matthews of Hornblower) and I want to know more about the character of Alice Carter. Shame about the lack of Martha and Mickey, but at least the former got a mention. My major complaint is the thus far lack of PC Andy and not enough Rhys.
I've been watching even more Star Trek, and also my flatmate's stance on Kirk's led to a bit of an obsession on my part of comparing and contrasting the different captains to see if I subjectively come up with an objective decision about which one was the best, and I've come to the conclusion based on what I've watched that yes, if you want the Earth saved, you really want Kirk since that is what he is very, very good at. However, if you want a planet, an alliance or the values of the Federation saved, you want Picard. If you want the actual Federation saved (values be damned), you want Sisko. And if you want someone to save you, you want Janeway. And, erm....Archer's good if you want a speech about human values or a cure for insomnia, I suppose. (I have watched four episodes of Enterprise now and still find him dull and lacking in personality).
But I've come to the realization that I really just do not like TOS. I figured I didn't like the episodes as a kid because of the 1960s-ness, but I can quite happily watch 60s Doctor Who and the terrible special effects and general 60s-ness off it don't bother me too much at all, whereas TOS is a struggle still. Maybe if TOS was in black and white, or had Daleks, or Barbara, then I might find it enjoyable, i.e. black and white makes all manner of bad sfx forgivable, a half decent unredeemable villains and an awesome female lead would got far to win my affections (I know TOS did let its female characters occasionally do something useful, but the instances are so few and far between I find it disheartening).
And speaking of bad old Star Trek, I watched the TNG pilot, Encounter at Farpoint and it is just so very very bad. Terrible sets, terrible acting, terrible direction, terrible plot. Screw assigning blame to what killed the franchise, it's a miracle the franchise survived early TNG. Did remind me that what I was very young, my favourite Trek character was Tasha Yar (coz that worked out for me).
I've been watching even more Star Trek, and also my flatmate's stance on Kirk's led to a bit of an obsession on my part of comparing and contrasting the different captains to see if I subjectively come up with an objective decision about which one was the best, and I've come to the conclusion based on what I've watched that yes, if you want the Earth saved, you really want Kirk since that is what he is very, very good at. However, if you want a planet, an alliance or the values of the Federation saved, you want Picard. If you want the actual Federation saved (values be damned), you want Sisko. And if you want someone to save you, you want Janeway. And, erm....Archer's good if you want a speech about human values or a cure for insomnia, I suppose. (I have watched four episodes of Enterprise now and still find him dull and lacking in personality).
But I've come to the realization that I really just do not like TOS. I figured I didn't like the episodes as a kid because of the 1960s-ness, but I can quite happily watch 60s Doctor Who and the terrible special effects and general 60s-ness off it don't bother me too much at all, whereas TOS is a struggle still. Maybe if TOS was in black and white, or had Daleks, or Barbara, then I might find it enjoyable, i.e. black and white makes all manner of bad sfx forgivable, a half decent unredeemable villains and an awesome female lead would got far to win my affections (I know TOS did let its female characters occasionally do something useful, but the instances are so few and far between I find it disheartening).
And speaking of bad old Star Trek, I watched the TNG pilot, Encounter at Farpoint and it is just so very very bad. Terrible sets, terrible acting, terrible direction, terrible plot. Screw assigning blame to what killed the franchise, it's a miracle the franchise survived early TNG. Did remind me that what I was very young, my favourite Trek character was Tasha Yar (coz that worked out for me).