Sci-fi Round-up
I did watch the premiere of Battlestar last night, but now I've gone and watched the series 2 finale of Torchwood and it's gone and pushed all BSG-related thoughts from my head.
Torchwood 2.13 "Exit Wounds"
Torchwood series 2 has completely surprised me. The individual episodes have on the whole been far better written, full of more depth and complexity of both plot and theme, than almost any series 1 episode. The characterizations have been compelling and consistent throughout the entire series. The finale was very nearly perfect, and the only quibble I really have is the casting of Gray and some of the handling of his characterization, which I felt wasn't strong enough for the lynchpin role. That aside everything else was carried out beautifully. I had heard there would be a character death, but I certainly wasn't expecting two, and Tosh and Owen... truly heartwrenching, and not a false note. Tosh talking Owen through his death, only to then have to face her own? It was just... a differnent level of storytelling, just raw grief and fear with no fix at the end, nothing to make it all ok. I hadn't expected that from Torchwood. It was horribly brilliant. This honestly may be the best that I've ever seen any show handle major character death. Owen screaming when he realizes that he's locked in and going to die... Tosh calming him down, but not telling him that she's dying too... or that she loves him. It was all so in character and well acted. I loved both their characters, but the deaths were just so well done that I can't say I wish the writers hadn't killed them. It was such a proper and fitting end to their stories, I can't wish it hadn't happened. I think Torchwood deserves a slow clap.
I realize I've fixated on the deaths, but the rest of the episode (Gray aside) was top-notch as well. I was genuinely surprised to find out Captain John was just a puppet and in his heart still loyal to Jack (aw). I hope we see more of him next seires (Torchwood 3 does have some openings now... Horrible as it is to say.) I really like Rhys as well, and am glad when he gets to actually Do Things. I was also pretty convinced he was going to die. Hell, I was convinced everyone was going to die (except Jack, of course). This was a tense, well-paced episode. I'm interested to see what ramifications the destruction in Cardiff will have in the larger Whoverse, or if other branches of Torchwood will decide that Torchwood 3 is losing its grasp. There's a great wealth of story potential caused by NOT HITTING A RESET BUTTON YAY.
How long until series 3???
Now that that's exorcised...
Battlestar Galactica 4.01 "He Who Believeth in Me"
Hm. I forgot how annoying it is when the episode just ends and you totally cannot believe it because time just seemed to fly, despite how densely packed the 40 minutes of show were. It is fist-shakingly annoying.
I thought it did well picking up where season 3 left off, but it really seemed more like a prologue for season 4 than an actual episode (part of why I was so surprised when it ended). It got me excited about season 4 and how everything will unfold, but I wasn't excited about the episode itself perse. Damn 40 minute teaser.
I really like Kara running through all the possible things she could be (is she a clone? is she a cylon? did cylons pull her out of her viper before it exploded?) because this show is smart and realizes its audience is also smart and running through these exact possibilities in their heads, and to not have the character do it, or to drag it out would be an insult to the audience. I <3 you too, BSG. Also Anders telling Kara he'd love her even if she were a cylon and Kara saying she'd put a bullet between his eyes if he was one? Oh, snap.
I love Baltar as an accidental cult leader. Listening to him pray, I wonder if he's taking it seriously or just playing along, and then I realize that he doesn't know, either. It's such a complex but real thing to portray, navigating the line between what you feel and what you pretend to feel. Baltar is just so conspicuously human, so full of flaws and contradictions and strengths that he's captivating to watch. Also Baltar Terror Eyes never get old. It's ok, dude, we don't know what the frak's going on, either.
Doctor Who 4.01 "Partners in Crime"
You know what? I'm ok with Donna. She's entertaining. STFU haters. Also OMGWTFROSEBQ.
Also I love her for her suitcases and (presumably) constant outfit changes for the series. "You've got, uh, a hatbox." "Yes! For hats!" NEW ICON TIME. Partay. I'm just going to change my default once a year, when the new Who series starts. Tradition!
Torchwood 2.13 "Exit Wounds"
Torchwood series 2 has completely surprised me. The individual episodes have on the whole been far better written, full of more depth and complexity of both plot and theme, than almost any series 1 episode. The characterizations have been compelling and consistent throughout the entire series. The finale was very nearly perfect, and the only quibble I really have is the casting of Gray and some of the handling of his characterization, which I felt wasn't strong enough for the lynchpin role. That aside everything else was carried out beautifully. I had heard there would be a character death, but I certainly wasn't expecting two, and Tosh and Owen... truly heartwrenching, and not a false note. Tosh talking Owen through his death, only to then have to face her own? It was just... a differnent level of storytelling, just raw grief and fear with no fix at the end, nothing to make it all ok. I hadn't expected that from Torchwood. It was horribly brilliant. This honestly may be the best that I've ever seen any show handle major character death. Owen screaming when he realizes that he's locked in and going to die... Tosh calming him down, but not telling him that she's dying too... or that she loves him. It was all so in character and well acted. I loved both their characters, but the deaths were just so well done that I can't say I wish the writers hadn't killed them. It was such a proper and fitting end to their stories, I can't wish it hadn't happened. I think Torchwood deserves a slow clap.
I realize I've fixated on the deaths, but the rest of the episode (Gray aside) was top-notch as well. I was genuinely surprised to find out Captain John was just a puppet and in his heart still loyal to Jack (aw). I hope we see more of him next seires (Torchwood 3 does have some openings now... Horrible as it is to say.) I really like Rhys as well, and am glad when he gets to actually Do Things. I was also pretty convinced he was going to die. Hell, I was convinced everyone was going to die (except Jack, of course). This was a tense, well-paced episode. I'm interested to see what ramifications the destruction in Cardiff will have in the larger Whoverse, or if other branches of Torchwood will decide that Torchwood 3 is losing its grasp. There's a great wealth of story potential caused by NOT HITTING A RESET BUTTON YAY.
How long until series 3???
Now that that's exorcised...
Battlestar Galactica 4.01 "He Who Believeth in Me"
Hm. I forgot how annoying it is when the episode just ends and you totally cannot believe it because time just seemed to fly, despite how densely packed the 40 minutes of show were. It is fist-shakingly annoying.
I thought it did well picking up where season 3 left off, but it really seemed more like a prologue for season 4 than an actual episode (part of why I was so surprised when it ended). It got me excited about season 4 and how everything will unfold, but I wasn't excited about the episode itself perse. Damn 40 minute teaser.
I really like Kara running through all the possible things she could be (is she a clone? is she a cylon? did cylons pull her out of her viper before it exploded?) because this show is smart and realizes its audience is also smart and running through these exact possibilities in their heads, and to not have the character do it, or to drag it out would be an insult to the audience. I <3 you too, BSG. Also Anders telling Kara he'd love her even if she were a cylon and Kara saying she'd put a bullet between his eyes if he was one? Oh, snap.
I love Baltar as an accidental cult leader. Listening to him pray, I wonder if he's taking it seriously or just playing along, and then I realize that he doesn't know, either. It's such a complex but real thing to portray, navigating the line between what you feel and what you pretend to feel. Baltar is just so conspicuously human, so full of flaws and contradictions and strengths that he's captivating to watch. Also Baltar Terror Eyes never get old. It's ok, dude, we don't know what the frak's going on, either.
Doctor Who 4.01 "Partners in Crime"
You know what? I'm ok with Donna. She's entertaining. STFU haters. Also OMGWTFROSEBQ.
Also I love her for her suitcases and (presumably) constant outfit changes for the series. "You've got, uh, a hatbox." "Yes! For hats!" NEW ICON TIME. Partay. I'm just going to change my default once a year, when the new Who series starts. Tradition!