Torchwood: Miracle Day (Episode 2) Thoughts
So I'm going to start of by saying that I was a bit underwhelmed with the first episode of Miracle Day. There was nothing fundamentally wrong with the episode to me, just a bit too much generic "action" for the Torchwood I'd come to known. Yes, the original two seasons of Torchwood were incredibly cheesy and ridiculous at times, but that was part of its charm. The first episode of Miracle Day presented an interesting concept but nothing quite... memorable, so to speak. However I know RTD and Julie Gardner and I know Eve Myles and John Barrowman, so I decided to give the next episode a chance.
And boy did it deliver. Once again I was faced with situations where I started to wonder if that was even remotely possible but quickly shut myself up saying, "Who even cares. It's AWESOME."
In short, "Welcome to Torchwood."
Okay, I'm talking about actual stuff from the episode from here on out, so if you don't want to be spoiled, don't read.
RTD: Character Extraordinaire
Don't get me wrong, I really like Moffat's Who. However he tends to let his plot run ahead of his characters. RTD is the opposite and, man, did this episode let it show. And strong female characters? Completely hit it out of the park. I mean, damn. I have to go by this character by character.
Esther Drummond - I didn't like her character that much in the first episode, mainly because she was being used mostly for plot motivation and in that aspect she felt like a Gwen Cooper 2.0. She stepped into her own pair of shoes this time around and, even though she's a lot more nervous and scared when it comes to things, got the job done.
Dr. Vera Juarez - HBIC. No really. One of the things I'm starting to love about this season is that everybody has a different role; they're not just all FBI shoot-em-up agents. Gwen blows things up, Esther collects intelligence, and Vera is a kick ass doctor in a world where her entire profession has been torn upside down. She's a perfect example of being able to be a strong leader without being necessarily violent or stereotypically masculine. The scene where she essentially reverses the inpatient procedures? Flawless. (Just like her.)
Jilly Kitzinger - Hidden depths. Hidden depths. Hidden depths! Seriously, I will be shocked if it turns out she's not hiding something about herself. Another great character, I literally known nothing about her other than her job as a disreputable PR lady and yet I AM SO INTRIGUED BEYOND WORDS. Her acting is addictive, and I give credit to both Lauren Ambrose and the writing.
Lyn - Another person who I think will get some explanatory backstory, but one whose "mystery" is definitely on the surface. She's ranked a bit low on the casting list, so I'm really hoping the team runs into her more in future episodes since she would make a fantastic villain.
Sure the plot didn't leap ahead by bounds in this episode, but I think that's fine. The first episode was the set up with MASSIVE exposition. This one stepped back a little bit, let us get to know these people who've been caught up in this. A strong character doesn't mean that they have to kick ass 24/7. They can if they want, but the variety of strengths and weaknesses from the characters in this episode really made my day. I can't wait to see how they'll all play out against each other.
Implications of Immortality
I also loved how they further explored what the whole "miracle" really means for the human race, more so than just "we'll overpopulate and run out of food." The rise of drug resistant bacteria, aging without dying, the inevitable demand for painkillers, a switch in concern from "dying" patients to ones with only minor injuries, possible effects on societies with reincarnation or other post-life beliefs... Sometimes people forget how necessary death is for life and I'm glad they're continuing to hammer in that THIS IS A REALLY BAD THING.
Oswald Danes
Hoo boy, his TV interview show was awkward. I didn't doubt that he was faking it; he went out saying "She should've run faster." That is NOT "oh I was too scared to apologize at my trial." That's "oh shit, I actually have to live forever with this now, might as well get to work on that whole 'redemption' thing." In a way, I can't believe so many people in-universe fell for it, but at least Jilly was there to call him out on it (and just be awesome in general).
Welcome to Torchwood
I mentioned how RTD works best with characters rather than plot. Perfect example. I don't even care at this point why Jack was poisoned; all I know is that it gave us this beautiful scene. Would all those things actually work as an antidote? Probably not. But it was awesome and precisely the kind of Torchwood thing I'd been waiting for.
Quippy one liners with ridiculous, often supernatural situations.
Myles and Barrowman really work well together. I almost forgot that in the first episode where they were split up for the most part, but here they're back in their element. Sure, it might not be quite up to the fun levels of the first and second season, but they're definitely more relaxed and open than they were last week.
You find out Americans don't all own giant SUVs?
And yeah. Logically, Lyn shouldn't have been walking and the special effects were not the best.
But that's Torchwood - completely bizarre, cheesy, and illogical at times - just like it always has been.
I'm surprised to say that I have a lot more anticipation for next week than I have right now for "Let's Kill Hitler." Maybe that's just because it's right around the corner versus another month or two, and maybe not. All I can say is that I think I'm going to be well satisfied for the rest of the summer.
And boy did it deliver. Once again I was faced with situations where I started to wonder if that was even remotely possible but quickly shut myself up saying, "Who even cares. It's AWESOME."
In short, "Welcome to Torchwood."
Okay, I'm talking about actual stuff from the episode from here on out, so if you don't want to be spoiled, don't read.
RTD: Character Extraordinaire
Don't get me wrong, I really like Moffat's Who. However he tends to let his plot run ahead of his characters. RTD is the opposite and, man, did this episode let it show. And strong female characters? Completely hit it out of the park. I mean, damn. I have to go by this character by character.
Esther Drummond - I didn't like her character that much in the first episode, mainly because she was being used mostly for plot motivation and in that aspect she felt like a Gwen Cooper 2.0. She stepped into her own pair of shoes this time around and, even though she's a lot more nervous and scared when it comes to things, got the job done.
Dr. Vera Juarez - HBIC. No really. One of the things I'm starting to love about this season is that everybody has a different role; they're not just all FBI shoot-em-up agents. Gwen blows things up, Esther collects intelligence, and Vera is a kick ass doctor in a world where her entire profession has been torn upside down. She's a perfect example of being able to be a strong leader without being necessarily violent or stereotypically masculine. The scene where she essentially reverses the inpatient procedures? Flawless. (Just like her.)
Jilly Kitzinger - Hidden depths. Hidden depths. Hidden depths! Seriously, I will be shocked if it turns out she's not hiding something about herself. Another great character, I literally known nothing about her other than her job as a disreputable PR lady and yet I AM SO INTRIGUED BEYOND WORDS. Her acting is addictive, and I give credit to both Lauren Ambrose and the writing.
Lyn - Another person who I think will get some explanatory backstory, but one whose "mystery" is definitely on the surface. She's ranked a bit low on the casting list, so I'm really hoping the team runs into her more in future episodes since she would make a fantastic villain.
Sure the plot didn't leap ahead by bounds in this episode, but I think that's fine. The first episode was the set up with MASSIVE exposition. This one stepped back a little bit, let us get to know these people who've been caught up in this. A strong character doesn't mean that they have to kick ass 24/7. They can if they want, but the variety of strengths and weaknesses from the characters in this episode really made my day. I can't wait to see how they'll all play out against each other.
Implications of Immortality
I also loved how they further explored what the whole "miracle" really means for the human race, more so than just "we'll overpopulate and run out of food." The rise of drug resistant bacteria, aging without dying, the inevitable demand for painkillers, a switch in concern from "dying" patients to ones with only minor injuries, possible effects on societies with reincarnation or other post-life beliefs... Sometimes people forget how necessary death is for life and I'm glad they're continuing to hammer in that THIS IS A REALLY BAD THING.
Oswald Danes
Hoo boy, his TV interview show was awkward. I didn't doubt that he was faking it; he went out saying "She should've run faster." That is NOT "oh I was too scared to apologize at my trial." That's "oh shit, I actually have to live forever with this now, might as well get to work on that whole 'redemption' thing." In a way, I can't believe so many people in-universe fell for it, but at least Jilly was there to call him out on it (and just be awesome in general).
Welcome to Torchwood
I mentioned how RTD works best with characters rather than plot. Perfect example. I don't even care at this point why Jack was poisoned; all I know is that it gave us this beautiful scene. Would all those things actually work as an antidote? Probably not. But it was awesome and precisely the kind of Torchwood thing I'd been waiting for.
Quippy one liners with ridiculous, often supernatural situations.
Myles and Barrowman really work well together. I almost forgot that in the first episode where they were split up for the most part, but here they're back in their element. Sure, it might not be quite up to the fun levels of the first and second season, but they're definitely more relaxed and open than they were last week.
You find out Americans don't all own giant SUVs?
And yeah. Logically, Lyn shouldn't have been walking and the special effects were not the best.
But that's Torchwood - completely bizarre, cheesy, and illogical at times - just like it always has been.
I'm surprised to say that I have a lot more anticipation for next week than I have right now for "Let's Kill Hitler." Maybe that's just because it's right around the corner versus another month or two, and maybe not. All I can say is that I think I'm going to be well satisfied for the rest of the summer.