A Day in the Death/Follow the Leader
So, these reviews are for scifiland's Episode Review challenge. I swear, I overthink these challenges every time. But at least I'm having fun, right?
Torchwood - A Day in the Death
A Day in the Death is the eighth episode of the second season of Torchwood. Like the previous episode, the story continues to focus on Owen coping with his death.
Ironically enough, this episode shows the more human side of Owen. And, for this, I'm completely glad. Before this, I didn't care much for Owen, I'm sorry to say. He didn't have much going for him. For a while, he's The Other Man in Gwen's life. I wasn't entirely engaged in that story arc. Then he has the whole "You messed with the rift because you miss the love of your life" thing going on. So, this new element in Owen's story that didn't have to do with him screwing things up or just screwing in general is refreshing.
What I didn't entirely enjoy was how many times Owen manages to flaunt his deadness. Every time he faces a threat or finds a chance to make a terrible ironic joke, he'd show off that bullet hole. He's permanently chilled, you guys. And don't even get me started with how the security system conveniently detects body heat.
What I did like about Owen's deadness is the fact that he can use his incite for the better. He can give people a realistic outlook regarding death. It's not all that it's talked up to be.
"You've got a choice. If you think that the darkness is too much then go for it. But if there is a chance, just some hope... It could be having a cigarette, or that first sip of hot tea on a cold morning. Or it could be your mates. If there is even a tiny glimmer of light, then don't you think that's worth taking a chance?"
It's interesting how the writers consistently show a belief concerning the afterlife that most shows and movies don't. The other side is only darkness; after death, there is only death and nothing more. It's a bit of a contrast when compared with the main premise of the show. It's all about the supernatural, and then you have the realistic "There is no afterlife" theme.
Lost - Follow the Leader
Follow the Leader is the fifteenth episode of the fifth season. This episode works as a precursor to the season finale, so it's not entirely meant to be a standalone. The momentum is being built up as the characters make their way to the big boom. Literally. Back in 1977, Jack is being led to the bomb that may or may not change everything. And Locke is on his way to meet the mysterious Jacob.
What I like to have fun with is asking if this is a flashback or flashforward episode. It took me a few rewatches for me to realize that this is a Richard-centric episode. Lately, I've been trying to figure Richard out. In both time periods in this episode, he's leading the main characters somewhere. But, as a whole, he's left in the dark about a lot of things, isn't he?
There's also this whole backstory that the "Hostiles" have and the writers never really focus on it. But even with what little they give us, there are small things that you miss at first. I didn't notice Widmore's hand on Eloise's stomach when he's trying to convince her not to lead Jack and Kate to the bomb. It makes me wish that they had more to tell about Widmore, rather than just ending his story with several bullets to the chest.
And can I just say that there are moments of pure gold in this episode? That scene with Hurley, Jin, Miles, and Dr. Chang. And I love it when Richard is all sassy. "It's a 12-foot long, 40,000-pound hydrogen bomb. No, not through the pool." Not only that, but you also get genuinely sweet moments as well. I'm not a hardcore Sawyer/Juliet shipper, but the scene in the submarine nearly made me start sobbing.
This episode serves its purpose and gives you a little bit about Richard and quite a few other characters. This one doesn't dazzle in a conventional way, but I still love it.
Torchwood - A Day in the Death
A Day in the Death is the eighth episode of the second season of Torchwood. Like the previous episode, the story continues to focus on Owen coping with his death.
Ironically enough, this episode shows the more human side of Owen. And, for this, I'm completely glad. Before this, I didn't care much for Owen, I'm sorry to say. He didn't have much going for him. For a while, he's The Other Man in Gwen's life. I wasn't entirely engaged in that story arc. Then he has the whole "You messed with the rift because you miss the love of your life" thing going on. So, this new element in Owen's story that didn't have to do with him screwing things up or just screwing in general is refreshing.
What I didn't entirely enjoy was how many times Owen manages to flaunt his deadness. Every time he faces a threat or finds a chance to make a terrible ironic joke, he'd show off that bullet hole. He's permanently chilled, you guys. And don't even get me started with how the security system conveniently detects body heat.
What I did like about Owen's deadness is the fact that he can use his incite for the better. He can give people a realistic outlook regarding death. It's not all that it's talked up to be.
"You've got a choice. If you think that the darkness is too much then go for it. But if there is a chance, just some hope... It could be having a cigarette, or that first sip of hot tea on a cold morning. Or it could be your mates. If there is even a tiny glimmer of light, then don't you think that's worth taking a chance?"
It's interesting how the writers consistently show a belief concerning the afterlife that most shows and movies don't. The other side is only darkness; after death, there is only death and nothing more. It's a bit of a contrast when compared with the main premise of the show. It's all about the supernatural, and then you have the realistic "There is no afterlife" theme.
Lost - Follow the Leader
Follow the Leader is the fifteenth episode of the fifth season. This episode works as a precursor to the season finale, so it's not entirely meant to be a standalone. The momentum is being built up as the characters make their way to the big boom. Literally. Back in 1977, Jack is being led to the bomb that may or may not change everything. And Locke is on his way to meet the mysterious Jacob.
What I like to have fun with is asking if this is a flashback or flashforward episode. It took me a few rewatches for me to realize that this is a Richard-centric episode. Lately, I've been trying to figure Richard out. In both time periods in this episode, he's leading the main characters somewhere. But, as a whole, he's left in the dark about a lot of things, isn't he?
There's also this whole backstory that the "Hostiles" have and the writers never really focus on it. But even with what little they give us, there are small things that you miss at first. I didn't notice Widmore's hand on Eloise's stomach when he's trying to convince her not to lead Jack and Kate to the bomb. It makes me wish that they had more to tell about Widmore, rather than just ending his story with several bullets to the chest.
And can I just say that there are moments of pure gold in this episode? That scene with Hurley, Jin, Miles, and Dr. Chang. And I love it when Richard is all sassy. "It's a 12-foot long, 40,000-pound hydrogen bomb. No, not through the pool." Not only that, but you also get genuinely sweet moments as well. I'm not a hardcore Sawyer/Juliet shipper, but the scene in the submarine nearly made me start sobbing.
This episode serves its purpose and gives you a little bit about Richard and quite a few other characters. This one doesn't dazzle in a conventional way, but I still love it.