Real men can moisturise too
I had a feeling this week's Torchwood was going to raise a sniffle or two. I wasn't wrong! The fog does wonders for my digital reception so I was able to watch it on Tuesday...
Right from the start, this ep had a cinematic feel to me, and that is a good thing. I could have watched our 1950s trio's adventures and mishaps in the brave new 21st century world for hours; their entire week's experiences would have had me rivetted, as the characters all were beautifully written, performed and brought alive for me. Nice direction too. From the opening shot of Jack, Gwen and Owen standing on the airfield waiting for the 'plane to land, it had me.
A little bit lame of Jack to say the trio were to know as little about them as possible, as they were ushered into the Hub, though! And you just knew it was going to be a bittersweet ep when there was the rebellion about being given new identities.
I know I am mad for Ianto, but the supermarket business was a delight! Who is this guy, really?! He knows everything about everything, even the science and engineering of automatic doors! But yeah, bananas are far more interesting than them ;) He had the trio on a budget for their shopping trip, and was mentally totting up their spending as they went along. I love him. I want him to come organise me! Emma pouncing on all the choc - "You'll ruin your teeth!" John goggling at a celeb rag - "Welcome to the wonderful world of scantily dressed celebrities." His tiny quirky smiles are to die for *swoon*
But that was the fun part. We get a few warm smiles at Emma ripping open the teabags and emptying them into the pot; and the girls they are sharing the digs with (and they are pretty grotty digs, really) loving Emma's shoes etc. But mostly events are now tinged with a little sadness/frustration/confusion.
John and Jack bonding over beer and footie in the pub - cue lump in throat. "Did you fall through time too?"
Smoking now kills, and you can't light up in the pub. Aha, so does this place TW in 2007+ for sure? But then FlyerGirl/Diane is allowed to smoke in the restaurant... *scratches head*
See Owen fall, and fall hard! "You expect equality AND chivalry!" But like a good little puppy he pulls out Diane's chair :)
Emma looks like she is embracing their new life, but reveals her own confusion and insecurities, particularly when John - who clearly isn't adapting - comes on like the 1950s dad he is. But she stands up to him, even though she is upset about everything she's lost (and no love, that is one of the good things about time travel, you do NOT have to find a husband to validate yourself/take care of you). And if we were holding on to some hope that John would be okay eventually, I think we can now see that his obsession with finding his son is going to end badly *sniffle*
Still loving the use of music in in TW. Saved By A Woman plays in the background as Owen and Diane get to know each other better ;) "I'm glad you haven't got a girlfriend" she says. OUCH! Cut to Gwen, music cranked up a notch or three. OUCH! So, Diane has had an affair with a married man. No complications, no tedious chores. Owen is having an affair with a 'married' woman, not that he lets on of course :p Fuck buddies. OUCH!
Eek, naked Rhys! And his morning glory! *snerk* Poor Emma, now installed at Gwen and Rhys' place, having to witness that! Gwen has to come up with a cock-and-bull story for him, of course she does, but we know this too will end badly.
Oh dear, oh no. It had to happen. Cue tears. John finds his son Alan in a nursing home, old and frail, with Alzheimer's, without family. Sobbing commences as John tries to show Alan photos of them together, and thinking he has got through to him with the footie talk (but what a mindfuck to tell him you're his dad!), only to have him switch back off again.
Jack understands John very well, which is in itself heartbreaking. "John's witnessing the end of his world, the end of his line." And Jack is all limp and blah about the whole damn mess as he slumps on the couch.
Emma at the club, left to be chatted up while Gwen over-compensates with Rhys in the smooching stakes. OMG, Emma's going off with a bloke! Phew, they're just snogging! Gwen educates Emma in 21st century sexuality, but Emma's different-world viewpoint is definitely making Gwen feel uncomfortable about her own behaviour.
I've always liked Gwen, and I liked seeing her being all protective and big sisterly. Spending time with Emma seems to be filling a hole in her life. So naturally she is going to lose her, and will have to let go. Because Emma has really got it going on! New job, new city, new life! Good for her! But Rhys has woken up to how easily Gwen lies to him these days. OUCH!
We're cutting back and forth between the trio quite rapidly now and it's packing a punch. From Emma's excitement, to John pinching Ianto's car keys (oh no!), to Diane releasing Owen's inner romantic. The man has great taste in dresses, by the way! Posh togs, champers, dancing, giving her his jacket...
Ianto realises John has absconded and calls on Jack to track him down. Nice car, Ianto; but oh no! So, do they all have tracking devices on their vehicles? No time for the gentle viewer to ponder this as Jack is off and racing to try to save John. But the way Ianto hands Jack his coat... gah! Then he is left there, looking all... detached. Hmmm.
Okay, break me into tiny pieces why don't you?! Jack "rescues" John from the fume-filled car, and tells him he is from the future, has lived in his past, and that "My time has gone too." Waaaaah! But John is determined. He has already done everything Jack says he could do now, "...when I was meant to." Even telling him how it is to die - "It just goes black" - isn't going to stop him, although John cares enough about Jack to ask how he copes. It's just bearable, it has to be, he has no choice. Oh no *sob* Jack gives up the fight with John when he pleads "Don't condemn me to live." He couldn't have put it any better to get through to him, could he...
Cut back to Owen in love, and fucking scared! Emma going off to grab the world with both hands. Diane off to who knows where. Jack sitting in the car with John as he dies, holding his hand *wails*
So they all move on in their own ways, leaving Gwen, Jack and Owen all challenged and changed from knowing them. And me in pieces on the sofa.
A big ol' emotional 10/10!
Oh, and I did some more updating at The Torchwood Dimension yesterday :)
Right from the start, this ep had a cinematic feel to me, and that is a good thing. I could have watched our 1950s trio's adventures and mishaps in the brave new 21st century world for hours; their entire week's experiences would have had me rivetted, as the characters all were beautifully written, performed and brought alive for me. Nice direction too. From the opening shot of Jack, Gwen and Owen standing on the airfield waiting for the 'plane to land, it had me.
A little bit lame of Jack to say the trio were to know as little about them as possible, as they were ushered into the Hub, though! And you just knew it was going to be a bittersweet ep when there was the rebellion about being given new identities.
I know I am mad for Ianto, but the supermarket business was a delight! Who is this guy, really?! He knows everything about everything, even the science and engineering of automatic doors! But yeah, bananas are far more interesting than them ;) He had the trio on a budget for their shopping trip, and was mentally totting up their spending as they went along. I love him. I want him to come organise me! Emma pouncing on all the choc - "You'll ruin your teeth!" John goggling at a celeb rag - "Welcome to the wonderful world of scantily dressed celebrities." His tiny quirky smiles are to die for *swoon*
But that was the fun part. We get a few warm smiles at Emma ripping open the teabags and emptying them into the pot; and the girls they are sharing the digs with (and they are pretty grotty digs, really) loving Emma's shoes etc. But mostly events are now tinged with a little sadness/frustration/confusion.
John and Jack bonding over beer and footie in the pub - cue lump in throat. "Did you fall through time too?"
Smoking now kills, and you can't light up in the pub. Aha, so does this place TW in 2007+ for sure? But then FlyerGirl/Diane is allowed to smoke in the restaurant... *scratches head*
See Owen fall, and fall hard! "You expect equality AND chivalry!" But like a good little puppy he pulls out Diane's chair :)
Emma looks like she is embracing their new life, but reveals her own confusion and insecurities, particularly when John - who clearly isn't adapting - comes on like the 1950s dad he is. But she stands up to him, even though she is upset about everything she's lost (and no love, that is one of the good things about time travel, you do NOT have to find a husband to validate yourself/take care of you). And if we were holding on to some hope that John would be okay eventually, I think we can now see that his obsession with finding his son is going to end badly *sniffle*
Still loving the use of music in in TW. Saved By A Woman plays in the background as Owen and Diane get to know each other better ;) "I'm glad you haven't got a girlfriend" she says. OUCH! Cut to Gwen, music cranked up a notch or three. OUCH! So, Diane has had an affair with a married man. No complications, no tedious chores. Owen is having an affair with a 'married' woman, not that he lets on of course :p Fuck buddies. OUCH!
Eek, naked Rhys! And his morning glory! *snerk* Poor Emma, now installed at Gwen and Rhys' place, having to witness that! Gwen has to come up with a cock-and-bull story for him, of course she does, but we know this too will end badly.
Oh dear, oh no. It had to happen. Cue tears. John finds his son Alan in a nursing home, old and frail, with Alzheimer's, without family. Sobbing commences as John tries to show Alan photos of them together, and thinking he has got through to him with the footie talk (but what a mindfuck to tell him you're his dad!), only to have him switch back off again.
Jack understands John very well, which is in itself heartbreaking. "John's witnessing the end of his world, the end of his line." And Jack is all limp and blah about the whole damn mess as he slumps on the couch.
Emma at the club, left to be chatted up while Gwen over-compensates with Rhys in the smooching stakes. OMG, Emma's going off with a bloke! Phew, they're just snogging! Gwen educates Emma in 21st century sexuality, but Emma's different-world viewpoint is definitely making Gwen feel uncomfortable about her own behaviour.
I've always liked Gwen, and I liked seeing her being all protective and big sisterly. Spending time with Emma seems to be filling a hole in her life. So naturally she is going to lose her, and will have to let go. Because Emma has really got it going on! New job, new city, new life! Good for her! But Rhys has woken up to how easily Gwen lies to him these days. OUCH!
We're cutting back and forth between the trio quite rapidly now and it's packing a punch. From Emma's excitement, to John pinching Ianto's car keys (oh no!), to Diane releasing Owen's inner romantic. The man has great taste in dresses, by the way! Posh togs, champers, dancing, giving her his jacket...
Ianto realises John has absconded and calls on Jack to track him down. Nice car, Ianto; but oh no! So, do they all have tracking devices on their vehicles? No time for the gentle viewer to ponder this as Jack is off and racing to try to save John. But the way Ianto hands Jack his coat... gah! Then he is left there, looking all... detached. Hmmm.
Okay, break me into tiny pieces why don't you?! Jack "rescues" John from the fume-filled car, and tells him he is from the future, has lived in his past, and that "My time has gone too." Waaaaah! But John is determined. He has already done everything Jack says he could do now, "...when I was meant to." Even telling him how it is to die - "It just goes black" - isn't going to stop him, although John cares enough about Jack to ask how he copes. It's just bearable, it has to be, he has no choice. Oh no *sob* Jack gives up the fight with John when he pleads "Don't condemn me to live." He couldn't have put it any better to get through to him, could he...
Cut back to Owen in love, and fucking scared! Emma going off to grab the world with both hands. Diane off to who knows where. Jack sitting in the car with John as he dies, holding his hand *wails*
So they all move on in their own ways, leaving Gwen, Jack and Owen all challenged and changed from knowing them. And me in pieces on the sofa.
A big ol' emotional 10/10!
Oh, and I did some more updating at The Torchwood Dimension yesterday :)