GleeClub Morning After for TW:MD 'The Blood Line'
TW-GLEECLUB REACTION ROUND-UP
Episode #10: The Blood Line
Official Reaction Post Commenting Policy:
1. Squee, discussion, and criticism are all welcome in tw_gleeclub reaction posts. Please still keep the comm rules in mind when commenting, however:
- "JB's acting in that scene was reaching near-'my poor friend' levels!", "So any idea when Esther actually becomes interesting?", "Really, a joke about chips vs. crisps, RTD?", "Did anyone else feel like this episode moved r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w?" = A-OK
- "Counting down until this piece of shit gets cancelled!" = not appropriate for Gleeclub. Take it elsewhere.
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3. Don't harsh other people's squee. If you really must complain about Rex Matheson's characterization (NOT THAT YOU WOULD, RIGHT!?), don't do it directly in response to a thread of gifs celebrating his status as a BAMF. Reply to the post and start your own thread, instead.
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Love,
your mods ♥
- Another moment of appreciation for Eve Myles' freckles. I also love-love-love that we get this glimpse into Gwen's childhood, and a moment she shared with her dad. Her whole monologue, leading up to that moment where she announces that today is the day that she kills him, made the episode kick off with a bit of a heartache for me.
- I am finally warming up to the nickname "World War II" - much like Owen calling Ianto "Tea Boy" all the time… Hmmm, there's a comic series for ya: "The Adventures of World War II and Tea Boy!"
- Poor Rex, his chest is hurting him something shocking… Perhaps that pen did more damage, and he's having trouble healing without Dr Vera around?
- I just love how they don't have any problems with their cells or net connection…
- Frances Fisher issuing orders in Japanese just makes her even creepier.
- I love Gwen's compass. New head canon is that it belonged to her Dad.
- I'm not even going to pretend I know what Frances Fisher is talking about regarding the statistics… Her lips are moving and sounds are coming out, I just don't understand it.
- I love that Shapiro is all "Grrr, Esther, you're gonna get arrested!" and Esther is all … "Yes, boss."
- Woohoo! Go translator! Slap Evil!Charlotte down!
- Dear Cutie from ABC Family's GREEK - thank you for telling the enemy EXACTLY what you're doing. *facepalm*
- LOVE Gwen and the Chinese lady. They are both too cute.
- Oswald is the ultimate cretin.
- I love how Jack avoids Oswald's question and then delivers the ultimate blow. For a minute there, I thought it was going to be a touching moment, but it really wasn't.
- I LOVE RHYS. "Anwen says hello." - "No she doesn't, she's tiny, she hasn't got a clue." lmfao. This exchange is totally adorkable.
- HOORAY! ANDY!
- Rhys just about breaks my heart right here. This is, without a doubt, the hardest decision a family has to make, and no matter the situation, the decision to let someone die is heart breaking. But I love that Rhys (and Mary and Gwen) all handle this big choice with as much dignity and courage as the situation allows.
- I love this small exchange with the Chinese woman. It gives proof that the whole world has not gone mad.
- Ooooh, Esther is giving the bags to cute military guys… This can't end well.
- Rex being hurt is a god-send, because OH MY GOD THERE IS A CRAZY BASTARD ON THE TRUCK.
- Love Rex's game plan, and I love that Esther stands up to him, and that he hugs her and kisses her forehead. This has the potential to be a decent partnership/friendship. Not sure I like them as a couple - Esther and Andy would make a better couple.
- Would ya look at that? The family/Evil!Charlotte were able to sneak a bomb into the CIA without it being discovered… this does not look good for the CIA. Seriously…
- OMFG THAT BITCH JUST BLEW UP Q! SHIT JUST GOT CRAZY! PICARD IS GONNA KICK YO' ASS.
- I LoL'ed at Jack being all trippy over the chicken.
- I love that Jack has been the one keeping Gwen on a short leash, especially where Gwen kicking someone's arse is concerned.
- Everyone is neck-snap happy…
- I'm with Gwen. Shut Oswald up.
- The scene at Cowbridge made me, in turns, uncomfortable and distressed. Where is the dignity for these people?
- Andy and Rhys, just… No words can express how much I love these two characters and how amazing I think they are.
- Hehe, Jack was in China for the Boxer Rebellion… the history nerd in me just had a fangirl moment.
- "It's that soldier!" LoL.
- I really like this twist that isn't really a twist. Oswald is one of those villains who remains a villain through to the end. He doesn't care about true redemption, he is all about the chaos and pain.
- Jack cutting his finger then sticking it in his mouth made me a bit queasy.
- I love that Gwen and Jack and even Oswald are all so comfortable with who they are and the lives they have led/created for themselves that the blessing doesn't really affect them.
- I love that Jilly - for all she's kinda evil now - is still disgusted by Oswald. It means she may still have a conscience in there somewhere.
- Love that Jack starts b-sing his way through an explanation and Gwen calls him on it. Silurians, Racnoss, Huon particles… Jack is full of shit and it is wonderful.
- I love Jack's reasoning as to how the miracle came about - another take on the Space-Whale story.
- I love Rex and Esther's plan. I love Gwen and Jack.
- THEY FUCKING SHOT ESTHER!
- I love HBIC! Gwen.
- Watching Jack and Rex, really made me squeamish.
- I love Rhys and Andy and Mary all just breaking my heart.
- Gwen checking Jack's pulse had me yelling at the telly for her to just wait damn it!
- I love the Family!Woman's trying to bribe Oswald.
- And then Jack comes back and OH MY GOD!
- Go Rex! Tossing that bastard over the side!
- Gwen and Jilly having a classic cat fight over the elevator! Best quote of the whole season right there: "HOW. MUCH. BLOODY. LIPSTICK. CAN YOU. WEAR?"
- And then Jack and Gwen just get in the elevator and are all "Meh, Bitch, save yourself!"
- I love that Gwen tries to run back for Jilly.
- Oh, Esther… Please wake up!
- I thought they said Jack would never sing on Torchwood?
- OMG, EVIL!CHARLOTTE!
- OMG ALL MY CREYS. ESTHER BB! COME BACK!
- Oooooh… Jilly, you survived! And so did Creepy Family Guy.
- WTF is plan B?
- I love that UNIT got a mention here, and I love the banter between Gwen, Jack and Rhys and Rex. There has got to be some kind of friendship there between Rhys and Jack, there just has to. I refuse to believe any differently.
- Oooh, Rex got shot.
- The whole "What." Section reminded me of Runaway Bride.
- WHAT THE EVER LOVIN' FUCK? I'm sorry guys, but, seriously… WHAT? We were told that all our questions would be answered, some of them were, but… I'm sorry, but those last few minutes of the episode have just ruined it for me.
How the bloody hell is Jack's blood responsible for Rex being immortal? It was already established in canon that it's not something that Jack is via natural methods, but rather, something that was done to him. Something that should not have been done to him. Jack is an impossible thing. The time vortex in the heart of the TARDIS made Jack immortal, with the help of Rose. This is just… I put up with a lot of continuity problems, and "Word of God" issues, but Rex all of a sudden being immortal because he had a transfusion of Jack's blood? NO.
I really, really enjoyed MD, until that point. I had even been working on head-canon for Esther and a fix-it… but… I'm just so frustrated and angry at this being thrust on us and on Jack. If it was part of Jack's blood… How deep does it stretch? Blood is made up of DNA, right? Shouldn't then, Alice and Stephen be immortal? What about Jack's other kids (if he's had them)? And as someone pointed out, what about Hart? Owen injected him that one time with all of Team Torchwood's blood - including Jack's.
Wouldn't Torchwood - in all those long years where Jack was their employee - have experimented on his blood? Emily and Alice don't strike me as the type to let sleeping dogs lie. Neither does Owen. I can see Owen in the months where Jack was travelling with the Doctor between series one and two, experimenting on Jack's blood or any tissue samples/x-rays, to try and see how Jack ticks.
I just… I'm sorry. I know people like Rex, and I didn't mind him surviving MD at all. But… not like this. Not at the expense of him being immortal.
I don't mean to be a buzz kill, really I don't. I loved the episode right up til then. But just... thoughts, theories? Hugs?
PS: Did everyone else get the: "JACK WILL BACK BACK IN 2012" at the very, very end of the episode?
My journal has now been updated with a longer reaction post, and more thoughts on why I'm disappointed in Rex's immortality, as well as theories!
(And also reaction posts for Episode #6, Episode #7, Episode #8 and Episode #9)