Discussion post for Small Worlds

[the_silver_sun]

This is the discussion post for Small Worlds

Comments

[beesandbrews]

I have a lot of thoughts about this episode. One the one hand, we got some great backstory for Jack. His love affair with Estelle was delved in quite deeply, but what was he doing in Lahore? Was it a Torchwood assignment? Does Jack revert to military service because that's where his comfort zone is

[satanassa]

Okay, I have to admit I did not like Estelle at all! There was something about her that really put me off. Also, what have fairies got to do with sci-fi? There should have been some kind of skiency explanation, but then again this episode was written by the pathetic Philip Hammond.

The story of Jack falling in love with the young Estelle is supposed to be angsty and romantic, but it makes Jack look like a huge arsehole. He made a promise to stay with her forever, knowing fully well that he wouldn't honour it. And then he didn't even have the decency to tell young Estelle the truth, he took the coward's way out instead. What an arsehole.

I thank whoever wrote in the Ianto-Jack scene for that one tiny bit of continuity. Even that was an afterthought!

[beesandbrews]

Regarding Jack's promise. I'm going to plead special circumstances on his behalf. Forever often meant until the next bomb dropped. It was that sort of a time.

Just out of curiosity, what is it about Phillip Hammond that is particularly objectionable? Isn't he the guy behind Sapphire and Steel? (This was supposed to be a kids show, for those who've never heard of it. I was amazed at how spooky and twisted the plots were.)

[satanassa]

Sorry, there is no excuse for Jack's behaviour, as implied by the back-story. He is a mature man, and he made all these hollow promises to a girl of 17, and then sneaked off after faking his death, not having the courage to tell her the truth.

I only know about Hammond's Torchwood episodes -- seems like he's really a fantasy author trying his hand at sci-fi. 'Small Worlds' would have worked in a fantasy setting, but it's a rather clunky fit for sci-fi. He also wrote 'From Out of the Rain', which again is in the realm of magic/fantasy.

[beesandbrews]

I think the fantasy elements were brought in to introduce the notion of "There are more things in life on heaven and earth, Horatio ..." to the Torchwood universe. Had they not gone through a major editorial direction shift, it would have given the writers a larger canvas on which to draw.

The fairies were a life form that can move around in time and can change the course of history. That in and of itself, is pretty sci fi. The nature of the Night Travelers, we'll never fully understand.

I think that it's interesting to note that both fantasy episodes delved into Jack's prior history, allowing us glimpses of the sort of life he led whilst on assignment for Torchwood. (Assuming that the Lahore flashback was TW related. I guess we'll never know the answer to that.)

Edit because I cannot type this morning.

[coldwater1010]

I did watch this episode, but I don't have much to say about it. I like Estelle well enough, but I have to agree that Jack's relationship with Estelle makes him seem like kind of a tool considering he's supposed to be in his mid-30s. I always had problems with that

[beesandbrews]

WW1 didn't start until 1914. The British were occupying India because it was part of the empire at that time, however. Jack isn't clear as to which timeline he was in, either the one where he had joined Torchwood, or the one where he was working for the Time Agency or later when he was freelancing, when he encountered the fairies the first time.

I wonder why Jack bothers to try the 'No, that's my dad' fiction on Gwen too, except maybe to obscure how long he's been knocking around.

[coldwater1010]

Thanks. I just looked at the transcript it says 1909. Shows how much attention I was paying lol. Yeah, I took it to be during his slow path days. If he was freelancing with Torchwood maybe he joined the army for a more regular gig and the travel. They aren't really clear on a lot of things when it comes to Jack. It might explain why he seems wedded to living the army life even as a civilian decades later.

[beesandbrews]

I'd be inclined to go along with Slow Path Jack too. Conman Jack said he liked to work places where there was some big event going down because it made it easier to cover his tracks, and a quick search of Lahore and 1909 didn't really bring anything to light. By the time we catch up with him again, he seems to have the habits of someone long associated with military life, so I think he did default to military service when he wasn't working for Torchwood.

[ukdramafan]

I know I'm late coming to the debate, but my thought is that maybe Jack also died, and resurrected to find his men dead