Yet again I wasn't home to watch. I'm assuming the discussion must happen on the writer's union, which I can't access, not being a writer, because it's always quiet here.
Anyhow Countrycide really is one of the iconic episodes. I do think it's genuinely scary. I remember driving through the Brecon Beacons on a misty cold night with some friends after it was broadcast and all of us agreeing that we wished we hadn't seen it, we did feel quite freaked out.
I love Ianto and Tosh in this episode, and how brave they are. I think the very bizarre scene when Gwen asked them who they last kissed (is the writer 14 years old) has turned out to be so fascinating, and spawned so much meta and writing generally. The look between Jack and Ianto at the end of that scene is a great bit of direction, it's so loaded, and clearly meant to tell us something, even at the time I presumed it was because they were both lying, and cross with each other, but there are a lot of interpretations.
You can join the writer's union. Anyone can. It's just that the general focus is on writing fic, but it's equally important to have readers and the knowledge of the fandom to help make the writing good! :)
I think they are Rounders bats. I have never thought to put one in my boot, maybe I'm supposed to? I once saw a black cab driver threaten a difficult passenger with one he produced from his boot. It was scary.
That puzzled me for ages. Surely there isn't a thriving trade in American sports equipment for self protection in Britain and Ireland, is there? And yet, time after time, on show after show, there's the trusty bat under the seat or bed just waiting to be whipped out and crack some bad guy on the skull.
Hah hah, I've never seen personal protection via American sports no. I reckon people have the bats from playing Rounders, or their kids playing it, then put them in the boot or under the bed. I've only seen it on telly as well, or my one cab driver experience.
I re-watched this episode a little while ago and one of the things I noticed about it was that there were some really amazing shots. The camerawork for this episode was really quite nice. (Not that I'm any expert on such things
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I agree about the just keep driving. I think there's a pretty strong instict to want to stop and help, but all I keep thinking in that moment is don't get out of the car.
RTD said at the time that the episode was set up to get Owen and Gwen together. The kiss game thing just has Gwen being cruel IMO, but TPTB don't seem to get that's how she comes across. Clearly she says it because she and Owen are sniffing around each other
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I think they did both lie. But I think that Ianto was putting Gwen in her place a bit. This isn't that long (two months maybe? if you go with Ianto's month long suspension and then the fairies case,) and she's asking about last kisses? What's he supposed to say? And Jack lied, because that wasn't exactly classic mouth to mouth he gave Ianto to revive him, was it? I do think that they were shagging prior to Cyberwoman, but I don't think they picked up straight away after. (But I also think they want to, they just had to find a way through the minefield that was their relationship to do so.)
Owen comes off as a creep until they get down to the case, and then he's a professional doctor. But I think that he recognised that Gwen gets off on illicit and dangerous and he was playing up to that.
I think Owen is just mostly unlikeable in series 1. I agree he suddenly becomes OK when he has to start being a doctor in this episode. Although I know it's inspired mountains of stories, I do think it's odd how poor Ianto is clearly beaten about badly, yet he doesn't seem to get any medical attention or even a "poor you".
I just loathe that sort of dialogue re Owen and the tree scene, it's so sexist and awful, I would be a bit sick in my mouth if someone tried that on, but it's the sort of thing people write I guess. It's like a scene in one of the series we are ignoring on this comm (MD) where I find Jack's dialogue creepy and sexist, yet some people find that sort of nonsense sexy.
Agree Ianto does come across as putting Gwen in her place, and also being petulant with all of them. It's a fascinating little moment.
I re-watched it recently and it never fails to make my skin crawl. Much as I enjoy it for being a classic thriller, I also enjoy the moments of character development
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Anyhow Countrycide really is one of the iconic episodes. I do think it's genuinely scary. I remember driving through the Brecon Beacons on a misty cold night with some friends after it was broadcast and all of us agreeing that we wished we hadn't seen it, we did feel quite freaked out.
I love Ianto and Tosh in this episode, and how brave they are. I think the very bizarre scene when Gwen asked them who they last kissed (is the writer 14 years old) has turned out to be so fascinating, and spawned so much meta and writing generally. The look between Jack and Ianto at the end of that scene is a great bit of direction, it's so loaded, and clearly meant to tell us something, even at the time I presumed it was because they were both lying, and cross with each other, but there are a lot of interpretations.
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Owen comes off as a creep until they get down to the case, and then he's a professional doctor. But I think that he recognised that Gwen gets off on illicit and dangerous and he was playing up to that.
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I just loathe that sort of dialogue re Owen and the tree scene, it's so sexist and awful, I would be a bit sick in my mouth if someone tried that on, but it's the sort of thing people write I guess. It's like a scene in one of the series we are ignoring on this comm (MD) where I find Jack's dialogue creepy and sexist, yet some people find that sort of nonsense sexy.
Agree Ianto does come across as putting Gwen in her place, and also being petulant with all of them. It's a fascinating little moment.
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