What impressed me the most about Combat was how tightly drawn it was. Every arc, from Owen's slip into the grips of depression, to Gwen's lying and how it affects her relationship with Rhys, to Ianto's integration into the team is given play. All the characters, and the actors that play them, have something to do that makes them shine
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I'll talk about the episode more when I actually watch it.
the conversation, not about work or the usual dull things long term couples talk about, but the possibility of a trip to Paris, and Gwen is just bored with him. She's thrilled that Jack shows up to take her away.
It's why I don't really get why she goes to such extremes to retcon him other than the fact that she really doesn't want to be alone. Because you'd figure if she felt that guilty about the affair or neglecting Rhys she'd at least be making an effort on what I'm assuming is a rare night out for them by that point. Instead she looks bored out of her skull and only lights up when Jack shows up to take her away. I mean if she's that bored with him she can't even feign interest in being with him what's the point?
I don't know. When it comes to Rhys, Gwen is like a kid with a toy. It's hers. Full stop. She might not be that thrilled with it, she might only play with it when she's got nothing better to do, but no one is going to take it away from her either.
Actually whilst I like Rhys, and like them as a couple. I think that he is out of order in that scene. However I do agree with you that he must be frustrated. I just think there is no excuse for a man to order a woman about like that.
Noel Clarke has ended up writing and directing and being more well known for that now, so I think he is a talented writer.
I really agree with a lot of your comments, I don't like some bits, but I'll post separately, rather than in a reply.
I think this is a really strong episode, for all the reasons Bees mentions above. I'm not all that fond of it because it's a bit too boyish for me, it's like Fight Club, good film but not my cup of tea.
I'm not all that interested in the scenes with Owen undercover, but I do like some of the team stuff. I find Gwen's emo pizza scene very realistic. It touched me because I think we all know what it's like when you are trying to eat and cry and don't know what to do with yourself. I hate that she retcons Rhys, She could have just told him and lived with the consequences, and it may have been an interesting story as well.
I love Ianto and Jack at the hospital, that's a really cute scene, and I like the way they play off each other.
The other bit that always strikes me, is when Ianto, Jack and Tosh go to find the club, and Jack is barking orders, Tosh and ianto give each other a look and Ianto rolls his eyes. I love that bit, not sure whether it was in the script, but it really works.
You know, I liked this episode a lot for Gwen retconning Rhys. Not at first. At first I hated it. But then I took a look at myself and realized that it's not a long shot to think that I am perfectly capable of doing the exact same thing. I could relate to it. And a part of me has always thought that his reaction determined whether or not he'd get the retcon. It was only backup. Does any of this make it the right thing to do? Not at all. But I can totally see the motivation for this.
As for Rhys, I never saw him as abusive in that scene. Just angry. Their relationship is going through a difficult phase, and both of them make decisions and say things in the heat of the moment.
The rest of the show was enjoyable, although I would like to know how they were able to make that website so fast. I imagine there's a green screen somewhere in the Hub, and Tosh has hundreds of insta-websites ready to go!
Gwen gave Rhys the retcon before telling him about her affair with Owen though, so his reaction didn't determine anything - unless of course the retcon confession was a practice run to see whether she should tell him without giving him retcon first in future.
I can see why she does it, but I really don't like it.
Yeah, sorry! That's what I was getting at - that it was a test, and if he didn't react badly she'd tell him for real.
I can see why a lot of people wouldn't like. And like I said, I'm not necessarily fond of it, but it was a completely human action and I personally can't say that I wouldn't do the exact same thing in that situation.
I just found it cowardly and stupid. If she honestly wanted his forgiveness then drugging him before she's told him and then telling him she's drugged him before he's had a chance to process the fact that she's just confessed to cheating on him pretty much guaranteed that the forgiveness was never happen because he'd be too busy passing out and forgetting to even get to the point of whether he was willing to forgive or not. So really what was the point? It didn't really tell her anything about his reaction because he was rightly pissed about her drugging him.
My main dislike of this episode, and it's really silly, is the Bad Guy, is just so slimy and horrible to look at IMO that it put me off the whole episode.
There, I told you it was silly. Of my whole S1 DVDs this is the one that I've rewatched the least. Maybe I should try it again.
Heh, I get what you mean. The cannibals don't have much nuance and are just out and out evil and gross. I don't find this bad guy particularly engaging either as a villain or even just as a character and, unfortunately, it's usually the guest characters that make or break the episodes for me. It probably doesn't help that his whole schtick is complaining about how put upon men are in the world. I don't think my eyes can take that much eye-rolling. Maybe in the rewatch I'll find him more nuanced and not just whiny.
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the conversation, not about work or the usual dull things long term couples talk about, but the possibility of a trip to Paris, and Gwen is just bored with him. She's thrilled that Jack shows up to take her away.
It's why I don't really get why she goes to such extremes to retcon him other than the fact that she really doesn't want to be alone. Because you'd figure if she felt that guilty about the affair or neglecting Rhys she'd at least be making an effort on what I'm assuming is a rare night out for them by that point. Instead she looks bored out of her skull and only lights up when Jack shows up to take her away. I mean if she's that bored with him she can't even feign interest in being with him what's the point?
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Noel Clarke has ended up writing and directing and being more well known for that now, so I think he is a talented writer.
I really agree with a lot of your comments, I don't like some bits, but I'll post separately, rather than in a reply.
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I'm not all that interested in the scenes with Owen undercover, but I do like some of the team stuff. I find Gwen's emo pizza scene very realistic. It touched me because I think we all know what it's like when you are trying to eat and cry and don't know what to do with yourself. I hate that she retcons Rhys, She could have just told him and lived with the consequences, and it may have been an interesting story as well.
I love Ianto and Jack at the hospital, that's a really cute scene, and I like the way they play off each other.
The other bit that always strikes me, is when Ianto, Jack and Tosh go to find the club, and Jack is barking orders, Tosh and ianto give each other a look and Ianto rolls his eyes. I love that bit, not sure whether it was in the script, but it really works.
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As for Rhys, I never saw him as abusive in that scene. Just angry. Their relationship is going through a difficult phase, and both of them make decisions and say things in the heat of the moment.
The rest of the show was enjoyable, although I would like to know how they were able to make that website so fast. I imagine there's a green screen somewhere in the Hub, and Tosh has hundreds of insta-websites ready to go!
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I can see why she does it, but I really don't like it.
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I can see why a lot of people wouldn't like. And like I said, I'm not necessarily fond of it, but it was a completely human action and I personally can't say that I wouldn't do the exact same thing in that situation.
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There, I told you it was silly. Of my whole S1 DVDs this is the one that I've rewatched the least. Maybe I should try it again.
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Still he is slimy, I agree with you, I don't feel engaged with his story and the fight club aspect of it really.
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