Subtext in Torchwood S1 vs S2

[ubiquirk]

I haven't watched the first ep of DW S4 yet, but I did finish TW S2 and wanted to discuss how much I think the subtext of the show has improved since S1 in two ways:  its outlook on female sexuality and how it views groups who are othered as represented by aliens.

For a show that touts itself as being about pansexuality, female sexuality in S1 was

Comments

Re: rambling...

[ubiquirk]

Ah, well, we'll have to agree to disagree on Gwen. She's my favorite character. Yes, even more so than Jack. Who I think is getting layers in TW that I like to see. He was very one dimensional in S1 - I think S2 broke that a bit. I'd also like to see his feelings for the Doctor explored more.

But Grey - ugh. That last ep would have been even more moving if the actor could have convinced me he'd been tortured into psychosis.

Re: rambling...

[celisnebula]

I think, part of the problem with the Grey storyline was it was sooo short. Yeah, in Adam, we had a brief undertone glance, and I figured the Grey storyline would come back to bite Jack on the ass, but it was too - too quick. It was basically dropped until the bitter end. And then it was all, "Oh ho, Captain John's not really evil... see? He's being controlled by the evil Grey!"

They should've had more of a back story on Grey, and ya a better actor.

Re: rambling...

[ubiquirk]

Yes! The Grey story had such potential, but it was so very, very rushed. And the pretty thing couldn't act - at all.

Alyson Hannigan called. She wants her contact lenses back.

[electricalgwen]

Lots to think about here - I really like how you've articulated it. I much prefer s2, at least partly because the plots improved (s1 frustrated us a bit when something like 5 of the first 7 episodes had basically the same plot: young pretty [sexy] innocent possessed by evil alien force) and I agree the shift to more team-centred plots helped

Re: Alyson Hannigan called. She wants her contact lenses back.

[ubiquirk]

Ooo - thanks for the Rhys.

The team-centered eps have helped a lot. Action is all well and good, but it's character development that really makes shows work. And that's something I can always say about Buffy - even the worst ep ('Bad Eggs' for example) still had character development we wouldn't want to miss (even if we don't rewatch as often as other eps).

Yes, it's lots like Buffy, and I think they've admitted the show is a big influence But as you say, Buffy did have Angel - from the first few eps we saw at least one demon who wasn't evil. It took a lot longer on TW (and they killed them anyway).

[libby_drew]

*clapclapclap*

Thank you. Very well said, and I share your hopes for season 3.

[ubiquirk]

Thanks. I'd been thinking of this since S1, but I'm glad I waited till S2 to talk about it. Here's to it getting even better.

[celisnebula]

(Gwen loving Rhys and Jack)I'm not so sure that Gwen loves Jack. I think she's in love with Rhys, but he's so ordinary and familiar, and last season it was hard for her to go from a job where she could share things with him to being totally mum. That's why the aberration of Owen and Gwen happened (that's my story and I'm sticking to it

[ubiquirk]

Or she loves both but in very different ways. I do completely agree with your take on the Owen thing.

Now that Rhys knows about Torchwood, and she can share things with him, and not hide behind lies and subterfuge, I think things will get better for her and Rhys.

I hope so too.

I wonder about Andy joining too, and maybe even Rhys. I hope whomever it is is good.

[shiv5468]

Yeah, I agree with all of that.

I alternate between really liking the odd episode of TW, and then just being bored by it. The writing is just too patchy.

[ubiquirk]

It annoyed me a lot in S1. While I think the writing also goes up and down with DW, I never despaired very much because of its subtext.