Friday, July 10, 2009
Torchwood So far, on day 4
TORCHWOOD Series Three (spoilers)
Day One
Well, well, well. Contrary to previous experience, RTD can write a great sci-fi script after all. Day One was brilliant, especially compared to the cheese parade that was Seasons One and Two. I kind of love-hate how they got us quite a bit invested in hot Dr. Rupesh, and then killed him off without even a look back. It sets the tone for the mad slaughter that is Torchwood, really. I mean they killed off two major characters in the last season (Tosh and Owen), they keep on killing off Jack, and they killed that TW employee in the first eppy of the first season as well. Still, fairly solid start. I like how the characters seem so much smarter than they used to be. And I also liked how we get to see a bit more of Ianto's background. He was the least exposed character in this show, I think, and truly the most under-used. Good stuff!
Day Two
Pace is still pretty good, methinks. No major annoyances, except maybe that it seems most of UK's cops/government assasins trained under the same guy who trains Rambo's enemies' minions, the storm troopers, and most of the Die Hard enemy platoons. What, do all the bad guys send their private armies to the same lame-ass school??? Still, it's very watchable.
I am beginning to become a big fan of sexy evil chick. She's ruthless AND competent AND oh-my-god, she's actually HUMAN too! Slightly unbelievable that Ianto can be so adept at driving forklifts, but I do love how he ultimately saves the day. From butler in love with a cyberwoman to loverboy who cleverly saves the boss in only two seasons flat. How's that for character transformations? And I am so glad they're using more of GDL. He's my favorite character in the whole show.
Day Three
A bit of a letdown. Watchable, yes, but the pace really slows down a bit towards the end there. Still, love how Ianto is just such a practical, dependable, resourceful type person, who, apparently, just has a need to wear three-piece suits. I mean, only HE thought of coffee! Only he thought of clothes, and of course, he even got Jack that damn military coat. I'm also beginning to like Lois. Most efficient personal assistant in the world, huh?
It's bit strange about that big reveal that Jack was involved in giving the children away. On one hand, he is their boss, and they look up to him. But on the other, c'mon! The guy has been alive for a very, very long time. He's been through wars and famines and all that. It's pretty likely he's done a couple of things that may be morally questionable.
Day Four
Unfortunately, for me, this was the worst of the lot. Still pretty good for Torchwood, but, you know, I had sort of raised my expectations a bit... big mistake, eh? Like everyone else on the planet, I had to ask, how stupid was that plan??? The "I am the Doctor, Fear Me" salvation gambit only works if you actually are the Doctor. It doesn't quite have the same ring otherwise. Captain Jack Harker? Oh sorry, Harkness, did you say? Can you narrow down the species a bit? From what solar system? Milkyway galaxy, is it? Oh sorry, never heard of it, love. Where is that, somewhere in the direction of Alpha Centauri? Wait, what's your name again?
And I repeat. The "I am the Doctor" gambit only works if you ARE The Doctor, savior of species, destroyer of worlds, Lord of Time, etc etc etc.
So. Anyway. You barge in there with a couple of handguns, try to, essentially, bluff your way out of the problem, and then when that doesn't work, you try to riddle holes into a tank of highly poisonous gas??? So all the gasses can escape and travel to where you are??? On whose sad battlefield of a brain did any of this sound like a good idea???
It's interesting though, how they decided to go the "plan-all-goes-awry" route. Granted their plan was far from foolproof, and it wasn't much of a plan to begin with, but still interesting that they kowtowed to Murphy's law there. BUT BUT BUT did they really have to kill IANTO JONES??? My IANTO JONES??? Incidentally, why are they killing everyone off anyway??? And really, if they want to trim down the cast, I suggest Gwen. I mean, what-oh-what is David Gareth Lloyd going to do now?
I'm just hoping hoping hoping that they do not resort to a deus ex machina to resolve this, although I'm with everyone who says it's likely, considering RTD wrote the script. The only way I'd be okay with a god from the machine ending is if it somehow involves David Tennant and the Tardis.
'Til tomorrow then.
Day One
Well, well, well. Contrary to previous experience, RTD can write a great sci-fi script after all. Day One was brilliant, especially compared to the cheese parade that was Seasons One and Two. I kind of love-hate how they got us quite a bit invested in hot Dr. Rupesh, and then killed him off without even a look back. It sets the tone for the mad slaughter that is Torchwood, really. I mean they killed off two major characters in the last season (Tosh and Owen), they keep on killing off Jack, and they killed that TW employee in the first eppy of the first season as well. Still, fairly solid start. I like how the characters seem so much smarter than they used to be. And I also liked how we get to see a bit more of Ianto's background. He was the least exposed character in this show, I think, and truly the most under-used. Good stuff!
Day Two
Pace is still pretty good, methinks. No major annoyances, except maybe that it seems most of UK's cops/government assasins trained under the same guy who trains Rambo's enemies' minions, the storm troopers, and most of the Die Hard enemy platoons. What, do all the bad guys send their private armies to the same lame-ass school??? Still, it's very watchable.
I am beginning to become a big fan of sexy evil chick. She's ruthless AND competent AND oh-my-god, she's actually HUMAN too! Slightly unbelievable that Ianto can be so adept at driving forklifts, but I do love how he ultimately saves the day. From butler in love with a cyberwoman to loverboy who cleverly saves the boss in only two seasons flat. How's that for character transformations? And I am so glad they're using more of GDL. He's my favorite character in the whole show.
Day Three
A bit of a letdown. Watchable, yes, but the pace really slows down a bit towards the end there. Still, love how Ianto is just such a practical, dependable, resourceful type person, who, apparently, just has a need to wear three-piece suits. I mean, only HE thought of coffee! Only he thought of clothes, and of course, he even got Jack that damn military coat. I'm also beginning to like Lois. Most efficient personal assistant in the world, huh?
It's bit strange about that big reveal that Jack was involved in giving the children away. On one hand, he is their boss, and they look up to him. But on the other, c'mon! The guy has been alive for a very, very long time. He's been through wars and famines and all that. It's pretty likely he's done a couple of things that may be morally questionable.
Day Four
Unfortunately, for me, this was the worst of the lot. Still pretty good for Torchwood, but, you know, I had sort of raised my expectations a bit... big mistake, eh? Like everyone else on the planet, I had to ask, how stupid was that plan??? The "I am the Doctor, Fear Me" salvation gambit only works if you actually are the Doctor. It doesn't quite have the same ring otherwise. Captain Jack Harker? Oh sorry, Harkness, did you say? Can you narrow down the species a bit? From what solar system? Milkyway galaxy, is it? Oh sorry, never heard of it, love. Where is that, somewhere in the direction of Alpha Centauri? Wait, what's your name again?
And I repeat. The "I am the Doctor" gambit only works if you ARE The Doctor, savior of species, destroyer of worlds, Lord of Time, etc etc etc.
So. Anyway. You barge in there with a couple of handguns, try to, essentially, bluff your way out of the problem, and then when that doesn't work, you try to riddle holes into a tank of highly poisonous gas??? So all the gasses can escape and travel to where you are??? On whose sad battlefield of a brain did any of this sound like a good idea???
It's interesting though, how they decided to go the "plan-all-goes-awry" route. Granted their plan was far from foolproof, and it wasn't much of a plan to begin with, but still interesting that they kowtowed to Murphy's law there. BUT BUT BUT did they really have to kill IANTO JONES??? My IANTO JONES??? Incidentally, why are they killing everyone off anyway??? And really, if they want to trim down the cast, I suggest Gwen. I mean, what-oh-what is David Gareth Lloyd going to do now?
I'm just hoping hoping hoping that they do not resort to a deus ex machina to resolve this, although I'm with everyone who says it's likely, considering RTD wrote the script. The only way I'd be okay with a god from the machine ending is if it somehow involves David Tennant and the Tardis.
'Til tomorrow then.
5:29:00 AM
