Thoughts on Torchwood

[sqbr]

(Yes, I have been very bored recently. Stupid cold)

So, I've just finished Torchwood Season One and thought I'd do the sort of description of it I wanted before I started, just in case any of you still haven't watched it and are curious, or you have watched it and are curious to know what I thought.

First off: is set just after (and spoils the finale of somewhat) Season 2 of Dr Who.

Overall..it was crap. But I enjoyed it anyway, I'm not sure why! It's very patchy and inconsistent, but has some coolish ideas. I think I'm just a sucker for ensemble genre shows with character change and soap opera-y stuff going on in the background. The unselfconscious inclusion of same-sex romance/tension etc was a very nice change from every other tv show ever.

A problem I had was the character of Owen: he date-rapes someone in the first episode, but noone else knows and it's never brought up again. He is often a smarmy git, but is given a fair amount of sympathetic characterisation (and romance) as the show progresses, which skeeved me out (even without the date-rape he's just...skeevy). I can barely justify it to myself by saying he's one of those people who can be genuinely charming and nice when he wants to, and sees himself as a good person, but underneath that is actually quite selfish and horrible, but I'm not 100% sure that's what they were going for.

Also, Cam hated Ianto based on one (very bad) episode, to the extent of being unable to watch any more of the show (no that he liked it anyway).

So, the episodes. I watched them all but you don't have to. The ones marked (*) are either (imho) good or important to the continuing angst plot, while those marked (**) are both:

**Episode 1 "Torchwood": Police officer Gwen encounters the secret organisation "Torchwood" and investigates. Quite good, we learn about what's going on at the same time she does. Has cheery date-rape scene >:/

Episode 2 "Day One": Gwen's first day, involving an alien which feeds off orgasms. Ok, if you like that sort of thing :)

Episode 3 "Ghost machine": Owen centric (bah) I saw this in bits on tv and got bored, so fast forwarded through it the second time. Some character development, mildly interesting premise.

*Episode 4 "Cyberwoman": TERRIBLE. Ianto (who had very little to say until then) spends the whole time whining and looking like this which had Cam yelling at the other characters to shoot him (yes, this of course is the ep Cam happened to watch) Does have sexy cyberwoman if you like that sort of thing. Has some fairly important characterisation for Ianto, though. Maybe just read a synopsis :)

*Episode 5 "Small Worlds": About fairies. Quite good. Has non-plot-important flashbacks to Jacks past. Also, afaict only episode to have no snogging (or sex etc) whatsoever. (Does have some hugging)

*Ep 6 "Countrycide": Effective thriller/horror. Unfortunately I saw a v. similar Supernatural episode recently which imo had more interesting villains (these ones were a bit 2 dimensionally evil) Some (VERY ANNOYING) shipping continuity.

*Ep 7 "Greeks bearing gifts": Psychic lesbian alien! Not quite as tacky and exploitative as that sounds. I quite liked this one. Tosh centric, and I felt she'd been a bit underused. Interesting emotional angst and character development.

**Ep 8 "They Keep Killing Suzie": I really liked this one. Ties in very well with the first episode. Watch out for the amusingly blatant day/night continuity error.

Ep 9 "Random Shoes": That episode where a geeky guy obsessed with Dr Who Torchwood narrates his life, and his obsession, and bad stuff happens but in the end it's all uplifting and life affirming. Also, completely elides the fact that Gwen is Definitely Not Single.

*Ep 10 "Out of Time": Three people from the 50s randomly get sucked into our time, and the Torchwood team try to help them adjust to modern life. A bit sappy and heavy handed but has some character stuff. Specifically, gives Owen's motivation for the rest of the season (or you could read a synopsis :))

Ep 11 "Combat": Complete rip off of a certain popular film (it takes a while to get there so I won't spoil it) Owen is emo.

**Ep 12 "Captain Jack Harkness": Jack and Tosh are sucked back in the 40s. Plot didn't grab me, but bits of it are very sweet, and it sets up the finale. Very Slashy.

*Ep 13 "End of Days": Big End Of Season Showdown. Remarkably like some of the main arcs of season 7 of Buffy (I'd say "But not as good" but I didn't really like that season either. It did have a more satisfying ending) Still, it is the end so you should probably watch it, I'm sure it matters to season 2.

Comments

[vegetus.livejournal.com]

hehe... okay so it's the only cute lesbian alien thing I have seen. But I liked it!

I have avi's of all of season 2 TW and can send them to you if need be.

[alias_sqbr]

That's very kind of you, but when I get to that point I'm pretty sure I can find someone who wouldn't have to use international post to get them to me :)