Torchwood even less original than I thought

[sqbr]

And I didn't think it was that original. (nb I am feeling pretty zonked, but if I don't write this now I'll forget)

EDIT: While we're talking theft of lines, from supernatural ep "Something Wicked" (paraphrase)
Dean: Has this thing struck before?
Sam: Yes, in Ogdenville, North Haverbrook...



Note that I watched Torchwood first, but it was made later.

So the Torchwood episode "Countrycide" is about a mysterious village where people go missing every ten years or so. It turns out the villagers are in cahoots to catch and eat people. The main characters are caught and freaked out by the wierdos who run the place, but eventually escape
I thought it was ok. A scene which didn't really grab me but some people like is this (5:10 in this video):
Man: *expresses concern*
Woman: I have to know. (To head cannibal) Why did you do it?
Cannibal: *creepy expression* Because it made me happy
Woman: *draws back in horror*

(Also, this video is an amusing synopsis :))

I then watched the Supernatural episode "Scarecrow" which has a very similar beginning (people vanishing in a small village every ten years or so) and it turns out there's a conspiracy amongst the villagers, but it's a supernatural one. The end is quite different.

This reminded me of the Torchwood episode, but I decided it was forgivable since it wasn't that similar.

Just now I watched the Supernatural episode "The Benders". It's about a town where people vanish at a slow but steady rate, and it tuns out there's a local family who catch people and turn them into hunting trophies. The main characters are caught and freaked out by the wierdo hicks who run the place but eventually escape. The "crazed psychos chasing people through dark trees" and "Wait, there's nothing supernatural, it's just people?" scenes were quite similar to "Countrycide" but I guess it wasn't TOO similar.

But at the end you have this line (4:44 in this video)
Man: *expresses concern*
Woman: (to head hunter) Just tell me why
Hunter: *creepy expression* Because it's fun!
Woman: *draws back in horror*

...and then she shoots him, because she's not a main character we have to remain sympathetic to (I get the feeling Supernatural's not big with the long-term sympathetic female characters)

I guess I shouldn't be surprised after all the wholesale lifting of ideas and plots from Angel and Buffy, but there you go. Or am I being overly picky? The scenes certainly aren't quite as similar as I remembered, now that I watch them side by side.

Comments

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

Chris is a better person than you!

I can compartmentalise!

[greteldragon.livejournal.com]

So he keeps telling me*. :P

I like plot and originality and good writing sometimes. I just don't like it to interfere too much with my drooling. Seperate shows seperate functions. Sides I don't _watch_ Supernatural anymore.

*Not quite true, he just keeps telling me how awesome he is, and most of the time I'm in agreement (unless he's asking me to find something lost around the house).

Re: I can compartmentalise!

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

Well he DID fix the bike, so I guess you can't piss him off too much. ;)

I much prefer good writing. If the Plot in a show evaporates, leaving only the Pretty, I will stop watching it (see: Lost (Sawyer was my Pretty)).

Unless, I don't know, it was The Pretty-Haired Waistcoat-Wearing Accordion-Playing Boy Fights Superheroes In Ancient Ruins Show. *____*

Re: I can compartmentalise!

[greteldragon.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

And fair enough. I suppose I'm often in a position where I'm drunk or otherwise worn out and well, I don't always like having to think :(

Enough plot so it makes sense is usually okay though.

Re: I can compartmentalise!

[http://users.livejournal.com/drayke_/]

Unless, I don't know, it was The Pretty-Haired Waistcoat-Wearing Accordion-Playing Boy Fights Superheroes In Ancient Ruins Show. *____*

I've got a couple of eps of this. There wasn't really much plot to begin with and I just got bored so I stopped getting it. I heard he fights Supervillains now.

Re: I can compartmentalise!

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

Well, they're not really villains. They've been brainwashed... I think. It's starting to look like (SPOILERS) Dashing Kilted Banjo Man is controlling them instead of Sir Scarred But Smouldering Shirtless Saxophone, and I think the Thirty Xanatos Pile Up (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThirtyXanatosPileUp) is starting to fray a bit at the edges.

Next week's apparently the introduction of Naked Ukulele Lesbian, though, so it looks like some shark jumping might be in the show's future. =(