More Torchwood

[mf_luder_xf]

This show just gets stranger and stranger...I'll admit I liked this week's idea. Sort of XF meets 24 meets War of the Worlds. But the execution? Not so much. I just feel as I watch this overwhelming sense of overacting and garishness. I mean, the middle to end bits were actually well written, but the actress they chose...ugh.

Gwen. Geez, she irritates me to no end. I get that she's the sort of CO and is emotional, sort of the moral consciousness of the group (or just Jack in particular, I'm not sure, yet). But she just went overboard this week.

And Jack, well, I didn't mind him. He wasn't the focus as much, and when he was on, he came across as very harsh, demanding and unforgiving. The people I watched it with were like, I don't like him. I guess I'm just used to loving characters like Dean Winchester, Alex Krycek, and Jack Bauer that a little coldness doesn't bother me.

My favorite bits though...had to be Ianto on his imaginary phone and the med guy (haven't caught his name) saying they should all have sex. LMAO. The most random of lines tend to be the funniest on this show.

I know most of you won't have seen it yet, but when you do, will you let me know what the guy says to jack near the end? I couldn't catch it over my friends' commentary. I don't know if it's important, but it might have set up some kind of arc for the season and I'd hate to have missed it.

Also, will someone tell me what kind of jurisdiction Torchwood has? Because Mulder would never have gotten away with usurping police duty like that and he was FBI. I realize it takes place in Wales, but no way does a random paranormal investigatory team just walk in and take over like that.

Comments

[iamza.livejournal.com]

If you're talking about the sleeper agent, he says something along the lines of, "You're too late, we're already here." and "We know all about you, Jack Harkness, and Torchwood." My impression was that the invasion had already begun, and Beth and co. weren't so much sleeper agents collecting intelligence as sleeper soldiers waiting for the war to begin.

Not sure that's what you were referring to, though, so if I'm wrong, sorry!

I think Torchwood is supposed to be a top secret organization more akin to the NSA as described by Stephen King than a public investigatory office like the FBI. Torchwood does seem to have a lot of advertising for a supposedly black-ops organization, though. :-)

[mf_luder_xf]

Ah, you're brilliant! *hugs* yes, that was the exact conversation I meant. I just try not to include spoilers in a post if it's not too long, so I didn't want to specify.

So Torchwood is a team that's actually sanctioned? More Jack Bauer than Mulder, in the sense that he can kind of do whatever they want to stop the crime than having to file paperwork and go through local law channels? That would make more sense. You're right about a lot of advertisement, though. lol Like the old lady at the beginning of last week's ep, knowing just who was chasing the blowfish.

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

You know this would all make more sense if you watched the first season before the second. *headdesk* :-)

You also need Jack's handful of Dr. Who episodes. You probably don't need to watch all three seasons. Jack is in roughly five episodes of season one, I'd have to check the exact number and the last three of season three. His past is enough of mess without you not having what timeline there is. And he really is quite wonderful. He's not always cold. He's pragmatic when he has to be, but it costs him.

In the pilot, Jack tells the Gwen that Torchwood is independent of any government, police agency and the United Nations because it's too dangerous for any one of them to get a hold of what Torchwood has access to. What Jack actually says is much cooler, but that's the gist of it.

Torchwood was originally founded by Queen Victoria to hunt down the Doctor. It's mandate was changed.

[kanld.livejournal.com]

Torchwood was originally founded by Queen Victoria to hunt down the Doctor. It's mandate was changed.

In "Ghosts", London's Torchwood 1 seems still antagonistic to the Doctor - till he saves the day. Anyway this section disappeared in Canary Wharf battle, of course. And Torchwood 3's leader has far more romantic feelings towards him LOL

[mf_luder_xf]

I've got first season on my queue to download, but since the eps are on megaupload, it'll be a while before I get to them.

My problem with the show isn't the timeline, though. I mean, the past two eps have been fairly easy going (though thanks for the info on Torchwood's history--I take it there's been many teams of Torchwood). It's more the acting. And some of the writing.

Oh, I have no doubt he's not always cold. In fact, the first ep, he was rather hot. ;-) I kind of like my TV leaders like that though, so it wouldn't bother me either way.

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

You should know also, if the acting you're referring to is John Barrowmman's, that John is a musical theater actor and he's flamboyant by nature. I got the impression that was the reason he was cast. They wanted big and flamboyant. I just started Jonn's autobiography and he talks about getting cast to play Jack. He said it was the first time he'd ever auditioned for a part in his career that he was ever called back so quickly. (He was out shopping with his niece between shows when he got the call. I forget which musical he said he was doing it at the time.)

[mf_luder_xf]

Sorry, no, it's not him. He's the one person I like. It's the rest I can't stand. Like I said, Gwen irritates the crap out of me. I don't know if it's just British actors don't do nuance (aka method acting) or what, but they're terribly irritating and 2D.

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

Gwen doesn't bother me like Tosh does, though I've enjoyed watching the bonus features with the actress who plays Tosh. She's nothing like her character, which is cool. And I think the guy who plays Owen does a really good job even though in most of the first season he's kind of an ass.

I have a soft spot for Ianto. Jack and Ianto are so cute. I'm all for the Jack/Ianto snogging. :-)

[kanld.livejournal.com]

The physician's name is Owen Harper. He's *nicer* in the second season, he was a real jerk, quite un-nerving, but not w/o charm :o) in the 1st. This one year time when the team had to work w/o Captain Jack made them more comfortable with each other, obviously. And if Jack is still ruthless when needed, he shows a more human side too.

I was a little disappointed not to see Captain John again as last week's teaser seemed to mean he would be back at once, but I probably misunderstood it. This script was far more classical, but you can't hope for the writers to keep such high stake all along.

Anyway I can't but second siberian_skys, watch the first season! I haven't seen the last eps of Dr Who with Jack yet, French TV is at half of the 2007 season (we just saw "Family of Blood"). But the 2005 season ("first" new one, with Chris Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor) explains a lot, among which Jack's immortality.

BTW, one of the last pictures before the conclusion, when we saw a night overview of Cardiff, I first thought it was an alien vessel. I suppose it was voluntary, like the underside of the lift deck in "Jose Cheung's From Outer Space"? Or have I way tooooo much imagination?

[griva-x.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Maybe it's because I was wathching the ep half-drunk, but IMHO it was ok.

[mf_luder_xf]

It just seems to not be my style. I watch it almost more to mock it--and that's after only two eps.