Torchwood, Days 3 and 4

[lizbee]

Reliable people, like cesario, told me that these two eps were awesome. Reliable people did not lie. There was only one typical Torchwood fumble, when all the drama and pathos was lost in a sea of bad acting and cliche.

Unfortunately, that moment was Ianto's death. I had been totally gripped, absolutely on the edge of my seat -- and then suddenly we were into EXTREME CLOSE UPS and BARROWMAN'S WAXY EMOTION FACE and "I LOVE YOU" and "HOLD ON!" and every single death scene cliche you can imagine. And I got a bad case of the giggles, and called piecesofalice in, and we watched and boggled together. 

Maybe I'd have appreciated the ~deep emotional impact~ more if I hadn't been spoiled, but seeing the actual scene came after I'd encountered the threats to burn down RTD's house, and James Moran being called the c-word on Twitter, and threats of ~epic flounces~ if it's not fixed by tomorrow. Me, I think Ianto was a weak link who should have been disposed of in the second season. And as for the Frequently Asked Question, "HOW CAN THEY KILL HIM OFF JUST AS HE'S GETTING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND HIS RELATIONSHIP IS COMING INTO ITS OWN" -- um, guys, that's what they do. It's not new.

So that kind of overshadowed everything else. Which is a shame, because everything else was amazing. It makes you wonder (a) why RTD and his team haven't been writing this well since 2005 and (b) just how badly it's all going to fall apart in the final act tomorrow. I do wonder if maybe someone a bit angry they never got to write for Spooks, and is taking it out on MI5. One also wonders if the wiping out of Thames House will have more impact on the overall universe than the destruction of 10 Downing Street in Doctor Who. I mean, it could hardly have less impact.

Anyway, now we know the 456 deal with prepubescent children, so the cast of SJA is safe. I look forward to Sarah Jane's forthcoming expose on the invasion, though. I can only assume she's on holiday in, oh, Antarctica, otherwise this whole mess would have been dealt with by now. Likewise Martha. In fact, they're obviously on holiday together, Martha having ditched Tom and hooked up with Sarah Jane.

My other thoughts, because I know you all care:

- When Gwen said she was going to teach them a few tricks, I was quite sure we'd cut to a shot of Jack working a corner in a mini-dress and fishnets. Alas.
- I CAN'T BELIEVE LOIS PUT THOSE CONTACTS IN HER EYES, THEY'D JUST BEEN TOUCHING GWEN'S EYEBALLS, THAT'S LIKE, THE FIRST RULE OF CONTACT LENSES. YOU'RE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO SWAP THEM BETWEEN RIGHT AND LEFT! FJKSALFJDSKHLA;FDSA;!
- Now that Obama's been elected, we have mercifully been spared RTD's political commentary and "satirical" depictions of the US presidency
- OKAY, GWEN AND RHYS, I KNOW THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF TORCHWOOD IS TO STEAL ALIEN TECHNOLOGY AND USE IT IN KINKY SEX GAMES, BUT SERIOUSLY, WHAT?
- It's probably a good thing that Saxon's not PM anymore. He'd probably have asked if the 456 would like maybe an extra 5%. Then he'd have tried to double cross them, failed, and the Doctor would have to rescue him and they'd bicker a bit before the Master remembers he's the bad guy and can't stop for UST in the middle of a planetary takeover. What, when you get to his age, you get a bit forgetful.
- I forget what my next point was.
- Nick Briggs as a human: SCARIER THAN DALEKS.

In conclusion: fail death scene was fail, but I'm quite pleased otherwise. MOAR.

Comments

[trouble]

I have to admit there was a part of me that was expecting that gas to clear and show the Master. Which would have been awesome. But probably not the mood they were going for, with all that emoting.

just how badly it's all going to fall apart in the final act tomorrow.

Oh yeah. I'm kinda looking forward to how badly they're going to fuck this up.

Having never been a fan of canon Ianto (fanon Ianto is awesome), I'm not terribly fussed about his death (maybe Lois can be awesome as his replacement?), but I watch the show with people who are OMG!huge Ianto fans, and it's making me frowny. I think they're going to harm themselves if this doesn't get "fixed".

[moviegrrl]

Never really been an Ianto fangrrl, so wasn't OH WOEZ devastated. I mean, fuck it, even when they killed off Owen, who basically stalked my fan imagination for TWO YEARS, I was kind of pragmatic. After all, the life-expectancy of Torchwood staff ain't great.
Still I was boggled by the nastiness that James Moran suffered last night, which was totally unacceptable, especially as he didn't even write the ep, made me very cross with the fandom.
However, that aside, I loved the ep, I'm terrified that Rusty will fuck it all up with yet another bloody deus ex machina, and it thrills me that finally Torchwood is living up to my expectations.

Also this? - Nick Briggs as a human: SCARIER THAN DALEKS. So effin' true. (And I was childishly thrilled to see him!)