What Did You See?

[rionaleonhart]

Right. I realise that my reaction to Torchwood was very much a lot of incoherent squealing, rather than anything remotely balanced or intelligent, and there is a reason for that. Granted, the reason is that I was so tired and so ridiculously enthused by Captain Jack's return that I couldn't think clearly, but still: I felt that I was becoming overly critical of the 2006 series of Doctor Who. I was poking holes in the plausibility, the plot, the characterisation. I wasn't enjoying the experience of watching it so much, because I was focusing on all the things there were to criticise. It is such a joy to have something that I can squeal fangirlishly over, and I wanted to take full advantage of that.

It's a couple of days later now, and, on hopefully slightly more sane reflection, I'm still very pleased with it indeed.


I was browsing Torchwood reviews, and someone - I can't remember who - mentioned Captain Jack asking the dead man what he saw when he died, and how interesting that was in the light of the knowledge that Jack is now immortal. I hadn't realised that before, but all I can say now is: oh, Jack.

People worry about Owen and his alien pheromone spray - I think that what most people are saying is that it was a serious, immoral action being 'played for laughs' - but I personally think that we are definitely supposed to think that Owen is an utter utter bastard because of it, and that there will be Consequences for his irresponsible behaviour. (I am one of those who think that he used the spray as a diversion when he thought he would get in trouble and called a taxi to get out of there. I am not saying that this makes his behaviour forgivable, however, because I am fairly certain that he would have left with that girl if he hadn't been interrupted.)

Generally, our 'heroes' don't seem to be enormously moral, which is interesting. Jack himself wipes Gwen's memory with no apparent sympathy, despite his rage at the Time Agency doing the same thing to him. We've already seen how her work for Torchwood made Suzie into a serial killer, which makes me wonder whether the characters had stronger moral values before they became a part of Torchwood. Is Torchwood a destructive influence on character? Are we going to see how being involved with it changes Gwen?

Gwen's boyfriend is obviously supposed to be 'the Mickey equivalent'. The obvious parallels with Doctor Who characters are getting a little annoying - I want Torchwood to have links with Doctor Who, of course, but I also want it to be something new, not just a retread of the Doctor-and-Rose story - but he seems sweet. I hope I like him.

I haven't mentioned Ianto, have I? The more I reflect (and the more I browse the curiously addictive Torchwood site), the more I adore him. gayjunglefever is right in saying that he's like Wilson (although less screwed up; or, at least, we haven't seen his screwed-upness yet. Given the general 'everyone is screwed up' feel of Torchwood, I'm expecting to find out he's a lunatic any moment now): he's the character who shows up for maybe three minutes and has the awesomest lines in the entire episode and then leaves and you're left going "NO, IANTO, DON'T LEAVE ME WITH OWEN! COME BACK! I LOVE YOU!" (Also, look at this IM conversation he has with Owen on the site! I love you, Ianto.)

I bet the Torchwood writers created the 'sex alien' plot purely as an excuse for the 'came and went' line.

(I haven't mentioned the girlkissing because I found it very hot and am embarrassed for being so shallow.)