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kalihaAs exclaimed Wendesday night ILU Torchwood and here, in the form of words and pictures is why:
Bloody Torchwood
They're back and shock, horror, they're actually a bit competent. What's happened to our slightly rubbish, constantly in-fighting team? The absence of Jack seems to have done them the world of good and forced them to grow up. This is a good thing.
It's just a shame they have to ask a pedestrian for directions in a hide speed chase
a high-speed chase where the chase-ee stops at the traffic lights
because you should always follow the highway code.
This just made me laugh
Eugh! Fish brains!!
I thought the make-up effects were rather good, especially the way the fin went up and down. But as pointed out elsewhere, that's not a blowfish (which are typically spikey and round)
Ianto wonders what to call his wonder-gun
The amazing asplodey gun thing? His look of shock is priceless.
Y HALO THAR JACK!
Yay! It's our hero, he really should have had one of those tooth tings though. I'm a bit sad that in a show that become quite so crack!tastic they didn't go for that. Maybe they thought it was a step too far.
Y HALO THAR CITYSCAPE SHOTS
We've missed you! Cardiff at night is very orange.
Completely expected orgasm!face shot
He's remembering the Tenth Doctor. Fact.
The rest of the team are completely unimpressed
Especially Ianto. Hear that sound? It's the sound of his little Welsh heart breaking.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city...
It's SPIKE!!! Well, there would have been less of the invetitable comparisons if James Marsters has used a different accent and not his Spike one. Although to be honest it's so weird hearing him speak normally, I'm so used to his mockney. However, I've missed seeing him on the telly. And just how ace is his entrance, and that swagger.
But there's more to this (Ex) Tiem Agent than meets the eye
Like his super human strength.
And the fact it seems that he can control the rift (although that's probably got more to do with his little wrist comm)
But he knows the best way to get served in a bar
And lets face it; he does look exceedingly cool. Although what is it with Time Agents and military uniforms? Answers on the back of a postcard to the usual address.
I was hoping for a power struggle, resolved by naked wrestling
Jack is ever the eternal optomist. Bless him. Problem is though, that Gwen could probably whoop him. She's got a mean right hook on her.
It's Andy!!
Still getting ignored by Gwen. Nice to see relations between the two Services are still as cordial as ever.
Star Wars reference for the WIN!
He even did the little head turn at the end! Absolutely brilliant! I have to say though that Jack has probably the best mobile phone answering machine in the world. Can you imagine the sort of message that get left on that?
And how does Ianto know that Jack's wrist comm never beeps. He could have had it on silent and the Doctor's Jiggery-Pokery just knocked the settings or something...hang on, I'm trying to rationale the crack. Sorry.
So Jack runs off for a reunion
How apt that was what the bar was called. And here's the only screencap review not to include the kiss, because come on, everyone's seen it, in super-slow mo at least a million times by now. I was more amused by the drag along the bar. In fact I thought the whole fight was quite well done, there was even a bit of manly hugging.
They fight crime! in a taxi!
But they've not had this much fun in absolute ages. You can see it in their faces.
Just one little niggle with this scene. As far as we know, none of Team Torchwood know where Jack is from. All they do know is that he's gt a nasty case of immortal and he was loitering around in the 1940s. So why the comment on them not knowing 'what time he's from'. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it's been mentioned that Jack can time travel. Unless they mean 'time' as in an era in the past.
Like true blokes they patch things up over a drink, or three
John Hart's a lives life hard. I can't believe that in the future they have a Priory-style rehab for murderers. Actually, no I can.
Tosh flirts with the enemy
Team Torchwood accept the strange guy who's bloodied up Jack pretty easily. They're a bit too trusting and it's only going to end badly for them. I can see it.
But 5 years together suck in a time loop? Can you imagine the endless possibilities? Oh my..... *mentally wanders off for a bit*
Back again. Sorry about that.
I'll show you the tourist's entrance
Oh, if only I was playing Innuendo Bingo during this. I would have had a house easy by now.
Nooooo!
I never thought I'd see the day, ever so slightly rubbish special effects from The Mill. *sadface* They've always been so good too.
Ianto is standing there with a silver platter!!
It can't possibly get any more surreal. He looks like your common or garden bulter there though. Only with 100% more added mainpain. Oh Ianto.
Three guesses where he was hiding that?
Him and Jack do share a lot in common
This is the couple we are expected to ship this year
And 'lo we are given a couple of anvils as pointers.
However, if you ignore the blatant shippiness it was actually a rather sweet scene. Jack wanted to tell Gwen, that much is obvious, but just couldn't find the words. His comments about dying and coming back to life though - he didn't have a nice time on the Valiant did he? Really, really not.
John Barrowman's hand-acting when he found the ring was top-notch. So much emotion in just a couple of fingers. Oh wait, now I'm doing the Innuendo Bingo. Sorry about that.
Ooh, where's that come from?
"He's the only one who'd have me." Oh Rhys, what have you done? The boy's just too good for her.
A lot of people seem to have found issue with this scene, pronouncing it a portent for the oncoming Jack/Gwen. I'm not sure that is the case. Jack may have been a bit of a conman but he does respect people's boundaries, at least what we've seen of him on screen and in the books seems to suggest it. Maybe things would be different if Gwen wasn't engaged, but as she is, I think he'll keep his distance romantically.
Of course, that doesn't prevent them becoming close confidantes. In just that little chat Jack has shared more of his adventures with Gwen than he's done with any of the others. And why does any character paring have to be romantic anyway? Can't people just be friends? (Even if one of them is John Barrowman and the other is Eve Myles?)
What's this? A bit of jealousy from Jack?
Say it ain't so? There's going to be trouble down the line, I can just see it.
Jack has his version of the birds and the bees talk
Gwen's not too impressed. She has been running the team. (How? Why? I thought Owen was second in command? Oh wait, he tried to kill himself with a weevil and nearly destroyed most of South Wales - he may have had a demotion before Jack ran off on his jolly with the Doctor)
Rhys! Yay!
And he got a promotion! Because he was ace! But really, you don't phone your missus while she's at work. Do you reckon he did that when she was in the Heddlu? I certainly hope not. Have a word Gwen it's ever so unprofessional.
Yes, Gwen, you're so good at looking after yourself
Did you forget rule number 3 for dealing with an untrustworthy Time Agent?
Owen? What's happened to you?
He's like, nice. And given up the date-rape. Well a bit nicer anyway. More like the Owen I expected we'd get last year, but - thanks to one badly written scene - we didn't get.
Spike hit Tosh!
The Cad!
Suddenly Ianto realises that the white smears on the photocopier aren't Tippex
It's quite sweet, really, that Jack (who's lived through some romantic times) thinks that office romances are the most romantic thing ever. They really are not. I think he's been watching too much of The Office.
It's good to see that Jack is making the effort with Ianto. Some people are seeing it as a bit of a rebound thing because gwen's engaged, but I don't think that's the case. I think he truly is very fond of Ianto.
And it's interesting to see that Jack wants Ianto to drop the 'sir' and the submissive implications attached to it. There's going to be some changes in their relationship this year. It'll be interesting to see how it goes.
Ianto says: This is what YOU'RE missing out on
And he's going to make sure that Jack is aware of it. And he doesn't forgive easily. (In fact I wonder if he's one to forgive at all - there's something more going on with Ianto and I've not yet figured out what).
I wonder, though, what's prompted Jack to go down the route of semi-normalacy what with inviting Ianto out on a real actual date (probably with dinner and dancing).
Poor Ianto
At least he only got threatened and not shot in the stomach like Owen did.
They both look good on roofs
It's very obvious that they parted on bad terms. John seems to know a lot more than Jack and I think he's possibly aware that Jack's lost two years of his memories. Although pushing him off a roof because he didn't get his way was a bit harsh. Obviously he needs to go to murder rehab again.
Jack looks better falling off them though.
All flowy coat and everything.
Ooh, that's got to hurt
My back is twinging in sympathy.
*watches closely for any movement*
John Barrowman passes at being dead. Well done. Why do I get a very strong feeling that Jack'll be dying lots and lots this year?
Imagine being paralysed and only being able to see this?
Team Torchwood kicking arse
How long have we been waiting for this? Working together, figting the good fight (and for now, not fighting each other).
It's Jack!
He's recovered from his sudden case of death though. John's shocked and almost scared look and his questioning about how awful it must be to come back to life again and again seems to indicate that John knows a lot more than he's letting on. And it's got something to do with the future (and I expect, something to do with the destruction of the Time Agency).
When stuff floats, it's generally not a good thing
Unless it's a bubble or something.
It doesn't really go with the rest of the outfit
But it sure is pretty and it brings out his eyes.
Stopwatch!
*a thousand people tick off their Torchwood Bingo cards* And he always keeps it handy, eh?
Yet you're strangely attracted to me
He does have that way. Must be something they teach in Time Agent school.
John/Poodle
This is the OTP of series two.
Trust me, I'm an improvisor
Oh Owen, you're actually a bit competent and not a twat and if you stay like this I could almost grow to like you.
Tell Jack I...
don't fancy him?
want you to look after Rhys?
think you have a smashing arse?
'm up for a bout of naked wrestling?
Getting to the heart of the problem
It's not an episode of Torchwood without a bit of pseudo-skience, a blood transfusion to the heart to change a bit of DNA? O rly?
The science of night
So the rift asploding cause a time shift? Will they be stuck in a bit of a time loop or will sending John on his way be enough to change the past/future/present/whatever? And what about the Blowfish? Still dead? And the cannisters? Will they need to be collected again?
I told you Gwen had a mean right hook, you didn't listen though
And there's not been someone who didn't deserve it more. :) Of course, he's the type who likes a girl who plays hard to get.
But he won't slope off without a parting punch to the gut
OMG! Jack's got some non-Who backstory!
Who are the mysterious hands. Does Jack have a kid (after all he was pregnant?) Does it have something to do with the timeloop Jack and John were stuck in for five years? Does it have something to do with Jack's missing two years? Is this going to be this year's 'Bad Wolf'?
*gulp* Nothing to see here
John Barrowman's little gasp/gulps made me laugh so much. Possibly wasn't the emotion he was going for. Bless
In conclusion
This is how I wanted to see Torchwood right from the beginning, funny, a bit self-referencial, competent, with stories that actually engage you, CHARACTERISATION and more of an ongoing thread.
Of course, it wasn't without it's faults: two massive exposition dumps, the blowfish's was quite funny, but for someone who just dropped through the Rift he knew an awful lot about them. Some of the pacing was a little bit off, but it was still better than last year.
8/10
His Lordship (not a TW fan) though it was 'alright. As good as the best episodes from last year, but still not amazing.'
Bloody Torchwood
They're back and shock, horror, they're actually a bit competent. What's happened to our slightly rubbish, constantly in-fighting team? The absence of Jack seems to have done them the world of good and forced them to grow up. This is a good thing.
It's just a shame they have to ask a pedestrian for directions in a hide speed chase
a high-speed chase where the chase-ee stops at the traffic lights
because you should always follow the highway code.
This just made me laugh
Eugh! Fish brains!!
I thought the make-up effects were rather good, especially the way the fin went up and down. But as pointed out elsewhere, that's not a blowfish (which are typically spikey and round)
Ianto wonders what to call his wonder-gun
The amazing asplodey gun thing? His look of shock is priceless.
Y HALO THAR JACK!
Yay! It's our hero, he really should have had one of those tooth tings though. I'm a bit sad that in a show that become quite so crack!tastic they didn't go for that. Maybe they thought it was a step too far.
Y HALO THAR CITYSCAPE SHOTS
We've missed you! Cardiff at night is very orange.
Completely expected orgasm!face shot
He's remembering the Tenth Doctor. Fact.
The rest of the team are completely unimpressed
Especially Ianto. Hear that sound? It's the sound of his little Welsh heart breaking.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city...
It's SPIKE!!! Well, there would have been less of the invetitable comparisons if James Marsters has used a different accent and not his Spike one. Although to be honest it's so weird hearing him speak normally, I'm so used to his mockney. However, I've missed seeing him on the telly. And just how ace is his entrance, and that swagger.
But there's more to this (Ex) Tiem Agent than meets the eye
Like his super human strength.
And the fact it seems that he can control the rift (although that's probably got more to do with his little wrist comm)
But he knows the best way to get served in a bar
And lets face it; he does look exceedingly cool. Although what is it with Time Agents and military uniforms? Answers on the back of a postcard to the usual address.
I was hoping for a power struggle, resolved by naked wrestling
Jack is ever the eternal optomist. Bless him. Problem is though, that Gwen could probably whoop him. She's got a mean right hook on her.
It's Andy!!
Still getting ignored by Gwen. Nice to see relations between the two Services are still as cordial as ever.
Star Wars reference for the WIN!
He even did the little head turn at the end! Absolutely brilliant! I have to say though that Jack has probably the best mobile phone answering machine in the world. Can you imagine the sort of message that get left on that?
And how does Ianto know that Jack's wrist comm never beeps. He could have had it on silent and the Doctor's Jiggery-Pokery just knocked the settings or something...hang on, I'm trying to rationale the crack. Sorry.
So Jack runs off for a reunion
How apt that was what the bar was called. And here's the only screencap review not to include the kiss, because come on, everyone's seen it, in super-slow mo at least a million times by now. I was more amused by the drag along the bar. In fact I thought the whole fight was quite well done, there was even a bit of manly hugging.
They fight crime! in a taxi!
But they've not had this much fun in absolute ages. You can see it in their faces.
Just one little niggle with this scene. As far as we know, none of Team Torchwood know where Jack is from. All they do know is that he's gt a nasty case of immortal and he was loitering around in the 1940s. So why the comment on them not knowing 'what time he's from'. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it's been mentioned that Jack can time travel. Unless they mean 'time' as in an era in the past.
Like true blokes they patch things up over a drink, or three
John Hart's a lives life hard. I can't believe that in the future they have a Priory-style rehab for murderers. Actually, no I can.
Tosh flirts with the enemy
Team Torchwood accept the strange guy who's bloodied up Jack pretty easily. They're a bit too trusting and it's only going to end badly for them. I can see it.
But 5 years together suck in a time loop? Can you imagine the endless possibilities? Oh my..... *mentally wanders off for a bit*
Back again. Sorry about that.
I'll show you the tourist's entrance
Oh, if only I was playing Innuendo Bingo during this. I would have had a house easy by now.
Nooooo!
I never thought I'd see the day, ever so slightly rubbish special effects from The Mill. *sadface* They've always been so good too.
Ianto is standing there with a silver platter!!
It can't possibly get any more surreal. He looks like your common or garden bulter there though. Only with 100% more added mainpain. Oh Ianto.
Three guesses where he was hiding that?
Him and Jack do share a lot in common
This is the couple we are expected to ship this year
And 'lo we are given a couple of anvils as pointers.
However, if you ignore the blatant shippiness it was actually a rather sweet scene. Jack wanted to tell Gwen, that much is obvious, but just couldn't find the words. His comments about dying and coming back to life though - he didn't have a nice time on the Valiant did he? Really, really not.
John Barrowman's hand-acting when he found the ring was top-notch. So much emotion in just a couple of fingers. Oh wait, now I'm doing the Innuendo Bingo. Sorry about that.
Ooh, where's that come from?
"He's the only one who'd have me." Oh Rhys, what have you done? The boy's just too good for her.
A lot of people seem to have found issue with this scene, pronouncing it a portent for the oncoming Jack/Gwen. I'm not sure that is the case. Jack may have been a bit of a conman but he does respect people's boundaries, at least what we've seen of him on screen and in the books seems to suggest it. Maybe things would be different if Gwen wasn't engaged, but as she is, I think he'll keep his distance romantically.
Of course, that doesn't prevent them becoming close confidantes. In just that little chat Jack has shared more of his adventures with Gwen than he's done with any of the others. And why does any character paring have to be romantic anyway? Can't people just be friends? (Even if one of them is John Barrowman and the other is Eve Myles?)
What's this? A bit of jealousy from Jack?
Say it ain't so? There's going to be trouble down the line, I can just see it.
Jack has his version of the birds and the bees talk
Gwen's not too impressed. She has been running the team. (How? Why? I thought Owen was second in command? Oh wait, he tried to kill himself with a weevil and nearly destroyed most of South Wales - he may have had a demotion before Jack ran off on his jolly with the Doctor)
Rhys! Yay!
And he got a promotion! Because he was ace! But really, you don't phone your missus while she's at work. Do you reckon he did that when she was in the Heddlu? I certainly hope not. Have a word Gwen it's ever so unprofessional.
Yes, Gwen, you're so good at looking after yourself
Did you forget rule number 3 for dealing with an untrustworthy Time Agent?
Owen? What's happened to you?
He's like, nice. And given up the date-rape. Well a bit nicer anyway. More like the Owen I expected we'd get last year, but - thanks to one badly written scene - we didn't get.
Spike hit Tosh!
The Cad!
Suddenly Ianto realises that the white smears on the photocopier aren't Tippex
It's quite sweet, really, that Jack (who's lived through some romantic times) thinks that office romances are the most romantic thing ever. They really are not. I think he's been watching too much of The Office.
It's good to see that Jack is making the effort with Ianto. Some people are seeing it as a bit of a rebound thing because gwen's engaged, but I don't think that's the case. I think he truly is very fond of Ianto.
And it's interesting to see that Jack wants Ianto to drop the 'sir' and the submissive implications attached to it. There's going to be some changes in their relationship this year. It'll be interesting to see how it goes.
Ianto says: This is what YOU'RE missing out on
And he's going to make sure that Jack is aware of it. And he doesn't forgive easily. (In fact I wonder if he's one to forgive at all - there's something more going on with Ianto and I've not yet figured out what).
I wonder, though, what's prompted Jack to go down the route of semi-normalacy what with inviting Ianto out on a real actual date (probably with dinner and dancing).
Poor Ianto
At least he only got threatened and not shot in the stomach like Owen did.
They both look good on roofs
It's very obvious that they parted on bad terms. John seems to know a lot more than Jack and I think he's possibly aware that Jack's lost two years of his memories. Although pushing him off a roof because he didn't get his way was a bit harsh. Obviously he needs to go to murder rehab again.
Jack looks better falling off them though.
All flowy coat and everything.
Ooh, that's got to hurt
My back is twinging in sympathy.
*watches closely for any movement*
John Barrowman passes at being dead. Well done. Why do I get a very strong feeling that Jack'll be dying lots and lots this year?
Imagine being paralysed and only being able to see this?
Team Torchwood kicking arse
How long have we been waiting for this? Working together, figting the good fight (and for now, not fighting each other).
It's Jack!
He's recovered from his sudden case of death though. John's shocked and almost scared look and his questioning about how awful it must be to come back to life again and again seems to indicate that John knows a lot more than he's letting on. And it's got something to do with the future (and I expect, something to do with the destruction of the Time Agency).
When stuff floats, it's generally not a good thing
Unless it's a bubble or something.
It doesn't really go with the rest of the outfit
But it sure is pretty and it brings out his eyes.
Stopwatch!
*a thousand people tick off their Torchwood Bingo cards* And he always keeps it handy, eh?
Yet you're strangely attracted to me
He does have that way. Must be something they teach in Time Agent school.
John/Poodle
This is the OTP of series two.
Trust me, I'm an improvisor
Oh Owen, you're actually a bit competent and not a twat and if you stay like this I could almost grow to like you.
Tell Jack I...
don't fancy him?
want you to look after Rhys?
think you have a smashing arse?
'm up for a bout of naked wrestling?
Getting to the heart of the problem
It's not an episode of Torchwood without a bit of pseudo-skience, a blood transfusion to the heart to change a bit of DNA? O rly?
The science of night
So the rift asploding cause a time shift? Will they be stuck in a bit of a time loop or will sending John on his way be enough to change the past/future/present/whatever? And what about the Blowfish? Still dead? And the cannisters? Will they need to be collected again?
I told you Gwen had a mean right hook, you didn't listen though
And there's not been someone who didn't deserve it more. :) Of course, he's the type who likes a girl who plays hard to get.
But he won't slope off without a parting punch to the gut
OMG! Jack's got some non-Who backstory!
Who are the mysterious hands. Does Jack have a kid (after all he was pregnant?) Does it have something to do with the timeloop Jack and John were stuck in for five years? Does it have something to do with Jack's missing two years? Is this going to be this year's 'Bad Wolf'?
*gulp* Nothing to see here
John Barrowman's little gasp/gulps made me laugh so much. Possibly wasn't the emotion he was going for. Bless
In conclusion
This is how I wanted to see Torchwood right from the beginning, funny, a bit self-referencial, competent, with stories that actually engage you, CHARACTERISATION and more of an ongoing thread.
Of course, it wasn't without it's faults: two massive exposition dumps, the blowfish's was quite funny, but for someone who just dropped through the Rift he knew an awful lot about them. Some of the pacing was a little bit off, but it was still better than last year.
8/10
His Lordship (not a TW fan) though it was 'alright. As good as the best episodes from last year, but still not amazing.'
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: Saturday, January 19th, 2008 12:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Saturday, January 19th, 2008 01:22 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Saturday, January 19th, 2008 01:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Saturday, January 19th, 2008 01:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Saturday, January 19th, 2008 02:46 pm (UTC)Like you, I liked that the team was almost competent and I prefer Owen when he does what he's good at: playing the doctor.
(no subject)
Date: Saturday, January 19th, 2008 04:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Sunday, January 20th, 2008 11:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Saturday, January 19th, 2008 04:20 pm (UTC)I want it to be a proper thing with a canon reason but I know better than to expect more depth than a fashion statement from TW so I'll have to rely on fanon CRACKing the explanation. Go fanon, go!
you don't phone your missus while she's at work
Although, to be fair to Rhys, it was outside working hours by that point and Gwen could've just explained she was busy and hung up.
John Barrowman passes at being dead. Well done.
He does excellent dead acting, yes.
Imagine being paralysed and only being able to see this?
Hee!
(no subject)
Date: Saturday, January 19th, 2008 05:28 pm (UTC)I mean, it's ridiculous. Maybe it's my backwards 21st century thinking and how all our other TV shows give us this OTP that we invest our feelings on.. but wtf, Jack? He talked about finding his doctor. Totally hot scene with Spike (which.. omg shudder. all frakking Spike/Angel fics came to my mind), his scene with Gwen (again wtf) and then his date with Ianto.
AND THEN THERE IS CAPTAIN JACK HARKNESS WHO WAS SUPER HOT! ;_;
Anyways.. my point. It's ridiculous. And I still get grabbed in. Crazy, crazy. And for Gwen to say "tell Jack.." >.>
(no subject)
Date: Sunday, January 20th, 2008 11:12 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Sunday, January 20th, 2008 05:53 pm (UTC)I totally get DOING everything with legs (and sometimes not), but it's just they always show him having these INTENSE connections, you know? ;_;
(no subject)
Date: Saturday, January 19th, 2008 06:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Sunday, January 20th, 2008 11:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Saturday, January 19th, 2008 10:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Sunday, January 20th, 2008 11:15 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Sunday, January 20th, 2008 12:50 am (UTC)Anyway nice review, taking time to add pictures really adds to the enjoyment of it all
(no subject)
Date: Sunday, January 20th, 2008 01:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Sunday, January 20th, 2008 02:00 pm (UTC)Must be having a mental block: why's Jack missing two years' worth of memories?
(no subject)
Date: Sunday, January 20th, 2008 04:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Monday, January 21st, 2008 03:59 pm (UTC)Also, Jack fails at lying.
(no subject)
Date: Monday, January 21st, 2008 06:06 pm (UTC)However, it was 'bloody good, that' to a certain degree last week.
(And I always did like me a bit of Jack/Gwen)
(no subject)
Date: Monday, January 21st, 2008 09:52 pm (UTC)