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locker_monsterThey should have called this episode "Torchwood on a Plane".
I know the team can't magically teleport from Wales to the US, but it was kind of boring watching Jack, Gwen, and Rex just sitting around. Okay, yes, Jack gets poisoned (by Sierra!) and then Gwen and the airplane crew have to make a cure, but that was the most excitement that happened. All the good stuff was happening off the plane, though that was basically all set up, too. We learn people are still aging and that there's a vast conspiracy going on involving a triangle. Of course there's a global conspiracy. This way, the team doesn't know who to trust and they're on the run again. It's like Children of Earth again, only in America.
I'm sad that Rhys doesn't get to go with Gwen. I know, if he had then there would have been no one looking after Anwen, but his name's in the opening credits! That means he's a main character. Hopefully Rhys and Andy show up later again in the season. I don't know why they would since the conspiracy seems to be based in the US, but maybe Gwen can make a phone call to see that everything's okay. I consider Rhys to be a member of Torchwood, like an honourary member along with Andy. But Jack and Gwen have picked up Rex and Esther now so they really don't need more people running around with them.
Since this episode was all about setting things up, there's really not much to talk about. Yes, the world has to change in order to keep living, but we all know that the miracle will be reversed by the end of the season. You can't have an entire planet full of immoral people. You're more curious about the why. Why is there a shady organization trying to keep things quiet? It's kind of like the 456 all over again. The government was working with the aliens. If aliens did cause this and there's a group on Earth working with them, it's the same story. Torchwood has to bring down the group and stop the aliens. I don't know, I trust RTD to come up with a different premise, but it's kind of hard to judge just going off two episodes.
And I'm not worried about Jack being the last mortal man on the planet. He's the star of the show. I can see RTD killing off everyone else, but John Barrowman is the main reason people tune in. You kill him and you kill Torchwood. But if someone just flicked a switch, immortal becomes mortal and vice versa, wouldn't have Jack looked into similar technology after he learned he couldn't die? The guy is super well travelled. I find it hard to believe that he didn't come across something that could reverse his immortality. And it just seems too easy, too. It took Rose as the Bad Wolf to change Jack. Wouldn't it take something equally powerful to change him back to mortal?
Some randomness. I suppose next week will be when we see Jack and Gwen running around the US. I'm kind of sad that Gwen is the only UK character left. Everyone else is American. But I love that Gwen was annoyed that they had to escape in a Mini. The humour of the show is still there and that's nice. And they cast Dichen Lachman! Initially I thought, after Rex snapped her neck, that would it for her character. Then I remembered that no one can die and there you go. We got backwards Lyn. Now that's a good example of the writers using the premise in a fun, unique way. At some point is Oswald's story going to merge with the main story? He's creepy but he isn't just around to be creepy for the entire story. The guy must end up doing something. I don't care if he joins Torchwood or if he teams up with the bad guys. Just give him something else to do besides be creepy.
I haven't read anything about how this season of Torchwood is doing. Is it doing pretty good on Starz?
I know the team can't magically teleport from Wales to the US, but it was kind of boring watching Jack, Gwen, and Rex just sitting around. Okay, yes, Jack gets poisoned (by Sierra!) and then Gwen and the airplane crew have to make a cure, but that was the most excitement that happened. All the good stuff was happening off the plane, though that was basically all set up, too. We learn people are still aging and that there's a vast conspiracy going on involving a triangle. Of course there's a global conspiracy. This way, the team doesn't know who to trust and they're on the run again. It's like Children of Earth again, only in America.
I'm sad that Rhys doesn't get to go with Gwen. I know, if he had then there would have been no one looking after Anwen, but his name's in the opening credits! That means he's a main character. Hopefully Rhys and Andy show up later again in the season. I don't know why they would since the conspiracy seems to be based in the US, but maybe Gwen can make a phone call to see that everything's okay. I consider Rhys to be a member of Torchwood, like an honourary member along with Andy. But Jack and Gwen have picked up Rex and Esther now so they really don't need more people running around with them.
Since this episode was all about setting things up, there's really not much to talk about. Yes, the world has to change in order to keep living, but we all know that the miracle will be reversed by the end of the season. You can't have an entire planet full of immoral people. You're more curious about the why. Why is there a shady organization trying to keep things quiet? It's kind of like the 456 all over again. The government was working with the aliens. If aliens did cause this and there's a group on Earth working with them, it's the same story. Torchwood has to bring down the group and stop the aliens. I don't know, I trust RTD to come up with a different premise, but it's kind of hard to judge just going off two episodes.
And I'm not worried about Jack being the last mortal man on the planet. He's the star of the show. I can see RTD killing off everyone else, but John Barrowman is the main reason people tune in. You kill him and you kill Torchwood. But if someone just flicked a switch, immortal becomes mortal and vice versa, wouldn't have Jack looked into similar technology after he learned he couldn't die? The guy is super well travelled. I find it hard to believe that he didn't come across something that could reverse his immortality. And it just seems too easy, too. It took Rose as the Bad Wolf to change Jack. Wouldn't it take something equally powerful to change him back to mortal?
Some randomness. I suppose next week will be when we see Jack and Gwen running around the US. I'm kind of sad that Gwen is the only UK character left. Everyone else is American. But I love that Gwen was annoyed that they had to escape in a Mini. The humour of the show is still there and that's nice. And they cast Dichen Lachman! Initially I thought, after Rex snapped her neck, that would it for her character. Then I remembered that no one can die and there you go. We got backwards Lyn. Now that's a good example of the writers using the premise in a fun, unique way. At some point is Oswald's story going to merge with the main story? He's creepy but he isn't just around to be creepy for the entire story. The guy must end up doing something. I don't care if he joins Torchwood or if he teams up with the bad guys. Just give him something else to do besides be creepy.
I haven't read anything about how this season of Torchwood is doing. Is it doing pretty good on Starz?
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no subject
Date: 2011-07-16 11:37 pm (UTC)I think it had 1.5 million watching the first episode, if you add all the viewers of the first four airings together. This was close to their "highest rated show ever", Camelot, which was cancelled.
(In the UK, 1 million viewers stopped watching the first episode between the beginning and the end of it. It's not on a pay-to-watch channel in the UK, so I'd expect the UK numbers to be higher than those on Starz. )
no subject
Date: 2011-07-17 05:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-20 01:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-17 07:34 am (UTC)Just don't trust RTD not to kill Jack. He's not really needed for a CSI Torchwood show, and RTD has now moved on to non sci fi Hollywood stuff. So if it continues and isn't cancelled, I can see it being totally US cable and no need for Jack. (Whether there's a need for another Hollywood procedural drama is another question..)
no subject
Date: 2011-07-17 05:09 pm (UTC)It's hard to imagine anyone else but RTD running Torchwood. If it becomes a wholly American production I'm worried it might lose its identity. But that's just me. I'm really not fond of procedural dramas.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-20 01:28 pm (UTC)I wouldn't hold my breath or put *any* money on Jack's survival. JB's not only a somewhat expensive commodity, BUT, RTD's original idea for the show was a policewoman having to deal with aliens (Excalibur), which he couldn't get made until until he took DW's Jack and stuck him on the script. RTD wanted the show to revolve around Gwen, as the lead, not Jack. Plus, JB's getting older, and he's still not that well-known in the US, and RTD's said he wants to get out of sci-fi, as well as that he has one more story in him that is Gwen-centric.
I'm not expecting TW to ever go back to a show whose episodes I eager await.
Like fide, I came over from the newsletter due to your title. Loved that, as well as your typo! I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to say about the next ep.
I'm only watching it now for teh snark online.