Torchwood continues. Despite a bit of a hiccup in the fifth episode, I’m liking the show more and more with each passing installment. I’m still getting used to watching a British show, but I think I’m on board for the long haul. I’m actually going to attempt to get all three series done this summer, so I can be ready for Miracle Day.
“Ghost Machine” Series One, Episode Three
In just one episode, Gwen seems to have fully ingratiated herself into the team. While a little bit jarring after all of the “rookie” business in the previous episode, I’m actually glad we moved past the part of the story where Alice (of the aforementioned Looking Glass fame) slowly figures out what is going on.
In America, watching an experienced cop (even a one with just a little experience) learn how to fire a weapon was kind of a weird bit to watch. Another cultural difference to be sure. However, seeing Gwen fire off a shoulder-fired missile in Miracle Day? We’ll get there at some point (speaking of which … how very Buffy of her).
Sean Harris, AKA Bernie….? Bernie? Really? You’ve got Sean as a name, but you go with Bernie as a nickname (considering my name(s), I probably don’t have much room to joke)?
The dramatic irony of Gwen working to save Ed from Owen, and then Gwen actually holding the knife while Owen did CPR, was actually played pretty well. The whole thing could have been very cheesy, but wasn’t.
“Cyberwoman” Series One, Episode Four
I’m not sure what game they were playing there at the beginning, but it wasn’t basketball. There might have been a basketball, and a hoop, but that wasn’t basketball.
I was surprised that Ianto was keeping a secret from Jack and the team, to be sure. But when he leaned over and kissed “Lisa?” Yeah, that really threw me for a loop.
So a part-organic/part-machine being that wants to make every life form form they encounter like them? Check. Would resistance, perhaps, be futile?
The bit where Ianto complained about cleaning up after Jack? Didn’t really ring true. We’ve not seen enough of their interaction in three episodes to be able to buy that character dynamic. Jack doesn’t seem to be that bad of a guy, at least not yet.
Despite not buying the emotion, the situation was still fairly heavy. I thought for a moment that they might actually have Ianto kill the “new” Lisa. It would have been an interesting character choice early on, defining him moving forward in a very specific way. Having the team take her down accomplished something similar, but more in Ianto’s relationship with everyone else.
Oh, and the kissing? I don’t mind it, to be sure, but I surely didn’t understand it.
“Small Worlds” Series One, Episode Five
I can’t explain it … the one piece of backstory that I’m most looking forward to learning is Jack’s history. And the first time that the curtain is pulled back even a little, and it turns out to be the most boring episode thus far.
While I may not have loved this story as a whole, I will say this. The last episode proved to me that Torchwood isn’t afraid to pull punches, but Jack’s decision here solidified it. Sacrificing the needs of the one against the needs of the many is easy when it is Spock doing the talking, but for Jack to let the “chosen one” go? Not exactly sunshine, lollipops and rainbows (yes, that’s two Star Trek references … sorry!).
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Jun 09, 2011 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
To be fair, comparing the Cybermen to the Borg should be reversed as the Cybermen have been around since 1966. That’s quite a bit before our favorite cybernetic Trek baddies came onto the scene.
If you want to learn a bit more about Captain Jack Harkness his first appearance on TV was in the 2-part Doctor Who episode “The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances” and was also a truly creepy episode. Jack shows up in scattered episodes of early series of “new Who” and you learn a little more about him with each episode. Granted, you get some backstory on him in Torchwood, but to find out all there is to know about the character you’ll need to dig through Doctor Who to do that.
Personally, I think it’s worth the effort, but I am a little biased as I absolutely *love* British television.
*POST AUTHOR*
I think I’ve decided that I’m not going to watch Doctor Who … (I hope this next part doesn’t seem to jack-ass-esque) ever. I’ve been a geek for as long as I have, and nothing about the story has ever interested me (I think I’ve caught an episode here or there). Like you just know, without watching, that something isn’t for you?
And fair enough on Cybermen. I don’t think I meant to infer that one was copied from the other, just that the trope of robot assimilation is ubiquitous in science fiction.
I don’t think your decision not to watch Doctor Who is “jack-ass-esque,” but I think you’re doing yourself a disservice by dismissing it without ever watching it. Considering you review television I find that “uninformed decision” even more confounding. Add to that the fact that you’re a geek and Doctor Who is loved by geeks worldwide and I’m flummoxed. Flummoxed, I tells ya!
I’m not saying you should start way back in 1963 with William Hartnell, but giving the first episodes of the reborn series a look would most definitely be worth your while. There’s a reason it’s been on for ages.
*POST AUTHOR*
I’m not sure that it is an uninformed decision though, my friend. I’ve seen a couple of episodes. I’m familiar enough with the property because I’m a Geek and review television. I don’t need to watch a whole series to know it isn’t for me.
General Hospital has been on for ages too, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to rush to save it to my DVR :)
The flip side of reviewing television is that I watch too much television. I got burnt out last season, and am very careful about adding another fandom to my list. As pissed as I was about several shows I was interested in not getting picked up to series, it certainly makes scheduling easier. I remember going into season before last, during sweeps, I was watching 27 hours of new television a week. You’ve got to draw the line somewhere :)
I’m sorry, I misunderstood your comments regarding Doctor Who. When you said, “Like you just know, without watching, that something isn’t for you?” I thought you meant you had never watched the show. Along with your comment in your article about still getting used to watching a British show I took those statements to mean not only have you never watched Doctor Who, but little to no British television, either.
If you’ve seen it and it isn’t for you, I can completely understand. I just got the wrong impression.
And for the record, there ain’t no way I’m watching General Hospital, either. And, yes, I’ve actually suffered through a number of episodes. Years ago, my wife and I worked together for a small engineering firm and we did the work out of our house. For reasons still unknown to the universe my wife got hooked on a couple of soaps, General Hospital being one of them. Trying to be a good spouse I honestly tried to get into it, but I just wanted to shoot the TV…and then myself.
An episode or two of Doctor Who alone really does not represent the show as a whole. I was the same…I saw maybe one or two episodes of DW and maybe an episode of Sarah Jane and wrote them both off.
But then I got bored one summer and watched a few episodes from the very beginning of Series 1 (the new Who, 2005) back to back. And I fell in love. I nagged a friend of mine to watch it, who was much the same as I was initially, and now we discuss both DW and TW in depth after every episode.
I respect that you watch far too much TV (I do as well…I’m probably really close to that 27-hour mark during primary TV season, also). But during downtime in the summer, if you get bored, I recommend you give it another shot by watching it in order.
I get not being interested in seeing the whole series, but “The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances” are two very good stand-alone episodes that will give you so much more insight into Captain Jack Harkness. Plus, they have some of the most chilling scary moments I’ve ever seen on TV… in a good way.
If you just pop into DW at random you’re likely to see quite a lot of running and screaming, and may well write it off on the basis of that. That’s understandable. If, however, you are introduced by some of the darker, truly creepy stories (like the aforementioned “The Empty Child” and “The Doctor Dances”) you may well find yourself hooked.
Having said that tho, you don’t need “Doctor Who” under your belt to enjoy “Torchwood”. I’d recommend it because much of “Who” (like “Blink”) is truly excellent, but it isn’t strictly necessary. While there are links and references, they stand on their own.
Oh, and I fully understand about “too much TV”. Sometimes I almost look forward to series ending… even ones I really like… because that means I’ll have more free time. It can be like a job, just keeping up.