Diary of a Torchword Virgin – The world opens up a little

First, a bit of housekeeping: I’d really like to have the entire Virgin Diary wrapped up by the start of Miracle Day. But, frankly, that is in three weeks, and my usual pace of 2-4 episodes a week won’t cut it. So, I’m either going to really start cramming the episodes in, or do bi-weekly posts. Not sure yet, but stay tuned, if not the same Clack-Time, at least the same Clack-Station, for updates.

“Countrycide”

“I hate the countryside. It’s dirty, it’s unhygienic … and what is that smell?” – Owen
“That would be grass.” – Gwen
“It’s disgusting!” – Owen

Not for nothing, but Owen and Gwen’s “conversation” was H-O-T hot. I hadn’t seen anything before that even hinted at that type of chemistry between the two of them, nor do I think it will be anything lasting. Regardless, they way the fought to pull themselves off of each other as they counted down was very “compelling.”

Gwen’s arc in this episode might just be my favorite thing I’ve seen in the whole first series, even if it seemed like it came a bit out of nowhere. To date, Gwen seems to have been slowly assimilating into the Torchwood team. But this was a different type of mission than what we’ve seen before. A collective group that just goes batshit crazy? Yeah, it happens with one, and one can occasionally take another with them, but a whole town?

Gwen’s response to not being able to understand the world around her is to begin to cut herself off from her previous life. She hasn’t left her husband yet, but spending the night with Owen is just the first step. I actually think that is the right direction to go … I’ve never been a fan of the character that is kept in the dark about what the hero really does (See: Summers, Joyce or for a more recent example Brooks, Danielle).

Also, I haven’t much talked about the prophecy about the 21^st century. Nor this “Rift” that seem to have been mentioned a couple of times. I like that there is (probably) a deeper arc to the overall story, one that play out throughout the entire run of the show. At least, I hope that’s what’s going on.

“Greeks Bearing Gifts”

“Once, just once, I’d like to walk into one of these tents and find it’s a party. You know, with food and drink, people dancing, a girl crying in the corner….” – Jack

Just as I was beginning to wonder about Tosh’s usefulness or, frankly, longevity to Torchwood (and Torchwood), she’s finally given an episode of her own. Though, I’m not necessarily sure that it was a good thing. Frankly, she acted like a child when she first started experiencing the powers of the pendant. I get that hearing your crush thinking about the dirty things he did to his coworker is no fun, but, come on … let’s grow up a little, shall we?

Though, I have to admit, the fly on the wall “conversations” she experienced between Owen and Gwen were deliciously awkward.

I absolutely love the mood that the team maintains around the Hub. The teasing, sarcastic banter … and throwing things? Exactly my type of office environment … but it is deeper than that, really. There’s something about the way that Jack manages the team, how he trusts them to simply make the right decision. It isn’t like he’s giving lip service to it … he knew that Tosh would destroy the pendant the same way he knew Ianto could be trusted after the Lisa affair. It is actually a refreshing approach.

“They Keep Killing Suzie”

“You know, we never gave it a cool name.” – Owen
“I thought we called it the Resurrection Gauntlet.” – Tosh
“Cool name.” – Owen

Dead Suzie on the table looked pretty good for someone who removed the back half of her skull when she killed herself.

The last episode exemplified the things about Jack’s management style that I liked, but Suzie is exemplar of what he doesn’t do right. As great of a rapport Jack has with his team, he seems to know so little about their personal lives. It is almost like he thinks he can read them so completely, but misses the mark.

The makeup folks did a superb job slowly bringing Suzie back from the dead. They were not, however, as successful at slowly killing Gwen.

Looks like my prediction on the length of Gwen and Owen’s romance was completely off the mark … But how much longer can it last?

“Random Shoes”

“I checked the bid history. Mr. C. Blackstaff is a collector of alien ephemera and Nazi memorabilia. Also, Beanie Babies.” — Josh

It was interesting to see Torchwood from an outsider’s perspective. Eugene was, in effect, a Torchwood fanboy. And, as we all know here on the Internets, fanboys (and fangirls) are obnoxious (unless, of course, we’re discussing Kristen Bell in the Fanboys movie … that’s a whole different story). But obnoxious isn’t always bad, right? Right?

I did feel kind of bad for Eugene. After all of his interest in aliens, and Torchwood, and the entire subculture that surrounds this hypothetical world, he really was just ran over by a car. Nothing sinister, nothing cool, just routine accidentally-running-into-the-middle-of-the-road.

Of all of the alien artifacts we’ve encountered so far, a Sixth Eye actually sounds like something useful, and not dangerous enough, to want to have. Hindsight is only 20/20 when you get the opportunity to really understand all sides of the past.

In the proper circumstance, is there a sadder song than “Danny Boy?”

Oh, and to answer my own question from the excerpt? I don’t care with others say, Stargate Universe was good from the beginning.

You can check out previous entries in my Torchwood Virgin Diary here.

Clacked by Ivey West
on Jun 16, 2011 @ 12:00 EST5EDT