Diary of a Torchwood Virgin – So, is this guy dead or what?

I made some good progress in this Virgin Diary entry. I’ve actually completed series two at this point, but the last two episodes were so much more meatier than the rest of this run, that I felt that they deserved a bit more time on them. Most of this run consisted of Owen’s death, resurrection, and his afterdeath-life. Also, Torchwood had to hit my least favorite sci-fi/fantasy TV trope, didnt’ they?

“Adam” Season Two, Episode Five

Adam Smith? What an original character name! Why don’t we just go and name a character John Locke or something. Oh … wait … never mind.

If nothing else, this episode was fun watching the dynamic between Tosh and Owen completely flip-flop. In fact, I loved all of Tosh’s arc (for once). Even when she realized what she had with Adam hadn’t been real, she still yearned for it because in many ways it was better than the loneliness she had before.

Why (and who, because I missed it) wipe all of the CCTV footage? Would it have just been another way to “remember” Adam? Just didn’t make sense that Jack wouldn’t want to remember anything of what had happened.

“Reset” Episode Six

I thought all I was going to have to say about this episode was about the solid guest star turn by Alan Dale, a guy who has basically been in everything. In fact, I watched this episode while discussing with fellow Clacker Bob exactly what role in Game of Thrones he should be cast in.

But then they had to go and kill Owen. Those bastards!

“Dead Man Walking” Episode Seven

The minute they killed Owen, I knew he would be back on his feet in this episode; also that, if I were a betting man, his resurrection wouldn’t last long. I liked them bringing him back. First, when they thought it would only be the minutes with the glove, that they had their chance (or not) to say their goodbyes. Then, it gave Owen a last chance to be noble again. Considering the suddenness in which he was killed, and the tone of this episode, I really thought he’d be gone for good by the time the credits rolled.

“A Day in the Death” Episode Eight

“[after Owen jumps off the dock] You were watching?” – Owen
“Skinny guy in tight jeans runs into water? I was taking pictures.” – Jack

As much as I thought they would kill off Owen in the last episode, I’m glad they didn’t because this is the story that I wanted to see. His new … erm … living arrangements must be absolutely maddening. The scene where he was cleaning out his apartment, and looking around … the different cuts, with the music, was absolutely brilliant. Also, the fade out, and then back in, when Tosh was literally droning on … both of these scenes served to define Owen’s new life, and how different he is from the rest of the team now. Everything, especially Burn Gorman’s performance, was absolutely brilliant. I didn’t see him eventually overcoming his challenges, and living through them, but that also means he’s still going to be a part of the show going forward, which is a major upside.

And, while it didn’t really fit into everything else I loved about this episode, the old guy telling Tosh to show off her legs was hilarious. It’s the little things, no?

“Something Borrowed” Episode Nine

Is there a science fiction show out there that hasn’t fulfilled the trope of the “uber-quick pregnancy” storyline?

Folks, I know I’ve alluded to it before, but I plain just don’t “get” the Jack/Gwen relationship. It seems like every three or four episodes, we meet one of Jack’s “true loves.” But there’s always this lingering connection with Gwen, one that is, all things considered

“From Out of the Rain” Episode Ten

The upside to running through this many episodes at once is that, when you experience a filler episode, you can call it a filler episode and move on. I do feel a bit guilty when there are two of these episodes in a row, and I haven’t put much thought to paper. But imagine how boring and monotonous a single post would have been about these two episodes? People, recognize that I’m doing you a favor. I’m here for you!

The next two episodes, ending the second series, were just too good to lump together in this entry … so you have to wait a couple of more days.

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

Clacked by Ivey West
on Jun 27, 2011 @ 11:00 EST5EDT