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gategrrlFirst things first:
Adam, the most recent Torchwood to air on BBCa, was a good episode loaded with character what-ifs, centering, of course, around their relationship ineptitudes. Didn't really seem to matter if Owen was now a milque-toast kind of guy, or Tosh was brash (it was a sex-change even if no one changed their actual sex - their roles completely did so, though). They were essentially in the same fixes as they were before, only with different names attached.
Gwen and Jack and Ianto - of the three, Ianto had the roughest time, because, damn it, he's the sharpest pencil in the Torchwood drawer, but unfortunately, not quite into the field officer bit yet. Jack's role was tragic, of course. If it wasn't, he'd be lacking depth.
Gwen's transformation was not a transformation; she stayed the same as always. She was paranoid, overreactive, violent toward Rhys, and overly dependent on Jack. I wonder if Jack wishes that little pill he gave her would also erase her feeeelings toward him? And that's where the Torn Between Two Lovers song rendition started popping into my head, as soon as Gwen held Jack's hand before chucking her pill down her throat. I feel more and more sorry for Rhys as Torchwood goes on.
In the memory restoration scene, I thought Owen, Tosh, and Ianto were touching in a brilliantly written scene that cut to the heart and motivations of their characters - and showed what a compassionate person Jack *can* be when he's not being a total off-on-his-own prick. Again, Gwen was predictable with her "I love Rhys, but not like I love you", complete with the sheepdog shiny eyes.
I thought the idea of the alien was well-done, played by a decent and likable actor. If he'd been for real, I wouldn't have minded him being on the team, as he was shown in the opening! Stargate fans will remember Sam Carter's Ancient stalker/lover from a fifth season episode: this character reminded me a LOT about that. Like that other character, he raped minds. In this case, however it wasn't just mind-rape of thoughts and feelings, like the empath rape Troi experienced in The Next Generation at least twice, but a MEMORY rape, which changes not only what you feel, it changes who you are.
The attack on Jack at the last was especially angsty and cruel - but then, if he can't remember it at all, where's the harm? He didn't remember it to begin with until the Memory Alien helped bring it to the fore. It's the audience that's going to remember FOR Jack - and none of the Torchwood team was privvy to his personal memories at all (those exchanges were kept between the Alien and Jack) there's really no effect at all on the rest of the team OR on Jack.
Gwen and Jack and Ianto - of the three, Ianto had the roughest time, because, damn it, he's the sharpest pencil in the Torchwood drawer, but unfortunately, not quite into the field officer bit yet. Jack's role was tragic, of course. If it wasn't, he'd be lacking depth.
Gwen's transformation was not a transformation; she stayed the same as always. She was paranoid, overreactive, violent toward Rhys, and overly dependent on Jack. I wonder if Jack wishes that little pill he gave her would also erase her feeeelings toward him? And that's where the Torn Between Two Lovers song rendition started popping into my head, as soon as Gwen held Jack's hand before chucking her pill down her throat. I feel more and more sorry for Rhys as Torchwood goes on.
In the memory restoration scene, I thought Owen, Tosh, and Ianto were touching in a brilliantly written scene that cut to the heart and motivations of their characters - and showed what a compassionate person Jack *can* be when he's not being a total off-on-his-own prick. Again, Gwen was predictable with her "I love Rhys, but not like I love you", complete with the sheepdog shiny eyes.
I thought the idea of the alien was well-done, played by a decent and likable actor. If he'd been for real, I wouldn't have minded him being on the team, as he was shown in the opening! Stargate fans will remember Sam Carter's Ancient stalker/lover from a fifth season episode: this character reminded me a LOT about that. Like that other character, he raped minds. In this case, however it wasn't just mind-rape of thoughts and feelings, like the empath rape Troi experienced in The Next Generation at least twice, but a MEMORY rape, which changes not only what you feel, it changes who you are.
The attack on Jack at the last was especially angsty and cruel - but then, if he can't remember it at all, where's the harm? He didn't remember it to begin with until the Memory Alien helped bring it to the fore. It's the audience that's going to remember FOR Jack - and none of the Torchwood team was privvy to his personal memories at all (those exchanges were kept between the Alien and Jack) there's really no effect at all on the rest of the team OR on Jack.
This is under a different cut mostly because for me, the story was separate from the acting. I'm disappointed in John Barrowman and Eve Myles' technique. Both of them play their parts with a plasticity that's off-putting. Barrowman especially tends to overproject and play as if he's in a dumb show, needing to communicate every last emotion with grand gestures.
His style went well on Dr Who, where grand gestures and overplaying seem to go with the flow of the show, but on Torchwood, it's too much. The obvious difference is, on Who, he was a supporting player, on Torchwood, he's the main lead; although the character is fitting in better than he was in the first series, Barrowman's style still is not.
Eve Myles' role as the newbie has changed as well; she's no longer the greenhorn, she's experienced enough to lead the others. But it feels like she relies on her flouncy hair and big eyes for weepy gestures of doey sympathy. That is, when she's overemoting and going wild. She's second only to Barrowman in the overemoting department.
I'll have to enjoy this show *around* these two actors, unfortunately.
His style went well on Dr Who, where grand gestures and overplaying seem to go with the flow of the show, but on Torchwood, it's too much. The obvious difference is, on Who, he was a supporting player, on Torchwood, he's the main lead; although the character is fitting in better than he was in the first series, Barrowman's style still is not.
Eve Myles' role as the newbie has changed as well; she's no longer the greenhorn, she's experienced enough to lead the others. But it feels like she relies on her flouncy hair and big eyes for weepy gestures of doey sympathy. That is, when she's overemoting and going wild. She's second only to Barrowman in the overemoting department.
I'll have to enjoy this show *around* these two actors, unfortunately.
