Torchwood: The Ten Best Philosophical Things about it...

[fajrdrako]

At this juncture where the pain and the power of Torchwood has us reeling, I thought I'd post ...

The Ten Things I Like Most About the Philosophy of Torchwood

1. The explicit atheism. Most shows operate in a vague agnostic unclarity. Torchwood says it plainly: there is no god, death is darkness. But you can come back from death, sometimes - and it's a sign that something's gone wrong.
   
   
2. People come in all types. Not just races and nationalities, but all types. We see older women taking a major role in plots - how rare is that, except for Coronation Street? Characters are straight and gay, various races, various philosophical bents, liars, cops, students, aviators - and no value judement given to any of it.
   
   This is true also of villains: monsters (Abaddon), children (Jasmine), old men (Bilis, Ed Morgan), young men, aliens, women, men sometimes alien women or alien men, sometimes classic villains like Daleks and Cyber(wo)men - no limitations on the characterization.
   
   
3. Jack is omnisexual - and famous for it. And he can indeed be flirtatious and slutty. But over and over we see him being loving, loyal, kind and caring.
   
   
4. There is a distinct lack of jealousy among the characters. Rhys knows Gwen is attracted to Jack, but doesn't resent it. Toshiko is hurt that Owen has sex with Gwen and not her, but she doesn't hold it against either of them. Ianto knows Jack is attracted to Gwen, but he likes her anyway.
   
   
5. Jack is anarchic - he does his own thing. He's outside the box - outside all the boxes, though he plays roles in different ways, recreating himself on a regular basis. How many heroes don't have a nationality? A driver's license? A fixed address?
   
   
6. Values. The great quest is a quest for knowledge.
   
   
7. The show is unpredictable in style and tone, even in genre. I takes bits from here and there and everywhere. Sometimes it's tragedy, sometimes it's comedy, usually it's a mix of each.
   
   
8. Individuality. Each character has its own unique style - reflected in their clothes and their lives. They're a team, but they don't meld. Their pattern varies.
   
   
9. Torchwood is 'outside the law' - an outlaw organization that has the law's sanction but not its control. Jack has a bad history with Prime Ministers, and so wonder. Individuals within the law may be good - but you can't count on it.
   
   
10. Realism. Sure, it's about aliens and magical high-tech, but it's convincing in its depiction of people.