Torchwood: Ghost Machine...

[fajrdrako]

Watched Torchwood's third episode last night, and enjoyed it very much, especially when the camera was showing Captain Jack. Luckily, it does this a good part of the time.

I watched it with commodorified and her spouses and we drank Lady Grey tea, which made me think of rosiespark, which was fun. I made fake gumdrop cookies and Rayne brought an incredibly delicious beef stew. It was difficult not to overeat.

To comment in detail:

1. I thought this had the best writing and story-structure of the three episodes so far: a good action-packed beginning, a well-paced plot in which each event built on the last, carefully established characterization, and an interesting premise.
   
   And I didn't like it quite as much as the previous two episodes. Why not? Well... mostly because Everything Changes and Day One each had a scene that was a big emotional pay-off for me, in each case centred on Captain Jack, in each case a dramatic but welcome surprise. In Everything Changes, it was his rising from the dead. In Day One it was the scene with the hand. Though there were bits I liked almost as much, there were no dramatic plot/character developments centred on Jack. If there were any references to Doctor Who continuity, I didn't catch them, except that Owen had a UNIT card. Which I don't care about. UNIT is not a reference to any episodes I have seen.
   
   All the character development here was centred on Owen, and I still don't care. I no longer find Owen appalling and annoying, but I don't find him very interesting, either. I certainly don't find him sexy, as Russell T. Davies seems to. Is this like Smallville, where the producers had a thing for Kirsten Kreuk as Lana Lang, and the rest of us couldn't figure out why?
   
   
2. Captain Jack's fashion choices have me in extended ecstasy.
   
   
3. I loved the shooting range scene. Sensuous gunplay such as only Captain Jack can offer. Fine by me. And I love it that this was immediately followed by the scene where Gwen went home and had loving thoughts of Rhys.
   
   
4. No pterodactyl.
   
   
5. When will Ianto get some dialogue? I keep thinking he's on the verge of doing or saying something ineffably cool but it hasn't actually happened yet. Well, bringing tea is cool. I love his "Alfred" personal style. I love the way he keeps calling Jack "sir" - not that he says it often, because he doesn't say anything often.
   
   
6. I continue to crush on Toshiko for no reason I can analyze. I hope I don't like her less when I get to know more about her. I love the visuals of her work-station.
   
   
7. Captain Jack seems to run a loose ship and I'm not sure why. I can see the value of having non-conformists in his team but his command style seems to be an odd strategy: "bully them and then let them do whatever they want to". Even the newcomer Gwen - who still seems somewhat awestricken by Jack - is breaking the rules by taking alien tech home with her. This seems in character, as we saw her breaking rules when she was a cop, too.
   
   
8. I loved it that there were no monsters in this one - no Weevils, no aliens in funny masks at all. Interesting that the origin of the cross-temporal emotion tracking device was not discovered. Is Jack still looking into that, or is he satisfied with the "washed in through the rift" explanation that is no explanation at all? ...I particularly liked it that there were 'alien coins' in the stash of things that Bernie found.
   
   
9. Loved, absolutely loved, the scene where Owen was chasing Bernie across everyone's back gardens.
   
   
10. After Everything Changes I said they'd probably do something to make Owen more sympathetic, to change him - and I think this was it, the enforced empathy with the raped-and-murdered Lizzie Lewis that brought about a different attitude on Owen's part. I didn't feel it was enough to change my attitude. I thought Owen's psychology made perfect sense and I enjoyed watching the experiences he was having psychologically, but I still didn't like him much. He just seemed... temperamental, uncontrolled. I wouldn't want him as my doctor.
    
    
11. There was one rather interesting revelation about Jack: apparently he doesn't need to sleep. Is this part of a sleep/death equation? Or a sign of his enhanced biophysical energy? I don't imagine that the TARDIS sleeps, come to think of it. I'm not sure what this means but Jack must have a lot of time to pursue his workaholic activities. Or is he spending the time in sexual adventure? The show implies not.
    
    
12. I continue to love Jack's voice. (Well, John Barrowman's voice.) Gwen's, too.
    

Comments

[atheneunknown.livejournal.com]

1. This episode was very well structured. I like it quite a bit. Like you said, the pace was awesome, and it was very well written.
2. Jack could be wearing a clown suit and I'd think he was sexy. Seriously. I'm sad like that.
3. My freind asked me what in the hell posessed her to take the alien tech home with her, and I was like..."Dude, she's had a fight with Rhys, and Jack was just pressed all up against her. I'd need a reminder why I lived there with him too. She wanted to remember how they were when she didn't have the work distraction thing going on."
4. Yah, wtf. I wanna see more of the pterodactyl.
5. From the previews it looks like Ianto becomes a character instead of a pretty face next week. I hope. Soon.
6. I like Tosh too. The way she just takes Jacks word on things, and does her job to the best of her abilities. Its nice to see someone there with a work ethic (only half serious there.)
7. Jack seems to have taken on a huge responsiblity here, and they let him down by giving up. I'd be pissed too if I were him. But your right, he does seem to let them get away with a lot.
8. Some of the scariest things that happen to us in life don't have to be extraterrestrial. They can be home grown, and aided by extraterrestrail technology. I liked that too.
9. Great chase scene. I love the look Owen gives Bernie when he first sees him. Like he just felt all that emotion, and now he has to deal with this crap.
10. Owens character is changing, and that pleases me greatly. I want to see the whole team get humanized by Gwen. She's right you know, they've been trapped underground for so long, they've disconnected.
11. The look he gave when she said, "Don't you get lonely." was right up there with the look he gave when the TARDIS took of in parting of ways. I don't think he NEEDS sleep. Doesn't mean he doesn't do it from time to time out of sheer boredom. I dunno, we'll see.
12. He has an amazing voice, and their banter goes so well because of it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

1. This episode was very well structured.

Which is a nice change from most television - I love good structure in a work, and I don't see it often enough. Not that structure alone can fix a show with problems, but it was really great to see here.

2. Jack could be wearing a clown suit and I'd think he was sexy.

That's because Jack would be sexy in a clown suit. Strange but true.

She wanted to remember how they were when she didn't have the work distraction thing going on."

Yes, I can certainly understand why she did it, why she wanted to do it. I don't really approve... she saw what the consequences were with Suzie, and she owes something (I would think) to Jack - at the same time, I rather like her nerve.

I wanna see more of the pterodactyl.

It's such an intriguing creature - and they're leaving us hanging.

it looks like Ianto becomes a character instead of a pretty face next week. I hope. Soon.

Yes - I would be satisfied with just a very little more. really! Actually I'd like a lot more, but then I'd like a new episode of Torchwood every day and I know I'm not going to get that. So. I'll settle for some more Ianto dialogue, and a little more Ianto info.

I like Tosh too. The way she just takes Jacks word on things,

Yes! there's a sense of trust there, and respect as well. Not that she's overly defferential or anything, but I like her attitude.

Its nice to see someone there with a work ethic (only half serious there.)

And sadly, only half joking.

he does seem to let them get away with a lot.

I can certainly understand letting these bright people, who are putting their lives on the line, have a lot of freedom in their methods and approach. But they don't seem to take his authority very seriously and it seems to me they should.

I love the look Owen gives Bernie when he first sees him. Like he just felt all that emotion, and now he has to deal with this crap.

There was some really good acting there.

Owens character is changing, and that pleases me greatly. I want to see the whole team get humanized by Gwen. She's right you know, they've been trapped underground for so long, they've disconnected.

True, and I like seeing the changes as they develop.

The look he gave when she said, "Don't you get lonely." was right up there with the look he gave when the TARDIS took of in parting of ways.

Waaaah! I can't stand it! Heartbreaking moment!

But I did love it when Gwen said that and I could only think how he was so very much not lonely on the TARDIS. And now, like the Doctor, he has become the Lonely Angel.

He has an amazing voice

I want to hear more of that, too. The banter is delicous. More! More! Encore!

[boji.livejournal.com]

Though there were bits I liked almost as much, there were no dramatic plot/character developments centred on Jack.

There is no getting away from the fact that this is an ensemble show. I thought that as a stand-alone episode Ghost Machine was brilliant and far more focsued on plot than Jack's arc, thus more likely to appeal to a more general/casual viewer. Which is a good thing if we want a season 2 ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

There is no getting away from the fact that this is an ensemble show.

True. And I don't mind that, since I like the other characters very much, and find myself intrigued by them. I don't want to lose track of Captain Jack - he's still my favourite - but their interaction with him is part of the fun. I particularly like the way we are sharing Gwen's point of view, and her knowledge of what is going on.

I certainly feel eager to learn more about Ianto and Tosh.

And I agree that appealing to the casual viewer (which I so clearly am not!) is a good thing. On the whole, they're doing a decent job of appealing to everyone. And there are bound to be some episodes I like more (or less) than others.

So I ask myself: if Captain Jack was not a part of this show - if he were not the link between it and Doctor Who - would I be watching it? Certainly. Would I be excited over it? Probably not as much. Would I be obsessed? Much less so than I am now!

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Quite enjoyed the episode, but am still waiting for it to really take. In other words, it hasn't reached obsession status. Yet.

I think I like the first episode the most, so far. And like you, want more Jack. Lots more Jack! ;)

Was it the waistcoat? The one he's wearing during the gun practice scene. Mmm.Which reminds me of the scene where they're discussing him over their Chinese takeaway and Owen assumes that Jack's gay on the basis of his dress code. "Period military is not the dress code of a straight man." I like how both Gwen and Tosh are convinced Jack's not gay - at least partly because they're obviously charmed and don't want him to be gay.

And I particularly love Gwen's voice. It's the Welsh accent. At our conference last week, I got together again with two Welsh friends. Rhian doesn't have much of an accent but Mike sounds gloriously Welsh - and is from Cardiff! And the funny thing is that two years ago I kept having to ask him to repeat things, more slowly, but this year, I had absolutely no trouble with his accent. Hee. I've been practicing.

[cyberducks.livejournal.com]

I think Gwen and Tosh are convinced Jack's not gay, because he's probably flirted with both of them, especially with Gwen. Jack's very practiced at conveying sexual interest, but most of his 21th century targets might not realize that he truly likes to spread himself around.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I agree, though considering that they seem to be bi themselves, or at the most conservative estimate, bi-friendly, they might have guessed. I think actually Jack gets a kick out of keeping them guessing - on two counts. One, it's a form of flirting, a tease. Two, it's a sort of conscious-raising thing: he's urging them not to think with labels, not to think in categories, to keep their minds open to possibilities and free of assumptions. And that's good advice in their line of work, or just for general life skills.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

In other words, it hasn't reached obsession status. Yet.

If I say I am not obsessed with Torchwood, maaseru and maaboroshi will roll their eyes and say, "Oh, yes, she is." And my mark of whether a fandom has really taken hold consists in how much I want to watch the episodes over, which is quite a bit, in this case. But I don't feel the love for it I feel for Doctor Who, and I don't think the show is as good. However, I am already hooked on Captain Jack from DW season 1 and the passion carries over. And I see a lot in Torchwood besides Captain Jack that is intriguing and makes me like the show.

And like you, want more Jack. Lots more Jack! ;)

I think we will get plenty more Jack. Not to worry. The will remain the primary protagonist. I also think we will not get as much of Jack as we really want (it is, after all, only a one-hour show) and that such deprivation will be good for our souls.

Was it the waistcoat? The one he's wearing during the gun practice scene.

Well, the waistcoat did no harm. Sexiest waistcoat I ever saw. But not just the waistcoat. Let's see, there's also the greatcoat, and the dark shirts, and the braces. I just loved it all.

I like how both Gwen and Tosh are convinced Jack's not gay - at least partly because they're obviously charmed and don't want him to be gay.

Uh-huh. Partly observation of how he reacts to people and partly wishful thinking. And they're both right!

And I particularly love Gwen's voice. It's the Welsh accent.

I think it's just lovely.

As for practising listening to the accent - there, the show's been educational in more ways than one!

[darksylvia.livejournal.com]

Word to pretty much everything you said.

When will Ianto get some dialogue? I keep thinking he's on the verge of doing or saying something ineffably cool but it hasn't actually happened yet. Well, bringing tea is cool. I love his "Alfred" personal style. I love the way he keeps calling Jack "sir" - not that he says it often, because he doesn't say anything often.

I KNOW. I WANT TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH HIM.

I'm not very fascinated by either Owen OR Gwen yet . I totally love Toshiko.

You know, on a slight tangent, I don't understand why Jack would be all immortal from Rose!Vortex raising him from the dead and yet Rose seemed pretty much completely untouched by carrying it inside her. I call that odd.

They're really trying to get me to like Gwen, and so far I just feel sor t of "eh" about her.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I WANT TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH HIM.

It won't take much, I think. Next week looks promising. Fingers crossed.

'm not very fascinated by either Owen OR Gwen yet .

Owen leaves me cold. I like Gwen a lot - I particularly love her voice, and I think she's sexy - but ... she really isn't hero material so far. She's got a lot of potential but they've been emphasizing how she's a kid in out of her depth so far. I'd like to see her get more confidence, do decisive things that really make a difference.

I totally love Toshiko.

Me too. I want more information about her, too.

I don't understand why Jack would be all immortal from Rose!Vortex raising him from the dead and yet Rose seemed pretty much completely untouched by carrying it inside her. I call that odd.

Well, the Doctor took it away from her, negating its effect on her. And she got a huge dose, much more than Jack, and it would have destroyed her. Jack was just touched by its effects. This may not entirely make sense, but it's the situation as they portray it, so we have to accept it on faith.

But I don't think it's just that. I think when she revived Jack from death she thought something like, "Jack must live!" and the TARDIS magic took it at face value as an absolute command to cover the present and the future.

[darksylvia.livejournal.com]

I wonder if the Doctor can fix his immortality problem with a kiss, too! *cough*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, we know that's the way it ought to happen, if any of my prayers are granted - or Jack's!

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Great episode! I liked Owen sleuthing! (Anyone else recognise that the elderly Ed Morgan was Blake of Blake's Seven?!)
Toshiko's good. I really like her too!
The trailer for next week looks exciting!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I liked Owen sleuthing!

I did too. I liked the intensity with which he went after want he wanted.

Anyone else recognise that the elderly Ed Morgan was Blake of Blake's Seven?!

My goodness - no! I thought I'd seen him before, but I couldn't place him.

Toshiko's good. I really like her too!

She's great. I hope for more of a focus on her in future - maybe a bit of background?

The trailer for next week looks exciting!

Yes. We shall see!

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

I liked the intensity with which he went after want he wanted.

It was also a further lesson for him, continuing from last week, re: his attitude to women.

My goodness - no! I thought I'd seen him before, but I couldn't place him.

Yes! He has not aged well!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It was also a further lesson for him

Learning a little empathy and insight here. Maybe even consideration of others.

He has not aged well!

Well, some of it may have been simply the effect of make-up, as he was supposed to be playing a horrible old man (and did it well). Like me looking like Miss Havisham for the photo. But all the same - ! Bit of a shock.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

But all the same - ! Bit of a shock.

Yes - he wasn't looking that great way back when they brought him back at the very end of Blake's Seven - he was getting quite fat by then!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Every once in a while I see an actor or celebrity I used to think was gorgeous, and reflect how badly they've aged. Mel Gibson is a case in point - and his personality problems don't help the issue. There are exceptions - Frank Langella? Sean Connery?

Well, I guess we don't really get to choose how age changes us.

Unless we manage to be immortal, like Methos or Captain Jack. The Doctor is a sort of different case - seems he doesn't get to choose the characteristics of his regenerated new bodies either.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Chris Lee has aged very well, too.

Another one who went off the boil badly was the late David Hemmings, who was quite winsome back in the 1960s.

In a lot of the cases where they haven't worn well, drink has had something to do with it. (Mel is certainly an example there.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Chris Lee has aged very well, too.

Yes, though I was never really one of his fans. But he has a certain strength of character that I admire.

David Hemmings

Oh, I loved David Hemmings! The last thing I remember seeing him in was an episode of Stingray, where he played one of sinister men in suits who were manufacturing bogus drugs. I loved that show, and that episode. I think Hemmings was one of the producers.

I always think of him first as Mordred, though.

Drink. Yes. Messes up the mind and looks, both at the same time. And it's a typical failing of an actor.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

I loved David as Mordred! My favourite Arthurian character! I have him on my website!


He was terribly miscast as Lou Nolan, though, in that weird 1968 Charge of the Light Brigade. (Did you see my Anniversary Post (http://silverwhistle.livejournal.com/52311.html) about the real Lou? He was born in Ontario, and was rather on the tall, angular and beaky side!)

Drink was certainly a factor with David.

[elebridith]

I didn't get at first that the person using the device is experiencing the feelings - I thought "well, Gwen, what's so terrifying? Move it!" but then it made sense. And the device seem somehow to force you to use it - why else should Gwen/Owen press the button on a blinking alien device without thinking twice?
Loved the effect on Owen - at least, a crack in his shell! Threw him completely off the loop! And the scene between him and the elder Ed Morgan was very impressive. Oh, and poor Gwen! Tried so hard to change the outcome...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

the device seem somehow to force you to use it - why else should Gwen/Owen press the button on a blinking alien device without thinking twice?

Yes. I wish they'd explained that a little more clearly. As it was, you had to figure it out, and it made Gwen and Owen look either stupid or clumsy at first.

Yes, this was a good introduction to the better side of Owen.

I thought Ed Morgan was scary. Very convincing, and an interesting answer to the question, "What happens to a man who gets away with murder?"

[elebridith]

Yup, scary. Both the young and the old one. When the young one sing-songed his "Lizzie...Lizzie Lewis" under the bridge, I actually had goosebumps. It reminded me of something, but I can't remember what. Hmmm...
Is it weird to think it's kind of comforting that the way he gets away with murder was so taking toll of him? I like to think he's lived in his personal hell for all the time. The older Ed actor brought that on perfectly, very impressive!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, both Ed Morgans were the stuff of nightmares. Did you know the actor doing the elder Ed Morgan? That was Gareth Thomas, who was Blake in Blake's 7.

Forgot to add...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Is it weird to think it's kind of comforting that the way he gets away with murder was so taking toll of him?

I thought that was the point of the story: that he really didn't get away with anything. No one knew he had killed Lizzie Lewis, but he spent the rest of his life in a prison of his own making, paranoid and unhappy, unable to live anything like a normal life, and certainly never finding any kind of happiness.

I like to think poor Bernie will learn to have a better life, though. The petty thief who's so inept he can't even shoplift properly - and gets Torchwood onto him without even trying.

Re: Forgot to add...

[elebridith]

Gareth Thomas... no, never heard of him before. Great guy, though.
spent the rest of his life in a prison of his own Exactly. That was what I meant - he "got away" in the sense that he never went to court, but not escaping his inner demons... I thought they showed an excellent reaction of him when he realized what Owen was talking about...
Oh yes, poor Bernie! :-) I like to think that he was so shocked by his visions that he became totally an honest citizen:-)

Re: Forgot to add...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was impressed with Gareth Thomas as Ed Morgan. Never liked him on Blake's 7.

not escaping his inner demons...

Yes - just making them worse in solitude and misanthropy.

I thought they showed an excellent reaction of him when he realized what Owen was talking about...

Yes. Excellent. Chilling.

poor Bernie! :-) I like to think that he was so shocked by his visions that he became totally an honest citizen:-)

Yes! Oh, what a shock to everyone! It would be fun to write that as a story... "Okay, I'm honest, what do I do now?" And see if he makes as much of a cock-up of being honest as he did of being a thief!

Re: Forgot to add...

[elebridith]

Oh, that's a spin-off! "Bernie - life after Torchwood" :-)

Re: Forgot to add...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm really quite tempted to write something like that. Poor Bernie - I really hope he finds something he can be successful at.