Torchwood: Out of Time...

[fajrdrako]

Torchwood is increasingly winning my respect. I've loved it from the beginning, but it's becoming more and more worthy of my affections. The writing is becoming less mixed; more smooth, more unpredictable, more convincing, more gripping. The story was downright smooth, and so very character-oriented. By Catherine Tregenna. Hmm. Nice to see women writing for television. She has another episode coming up, too. Good sign.

A few comments, as always:

1. Jack made me cry. Jack has such a heart in him - such a loving person, but trapped and isolated. I loved it that he was willing to tell John Ellis that he was from the future, and also displaced in time. I loved it that he helped John to die, after struggling to find alternatives for him.



2. Owen falls in love. I was totally convinced - realized he was in love before he he said it - that's good acting on Burn Gorman's part. And this highlighted some of his psychological problems. Wonderful hot sex scenes too, 'wonderful' because (as with other Torchwood sex scenes) it seemed realistic to me - not prettied up like most sex in TV and movies to be carefully choreographic to appeal to the audience. Not that Diane wasn't beautiful and interesting - I'd probably have fallen for her too. Guess I have a thing for the 1930s female aviator mystique. I wondered if she was anachronistic, and decided that no, she was not: she was one of those people who would not fully belong in any time, her own or any other. So she makes her own way, wherever she finds herself.
   
   Still, why is it that Owen gets all the sex scenes and not Jack? Jack's the main appeal here. Owen remains minimally attractive to me.
   
   It confirmed what I suspected, that Owen isn't in love with Gwen. And next week Gwen tells Rhys about her affair with Owen... about time, too. I look forward to that.
   
   Oh dear. Could it be that I am starting to actually like Owen?



3. Loved the scene of poor Gwen trying to explain modern sexual mores to Emma. Good luck to her! I think it ended up as a 'do what I say, not as I do'. I loved the way she was protective of Emma. And I loved it that Rhys caught Gwen out on her lying, and was angry about it. About time! I was also thrilled that we got to see Rhys again. It feels like a long time.



4. The three aviators from 1953 showed less sense of surprise, curiosity and wonder on seeing the Torchwood Hub than the 2007 folk like Gwen and Eugene did. I suppose they were so surrounded by new things that it was at that point all a blur to them.



5. Missed Tosh and Ianto. Wanted more Jack/Ianto but I can be patient.



6. Again, no aliens and no pterodactyl.

Comments

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

Take 2- stupid LJ not letting us edit comments. *eyeroll*

Jack made me cry. Jack has such a heart in him - such a loving person, but trapped and isolated.

Yes. Jack... the longer the series goes on, the more convinced I am that you and I are both wrong and that Jack's been around longer than either of us wants for him. He's been alone for awhile, I think, and that makes me sad for him. I keep hoping that it hasn't been more than a few years since TPotW for him, but I'm now leaning toward it being way more. *gets back in the line to hug Jack*

Guess I have a thing for the 1930s female aviator mystique.

Me, too. She was awesome. I had no real issues with Owen falling for her; I did have some issues with her falling for Owen. Although I've come to like Owen much better than I did at first, he had a long way to come, and still has a long way to go; I still like the other four TW folks better. And as you say, why in the world does Owen get all the sex scenes, not Jack? Bah.

Loved the scene of poor Gwen trying to explain modern sexual mores to Emma. Good luck to her! I think it ended up as a 'do what I say, not as I do'. I loved the way she was protective of Emma. And I loved it that Rhys caught Gwen out on her lying, and was angry about it. About time! I was also thrilled that we got to see Rhys again. It feels like a long time.

Yes, yes and yes. I'm not quite sure why Gwen felt like she had to lie to Rhys - I might have missed that part. She could've just told him that Emma was part of a case from work and needed a place to stay. The thing is, there are things that she could've told him all along without going into classified detail, but she's chosen not to. Which makes me think that part of her doesn't really want Rhys in that part of her life.

There wasn't nearly enough Ianto, but I loved him showing the 1953 folks around the grocery store. There might not have been much, but what there was was quality.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

stupid LJ not letting us edit comments.

I wish they would! What I hate most is when I screw up the formatting on a comment and it pretty much trashes the whole thing and I have to start over.

Yes. Jack... the longer the series goes on, the more convinced I am that you and I are both wrong and that Jack's been around longer than either of us wants for him.

There are a lot of clues in that direction, aren't there? I'm becoming reconciled to the idea, not so much because I like the implications, but because I like the way they're handling it.

Although I've come to like Owen much better than I did at first, he had a long way to come, and still has a long way to go; I still like the other four TW folks better.

He's the only one I don't really find attractive. Russell T. Davies finds him sexy, which I think is why he gets the good sex scenes. Who can account for taste? He still does nothing for me, but he doesn't make me cringe the way he did at first.

But Jack is supremely sexy - and then some - he can raise my temperature just by walking into a room - ahh, such a waste!

I'm not quite sure why Gwen felt like she had to lie to Rhys - I might have missed that part.

Habit, I think.

he thing is, there are things that she could've told him all along without going into classified detail, but she's chosen not to.

Even before she joined Torchwood. Maybe long before that.

Which makes me think that part of her doesn't really want Rhys in that part of her life.

Obviously he tells her everything that's going on at the transit commission and she told him nothing about what went on at work when she was a cop, and is telling him nothing now she's at Torchwood. Yes, clearly she's shutting him out.

There wasn't nearly enough Ianto, but I loved him showing the 1953 folks around the grocery store. There might not have been much, but what there was was quality.

There was so much that was wonderful about that. I love Ianto's personal style, so sweet and ironic at the same time. So smart, so understated. The more I get to know Ianto the more I love him.

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

I'm becoming reconciled to the idea, not so much because I like the implications, but because I like the way they're handling it.

Yup. He's not, bless him (and them) being horrendously emo about it. Instead, just emotional enough, but resigned with it. The resignation is what gets me more than anything, really.

He's the only one I don't really find attractive.

Yeah, me too. He looked better in this episode than ever, but ... meh.

Russell T. Davies finds him sexy, which I think is why he gets the good sex scenes. Who can account for taste?

That makes a certain amount of sense, I suppose, but RTD? You've got John Barrowman who likes getting naked. Use him! Please! *cough* Right, back from my brief trip to the shallow end...

He still does nothing for me, but he doesn't make me cringe the way he did at first.

Yeah. I was worried that they'd woobie-fy him, or something, and while they have made him more likable, they haven't made him incredibly so, or whitewashed his more unfortunate characteristics, which I appreciate.

Obviously he tells her everything that's going on at the transit commission and she told him nothing about what went on at work when she was a cop, and is telling him nothing now she's at Torchwood. Yes, clearly she's shutting him out.

As much as I like Rhys, that's not really the sign of a healthy relationship there, even before she joined Torchwood. Now I'm trying to figure out what's going on with Gwen that she feels the need to gloss over the things that happen to her with the man she's supposed to be so close to.

There was so much that was wonderful about that. I love Ianto's personal style, so sweet and ironic at the same time. So smart, so understated. The more I get to know Ianto the more I love him.

Yup. I wasn't a big fan of him in his own episode (found him a bit over the top in "Cyberwoman"), but in every other episode I've really liked what we've seen of him. I'd really like for him to have a bit more screentime. Tosh, too, for that matter.

[darklady7.livejournal.com]

Still, why is it that Owen gets all the sex scenes and not Jack? Jack's the main appeal here. Owen remains minimally attractive to me.

I wouldn't worry about it cos Jack will get his due in all good time. I just hope some of scripts give him good taste of whatever he does with sex scenes.

It confirmed what I suspected, that Owen isn't in love with Gwen. And next week Gwen tells Rhys about her affair with Owen... about time, too. I look forward to that.

That is what I think Owen and Gwen are/were having sex, quote Owen, "we can be fuckbuddies" (to Diane). Diane asked Owen if he had current girlfriend, he said no. There you go. Owen and Gwen shipper doesn't exactly doing anything to me. It was plain and simple sex they need to counteract the loneliness and horrors from their jobs.

Loved the scene of poor Gwen trying to explain modern sexual mores to Emma.

I laughed little when Emma said she doesn't sleep around, Gwen seems smaller.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't worry about it cos Jack will get his due in all good time.

I hope so - and I look forward to it! I'd be ecstatic if Jack got scenes with anyone like Owen had with Diane.

"we can be fuckbuddies"

Yup. That's usually his modus operandi when it comes to sex - that, or one night stands. So no wonder he's really bamfoozled (and perhaps even a little resentful) when he falls in love with Diane. I suspect he is actually maturing, and doesn't want to.

It was plain and simple sex they need to counteract the loneliness and horrors from their jobs.

Yes. Gwen pretty much says so. I think her excitement and obsession with him (at least for a while) came as a surprise to both of them.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Owen: He looked better in this episode than ever, but ... meh.

Yes. At least in "Out of Time" he showed a taste for style - getting the dress for Diane, dancing with her. He even managed to dredge up a few manners - albeit reluctantly!

RTD? You've got John Barrowman who likes getting naked. Use him!

My goodness yes! Star power!

I agree that they are keeping Owen in character, while making him interesting - and more sympathetic than he was, which for my money isn't much, but it's something.

I'm trying to figure out what's going on with Gwen that she feels the need to gloss over the things that happen to her with the man she's supposed to be so close to.

I think she thinks she loves Rhys but at the same time has pretty much lost interest in him. She doesn't seem to spend much time with him, or want to. I noticed that in "Random Shoes", she took her weekend to go to Aberystwyth, not even thinking of spending the time with Rhys.

Ianto:
found him a bit over the top in "Cyberwoman"

Well, he was definitely over the top, but I liked that. I liked him most in "Countrycide" I think, but then there was that wonderful stopwatch scene that really won my heart.

I'd really like for him to have a bit more screentime.

So would I. It seems unfair that Owen, who I am still relatively indifferent to, gets so much of the story and Ianto doesn't.

Tosh, too, for that matter.

Very definitely!

[david-macgowan.livejournal.com]

lovely comments

I keep seeing criticism even for THIS episode and i just think "my god, don't you people know beauty and love and genius drama when you see it?" (obviously the answer is no they dont!)

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Great episode (and good to be able to watch it with someone, i.e. Dad). I thought it was superbly acted. I liked Diane, and thought it was good to see Owen go through the learning curve... I think what I've noticed so far in the series is that each of the team goes through some relationship-hell (we've had Ianto/Lisa, and Tosh/Mary). Next week may be Gwen's turn, by the look of it. The scene with John and his son at the old folks' home was very movingly written and played: I did wonder he would stay to look after him. But the scene with him and Jack at the garage was... stunning.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well - I thought the episode was all you say, and more. Beautiful writing, insightful characterisation, a good dollop of social satire that doesn't break the mood - brilliant all the way.

No, I guess some people just don't see it. Or they have different storytelling values.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Great episode

I certainly thought so!

good to be able to watch it with someone, i.e. Dad

It's fun, isn't it, to watch with someone? Usually I watch with various local fans (particularly commodorified and Alayne) but I was too busy with various things this week and so watched it in a stolen hour alone. Hope to see it again, with them.

I thought it was superbly acted.

It was.

I think what I've noticed so far in the series is that each of the team goes through some relationship-hell (we've had Ianto/Lisa, and Tosh/Mary).

And Jack/Estelle, in a different way. (Even if you discount the implicit Jack/Doctor trauma.)

Next week may be Gwen's turn, by the look of it.

Yes, and that's been a long time in being set up.

But the scene with him and Jack at the garage was... stunning.

It certainly was. I so felt for them both - especially Jack.

[elebridith]

Found my old notes - I really did miss some comments *facepalm* but for this episode there is nothing much more to say - beautiful episode, good mix of humor ("Oh, bananas!") and tragedy. Owen was totally convincing, the Emma story was great (naked Rhys, hehe...) and the story about John and his son was just heartbreaking. "Don't condemn me to live" - I blinked some tears away.
I take it that Jack really died with him in that garage? How does his resurrection thing work - the car is still full of lethal gas when he breathes in and comes back. Does he get a kind of "reset" that allows him to get out before he chokes again? I suppose.
And on to "Combat"...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

("Oh, bananas!")

I loved it that they returned to the 'bananas' theme started in 'The Doctor Dances'.

Yes, I cried over John Ellis' story, too.

Yes, Jack did die with John Ellis in the car. It's mentioned extra-textually somewhere.