Torchwood: more thoughts about "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang"

[fajrdrako]

More thoughts on 'Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang' and intersections of reality...

(1) The debt Torchwood owes to Buffy the Vampire Slayer has never been much of a secret, given the parallels. With the coming of Captain Spike, this is all the more pronounced.

But what I noticed even more, because I'm a Firefly fan, is the flashes of Firefly tribute in this episode:

1. The cowboyish approach as Jack and John meet in the bar; the fight; the costuming. Jack has Mal's coat and suspenders; John has his boots and holsters.


2. John says Gwen can call him 'Vera'. And she does.¹


3. John uses Saffron's poisoned-lip-gloss trick.²

(2) So Jack was "Hero of the Year, 5094". Wouldn't you love to know the story behind that? And can't you just see Jack as the Hero of the Year, with his picture on the covers of Time and Life (51st century editions), and half of it a scam anyway?

(3) I love it when Gwen tries to throttle people.

(4) I love it that the bar that Jack and John meet in is called "Bar Reunion".

(5) When Captain Spike John tries to lure Jack to join him "among the stars" and the "worlds sparkling with wonder" - it's reminiscent of the Doctor asking Jack to join him on the TARDIS, but of course the personalities give the question (and Jack's answer) a whole painful contrasting twist. The conversation must have made Jack think of the Doctor, and regret what John has made of himself all the more.

(6) I love it when characters in Doctor Who related stories say, "No, no, no. No, no, no, no, no."

(7) I love it that throughout the whole of "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang", Jack is wearing a blue shirt and Ianto is wearing a pink one.

~

~ ~ ~

¹ If you aren't familiar with Firefly: the thug-for-hire Jayne had a big gun he was particularly fond of, and named it 'Vera'.

² Firefly episode 6, "Our Mrs. Reynolds".

Comments

[creativeelf.livejournal.com]

I loved when JM said " Help me Obiwan Kenobi" LMFAO. This show is brilliant.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

re 7? When would either of them have time to change?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

They wouldn't have had time to change, even if they'd wanted to. But they could have been wearing any colours at all - I love it that those are their characteristic colours.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I love it. Yes. They have all the right influences - and know just how to use them.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

*nodnod* but yeah, the colours are fun. My reaction to Ianto's shirt was, context? WHAT context? ;)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

LOL. It's so... Ianto. Like having pink icing on a cake. And he's just so dignified, with the suit and tie, but the inner Ianto peeks out - the playfulness, too.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I sporfled at "Thirsty, now..."

[beccaelizabeth]

Rear of the year
(subtitles)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes! (Hee.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yup. Great line. So much characterisation in two words.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Aye, that's very true.

I think that what did strike me about the episode was how much better they work as a team. Season 1 they were more defined by each of them's relationship with Jack and their work, than as a team unit. Now, that's changed.

AND at the same time Jack just slips into the place they've left for him, effortlessly. ... yes. Torchwood did get better.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

ah, now - I took it as a Buffy reference, because Spike and Bad!Willow often said "Bored, now..." with the same inflection

[omnivorously.livejournal.com]

I love everything you have to say about this show, I really really do. : D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think that what did strike me about the episode was how much better they work as a team.

Yes. It was nice to see.

at the same time Jack just slips into the place they've left for him, effortlessly

Jack is very good at fitting in where he fits. It's very much a con man trick - seeing the place for him, and taking it. What I most love is that it isn't the same role he left at the end of "End of Days". It's as if he and Gwen are co-leading the team now, and everyone is much more equal. I wonder how this will play out: especially since Jack is still the only one who is immortal, the only one who knows how to use some of their futuristic and alien equipment, the only one who is familiar with alien species, and the only one who know what will happen in the 21st century when everything changes.

Torchwood did get better.

It did.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Cute! I didn't know. (I'm going to watch Buffy soon, now, really I am...)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Big happy smile!

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

... would do the itallics stuff but I'm technically really dropping a note before going to bed.

I actually loved the fact that nobody (except for Jack) seemed to question Gwen taking charge. Oh, nobody seem to recognise her as leader or anything, but not a single voice - not even Owen - was raised against her setting their course. ... LOVELY.

And I meant when Jack returns. The four of the team were absolutely in sync (yummm!!!) but also the way Gwen phrased her 'challenge' / 'thing' at Cpt. John? It was PRECISELY where Jack was meant to come in. It was precisely what was true about the team - and precisely fitting Jack.

OY I do hope they keep this quality work right up.

... *giggles some more at Jack teasing John about laugh lines*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree with all of that. They seem to have finally found their balance of interaction. Instead of being an irritant, Owen is effective and action-based. Ianto puts his knowledge and skills to good use. And Gwen... is just terrific and the glue holding it all together. And pulling Jack right back in as part of the team, but at the same time holding him accountable for what he did to them at the end of series 1.

Sleep well!