Torchwood: Sleeper...

[fajrdrako]

Loved it. Edge of seat. Didn't bite my fingernails, which shows massive self-control. Would have liked more personal focus on Jack, but it was fun to see him in professional mode here.

1. The Torchwood version of a Skrull invasion. I like it. I like it that Beth was sympathetic and heroic.



2. Jack was mostly in soldier mode, and maybe a little under-characterized. Which I didn't mind in the least. He looked good. I couldn't take my eyes of his forearms. Oooh.


3. How long has Jack been back? How long since Captain John Hart left? Jack seems to be reestablished as being in charge, with Gwen as a scond in command - or was I reading that into the show?



4. Nice too to see the team being efficient, honest, and working well together. How I wanted that last series! Now I have it, and it makes a world of difference.



5. Ianto! James Moran gave him such delightful dialogue. Keep it up, Ianto baby, I begin to see what Jack sees in you. ("And I thought the end of the world couldn't get any worse.") All that mischievous playfulness, courage and clever comments.
   
   So I find myself wondering where Ianto's head is now. Is he over the anger and fear we saw last week, or hiding it? Is he giddy because Jack is back? Is he showing off, to get Jack's attention? Is he having sex with Jack again, or hoping to? How long till they tell us? Meanwhile... seems to me the field is open for lots of interpretations.



6. Again, Toshiko was sharp with the technology. Right on top of it. I begin to be convinced she's as good as her advance billing.



7. Gwen. Adorable. My Gwen-love continues.



8. No PC Andy. No Rhys. I missed them. And there was a murder: shouldn't Kathy Swanson have been on the scene? (Sulk.)



9. Scariest moment: when Beth killed her husband. I didn't see that coming.



10. No snogging. Pity. No Captain John: pity about that, too.



11. Loved the scene where we got a good look at Jack's cleaned-up desk. I was afraid at first that the TARDIS-embryo was gone, but no, it's still there - I guess Gwen kept it because she didn't know what it was and it reminded her of Jack. And she knew he'd want it there if and when he did come back. I didn't notice the binoculars or the 3-D glasses, are they still there? I did notice the televisions from "The Idiot's Lantern".



12. I continue to quite like Owen this season. It's somewhat scary.



13. They put Beth in morgue-drawer 007 too, just like Suzie and Jack. Seems the people they put there never stay put. Maybe they should check it out, or rename it "the resurrection chamber". And wasn't Beth frozen in the same freezer/cupboard that Gwen and Owen were in in "Cyberwoman"?



14. I assume there will be a sequel to this story - more alien sleeper agents will turn up? We didn't learn the aliens' name, did we?



15. Have Ianto and Jack had their date yet? I want to see it!



16. Gwen's mother is alive. I'd wondered.

Comments

[puritybrown.livejournal.com]

I've always liked Owen in the way that one can like a fictional character whom in real life one would rather avoid. I mean, he's a dick, but he's interesting.

I especially like the way his relationship with Jack has shifted since "End of Days". That episode seems to have purged him of all the resentment and anger and overall twitchiness he'd been carrying around, and now he seems much more comfortable around him. Around all the others, actually. He's mellowed, perhaps because Jack's "death" in "End of Days" made him understand what he had had and how terrible it would be to lose it for real. But! He's still an asshole. :) (Fobbing Gwen off with the graveyard shift... then getting her a coffee... then making her pay for it... heheh.)

Ianto was so giddy. Some people were commenting on torch_wood that he seemed out of character; I didn't think so, I thought he was just happy for once. He's always had a sarcastic streak, and for most of the first series he was cloaking deep misery with a facade of pseudo-cheerful professionalism. Now, Jack's back, and they're dating, and things are going well for him for the first time in ages... it's natural that he'd be a bit bouncier and livelier than before.

He seemed to be going out of his way to needle Owen, which is interesting. Don't know what's going on there. Will have to see if leads anywhere.

I was surprised how much of last week's trailer came from this episode. I wish they'd put less of the episodes into the trailers -- they cram them full of spoilers. The "let's all have sex" line would have been a lot funnier if I hadn't known it was coming.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've always liked Owen in the way that one can like a fictional character whom in real life one would rather avoid.

It took me a while to get to that point. I certainly liked him in the novels in that way, which confirmed to my satisfaction is that my problem is with Burn Gorman, not with Owen.

he's a dick, but he's interesting.

He's always been interesting, I'll grant him that. But I'd really prefer he wasn't the one getting the sex scenes. (That being said, I just wrote a pwp about Owen having sex, so don't take me too seriously on this. I might think I don't want to see Owen having sex, but clearly I haven't convinced myself!)

I especially like the way his relationship with Jack has shifted since "End of Days".

I do too.

He's mellowed, perhaps because Jack's "death" in "End of Days" made him understand what he had had and how terrible it would be to lose it for real. But! He's still an asshole.

And, like Jack after "The Doctor Dances", he gets a second chance and wants to make the most of all of it. "Yes" to all your comments. He's still an asshole, but he's a more likeable asshole now. I still don't want to see him have a relationship with Toshiko, though.

Ianto was so giddy. Some people were commenting on torch_wood that he seemed out of character; I didn't think so, I thought he was just happy for once.

Yes. Happy. Not only that, but I don't think in series 1 we ever really saw much of his character. He was at first keeping himself restrained and secretive because of Lisa. After that, he was so gripped by grief and pain for a long time that he was still severely introverted, though we saw glimpses of the 'real' Ianto on various occasions. I think now he's more 'himself' than he's ever been.

He seemed to be going out of his way to needle Owen, which is interesting. Don't know what's going on there. Will have to see if leads anywhere.

They've always been opponents. I must confess that I thought last night it looked at some points like UST banter. Interesting either way. It's starting to look like a guarded friendship rather than a rivalry.

I was surprised how much of last week's trailer came from this episode.

I was too. I'd say it was terrible spoilers except I'd thought it would be scattered more through the season.

The "let's all have sex" line would have been a lot funnier if I hadn't known it was coming.

I agree - but it was funny anyway.

[fruitbat813.livejournal.com]

As to number 3, Jack was firmly back in charge at the end of episode one - right after Gwen´s attempt at playing Mata Hari with Captain John went so spectacularly pearshaped. I didn´t really catch onto this until the second viewing but when Jack lets her go with John to look for the cannister, he does it in the full knowledge that Gwen is absolutely no match for John and after the fiasco that is sure to follow, he will be able to regain the leadership position without any power struggle (naked wrestling not included) at all. Poor Gwen, had the wool pulled over her eyes by both Captains.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

As to number 3, Jack was firmly back in charge at the end of episode one

So he was. Nice to see, too, though I hope he keeps giving Gwen responsibilty and making her take it. I thought there was a certain amount of mentoring going on with her this time.

Poor Gwen, had the wool pulled over her eyes by both Captains.

So she did. But Jack had to find out what John was doing by playing his game. It also - because of the way Gwen divided the team - gave him a chance for a private conversation with Ianto. Jack is good at using the opportunities that come his way.

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

I too have always liked Owen. I like the ones everyone else picks on. It's my nature :D Also, he's complex.

I wonder if all of Ianto's current cockiness will come back to haunt him? Because going around saying things like "I know everything", on Torchwood, usually mean it will bite you in the ass later.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I too have always liked Owen.

Hee.

I like the ones everyone else picks on.

That might be part of why I love Gwen so much now, but there's more (and less) to it than that that - it's more visceral than rational.

I wonder if all of Ianto's current cockiness will come back to haunt him? Because going around saying things like "I know everything", on Torchwood, usually mean it will bite you in the ass later.

As far as I'm concerned, Jack can bite Ianto on the ass any time he wants.... Er, sorry, you weren't talking about that but I got distracted. Yes. Saying that sort of thing is (a) asking for trouble and (b) interesting foreshadowing of whatever stories are coming up wher Ianto's knowledge, or lapses in his knowledge, are significant.

I don't think he used the stopwatch this episode... did he?

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

No, he didn't!

[omnivorously.livejournal.com]

1) Re: Beth: word.

2) I was a little surprised at his manner, actually, and was trying to remember if he's actually this much of a hardass most of the time. But I guess I'm thinking back to times when he's being nice to ppl he cares about, like when he opens up to Toshiko in 1941.

3) I agree, same old dynamics. Gwen can do the job, but she can't stand up to Jack's charisma. Also, it's probably a lot easier on her.

4) Word.

5) NOT ENOUGH IANTO!!! And part of my frustration is that he was clever and playful, but I didn't see any courage.

6) By this point, Tosh 1,000,000, government and military computers 0 And she was definitely sexy when she was doing that, too. Or maybe I just have a competency kink ; )

7) Um, opposite for me. Don't hate her, though I was irritated when she was basically lying to Beth, telling her it would be all right, when it *wouldn't*. So far as characterization goes, I think that Gwen and Jack were playing good cop, bad cop during the whole show, which was weird. If you follow my meaning.

9) I know!

10) HOOOOOOWWWL!!! esp bc of the lack of Jack/Ianto snogging : (

12) Yeah, he seems to be acting pretty decently. Prickly, rather than nasty. And you gotta forgive him the 'sex?' comment. I mean, in those circumstances, *someone* is going to make that joke, and it's not Tosh's thing. Though I'd like to see Ianto's version ... this being Torchwood, we may very well get that opportunity.

13) Maybe the set designers only made one that actually worked? They seem to have put a fair amount of work into designing the set, though ...

15) Given how chipper and light-hearted Ianto is, I'm assuming that whether or not they made time for a date, Ianto and Jack are screwing regularly. And no one else is commenting on it, so I imagine they've gotten used to it. Actually, that bit at the end? When Ianto had that circle with an antenna? wtf? Ianto seemed to be a little angry at something, and Jack was kinda like, oh great, gotta deal with *you* now, and I don't mean sex. Thoughts?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

2) I was a little surprised at his manner, actually, and was trying to remember if he's actually this much of a hardass most of the time.

No. Jack is not a hardass at all. But he is a soldier and has been so from a young age, and he can be tough if he needs to be, especially is he is frightened. He doesn't like hurting people and charming them, or seducing them, is much more his natural style than intimidation. But he's also very, very good at putting on a facade and he knew charm wouldn't do it this time. Notice the whole "was I convincing?" conversation with Ianto.

Jack is basically a marshmallow, but he isn't weak, and he can play 'scary' quite well when he thinks he has to. I think he cared about Beth at least as much as Gwen did, but he knew what the stakes were and he was sure she was an alien - because he'd seen these aliens, and their methods, before. Or at least knew of them.

And this is the sort of thing he's here to save the Earth from.

part of my frustration is that he was clever and playful, but I didn't see any courage

Hmm - I don't remember why I said "courage". My frustration with Ianto is still that he seems younger than he should - though clever enough - and not very deep. ("Emo" does note equal deep, at least, not so far.) We shall see. I think at the moment Ianto is playing the role of Jack's anchor, emotionally speaking.

NOT ENOUGH IANTO!!!

And not enough Ianto snogging Jack.

she was definitely sexy when she was doing that, too. Or maybe I just have a competency kink ; )

Well, she was, and so do I have a competency kink. And an intelligence kink. And a scientist kink. It's like when Reed Richards discovered the Negative Zone when I was ten years old: I fell in love. Toshiko begins to awaken the same reactions in me.

I was irritated when she was basically lying to Beth, telling her it would be all right, when it *wouldn't*.

I really liked that. It was part of the good cop/bad cop thing. And Gwen does that, anyway. (Cf. her conversation about it with PC Andy in "End of Days".) For me, it adds a bit of dissonance to her character that I like. Gwen's dishonesty is part of the appeal for me - which is weird, because I hate dishonesty - but it keeps her from being 'the nice girl' all the time, adds something to her character in the same sort of way Owen's bitchiness adds to his.

Maybe the set designers only made one that actually worked?

Seems likely. And its a convenient central placement for scene composition. And I suppose that once Jack got up and walked away, 007 was empty and available again...

Given how chipper and light-hearted Ianto is, I'm assuming that whether or not they made time for a date, Ianto and Jack are screwing regularly.

Nice thought. I'll buy that happily. Fine by me.

no one else is commenting on it, so I imagine they've gotten used to it.

I haven't yet figured out whether the others are in the know or oblivious. My guess is 'oblivious' (mostly because i'd like to see a scene where they find out, either collectively or individually), but I don't think the show has given us a clear indication either way.

When Ianto had that circle with an antenna? wtf? Ianto seemed to be a little angry at something, and Jack was kinda like, oh great, gotta deal with *you* now, and I don't mean sex. Thoughts?

You mean, besides, "aww, don't they look cute?" Let me think it over and see if I can come up with a good interpretation. At the moment, I really don't know....

[halfspokenwords.livejournal.com]

Actually, that bit at the end? When Ianto had that circle with an antenna? wtf? Ianto seemed to be a little angry at something, and Jack was kinda like, oh great, gotta deal with *you* now, and I don't mean sex. Thoughts?

I loved that bit, although I didn't know quite what to do with it. I didn't think that Jack was leaving because he didn't want to deal with Ianto; I thought he was fleeing in terror. XD Well, not terror, but sort of a "I know you're going to scold me, but please do it where the others can't see." or a "I know I'm in for it, but I'm going to delay it by hiding in my office."

As to what Ianto was miffed about, who knows. Was he mad that Jack broke the SUV? Was he mad that the antenna was held on with duct tape to begin with? Was he mad that Jack got himself stabbed? All of the above?

For all that's it's random, I find it a very interesting little interaction. We've never seen Jack hide from anybody before-- and you know, if he had wanted to, Jack could have shut Ianto out with a single glance or comment.

And of course I particularly enjoy that when Jack and Ianto come dashing in later, Jack is still the same state of undress.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You make me want to rush home and watch it again. Just to see if I pick up on more - impressions if not facts.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

When Ianto had that circle with an antenna? wtf? Ianto seemed to be a little angry at something,

Actually, it's not just Ianto. Tosh is also unhappy with Jack, but I didn't pick that up until the second watch. And when I did I realised there was some dialogue half-buried:

when the scene starts, Tosh and Jack are in the back of the shot together. Tosh says something along the lines of "I'll do it, but I'm not happy" to Jack, he replies "do what you have to" and she walks away looking unhappy as Ianto moves towards Jack with the antenna thing, also looking pretty unhappy.

What it's about... I'm guessing something to do with freezing Beth again? But there isn't anything else to go on.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Okay, I watched it again.

Hmm.

No great revelations, but I think Tosh is angry with Jack for something he has told her to do. I don't think Ianto is angry, necessarily, but he is upset. My guess is that he has told Toshiko to make sure that Beth dies as soon as she goes into the deep freeze, and Toshiko doesn't like it but sees no alternative. Jack of course doesn't tell Gwen, and we're seeing the action her from her point of view, so she doesn't know. And Beth doesn't know either, but she has come to the same conclusion as Jack - that she has to die - and so pre-empts the issue by taking action.

I don't think Jack was hiding in his office, but it might be that Ianto felt the need to be somewhere else for a bit. Depending on what stage their relationship is at. (I can't tell from episode to episode or moment to moment!) It could also be that Ianto was waiting for Gwen to leave so he could get some time with Jack.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

8. I actually thought a short clip of Beth in a previous trailer was Det. Swanson. Now I am disappointed because I don't think she'll appear at all and I'd been all excited she was back!

12. Right there with you. He's being all not-a-twat lately.

I did like the looks Jack kept giving Gwen whenever she was promising Beth that she would be okay, and no, of course they wouldn't kill her. Jack was definitely very in soldier mode. I also liked that Beth picked up on it and when Gwen was refusing to promise to kill her if necessary, she asked Jack to do it instead.

And wasn't the other main sleeper guy creepy?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I actually thought a short clip of Beth in a previous trailer was Det. Swanson

Oh, no! What a disappointment when you learn she wasn't!

don't think she'll appear at all and I'd been all excited she was back!

I'd love to see her again, I really would. But I'm not holding my breath.

He's being all not-a-twat lately.

It's really quite amazing. I'm not suprised that Owen can learn and grow, but I am surprised that I am becoming so tolerant of Burn Gorman that I can almost think he's cute and sexy and write a story about Owen which I thought I would never, never do. (But: never say never.)

I did like the looks Jack kept giving Gwen whenever she was promising Beth that she would be okay, and no, of course they wouldn't kill her.

I liked that too.

I also liked that Beth picked up on it and when Gwen was refusing to promise to kill her if necessary, she asked Jack to do it instead.

She knew he could and would. Gwen probably couldn't. I am reminded of the end of "Cyberwoman" with Gwen skeptical as to whether Jack could or would kill Ianto, if he had to.

And wasn't the other main sleeper guy creepy?

Yes, very scary. And the woman who just let her baby roll away into traffic - eeee!

I really liked the special effect of the control panel in their arms. It ought to have been a cliché and really hokey, but somehow it wasn't - it was spooky and scary.

I wonder if these aliens are the "most terrible creatures you can imagine" that Jack fought when young?

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

You wrote Owen fic? Yay, this makes me happy.

I wonder if these aliens are the "most terrible creatures you can imagine" that Jack fought when young?

Hmm. Interesting thought. My kneejerk reaction is "no", I'll try and work out why. My feeling is that Jack didn't react quite strongly enough to them or the threat of them for that. Also, the sleepers didn't seem the type of villain who would be torturing anyone like Jack said they tortured his friend. They're more insidious than that, they infiltrate to get information, and it sounded like when they do activate they got straight to destruction mode. And I can't quite remember what Jack said about them, but I got the distinct impression he knew about them secondhand - something about no-one really knowing much because by the time people notice they're invading the planet is already lost, and if he'd fought them before, surely he would have known more about the tricks Beth had available?

It'll be interesting to see if they pick up on the rest of the invaders already being place later this season or not.

On a pure showrunning level, I think it would be a mistake for them to ever explain that statement of "the most terrible creatures" because they will never come up with anything terrible enough.

[tigress35.livejournal.com]

I sort of feel like Ianto is getting more confident now that more time has passed since the Lisa fiasco... and that others have made more serious mistakes, like Owen opening the rift. So he's not the only one anymore that's put Torchwood/the world at risk. And I also think that now that everybody knows he's doing Jack, I think he feels a bit more secure in his position. And I suppose that he had to take on a bigger role when they were down a man when Jack was gone. He possibly got to know the others a bit more and opened up. This is what I fanwank for myself.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Ianto is getting more confident now that more time has passed since the Lisa fiasco...

If nothing else, I think he's got over the grief. With some help from Jack.

now that everybody knows he's doing Jack, I think he feels a bit more secure in his position

I agree about the second part of that sentence - that he feels more secure. I'm not sure he's back with Jack yet, he may be playing hard to get for a bit. I'm also not sure the others know he's doing Jack: they may think the kiss in "End of Days" was a one-off. It depends what Ianto has told them, and it looks ambiguous to me.

The conversation between Ianto and Gwen about Grey on the website might imply that Gwen knows he was/is having sex with Jack.... but it isn't clear, either.

I suppose that he had to take on a bigger role when they were down a man when Jack was gone.

Yes, good point. I was so glad to see him in the SUV with the others at the beginning of "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang".

This is what I fanwank for myself.

Works for me!

[halfspokenwords.livejournal.com]

Curious-- what do you make of the "manners in bed" exchange? I've seen a lot of people assume that Ianto has told Gwen about his and Jack's sex life-- and since Ianto didn't look surprised (not nearly as surprised as Jack did), I think that's a reasonable guess.

Of course, it also sounds like something John might say.

[magika83.livejournal.com]

I think this is the best episode of the show so far. I absolutely loved it!

2. Jack scared me a little during Beth's interview. But he was also incredibly sexy.

4. I agree. The team is working so well together now, I really hope it lasts.

5. Ianto was hilarious! I've never been much of an Ianto fan (sorry!), but this episode might just turn me around. I think he might be using humour and sarcasm as a bit of a defense mechanism, because he's still uncertain of where he stands with Jack and he's trying hard not to show it. I don't mind if nothing happens between him and Jack as long as we get sarcastic Ianto!

6. I adore Tosh, and I love the fact that she's competent and smart. And it looks like we might be seeing more of her next week. Looking forward to that (I still want more scenes of Tosh and Jack!).

7. As you know, I'm not too keen on Gwen, but she was great in this episode. Loved the scene with her and Jack at the end.

8. I was wondering about that; on the surface there was nothing to suggest there was any alien involvement, so why wasn't Homicide (or whatever it's called in Britian) there? Or did I miss something?

12. Me too. He seems less angry and more compassionate now, and I like him so much better for it. Which is, as you say, scary.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think this is the best episode of the show so far. I absolutely loved it!

Good! My favourite is "Captain Jack Harkness" (because it's romantic) following by "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang" because it's snappy. But I thought this one was exceptionally well written.

2. Jack scared me a little during Beth's interview. But he was also incredibly sexy.

Yes, and yes.

I've never been much of an Ianto fan (sorry!)

Oh, no need to apologize to me! I'm not really an Ianto girl. Not that I don't love the whole team, each of them, but Ianto is usually so restrained I never had a strong sense of his character, and he always seems very young and unformed... Well, much less here. Yes, he was funny. I think I understood him even less than usual, but enjoyed him more than ever.

I think he might be using humour and sarcasm as a bit of a defense mechanism

Yes, I think so. And maybe to boost morale.

because he's still uncertain of where he stands with Jack and he's trying hard not to show it

I loved it when Ianto and Jack showed a sense of partnerwhip - consulting each other.

I adore Tosh, and I love the fact that she's competent and smart.

Yes.

(I still want more scenes of Tosh and Jack!).

Definitely! Especially since I've been writing Jack/Tosh stuff lately.

I was wondering about that; on the surface there was nothing to suggest there was any alien involvement, so why wasn't Homicide (or whatever it's called in Britian) there?

I think the police called Jack in because the murder was so strange - the men being stabbed and thrown out of the window. Once Jack was there, he took the case away from the regular cops because he realized it was an alien invasion methodology.

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Alien sleeper cell plots aren't my favorite, but this one was handled about as well as it can be. Beth killing her husband was a shock. I thought he male agent was over the top, but not not a disaster. Other than that I loved all the good points previously mentioned. I'm really looking forward to next week, though.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Alien sleeper cell plots aren't my favorite, but this one was handled about as well as it can be

I tend to like it because it makes me think of Skrulls.

the male agent was over the top,

He was, but that somehow made him no less scary.

Next week it looks as if we'll get plenty of Toshiko. Good!

[elebridith]

Oh yes, very good one!
Beth - very brave. I mean, how can someone handle the fact that there's a murderous alien inside of you? But I guess after she stabbed accidentally her husband, she was all the more determined to help somehow. Poor woman!
Jack was rather cruel in this, I thought - ok, he was 100% sure that there was something inside Beth, but that mind-probe thing was just scary. So he *knew* there was a threat and is willing to sacrifice someone to eliminate it - i understood that Beth was in danger of "exploding", right? I wonder what Jack would have done if it had been a team member? The way he was drawn in this episode, probably the same.
Liked Owen/Gwen coffee exchange. Oh, and the "end of the world" comment from Ianto. *lol*
So Beth felt the alien take over and kinda committed suicide... as I said, brave. Poor woman. And Torchwood has to live with another killing. That's quite a burden to carry, even if you know it was necessary...
Yup, and I missed Captain John too.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I loved the writing in this one. It was by James Moran, who also did the very good "Captain's Blog" on the BBCA website.

My interpretation of Jack in this one: He had to go into 'soldier' mode, because his greatest concern is survival and freedom of the earth - anything to stop enemy invasion. So he had to be tough. But he doesn't feel tough, which is why he asked Ianto if he was scary enough. It was part bluff, in a way, but a sincere bluff - Jack does whatever he has to do, and hopes that threats work before the torture gets serious.

I see it as very similar to "Cyberwoman", where Jack sees what a threat the Cyberwoman is, but Ianto still sees the woman within the metal. In "Sleeper", Beth really was an innocent victim of the aliens - but she was already doomed, long since, and too dangerous to live. Which she figured out.

I hope we see the Sleepers again.