Torchwood: More thoughts on "Reset" and other themes...

[fajrdrako]

Yesterday I had friends over to watch Torchwood - we watched all of series 2 except "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang", which everyone had already seen.

It was interesting, seeing them all in a row. It clarified a few thoughts for me.

1. When we first watched "Reset" last week, after it ended, auriaephiala said to me something like, "Are you sorry you wanted Owen out of the show now?" At the time, I don't think I answered her, because I had to think about it.
   
   My conclusion: No, I'm not sorry. I don't believe he is dead; I wish he were; I'd be very, very happy if Owen were to die like this, heroically, and then be out of the show. The only part of the show I am not currently enchanted with is the part that revolves around him.
   
   In some ways I can like the kinder, gentler Owen of series 2 better than Owen the snarky brat of series 1. But I greatly preferred the Owen of series 1, who had a strong story arc, a lot of entertainment value, and was leaving Tosh alone. (Or she was leaving him alone. Same difference.) I liked Owen best when he was having sex with Gwen. In series 2, I like him best when he is interacting with Martha, but that's because she makes everybody look good when she's with them.
   
   So: I am braced for disappointment when he comes back from the dead in the next episode, or possibly the one after that. And I am convinced that he will.



2. I noticed more than before that there are frequent hints that Jack is psychic in ways the others aren't. His sensitivity to "a disturbance in the psychic field" in "To the Last Man" is a good example. Then there's the scene in Adam in which - with everyone on the team hypnotically primed, and himself emotionally attuned, Jack seems to be able to hear their thoughts.
   
   This makes perfect sense, since the TARDIS was the vehicle (or the source) for his altered body energy, and the TARDIS has strong psychic energies.



3. I said it before but it warrants saying again: Martha is utterly wonderful.



4. Though I quite loved "Adam" on first viewing, I loved it even more on second viewing. A fascinating episode. I have some mixed feelings about the flashbacks to Jack's childhood - loved the planet, but the kid playing Jack was not Jacklike enough. The problem was less in his looks than his manner. Jack as a boy would have been - must have been - a lively, rambunctious, mischievous handful - not the serious boy we see here. On the other hand, we are not seeing the actual child-Jack, we are seeing his barefly-recovered memories of himself. But that's just an excuse: it would have been a stronger, better story if young Jack had been a lively rapscallion suddenly sobered by tragic events. Did they think that would have changed the mood of the episode too much?



5. I liked the 'howls' of the enemy. Was it the sound of their ships, or their own nature?



6. Ianto's wordplay, his sense of humour, his love of Jack, and his expressive eyebrows make me enjoy and love him more all the time. That being said, the Jack/Ianto pairing still doesn't have the oomph I would like to see. Perhaps if we saw more of it? More kissing? More dabbling? More mushy moments?
   
   So far, I think the best moment of the Jack/Ianto romance is in Adam, when Ianto says he found meaning in life again through Jack, and Jack kisses his forehead.



7. I'd love to play more with the Jack/Tosh pairing, and to see more of it. I would love, absolutely love, to see Jack kiss Tosh. Why are loads of people not writing Jack?Tosh fic? Or are they doing so and I just haven't seen it?
   
   I also adore the emotional moment in "Adam":

   TOSHIKO: Knowing there has to be more to life than this. Knowing I'm special. Waiting for someone to see it.
   JACK: I saw it.

   
   

Comments

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I don't believe Owen is dead either, although I have read no spoilers whatsoever. I'm assuming in one or two episodes he'll be back. What clinched it for me was the way they didn't try to save him at all- no CPR no magical alien device, no attempt to prevent his demise.

re: young!jack- maybe he's more carefree now because of the pain and seriousness of his childhood?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

What clinched it for me was the way they didn't try to save him at all- no CPR no magical alien device, no attempt to prevent his demise.

Hmm, good point. That could be just that they wanted a dramatic ending to the episode - death as the ultimate climax. Which worked. But the outcome is - Owen will be back, I'm sure. I wonder if he'll be changed again.

maybe he's more carefree now because of the pain and seriousness of his childhood?

It could be. Or it could be that knowledge of what happened that day distorted Jack's memories. Or even that the boy had some sort of premonition. I like all those possibilities!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

the memories being altered by the events that followed is highly possible as well.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

And goodness knows, there has been a lot of messing about with Captain Jack's memory. And in subjective terms... when he remembers his childhood, he's thinking back 160 years or more. In place far away in space and time.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

to when he was literally a different person.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Where we don't even know his name!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

which, I thought they did a good job at not telling us!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Sneaky devils.

[halfspokenwords.livejournal.com]

There's also:

Owen: Who will save me?
Jack: I will.

Which could, of course, just be painfully ironic, but...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

excellent point- I didn't even consider that!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think it's prophetic.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

that maybe Jack will figure out a way to bring Owen back or something? that makes sense

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think he will.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I was surprised by there being no glowly kiss of life- but, if you're right, then it makes sense

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Maybe a glowy kiss of life will come later?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

maybe, although I thought it had a limited shelf life- i.e.- when someone is dying it can provide enough life force to keep them going, or get their heart started again if it *just* stopped- not take a corpse and reaminate it

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

We don't really know yet how it work - or when it works - but it certainly seems to work as you describe.

Maybe they have something new up their sleeves?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I assume they do. If Owen is really dead I'll be disappointed. Which sounds weird, when characters have been killed off of other shows I've been upset or devastated or mad, but in this case I'll just think it was lame and I'll be annoyed with the writers for being so lazy

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

If Owen is really dead I'll be disappointed.

If Owen is really permanently dead, I'll be surprised. But not disappointed. I'd rather not have him there, especially if they's going to continue the theme of his relationships with Tosh. Which of course they will: they're committed to it now, though not necessarily to getting them together, so I'll just hope they don't.

Anyway, I am resigned to the idea that Owen will return, despite my brief period of hope that he wouldn't.

And I really, really like the idea of Jack doing something good to save him. That gives me hope of something worthwhile coming out of it - even if I have to continue to put up with Owen.

Despite hopes, I think I like him less in series 2 than in series 1.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I liked Owen a lot more in S2 than S1 (his "Did he fix you?" line to Jack in KKBB did it for me) but I wouldn't be torn up by his death. Mostly because it was just SO lame.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

his "Did he fix you?" line to Jack in KKBB did it for me

Yes, that was a wonderful, wonderful moment. Owen at his very best. He's had great moments since - he was wonderful with Martha, and had some great lines in "Meat".

I wouldn't mind his death being lame - I don't think it was lame - I just don't think it was a permanent death. Which isn't quite the same.

I liked it that he was defending Martha.

And I think one of the best things about Owen is the way Jack loves him. I guess I'd like him alive, for Jack's sake.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I guess I'd like him alive, for Jack's sake.

oh, absolutely. Poor Jack, he's always losing those he cares for.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Way too often, and way too painfully. Yes. And he's protective of his Team, though he knows he has to lead them into danger.

Whch makes it all the better if it's Jack who can save Owen. However he does it.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

please, please, please be right and have that be how it happens

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

My goodness. Yes. Perfect ...

Funny: I was all depressed about Owen coming back but your saying his has suddenly and totally cheered me up. There are so many levels of heroism and ironic justice and spiritual forgiveness and redemption -

And really, Jack's job is to be a saviour. So.

We shall see, but I think this is very meaningful.