Torchwood: "Fragments" (2x12)

[fajrdrako]

With a deep breath and the utmost dignity, I can only say:

Squee.

If I make a wish list of the things I've been wanting to see on Torchwood, this episode covers a heck of a lot of it. For instance:

• How did Jack get involved with Torchwood in the first place? Check.
  
• How did Jack come to hire Ianto? Check.
  
• Can we see more of Myfanwy? Check. (Ties in nicely with the previous point.)
  
• Is Tosh's mother alive, and why did she see a vision of her with a cut on her forehead in "End of Days"? Check.
  
• Can we have more Jack/Ianto sex scenes? No, but we can have flirting and UST and further definition of how they get along together and what they think about each other. Anyway, we got a sex scene only a few days ago. It'll just have to do.
  
• How good is Toshiko, with electronic engineering? Answer: very.
  
• Can we have more action!Tosh? Check.
  
• What's Owen's back story, and how did he come to Torchwood? Covered. And in a surprising way, too.
  
• Will we see Captain John again? Yes. When? Next week. Woo. Bring him on.
  
• More character suffering? In spades.
  
• How did Jack come to be autonomously in charge of Torchwood 3? Check. With the bonus info that he cut ties with Torchwood 1. No Yvonne minion, not our Jack.
  
• Where, when and how did he come to know the Tarot Card Girl? Okay, this wasn't exactly uppermost in my mind, but I did wonder, and I liked the way this tied things together.
  

Looking at a few details:

1. "1,392 deaths earlier" - what a great way to put the passage of time. Does this mean, as it implies, that Jack counts his own deaths? Perhaps he can't help it.
   
   
2. "Torso of steel, a shilling a feel." Selling yourself on the street now, Jack, hmm?
   
   
3. Background on the blowfish guys - but not specifically Captain John's friend. Cool.
   
   
4. "The one you are looking for" - of course we know I love, absolutely love, all the references to the Doctor here. "I'm going to kiss him and then kill him." How many time have I heard that in fanfic? and in my own imagination?
   
   
5. So Suzie was not the only multiple-murderer in Torchwood, and not the first to be destroyed by the stress of knowledge and their work. What I think I love most is that there was a case report by Alex on the website a while back. So now we get to see him. I thought his scene was particularly chilling - all the more so because it seemed Jack liked him.
   
   
6. I've thought there wasn't enough of Jack in some recent episodes. This rectified that.
   
   
7. This shows us Jack's history with Torchwood, but we know he did other things in the 20th century that we don't see here. He was in the army for a time, for example - in Lahore in 1909, and in World War I, and in World War II - legitimately.
   
   
8. "I don't exist, and for a man with my charisma, that's quite an achievement." Another of those great Jack quotes.
   
   
9. Ianto's origin story. I love it with a passion. "Jones, Ianto Jones." Ianto wants into Torchwood 3, and by gum, Ianto gets himself into Torchwood 3. And Jack - the more he says "no", the more stubborn his people get. Good thing Jack likes independence of mind and determination in his people.
   
   
10. Seems Ianto was not quite the good boy I would have expected, with a shoplifting violation. I like the idea that Ianto was once - perhaps - somewhat wild. I'm assuming, for no reason whatsoever except its coolness, that that fact shows us only the tip of an iceberg. I like the way pre-Torchwood Ianto was smart and resourceful and ingenious and brace, but not quite as stylish and competent as we know him: he's been honing his style, remaking himself as a cross between Alfred and a superspy.
    
    And already, we see the seeds of things to come: an attraction between Jack and Ianto - and Ianto taking advantage, subtly, from the beginning. The lines about the coat. Meeting Jack at his door with coffee - good coffee.
    
    Saving Jack when Myfanwy dropped him. Oh, what a wonderful scene. Action and sexual tension and character development and foreshadowing and a dollop of angst all in one moment. And the punchline - Ianto gets the job, and secretly mourns, because he knows he is betraying Torchwood and this man he has already come to like.
    
    
11. Toshiko, involved in espionage against the UK, and caught by - was it? - Unit. Making that gadget all on her own: way to go, girl. All for her mother. All that suffering. And being rescued by Jack, whose intuition is in her favour. I love Tosh all the more.
    
    
12. Rhys helping with the rescue! Way to go, Rhys!
    
    
13. The story of Owen. I was totally surprised and delighted. So Owen was once a regular doctor, in a hospital, with good suits, doing the things that doctors do. A respectable man with a lovely fiancée. And then it fell apart, and he couldn't bear it. Why didn't Jack retcon him? Because, presumably, Jack knew he wanted Owen for Torchwood. The saddest line of all, from Owen: "You can never save enough."
    
    
14. Very scary, when it looked as if the window was going to fall and sever Owen's body. Talk about fates worse than death - !
    
    
15. And Captain John: "All that life, all that time, you can't spare any for me." Ouch. It doesn't look promising, but I do really hope for some sort of redemption for Captain John, rather than his death or defeat. Let Jack (or Owen) cure his insanity.
    
    
16. A great image: the door opens in Toshiko's horrible prison cell for her 'inspection'. And Jack is standing there, silhouetted by the light.
    
    
17. A horrible thought: in this story human rights are trampled by a government authority as if they don't even exist, and it seems plausible. Back when I watched The Professionals, the idea of England having secret police with unlimited powers was exciting and amusing and fantastical. Now... on a global scale... My assessments have changed.
    
    
18. Great use of Jack's coat in this one.
    
    
19. "I used to date a guy with no mouth." Erm. An... unusual image, but it highlights just how alien some of Jack's experience is. Except for that, and brief mention of the Doctor, there's not much here about Jack's love life: it's the story of his connections to Torchwood. Which wasn't such a nice organization in the 19th century. I don't remember if the woman in charge at the time - and I loved it that she was a woman - I don't recall if she had a name. She was the 19th century equivalent of Yvonne, without the brash veneer.
    
    
20. No mention of Jack being with the circus, or why.
    

Only one episode left in series 2. I am quailing to face my coming withdrawal symptoms. At least there will be Doctor Who to console me.

Comments

[gillo]

"I'm going to kiss him and then kill him."

You will not be wholly astonished to learn that this reminds me of Spike.

I read last year that they wanted JM back for some episodes next season too - no idea if that panned out, but I can hope.

I thought this "clip show" episode hung together remarkably well. A bit

Out of Gas

, mind you...

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

You will not be wholly astonished to learn that this reminds me of Spike

Ha, me too.

I thought this "clip show" episode hung together remarkably well. A bit Out of Gas, mind you...

I'm going to commit what may just be heresy here and say that I think it is better than Out of Gas - more illuminating of the characters. I don't recall learning anything particularly unexpected in Out of Gas about anyone, but here I think we not only got backstory that was unpredictable, it still fitted with the rest of what we know and went further to produce some interesting resonances with past episodes.

[vervassal.livejournal.com]

It does parallel Spike from "Once More With Feeling"- he says almost exactly the same thing.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You will not be wholly astonished to learn that this reminds me of Spike.

...?

I read last year that they wanted JM back for some episodes next season too - no idea if that panned out, but I can hope.

I will have to make sacrifices to the gods of television. Yes, oh yes! More Captain John! In a perfect world, they'd redeem him and give him his own show.

Which would be just fine with me.

I thought this "clip show" episode hung together remarkably well. A bit
Out of Gas, mind you...

No complaints there. I loved "Out of Gas" too. I like that story format.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Cute parallel: Owen starts out dressing really well, loses girlfriend and joins Torchwood 3, dresses like a bum forever after. Ianto starts out dressing - well, not like a bum, but certainly CASUAL, loses girlfriend and joins Torchwood 3, dresses really well forever after.

Owen looks FANTASTIC in a suit. Ianto looks cute in... whatever you'd call that outfit. Hitting weevils with a stick. HAH.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, I loved the use of clothes in the whole thing, especially with Owen in suits and Ianto casual. It was fun to see Jack dressed as a Victorian but for some reason I found if incredibly funny to see the Blowfish teen dressed in Victorian clothes.

Owen looks FANTASTIC in a suit.

Yes - and I kept looking at his hair. What a neat and tidy boy he was!

Hitting weevils with a stick.

Resourceful! I had to think of the hockey stick.

What I loved most was the way a lot of the information surprised me. Not out of character surprised, just things I wouldn't have anticipated or predicted. I love it when they do that. Especially since it was all more interesting than I expected, and the background of the characters more traumatic.

[katkim.livejournal.com]

I love Tosh all the more.
Tosh's back-story was so much darker then I thought it would be, and I loved it. Not only does it make me see her in a slightly different way, but as a story in itself it's definitely a story I want to see more of and know more about. Poor Tosh, she has no happiness, it's all bleakness! I also wonder if she will stay with Torchwood. Her five years are nearly up...

A horrible thought: in this story human rights are trampled by a government authority as if they don't even exist, and it seems plausible.
It also makes me wonder about Martha joining UNIT and The Doctor having a hand in her appointment. Do they know about this hidden side? I'm surprised Tosh didn't flinch everytime Martha came near.

And the punchline - Ianto gets the job, and secretly mourns, because he knows he is betraying Torchwood and this man he has already come to like.
I liked Ianto's backstory overall, and it seems to confirm that the reason why Jack sometimes seems to hold back when it comes to Ianto is the fact that Ianto used him to an extent and ultimately betrayed him. Not the most solid of foundations to base a healthy relationship.

I also liked the irony that Ianto's means of getting into Torchwood 3 was the means that killed Lisa.

[eandh99.livejournal.com]

Tosh has almost no interaction with Martha, isn't even there to say goodbye, which now makes a lot more sense. I'm surprised that Jack, after his year in chains on the Valiant, is so positive about UNIT. The Doctor has clearly labelled UNIT as the good guys and Torchwood as the bad guys, and the whole "Master" storyline hasn't affected that. He probably still thinks that UNIT is the same bunch of nice fellows it was in the 70's.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Tosh's back-story was so much darker then I thought it would be, and I loved it.

it explains things about her - and I love seeing her be so brave and resourceful, however dire the circumstances.

Poor Tosh, she has no happiness, it's all bleakness!

I want to see her happy!

I also wonder if she will stay with Torchwood. Her five years are nearly up...

I'd stay, if I was her.

I'm surprised Tosh didn't flinch everytime Martha came near.

Maybe she did, and hid it. Tosh wasn't much in evidence when Martha was around.

Not the most solid of foundations to base a healthy relationship.

No, but I loved the way we saw mixed feelings from the beginning - that Ianto was ready to try anything to get Jack to take him on, and Jack was impressed by his ingenuity and attracted to him, but didn't want to be manipulated. And then went for it, with the results we have seen.

[takhys]

Oh, yes, it was lovely. I have to admit that I'm rather thrilled that Tosh sorted out how a sonic 'whatever-totally-not-a-screwdriver-yet' worked.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, Tosh and the sonic thing was brilliant! And it makes sense then that she could and did create a sort of tricorder, and the other alien-sensing-devices she used. I wonder how many hints Jack has given her from 51st century tech.

At the moment I think Tosh is absolutely magnificent. I loved so many things about her here - not just that she was brave and resourceful, but that she had such clear priorities - it absolutely wrung my heart that she immediately asked Jack if her mother was all right.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

My squee. (http://janne-d.livejournal.com/51341.html#cutid1)

Amazing, wasn't it? Not like what I've seen predicted in fanon at all for most of them, but it fitted so perfectly for each character.

Ianto's origin story. I love it with a passion.

So very interesting. He goes right after Jack from the start - it really struck me how he changed his image to the suit on his last attempt - and then gets completely taken off guard by actually connecting with Jack. And how intriguing was it that Jack wasn't interested in this flirty cute guy at all at first?

Making that gadget all on her own: way to go, girl. All for her mother. All that suffering

It was so sad! I'm still wondering whether her mother is still alive though - everyone else in End of Days saw a dead loved one. Though the other connection is they all someone they had reason to feel guilt over. Interesting that Tosh has been doing a kind of indentured service at TW for 5 years as well. And rivier brought up the link to her line in Countrycide about there being no cell she couldn't get out of - implying she got Jack to teach her?

Oh, and Owen. That was the hardest one to watch I think, because it was so obviously going to be a complete tragedy. Poor man.

Only one episode left in series 2

And two weeks before we get it, argh!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Not like what I've seen predicted in fanon at all for most of them

I love the way they used what we knew and made it so original. I think I should do a post just listing all the wonderful things that took me by surprise. Some big things, like Owen's fiancée, when I had thought the first person he truly loved was Diane. And little things, like Ianto having a shoplifting conviction. And Tosh having that traumatic adventure behind her - and Jack's combination of leverage and rescue in getting her for Torchwood.

Brilliant.

A question it didn't answer is: does Jack know Toshiko met the Doctor?

I'm still wondering whether her mother is still alive though - everyone else in End of Days saw a dead loved one.

Except Jack. Yes, I thought her mother was probably dead too, and was surprised at the implication that she wasn't.

And rivier brought up the link to her line in Countrycide about there being no cell she couldn't get out of - implying she got Jack to teach her?

It's an interesting point. It would make sense that after that awful cell, she'd have made a point of learning how to get out of such places.

it was so obviously going to be a complete tragedy

And we can see how it completely changed him. I almost said it "destroyed" him, but it didn't, thanks to Jack, but it did transform him. And we see the sources of all that anger, the fear of love and commitment, the cynicism.

two weeks before we get it, argh!

...Tapping fingers impatiently....

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

Jack knew he wanted Owen for Torchwood.

Not just for Torchwood. Did you see those hands all over Owen's shoulders and back? "Your life doesn't end with her." Hello!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Not just for Torchwood. Did you see those hands all over Owen's shoulders and back?

Yes. Woo. That was ... most interesting.

"Your life doesn't end with her." Hello!

Aaah, Jack. I've always thought there was great potential for development of the Jack/Owen relationships and I always wondered why they didn't play it up more. I loved their interactions here.... Jack both comforting and nurturing, but also part of the problem and the cover-up. Jack may care, and he does care, and he's really, really good at caring - but he's ruthless in going after what he wants, too, and I don't mean sex. I mean... goals.

And I always thought (in my fevered fannish imagination) that it was a matter of Owen being attracted to Jack but Jack showing and.or feeling no interest in return. I'm not so sure any more.

Maybe it's just a matter of Owen standing in line for storyline-time - there are so many people attracted to Jack, and vice versa, and the immediate focus in on Ianto (the lucky winner!) and Gwen (the also-ran).

[magika83.livejournal.com]

This was brilliant. More background on each of the characters has always been high on my wishlist, and I wasn't disappointed. Toshiko's story was very powerful, and it does make you think what secret organisations might be doing today. I keep wondering how Martha could join an organisation like UNIT if she knew what they could do to people. I hadn't thought about how Tosh must have felt about Martha until you mentioned it, but she did seem to interact less with Martha than the others did. Maybe she deliberately kept her distance? I realise now that the bond between Toshiko and Jack is even stronger than I thought. I like that.

Ianto's story was great. Good thing none of the team members take Jack's no for an answer! The pterodactyl-catching scene was hilarious, and both Jack and Ianto's facial expressions were priceless. And Ianto's introduction: "Jones. Ianto Jones." Hee!

Owen's story was so sad - he really hasn't had a lot of luck in life either. I like him all the more now that I know a little bit more about his reasons for being who he is.

And of course Jack's story... So good to finally have some concrete facts about him (well, as concrete as they're going to get, anyway). I really should sit down and draw up a timeline for Jack sometime.

*joining you in squeeing* (is it even a verb?)

[raissad.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming you're not a Classic Who fan. Check the link below for background on UNIT:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Intelligence_Taskforce

The Doctor had a prickly respect for the organization and genuinely caring relationships with the personnel there. UNIT became his home away from home. When he recommended Martha for UNIT, it was because he associated it with a certain hominess and a past he fondly remembers. Plus, Jack or no Jack, Canary Wharf destroyed the Doctor's ability to completely accept Torchwood.

It will be interesting to see if they cover UNIT's current abuses. It will be sad if they go down too dark a road with that, as it will cost the Doctor one of the few pieces of continuity that he has left.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

I think Martha is doing the same with U.N.I.T. as Jack did with Torchwood. Join and use it to make the best of it for what are basically your own intentions.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

This was brilliant.

It certainly was!

keep wondering how Martha could join an organisation like UNIT if she knew what they could do to people.

First of all, I don't think she knew. She may be learning now, and realize that she has a job ahead of her - that of changing UNIT over into what the Doctor would want it to be, just as Jack has done with Torchwood.

And the Doctor put Martha there, and he knows she could do it. I think he knows UNIT has been corrupted - he was incapacitated on the Valiant, but not stupid.

Good thing none of the team members take Jack's no for an answer!

Poor Jack! I wonder why he ever bother trying to say 'no' when they won't listen to him? I had thought in series 1 that he was too laissez-faire (and I still think so), but I think also that he likes being surrounded by strong-minded independent people and this is the price he pays for having what he wants.

The pterodactyl-catching scene was hilarious, and both Jack and Ianto's facial expressions were priceless.

It all just made me like Ianto all the more.

I really should sit down and draw up a timeline for Jack sometime.

I'd love to see it!

*joining you in squeeing* (is it even a verb?)

It's whatever you want to make it!

[raissad.livejournal.com]

Ditto all that good stuff! Who decided on Myfanwy as a name? Is it official or a fan thing? I can't remember. Does this mean that Tarot Girl is immortal, too? That was a century between appearances.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Who decided on Myfanwy as a name? Is it official or a fan thing?

What I've heard is that the cast and crew nicknamed her that - nothing official about it, as far as I know, but fans are happy to adopt the name.

Does this mean that Tarot Girl is immortal, too? That was a century between appearances.

I wondered that. Whatever she is, she's interestingly spooky. I like the way she just turns up!

That was a century between appearances.

Yes, though Jack might have consulted her through the course of the century as well.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

normally I am not to fond of these flashback type of episodes but this one worked marvellously!!
I did like Owen's story. You've before mentioned that Owen was much more snarly in season 1 and getting less so in this season (and while not saying that much, it sounded to me like you didn't belief in that development). Here we see a pre-snarky Owen. To all accounts a lovely man. He has a fiancée with a very difficult health problem (whether it would have been early onset Alzheimers or something else) and he supports her lovingly. I like the woman they choose for his future wife, a good looking, junior doctor, someone who can be equal and with whom he could have shared a happy life.
This is just to say we now know that Owen has a non-snarky side in him. I don't think such things get destroyed, though they can be buried (irretrievably or not, that is to be seen).

I like the Tarot girl. I want more Tarot girl!!!

Did anyone think that the Victorian Jack looked more clueless than any other one we've seen so far? (WW2, With Nine and Rose, with Ten and Martha)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I did like Owen's story.

Yes, so did I. Especially since it was so much not what I'd expected.

You've before mentioned that Owen was much more snarly in season 1 and getting less so in this season (and while not saying that much, it sounded to me like you didn't belief in that development)

I believed it, it's just that I still didn't like him much - and just when I was starting to like him sometimes, he'd have a scene with Tosh and I'd dislike him all the more - back to square one.

It's come to the point where I love his story, even if I still don't really like the character.

This is just to say we now know that Owen has a non-snarky side in him.

His cynicism, his coldness and his defensiveness make so much more sense now.

I like the Tarot girl. I want more Tarot girl!!!

Yes - what a great character!

Did anyone think that the Victorian Jack looked more clueless than any other one we've seen so far?

He didn't strike me as clueless. The sideburns may have given that impression!

[coffeegirl18.livejournal.com]

Toshiko, involved in espionage against the UK, and caught by - was it? - Unit. Making that gadget all on her own: way to go, girl. All for her mother. All that suffering. And being rescued by Jack, whose intuition is in her favour. I love Tosh all the more.

I was yelling at the screen, "OMG it's UNIT. That's so cool." and continued to fangirl as Tosh was being cool and badass.

My hero Toshiko...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

"Tosh cool and badass" is my favourite thing. I already loved action!Tosh. Now I love espionage!Tosh. More, please! More!

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

That was terrific!

Things I loved:

The red silk lining on Ianto's jacket. (I didn't say they were going to be BIG things I loved...)

Ianto's tight jeans. (Evidence of NICELY SIZED thing...)

The badass Torchwood women. Their methods were a bit sketchy, but they were awesome, and partly because they were so completely unimpressed by Jack. And the one woman in bloomers! Woot!

Victorian Jack "still not used to" dying.

The parallel between Jack the drifter and Ianto the drifter. Torchwood gave them both a purpose.

The whole 1999 scene with Alex. Wow. That was a bitter blow for Jack. More grist for the mill in "Cyberwoman".

Myfanwy! I love her little feet when she stands. :-) She's adorable. *brings her Scharffenberger*

The moment of visceral attraction between Ianto and Jack, and Ianto's spontaneous grief over it.

Tosh's imprisonment. So bleak and horrible. I never expected Tosh to have experienced anything like that.

I still say that Dead!Owen is Owen at his finest. Everything we've seen --lovely pre-Torchwood Owen, asshole S1 Owen, mellowed S2 Owen-- has gone into making this man. I find him quite wonderful.

Grey. I don't think this is going to go well at all. Why didn't he speak?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

the red silk lining on Ianto's jacket. (I didn't say they were going to be BIG things I loved...)

Red silk is important.

Ianto's tight jeans. (Evidence of NICELY SIZED thing...)

Yes. I had no doubt, anyway. This is one reason I thought he dressed to impress Jack.

The badass Torchwood women.

Scary! And so delightfully un-Victorian.

the one woman in bloomers! Woot!

Yeah. Wonder how long it took her to get Jack into bed. (No tnecessarily without her friend.)

Victorian Jack "still not used to" dying.

I think he still isn't, but he's learned more and better ways of handling it.

The parallel between Jack the drifter and Ianto the drifter.

I loved that. Yes. They both needed Torchwood, and not for the reasons they thought. They needed the purpose it would give them. Jack joined because he thought it would help him find the Doctor; Ianto because he thought it would help him to save Lisa. They were both wrong but they both found what they were really looking for. Including, it seems, each other.

That was a bitter blow for Jack. More grist for the mill in "Cyberwoman".

Yes, and "Everything Changes", too. I wonder how many suicides Torchwood has seen.

Myfanwy! I love her little feet when she stands. :-) She's adorable.

Truly a queen among pterodactyls and I was thrilled to see her again.

The moment of visceral attraction between Ianto and Jack, and Ianto's spontaneous grief over it.

I'm not sure, but I think that might have been the best moment of the whole episode.

Grey. I don't think this is going to go well at all. Why didn't he speak?

I can't imagine what's going on there. It's scary.