Torchwood

[ladyofastolat]

Since everyone else either has already done so, or will do so soon, here are my thoughts on Torchwood.



I never watched Doctor Who when I was young. I’ve more or less enjoyed the two new series, even though David Tennant makes me want to slap the silly grin off his face. But Captain Jack…! He was my Favourite Thing in the Doctor Who episodes I’d seen, so I was really looking forward to Torchwood.

I mostly liked it, I think. I didn’t end up bouncing up and down with excitement, but it has promise. It’s a standard storytelling method, of course, but I liked the way we were introduced to Torchwood through the eyes of an outsider. I liked Gwen. As many people know, I don’t normally take to female characters, but I liked her and sympathised with her, although I hope her “you should start caring about people more” thing doesn’t get tiresome.

Captain Jack seemed a bit less Captain Jacky than I remembered – a bit flat. Maybe I’ve inflated him in my memories, since I’ve not rewatched his Doctor Who episodes for a long time. Or maybe this is deliberate. The Radio Times went on about how he’s been changed by his experiences, and is now darker. Still, I think I might prefer him as a cocky rogue. And when he posed on that rooftop… How silly. Silly… but oh so cool.

The second episode I found rather annoying, though. To me, it was shouting out, “Look! We’re post-watershed! We’re grown-up!” It felt like an X-Files plot dreamed up by a sniggering fourteen year old boy. I suppose it was also designed to set up a “Gwen is the one with a conscious who cares, and will gradually teach her new colleagues the meaning of compassion” scenario. The monster/alien thing was also riddled with plot holes, or so Pellinor keeps telling me. I was very tired by that point, and less able to concentrate on trivial little things like plot, as opposed to character interaction and prettiness. (We watched both episodes with a half hour time delay, due to Pellinor coming in late from LARPing, so didn’t finish until quite late.)

The other characters have potential, too. Personally, I’m most intrigued by the poor little man who does nothing but make tea all the time. I’m sure there are all sorts of secrets and hidden passions underneath that suit of his.

Now I'm off to tell stories about apes and gorillas.

Comments

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

So what's with the difference between London and Cardiff Torchwoods, anyway - in interior design ethos, fashion sense and tastes in food? Is one of them languishing in the "Before" of "Changing Sinister HQs", while the other was basking in the shiny glory of the "After"? Is the Cardiff HQ awaiting the arrival of the "How clean is your secret hideout" crew? I bet the scary BBC makeover harridans would make them ditch the pizza.