![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
neadodsFor T3: < lj user="neadods"> < a href="http://neadods.livejournal.com/854972.html">LINK TEXT HERE [Spoilers, CoE 1]
Just as I've been bitching about the radio plays being too cut off and badly condensed, I'm starting to hope that having the story last over several episodes is going to allow for richer depth in the storytelling.
So far, I'm utterly delighted. It's everything I want out of Torchwood:
- It's scary. Even though I'd seen the bit with the screaming and the unison speaking in the trailer, it gave me chills. So did the apparently psychic paper in the folder. And who knew how terrifying the word "Back!" could be?
- I'm loving the pacing and direction. No scenes are dragging pointlessly, and the point/counterpoint listing of countries meshed together nicely.
- I'm also loving the obvious tourist shots. They're not too long to stop the narrative, and they are exotic to me.
- It's funny, particularly with the one-liners. "He died happy. And I've got tupperware." "They're a pain in the backside, but they can be helpful." "Big science fiction superbase. Honestly!" "I've had my injections." "The technical name is a gizmo."(I shouldn't have laughed about the one about civil service, but I did. Loudly.)
It had shoutouts to Martha, Tosh, and Owen. (Although I note a bit sourly that Gwen only seemed to be greeting her shag on the side.) It doesn't bother me that Martha's only mentioned in passing; Freema wasn't available. That she's mentioned at all shows that the rumors of RTD shredding scripts and acting like he'd lost his prom date when Freema took the other job were baseless. This leaves room for Martha to come back whenever Freema's available.
- I like Gwen, but the canon doesn't often show her off well. The scene in the plaza and her snapping from empathy seamlessly back into operational mode showed her character at her best, as did her interview with the sole adult. And she's the one to figure out the language issue.
- I like Rhys too. This isn't incompetent damsel-in-distress Rhys, or jealous of Gwen's time Rhys, this is a guy who has a good grasp of what's important - and he's providing a clue or two as well, one that would have sailed right by the less in touch with normality members of Torchwood.
- It had UNIT being like UNIT. On the ball, quick to respond, keeping an eye on those idiots in Cardiff that they don't know about. Not being lawless thugs. As opposed to the actual Gov't, apparently...
- It had backstory! Not just Jack's but Ianto's too. It's about time that more than Gwen had something rooting them to the real world, if only to show how far they've drifted from it.
- It had a complete lack of opsec. (That's part of the fun with Torchwood!) Operations security is just a meaningless jumble of syllables to these people, isn't it? Ianto, m'dear, it's no good rolling your eyes on "The whole city talks about you" when you drive around asking little old ladies if they've seen blowfish in sportcars and your supersecret name is WRITTEN ON THE SIDE OF THE DAMN CAR! Seriously, there are advertising agencies with a better grasp of opsec. Especially in light of the line later that people not only know who you are, but have a good idea of *where* you are as well. But then, they've learned lack of security from the best, apparently. I cannot think of a single secure facility, Government or not, where handing your login data over (much less to a person who's been on the job less than a day) isn't a get-immediately-escorted-out-by-the-people-with-guns firing offense.
The way Ianto's going on about the car says they're even taking steps backwards. He used to have a tracker in it. I'm surprised they don't have an ignition override as well.
- Most importantly, it had surprises. That entire last 10 minutes was a shock! (Although... I knew Dr. P was bound to die. I just didn't expect him to die so quickly.)
- I don't give a damn how manipulative that farewell Jack/Ianto kiss was, I adored it.
However, I'm wary about several things. Not the rumored death of Ianto; I never believed that one.
- But my first reaction to: "And none of the them white" was "Oh dear God. You did not go there. You Did NOT go there!" Considering the Whoniverse's track record on racial sensitivity, this cannot end well, even if that part of the story was a fakeout.
- I'm also wondering about Ianto's sudden giddiness about them as a couple. (Maybe I was wrong in saying Ianto would never ask if they were going steady!) But it puts paid to that weird tie-in novel that was where he was all emo and unhappy over being bi. Authorial issues much?
- I was also thinking "For God's sake, Gwen, just pee on a stick," but I suppose they have to introduce the machine to get the bomb back out of Jack.
- A heartbeat at 3 weeks? I'm thinkin' that's a bit early yet. And also far to low in her pelvis.
In short - perfect cliffhanger, and suddenly I'm very glad that I don't have to wait an entire week, even though I know there's going to be a bigger cliffhanger tomorrow.
tl;dr: With one major and some minor reservations, the preliminary reaction is "Squeeeee!"
Hands up, everyone disappointed that Mr. Frobisher isn't a penguin.
Just as I've been bitching about the radio plays being too cut off and badly condensed, I'm starting to hope that having the story last over several episodes is going to allow for richer depth in the storytelling.
So far, I'm utterly delighted. It's everything I want out of Torchwood:
- It's scary. Even though I'd seen the bit with the screaming and the unison speaking in the trailer, it gave me chills. So did the apparently psychic paper in the folder. And who knew how terrifying the word "Back!" could be?
- I'm loving the pacing and direction. No scenes are dragging pointlessly, and the point/counterpoint listing of countries meshed together nicely.
- I'm also loving the obvious tourist shots. They're not too long to stop the narrative, and they are exotic to me.
- It's funny, particularly with the one-liners. "He died happy. And I've got tupperware." "They're a pain in the backside, but they can be helpful." "Big science fiction superbase. Honestly!" "I've had my injections." "The technical name is a gizmo."(I shouldn't have laughed about the one about civil service, but I did. Loudly.)
It had shoutouts to Martha, Tosh, and Owen. (Although I note a bit sourly that Gwen only seemed to be greeting her shag on the side.) It doesn't bother me that Martha's only mentioned in passing; Freema wasn't available. That she's mentioned at all shows that the rumors of RTD shredding scripts and acting like he'd lost his prom date when Freema took the other job were baseless. This leaves room for Martha to come back whenever Freema's available.
- I like Gwen, but the canon doesn't often show her off well. The scene in the plaza and her snapping from empathy seamlessly back into operational mode showed her character at her best, as did her interview with the sole adult. And she's the one to figure out the language issue.
- I like Rhys too. This isn't incompetent damsel-in-distress Rhys, or jealous of Gwen's time Rhys, this is a guy who has a good grasp of what's important - and he's providing a clue or two as well, one that would have sailed right by the less in touch with normality members of Torchwood.
- It had UNIT being like UNIT. On the ball, quick to respond, keeping an eye on those idiots in Cardiff that they don't know about. Not being lawless thugs. As opposed to the actual Gov't, apparently...
- It had backstory! Not just Jack's but Ianto's too. It's about time that more than Gwen had something rooting them to the real world, if only to show how far they've drifted from it.
- It had a complete lack of opsec. (That's part of the fun with Torchwood!) Operations security is just a meaningless jumble of syllables to these people, isn't it? Ianto, m'dear, it's no good rolling your eyes on "The whole city talks about you" when you drive around asking little old ladies if they've seen blowfish in sportcars and your supersecret name is WRITTEN ON THE SIDE OF THE DAMN CAR! Seriously, there are advertising agencies with a better grasp of opsec. Especially in light of the line later that people not only know who you are, but have a good idea of *where* you are as well. But then, they've learned lack of security from the best, apparently. I cannot think of a single secure facility, Government or not, where handing your login data over (much less to a person who's been on the job less than a day) isn't a get-immediately-escorted-out-by-the-people-with-guns firing offense.
The way Ianto's going on about the car says they're even taking steps backwards. He used to have a tracker in it. I'm surprised they don't have an ignition override as well.
- Most importantly, it had surprises. That entire last 10 minutes was a shock! (Although... I knew Dr. P was bound to die. I just didn't expect him to die so quickly.)
- I don't give a damn how manipulative that farewell Jack/Ianto kiss was, I adored it.
However, I'm wary about several things. Not the rumored death of Ianto; I never believed that one.
- But my first reaction to: "And none of the them white" was "Oh dear God. You did not go there. You Did NOT go there!" Considering the Whoniverse's track record on racial sensitivity, this cannot end well, even if that part of the story was a fakeout.
- I'm also wondering about Ianto's sudden giddiness about them as a couple. (Maybe I was wrong in saying Ianto would never ask if they were going steady!) But it puts paid to that weird tie-in novel that was where he was all emo and unhappy over being bi. Authorial issues much?
- I was also thinking "For God's sake, Gwen, just pee on a stick," but I suppose they have to introduce the machine to get the bomb back out of Jack.
- A heartbeat at 3 weeks? I'm thinkin' that's a bit early yet. And also far to low in her pelvis.
In short - perfect cliffhanger, and suddenly I'm very glad that I don't have to wait an entire week, even though I know there's going to be a bigger cliffhanger tomorrow.
tl;dr: With one major and some minor reservations, the preliminary reaction is "Squeeeee!"
Hands up, everyone disappointed that Mr. Frobisher isn't a penguin.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-11 03:29 am (UTC)