Meat, aka Hah! I knew it!
Feb. 6th, 2008 10:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lonelybritNon-spoilery review: T'was good, less of a team dynamic than I like, but the implications for all were very nicely done and the ending left me very very happy, my heart may be mildly bruised, but I'm loving this feeling nevertheless :)
So there was some small plot about an extra-terrestrial beached whale. I'm sure I was moved, but actually I was rather more interested in what the case revealed about the relationships within, and without, of Torchwood. And since this ep was basically a run-down of the ships of the series, let's handle it that way.
Owen/Tosh - this did suffer a bit from the old problem of continuity. I thought the end point worked, with Tosh offering comfort and Owen accepting it desperately. And I liked that Tosh had now grown in confidence enough to make a strong play for Owen, something in the past she would never have done. Good on her, even if I did think she was a bit too puppy eyed and disappointed when last week she had been so strong, but this is a matter of the heart so que sera. However at the beginning, Owen seemed to have regressed to his personality pre-TTLM. By the end he had progressed, but initially there was a bit too much old-school S1 Owen. Still, in conclusion, yes, Owen/Tosh is definitely starting to look more likely. In which case I predict Owen is DOOMED as Tosh is the black widow of the TW fandom.
Gwen/Rhys - ♥♥♥ Fantastic acting from both Eve and Kai. The shouting match between them was great and as a viewer it was something I needed to see and hear. I was with Rhys to begin with, and my heart went out to him when he pointed out they were crumbling, and then Gwen sealed her place in my heart by rising to the challenge and listening to him. That is love, as Gwen pointed out to Torchwood at the end, that is real love. It's never perfect, you can fight like anything, but if it's right you will knuckle down and work through it. And oh but it was wonderful to see her and Rhys do just that. Crossing fingers and toes they'll remain this strong for the rest of the series and he doesn't bite the dust. I was genuinely worried at the end when she had the Retcon, I could have seen her giving it to him because she wanted to protect him, and equally I was over the moon when she told Jack that, yes, if it came down to it he could take Torchwood and stuff it where the sun don't shine.
Does she love Jack? Yes, of course, who in Torchwood doesn't. BUT, I thought it was telling her comment of "So, you do have a heart" to Jack at the beginning. She loves him, but he is the fantasy, unlike others *cough*Ianto*cough* she recognises that it's unlikely he can ever really give her what she wants, i.e. someone to always come home to.
What was also painfully obvious was that Gwen/Rhys this week was the example of a healthy relationship between equals, whereas running in parallel was...
Jack/Ianto - and yes I will go 'Hah! I knew it!' *sniffle* So, what was the purpose of that shoe-horned in kiss last week? Yes it was, surprise surprise, the warning that the shit was about to hit the fans and the honeymoon period was about to be officially over.
Now unfortunately, I was watching the ep at the grandparents, and as always happens with the family, loud conversation broke out around the crucial final fight scene. So I might have misheard but when Ianto went down it sounded to me like he called 'Jack!', but I could have been mistaken. What I was clear on was how Jack - and what else would you expect from a Torchwood leader - never wavered from the overall mission, simply noted Ianto was not dead yet, and promptly ordered him after the escaping bloke with a gun.
Do I understand Jack's notable lack of concern for Ianto in comparison to Gwen's constant fear for Rhys? Yep, of course I do. I think I can also understand how he seems more worried about losing Gwen than spending any time checking Ianto is okay - Ianto is already part of Torchwood, he isn't going anywhere/hasn't anywhere to go to. Gwen got very close to walking away, and she is Jack's conscience, helps him stay connected to this world and he knows it. Plus of course he loves her. Take her away and what does that leave him (and by default, what would that leave the others).
However, equally I can understand why Ianto seemed a tad cold by the end. Regardless of office dates and moments of honesty, this ep showed him very clearly what he does not have and probably never will do. There just isn't room for pure romance like Gwen/Rhys when both of you are dedicated to Torchwood. However much Ianto has told himself that he accepts/understands this, when the crunch came, he clearly was momentarily hurt that Jack did chose the mission over any personal concerns.
Threaten Rhys and Gwen instinctively reacts - Jack does what's right for the team and stays hidden. Potentially wound Rhys and Gwen couldn't give a flying fiddler's fart what is going on in the warehouse, she's only interested in holding Rhys and making sure he'll be okay - Jack never spares a glance or words of reassurance, assumes Ianto can handle himself, and his only words are orders as suit the situation. Ask Gwen to effectively chose Torchwood or Rhys, Gwen chooses Rhys and you could tell her reasons for doing so resound with all of the team. It's a life they'll never really know.
So, do I think it's a nail in the coffin of Jack/Ianto? Pffft, please. But it is a reality check for both. If it's right, they'll work through it and Ianto will have to really accept and be able to live with the potential ramifications of having a relationship with a work colleague. Knowing what is the right thing to do, and genuinely feeling it is the right thing when it's done are two different things. If they can't work through it, well then they won't and that's that. But I think there's more to this tale yet.
And a final note. Haven't the foggiest idea what Ianto said to the guy on the floor (thank you great-aunt discussing errant sons), but for an instant he did look believably cold and threatening. Which again, I take as a sign for what the trailers are promising for next week.
*rubs hands* Bring on the angst and emo!pain for all, wheee!
So there was some small plot about an extra-terrestrial beached whale. I'm sure I was moved, but actually I was rather more interested in what the case revealed about the relationships within, and without, of Torchwood. And since this ep was basically a run-down of the ships of the series, let's handle it that way.
Owen/Tosh - this did suffer a bit from the old problem of continuity. I thought the end point worked, with Tosh offering comfort and Owen accepting it desperately. And I liked that Tosh had now grown in confidence enough to make a strong play for Owen, something in the past she would never have done. Good on her, even if I did think she was a bit too puppy eyed and disappointed when last week she had been so strong, but this is a matter of the heart so que sera. However at the beginning, Owen seemed to have regressed to his personality pre-TTLM. By the end he had progressed, but initially there was a bit too much old-school S1 Owen. Still, in conclusion, yes, Owen/Tosh is definitely starting to look more likely. In which case I predict Owen is DOOMED as Tosh is the black widow of the TW fandom.
Gwen/Rhys - ♥♥♥ Fantastic acting from both Eve and Kai. The shouting match between them was great and as a viewer it was something I needed to see and hear. I was with Rhys to begin with, and my heart went out to him when he pointed out they were crumbling, and then Gwen sealed her place in my heart by rising to the challenge and listening to him. That is love, as Gwen pointed out to Torchwood at the end, that is real love. It's never perfect, you can fight like anything, but if it's right you will knuckle down and work through it. And oh but it was wonderful to see her and Rhys do just that. Crossing fingers and toes they'll remain this strong for the rest of the series and he doesn't bite the dust. I was genuinely worried at the end when she had the Retcon, I could have seen her giving it to him because she wanted to protect him, and equally I was over the moon when she told Jack that, yes, if it came down to it he could take Torchwood and stuff it where the sun don't shine.
Does she love Jack? Yes, of course, who in Torchwood doesn't. BUT, I thought it was telling her comment of "So, you do have a heart" to Jack at the beginning. She loves him, but he is the fantasy, unlike others *cough*Ianto*cough* she recognises that it's unlikely he can ever really give her what she wants, i.e. someone to always come home to.
What was also painfully obvious was that Gwen/Rhys this week was the example of a healthy relationship between equals, whereas running in parallel was...
Jack/Ianto - and yes I will go 'Hah! I knew it!' *sniffle* So, what was the purpose of that shoe-horned in kiss last week? Yes it was, surprise surprise, the warning that the shit was about to hit the fans and the honeymoon period was about to be officially over.
Now unfortunately, I was watching the ep at the grandparents, and as always happens with the family, loud conversation broke out around the crucial final fight scene. So I might have misheard but when Ianto went down it sounded to me like he called 'Jack!', but I could have been mistaken. What I was clear on was how Jack - and what else would you expect from a Torchwood leader - never wavered from the overall mission, simply noted Ianto was not dead yet, and promptly ordered him after the escaping bloke with a gun.
Do I understand Jack's notable lack of concern for Ianto in comparison to Gwen's constant fear for Rhys? Yep, of course I do. I think I can also understand how he seems more worried about losing Gwen than spending any time checking Ianto is okay - Ianto is already part of Torchwood, he isn't going anywhere/hasn't anywhere to go to. Gwen got very close to walking away, and she is Jack's conscience, helps him stay connected to this world and he knows it. Plus of course he loves her. Take her away and what does that leave him (and by default, what would that leave the others).
However, equally I can understand why Ianto seemed a tad cold by the end. Regardless of office dates and moments of honesty, this ep showed him very clearly what he does not have and probably never will do. There just isn't room for pure romance like Gwen/Rhys when both of you are dedicated to Torchwood. However much Ianto has told himself that he accepts/understands this, when the crunch came, he clearly was momentarily hurt that Jack did chose the mission over any personal concerns.
Threaten Rhys and Gwen instinctively reacts - Jack does what's right for the team and stays hidden. Potentially wound Rhys and Gwen couldn't give a flying fiddler's fart what is going on in the warehouse, she's only interested in holding Rhys and making sure he'll be okay - Jack never spares a glance or words of reassurance, assumes Ianto can handle himself, and his only words are orders as suit the situation. Ask Gwen to effectively chose Torchwood or Rhys, Gwen chooses Rhys and you could tell her reasons for doing so resound with all of the team. It's a life they'll never really know.
So, do I think it's a nail in the coffin of Jack/Ianto? Pffft, please. But it is a reality check for both. If it's right, they'll work through it and Ianto will have to really accept and be able to live with the potential ramifications of having a relationship with a work colleague. Knowing what is the right thing to do, and genuinely feeling it is the right thing when it's done are two different things. If they can't work through it, well then they won't and that's that. But I think there's more to this tale yet.
And a final note. Haven't the foggiest idea what Ianto said to the guy on the floor (thank you great-aunt discussing errant sons), but for an instant he did look believably cold and threatening. Which again, I take as a sign for what the trailers are promising for next week.
*rubs hands* Bring on the angst and emo!pain for all, wheee!
