Review: Torchwood S2 08 A Day in the Death

[crabby_lioness]

That was a lovely meditation on death from a humanist perspective.  Owen's dead.  What happens next? Owen wonders that too.

We begin with Owen and an unknown woman sitting on a rooftop, contemplating jumping.  As they think about it, Owen tells her his recent past. He's been murdered and zombified.  Worse, in his opinion, the very person who

Comments

[fl_zed]

Considering how much alien tech they have, surely they'll find something that at least adequately patches tissue back together (rater than just stimulating regrowth)? Hmmm I wonder if there are any more Chula ambulances around... I do hope he stays undead, though.

[crabby_lioness]

For the story's sake I hope he stays undead, but for the character and the actor I hope he doesn't.

[fl_zed]

Maybe we can have both? Undead for two or three seasons, and then getting brought back to life by alien tech á la The Empty Child/TDD? Would be interesting to see him having to re-adjust all over again, possibly feeling he's forever lost something that was useful.

I am so glad you pointed out...

[anonymous]

that Jack's behavior is not callous or cruel (seen many whines about that in several places). Being all schmoopy, poor-little-Owen would only let Owen to continue to wallow in self-pity indefinitely, which, considering Owen's character, is probably the worst thing he could do.

I also loved the quiet friendship developing between him and Martha -- at the end, when they hug, it's really healing, you can see it in his face.

I loved the ending, when he's showing the girl the alien toy and in the voice over he says "My name is Owen Harper and this is my life". First time he *naturally* omits the "doctor"; and his acceptance that it is a life, however limited is so clear in the way he says the words.

God, that man is a great actor.

Re: I am so glad you pointed out...

[crabby_lioness]

I am so glad you pointed out that Jack's behavior is not callous or cruel (seen many whines about that in several places).

Give them another decade or so and see what they think.

Re: I am so glad you pointed out...

[anonymous]

True! You are to be commended-- 20 years with one of those maddening supergeniuses may have its perks :-) but... they can be bloody difficult and sometimes it's better to leave them to their own devices!

Re: I am so glad you pointed out...

[crabby_lioness]

Oh, honey. "Bloody difficult" doesn't even begin to cover it!

And he honestly wonders why I've become more sarcastic in my old age.... ;)

[urnssadomen]

I'm so glad you pointed out that it's an episode about therapy and self soul searching. I'm actually very found of the narrative view they choose to use. Just like the random shoes, it's a change for audience's point of view, and the characters' difference from what we used to were nicely adjusted. (I don't care how many people were complaining about Jack's OOC, that's exactly how Jack should be... in Owen's mind.)

Oh, how I love the coffee machine incident between Ianto and Owen. Any chance, you might want to write a bit more about that? Oh, how I love your analysis...

[crabby_lioness]

I could praise Ianto's maturity more. He really is the "adult" in that conversation.

[geekrock]

"The collector has a heart attack and Owen tries to save him but fails, because while he may be able to take in enough air to talk with a great big hole in his lung, he can't hold enough air to force someone else's lungs to rei-nflate."

Someone else noticed! Grrr... things like that annoy me...

[crabby_lioness]

Poor science education? That works as an excuse.

[yellowvalley]

Aahhh, sweet sweet sanity instead of "that mean ole' Jack..."

I can't tell you how much I enjoy reading your reviews. Keep them coming!

[crabby_lioness]

Thank you. I honestly just had someone tell me that Jack shouldn't "treat Owen like a sulky child." I'm like, you remember the second half of the first series?

[yellowvalley]

ROFL. Hee!