Thank you for such a clever review. I really enjoy your descriptions and thoughts about the show and actors. I, too, hope that they at least mention something about the destruction of the Hub, which I always considered almost another character of the show. With it's ruin, so much technology and history are lost in such a senseless way. I hadn't even thought about Grey- but I hope that Jack does.
I look forward to watching GDL's performance. He's so remarkably talented. I love how layered he has made Ianto. He is not some wimpy Welsh Cake. He's able to kick some ass, but is vulnerable enough to want to know where his relationship is going with Jack. I don't blame him for wanting some answers. I think it's normal.
Will you be reviewing the next episodes? I'm in the states, and am stuck in Torchwood standby until the 20th. Boo Hiss. I'd love to read your impressions over the next few days.
That's very sweet of you glad you liked it. It would be nice if they mentioned the loss of the Hub and Gray (and presumably Tosh and Suzie and countless other of Jack's long gone team mates) but I suspect that due to the nature of the series this time which requires the narrative to move at a break neck pace they won't.
Poor Ianto is very confused in this - doesn't quite understand how he's ended up dating a guy and is struggling to put a conformist label on a relationship which just doesn't work that way. He wants Jack to validate him by calling him his boyfriend or saying that they're a couple so that he can feel more secure in himself. It's a lovely performance to watch.
Yes I'll be reviewing the next episodes. I'll try and do a full synopsis as well as I did with the preview screening. The only one where I won't be able to get a review up quickly is Friday's (Day 5!) as I (along with many others) will be at Henley watching John Barrowman's concert.
Wonderful! I'll be sure to look for your updates. Thanks for such great work (and the screen caps!).
You'll have to let us know how the concert goes. I'm sure it will be brilliant.
I think you're right about Ianto's confusion and need for some type of validation. It would have to be confusing to be in a relationship with a man who is immortal, and that damn charismatic, and not have any definition to it. Ianto has always struck me as someone who likes to have all the answers- to at least the ability to get the answers when he needs to. I've working on something that deals some with Ianto's frustrations over Jack wanting to take his time in their relationship and really savor it because he knows that it won't last as long as he would like-while Ianto believes that they should do as much as possible because of his mortality.
I didn't think about Gray at all, but that would be pretty big for Jack... I doubt it'll get a mention though.
I think the Jack/Alice scene seemed about right really, she just wanted him out of the house and didn't really care about what he had to say at all.
I'm not sure why, but I don't think I liked Lois very much...
The best scenes for me were all Ianto scenes. I love his sister and how real she and her relationship with Ianto seemed compared to the sureal Torchwood!Ianto
Gray was beyond all help but the fact that Jack had him put in cryo rather than killing him meant that he felt (or hoped) that one day he could be saved and the government have just taken that away from him. They used him as the means to try and kill his friends and ended up blowing him and his brother to smithereens. Something tells me Jack won't be happy...
I'm just not felling Alice just yet - maybe I need to see more of her story. Jack is being an out and out bastard in that scene wanting to experiment on her son but at the same time he clearly wants to be in her life and I just wasn't feeling anything from the actress at all.
I liked Lois - liked the awkward bumbling first day nerves and the fact that she's doing everything just a bit wrong - I thought it was engaging.
The scene with Ianto and his sister was very real - lovely piece of work from both actors.
Your insightful comments and reviews will help me hang on until the DVDs come; I'm in the States and don't get BBCA, so I'm relying on the kindness of strangers to tide me over. Thank you!
Oh that's sweet of you to say. I'm glad you like the reviews. If you click on the link within the review you'll get a long synopsis and my original review of the episode if that's of interest.
If you have a fast enough internet connection I'm sure they'll be a download of the episode up pretty soon - people are rather good about that. Think the dvds are out in a couple of weeks.
Utterly agree about Capaldi. On the one hand you want to hate him for what he's doing... and yet I felt for him. He knows what has to be done and realises he effectively has to let it be on his own head, there'll be now support from the PM and co.
Equally I agree about John's acting during the scene with his daughter. I loved that scene. I do believe that Jack was genuine in his desire to be with his family if they'd let him, I believe in his love for his grandson... and equally I utterly believe in his having no qualms in being prepared to use the same grandson if he has to. And it was slightly chilling how even when he'd been caught out, there was no guilt in that stare. Quite the character is Jack.
And equally, whilst Ianto's scene with his family was charming and lovely... he was doing the same thing. Utterly prepared to use his own nephew/niece. He was just lucky that his sister was in the dark and had a different bee in her bonnet. He and Jack are definitely equals when it comes to Torchwood on some levels.
It's the shot of him on his knees in front of his children that is so powerful. That and the horrible moment when he realises that the Prime Minister isn't going to step up. If he wants the situation dealt with - he's going to have to be the one that does it. Not a fun position to be in. Very difficult role - I can understand why he above everyone else is getting most of the kudos.
I'm just not keen on the actress playing his daughter - not yet anyway. And yes Jack is a rather frightening soul - wants to play grandad just as much as he wants to spirit his grandson off to the Hub and run tests on him. And yes Ianto is just the same going and seeing his niece and nephew on the pretext of taking his niece out (and you forgot her birthday - bad Ianto) just so that he could run tests on her. And when his sister is having none of it he just tries to leave instantly!
I think that behaviour does make sense in terms of their characters..Torchwood is their whole lives. They will sacrifice all for torchwood and to protect the Earth..why not family members...I cannot wait to watch as I am in U.S. I am also jealous you are going to the concert on Friday....I dont think he ever comes touring here, just to conventions....
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I look forward to watching GDL's performance. He's so remarkably talented. I love how layered he has made Ianto. He is not some wimpy Welsh Cake. He's able to kick some ass, but is vulnerable enough to want to know where his relationship is going with Jack. I don't blame him for wanting some answers. I think it's normal.
Will you be reviewing the next episodes? I'm in the states, and am stuck in Torchwood standby until the 20th. Boo Hiss. I'd love to read your impressions over the next few days.
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Poor Ianto is very confused in this - doesn't quite understand how he's ended up dating a guy and is struggling to put a conformist label on a relationship which just doesn't work that way. He wants Jack to validate him by calling him his boyfriend or saying that they're a couple so that he can feel more secure in himself. It's a lovely performance to watch.
Yes I'll be reviewing the next episodes. I'll try and do a full synopsis as well as I did with the preview screening. The only one where I won't be able to get a review up quickly is Friday's (Day 5!) as I (along with many others) will be at Henley watching John Barrowman's concert.
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You'll have to let us know how the concert goes. I'm sure it will be brilliant.
I think you're right about Ianto's confusion and need for some type of validation. It would have to be confusing to be in a relationship with a man who is immortal, and that damn charismatic, and not have any definition to it. Ianto has always struck me as someone who likes to have all the answers- to at least the ability to get the answers when he needs to. I've working on something that deals some with Ianto's frustrations over Jack wanting to take his time in their relationship and really savor it because he knows that it won't last as long as he would like-while Ianto believes that they should do as much as possible because of his mortality.
Thanks again for such great work!
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I think the Jack/Alice scene seemed about right really, she just wanted him out of the house and didn't really care about what he had to say at all.
I'm not sure why, but I don't think I liked Lois very much...
The best scenes for me were all Ianto scenes. I love his sister and how real she and her relationship with Ianto seemed compared to the sureal Torchwood!Ianto
Can't wait for tomorrow :-)
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I'm just not felling Alice just yet - maybe I need to see more of her story. Jack is being an out and out bastard in that scene wanting to experiment on her son but at the same time he clearly wants to be in her life and I just wasn't feeling anything from the actress at all.
I liked Lois - liked the awkward bumbling first day nerves and the fact that she's doing everything just a bit wrong - I thought it was engaging.
The scene with Ianto and his sister was very real - lovely piece of work from both actors.
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If you have a fast enough internet connection I'm sure they'll be a download of the episode up pretty soon - people are rather good about that. Think the dvds are out in a couple of weeks.
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Equally I agree about John's acting during the scene with his daughter. I loved that scene. I do believe that Jack was genuine in his desire to be with his family if they'd let him, I believe in his love for his grandson... and equally I utterly believe in his having no qualms in being prepared to use the same grandson if he has to. And it was slightly chilling how even when he'd been caught out, there was no guilt in that stare. Quite the character is Jack.
And equally, whilst Ianto's scene with his family was charming and lovely... he was doing the same thing. Utterly prepared to use his own nephew/niece. He was just lucky that his sister was in the dark and had a different bee in her bonnet. He and Jack are definitely equals when it comes to Torchwood on some levels.
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I'm just not keen on the actress playing his daughter - not yet anyway. And yes Jack is a rather frightening soul - wants to play grandad just as much as he wants to spirit his grandson off to the Hub and run tests on him. And yes Ianto is just the same going and seeing his niece and nephew on the pretext of taking his niece out (and you forgot her birthday - bad Ianto) just so that he could run tests on her. And when his sister is having none of it he just tries to leave instantly!
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