TW musings
Haven't done this for a bit so a bit of ramble over parts of last nights "Adrift". Follow the fake cut with one of the best lines I've heard on TV for ages...
Okay first up just to get this out of the way, the reaction to last nights Jack/Ianto shagging (well mutual jerk off) scene amuses me no end, just as the reaction to the Jack/Gwen emotion fest that was the Wedding amused me. Sitting from the sidelines, two things have been patently obvious from the start...
1) the writers give the Guy/Girl combo all the deep emotional soulmate/TWU Luv resonance...and the Guy/Guy combo the hot shagging and kinky sub/dom combo.
2) The sets of fans blossoming out of either ship, are deliberately blind to what they don't want to see.
For all the squeeing that went on last night over half nekkid Jack/Ianto not one of their squeeing supporters has mentioned that Jack immediately invited Gwen to join them, and that Jack is still treating Ianto like a combination of a coffee machine/sex toy with all the emotional connection therein. It's also rather telling that Jack is jealous of Rhys/Gwen because there is real feeling there, whereas the writers had/have it that Gwen gets nothing but a laugh out of Jack/Ianto as there is patently no real feeling there, at least on Jack's part (just like Rhys couldn't give a toss about Andy's crush on Gwen). I do feel sorry for Ianto I have to say, though his little betrayal of Jack was interesting and perhaps indicative that he does still have his own agenda, or at the very least that he's not as under Jack's sway/thumb as appears.
Similarly this idea of TWU luv as put forth by the writers in the Gwen/Jack combo leaves an awful lot to be desired, and it's really based on bugger all other than Gwen's ability to vocalise her compassionate side and argue the toss with Jack. If that's all that it takes to get him to fall in love he'd adore my Mam.
On to the story itself. Compared to last week's visually nice but mehhhfest of a plot / emotional engagement...this one both had a good plot in the downward spikes/disappearing rift victims, and engaged emotionally (especially mother and son reunion) and held the attention right the way through, thought not always in a good way.
Cutting a long story short. Smacks upside the head for:
The Writers
For once again treading the well worn and increasingly tiresome part of Jack (like the Doctor) having always to be 'right'. The final scene with the distraught Mrs Bevan turning on Gwen was designed solely to show Gwen what damage she'd done by delivering the truth and how right Jack had been to leave people wondering but with hope. Arsebiscuits. The kind of hope that people who have lost loved ones live with is the nightmarish kind that torments day and night, that stops them getting on with their lives and impedes all their other relationships, as we saw there. If Jack had really wanted to be kind, he would have gone to these people and told them their loved ones were dead. Leaving someone forever trapped and wondering is no worse or better then what Gwen did ultimately...and ultimately what she did was Jack's fault.
They also get a smack for involving Tosh in it all and then having her just shrug and walk away when Jack said end of story. Really did her character a diservice in having her turn her back on all those missing people, and lacking any will to see if more could be done/curiousity as to why he was so insistent that they leave it all lie. Rightly or wrongly she came off weak. Still, at least she got more to do then Owen! I know he's gotten a lot of attention lately (and is dead) but seriously...3 lines?! (Also the way Burn is popping up all over in other shows makes me fear for his continuing in the show).
Jack.
WTF wasn't he just upfront and honest about it all with Gwen from the start? Why didn't he take her out to the Island after she discovered all this and show her (and Tosh!) what was going on...show her the effects the Rift had had on those that had made it back?! FFS what on earth was the point of keeping it a secret from her? He must've bloody known she wouldn't have left it lie just because he said so. Hell isn't that part of the reason he WUVS her in the first place!? (If I were to answer my own question btw I'd say it was because the writers had him protecting his compassionate little soulmate, keeping her from the nasty wasty truth, like a good strong TWU Luv male should. Hence his sad little watching of her from the shadows.) By keeping her at arms length however he ended up working her right up into a proper indignant righteous mood whereby she was never goign to listen to him *after* she discovered what he was hiding. Whereas if he had explained everything to begin with he could have let her see the downside of things, and made her see more of his side of the argument. You're in charge of a small tight knit group Jack, get over yourself and talk to them.
And speaking of compassion, what the hell with the state of where the Rift victims were kept?! Yeah...really taking care of them there Jack! TW can afford state of the art technology...guns...cars...can order PM's and other top folks about...but they can't provide a better 'care' facility for the victims of the Rift then a facility that would make the inhabitants of Bedlam feel nostalgic?! Jeeze...coat of paint and some comfy chairs at least guys, can even point you to an Ikea.
Gwen & Rhys
She was a bitch to him when snapping at him over the baby issue, and for godsakes doesn't she get an evening off when she can definitely plan these kinds of things properly? But as much as I like him sadly Rhys came off as a bit of a recidivist prat here, by being back to complaining about her being late even now knowing the nature (and unpredictablity of) what she does and the events of his wedding. While frustration is natural and he was dead right to bawl her out over being superior to him...that wittering remark was just not on...you have to take a good look at him too. He knew what he was marrying into (and got a good reminder of it on his wedding day) when he walked down the aisle. But this is the old chestnut. Woman and career versus family. When it comes down to it if she were a bloke in the mad job and he a girl this wouldn't be an issue, and he is putting pressure on her when she's already in a pressurised save the world kinda job. But the slap is for neither of these things, as this was actually a pretty good reflection of how work (and gender issues) can strain relationships can be and how bitchy/selfish people can be to each other. As was their rather sweet reconcilliation at the end, both of them coming to their senses and putting the other first. No the slap is mostly for....Why The Fuck do people in TV Shows never talk about having kids *before* they get married. Umm...kinda a big one there folks?!
Other than that a solid outing, amusing, touching, downright sad.
Just the two episodes left and overall this season has been far better than last. Just hope they don't piss everyone off in the last one. Too much change too quickly is never good, that's all I'm saying.
Roll on April 5th and the return of Donna...and that skinny bloke in the blue box I suppose.
And just a sad moment acknowledging the death of the great Paul Scofield http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080320/ap_en_ot/obit_scofield a fine actor, and by all accounts a fine man...and there are a few others who could learn from his attitude to Knighthoods. *eyes Sir Sean of Connery*
Okay first up just to get this out of the way, the reaction to last nights Jack/Ianto shagging (well mutual jerk off) scene amuses me no end, just as the reaction to the Jack/Gwen emotion fest that was the Wedding amused me. Sitting from the sidelines, two things have been patently obvious from the start...
1) the writers give the Guy/Girl combo all the deep emotional soulmate/TWU Luv resonance...and the Guy/Guy combo the hot shagging and kinky sub/dom combo.
2) The sets of fans blossoming out of either ship, are deliberately blind to what they don't want to see.
For all the squeeing that went on last night over half nekkid Jack/Ianto not one of their squeeing supporters has mentioned that Jack immediately invited Gwen to join them, and that Jack is still treating Ianto like a combination of a coffee machine/sex toy with all the emotional connection therein. It's also rather telling that Jack is jealous of Rhys/Gwen because there is real feeling there, whereas the writers had/have it that Gwen gets nothing but a laugh out of Jack/Ianto as there is patently no real feeling there, at least on Jack's part (just like Rhys couldn't give a toss about Andy's crush on Gwen). I do feel sorry for Ianto I have to say, though his little betrayal of Jack was interesting and perhaps indicative that he does still have his own agenda, or at the very least that he's not as under Jack's sway/thumb as appears.
Similarly this idea of TWU luv as put forth by the writers in the Gwen/Jack combo leaves an awful lot to be desired, and it's really based on bugger all other than Gwen's ability to vocalise her compassionate side and argue the toss with Jack. If that's all that it takes to get him to fall in love he'd adore my Mam.
On to the story itself. Compared to last week's visually nice but mehhhfest of a plot / emotional engagement...this one both had a good plot in the downward spikes/disappearing rift victims, and engaged emotionally (especially mother and son reunion) and held the attention right the way through, thought not always in a good way.
Cutting a long story short. Smacks upside the head for:
The Writers
For once again treading the well worn and increasingly tiresome part of Jack (like the Doctor) having always to be 'right'. The final scene with the distraught Mrs Bevan turning on Gwen was designed solely to show Gwen what damage she'd done by delivering the truth and how right Jack had been to leave people wondering but with hope. Arsebiscuits. The kind of hope that people who have lost loved ones live with is the nightmarish kind that torments day and night, that stops them getting on with their lives and impedes all their other relationships, as we saw there. If Jack had really wanted to be kind, he would have gone to these people and told them their loved ones were dead. Leaving someone forever trapped and wondering is no worse or better then what Gwen did ultimately...and ultimately what she did was Jack's fault.
They also get a smack for involving Tosh in it all and then having her just shrug and walk away when Jack said end of story. Really did her character a diservice in having her turn her back on all those missing people, and lacking any will to see if more could be done/curiousity as to why he was so insistent that they leave it all lie. Rightly or wrongly she came off weak. Still, at least she got more to do then Owen! I know he's gotten a lot of attention lately (and is dead) but seriously...3 lines?! (Also the way Burn is popping up all over in other shows makes me fear for his continuing in the show).
Jack.
WTF wasn't he just upfront and honest about it all with Gwen from the start? Why didn't he take her out to the Island after she discovered all this and show her (and Tosh!) what was going on...show her the effects the Rift had had on those that had made it back?! FFS what on earth was the point of keeping it a secret from her? He must've bloody known she wouldn't have left it lie just because he said so. Hell isn't that part of the reason he WUVS her in the first place!? (If I were to answer my own question btw I'd say it was because the writers had him protecting his compassionate little soulmate, keeping her from the nasty wasty truth, like a good strong TWU Luv male should. Hence his sad little watching of her from the shadows.) By keeping her at arms length however he ended up working her right up into a proper indignant righteous mood whereby she was never goign to listen to him *after* she discovered what he was hiding. Whereas if he had explained everything to begin with he could have let her see the downside of things, and made her see more of his side of the argument. You're in charge of a small tight knit group Jack, get over yourself and talk to them.
And speaking of compassion, what the hell with the state of where the Rift victims were kept?! Yeah...really taking care of them there Jack! TW can afford state of the art technology...guns...cars...can order PM's and other top folks about...but they can't provide a better 'care' facility for the victims of the Rift then a facility that would make the inhabitants of Bedlam feel nostalgic?! Jeeze...coat of paint and some comfy chairs at least guys, can even point you to an Ikea.
Gwen & Rhys
She was a bitch to him when snapping at him over the baby issue, and for godsakes doesn't she get an evening off when she can definitely plan these kinds of things properly? But as much as I like him sadly Rhys came off as a bit of a recidivist prat here, by being back to complaining about her being late even now knowing the nature (and unpredictablity of) what she does and the events of his wedding. While frustration is natural and he was dead right to bawl her out over being superior to him...that wittering remark was just not on...you have to take a good look at him too. He knew what he was marrying into (and got a good reminder of it on his wedding day) when he walked down the aisle. But this is the old chestnut. Woman and career versus family. When it comes down to it if she were a bloke in the mad job and he a girl this wouldn't be an issue, and he is putting pressure on her when she's already in a pressurised save the world kinda job. But the slap is for neither of these things, as this was actually a pretty good reflection of how work (and gender issues) can strain relationships can be and how bitchy/selfish people can be to each other. As was their rather sweet reconcilliation at the end, both of them coming to their senses and putting the other first. No the slap is mostly for....Why The Fuck do people in TV Shows never talk about having kids *before* they get married. Umm...kinda a big one there folks?!
Other than that a solid outing, amusing, touching, downright sad.
Just the two episodes left and overall this season has been far better than last. Just hope they don't piss everyone off in the last one. Too much change too quickly is never good, that's all I'm saying.
Roll on April 5th and the return of Donna...and that skinny bloke in the blue box I suppose.
And just a sad moment acknowledging the death of the great Paul Scofield http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080320/ap_en_ot/obit_scofield a fine actor, and by all accounts a fine man...and there are a few others who could learn from his attitude to Knighthoods. *eyes Sir Sean of Connery*