Torchwood, series 2

[rm]

Adrift

I thought this episode was largely boring until all the folks started walking into the meeting for the people with missing persons. That scene was shot amazingly, and you really felt the whole thing dawn in all its terribleness on Gwen. Loved it.

Loved her and Tosh working on it and keeping the secret from Jack.

I think this is the best sense we get that Jack and Ianto are, in fact, in a relationship that has some sort of emotional content. Him doing the whole "I'll talk to him" thing for Gwen and then failing. Him leaving Gwen the GPS info. Jack noting rather calmly that she must have gotten the info ffrom Ianto -- that implies several things -- one is that Ianto is more than the butler or eyecandy or the teaboy. The other is that Jack told Ianto about this whole thing -- maybe as part of work, maybe not, but he trusted Ianto to keep a secret for him, but also knows Ianto's character to such a degree that he's not that surprised (or pissed off) when it doesn't work out that way. Also, how can anyone watch this episode and think Ianto is by nature submissive, at all times, to everyone and especially Jack? Because this is what fandom seems to think and I admit it has its moments.... but really.

Also, Jack hollering for Ianto when Gwen calls him -- was that "we just shagged, I want my coffee"? because I think it was, and it was very funny. So was Jack and Ianto going back into the greenhouse after Gwen walks in on them and Jack disrobing again.

So Jack set this place up for the Rift folks. Is this in the Torchwood budget? Does Torchwood evne have a budget consider Tochwood 3's estrangement from everything? Is the budget whatever money Tosh steals by being a hacker? How did this get paid for? Is this one of those things where Jack's imortality meant money earns interest and he's really a rich madan living in a cave funding charitible causes? Oh, wait, wrong geekery. But seriously, this struck me as a Jack personal project as opposed to a Torchwood project. Thoughts?

Also, speaking of special projects. Ianto apparently has a special project? What's that, shagging Jack? taking care of the pterodactyl? I WANT TO KNOW. Especially if it's something cool.

I liked the lack of happy ending.
I liked that Gwen didn't offer Jack absolution on this one, even though he deserved it. It was messy and human and everyone was dark in this episode and they were right to be.

Comments

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

What I was mainly wondering about the facility myself was that it seemed like it was in such bad shape, and was underground and all. It honestly didn't seem very humane to me in terms of being in basic good repair (though at least the staff seemed alright).

I loved the bits with Ianto giving Gwen the info, not only because of what it implied about his relationship with Jack, but also how it highlighted the lack of rivalry between him and Gwen. Fandom likes to sometimes portray those two as being opposed, but in the actual show, it's not that way at all.

I don't get people thinking of Ianto as being some kind of doormat. Honestly, Ianto's not someone I'd like to fuck with, because I think he'd wind up getting back in a way probably totally sneaky and underhanded. Just because he's quiet and unassuming on the surface is no reason to assume he's spineless. Anything but.

[rm.livejournal.com]

It was the condition of the facility that made me question where the money was coming from. Yes, it's an improvement over the Torchwood vaults, but I suspect Jack's ability to accept tehse peopel as human is probably somewhat impaired. He's shown a blindspot in such regards before. I mean, the way they store the Weevils unsettles me.

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

For some reason the way they keep the weevils never bothered me, I guess because they always seemed purely hostile anyway.

I don't know if Jack doesn't accept them as human; he seemed pretty sympathetic to their condition. But the place was in pretty bad shape. I didn't know what to make of that. Of course, considering TW 3 is cut off from the other Torchwoods, it's possible there are money issues involved.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Also he did say that the place had had a sudden influx, so it's definitely way overcapacity, even moreso than it probably was. But it is strange. and speaks to me of something put together pieceeal and haphazardly and with no money. It's so odd.

I didn't give a shit about teh Weevils until they were all clustered around the glove -- instinct to submit, maybe, but what if they were worshipping? Even minor demons have gods. It's really been bugging me.

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this episode, particularly for the Ianto/Gwen vibe, not to mention Gwen/Tosh.

However, I was distracted and amused by the (possibly unintentional) echoes of the Total Perspective Vortex from Douglas Adams Hitchhiker books - where Zaphod (Jack) comes bouncing out unharmed because being hit in the face with the entire Universe all at once just confirms that he's the most important thing in it... ;)

[heron61.livejournal.com]

My problem with the ending is that it seemed that the final answer from the woman about her son was not wanting to know, when it seemed clear to me me that she was in the middle of grief and adjustment to drastically changed circumstances and would likely have various radically different answers over the next few days or weeks. OTOH, there's no reason to think that Gwen would have any clue about this fact.

[elisi]

Hello! *waves*

Just randomly walking through, and saw this. Really like your thoughts - and agree with the Jack/Ianto stuff, definitely. Love their dynamic very much, and what this ep reveals about their relationship.

Also, speaking of special projects. Ianto apparently has a special project? What's that, shagging Jack? taking care of the pterodactyl? I WANT TO KNOW.
I'm not sure this really qualifies, but looking through the transcript for 'Small Worlds' yesterday, I came across this, which I'd mostly fogotten (not the scene, obviously, but what they were talking about):

(Jack hears a noise and turns around. Ianto is still there. He’s looking through a file folder.)
JACK: You shouldn't be here.
(Ianto closes the folder and looks at Jack.)
IANTO: Neither should you.
(Ianto goes to one of the workstations. Jack follows him. He stands behind Ianto and puts a hand on his shoulder.)
JACK: What have you got?
IANTO: (sighs) Funny sort of weather patterns.

I'm not sure that qualifies as a 'project' as such, but it shows that he will further explore things he finds interesting - and that he likes patterns (but then we knew that).

Also of course any episode with PC Andy is by default awesome! :)

[rm.livejournal.com]

Hi, welcome and thanks for htat. I actually have to rewatch Small Worlds soon as my prompt for a ficathon is from that episode and I fear I've gotten myself into something more complicated than I realized at the time.