Children of Earth, Day 3

[rm]

I didn't feel, as many did, that this suffered from being the middle episode. I thought it was written tightly, drew the tension out well, and wasn't, THANK GOD, paced as insanely as Day 2. I loved the pacing of Day 2, but -- to use a sex metaphor, as seems appropriate for Torchwood -- just because I like a good hard pounding, doesn't mean I want to go there all the time. So I was really perfectly happy with the quieter, creepier pace of this, and though the episode did amazing work with silence and pauses. In fact, this is pretty much the non-verbal episode of awesome.

Like that whole Jack and Ianto thing? Who cares what they said! The way they looked at each other! But that said -- I did like the discussion about the explosion, I do like that the show let Jack admit that, yeah, he felt it (most disturbing thing I've ever heard is a recording from a cockpit of an airplane crash, and they always tell you people die instantly, but dude, I heard that plane crash and thumping and sounds and the pilot was STILL SCREAMING -- fast ain't instant) and then both Jack and Ianto realize this is something that while it needed acknowledging, didn't need discussing (okay, I think it needed discussing, but they have issues). Also the 20 minutes/30 minutes thing was hilarious, because apparently Ianto had a list going there.

Gwen hates smileys!

WHY THE FUCK DOES IANTO KNOW SHORTHAND? DId he go to secretarial college after being a drifter and before Torchwood hired him? Really? What?

Queer! They show used the word queer! That was sort of exciting (and I realize is a subject of consternation in fandom right now, but I'm too tired to address it right now, and conked my head on something in the bathroom, but I'll write about it tomorrow). Also sort of interesting in terms of the reaction delivery, because I felt like the "oi!" was any any guy reflex to friends being assholes and the "it's not 1965" thing a quiet thing he didn't realize he was quite telling himself until he said it. Go Ianto!

So, we know about Alice's mom, her time in Torchwood, got out with her memory in tact, and then taught her daughter and grandson survival tactics -- against alien invasion? against Torchwood? against Jack? Did they have a bad breakup, or was it the ageing thing that just made everyone go spare?

THE HUB 2. HI JAMES MORAN, YOU ARE SO CLEVER. *eyeroll* But we love you for it.

Jack being involved in 1965? Duh. Knew that. Didn't realize that was news to anyone. The only thing really creepy about that reveal, and it is really creepy, is when everyone asks why he says "as a gift." Not the immediate Jack explains it ws the best thing to do for humanity or he didn't have a choice or it was a shitty but pragmatic decision or becuase they demanded it. No, "as a gift." What the fuck, Jack? And what do these aliens want with the kids? Are they breeding a slave race? Why do kiddies make such a lovely gift? It feels deeply unsettling.

Frobisher's discussion with Jack, where he tells Jack he's the better man, and then Jack doesn't go in there and grab the guy's wife and kids. Poor Jack. Jesus, I am really, really feeling for him about Alice and Stephen. Really really really. I think they are goners.

Also, because I'm petty, I'd just like to note that IANTO CALLED JACK SIR AND JACK FUCKING LOVED IT (or at least the coat) so Hah, fucking Hah!

Torchwood contact lenses as sex toys! FIC NAO PLEAZ,

Right, that is all.

Tomorrow the real fear begins.

Comments

[neifile7.livejournal.com]

Ianto just can't do enough for Jack, can he? Which is, I suppose, part of the problem.

A lot of people seem to be reading the question about whether Jack felt the explosion as Ianto pushing, rather uncharacteristically. He is, but it's so IC for him to want to know what Jack goes through so he can do the right thing about it. (And it's the first thing he asks.) And after the bitterness of Jack's exchanges with Alice, it must be an incredible relief to Jack that Ianto just sort of gets it, wants to get on with it (by getting it on). It's like a tiny moment of absolution.

Jack so much wants to be understood and known and forgiven, even when there's so much that he keeps from them all. I thought that came through quite spectacularly in this ep.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Wow, you just totally pinpointed for me why I identify with the character. That's a little oogy.

[neifile7.livejournal.com]

Especially oogy as this may represent my over-identification with Ianto? I'm doing my best not to project too much, but man, he's not making it easy.

I do want to tell people to chill about seeing this as a Lame Ianto Emo moment, though. It's a very careful exploration on his part of the limits of his own agency, and he's remarkably disposed to accept them here (much more than he seemed to be in The Dead Line). And it's just as important that Jack understands that Ianto has made a choice and is happy with it. I just hope that RTD isn't going to cheapen it all with a Big Emo Death Scene.