Torchwood wish-list

[rm]

Since everyone else is playing:

1. Some way of addressing the dead. What I want here is probably much, much smaller than what other people want. That thing where Gwen touched the picture of Tosh and Owen in CoE? More than enough. Just an offhand non-specific remark from Jack about how hard it is to be back in Cardiff/on Earth, or even something more sneaky than that (like the awesome thing where the Doctor goes "You're only 26" at that dude in "Waters of Mars" and it felt like talking about CoE without talking about CoE) is plenty for me. I don't want big; I want elegant.

2. Time differentials. I want it to be longer for Jack since CoE than for Gwen. And I want it to be a source of tension. And I want this to mean that Jack gets to make one hell of an entrance.

3. Alonso. I think Alonso is a good, awkward thing for Jack and serves as a way to address lots of Jack's awkward fucked up shit. Fandom's too, especially when it comes to cliches about masculinity, size, youth and authority.

4. Platonic love. One of the best things, and I think one of the things most missed in the transition from S1/2 to CoE, was just how much everyone on the team fucking loved each other, even on days without sex pollen. I want that back SO BAD.

5. A Jack who is doing the work. I'm not talking a relationship heart to hearts here. I'm talking about someone who's less invested in his fucking emo flaws and more invested in getting the job done. Time for Jack to grow up, just a little; the audience needs him to be proud of himself again.

6. A PC Andy who's more than a punchline. Certainly, he evolved AWESOMELY in CoE. Let's not lose that.

7. No stunt casting. I don't want to see faces I recognize in the outside of the UK casting. I want people to keep having interesting looks and energy. Which is to say, I love Nathan Fillion, but could do without.

8. If John Hart comes back, that relationship needs a resolution.

9. John Fay on the writing team. He's a good guy and a good writer who's still full of wonder for the genre and its community, and the fresh perspective is great for the tone of the show.

10. More with the smart fucking use of music. Less with the spoiling us by early releases of track titles on Amazon.

11. Euros Lyn directing. I still don't know how he got those fucking performances out of folks in CoE. Torchwood has always needed a very forceful and precise director, and CoE only worked as much as it did because of where Lyn was able to pull subtlety out of actors who don't tend to lean that way. I think the show absolutely, positively, continues to need his hand on it.

12. Finally, Torchwood needs to stay big. I neither need, nor particularly want, to be more gutted after S4 than I was after S3, but I do want to be as moved and leave the experience thinking that I was a part of something truly astounding. As much as there's been a lot of interpersonal heartbreak post-CoE amongst both fandom and fandom's broad relationship with the TW creators, I'm still thrilled at the moment of time we all got to be in together, and wouldn't trade that experience for the world. Let's do it again.

Comments

[syzygy-lj.livejournal.com]

I'd kind of like to see Martha and/or Mickey.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I would be all for that.

I'd also like for RTD to finally get over his South Asian Fail, but since I suspect that's never gonna happen.

[neifile7.livejournal.com]

Martha AND Mickey, please! And a side of Sarah Jane? The Cardiff Home for Discarded Companions?

Number 2, most definitely. And I want Gwen to be even more pissed than last time. :)

I'd really like Lois as well, if they'll do something intelligent with her PA awesomeness.

[virginhuntress.livejournal.com]

OMG finally someone else who wants RTD to cast people who aren't either black or white. There are whole other categories (particularly SE Asia) that's he's missing on.

[reannon.livejournal.com]

Added to the list: I want to see Gwen capably managing being a kickass operative and being a mother. If that means Rhys is a stay-at-home dad, more the better - it's a valid life choice and I've only seen one show that made it real (PARENTHOOD). I am so very very tired of the working mom who is torn between family and job, of the husband who resents the job, of the subtle or not-so-subtle guilt trip put on women who have a life outside the home. It reinforces the stupid idea that women have to give up being women (i.e. wives, mothers, sexual beings) if they want to move in Man's World, and if they don't, they'll be hopelessly torn in half for the rest of their lives, by themselves if not by their loved ones. I'd like for Gwen to be the second really capable working mom in specfic (the first really being Beverly Crusher, who was the only sf mom I can think of who didn't have this conflict).

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lullabelle_/]

Word. I'd love to see Gwen successfully balancing work and motherhood.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Rhys would love being a stay at home dad.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

He'd probably be good at it. Management skills, the patience of a saint (heaven knows his missus has rather put him through the wringer) and a degree of intrepidity...

[malle-babbe.livejournal.com]

I can totally see him having a great time as a stay at home Dad, and carrying it off very well. I don't want to see "Mr. Mom" chaos, nor do I want Gwen doing Mommy Guilt over Rhys taking on the stay at home role.

For a long while I didn't really "get" Rhys until "Dead Man Walking", when Gwen calls him after Owen's Not Quite Right Resurrection. Something in the way he asked her what was wrong finally made me see what Gwen saw in him. He's a big teddy bear of a guy...

[rarelylynne.livejournal.com]

THIS. THIS. THIS. THIS. AND THIS.

[azn-jack-fiend.livejournal.com]

I'm saying this as a working mom... I hate to be a downer but I don't see that happening. I think Rhys' job is way too much part of his identity and he's not the kind of man who could make the transition smoothly. Maybe he could, I just don't see it from the characterization so far. He seems traditional in that regard.

I just don't see any way in hell anyone could have a job like Gwen's and be the primary caregiver. There are options:

-- Heavy use of nanny/daycare (outsource caregiving to other woman paid less than you are)
-- Stay-at-home husband (huge stigma against this)
-- Extended family are caregivers. This is common but it almost never gets explored in movies/TV, and it's too bad.

In a more utopian future like Star Trek, it's great that it wouldn't be an issue, but for anything set in the present day I'd actually be a little irritated if someone presented being a working mother in a high pressure job as something that didn't involve some degree of sacrifice.

Not that it can't be balanced at all, or that I'd want to see a lot of agonizing over it, but as a background note, I wouldn't want the easy way.

[ophymirage.livejournal.com]

Maybe he could, I just don't see it from the characterization so far. He seems traditional in that regard.

Really? because my memories of Rhys are that he cooks, he cleans (ovens, laundry and dishes), he grocery shops, he waits up for Gwen to come home, we even see him in aprons at least twice. He ALSO works at his regular job, but they pushed hard at giving him more traditional 'wifely' roles as well.

We see a lot less of the working Rhys ("Meat" is the only one that really comes to mind - well, that and using his specialized knowledge to escape in CoE) than we do of the domestic Rhys.

[reannon.livejournal.com]

Ditto.

And I'm a working single mom with two jobs. But the conflict mostly comes from outside, from other people imposing their beliefs on me, from the interviewing boss snidely saying that working moms don't give the same effort to their jobs, etc. It comes from the people who always ask an expectant mother if she's going to give up her career but never ask the father the same question. TV exacerbates this conflict, and it's tiresome, and when TV perpetuates it, I long for just once someone seeing that the work can be as much a part of a woman's life as a man's, without having to eschew home and family.

Gwen's job certainly is more unpredictable and time-consuming than, say, a secretary in an office would be. But so is the job of a cop, or a paramedic, or a reporter. So if I can balance being a single mom and a reporter without a full-time partner at all, I'm betting Gwen can do it with Rhys as the giant teddy-bear daddy you know he's going to be.

At least until their infant daughter gets kidnapped by aliens or something... Oy. I forgot, RTD is writing this... *shudder*

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Jack being away longer than linear time on Earth would be great, if he comes back with Alonso, the tension would be absolutely delicious.
The family dynamic (what you call Platonic Love) is something I've argued with friends IRL over, because it was too dysfunctional for them. I always wondered what they considered a healthy relationship among misfits would be...

I'd like to see some female sexuality that isn't totally destructive.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Jack being away longer than linear time on Earth would be great, if he comes back with Alonso, the tension would be absolutely delicious.

If the show doesn't give us this, I'll write it my damn self.

[used_songs]

I'd like to see some female sexuality that isn't totally destructive.

I would love this, too.

[51stcenturyfox.livejournal.com]

I would be pleased with all of these things. I don't mind Nathan Fillion if it makes a portion of fandom desperately happy, though. Because James Marsters made me happy, so I understand.

Euros Lyn did pull some subtlety out of JB which I loved, no matter what people think of CoE, I think it was some of John's best acting. Especially in light of Desperate Housewives... the direction makes a big difference.

[elisi]

Euros Lyn directing. I still don't know how he got those fucking performances out of folks in CoE.
With difficulty. ;) From JB's 'I Am What I Am', where he describes the two of them as 'initially we were like two rams locking horns'...

From one of the first scenes they filmed (one of those in the warehouse):

...Euros would call 'cut' and then he'd come up to me and the conversation would go something like this.

'Good, John, I liked it, but I'd like to go again. This time, bring it back a bit.'

Deep breath.

There I was, standing in that desolate warehouse, the Hub destroyed, the cast soon to be decimated again, down to five episodes from thirteen, the need to prove ourselves once more - aargh!

'If I bring it back any further, I'll be back in my fucking trailer!'

Suffice to say, they eventually managed to work things out. (I'd write more, but I've got to run.) Although clearly what JB needs is a director who'll stand up to him! :)

Anyway, I love your list, esp #1!

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Arrgh, now I want to read JB's books!

[elisi]

They're *fabulous*, darling! :D

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

I agree about PC Andy and I hope Rhys doesn't get thrown under the bus. I can live with Gwen and Jack as long as Jack stays the primary character. If Jack is reduced to a cameo for Gwen to be the leader, I don't think I'll enjoy it. I will not accept Jack as 'comic relief.'

I also would like several years to have passed (and they will have in real time). Doesn't matter to me if the time lines between Jack and Gwen differ - though that would be an interesting touch (hey, I just had Jack come back to Earth after a thousand years his time vs 7 weeks everyone else's time and yeah, its fun). Then Alonso or another love interest would be fine.

More Captain John - yes! He's a great character and the sexual tension between him and Jack was delicious.

I hope they will keep the omnisexual nature of the show. Jack with women is fine, but I hope (especially since going to be a cable production) that we see Jack with men and aliens as well! How they will include Gwen in this (beyond the aliens made me do it) is problematic - which is why I worry that Rhys has already been or will soom be killed off.

And for the love of all that's sacred, please, please leave Gwen's baby at home. I'm not interested in the domestic lives of the characters except in reference to how this impacts their role at Torchwood. The first time I see Gwen come to work with the baby and a diaper bag (and its not in a comic bit)- I'm done.

[malle-babbe.livejournal.com]

I am totally with you on number 4; there was a bond between those five that I really liked.

Given what I have heard about the "hysterical women" comments, if the choice is between no acknowledgment of CoE and a character griping about "Some people just can't let go..." I'll go with the first choice. I am totally OK with a clean break at this point. Swashbuckling is why I tuned in to this show in the first place.

I guess what I would be more interested in finding out is if the footage of politicians figuring out how to choose the kids to give to the 456 is leaked, and the degree of the holy hell that would be unleashed by the public. Maybe that would be the impetus for Jack and Gwen moving to the States perhaps? The look on the PM's face when he is told that it was all recorded was perfect; kind of like what you'd see if you were able to tell Richard Nixon that those 18 minutes were not in fact erased, and were sitting on Walter Cronkite's desk...

I'd also like to see settings not in NYC or LA; Chicago would be nice, or places like Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, etc. Don't know why, but I keep wanting to set it in an industrial town in the Northeast or Midwest. I've got a cousin in the 'Burgh who is a member of IASTE even, he's love the work...

Also would like a lampshade hanging moment where someone asks why folks from the 51st century sound like they are from the Midwest ;-) "So, are you from Planet Iowa or something? You went to high school with Captain Kirk?"

[ophymirage.livejournal.com]

I'd also like to see settings not in NYC or LA; Chicago would be nice, or places like Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, etc.

that was one of the cool things I liked about Homicide: set in Baltimore, of all places.

I'm guessing we have a couple of really good Rift locations: Area 51, for sure. :) also, wherever the hell in Utah Henry van Statten's going to put his base in a few years...

[malle-babbe.livejournal.com]

I had to look up the name, but I totally agree with you on TWood coming across his bunker, and trying not to freak out, "OK, back away slowwwwwly from the Dalek, I don't think it is active, and let's keep it that way."

How about the team discovering that there is more to the PA Centralia Mine Fire than burning coal? Or finding out that HP Lovecraft was not in fact making things up with his unearthly weirdness in New England?

[rm.livejournal.com]

I don't think TW's going to be doing monster of the week cases in the US. I'm pretty sure we're looking at another global threat plot that will plonk them down in the US for part of the arc.

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

I always thought Charlotte would be a good US match for Cardiff in an American version.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

My wish would be to be able to WATCH it. (The down side of rural life.)

[robling-t.livejournal.com]

3. Alonso. I think Alonso is a good, awkward thing for Jack and serves as a way to address lots of Jack's awkward fucked up shit. Fandom's too, especially when it comes to cliches about masculinity, size, youth and authority.

Unfortunately, Tovey has another steady gig right now, which I am in no way unhappy about but it would by necessity seem to limit the opportunity to work in much of Alonso in person... though I will be Quite Cross if he's not at least mentioned.

And word on making Andy more than a punchline. Kid has potential...

[rm.livejournal.com]

Being Human is now shooting in Cardiff. It's totally doable.

[robling-t.livejournal.com]

Except for the workload, though. And it'd still limit him to filming in Cardiff, if TW's potentially going to be (alleging to) go walkabout that could be an issue... Not that I wouldn't love seeing more of Alonso, it's just that you're taking George away from my cold dead fingers. ;)

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

#'s 4, 5 & 6 (um... weird) - yes please!

#11 - oh god that could be good (but i still question whoever decided on some of those camera angles and shots!)

to add: i want a team, any team, but i miss the whole team vibe!

[coneyislandbaby]

7. No stunt casting. I don't want to see faces I recognize in the outside of the UK casting. I want people to keep having interesting looks and energy. Which is to say, I love Nathan Fillion, but could do without.

With this one (the rest I agree with completely or enough to not need to discuss) what I want is the best, most interesting actor for the role, period. I don't care if they cast Harvey Keitel if the role calls for something Harvey Keitel can do really well, but I'd rather they didn't cast Harvey Keitel just because he's Harvey Keitel (usage of big name in recent TV series, no wish list on casting though I would be very happy as I like him). Does that make sense?

[rm.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. And I can be woo'ed on this certainly. But known faces often distract me from what's happening on screen, so I'm hoping we'll be avoiding it. (On the other hand, someone get Alexis Denisoff, RIGHT NOW).

[raaven.livejournal.com]

OMGYES! THIS!!

[coneyislandbaby]

Oh yes, I know what you mean about familiar faces (see: James Marsters a little bit). I just would hate if they didn't cast someone good simply because he or she was well known. It can, I imagine, be a difficult balance at times.

[elisi]

Just points I didn't think of immediately:

1. Some way of addressing the dead.
If Jack kept Ianto's stopwatch I'd be happy forever and ever. (I'm honestly not sure how they'd address the Steven issue. That's kinda too difficult to do quickly. Guess we'll have to see.)

5. A Jack who is doing the work.
He needs an epiphany:

Angel: "Well, I guess I kinda - worked it out. If there is no great glorious end to all this, if - nothing we do matters, - then all that matters is what we do. 'cause that's all there is. What we do, now, today. - I fought for so long. For redemption, for a reward - finally just to beat the other guy, but... I never got it."
Kate: "And now you do?"
Angel: "Not all of it. All I wanna do is help. I wanna help because - I don't think people should suffer, as they do. Because, if there is no bigger meaning, then the smallest act of kindness - is the greatest thing in the world."

:)

[shadowvalkyrie.livejournal.com]

Time differentials. I want it to be longer for Jack since CoE than for Gwen. And I want it to be a source of tension. And I want this to mean that Jack gets to make one hell of an entrance.

Oh yes, PLEASE!