Torchwood: To The Last Man

[webbgirl]

LOVEDLOVEDLOVEDLOVED this episode.

I love seeing the old timey Torchwood folks. I love the timey wimey stories to begin with, so when you add the bonus of it being a Tosh ep? That's just fantabulous. The relationship with Tommy and Tosh was so sad, but it was wonderful to see her smile and laugh when she was with him. We even got to see the softer side of Owen.

BTW, when did Owen start wearing flair on his lab coat?

Then there's the kiss. Man that was a great scene. Given how over the top Barrowman can be, it was wonderfully quiet and understated. Well, until Gareth leaned in to suck his face off. I love the story about how the director didn't yell 'cut' and let them keep going for like two minutes or something. *hee*

This story had the elements of a beautiful love story, but it was also a stark reminder that for Torchwood there really aren't happy endings. I wonder if that's going to be a theme throughout this season. When folks are on the precipice of having something they want, need, deserve, it all goes to hell. If that's the case, it doesn't bode well for Jack and Ianto or Gwen and Rhys.

Also, I like that we're getting Jack being more honest and open about his past and how it impacted him. It gives me great hope for further character development.

Comments

[nialla]

I love seeing the old timey Torchwood folks.

I loved seeing that too. I'd be interested to see more about these specific people, and others from earlier eras of Torchwood in general.

I'd really like to see something exploring how Torchwood evolved from Queen Victoria's time, with the Doctor being enemy #1 up through Canary Wharf, with the focus being on snagging alien tech and weapons, to what we have now. How long have Jack and the rest been at T3, and is there any rebuilding of T1? I have been hearing we'll find out about the former this year.

We even got to see the softer side of Owen.

After last season, I never thought he was redeemable. Even with the stuff with Diane, I never really felt that he had a speck of soul in him. This season has already see a big turnaround for him, especially with Tosh. Not sure if they're going for a romantic thing with them or not, but it would be nice if they were good friends and not just co-workers.

BTW, when did Owen start wearing flair on his lab coat?

I think it's just been this season.

Then there's the kiss. Man that was a great scene.

[fans self][rewatches scene][fans self]

Given how over the top Barrowman can be, it was wonderfully quiet and understated. Well, until Gareth leaned in to suck his face off. I love the story about how the director didn't yell 'cut' and let them keep going for like two minutes or something. *hee*

I hope to Slasher Heaven the full scene ends up on the DVD extras. *g*

I liked the understatement (and face sucking *g*), because I like seeing more to Jack than his public persona. But I have to wonder if this is a part of the "no happy endings" theme this season. We've already seen Ianto worrying about Jack leaving him for the Doctor again, plus Captain John, now he's asking if Jack would want to go back to his own time.

Jack can't die, but Ianto can, and I think they're both very aware of this fact. I think they're both scared spitless of what could happen -- Ianto could die or will eventually have to leave Torchwood, or Jack might have to leave for some reason -- but they can't keep it from happening either.

Also, I like that we're getting Jack being more honest and open about his past and how it impacted him. It gives me great hope for further character development.

Keeping Jack so closed off was a huge mistake in the first season. I think they sacrificed the potential of the show for a payoff on Doctor Who. I liked the resolution with the Doctor, but I wish the timing had worked out better in relation to Jack and Torchwood.