I’ve been watching Torchwood on demand, and I’ve wanted to like it. I like the idea, I like Jack and some of the writing is interesting. Gwen annoys me greatly and that’s a big strike against it, since she gets way too much screen time. But I really enjoyed the last episode I watched, ‘Random Shoes’. Here’s the synopsis:
The story was tighter and more focused, revolving mainly around Gwen and the ghostly Eugene, played by Paul Chequer. It was thoughtful and engrossing, sad with an uplifting ending. I’d have to say it was my favorite so far. Eight out of ten stars, with most of the previous episodes getting something like a five or six. Hopefully this won’t be a one-time thing… :dubious:
That’s interesting, because that episode has actually been my least favorite of the series so far. I couldn’t understand why they were investigating his death in the first place, as all they knew was he was hit by a car. (Unless I missed something? Did something about his death seem “alien” and that was why they showed up?) I prefer episodes that center more around the Torchwood headquarters and involve Jack & Owen.
Eugene had been stalking the Torchwood group. (Aren’t they supposed to be secret?) He wanted to show them his alien Eye. And get to know the Cool Guys–& the Cool Girl he was already crushing on. So when reports of the accident hit the police radios, Torchwood showed up.
And Gwen had a feeling something was up. Gwen, who was able to use the Resurrection Glove better than anyone. Gwen, who “sensed” the fairies before they became visible. Gwen, who bears a remarkable resemblance to the alien-sensing Cardiff maid Gwyneth, featured in the Doctor Who episode with Charles Dickens. (Of course, both characters were played by Eve Myles.)
Gwen who, until this episode, exhibited few useful characteristics.
Yes, I’ve thought a lot about Torchwood. It’s maddeningly uneven–but the good parts are very good. (Next season, James Marsters shows up & snogs Captain Jack. And Martha Jones spends a few episodes in Cardiff; perhaps she’ll help those bozos shape up before she rejoins the Doctor!)
And I enjoyed this episode as a standalone.
Edited to add: None of the above is spoilery. It’s all well-publicized to fans. (Spike fans too, of course.)
Exactly. There were too many holes. Why would Torchwood be investigating his death? The only thing I could think of was that Torchwood saw his Ebay item, but that would only open up more holes.
Also, Why did he suddenly become corporate and visible at the end?
I’m hoping that next season (with Martha) will be better.
I’ve had to work pretty hard to like Torchwood, and I have, but it’s not always easy. Owen is easily one of the most unlikeable pricks I’ve seen on TV and Yanto is pretty much a big blank walking around.
I just didn’t understand “Random Shoes”. Particularly, the shoes part. Why did he take pictures of their shoes?
Personally, I liked the end-of-season two parter and “Countrycide” the most in the first season.
I don’t think he meant to take pictures of shoes at all. He was upset while trying to use his phone and hit the wrong buttons. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve turned my phone’s camera on by accident and taken pictures of my stupid face, my shoes, or the interior of my car. I liked Eugene’s humanity; he seemed very real to me and I liked the premise that even though everybody considered him this geeky loser, he was a nice guy and his life did matter.
I think Torchwood came to investigate his death because he had practically been stalking them, and although they thought he was a crank, he had a connection to them. They would have dismissed it pretty quickly except for Gwen’s ‘feeling’.
I liked Countrycide too, except for the part where Gwen was holding a gun on the gun-toting, sadistic ‘I’m going to rape you and kill you slow before we eat you’ guy and she drops it because he’s got a gun on Owen. I swear to all the gods that if I were Owen, I would have slugged her in the face afterwards for her pure stupidity, since it was only luck that they weren’t maimed or dead before Jack saved the day.
The thing about Torchwood that makes the show nearly unwatchable, is the way they chose to make the show.
If I’m making an agency to defend the world against the oncomming threats of the universe, I’m gonna recruit from the top of the class. But most of these people are just worthless. They just seem to hire who ever shows up at the door, 7-11 is more selective then these people. Plus they are all weak minded, and are in no way psychologically ready for the job. Captain Jack is okay, not great, but the rest just make no sence why they are there. I don’t expect a whole team of James Bonds as that would be equally unrealistic, but come on.
Maybe it’s a Brit thing I don’t understand, but it’s like making a Justice league with Acuaman and 4 clones of Jimmy Olsen, then playing it straight.
I agree with you 100%. The team should be smarter, fitter, more aggressive. My only guess to why they are all so lame is that anybody with backbone would challenge Jack’s dictatorship more often.
It’s actually quite spoilery for those of us who don’t get UK publicity and try to avoid getting information about upcoming episodes and seasons. Thanks.
I’ve been wanting to start a general Torchwood thread for a while now. I really want to like this show. I really want it to be good and fun and enjoyable and I’m getting kind of pissed off that it’s so wildly uneven. For every stellar episode like “Greeks Bearing Gifts” and “They Keep Killing Suzie” there’s two absolute shite episodes like “Small Worlds” and “Countrycide.” As for “Random Shoes”…it was OK but it was so much better when it was “Love & Monsters” and was on Doctor Who.
Too many episodes have been formulaic. The team swans about being generally ineffectual until Captain Jack bursts in guns a-blazin’.
And, honestly, the inconsistency in the premise is making me slightly batty. Either Torchwood is a super-secret organization so highly classified that not even the Prime Minister of England is supposed to know about it or they’re another government group who drive around in a van with their name etched in the side and any random person on the street not only knows that the group exists but can stalk them for weeks or months. It can’t be both.
I agree with XaMcQ. My husband never misses an episode of this show so I give it the first few minutes, then inevitably I’m watching it out of the corner of my eye with my nose in a book - or just listening to whats going on from the kitchen while I’m doing the dishes.
Most of the episodes are not note-worthy, but I actually put down my book and watched “Random Shoes” I thought it was the best episode yet, just passing “They Keep Killing Suzie” which I also liked.
Yeah, ouch. You may want to be a bit more careful with what you put out in the open, especially with BBCAmerica material.
I’m in the “wow, great episode” camp. I appreciate that he didn’t come back permanently. That Gwen kinda-almost-nearly knew he was there, but they didn’t cross the oooh, spooky line (to me). The internal mythology and tightness of the looking back eye. I thought the mother played her role fantastically – not too frumpy, not over the top with loss, just a aged single mom who just lost a son (oh, the little brother was bratty, but like the mom not over-the-top). The friend’s line of “I miss him” was great too – not a gang of evil overlords, but real people who didn’t foresee his death. Lastly, the retelling of his life was done adroitly enough to get us into his character, to care about him, to be sad as he eventually whisked away.
Oh, I too wondered why they were investigating him, but as soon as it was revealed that he was a veritable Torchwood-stalker, it made sense that the gang would at the very least look into his untimely death. IIRC, Gwen got flack because she was still at it (oooh, spooky) while everyone else gave up the case as uninteresting.
“Drop your gun and let me push this button that will blow up the planet, Hero McGoodly Guy, or I’ll shoot your wife, who is also standing with us on said planet! Muhahahaah!”
Bang
One thing I’m so hoping for is a scene like that where someone has a gun to Jack’s head.
Sorry. The Marsden bit came out in Whedonesque back in June & was posted here. And the other sooper seekrit casting news has been out since August.
The second season of Torchwood has not aired in the UK. And I would never disclose details gained from somehow seeing any of those episodes before they hit BBCamerica–or from fan sites with international membership. (Just as I know some spoilers for the remaining shows in this season–but would never mention them.)
However, in future I’ll remember to slow down for the benefit of those who avoid frivolous parts of the Internets!
“Frivolous parts” like, in my case, the BBC News website. Doctor Who news regularly turns up on the main UK news page there and sometimes on the front page (especially under the “Most popular” links). The show is just too huge a hit for everything to be kept secret.
Do any UK Doctor Who fans manage to be as unspoilered as some US fans want to be? Like, actually not knowing Rose was going to leave the show? It must be like being in America and staying in complete ignorance that the World Series is underway, or The Sopranos just went off the air.
