Torchwood: Children of Earth - Day Two

[angelophile]

I'm not going to do full reviews on each episode, rather a few (generally non-spoilery) thoughts on each episode as they appear and then a full review at the end of the week.

So, for now, just some brief thoughts on Day Two:

A cracking episode which took the tension from the climax of Day One and ran with it. Okay, a few slight flaws in that it was tough to keep the tension so high across an hour long episode. Again, like last night's episode, I think it's something which will play out far better when viewed as a continuous five hours of television, but as a stand alone episode, the new hourly format felt slightly unwieldy.

However, some great set pieces, a few surprises and Jack's... abilities were handled in a way that was both logical and wonderfully creepy. Ianto's really pushing that whole puppy dog eyes thing, but Rhys! Rhys, I love you. My favourite character from the very first episode, I've loved that he's been dragged into the heart of things since and I can't understand why Gwen's constantly making cow eyes at Captain Reacharound™ when she has cuddy, awesome Rhys at home. He's hillarious and I love that the domestic colour is being pushed into the limelight with lovely, ordinary Rhys rubbing shoulders with the weird. His actor must be having a ball, posing with the rest of the crew and trying to look all brooding and dramatic. Bless.

He wasn't the only character that shone. Poor, wonderful, sad, grey little Mr. Frobisher. He's fast become my favourite new character - morally ambiguous, making the choices that no one else will make, including the slimy Prime Minister. This crap would never have happened under Harriet Jones, Prime Minister. Doctor, what did you do? You got us stuck with Gordon Brown MK II.

And, ah, plucky new Home Office intern. You were clearly meant to be Tish Jones before they wrote Martha out of the scripts. It might have been nice if they'd made even the slightest effort to disguise that fact, though, even if you are quicker with the condiments. Although you do earn extra cool points for being played by the superbly named Cush Jumbo. Although, clearly security at the Home Office needs looking into.

Of course, the highlight for some people will be the double-bonus of Jack's meat and two veg and lily white arse served up on a platter. Fanservice, thy name is Torchwood. I'm just surprised they went this long without showing Little Jack or Barrowman's arse, given how happy he is to show them to complete strangers at the drop of a hat normally.

Personally I squeed more at the quarry. It's not a Doctor Who related series unless you get a bloody great quarry in there at some point.

Day Three tonight. They're coming, apparently. Put the kettle on.

Comments

[kirke-novak.livejournal.com]

Rhys being so Super Awesome makes me wonder how the hell am I suppose to like Gwen, who cheated on him with Owen, kissed (fake!)Jack on her wedding day and clearly has hots for him, and, in one of the novels (non-canon but still), had an affair with one other Torchwood agent.

Bet Rhys' the one having that Terrible Secret we keep hearing about. *eyeroll* Mark my words - he shall dieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[angelophile.livejournal.com]

He better not. I think he's safe-ish, since RTD likes him and he grounds the whole concept. That's no guarantee, but he's wonderfully ordinary.

And yes, Gwen is a bitch. You're not supposed to like her. I hope. Because I don't.

[kirke-novak.livejournal.com]

Nonono, we are suppose to love her, because she's the heart of Torchwood and their conscience, and she's the only woman Jack would ever truly love and commit to.
Yeah, I know.