Torchwood, end of s1

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Brilliant Husband and I finally saw the end of Torchwood season 1 last night: "Captain Jack Harkness" and "End of Days." Yes, I know virtually everyone else on the Net has already seen those episodes. I'm not going to offer a review. I'm just going to react.

Wow! I've been frustrated with Torchwood, kind of waiting for it to be a better show. I got it. Yes, these two episodes had plot holes bigger than Cardiff, but I'll overlook them--I mean, you can't get through the first couple of episodes of the series if you aren't willing to overlook a lot. (And yes, I wish I could adopt this attitude more towards other shows, most notably Stargate: Atlantis; I still expect people to behave rationally, or at least consistently, there, whereas I've accepted that Torchwood is simply madness, and everyone who works for Torchwood falls victim to insanity sooner or later. Mostly sooner.)

I shed a couple of tears for the original Captain Harkness. The one thing I knew about this episode going in was that the two Jacks shared a kiss, in public. I've seen people say it would be impossible in '41. Normally, I'd say yes. After the sirens, the hiding in the cellar with at least one man groping the woman with him, the slightly jarring appearance of a not-quite-in-uniform American captain with a Japanese woman supposedly working as a decoder--well, I can understand everyone just standing there staring. Then there's a brilliant light, and the American and the Japanese woman disappear without anyone actually seeing them leave, and everyone decides individually and silently that they've had too much of something, and they're just going to let this one slide, especially since they all liked Captain Harkness. They're not accepting it; Tosh is the only one who smiles. They're just letting it go. Within a day, they'll have all forgotten: they'll just remember a hero who looked out for his men and took out three Messerschmidts.

Somewhere amidst all the angst, however, I managed to insert, "Always knew he was a narcissist." Jack can't quite resist himself. The two Jacks are an awful lot alike, aren't they?

I cried for Rhys--well, for Gwen, really. She tried so hard! And half the team shooting each other--gosh, it felt like an episode of Stargate SG-1!

I just have to say: what is with men being held at gunpoint who can't stop mouthing off to the guy holding the gun? (Yes, I'm still having SG-1 flashbacks.) First Owen not only won't believe Ianto will shoot him, he has to insult him. Yow! Gotta hurt! Jack then does the same thing to Owen! Is this some aspect of male discourse I've been fortunate enough to miss until now?

Jack wants a team who work well together. Well, he got one. Oops. Here's Jack, trying to drive a wedge between members of the team. Here is my poster for this Kodak moment:



Here's my husband's:



(Screencap from Demon-Cry: Doctor Who and Torchwood Stills)
I apologize for problems with size and proportion; I'm not sure I'm doin it rite. And stills don't work so well; you have to fill in mentally what happens just after this moment.

I think Jack could have shot either of the men (even though Owen had barely recovered from the Weevil when Ianto shot him, and he certainly hasn't recovered Ianto shooting him). Maybe he could even have shot Tosh, though I'm doubtful. I knew he couldn't shoot Gwen.

Then again, I did not think for a moment Owen could shoot Jack, let alone shoot to kill (or overkill, as the case may be). Gwen fully expects Jack to get back up but doesn't seem to tell the others! They're all off their respective nuts.

When Jack got up but hadn't fully healed and they were dragging him outside, I had another SG-1 flashback: Kane: "Do you ever give up?" Daniel: "Not until I'm dead….And, sometimes, not even then."

Interlude for queries:
1. Did I miss some introduction of the rift manipulator? Have I seen that before? Yes, I took so darned long to watch season 1 that I may have just forgotten. Then again, it's Torchwood; they can throw virtually anything in, and I'll only question it so much.
2. I understand that opening the rift fully undid what the partial opening did. Rhys's body disappears, Romanum ite domum, etc. What I don't understand is how the death of Abydon (SG-1 again?) undid the deaths of all those he'd killed. Did its destruction reseal the rift and plunge us back a short time? If so, why were Jack's body, Gwen, and the SUV still where they'd been? Or were there piles of bodies around Cardiff that no one could explain afterwards and they decided not to show us in the interest of a happy ending?
3. Bilis Manger was really creepy. Was I supposed to get his name? BH said, "Manger--French--eat." Oh, yeah (I might have gotten this sooner except that I first read his name-plate as "Bilis, Manager" and was wondering whether Bilis was a first name or a last name). Is there more to Bilis than "bile"? I keep trying to make some kind of anagram of his full name, but I'm not getting anything. (Maybe there's a middle name I'm missing that will make it all clear!)
Back to the main meanderings.

I knew Jack couldn't die permanently; there'd be no season 2. I still really felt his death(s) at the hands (shadow) of Abydon, and Gwen's horror. (Poor Rhys must be convinced she's unhinged, with her running in like that just moments after she left, from his perspective, telling him to go back to bed and she'll be back, and then not returning for days! He's right, of course: she is unhinged. Poor woman will never be hinged again, but she's probably the best-hinged of the bunch at this point.)

I did feel for Gwen throughout her vigil with the body. But honestly! She said, "I believe"--and I said, "What, now he's Tinkerbell?" Brilliant Husband contributed almost simultaneously, "I believe in fairies." But apparently she had to kiss him as well! I yelled, "What! Now he's Sleeping Beauty?" (Well, actually, I might have said "Snow White"; I get the Disney princesses mixed up.)

The answer, of course, is yes to both: Jack is Tinkerbell and Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.

When Ianto saw Jack, I said, "I can has hugs?" Yes! Hugs and a kiss! And Owen gets hugs and forgiveness! Now that's what I want as catharsis! Can we have more episodes like this, please, instead of only episodes where everybody dies and I feel vaguely sick at the end?

But wait! There's more! Jack vanishes! I would have been truly shocked if I hadn't seen those Doctor Who episodes already!

Endnote: or_mabinogi, curse him, has now gotten me into Torchwood Babies: tw_babiez. It's disturbing. Little Ianto with his little doll gives me the creeps (look closely at the doll; Brilliant Husband didn't and didn't see what it was). And yet I find myself demanding, "Where's the next installment? Come on, I'm waiting here!"

The best part is that now we already have a few Torchwood episodes from season 2 waiting for us on TiVo! Yay! [/Kermit the Frog handwaving and voice]

No spoilers, pls! 'k thx bye!

Comments

[or-mabinogi.livejournal.com]

MWAHAHAHAHA!!! Torchwood Babiez FTW!! \o/

They seriously need to update soon. I'm twitchin for a fix. ;-)

I admire your spin ability regarding The Kiss, and I'll buy into it too. It was a great scene but that was so uncomfortable watching it with my mom and dad.

I keep thinking I did read somewhere the meaning of Billis' name. But maybe I'm imagining that. Regardless, I can't remember, so it's neither here nor there.

I've only watched two episodes of season 2. And those off my DVR weeks after they aired. I have two more waiting. I hope to get to them eventually.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Torchwood Babiez! I read the first few and said, "That's disturbing. I'm not going to look at that any more."

A little while later, I went back and read a few more.

A little while later, I went back, read the rest, and added them to the flist.

I can't imagine watching any of Torchwood with my parents! I thought it was a great detail, that Tosh smiles when they kiss and no one else does: everyone else looks to me like they're trying to figure out how to react, and finally they give up, because just they don't know what to do with what they're seeing.

At least we're not the only ones who are behind! As soon as we have a free evening, we can watch the start of s2! I figure that will be in . . . March or April....

[nialla]

[chant] One of us, one of us, one of us...[/chant]

::ahem:: ;)

I understand your frustration with season one, because I shared it. But those final two episodes really made up for a lot. I think there were several factors contributing to it, specifically it was sort of a rush job getting it written and produced, as well as they were holding back info about Jack that was to be revealed in Doctor Who. Now that the info has been revealed, Jack is almost like a different character, more like he was when originally introduced.

1. Did I miss some introduction of the rift manipulator? Have I seen that before? Yes, I took so darned long to watch season 1 that I may have just forgotten. Then again, it's Torchwood; they can throw virtually anything in, and I'll only question it so much.

Think of Torchwood equipment like devices left behind by the Ancients in the Stargate 'verse. They don't exist until you need them for the plot. ;)

Did its destruction reseal the rift and plunge us back a short time? If so, why were Jack's body, Gwen, and the SUV still where they'd been? Or were there piles of bodies around Cardiff that no one could explain afterwards and they decided not to show us in the interest of a happy ending?

The Rift messes with time and space. Killing resealed and reset the Rift's effects. You haven't seen it yet, but a season two episode also has a passing mention to a "rewind" after the Rift has been been tampered with. Translation: Just roll with it. ;)

Also, Abaddon is the name of a demon in the Bible, and is also supposed to be related to a similar creature show in a Doctor Who two-parter, "The Impossible Planet" and "The Satan Pit." In both cases, the creatures were locked away "before time" and it's possible they were locked away using the same methods.

3. Bilis Manger was really creepy.

Oh my, yes. My understanding is Bilis is the name of a Welsh mythological figure, sometimes referred to as the King of the Underworld.

The answer, of course, is yes to both: Jack is Tinkerbell and Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.

Yep, that pretty much sums him up. ;)

Can we have more episodes like this, please, instead of only episodes where everybody dies and I feel vaguely sick at the end?

Even though I still have some niggles with season two, I think it answers your plea pretty well, at least so far. There's also a more intense feeling of sheer wacky fun that makes it even more of a joy to watch. Well, that and the boy kissing. [innocent look]

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Think of Torchwood equipment like devices left behind by the Ancients in the Stargate 'verse. They don't exist until you need them for the plot. ;)

I can live with that--until and unless they find a machine that creates exploding tumors. And I figured the Rift must have been a reset button--yet a few things weren't reset, like Jack's death, Gwen and the SUV being there, and the damage to the Torchwood complex. I know-picky, picky.

Thanks for the help with mythologies! I'd gotten so hung up on SG-1 parallels I was in the wrong place for Abaddon (found it now--Book of Revelation, one brief mention only). The creature was somewhat like the thing in "The Impossible Planet" and "The Satan Pit," but I'm still not clear on how they're related--or what locked them up. Those questions are probably too big to answer.

My understanding is Bilis is the name of a Welsh mythological figure, sometimes referred to as the King of the Underworld.
Ah--I'm not at all strong on Celtic mythology. I guess the team isn't either, because Gwen and Ianto at least are Welsh and don't seem to have been disturbed by the name!
A very brief Internet search with your information, however, revealed the embarrassing point that Chretien de Troyes makes Bilis King of the Antipodes, and that I've not only repeatedly read but taught the work where Bilis is mentioned, Erec et Enide. I have no memory of him.
Oops.

There's also a more intense feeling of sheer wacky fun that makes it even more of a joy to watch.
Now that's what I want!

[nialla]

I can live with that--until and unless they find a machine that creates exploding tumors.

Oh, word to that one.

And I figured the Rift must have been a reset button--yet a few things weren't reset, like Jack's death, Gwen and the SUV being there, and the damage to the Torchwood complex. I know-picky, picky.

We'll go for "those closest to the rift damage weren't affected for the plot hole spackle attempt." ;) I know in a later episode, Jack bitches about things reset to an earlier time, so they have avoid themselves all day.

The creature was somewhat like the thing in "The Impossible Planet" and "The Satan Pit," but I'm still not clear on how they're related--or what locked them up. Those questions are probably too big to answer.

Bilis says something about Abaddon being the son of the great beast, which is taken to mean the son of the beast from the Doctor Who eps. In those eps, the beast (via the Ood, I think) says it has many names, among them Abaddon and Satan. The Torchwood web site (which usually adds some extra details, but it can't really be considered fully canon) asked "Were there other beings like Abaddon? Are they also entombed underneath planets across the universe?" -- that seems to be a direct reference to the DW ep.

I'm not strong in Celtic mythology either, but I'm a demon with Google. ;) Bilis is also used as a given name in Wales, so there's no real reason for Ianto and Gwen to have been disturbed by it. I've often heard TPTB love to play name and word games with various things, such as the origination of "Torchwood" as an anagram of "Doctor Who" so they're probably sneaking in some local mythology names that not all viewers would catch.

[loriel-eris.livejournal.com]

I remember Captain Jack Harkness with perfect clarity, but I have no damn idea what End of Days was about. And even with the mention of Bilis, I'm only vaguely there. Once you started talking about it, I did remember Gwen's vigil, and god, yeah, I'm right there with you. I was sitting there willing him to live, in very much a "I believe in faeries" moment. And I knew that he'd come back to life (DW/TW is actually pretty damn good about the whole placing the gun on stage in act one so it can be used in act 4 concept) but I was still utterly heartbroken.

Oh god, there's bit's and pieces of this ep coming back to me. There was a bit in a clock shop, right? And Gwen (and Jack?) basically had to go against everyone else? I still can't remember about 95% of the ep, but now I'vegot some of it, I remember that I loved that whole ep with a deep and passionate love.

What I thought of 1x13.

I watched TW and DW in the airing order. ie I saw S2 DW, then S1 TW then S3 DW. As such, we got to the end of End of Days and I was all OMG JACK'S GONE! I knew that watching S1 TW before S3 DW was necessary re being spoiled (friends know me!) but I can't remember if I knew before the end of S1 TW that Jack was going to disappear. I don't think I did. And I managed to avoid all knowledge of him appearing in DW. I mean, after the TW season finale, I assumed he would, but I didn't actually know. And I assumed he'd be there from ep 1. So when he didn't appear I was a bit concerned for him. But then, when he did appear, it was a complete surprise, because by that point I totally wasn't expecting.

I'm going to shut up now.

God, I'd forgotten how gleeful I could get about TW and DW. *g*

ETA: tw_babiez - OMG this is hilarious! *g*

[aelfgyfu_mead]

The awful, painful thing is that it's Jack against everyone else, including Gwen. Yes, Jack's horrible to them all, but Owen shoots him to death. Couldn't he just shoot to disable? But Owen had gone round the twist already; they all had, except Jack (who was already there anyway).

But Jack forgives Owen. And Owen cries!

I saw that whole DW season before I saw most of the Torchwood season, so I was out of order. I don't expect shows to be interdependent like that! (I mean, look at Stargate!) But I enjoyed it all anyway!

[loriel-eris.livejournal.com]

There's more and more coming back to me. I vaguely remember being all "Oh Jack!" and just wanting to hug him. What I can't remember is who I was sitting there yelling "OH MY GOD< can you please just listen to ___!?!?!" at. It may well have been all of them. There was someone in the ep that (for most of it, at least) was making perfect sense, and noone was listening!!?!?

God, I have next to no memory of this ep and I'm still sitting here flailing/what have you and almost in tears from the awesomeness of this ep at what little I do remember.

With shows like this, that spin off, my default assumption is that they're related. Noted under: "Things I learnt from Buffy and Angel." *g*

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

I LOVE TORCHWOOD!!! I don't even notice plot holes - I just enjoy! And if you thought SSn 1 was good... Well, hold on dear, lol!!

The Rift was mentioned twice in the first seasons of Who - they may explain more later, but they are letting it slide for now? I dunno - the ending of season one was so damned awesome, sad, shocking and wonderful, I was breathless for days!! Enjoy Season two love!!

*hugs*

[aelfgyfu_mead]

And as soon as we have a free evening, we can start season 2! Can't wait!

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Tis most awesome!!

*Sits on squee til you get caught up!!*

*hugs*