Torchwood commentary 3x01

[donutsweeper]

Am I the only one who finds it confusing this episode is called "Day One"? I mean, 27 episodes in and they have to start reusing names?

Anyway...

I'd somehow been spoiled about Jack having a daughter, but the early spoilers implied she was the angry chick with the gun (I didn't get her name, sorry- the one who shot Jack and the doctor). I'm VERY glad that didn't wind up being the case. Poor Jack though, he obviously wants more to do with his daughter and grandkid, but knows that's not in the cards.

Eve Miles was looking exceptionally beautiful in my opinion. Something about the eyes and the dusting of freckles on her cheeks and nose.

As for the plot overall? It's hard to judge when one fifth into it. I have a feeling it's not going to make a whole lot of sense. Torchwood's been around a LONG time, with full support from the Crown. UNIT may not like them, but they have seemed to work together in the past just fine. I have no idea who evil people with guns and bombs are, but it just seems like an awfully big cowinkydink that they come TW just when the children of the earth thing is coming down.

I will say the SUV being stolen was STUPID. And, overall, the bits with Ianto's family seemed rather overdone.

Random question for UK people- Do ALL schoolkids really wear uniforms like that? Interesting, I had no idea. They don't do that here.

Nice nod to Martha, by the way. On her honeymoon *grins* Although the nod to Owen and Tosh seemed a bit forced.

edited to add- If it turns out the evil gun totting people are members of yet another SUPERSEKKRIT alien watching governmental agency I am going to be a little annoyed.

Comments

[hllangel]

Technically, it's not a title repeat. it's Children of Earth: Day One. But i thought the same thing. Then again, we all know how RTD is with names. How many "Jones" are there in the Whoniverse?

The scenes with Jack and his daughter are heartbreaking, and some of the best in the episode.

Gwen was absolutely lovely. Her attitude towards being pregnant turned around really quickly once the implications hit her. It was acted brilliantly, I thought.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's a good point, although "COE: Day One" and just "Day One" seem awfully similar in my mind.

I *really* hope she doesn't lose the baby or decide she can't keep it. It would be very cliche and unnecessary.

[littledrop.livejournal.com]

Random friendsfriends answer to your random question re: schoolkids:

Yes!

Please excuse the random. *g*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

No excusing necessary! Thank you, I was wondering about that. It made the kids look that much more creepy and alike, but I wasn't sure how realistic it really was.

[jadesfire.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the last 15 minutes yet, but YES to all the above, especially Eve Myles' freckles, which were very cute and so often 'make-up'ed out :D

Also, school children definitely all look like that, and you can usually tell the poshness of the school from the uniform style. To a British eye, we could tell that they were showing us *all* types of school children, not just the ones in very good/bad schools.

I won't get to see tonight's until tomorrow, so I'm going back onto spoiler avoidance...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

More colorful uniform= more posh school?

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

I'd say more 'complicated' means posher as well as more colourful - blazers, check skirts, ties and the like as opposed to simpler plain skirts/trousers and jumpers. A uniform that would have to be bought at one particular place would definitely be one from a posher school or one in a more well-to-do area at least.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

that makes sense, thanks!

[robling-t.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling it's not going to make a whole lot of sense.

But if it made sense how would we know it was Torchwood? {rim shot}

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

But if it made sense how would we know it was Torchwood? {rim shot}

*giggles*

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I've decided to save judgement until I've watched the whole thing, but I have to agree with the title bit.

Also, I feel there needs to be a purpose for the SUV being stolen, and, until there is one, it really is STUPID, with a capital everything. I mean, IT'S THE BLOODY TORCHWOOD SUV. I would think only the Doctor could steal that.

Ianto's interaction with his sister sort of brings to mind a combination of my youngest brother and my oldest sister-in-law, so I was both rather fond of and absolutely terrified by that whole scene.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Especially since John stole the SUV in "Fragments," I refuse to believe they hadn't installed some sort of anti-theft device. (Especially since there are those kind of 'immediately shuts the car down' devices that ONstar and whatnot have TODAY for stolen vehicles.)

But yes, in general, I'm awaiting the entire series to pass judgment over the plot.

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Exactly. If it's just a bunch of kids, in the end, not under alien influence, I'll be very disappointed.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*crosses fingers for plot of perfectness to make sense soon*

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

*crosses fingers with you*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I'm starting to put together a list of unanswered questions. Which isn't looking good, since there's only one day to go.

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

We better not have to wait until NEXT season for them to answer some.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

If there is a next season. There's nothing announced yet.

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

It would kind of suck to end the show like THIS.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

one more episode though. I'll reserve judgment till I see how it ends

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Same here.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I DLed it but have chickened out and haven't watched yet. I accidently caught some spoilers and... I don't need to see it tonight

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I'm in the process of downloading. I think I want to just get it out of the way, so I can move on to EUREKA, which I'm hoping is far more pleasant.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Eureka was very fun and pleasant. The new scifi show warehouse 13 was fun and cute. not deep or meaningful, but has a lot of potential.

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

It usually is. I love that show. I'm curious about Warehouse 13. I think I may have to watch that, too.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

i liked it. It didn't start off well, but once it got going it was cute and there is a running gag with cookies. Can't go wrong with cookies!

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Ooo, cookies! Nope, can't go wrong with those.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

my thoughts exactly.

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Or coffee or donuts.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

ooh donuts.

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

LOL, they're so distracting.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

THEY ARE

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Especially when it's Tony eating one...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

gotta love Tony for his canon love of donuts!

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Between him and Gibbs, they have the basics covered.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

yep!

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Gibbs is just so damn cute in that picture, which is something you can say about Gibbs a lot.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

yes he is, and yes it is!!

[fredsmith518.livejournal.com]

Re Ianto's family, I was very surprised by them, but they were utterly real and gave another light on him, I thought

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

His family, especially his sister, really grew on me. the first episode felt like they were really trying to push home the lower-class aspects of the family a little too much, although, given the last episode, I can see why it was needed.

[fredsmith518.livejournal.com]

I was surprised where they went with the family background too, but it did add authencity I thought.

There was a lot of political stuff, I was very surprised at the 'English' digs, as in Gwen' leaving Wales bit and the 'croeso i Gymru' when she returned, the whole, 2 nations divided thing - political hot potato when I was growing up and still relevant today. The language is at the heart of this.

See http://cymdeithas.org/2006/06/05/eileen_beasley_to_be_honoured_in_cymdeithas_yr_iaiths_language_festival.html

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

oh, Eileen's story is so interesting! Honestly, I had no idea about the Welsh vs English digs. There is stereotypical grousing crossing between states here sometimes (all in good fun usually) and I just assumes the Wales/England thing was similar.

[fredsmith518.livejournal.com]

much is light hearted for sure, but there other stuff also
see extreme, thankfully now past
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meibion_Glynd%C5%B5r

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that is rather extreme, yes!

[fredsmith518.livejournal.com]

some Welsh people still feel oppressed by England annexing Wales,
http://www.castlewales.com/edwrdcas.html

Henry 7th family was Welsh and his grand daughter Elizabeth1 got the Bible translated into Welsh, hugs deal that

more recently stuff like this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/work/wales/w_nw/article_2.shtml

has kept resentment simmering

funny lot, the Welsh! ;)