Torchwood 3x03 minor comment

[donutsweeper]

Interesting that Alice's mom planned for there to be issues. Knew that there would be. And that she was Torchwood, but lived to die a natural death. Alice was stupid to call and check on Jack, but at least she used someone else's phone. And taking someone out with a cutting board? All kinds of awesome.

Frobisher is Permanent Secretary to the Home Office of the UK and Norther Ireland? Can any UKers tell me what that means?

Why would there be someone from UNIT AND the US armed forces? Shouldn't it JUST be UNIT? Or UNIT and every government's armed forces? And yippie for making the US guy look like an ass at first.

Overall, not a lot happened except moving the plot forward. Although, if she lives, it looks like TW has a new member in Lois.

Comments

[jadesfire.livejournal.com]

I could not love Alice more and the plot bunnies are getting twitchy.

I don't know how it works in the US, but in the UK, the Government is effectively made up of 2 parts. The politicians who are party-political, elected by the people and who take the decisions. Then there are the civil servants, who are employees of the government. They're not elected, and technically, they're just there to do as the Government tells them. They're the administrators and detail people who help to make things actually happen. Have you ever heard of the series "Yes, Minister" and "Yes, Prime Minister"? They illustrate the differences between the party-political politicians and the (supposedly) neutral civil service. The independence of the civil service is a big thing over here.

Civil servants have ranks within each department, and the top-ranking civil servant in any department is the Permanent Secretary. The Permanent is because he doesn't change when the politicians do. Traditionally, the most powerful civil servant in the country is the Cabinet Secretary, who heads the whole civil service. Behind him, the Treasury and the Home Office are the next most 'prestigious' positions. So from what he says, we know that he's a high-ranking civil servant, but not *the* highest ranking.

Deos that make sense?

Ah, yes. Just as US dramas traditionally make the bad guy British, we make Americans look daft, at least at first. It's a reciprocal thing ;)

I love how we've all been watching Torchwood long enough to preface predictions with "if the character survives..." ;D

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I've heard of those series, but never seen them.

Okay, I think I understand, there really isn't a US equivalent I don't think. Frobisher, then, has held that job for a while (presumably with Mrs. Spears working for him), under this PM and before that, Harriet Jones, etc. But never exactly worked UNDER the PMs- more like along side?

I don't think the US shows usually make the bad guy British. The British are usually the clueless ones and the French or Germans are the bad guys (it's all about the accents!) :-P

[jadesfire.livejournal.com]

*nods* My understanding is that when a new US president arrives, the *whole* administration changes, right down to the secretaries. that doesn't happen over here. The closest you'd get (I guess) would be federal employees lower down the chain, at a 'local' level, who don't change with the administration.

Again, it's kind of complicated, since technically *everyone* in government works for the Prime Minister. If I'm honest, it is a bit weird that we haven't actually seen the Home Secretary and that Frobisher is just dealing with the PM, but I guess this goes over his head. All the permanent secretaries would be known to the PM, but they technically work for their ministers first. It's a good old British mess, really ;)

Heh, yes, that's true. Ah, the joy of national stereotyping...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

That is interesting that Frobisher isn't the Home Secretary and they haven't mentioned him (assuming it's a man).

That does make sense though- the PM is in charge of everything governmental-wise

[kensieg.livejournal.com]

We don't make the bad guy British. We make the bad guy French or German. Y'know from the Frankenreich. :D

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

lol- good point!

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with the cutting board part. I'll have to remember that one.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

the co-author, Moran, wrote about loving that he wrote that in his blog. I have to agree, it's PERFECT

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Even better than a baseball bat, because there's more surface area to hit with.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

and it's one of those things that are RIGHT THERE. I can't remember if Eliot used the cutting board in 'Leverage' when he killed the guy with the appetizer, but it would have been perfect if he did

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Your kitchen is just kind of one big built-in weapon, if you know how to use it.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

cast iron frypan to the head? DEADLY

[the-dark-side.livejournal.com]

Our previous housemate owned a wok. Also deadly.