|  Rigel-5 | Apr 15, 9:02am | | I was really, really hoping Martha would replace Owen. I'm not fond of any of the characters except Capt. Jack and Gwen (and Ianto when he stays in the background). Their histories made them even less interesting to me. I haven't seen the final episode yet, but the above spoilers give me some high hopes for a cast change. |
|
| 
Sponsor |  ericthehamster | Apr 15, 9:11am | Shan't say any more!
Not sure how I felt about Owen - but he and Tosh did annoy me at times, for different reasons. I don't think any of the characters are fully attractive (but then, I guess they are meant to be flawed).
When are you likely to see it? |
|
|
| | Rigel-5 | Apr 15, 12:32pm | | Torchwood airs in the US on Saturday nights and the season finally is next. (I crave new Dr. Who episodes enough to dl them as soon as they air, so I'm up to speed on that one.) |
|
|
Sponsor | | ericthehamster | Apr 15, 12:34pm | | You must post and let us have your thoughts after Saturday's episode! |
|
|
| | Rigel-5 | Apr 20, 7:27pm | While watching the end of Torchwood, season 2, I finally understood the show's fatal flaw that keeps me from having any respect for it. And why I watch it anyway.
The creators do not focus on plot or storytelling (i.e., the show's potential to be good), but instead use those as mere window-dressing for what they want to accomplish with the characters in any given episode. Therefore, the stories aren't intended to be intelligent or clever or make any kind of sense. They only exist so the characters can be forced into the artificial character development probably called for in the series' story bible.
The fact that six-year-old Gray would or could hold his 8-year-old brother responsible (as opposed to his father, the aliens, etc.) for his capture and torture then dedicate himself to Capt. Jack's destruction doesn't have to make sense for the Torchwood creators. They don't care. Nor is it likely they gave a passing thought to the idea that Capt. Jack could spend 1800+ years buried underground with no other result than a slightly dusty coat. It doesn't even have to make sense that a nuclear reactor would be designed to vent radiation into the control room. All these are treated as off-hand, unimportant details, the only purpose of which are to spotlight the reactions of the characters.
That might not be such a horrible thing if the characters were at least vaguely interesting, but they're not.
I'm very pleased with the exit of the most pathetic of the bunch, Owen and Toshiko, but again, their deaths only occurred because that's what all the orchestrated events were meant to accomplish. This mechanical Torchwood style sapped any kind of empathy or significance from their dull, drawn-out death scenes. They were just another couple of "who cares?" moments that any kind of common-sense plotting could have easily avoided. The Torchwood writing style made their deaths meaningless and irrelevant to anything but the next season's story bible.
This style is in stark contrast to Dr. Who, where the plot is the focus. Even when a story is weak, the characters are strong enough and free enough to prop up the plot and keep the audience engaged. Torchwood doesn't have those luxuries, and that's why every episode inevitable falls apart for me.
Torchwood is a recipe for a good show, but all the ingredients are mixed up in the wrong amounts. That's why the raw concept is enticing enough to keep me interested even though the execution usually makes me nauseous. That, and I love the Dr. Who universe enough that I'll even stoop to picking through its trash by watching spinoffs like this.
Hopefully the cast change is a sign of good things to come. |
|
|
Sponsor | | ericthehamster | Apr 21, 12:37am | What a splendid synopsis. I have never quite grasped what it is about Torchwood which leaves me unsatisfied, and I put it down to inconsistent story lines, and inconsistent behaviour from characters. What you have said makes it a lot clearer. ... and yes, I am still drawn to Torchwood, despite this.
The whole Gray thing was particularly annoying.
Behind the Sofa do their usual beautiful summing up:
behindthesofa.org.uk/exit_wounds/ [behindthesofa.org.uk/exit_wounds/] |
|
|
| | Rigel-5 | Apr 21, 9:28am | | Behindthesofa is great! Thanks for that link. It's very cathartic :D |
|
|
Sponsor | | ericthehamster | Apr 21, 9:47am | | Yes, I think it is one of the best Dr Who fan sites (they are so pointedly sarcastic and critical, and seeking the best from the series). |
| |
|
You need to Sign-up for StumbleUpon to post to this forum
| |
Doctor Who → Discussion