Torchwood 1.6: Countrycide
Nov. 21st, 2006 01:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenayWith the lack of Spooks on TV last night, I watched my video of Torchwood rather than waiting until Wednesday so I'm only a day behind the squee.
Extensive spoilers ahoy!
This was the first episode where I kind of went "buurgg, ick" at the end. Last week was pleasantly scary, making me jump a few times and provoking thoughts about myths and so on. Countrycide was a different kind of scary, but it make me think a bit.
The reason for the "buurgg, ick" response is quite simple to define. When I thought it was aliens doing everything, I wasn't too concerned. When it turned out to be humans - no alien influence, no disease, just humans - it suddenly became much more disturbing. I think this probably shows a kind of double standard: what is acceptable for aliens to do (OK, yes, kill said aliens but it doesn't provoke a strong ick response) is horrifying when humans do it. The same story-line would have been much less powerful with aliens involved.
I think my father had the same response. His comment afterwards was "I thought this was about aliens?", followed by a slightly more dignified rendition of my "buuurgg, ick" response.
It must be something in the human psyche that makes cannibalism much worse than something inhuman eating humans.
I didn't enjoy the episode quite as much as last week's, but there were some definite highlights. It was good to see a bit more of Toshiko and I'm trying to forgive her for being a little Owen oriented - my Gwen/Tosh shippery heart was dealt a blow there. I'm thinking that this is something that will be tackled next week. I did like the fact that she was still the competant, gutsy woman that I've been seeing up to now. Other shows (that will remain nameless although many can guess...) have been known to turn female characters into mopey, lovelorn shadows as soon as a shippy, unrequited love plot-line arises and I'm not seeing any sign of that happening here.
The Ianto loving part of me was very happy with this episode. It added some interesting elements to his character and is starting to explain a few things about him. I was slightly disconcerted by the lack of suit, though :-) And I would have been interested to know why he was taken along for the mission, or at least why he agreed to go. Possibly this is a nod to his comment that all he does is clean up their shit, but I was intrigued by his response to actually being a part of the events. It also makes me wonder why he joined Torchwood in the first place. I'm starting to think that he was a desk-bod back at Torchwood 1 and with Torchwood 3 being so much smaller there simply isn't the kind of admin and paperwork that I think he did in Torchwood 1. Going out into the field, getting kidnapped and doing physical things isn't what he thinks that he's cut out for.
At the same time, he had to have known that providing the distraction to get Tosh away would have consequences and it was unlikely that both of them would escape. I think that Ianto doesn't see himself as brave, doesn't like doing the physical work out in the field and can't logically understand why anyone would do things that they're terrified of, but when he doesn't have to think about it or rationalise what he's doing, he's just as capable as the others at the stuff. It strikes me that his biggest weakness isn't a lack of bravery, but a need to over-analysing everything. If he isn't given the time to think then his instincts are just as strong as the rest of Torchwood.
The episode gave us another glimps of the ruthless side of Jack and a hint at what he's done in the past. I'm wondering whether his reference to learning torture techniques comes from his period as a Time Agent - it makes sense in the context of his past and ties in with the hints that he gave out in DW about what his fellow Time Agents were capable of.
The relatinship between Gwen and Owen is very interesting. It's also interesting to see how much Gwen is being changed by what she's involved in and seeing. I don't think she's sleeping with Owen out of love. It's definitely attraction, but also a symptom of trying to deal with how much her world is changing for her. On Owen's side, I'm undecided - attraction, yes, but whether he's got something deeper isn't something I'd be willing to say yet. I'm going to be very interested to see how this plays out, particularly if Tosh finds out.
This was the kind of episode that I'm not sure I'll want to frequently re-watch, but did leave a very strong impression on me and will be sticking in my mind for a while yet. It had a surprising amount of character development when I analysed it and is setting up some interesting things that should play out later in the series. It's probably going to be an interesting one to watch after the series ends.
Extensive spoilers ahoy!
This was the first episode where I kind of went "buurgg, ick" at the end. Last week was pleasantly scary, making me jump a few times and provoking thoughts about myths and so on. Countrycide was a different kind of scary, but it make me think a bit.
The reason for the "buurgg, ick" response is quite simple to define. When I thought it was aliens doing everything, I wasn't too concerned. When it turned out to be humans - no alien influence, no disease, just humans - it suddenly became much more disturbing. I think this probably shows a kind of double standard: what is acceptable for aliens to do (OK, yes, kill said aliens but it doesn't provoke a strong ick response) is horrifying when humans do it. The same story-line would have been much less powerful with aliens involved.
I think my father had the same response. His comment afterwards was "I thought this was about aliens?", followed by a slightly more dignified rendition of my "buuurgg, ick" response.
It must be something in the human psyche that makes cannibalism much worse than something inhuman eating humans.
I didn't enjoy the episode quite as much as last week's, but there were some definite highlights. It was good to see a bit more of Toshiko and I'm trying to forgive her for being a little Owen oriented - my Gwen/Tosh shippery heart was dealt a blow there. I'm thinking that this is something that will be tackled next week. I did like the fact that she was still the competant, gutsy woman that I've been seeing up to now. Other shows (that will remain nameless although many can guess...) have been known to turn female characters into mopey, lovelorn shadows as soon as a shippy, unrequited love plot-line arises and I'm not seeing any sign of that happening here.
The Ianto loving part of me was very happy with this episode. It added some interesting elements to his character and is starting to explain a few things about him. I was slightly disconcerted by the lack of suit, though :-) And I would have been interested to know why he was taken along for the mission, or at least why he agreed to go. Possibly this is a nod to his comment that all he does is clean up their shit, but I was intrigued by his response to actually being a part of the events. It also makes me wonder why he joined Torchwood in the first place. I'm starting to think that he was a desk-bod back at Torchwood 1 and with Torchwood 3 being so much smaller there simply isn't the kind of admin and paperwork that I think he did in Torchwood 1. Going out into the field, getting kidnapped and doing physical things isn't what he thinks that he's cut out for.
At the same time, he had to have known that providing the distraction to get Tosh away would have consequences and it was unlikely that both of them would escape. I think that Ianto doesn't see himself as brave, doesn't like doing the physical work out in the field and can't logically understand why anyone would do things that they're terrified of, but when he doesn't have to think about it or rationalise what he's doing, he's just as capable as the others at the stuff. It strikes me that his biggest weakness isn't a lack of bravery, but a need to over-analysing everything. If he isn't given the time to think then his instincts are just as strong as the rest of Torchwood.
The episode gave us another glimps of the ruthless side of Jack and a hint at what he's done in the past. I'm wondering whether his reference to learning torture techniques comes from his period as a Time Agent - it makes sense in the context of his past and ties in with the hints that he gave out in DW about what his fellow Time Agents were capable of.
The relatinship between Gwen and Owen is very interesting. It's also interesting to see how much Gwen is being changed by what she's involved in and seeing. I don't think she's sleeping with Owen out of love. It's definitely attraction, but also a symptom of trying to deal with how much her world is changing for her. On Owen's side, I'm undecided - attraction, yes, but whether he's got something deeper isn't something I'd be willing to say yet. I'm going to be very interested to see how this plays out, particularly if Tosh finds out.
This was the kind of episode that I'm not sure I'll want to frequently re-watch, but did leave a very strong impression on me and will be sticking in my mind for a while yet. It had a surprising amount of character development when I analysed it and is setting up some interesting things that should play out later in the series. It's probably going to be an interesting one to watch after the series ends.
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no subject
Date: 2006-11-21 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-22 11:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-21 08:22 pm (UTC)Humans rather than aliens being responsible was an excellent direction to take it IMO. Let's face it, cannibalism isn't unheard of in human history and culture. The effects were fab, and I agreed with the prods and director that it was more horrifying to see their expressions than it would have been to just see all the gore. I'm still hooked, and I loved the glimpse into Jack's dark past. Looking forward to more.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-22 11:14 am (UTC)No, you're not, it was a fairly disturbing squicky episode. I had moments where I quickly looked away (the discovery in the wood being one of them) so I have a lot of sympathy.
That makes me a bad person, I know :o(
Shallow, but now bad ;-) Gwen/Owen isn't something that I was looking for or hoping for, but it is an interesting relationship despite that. I'll be interested to see how it plays out and where it goes.
was an excellent direction to take
I think that I agree, if only because it forces you to think about your reaction to the idea that it was humans instead of aliens. For three-quarters of the episode we were led in the direction of it being aliens and I didn't feel too disturbed by the episode. Having it turn out to be humans make everything ickier, somehow, which is an interesting reaction.
it was more horrifying to see their expressions
Absolutely. Too much gorey stuff makes you kind of immune to it - a few flashes and most of it being told through expressions somehow gets your emotions more involved and provokes a strong reaction.
Looking forward to more
Me too!