Torchwood 2.2: Sleeper

[selenay]

I haven't seen any reaction yet, but my initial reaction is that this was a great episode :-) Major highlights for me:

- There was an actual plot and it was a good, strong plot.
- Beth wasn't what I was expecting and I really liked that.
- The episode was unresolved in a way, setting up something for future episodes.
- This is the second episode that could trigger a season arc and I love the idea of not tying up everything neatly every week.
- Gwen was not annoying, in fact I quite liked her.
- Owen was not annoying again.
- Tosh got stuff to do.
- That lovely moment between Gwen and Ianto after they put Beth in the freezer. I loved the unspoken nature of their friendship when Ianto just had to hold out his arm and Gwen took it.
- Jack. 'Nuff said.

Beth was a great character. She was engaging and sympathetic, making you feel for her and the dilemma she faced. I kept expecting her to turn around and become the alien thing and you could see that there were times when she was fighting hard to stay Beth, but she kept her humanity and struggled on. Once we'd had the sleeper thing revealed and explained I could predict a few bits of the plot. Some elements were inevitable. The great thing was that the Beth part of the plot didn't go in the way that I expected, Torchwood didn't have to hunt her down and even at the end it was about Beth retaining her humanity before the alien won out.

The only quibble: hiding nuclear warheads in a coal mine in Wales? Really? *snort*

There were some lovely details in this episode. Jack's conversation with Gwen at the end was pitched just right. I felt like they were becoming good friends and there wasn't that slightly uncomfortable feeling to their scene the way there was last week. When Jack asked about the wedding I felt like he was being polite and then remember exactly why it's a bad idea to ask a woman about her wedding, which was why he cut her off. There isn't that brother-sister thing that I get from Jack's relationship with Tosh, but it's more of a friendship between equals than it was.

Owen still got to be a bit of a pratt at times a more likeable pratt than he used to be. How much did I love that "let's all have sex" moment and Ianto's reaction? Heh.

I also loved the radio sequence and, in fact, all the little comedic moments. They've definitely got the hang of humour to lighten things without detracting from the drama of the scenes. And Ianto got all the best lines :-)

Speaking of Ianto, in that scene near the end just before Beth and Gwen had their chat, did anyone else get the feeling that Ianto was going to tell Jack off about something? Jack seemed to spot Ianto and got that "better escape now" look and the next shot was Ianto heading rather purposefully towards Jack with a slightly irritated expression. I wonder what happened. Was Ianto annoying with Jack for nearly getting himself killed again? Irritated about having to repair the big hole in his coat? Interesting thing to speculate on. ETA: Apparently Ianto was holding the antenna from the SUV at the time. I guess he's not happy about the damage and needed to have words with Jack about it. Except Jack hadn't progressed with dressing at all in the time they were off-screen together...

I also loved the bedside manner conversation. Heh. Wonder what Ianto was going reveal about Jack's bad bed manners? Gwen's "I've heard, um," with regard to Jack's manners in bed makes me wonder whether someone has been gossiping or whether she in fact has personal knowledge. It was an odd sort of denial, just the wording and tone, that made it hard for me to read it as a joke.

On the evidence of the first two episodes of this season, the writing seems much stronger and the characters are functioning much better together. I'm loving my shiny, silly show :-)

Comments

[gaspodex.livejournal.com]

I thought all welsh coal mines had nukes in them ... After all theres bugger all coal left ;)

[selenay]

*snicker*

[paranoidangel]

I didn't like this episode as much as last week's. I just found the plot really boring, but I did like all the characters in it. And I didn't like all the blood and the arm things squicked me, so that probably didn't help. Perhaps I need to watch the pre-watershed repeats :)

I didn't realise Ianto was holding the car's antenna. I thought he'd seen the blood on Jack and was going to have words with him about getting himself killed again.

I thought Gwen's bedside manner joke was just her trying to make a joke out of it, and then realising she has no idea what she's talking about, she's just trying to make a joke. And then I'd have liked to know what Ianto was going to say.

[selenay]

Perhaps I need to watch the pre-watershed repeats :)

That might help :-) Although I'd be interested in how much they can cut without losing track of the action...

[selenay]

Hit "Post" too soon, oops.

I thought he'd seen the blood on Jack and was going to have words with him about getting himself killed again.

That's what I thought initially. Then I saw commentary and screen-caps :-)

and then realising she has no idea what she's talking about,

I'm finding it hard too work out her tone on those lines. I'm leaning towards the joke thing, but I'm not 100% convinced yet.

And then I'd have liked to know what Ianto was going to say.

*g* Me too. I foresee a lot fics exploring that idea :-)

[dalethetimelord.livejournal.com]

Best bit for me was Ianto's "telephones not working" bit to Owen. That just slew me. Loved the ep. Completely.

[selenay]

That bit killed me. Ianto needs to keep getting all the brilliant lines because the delivery is just terrific :-)

[riverfox.livejournal.com]

I really liked this episode. :) I especially loved Ianto, all throughout. They gave him amusing one-liners. He's never been that sarcastic and off-the-cuff--not with dialogue and a camera on him. He had one line like that last week, but this week, there was a lot more. He was so off-the-cuff, I wondered if he weren't cracking up a bit. ;) I don't want him to change though. I like him this way. :)

The ending scene with Ianto looking at Jack and Jack looking a little sheepish or panicked. I read that only one way: Sexual anticipation. Someone's getting spanked. ;)

[selenay]

This was such a great episode and having two great episodes gives me a really good feeling about the quality we'll be getting this year.

I like him this way. :)

I adored Ianto, I really did :-) I've seen a lot comments about how out of character it was, but I don't think it was. There were times last year when he made some funny, very dry comments and I saw this as an extension of that. This is what Ianto is like when he's relaxed and hopeful for the future rather than angsty, guilt-stricken and devastated as he was last year. I want more!

Someone's getting spanked. ;)

*g* You're not the only one to read it that way :-) There have been a lot of comments that Jack escapes with Ianto in hot pursuit and he's only partially dressed, but when we see him again he still isn't completely dressed. Someone distracted him, maybe? ;-)

[riverfox.livejournal.com]

I've seen a lot comments about how out of character it was, but I don't think it was...

Agreed. He's got a very quick wit and the fact that he *is* more relaxed this year. A lot happened last year, especially in the last two episodes. It's *going* to show this year. He can't have gone through all of that and remained in the background. I think the people who found him out-of-character were used to him being "Teal'c-like" and having very little to say. I for one am glad he's "come out of his shell." :)

Someone distracted him, maybe?

;) And gave him a little what-for regarding Captain John Hart. ;)