Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Torchwood Review: 1x06 - Countrycide
Review: I won't lie, I kinda like this one. Despite generally being panned as one of the weakest episodes of the series, I can't help but take a certain delight in this Texas Chainsaw Massacre pastiche. It's one of the first episodes of the season which really gives each team member close to equal billing, and we see the start of an important (if terrible) relationship between Gwen and Owen begin. There's some fairly enjoyable banter between the team and it's just kinda nice to see them in a different environment than the hub and city. And ultimately there's just something I kinda like about cannibal hillbillies and their various trials and tribulations.
Final verdict: This ain't high art, it's not even close. But if you ever thought to yourself "Torchwood is pretty good, but you know who needs to get involved in it? John Carpenter" then this episode is for you. If you're willing to accept the episode for what it is, it can be great fun.
Available on: Torchwood - The Complete First Season
Monday, February 08, 2010
Torchwood Review: 1x05 - Small Worlds
Review: Not a bad little episode, although it seems a bit silly upon repeated viewings. I like the sense that the episode gives of expanding the history and mythology of the world the show takes place in. It's also nice to see some more background on Jack. And the ending feels like something of a dry run for Children of Earth. The guest stars mostly come off as unlikeable or dumb or both, so it makes it tough to get too caught up in caring what happens to folks.
Final verdict: Another one of those "not bad if you catch it and random but no need to seek it out" episodes. That said, if you're watching in sequence, this will seem like something of a breath of fresh air after the last few episodes.
Available on: Torchwood - The Complete First Season
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Torchwood Review: 1x04 - Cyberwoman
Review: One of the more, uh, infamous episodes of the series; when I first watched it I shelved the show and wouldn't return to it until the friend who turned me onto the show in the first place (occasional poster and arch nemesis Gene Mayes) harassed me enough that I grudgingly picked it up again (glad I did, too). That said, after watching this episode a second time, it didn't come off quite so badly. I think there are a few reasons for this: 1) I better appreciated that in one scene there is a cyborg fighting a dinosaur, 2) this episode, more than any other on Torchwood, benefits from watching the parent program Doctor Who. I would highly recommend catching the relevant season 2 episodes of that show before catching this one, 3) As clumsy as it is, this is really ground zero of Ianto's live and loves on the show. So much of his character really starts here, and if you're a fan of Ianto (and who isn't?), you're gonna wanna see the first defining moment for his character.
All that said, the plot is still excuciatingly awful. Throughout it all, you pretty much know how it all has to end and there's really no proper sense of tension. Cap'n Jack going around talking about "executing people" is also some of the worst dialogue ever written in the Whoniverse (and I'm counting 1963-present). So, yeah.
Final verdict: It pains me to recommend this one, but I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and do it. There's important enough character development that watching this one early on will lead to rewarding payoffs down the road. Also, and I don't know if I can stress this enough, there is a fight between a cyborg and a dinosaur. Just remember that this is possibly the worst episode of the entire series, and once you get it done it's all uphill from here (even if there is a lot of uphill to climb).
Available on: Torchwood - The Complete First Season
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Torchwood Review: 1x03 - Ghost Machine
Review: After the seriously lousy previous episode, this one comes up as something of a breath of fresh air. You see a neat little alien gadget, and the creepy and sometimes tragic visions they bring. There's also some playing around with the ideas of pre-destiny and free will and all that, as well as trying to entice the audience along into figuring out how the visions of the future are going to play out. We also have a few more scenes were Gwen is further integrating into Torchwood (she's loves to shoot guns, sweet). All that said, while this episode is reasonably interesting, it doesn't really explore any of the concepts it touches on enough to be a real winner of an episode. This is a common problem throughout the the first season.
Final verdict: It would have been a lot better if they'd taken one "angle" of the story and really hammered it home. Instead this is an episode of a few decent (if not particularly groundbreaking) ideas that don't go anywhere interspersed with scenes of Own acting kinda tortured. It's actually not that bad, and if you're watching the series in order you'll be glad you caught it, but for the casual viewer this isn't a must see. Not that it has to be avoided, tho, if you see it on repeat while channel surfing I'd say go for it.
Available on: Torchwood - The Complete First Season
Friday, February 05, 2010
Torchwood Review: 1x02 - Day One
Review: Okay, after a pretty solid start we're looking forward to episode 2. And they decide to go with a... sex alien. Awesome. Okay, so I'm actually not against the sex alien story per se. My feeling is that every single series of this type (your X-Files and Buffys and such) get to have ONE sex alien/monster/creature episode for their entire run. Bold move for the Torchwood creative team to turn in that chip for episode two. So, yeah, sort of a bad way to get the series rolling.
The plot itself is mediocre - about as good as you'd hope a sex alien story to be without actually turning it into softcore porn (so, in other words, not that good). It could technically have been worse, I guess. There are a few interesting "team dynamic" moments and I think Eve Myles is already starting to shine in making her character so expressive. But this is all stretching it for compliments.
Final verdict: A terrible letdown after the solid first episode. I kind of can't believe I actually watched this twice. I'd only recommend this if you're really committed to watching every episode of the show.
Available on: Torchwood - The Complete First Season
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Torchwood Review: 1x01 - Everything Changes
Review: Not a bad way to start the series, certainly better than I remember from my first viewing (I think my memories were colored by some of the following episodes). I think the episode does a good job making the viewer share Gwen's sense of mystery as she steps into a new world. It's worth noting that when I first watched this series I hadn't seen any Doctor Who, but upon revisiting these episodes - after having watched the 2005-2010 era of Doctor Who - I can pick up more subtle (and not-so-subtle) references to the parent program, which is a nice bonus.
One thing worth mentioning is that I like how this episode essentially presented two narratives: Gwen (and the viewer) learning about Torchwood, aliens, etc. and then a second narrative which is essentally a whodunnit murder mystery. I actually like RTD's style of keeping the second strain of the show simmering on the backburner and then thrusting it to the foreground towards the end of the episode. It makes for an exciting ending and keeps the focus on the mystery of the organization, which I prefer to just introducing all this stuff and then having Gwen get down to business-as-usual detectiving (which would have been silly).
Final verdict: A nice start for the show, introducing most all of the basic elements which would define the first two seasons of Torchwood. I'd definitely recommend this episode to anyone interested in watching more of the series than just Children of Earth.
Available on: Torchwood: The Complete First Season
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Why do Daleks like Apples?
...aaaand this blog reaches a new low. Sorry folks.
Friday, December 25, 2009
12 Days of Christmas: Day Twelve
Elvis Presley with Martina McBride - Blue Christmas
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
12 Days of Christmas: Day Eleven
Tom Waits - Silent Night/Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
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