10 days left and we're continuing on my countdown to Miracle Day, Torchwood re-watch! ONLY 10 DAYS LEFT (in the US)!!! How did we get here?! Anyway, I'll be watching an episode a day and blogging bits and thoughts. With any luck this is going to read like an episode guide and commentary. Let's dive right in!
Episode: From Out of the Rain (Series 2 Episode 10)
Written By: Peter J. Hammond
Original Air Date: 12 March 2008
Sentence Sum-Up: The "Night Travelers", a traveling company, escape from an old film reel and terrorize Cardiff stealing people's last breath.
Notable New Characters:
Ghostmaker (Julian Bleach): Head of the traveling show, not the nicest of people. Carries around a silver flask containing the last breath of his victims. Has a great mustache.
Pearl (Camilla Power): Member of the "Night Travelers" billed as the closest thing to an actual mermaid. She really likes water and sequins.
Favorite Quote:
Jack: "Ianto, you're with me. I need your local knowledge."
Gwen: "Oh, is that what you're calling it these days?"
Never Noticed:
The waitress, one of the Ghostmaker's victims, is wearing a flashy patterned sweater. I am about 80% sure it's a hand-me-down from Gwen's wardrobe in season one.
The nurse at the hospital mentions another patient of hers, a psychiatric case at "Providence Park". Ianto says he knows of the place. Pretty odd that I never caught that moment before especially because fans that like to fabricate Ianto's history (mostly via fanfic) often mention it as a place he knew from his childhood. The most common ideas being that his mother was institutionalized or he was. So I wonder is this fans reading too much into a simple, "I know it"? Do you guys think Ianto knows it because it's a tie to his past or do you think maybe he just knows it, cause he knows everything?
WTF Moments:
This episode is one of the rare instances we get to see Jack in his waistcoat and pocket watch look. It's a great look. I'm bringing it up because at one point Jack wants to know the time, so he pulls out his pocket watch and checks the time. Nothing wrong with that. What irks me slightly and I've touched on this before is why go for the pocket watch? He wears a normal watch. Also he has his Vortex Manipulator which can do prety much anything so I refuse to believe it doesn't have a time function. I guess I get it. When I wear a pocket watch I always check it instead of the clock on the wall or my cell phone. I think maybe it's just because it's fun to check your pocket watch. Still a bit silly.
When Ianto catches the Ghostmaker's flask, the last breaths start flying out before he catches it. When he gets it he puts it to his ear and determines that there is only one left. Listen, I am all for, 'Ianto is a super genius and he knows everything' but REALLY? He mentioned he heard the voice cry out to him, what if the other voices where just not feeling chatty? I don't know, seems a little too easy that he could just know.
Random Rants:
This episode marks the second time in as many episodes that Ianto has mentioned his father. The general consensus is that Ianto made up everything about his father because we know he made up at least some (the bit about him being a master tailor). But why assume that? He doesn't talk about him constantly so it's not like he's often romanticizing the notion of his father. Maybe the Electro really does mean something special to him because of memories with his Dad. It's assumed, again, because of one comment that Ianto had a very bad relationship with his Father and maybe he did. But what if, this was the one good memory he has? I don't think we should discount the possibility that Ianto had a genuine moment with his team-mates.
There is a scene with Jack and Ianto in hospital visiting one of the Ghostmaker's victims. He leans over the woman who is unconscious in bed to check if she's breathing. This scene is worth mentioning because every time I watched it, in fact since the first time I saw it I makes me giggle. I cannot help but think, that woman 'lady in bed' is one hell of an actress! How do you have John Barrowman leaning over you, lingering and not burst into a fit of nervous giggles? I couldn't do it. I wonder if it took a few takes...
MVC (Most Valuable Character):
I would have to say Ianto Jones. It is a particularly Ianto-centric episode. Well, not exactly. it's really cool because it's simultaneously about Jack and Ianto. Bits of both of their past coming together in the present. It was really cleverly plotted. My point, Ianto did sort of steal the show. The same way got to experience eager doe-eyed Jack in Captain Jack Harkness we get see a childlike Ianto in this episode. I love it. Plus, Ianto in that suit, talk about a 45 minute distraction, I think I may have missed half the dialogue!
MVA (Most Valuable Actor):
LADY IN BED!! She wins! Other than 'lady in bed'? Well then, let's say Gareth. For all the lovely moment we had with Ianto. He really went through a lot. He drudged up a lot of his past and had brilliant quiet moments supporting Jack. It's absolutely true that the hardest part of acting is reacting and Gareth does it wonderfully. He also had some very emotional moments towards the end. Ianto struggled with failing to save everyone and was on the verge of tears when one child lived. It was intense and beautiful and Gareth was almost as good as 'lady in bed'. Though to be fair he's also had experience getting...close...to John and keeping his cool. Maybe it's a tie.
Episode Grade:
A
I want to give this episode an A+ but I just can't. For the same reason as previous A grades, I cannot award an A+ to an episode that isn't a contender for my favorite. This episode really is phenomenal though. Check back to my WTF moments section, my only complaints were nitpicking and completely trivial. There is nothing negative that stands out and a lot of positive. This episode is a bit difference, a bit unlike what we're used to but I think it's genius. It sort of feels like one of the Torchwood novels, not darker, not sadder, but more detached? And really I mean that in a good way. I do love this episode. Well done.
Tomorrow's Episode: Adrift (Series 2, Episode 11). Remember, I'll be live tweeting my re-watch on the @BarrowmanDay twitter at 12:00am PST (US - West coast) and 8:00am GMT (UK). Hope you all can watch with me and chat.
That's it for today! Hope you enjoyed my run down. What did you all think of this episode? Did you notice anything new? What grade would you give it? xx
<3Dana
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Episode: From Out of the Rain (Series 2 Episode 10)
Written By: Peter J. Hammond
Original Air Date: 12 March 2008
Sentence Sum-Up: The "Night Travelers", a traveling company, escape from an old film reel and terrorize Cardiff stealing people's last breath.
Notable New Characters:
Ghostmaker (Julian Bleach): Head of the traveling show, not the nicest of people. Carries around a silver flask containing the last breath of his victims. Has a great mustache.
Pearl (Camilla Power): Member of the "Night Travelers" billed as the closest thing to an actual mermaid. She really likes water and sequins.
Favorite Quote:
Jack: "Ianto, you're with me. I need your local knowledge."
Gwen: "Oh, is that what you're calling it these days?"
Never Noticed:
The waitress, one of the Ghostmaker's victims, is wearing a flashy patterned sweater. I am about 80% sure it's a hand-me-down from Gwen's wardrobe in season one.
The nurse at the hospital mentions another patient of hers, a psychiatric case at "Providence Park". Ianto says he knows of the place. Pretty odd that I never caught that moment before especially because fans that like to fabricate Ianto's history (mostly via fanfic) often mention it as a place he knew from his childhood. The most common ideas being that his mother was institutionalized or he was. So I wonder is this fans reading too much into a simple, "I know it"? Do you guys think Ianto knows it because it's a tie to his past or do you think maybe he just knows it, cause he knows everything?
WTF Moments:
This episode is one of the rare instances we get to see Jack in his waistcoat and pocket watch look. It's a great look. I'm bringing it up because at one point Jack wants to know the time, so he pulls out his pocket watch and checks the time. Nothing wrong with that. What irks me slightly and I've touched on this before is why go for the pocket watch? He wears a normal watch. Also he has his Vortex Manipulator which can do prety much anything so I refuse to believe it doesn't have a time function. I guess I get it. When I wear a pocket watch I always check it instead of the clock on the wall or my cell phone. I think maybe it's just because it's fun to check your pocket watch. Still a bit silly.
When Ianto catches the Ghostmaker's flask, the last breaths start flying out before he catches it. When he gets it he puts it to his ear and determines that there is only one left. Listen, I am all for, 'Ianto is a super genius and he knows everything' but REALLY? He mentioned he heard the voice cry out to him, what if the other voices where just not feeling chatty? I don't know, seems a little too easy that he could just know.
Random Rants:
This episode marks the second time in as many episodes that Ianto has mentioned his father. The general consensus is that Ianto made up everything about his father because we know he made up at least some (the bit about him being a master tailor). But why assume that? He doesn't talk about him constantly so it's not like he's often romanticizing the notion of his father. Maybe the Electro really does mean something special to him because of memories with his Dad. It's assumed, again, because of one comment that Ianto had a very bad relationship with his Father and maybe he did. But what if, this was the one good memory he has? I don't think we should discount the possibility that Ianto had a genuine moment with his team-mates.
There is a scene with Jack and Ianto in hospital visiting one of the Ghostmaker's victims. He leans over the woman who is unconscious in bed to check if she's breathing. This scene is worth mentioning because every time I watched it, in fact since the first time I saw it I makes me giggle. I cannot help but think, that woman 'lady in bed' is one hell of an actress! How do you have John Barrowman leaning over you, lingering and not burst into a fit of nervous giggles? I couldn't do it. I wonder if it took a few takes...
MVC (Most Valuable Character):
I would have to say Ianto Jones. It is a particularly Ianto-centric episode. Well, not exactly. it's really cool because it's simultaneously about Jack and Ianto. Bits of both of their past coming together in the present. It was really cleverly plotted. My point, Ianto did sort of steal the show. The same way got to experience eager doe-eyed Jack in Captain Jack Harkness we get see a childlike Ianto in this episode. I love it. Plus, Ianto in that suit, talk about a 45 minute distraction, I think I may have missed half the dialogue!
MVA (Most Valuable Actor):
LADY IN BED!! She wins! Other than 'lady in bed'? Well then, let's say Gareth. For all the lovely moment we had with Ianto. He really went through a lot. He drudged up a lot of his past and had brilliant quiet moments supporting Jack. It's absolutely true that the hardest part of acting is reacting and Gareth does it wonderfully. He also had some very emotional moments towards the end. Ianto struggled with failing to save everyone and was on the verge of tears when one child lived. It was intense and beautiful and Gareth was almost as good as 'lady in bed'. Though to be fair he's also had experience getting...close...to John and keeping his cool. Maybe it's a tie.
Episode Grade:
A
I want to give this episode an A+ but I just can't. For the same reason as previous A grades, I cannot award an A+ to an episode that isn't a contender for my favorite. This episode really is phenomenal though. Check back to my WTF moments section, my only complaints were nitpicking and completely trivial. There is nothing negative that stands out and a lot of positive. This episode is a bit difference, a bit unlike what we're used to but I think it's genius. It sort of feels like one of the Torchwood novels, not darker, not sadder, but more detached? And really I mean that in a good way. I do love this episode. Well done.
Tomorrow's Episode: Adrift (Series 2, Episode 11). Remember, I'll be live tweeting my re-watch on the @BarrowmanDay twitter at 12:00am PST (US - West coast) and 8:00am GMT (UK). Hope you all can watch with me and chat.
That's it for today! Hope you enjoyed my run down. What did you all think of this episode? Did you notice anything new? What grade would you give it? xx
<3Dana
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