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19 days left and we're continuing on my countdown to Miracle Day, Torchwood re-watch! I'll be watching an episode a day and blogging bits and thoughts. With any luck this is gonna read like an episode guide and commentary. Let's dive right in!

Episode: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (Series 2 Episode 1)

Written By: Chris Chibnall

Original Air Date: 16 January 2008

Sentence Sum-Up: Jack returns after his absence and a man from his past comes around causing trouble.

Notable New Characters:

Captain John Hart (James Marsters): Jack's former partner and lover from when he was in the Time Agency. He comes to town causing trouble and carrying a secret. He's a lot like Doctor Who Jack was, a shameless flirt, but a lot more evil.

Favorite Quote:

Jack: "How are you, Ianto?"
Ianto: "All the better for having you back, sir."
Jack: "Can we maybe drop the "sir" now? I mean while I was away I was thinking. Maybe we could... when this is all done... dinner, a movie…"
Ianto: "Are you asking me out on a date?"
Jack: "Interested?"
Ianto: "Huh, well. As long as it's not in an office. Some fetishes should be kept to yourself."

Never Noticed:

I think I have watched this episode 1 million times. I've probably watched it more than any other episode. I don't think a never noticed section is appropriate here. I have this thing I like to do when I re-watch Torchwood. I pick one character and I watch them the whole episode, even when they are not talking I look at what they are doing. That's a great way to catch brilliant moments and see things you haven't before. I've done that for this episode, for each character, several times. Last night was Ianto but unintentionally, I really was trying to pay attention to the whole cast but my eyes kept drifting. My point, I noticed it all before.

WTF Moments:

The difference between Gwen in Series 1 and 2. I know that time has passed, I think they general consensus is 3 months? But talk about a transformation. From one episode to the next she went to this whiny brat who is insanely self-centered making a mistake every other episode to a competent leader. Don't get me wrong I am thrilled about it, I really found her almost entirely inoffensive this episode but it does seem sudden. Part of that I'm sure is to do with the fact I am watching an episode a day and part of it is probably intentional. We've been away for a season and so has Jack. He comes back and things have changed since he's been gone. I think he was supposed to be surprised with how well they coped and so were we.  I was. That being said I still get cheating ho vibe from her and I still get the feeling she's acting with her heart instead of her brain, which we've seen gets her in trouble. And she really shouldn't have let John get behind her. I rolled my eyes at that.

Jack makes me want to yell! At the start of the episode he looks square at Ianto and tells him he came back for him (don't argue this point, that's what happened, watch again if you disagree). Then he says the same thing to Gwen! Then he asks Ianto out and makes it seem like he wanted them both I am so confused! I refuse to think that Ianto is his second choice. I hate when people say that. Regardless of feelings he may have for Gwen he perused Ianto when he could have easily had Gwen. He said he came back for Ianto before that scene with Gwen. This just makes me all confused inside. I think we're supposed to feel the conflict but it makes me sad. Ianto is amazing, easy decision here.

After he's handled the team John heads back to the Hub and steals the triangle thingy off of the dead blowfish. Why was it still there? Team Torchwood seems to have an ongoing problem leaving things behind. Wouldn't they have searched the body? Shouldn't that weird metal thing have been archived by now? I don't know that seems like a slip up.

Gwen punches people a lot. Maybe she should consider anger management? She's very violent isn't she? In this episode alone she shoves Jack and then slugs John. And that scene we've all seen from Miracle Day literally the first thing we see of her is her punching someone. Gwen likes to talk with her fist.

Why did they let John go? He's killed people and tried to kill everyone on the team. He's a generally not good guy with no remorse. He's almost certainly going to harm people again. So why did they not detain him? I mean isn't that what they do with evil aliens? It seemed weird that they just let him go. I guess Jack was thinking he's better off being someone elses problem but why trust him to stay away? Bad call Jack. I get that he was emotional for a lot of reasons but letting him go is part of the reason he was free to cause havoc the second time around. Even though, well, you know.

Random Rants:

Jack/John/Ianto is the best thing ever. The not actual love triangle was a genius genius move. John and Jack are hysterical together and they play off each other so well. The reactions it get's out of Ianto are priceless. The moments between John and Ianto and Jack and Ianto are so well done. The three of them together are perfect, well scripted, well acted and endlessly interesting. There's a lot of fanfic to come out of this one episode and those three characters. Love them.

MVC (Most Valuable Character):

John Hart. John played by the incomparable James Marsters is such an asset to the cast. The character was written with him in mind and very much caters to his specific brand of charm and cheek. The questions the character's presence brings up and the reaction everyone has to him are great. He's the star of this episode.

MVA (Most Valuable Actor):

After watching this time I had trouble choosing. My first inclination was to say Gareth because even though I was trying to pay attention to everyone he kept grabbing my attention. Then I thought James because it really is a John episode and he's so great as John and that deserves to be noticed. I briefly considered John but as far as this episode I think he's just a little outshone by Gareth and James. Then I thought maybe I'd just have it shared by the three of them but that seemed like a cop out. So I decided to go with my first thought. I'm going to say Gareth because in every single scene he's doing something worth watching. He's hilarious in this episode and had some tender times as well. I literally couldn't take my eyes off of him. Also, because he gave us my favorite thing in this whole episode, orgy consideration face. It happened. Here it is:

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If you don't remember this watch the last scene with John in the Hub again. They zoom in on him and it's hysterical. Gareth gets it for the sheer brilliance of his face throughout. Don't even get me started on the patent Ianto eye roll.

Episode Grade:

A+
This episode is practically perfect in every way. I say practically because there is that painful to watch Jack and Gwen moment that I prefer to forget. Despite all that it's one of my favorite episodes and I can't stop watching it. Chris Chibnall continues to be my favorite Torchwood writer (Miracle Day excluded). This episode had just the right amounts of angst and humor. And the office scene is a classic. I don't know one fan who doesn't list this amongst their favorite episodes.

Tomorrow's Episode: Sleeper (Series 2, Episode 2 ). 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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