tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post2561667950479059815..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Torchwood Children of Earth, part 1: Big science fiction super-messAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-7170289696741801532009-07-21T22:51:58.011-04:002009-07-21T22:51:58.011-04:00Alan! Law and Order UK? Inquiring minds want to kn...<i>Alan! Law and Order UK? Inquiring minds want to know!</i><br /><br />Well, pretty much what it says on the box -- the venerable L&O franchise translated across the Atlantic, with some tweaks for the British legal system. And if you're a SF geek, you not only get Frema Ageyman as a young barrister, but Jamie Bamber as a cop.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=15032952Craig Ranapiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923246310584658857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-37836463275073539522009-07-21T21:49:08.620-04:002009-07-21T21:49:08.620-04:00I really enjoyed the episode. I was also suckered ...I really enjoyed the episode. I was also suckered in by the Rupesh fake-out, and disappointed--the show could've used more male eye-candy.<br /><br />But am I the only one driven crazy by all the onscreen text going on on BBCA? The bug in the bottom right I've learned to cope with. But on top of it was an ad for "Dr Who", which stayed on THE WHOLE TIME. Even worse, I'm seeing the widescreen version, which on my TV means black bands across the top & bottom. Those I'm happy with--it means I'm seeing the whole image. But then they have WHITE text with the name of the very show I'm watching, and it STAYED ON the whole time! A minute or two after a commercial I'm used to, but for the whole show? Then there were the big ads for other shows that exploded in the bottom left corner every so often.<br /><br />The whole effect was like I was watching a bloody web page for an hour, and fighting to keep my concentration on the video itself and away from all the horrible distractions. It's enough to make me consider waiting a few weeks and just renting the DVD. If I were a director, cinematographer, or anyone else responsible for the high-quality production, I'd be appalled. As a viewer, I'm utterly turned off. I feel like I'm being told to get used to such a high level of crap on the screen. It's just going to push me away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-57333610567127603512009-07-21T20:52:56.337-04:002009-07-21T20:52:56.337-04:00The clip special last night had me thinking that J...<i>The clip special last night had me thinking that Jack became boss after the whole previous generation got wiped out. He had to rebuild from scratch. And he lost two of his four team members (Owen and Toshiko) at the end of last season. But I suspect Lois Habiba won't last very long at the Home Office. And Rhys is proving to be smarter than he looks. </i><br /><br />I'm glad you brought that up. I didn't understand what they meant by Home Office. My first assumption was that it was Torchwood's home office, but Jack says to the girl on the phone, "Tell him it's Torchwood." Even before that, the guy says to the army-guy: "We're the only ones with computers who can figure this out- except for Torchwood." I ultimately came to believe that this Home Office was some sort of analog to the Pentagon in the US- a central military thingee.<br /><br />In fact, Wikipedia states "The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security and order." So, yeah. I was right. But I still don't understand the organizational structure.pgillanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08627255978843800751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-74672936558913389092009-07-21T20:51:42.992-04:002009-07-21T20:51:42.992-04:00Alan! Law and Order UK? Inquiring minds want to kn...Alan! Law and Order UK? Inquiring minds want to know!Johanna Lapphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683581129390692385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-47361619954477709272009-07-21T20:51:30.790-04:002009-07-21T20:51:30.790-04:00Alan! Law and Order UK? Inquiring minds want to kn...Alan! Law and Order UK? Inquiring minds want to know!Johanna Lapphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683581129390692385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-29859966902067241542009-07-21T20:45:37.305-04:002009-07-21T20:45:37.305-04:00The clip special last night had me thinking that J...The clip special last night had me thinking that Jack became boss after the whole previous generation got wiped out. He had to rebuild from scratch. And he lost two of his four team members (Owen and Toshiko) at the end of last season. But I suspect Lois Habiba won't last very long at the Home Office. And Rhys is proving to be smarter than he looks.Johanna Lapphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683581129390692385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-47651189463179700822009-07-21T17:16:24.364-04:002009-07-21T17:16:24.364-04:00I was TOTALLY fooled by the Rupesh fakeout.
I tho...I was TOTALLY fooled by the Rupesh fakeout.<br /><br />I thought this episode was brilliant. More brilliant by several orders of magnitude than any Torchwood episode that preceded it. So brilliant that it made me think less of big, impressive Doctor Who finale arcs (brilliant tho' many of them have been) and more of Russell T Davies pre-Who miniseries <i>The Second Coming</i>, which is brilliant like the light of a thousand thousand suns.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288100796201737845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-75185759536966807172009-07-21T16:29:32.100-04:002009-07-21T16:29:32.100-04:00I, too, was totally sucked in by the introduction ...<i>I, too, was totally sucked in by the introduction of Rupesh, knowing that Martha wasn't actually coming on permanently, as had been hinted at in the last episode. So all that was a complete shock to me - and a welcome one. It's awesome when a switch like that actually works.</i><br /><br />Yeah, I was kind of p***ed off about that, but as Davis himself said even his ego isn't big enough to expect Frema Ageyman to sit around on the dole until he calls. She was offered one of the leads on 'Law and Order: UK' -- 13 episodes, and the best odds possible in the current environment that it would turn out to be a long-term gig. Couldn't blame her for jumping on board.<br /><br />Though, having said that, I do hope they find a way to have The Doctor say a proper farewell to Martha and Mickey. I'm fully expecting one of RTD's everything AND the kitchen sink efforts that barely hangs together, but you don't care. :)Craig Ranapiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923246310584658857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-69274723469106208712009-07-21T16:16:41.731-04:002009-07-21T16:16:41.731-04:00I think Torchwood may hold the record for being th...I think Torchwood may hold the record for being the show with the highest enjoyment-to-problems ratio. There are things about the mythology and the actors and the plot that really bug me, but when it comes down to it, I like the show despite them.<br /><br />One thing I can't quite figure out, though, is what Torchwood's deal is. They're a secret government organization, but there are only five of them (now three)? When they used to appear in Dr. Who, I thought they were a big organization. And are they secret, or not? Last season, I specifically went back and checked, and it very clearly says "Torchwood" on the side of their car (and though it's the same car, I couldn't confirm that for this season.)<br /><br />And speaking of vehicles, what kind of government organization only has one car?pgillanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08627255978843800751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-40000310554509880442009-07-21T15:35:49.623-04:002009-07-21T15:35:49.623-04:00The Rupesh fakeout got me. "Oh, okay, here...The Rupesh fakeout got me. "Oh, okay, here's the new guy. WHOOPS!" Well done, Russell.jim treacherhttp://jimtreacher.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-87898393172482595982009-07-21T14:50:52.301-04:002009-07-21T14:50:52.301-04:00I was fooled by Rupesh, too -- even though a scene...I was fooled by Rupesh, too -- even though a scene in which the government types were talking about how they were about to initiate contact with Torchwood was immediately followed by Rupesh trying to find Torchwood.<br /><br />I very much like the fact that the script is motivating characters with false but perfectly plausible deductions: Jack doesn't know Rupesh shot him, or that the deaths were not really suspicious. The black ops folk sensibly think Jack's regenerations are tied to the rift. Etc. It's a smart approach that is rarely used for some reason.Matter-Eater Ladhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07582100232490047227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-82086261043346235672009-07-21T14:37:30.798-04:002009-07-21T14:37:30.798-04:00If DVRs are cuting off, maybe try the later that n...If DVRs are cuting off, maybe try the later that night rebroadcast? I recorded the 2:30 a.m. showing on Comcast in Hudson county, things worked out fine.<br /><br />Also, they have the two part finale of season (erm, series..?) 2 On Demand, which served as a nice introduction to the show and the Torchwood organization (lotsa flashbacks). Part one ends On Demand tomorrow, part two the next day. Liked the first part of Children of Earth, and "big science fiction super-mess" seemed to aptly describe the situation in this show, if taken as not being derogatory. Kinda glad the undercover doctor bit was revealed, since I thought the subplot that seemed to be building-- the missing people-- might distract from the main narrative, which already has many pieces being laid out. Nice.7s Timnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-51690782107234276192009-07-21T13:19:01.649-04:002009-07-21T13:19:01.649-04:00I totally didn't realize that Eve Myles was in...<i>I totally didn't realize that Eve Myles was in an episode of Doctor Who. </i><br /><br />I had forgotten about that, too, until The Doctor met Gwen at the end of season three and asked about her ancestor, whom he met in that earlier episode. As with Freema Agyeman playing Martha Jones after already playing her cousin who was murdered by Cybermen, Russell T. Davies clearly subscribes to the Patty Duke Show theory of DNA.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-55787836538832155872009-07-21T13:11:23.442-04:002009-07-21T13:11:23.442-04:00I watched the "inside the hub" refresher...I watched the "inside the hub" refresher/behind the scenes stuff before this first ep of Torchwood ran, and I totally didn't realize that Eve Myles was in an episode of Doctor Who. But I think it's really cool. <br />I loved this first episode and I can't wait for the rest!Pirate Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00507756876055219916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-8282530188114368542009-07-21T11:23:34.676-04:002009-07-21T11:23:34.676-04:00This was supposed to be the big event that the Bee...This was supposed to be the big event that the Beeb was using to launch BBC America HD, except that no cable or satellite provider has agreed to carry it yet. Blergh. I don't have much to add, as this was the first Torchwood episode I've watched in its entirety. (I've seen most of the Davies/Eccleston/Tennant Dr. Who, but tried Torchwood during its first season, when it just didn't work.) But, it certainly seemed like Dr. Patanjali was going to be The New Guy in Torchwood, and a very effective twist to have him work with whoever wants to blow up Captain Jack/Torchwood.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16206260167586222129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-57925289831977971512009-07-21T10:49:02.822-04:002009-07-21T10:49:02.822-04:00As a first episode, this was better than I had exp...As a first episode, this was better than I had expected, but doesn't even come close to revealing quite how good this mini-series becomes over the next few nights.<br /><br />I agree about the introduction of Dr. Rupesh, it had me completely and utterly fooled. A brilliant bluff from the writers. So many times before we have seen the introduction of new characters done in just this way, and in the first episode of an event series like this, which would obviously be watched by many first-time viewers, it made total sense to introduce a new one. But to then, without warning, switch the convention on its head... Well, it was very refreshing, and gave me hope that this might just be something special I was watching.<br /><br />I was right.<br /><br />(I'm from England btw, so I watched them as broadcast.)Alex Mullanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02011558023497820641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17479990355364574102009-07-21T10:37:34.424-04:002009-07-21T10:37:34.424-04:00I, too, was totally sucked in by the introduction ...I, too, was totally sucked in by the introduction of Rupesh, knowing that Martha wasn't actually coming on permanently, as had been hinted at in the last episode. So all that was a complete shock to me - and a welcome one. It's awesome when a switch like that actually works.<br /><br />But I was sad at the same time, because I was looking forward to the introduction of a new team member, and specifically of a new team member who didn't already know about aliens and all that. I think the show needs some of that wide-eyed innocence again. (Although I wonder if that's even possible, given that after all the events of Doctor Who and Torchwood, no-one seems surprised by anything that happens anymore.)Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984025469026273694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-86799946936884399642009-07-21T10:33:59.590-04:002009-07-21T10:33:59.590-04:00Based on how it ended last night, I'd advise e...Based on how it ended last night, I'd advise everybody to tack at least a minute onto their DVR recordings for the rest of the week.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-7942524421871446582009-07-21T10:33:08.159-04:002009-07-21T10:33:08.159-04:00Well take it from me. You really have some quality...Well take it from me. You really have some quality television to look forward to here. I won't say another word.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-38972610590525867672009-07-21T10:27:21.670-04:002009-07-21T10:27:21.670-04:00Thanks Alan! My DVR cut it off as well, so I wasn&...Thanks Alan! My DVR cut it off as well, so I wasn't sure what I missed!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12332560170364823954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31796201503036754262009-07-21T10:21:23.927-04:002009-07-21T10:21:23.927-04:00My DVR cut it off! What was the additional final w...<i>My DVR cut it off! What was the additional final word, please?</i><br /><br />"...BACK."Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-51011742976034520652009-07-21T10:09:40.703-04:002009-07-21T10:09:40.703-04:00The ending of this episode, culminating in the add...<i>The ending of this episode, culminating in the addition of the one final word to the children's chant, is my favorite TV moment in quite some time.</i><br /><br />My DVR cut it off! What was the additional final word, please?Katienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-59362219059211512272009-07-21T10:03:31.428-04:002009-07-21T10:03:31.428-04:00I'm becoming hooked on the Welsh accent and sl...I'm becoming hooked on the Welsh accent and slang that Gwen and Rhys employ - I really really wish I could pull off 'what's occurring', but it just sounds like crap with an American accent!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-85706636813332707312009-07-21T09:26:14.229-04:002009-07-21T09:26:14.229-04:00I did watch the entire show the week it aired in t...I did watch the entire show the week it aired in the UK, but I'm watching again with the captions on because of the problems I have with some of the Welsh accents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-11165938331535968042009-07-21T08:36:46.772-04:002009-07-21T08:36:46.772-04:00Is this post title referencing Gwen's line? Be...<i>Is this post title referencing Gwen's line? Because I thought she said, 'big science fiction super-base," like, base of operations.</i><br /><br />You could very well be right. Eve Myles' accent is often a challenge for me to decipher. But "mess" is funnier.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.com