![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
SPOILERS - Torchwood: Miracle Day - Episode 3 'Dead of Night' - my reaction
SPOILERS for episode 3!
Just had to get this off my chest [I know I can see all the eyes rolling out there *G*]. For all the controversy over STARZ' version of the 'sex scene' - it was in point of fact pretty damned tame. We had an inter-cut scene between Jack and barman 'Brad' and between Rex and Dr. Verz Juarez. We saw a few butts, a few bare hips, the silhouette of a breast and a lot of kissing and stroking. In comparison to RTD's Queer as Folk - both the UK and the US versions - this was pretty damned sedate! [It still remains to be seen whether the Beeb's editing is even across the board btwn the gay and the het sex - but we'll see come this Thursday.]
There has also been a number of people saying it was incongruous with what was happening to the group and the world to plop in the sex scenes and that it was unnecessay and uncalled for. Sorry but I strongly disagree. Both men are coming to terms with some very harsh issues.
Rex had just been shown that there was virtually no one they could trust or turn to for help. Plus he's still dealing with the fact that in effect he's a walking dead man. And what will that mean to him if they figure out what happened and 'fix things'. Does he die? And he also has proof that the CIA has been poisoned against him by his superiors even as he was doing his job. So he turned to Vera - someone he connected with over his near death experience, someone he has a connection to beyond just professional [in his words].
Jack on the other hand is still dealing with the sudden knowledge that his is now mortal - something he's wanted for a very, very long time and had to come to terms with when the Doctor said there was nothing that could be done about it. Now suddenly he's mortal but for the worst of reasons - the Miracle - that is so horrific in its effects on the world. Plus he's now pretty much the most vulnerable man on Earth. Then he had Rex throw it in his face that the rest of the Torchwood team was dead [Rex basically saying that it was Jack's fault]. Jack has never shirked his responsiblilities in Torchwood - with the exception of the end of COE when there is no Torchwood and he takes a page from the Doctor's book and goes traveling to come to terms with the death of Ianto, the loss of his grandson and his daughter - after making a decision that no one should EVER have to make. We know he felt guilty over what happened with Alec and that Torchwood 3 team and he no doubt feels guilt over Suzie, Owen, Tosh and Ianto. So he sought solace in alcohol [a very human response] and in sex [again a very human response].
There are people saying it was irresponsible for Jack and Rex to do this in the midst of what's happening. But then again everyone needs time to breathe and take stock of what's happening to the world and to them. This isn't happening in a 24 hour timeframe or even a one day per episode timeframe. Burn-out is a huge possibility if time isn't take for oneself. Jack and Rex are 'dealing' perhaps not in the most politically correct, progressive manner but they are attempting to deal with what has happened to them and what is continuing to happen to them.
Point of fact in human history one very consistent thing arises out of crisis - death, disaster, war - a rise in the birthrate. Turning to a fellow human for solace and comfort with sex is very, very human and very, very real and normal.
I have to say though the most heart-wrenching moment(s) for me in episode 3 was when Jack called Gwen - half-drunk, still in bed with a sleeping Brad - reaching out for a connection with the last member of the old team. Jack is apparently a maudlin, depressed drunk but it was comforting as viewer to know that they hadn't simply forgotten or dismissed Ianto's impact on Jack. But it was heartwrenching to hear and watch Jack's reaction to Gwen's comments about their teammates.
On the other hand - the socalled 'Heart of Torchwood' has once again proven herself anything BUT. I "get" and I heartily approve of Gwen's fixation on her daughter - I do. I really do. BUT the 'Heart of Torchwood' could have taken two seconds and told Jack she's got to go "'Esther got a video link to Anwen and Rhys for me!" and hung up. It would have been abrupt, jarring but sooooooo much better than leaving him talking to dead air as she cooed over her daughter. Hell - while I know Esther doesn't know Jack in the way that Gwen does - she has to be aware of some things with Jack - like the loss of his teammates, etc. - Gwen could've passed the phone over to Esther and let Esther say good bye to Jack because Esther from all appearances is one hell of a lot MORE sympathetic and empathetic than Gwen [or RTD] could ever dream of being.
Interestingly enough a few fans have felt that Gwen gets a free pass on dissing Jack simply because she's a mom. But Jack didn't get one for going to the bar and ending up with Brad. - Why? He's had one hell of a lot more time and painful experiences and regrets to point to as a 'reason' for his behavior than Gwen - who has been an unsympathetic, self-serving, self-entitled and selfish b!tch since her first introduction to Torchwood.
And on pure fan!girl note - damn but John looked absolutely YUMMY in the scenes with Brad and then on the phone afterwards! All that time in the gym paid off since he didn't have to worry even with the competition of the 24 year in the scene! Drop-dead sexy, dazzlingly, exquisitely gorgeous that's our John aka Captain Jack! Bet Scott is happily reaping the rewards as well! *g*
Just had to get this off my chest [I know I can see all the eyes rolling out there *G*]. For all the controversy over STARZ' version of the 'sex scene' - it was in point of fact pretty damned tame. We had an inter-cut scene between Jack and barman 'Brad' and between Rex and Dr. Verz Juarez. We saw a few butts, a few bare hips, the silhouette of a breast and a lot of kissing and stroking. In comparison to RTD's Queer as Folk - both the UK and the US versions - this was pretty damned sedate! [It still remains to be seen whether the Beeb's editing is even across the board btwn the gay and the het sex - but we'll see come this Thursday.]
There has also been a number of people saying it was incongruous with what was happening to the group and the world to plop in the sex scenes and that it was unnecessay and uncalled for. Sorry but I strongly disagree. Both men are coming to terms with some very harsh issues.
Rex had just been shown that there was virtually no one they could trust or turn to for help. Plus he's still dealing with the fact that in effect he's a walking dead man. And what will that mean to him if they figure out what happened and 'fix things'. Does he die? And he also has proof that the CIA has been poisoned against him by his superiors even as he was doing his job. So he turned to Vera - someone he connected with over his near death experience, someone he has a connection to beyond just professional [in his words].
Jack on the other hand is still dealing with the sudden knowledge that his is now mortal - something he's wanted for a very, very long time and had to come to terms with when the Doctor said there was nothing that could be done about it. Now suddenly he's mortal but for the worst of reasons - the Miracle - that is so horrific in its effects on the world. Plus he's now pretty much the most vulnerable man on Earth. Then he had Rex throw it in his face that the rest of the Torchwood team was dead [Rex basically saying that it was Jack's fault]. Jack has never shirked his responsiblilities in Torchwood - with the exception of the end of COE when there is no Torchwood and he takes a page from the Doctor's book and goes traveling to come to terms with the death of Ianto, the loss of his grandson and his daughter - after making a decision that no one should EVER have to make. We know he felt guilty over what happened with Alec and that Torchwood 3 team and he no doubt feels guilt over Suzie, Owen, Tosh and Ianto. So he sought solace in alcohol [a very human response] and in sex [again a very human response].
There are people saying it was irresponsible for Jack and Rex to do this in the midst of what's happening. But then again everyone needs time to breathe and take stock of what's happening to the world and to them. This isn't happening in a 24 hour timeframe or even a one day per episode timeframe. Burn-out is a huge possibility if time isn't take for oneself. Jack and Rex are 'dealing' perhaps not in the most politically correct, progressive manner but they are attempting to deal with what has happened to them and what is continuing to happen to them.
Point of fact in human history one very consistent thing arises out of crisis - death, disaster, war - a rise in the birthrate. Turning to a fellow human for solace and comfort with sex is very, very human and very, very real and normal.
I have to say though the most heart-wrenching moment(s) for me in episode 3 was when Jack called Gwen - half-drunk, still in bed with a sleeping Brad - reaching out for a connection with the last member of the old team. Jack is apparently a maudlin, depressed drunk but it was comforting as viewer to know that they hadn't simply forgotten or dismissed Ianto's impact on Jack. But it was heartwrenching to hear and watch Jack's reaction to Gwen's comments about their teammates.
On the other hand - the socalled 'Heart of Torchwood' has once again proven herself anything BUT. I "get" and I heartily approve of Gwen's fixation on her daughter - I do. I really do. BUT the 'Heart of Torchwood' could have taken two seconds and told Jack she's got to go "'Esther got a video link to Anwen and Rhys for me!" and hung up. It would have been abrupt, jarring but sooooooo much better than leaving him talking to dead air as she cooed over her daughter. Hell - while I know Esther doesn't know Jack in the way that Gwen does - she has to be aware of some things with Jack - like the loss of his teammates, etc. - Gwen could've passed the phone over to Esther and let Esther say good bye to Jack because Esther from all appearances is one hell of a lot MORE sympathetic and empathetic than Gwen [or RTD] could ever dream of being.
Interestingly enough a few fans have felt that Gwen gets a free pass on dissing Jack simply because she's a mom. But Jack didn't get one for going to the bar and ending up with Brad. - Why? He's had one hell of a lot more time and painful experiences and regrets to point to as a 'reason' for his behavior than Gwen - who has been an unsympathetic, self-serving, self-entitled and selfish b!tch since her first introduction to Torchwood.
And on pure fan!girl note - damn but John looked absolutely YUMMY in the scenes with Brad and then on the phone afterwards! All that time in the gym paid off since he didn't have to worry even with the competition of the 24 year in the scene! Drop-dead sexy, dazzlingly, exquisitely gorgeous that's our John aka Captain Jack! Bet Scott is happily reaping the rewards as well! *g*