Alas, Torchwood

[attolia]

Torchwood got off to a strong start last week.


There were only a few things I didn't like about the episode: the exposition fish speech and that Captain Hart's scam was just about a diamond. But having seen those in the pre-released clips, they didn't bug me during the episode. Plus the diamond turned out to be other than an ordinary terrestrial one, if it had even existed, that is.

The banter was great, the plot was decent and it was very entertaining.


This week, however, was something of a disappointment.



It seemed to me that they had taken a leftover script from the first season, when they were trying to be very dark, clipped on the memo that this season was supposed be lighter and make more use of Ianto's understated, deadpan humor, and handed it to someone to revise. The result was a decent, but not outstanding, dark story, interlaced with bits of humor placed at moments when it really didn't work with the mood around it, and a version of Ianto that was over the top as often as he was understated. (Compare the bit in the chair or the speech about the phone with his subtle dig at Jack's interrogation technique).

This was one of those eps which was frustrating partly because it could have been a lot better with a few cuts. The character of Beth was great, but too much of the episode jarred for me to really enjoy watching it.


Fortunately, I can console myself by curling up with a hot cup of cocoa and an entertaining autobiography.

Comments

[simplelyric.livejournal.com]

I agree with much of this and see your points. I don't mind the shifts in Ianto's character, though. I spent most of last season bored and/or irritated by him and his angst. And it makes sense to me that the vast amounts of time this team spends together would have them rubbing off on each other -- in more ways than one --, enough that they would pick up some of each other's habits and characteristics, including Ianto becoming more blatant with his snark.

(Also, I disliked Beth and felt like her personal story was too much of a retread from ideas done not just on this show but elsewhere in sci-fi. I think part of my problem was with the actress, however, and everyone else seems to have liked her. ::shrugs::)