Torchwood 1x06 - Countrycide

[fahye]

- "I hate the countryside." OH OWEN. No wonder I like you so much. I think Owen is what I'd be if my selfish arrogance hadn't been nipped in the bud when I was in my early teens, and we're still remarkably alike. I can expound on this if anyone really wants - it does go a little deeper than our shared hatred of rural areas and a medical bent - but I'm not in the mood for self-analysis just now.

- Even in the middle of nowhere, Ianto is the only one with any sort of initiative when it comes to food. Awww.

- I think it should be noted that Jack really IS the captain of the Innuendo Squad. Heheh. GO TOSH. "Need a hand getting it up, Owen?"

- WTF, they really are all twelve years old.

- Gcnjufwidnxsx okay, sure, slamming against trees and filthy talk and angry adrenalin. This pairing moves quickly and fights DIRTY. And I am totally hooked.

- SOMEONE ICON ME GWEN AND OWEN POINTING GUNS TOGETHER. I can add it to my Tony-and-Kate and Lee-and-Kara collection of snarktastic het with guns. Never mind! :D

- Jack's hair is fantastically hot this episode. (I am so deep.)

- NOOO, THE TORCHWOODMOBILE. I think I am semi-consciously waiting for Jack to say "Bitch took my ride!"

- Jack seems rather too fond of posing, so far, but I am very impressed with Gwen. She has decent, human, understandable reactions to HORRIBLE MANGLED CORPSES and then has enough grit to keep going, keep her head, keep following orders. And then start freaking out, and waver, and WTF MY FILE DIED.

Okay, fixed. Onwards!

- This show is all about the little things like Tosh being totally incapable of kicking down doors. Notice how I am babbling because I'm starting to get creeped out. Not 'Empty Child' creeped out, but creeped out. I have a feeling it'll get worse from here on in.

- You know, Jack might like him in a suit, but I think I prefer CampingKen!Ianto. Still bitter, still reserved, but somehow a whole lot more likeable in jeans and a parka.

- AWWW, OWEN. He's an arse and he's arrogant but he is, beneath it all, a doctor. And blood! And her hysterical innuendo! And OW GOD THAT LOOKS PAINFUL. And he hates patients and he's good at this field-surgeon stuff and hahahah, Gwen is so adorable when drugged.

- Oh, stop whining, Tormented!Ianto. Put your parka of awesome back on. I like this show better when it's more action and less self-absorbed musing about the philosophy of their job.

- Random Civilian is called Kiaran! This is why I love British telly. Everyone has fantastic names. Just try and convince me that 'Lance' and 'Madison' are better names than 'Kiaran' and 'Estelle'.

- Man, Jack's 'Cyberwoman' authority has kind of gone down the toilet.

- Aaaaand, it's Random Civilian #2, She Of The Suspiciously 'Wolves of the Calla'-like Exposition.

- And RC #3, to whom I have taken an instant dislike. YES. BOOYAH. Oh, I like Jack when he's talking about torture and not trying to convince Gwen to lend them humanity. I think I will fic Jack and torture, because I like the combination.

- .....CREEPY. Though I had a feeling that woman was up to something as soon as she started asking if anyone knew where they were. I am also completely mistrustful of the random policeman, for the record.

- IANTO'S INAPPROPRIATE SMILE FTW.

- All right, this is getting a little too slasher-movie for my liking. Move along, move along. There are no aliens involved whatsoever, are there? Harumph. I am not creeped out any more - I cope well with gruesome, less well with suspense - just impatient.

- Did I call the policeman or what? Anyway, this is more like it. Obscenities and standoffs and frantic eye contact.

- HAHAHAHAHAH. Ten did it with a horse, Jack does it with a tractor. This show is so ridiculous and yet plausible, it's fantastic. And that was some smart shooting, with the kneecaps and the screaming rage.

- Jack understands why. Oh. This interrogation scene has some problems, but it's very well done. The same-old moral message about humans and monsters is being hammered home with eye contact and facial expressions rather than articulating it, which is something at least.

- WHY THE VOICEOVER. WHYYYY? Come on, Gwen, you're better than Meredith Grey.





....


All right, Gwen, all voiceover melodrama is forgiven, even if this scene is fanfic come to life. GNHUH. That was like being punched. I was really hoping this would happen - Jack's trite speeches about her reminding them of humanity and instead they're just taking her and coring her, smashing her into pieces. This pairing is not even trying to be romantic - it's cynical, and a weird mixture of impulsive and deliberate, and sexual, and very, very strong. And it's screwed up. And it's doomed. Fuck, I love it.

In conclusion: not enough aliens. Too many gratuitious chase scenes. Just the right amount of Gwen/Owen, colour me OTPed.