Torchwood Season One
Mar. 19th, 2011 03:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rsadelleI needed something to watch one day, and Torchwood was on Netflix instant, so I thought, why not? I've watched all of the first season over the last couple of weeks.
Sometimes I think fandom doesn't know how to sell things to me. Now, granted, I've never outright read a Torchwood primer/pimping post, but it's been a big enough fandom for long enough that I've seen enough stills and references to it to have a vague idea what it was. The emphasis in that sentence belongs on "vague." If you'd asked me, I would have guessed it was all about Jack and Ianto. Fandom, if you wanted to sell this show to me, you really needed to sell it like this: Torchwood is a sci fi show whose protagonist is a relatively average-looking British woman. Sure, it has ensemble-ish episodes, but for most of the first season at least, Gwen is the main character. As much of a slasher as I am, sci fi about women is my first love.
I watched at least half the season with a "that was good enough to watch one more episode" approach. Even now, it's the kind of show that, yes, I want to watch the rest of, but I wouldn't wail and despair if I couldn't. Part of that is that it really fits into the category of mediocre sci fi TV. (This is not a complaint. I'm a fan of mediocre sci fi TV.) They almost completely lost me when Lisa says she's transplanted her brain into someone else's body. I didn't at all believe Captain Jack dancing and making out with the real Captain Jack Harkness in a 1941 dance hall. And let's not even talk about how I rolled my eyes at Abaddon. But even with all of that, I enjoy it the way I like all of those sci fi TV shows that are fun if not great.
Notes on the interpersonal stuff:
Sometimes I think fandom doesn't know how to sell things to me. Now, granted, I've never outright read a Torchwood primer/pimping post, but it's been a big enough fandom for long enough that I've seen enough stills and references to it to have a vague idea what it was. The emphasis in that sentence belongs on "vague." If you'd asked me, I would have guessed it was all about Jack and Ianto. Fandom, if you wanted to sell this show to me, you really needed to sell it like this: Torchwood is a sci fi show whose protagonist is a relatively average-looking British woman. Sure, it has ensemble-ish episodes, but for most of the first season at least, Gwen is the main character. As much of a slasher as I am, sci fi about women is my first love.
I watched at least half the season with a "that was good enough to watch one more episode" approach. Even now, it's the kind of show that, yes, I want to watch the rest of, but I wouldn't wail and despair if I couldn't. Part of that is that it really fits into the category of mediocre sci fi TV. (This is not a complaint. I'm a fan of mediocre sci fi TV.) They almost completely lost me when Lisa says she's transplanted her brain into someone else's body. I didn't at all believe Captain Jack dancing and making out with the real Captain Jack Harkness in a 1941 dance hall. And let's not even talk about how I rolled my eyes at Abaddon. But even with all of that, I enjoy it the way I like all of those sci fi TV shows that are fun if not great.
Notes on the interpersonal stuff:
- I can certainly see why there was discussion about whether or not this show's bisexuality was serious or pastede on yay. I actually found it uncomfortably gratuitous in couple of the early episodes, and I'm the demographic that sort of thing is supposed to be catering to.
- Out of all the things about this show that don't make sense, the least comprehensible is Gwen sleeping with Owen. I did not see it coming at all, and it doesn't seem to have much of a purpose within the story.
- Another thing fandom should have told me: Jack/Ianto is canon. I mean, I knew there was a kiss, but I didn't realize it was in a context where they actually have a sexual relationship. I suppose you could argue that we never actually see them sleeping together, but, come on. They're involved.
- I'm not sure I actually want to read fic about this show, but if I did, the pairing I'd really want to read is Jack/Gwen.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-19 10:41 pm (UTC)I've always gotten the impression (and I might be very wrong, I am in no way a part of the fandom) that Gwen is singularly disliked by most of fandom. Which is probably why I am not a part of the fandom, because I like her very much, and the few times I've ventured nearby, I either stumble over Gwen!hate, or someone violently defending her. So...but like I said, I'm not even a hardcore fan. I'm like you; if it's on, I'll watch it, but if I miss it, that's okay.
My own fave character is Toshiko. I really like her.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 04:15 am (UTC)I do like Tosh. I loved the episode where she had this romance with a woman and at the end Gwen tells her that love was a good look on her.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-19 10:58 pm (UTC)Uh, this is 100% my Torchwood OTP.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 12:43 am (UTC)Btw, one of the major failings of my particular ship is that there are no strong female characters. The only female who shows up regularly is Allison, and she's almost always cast as the sort of sassy little sister--cute, even a little wise in her own way, but never taken too seriously. Even without knowing Bandom at all, I like it that Victoria and Bebe seem to regularly show up as interesting, fully developed characters.
Is a lack of women fairly typical for slash fic - or just part of my AI world?
Also, do you write femme/slash? I haven't seen much and it's not really my major priority right now, but I would like to read some well written femme/slash. I don't really care which fandom. Any recs?
Also, re Torchwood: did you rent it from netflicks--or is it on Hulu?
Thanks. Hope you're enjoying this grey and rainy weekend. I am.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 04:22 am (UTC)I have written some femslash (see my femslash fic tag, but not a lot. I may have ideas for other recs later, but just off the top of my head, Always, and Again and Never Enough (both bandom, girl!Brendon/girl!Spencer, kink).
I watched it streaming from Netflix.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 04:16 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 10:36 am (UTC)Although it is spoilery for all of Torchwood.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 03:23 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-20 02:18 pm (UTC)And as far as Toshiko goes, ugh. SO MUCH WASTED STORYLINE WITH A STRONG WOMAN, MR. DAVIES. Oh, but that's right, I forgot that Torchwood isn't supposed to be making a statement. (except for how it kind of is, in that he basically spent three seasons telling everyone that lesbians are for cheap titillation, whereas gay guys are the ones you use as your ~statement. Ugh, fucking Russell T. Davies.)
If you get a chance, though, you should check out the Doctor Who reboot. I don't know if you've seen it or not, but there are some truly fantastic moments. The first season (with Christopher Eccleston ♥) is more cheesy than the rest, but good GOD, David Tennant is amazing. Also, all the companions ANNNDDD getting to meet Captain Jack. (Who was, by the way, the first homosexual character ever to appear on Doctor Who.)
IDK, RAMBLING. XD
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 03:25 am (UTC)Oh, dear. So what you're saying is that I should avoid any and all official communication about the show?
I will have to put that on my to watch eventually list!
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 03:32 am (UTC)And Russell is kind of a douchebag in a lot of ways. He takes the best characters and ruins them. And me saying he basically told everyone was really me meaning to say that he implied that through his choices about the characters. (However, he did tell people off after the season 3 finale for being so attached or whatever. I can't remember all of it, but I avoid everything he says, honestly.)
The show would have been so much better if they had actually utilized Tosh for more than bullshit story-lines. (It's not that I hate Gwen, exactly. I hate what RTD turned her character into? I just feel like there was SO MUCH ROOM for Tosh AND Gwen to be kickass, amazing women.)
And it's adorable. The first season of the reboot has some >_< making episodes in so much as they're kind of...I won't say awkward, but you roll your eyes WAY more. However, Christopher Eccleston is amazing as Nine (I want so much Nine/Gabe), and I SO SO SO love Tennant as Ten. (However, I have to say, after last season with Eleven and no RTD interference (I can't forgive him for Donna, I just can't), ELEVEN IS MY FAVORITE.)
I WILL STOP WORD VOMITING ON YOU NOW. XD
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-22 03:34 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-21 09:59 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-22 03:36 am (UTC)