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Torchwood Episode 208 Recap: “A Day in the Death”Walking outside, Owen catches something falling from the sky. It’s a piece of paper, and when Owen opens it, he sees a picture of Roofie standing next to the future Mr. Roofie, looking drunk off his ass. Up on the Roof, Owen explains that finding the picture is what brought him up to her.
As someone in need for Superdead Owen to save, she ranks as slightly less clichéd than last week’s cancer boy. But I’m worried that this is going to be the new format for this show, like next week we’ll have to see Owen helping some young woman do the laundry. She’ll be all, “I’ll just die if I don’t get this stain out.” And he’ll be, “You think you’re going to die? My name is Owen Harper, and I am already a dead man! … And that bleach you’re using will leave streaks.” Anyway, Roofie asks what she should do now. And Owen says she’s got a choice. She can off herself, if she thinks the darkness is too much. But then he talks about all the things that might make one want to stick around, listing things like being with your mates or tea on a cold morning or — get this — a cigarette. Because nothing can give you the will to live like something that’s slowly killing you. Holding up the pulsating device, Owen says that if there’s even a glimmer of light, isn’t it worth taking a chance and sticking around. He asks her name. Turns out Roofie is actually named “Maggie Hopley,” and only a writer with a really sick sense of humor would give a character planning on jumping off a roof a name that starts with “Hop.” “Well Maggie,” Owen says, “It’s up to you. Your choice. Do you still want to jump?” And the two of them stand on the roof and watch the magical Sharper Image Noise Reduction Bicycle Helmut give off a gorgeous sound and light show worthy of EPCOT.
My name is Steven Frank. And I’m going to go watch reruns of South Park now, because I so need something mindless and silly after all this death talk. Next week, though! Next week’s wedding/mutant pregnancy episode looks like it totally kicks ass! I can’t wait. Submitted by on Sun, 2008-03-16 22:10. |
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The best thing about Torchwood this season
Thanks Pundit...
Mixed bag of things this week
Mixed bag of stuff this week.
(I wrote this while waiting for the recap to be posted so I might be repeating a couple of the points that Steven makes.)
Why is Gwen giving the orders this week ? ? Oh that’s right; otherwise she would have absolutely no reason to be in the episode. However, once again 100% Gwack free episode, so if she wants to call the shots...
Why does Jack say he can’t reinstate Owen because of rules and regulations? Does this mean that there is someone higher up the Torchwood chain of command ? Who ? The Queen ?
In the board room Tosh says she discovered the energy pulse. However, while bitching over pizza at Owen’s place she’s pissed at Jack for calling her in early about the strange energy pulse. Interesting side to Tosh that, there’s a little bit of tension in the office between folks. Kudos to the prop people for using the Jubilee pizza box. We’ll assume Tosh picked it up seeing as how Jubilee delivery people either end up dead or becoming annoyingly useless co-workers.
Speaking of props, a special mention must go out to whoever did Owen’s apartment. If you look on top of the fridge while he’s talking to Tosh you can see what looks like the head of Anubis ---Egyptian god of the afterlife. Nice touch.
Anyone catch the bad editing in all those head shots of Owen before Tosh arrives? There is one where he’s in the bathroom and he’s wearing what he was wearing at the start of the show when he tried to shave. Oops
Ah, Tosh does not get to say good bye to Martha. Plus what the hell with Martha just walking away! Ianto gets promoted from coffee boy and now he’s too big to drive Martha to the airport/ train station / bus stop ? ? Her UNIT expense account won’t cover a rental ? cab fare ?
Torchwood is really no longer a secret organization. If Dead Man Walking did not prove it than this episode certainly does. Parker, who has not left his house in nearly 22 years, knows what Tosh looks like to the point of knowing that she has good legs that she needs to show off more. What, did the Cardiff Wales on Sunday newspaper run a story on the Miss Torchwood 2006 festival featuring a picture of Tosh winning the swimsuit competition ? ?
More Lalalala moments: Why does Owen still have “the Pulse” in his knapsack while walking down the street? Should it not have been kept at Torchwood for further study ? ?
Won’t Maggie still be suicidal after they give her a Retcon pill to forget all that Owen has told her ? Oh hell, let her know everything, everyone else in Cardiff seems to know now.
Good grief the writers can't remember what they wrote one scene to the next. You have Martha fixing Owen's cut hand and talking about how he can't feel a thing, and later we have the handholding scene with Tosh at the end.
Neither a good episode nor a bad episode. Don't hate it but I do hate that Martha was so under used.
Martha leaving.
Great Call on Anubis
and on the Jubliee Pizza box. Loved all your nitpicks, actually. RE Anubus, I noticed the statue on the fridge but it didn't register in terms of God of the Afterlife. Makes me wonder if, just like when someone newly out of the closet gays up their apartment, Owen decided to go on a shopping spree and add dead paraphernalia to his place. How bizarre.
Dead Heads in Torchwood
Campion, I was thinking many of the exact same things.
Martha's little walkaway made absolutely no sense to me. It's night time, she has luggage and they're going to just leave her to walk alone to wherever she has to go?!
So much for chivalry in the UK!
You reminded me of a snipe I got into on a Torchwood board not long ago over the question of Gwen being the team leader during Jack's absence. My contention was that this represented a massive credibility gap in the writing because of Gwen's utter lack of qualifications for the job. I mean, when Jack snatched her from the Cardiff constabulary she was just walking street patrol! She wasn't even a detective or anything! She served coffee at the station!
Some moron had commented that this was because she was the "heart" of the team. I was forced to point out that Torchwood consists of more than just five misfits lurking underground in Cardiff and the BBC Torchwood web site that was up during series 1 referenced that a "Future Options Committee" was drawing up proposals for the Queen to review post-Canary Wharf. While a lot of people were killed in Canary Wharf we know that Torchwood wasn't all concentrated inside that tower. And clearly is there is some committee working on organizational plans then the whole operation is not headless.
Also, Jack continues to cite rules that would obviously be inapplicable if he were now the sole authority in Torchwood. They had work done in the Hub during his absence, implying access to construction personnel. And obviously they get money from somewhere! Oh, and UNIT knows that they're there, so they're clearly not off the radar. Then again, under Gwen's apparently brilliant leadership all of Cardiff knows they're there so...
So Gwen being in charge of Torchwood Three makes no sense whatsoever. Her being Jack's pet project is not likely to sway anyone outside the immediate radius of her nagging. Otherwise she's the least qualified person in the Hub! Maybe it's true that the English are only barely aware that Wales exists...
Watching her bark (extremely no-brainer) orders at the team was irritating. I mean, these people were doing this sort of work back when she was still getting her head knocked trying unsuccessfully to break up bar fights.
I guess it really is just because otherwise she'd be useless in this episode otherwise. Although honestly, she's had an affair with Owen and she's supposedly the "carer" on the team, why weren't we seeing a little more of her supposed empathy here? Ianto at least had the grace to look embarrassed by Jack's rude mistreatment of Owen and show some sympathy to him.
Speaking of which, is it me or was Jack an @sshole this week? As already pointed out, Owen's current state is his fault. He's the one that went and used the Glove in an extremely ill-advised manner. To criticize Owen for reacting so poorly to what Jack is subjecting him to is rather unfair. All the more so as Jack can still enjoy eating, drinking and shagging.
(By the way, given the dangerous nature of their profession and the risks they take, wasn't it a little stupid to have Owen be the sole possessor of an important password?)
So now I'm feeling a little annoyed with Jack, on top of my already-raging hatred of Gwen. It is clearly implied that Ianto is beginning to fall in love with Jack, and that he's insecure about it. As he should be given Jack's apparent ability to just emotional detach at will. I guess the emotionally uplifting effects of his time with the Doctor have fully worn off. Or maybe he just doesn't like being confronted by his own mistakes?
Martha was underused. And I agree with the old man about Tosh's legs. Thank you! I'm glad somebody else notices. Now please fix her wardrobe.
Hi! My take on Jack and
Hi!
My take on Jack and the rules since there's "only a handful full of us" - he's a military guy. (not sure if I quoted that but ya get the idea)
But your right he should be able to bend even break them -given a good reason (like not retconning Rhys). I think his being responsible for bringing Owen back at the cost of 12 lives should count as a excellent reason, never mind good. (and how soon after Jack's return from being with the Doctor is this? Jack changed Torchwood for the Doctor ["in your honor"]. Boy, the Doctor'd be sooo proud! [sarcasm intended])
As for Gwen:
In KKBB's opening it looked more like Gwen was being held back by the woman she moved to safety -although they were both fairly exposed at the time. So I never got that Gwen as "carer" bit. (and hated the"Satin Pit" redo). If Gwen's the "heart of the team" Gwen should have been arguing with Jack about his treatment of Owen ans his (Jack') responsibilty. She argued about his treatment of Beth and couldn't manage a word for Owen? no sense here.
Next week's eps looks promising - has Rhys in it so Gwen should be tolerable. Well, as tolerable as a bride on her wedding day can be. :-}
oh and (Yes, it is. Jack as boss should have ALL the passwords)
Two Possible Explanations for Jack's Behavior
Or maybe he just doesn't like being confronted by his own mistakes?
I think you've hit the nail partially on the head. It's been proven in the past that Jack isn't fond of anyone pointing out that he's screwed up (i.e., using the original Resurrection gaunlet to bring back Suzie, who turned out to be a raging fruitbat; actually letting Captain John inside the Hub even after admitting he couldn't be trusted...the list just goes on and on and on).
Jack is very much an Alpha Male. He believes that, because he's lived longer than the entire teams combined ages, traveled so much in time and space, and seen things they'll never see, his word should be accepted as law. The only person I can think of who's ever actually called him on this attitude is Ianto.
That said, what follows are spoilers for the end of Season Three of Doctor Who, and another possible explanation for Jack's behavior since he's returned.
During his last trip with the Doctor, Jack ended up captured by the Master, who spent the better part of a year repeatedly killing him in a variety of inventive and painful ways. Jack once made a off-handed remark to Gwen, in an earlier episode, about how dying and coming back was like being dragged across broken glass. Imagine spending an entire year being subjected to that day after day after day, with no hope of ever escaping it, knowing that this madmad would just keep killing him and he would NEVER be able to die.And did I mention that the Master also killed his entire team and made sure Jack knew it was HIS fault they died when he abandoned them to run off with The Doctor?
Did I mention The Master's pet name for him was 'Freak'?
Now consider that, since his return, he's never told anyone what actually happened during the time he was gone. Because he's Captain Jack Harkness, and he's the leader of Torchwood, and he can't let any of his team (even Ianto, whom he's obviously attracted to and maybe even loves, in his own way) know the truth. He was very much in love with The Doctor (or at least the 9th one). He survived mostly by holding out hope that if anyone could do something about the immortality, it would be him.
Instead, The Doctor (the one person who could lure him away from the team) reputiated his immortality as being 'wrong' and called him 'unnaturel.'
Can you say PTSD, kids? Even though he's immortal, he still has human emotions. I think he reacts the way he does to Owen's statements that he's 'wrong' and 'broken' because it reminds him too much of what the Doctor said about him. And just like the Doctor, Jack can't fix Owen.
The man needs a therapist. Barring that, he needs to tell someone (preferably Ianto) what he went through during 'The Year That Never Was.' Ianto, for one so young, knows all too well about pain and loss.
I'm hoping that, eventually (or at least before the end of Season Two), he'll take Ianto into his confidence. Because he's carrying around this incredible load of pain and self-loathing (he remembers the team dying all too vividly) It was the 9th Doctor's girlfriend who's responsible for his immortality, and I think he always just assumed that the Doctor would know how to undo what Rose had done. Now he knows that's not possible. Also, he and the 9th Doctor were attracted to each other (though all they ever did was kiss once or twice-I think the relationship was mostly one-sided on Jack's part). The 10th has no real feelings for him beyond disgust at the fact he exists.
He needs help. He needs it desperately. I'm fairly sure Ianto knows something's wrong, but Jack's departure left their budding relationship on shaky ground, and I'm not sure Ianto knows where he really stands now. So it's going to be up to Jack to make the first move.
YMMV, naturally. But that's sort've how I see things
That was rather good, rabid
Right on the money ... But?
I'm with pundit on this. The
Badger , good thoughts here: "Can you say PTSD, kids? Even though he's immortal, he still has human emotions. I think he reacts the way he does to Owen's statements that he's 'wrong' and 'broken' because it reminds him too much of what the Doctor said about him. And just like the Doctor, Jack can't fix Owen."
Good call on PSTD and the possible triggers for it.
However about this: "he and the 9th Doctor were attracted to each other (though all they ever did was kiss once or twice-I think the relationship was mostly one-sided on Jack's part). The 10th has no real feelings for him beyond disgust at the fact he exists" Do you remember that the 10th invited Jack to join him? and that when mentioning that Jack is "an impossible thing" that they we're joking? So how do you get that "10th has no real feelings for him"? I always got that Jack was the Doctor's best friend - the best he's had in awhile since there aren't many species/people who live over 100 years. - and since they both will outlive a lot of people they'll stay best friends .
gotta go. think I'll pre-type stuff for next ep.
i didn't watch this episode.....
i didn't watch this episode...but from the recap, I am confused....if he's dead, and gets hurt....how come his wounds won't heal?
actually...if he's dead in the first place, how do you even GET hurt???
The Idea is that somehow
The Idea is that somehow he's kind of like a walking corpse, meaning he's walking and talking, but almost none of his body processes are working, that includes healing..
Think of it this way, he can't die or be hurt in the clinical sense anymore, but he can be damaged and destroyed.
Fantasyland aka Cardiff
If you wonder how he eats
If you wonder how he eats and breathes, and other science facts (lalalala)
Repeat to yourself: "It's just a show, and I really should relax."
Well, I don't know...I
Well, I don't know...I really liked this episode. I found it rather moving, though I knew a lot of people would just take the piss out of it. I was in a bit of a dark place when the episode aired. I suffer from depression, and was in a rather bad trough. I was getting quite existensial, and I came to the conclusion that nothing had any meaning what-so-ever.
Then Torchwood comes along and says, well, no, it doesn't have meaning or purpose. But it does have beauty. It has many things to take joy in. Life doesn't have to have a meaning. As with art, there doesn't need to be a point.
Maybe it came off as cheesy for the rest of you, but...it connected with me.
Ianto is made of awesome.
I, for one, loved this
I, for one, loved this episode. It's one of those love it or hate it thing - though I can understand how someone who isn't engrossed by the show as a whole wouldn't have liked this one.
And just FYI - nails do *not* keep growing after death. ;)
Good catch on the Hopley
Good catch on the Hopley naming. I missed that one.
Good recap, as always. You can clearly make a drab and lalalalahophophop episode alive and entertaining. I wonder what will you make of an episode Full of Win, which comes next week? Best humorous episode in TW, ever. Looking forward to your perspective on it :)
The whole breathing thing ruined it...
Thank You!
The Contrarian Replies...
afhickman
"It takes a village (to make Village People)"
I like Owen and I like this episode. I didn't have a problem with all the foolish inconsistencies (knowing they are the hobgoblin, etc.); I simply suspended my disbelief and became a willing participant in a great show. The whole idea behind sci-fi is to ask "What if?" What if you could die and "live" to talk about it? What would you say? Would you become a better person? Would you submit to depression? I think the writers did a great job with these quesions. Some of you are talking about changes in direction for the show. I think it's already headed in a fascinating direction. And I'm glad to be along for the ride.Torchwood has gone
Glad the Owen arc is over...
I interpreted Ianto's
I interpreted Ianto's Tintin comment a bit differently to you - I thought it was quite a nice moment, and Ianto was trying to do a nice thing for Owen (which is very big of him, considering not minutes before Owen was assaulting his beloved coffee machine). When Owen comes in, everyone goes horribly tense and silent and then Ianto breaks the tension by starting some banter, which normalizes the situation somewhat, since that's probably what he'd do with Live!Owen too. That's how I saw it anyway, because otherwise I'd have to acknowledge that "Unlike Tintin" is a slightly clumsy non-sequiter. Plus, Ianto as a person is generally quite subtle and quite nice, so it would suit him better than coming over all bitchy.
I didn't dislike this episode, though you're so right it could have done with more show and less tell. I've liked Owen better and better as a character throughout this series. The next episode is pretty damn silly too, but at least has the redeeming feature of apparantly doing it on purpose.
Singing Football
I like this episode so little
Something Borrowed
I am a big Torchwood fan. I forgive all its flaws because it was just so fearless in so many other ways. Plus, Janto is the cutest male couple on TV, yes even cuter than my beloved Nuke. This episode was not very good, but had some nice moments.
Something Borrowed though has to be the worst Torchwood episode ever. Even I could not ignore the stupidity. There are so many lalalahophophop moments Steve. I cannot wait to see you handle it in your recap. I usually love Gwen, but she makes so many bad decisions in this episode I was yelling at her through out the entire episode. The rest of the team is just as bad. It is truly as stupid, poorly written episode. I cannot wait for your take on it!
I quite liked Something
I agree. But I think
If that one thing you refer
I loved Something Borrowed
because I prefer light-hearted to dark and moody, like A Day in the Death was. Plus too much focus on Owen, especially since he got the last ep to himself as well.
not me fave ep
Adjovi: another place NOT to read these recaps: a Library!
I haven't been kicked out yet :-}
and I have only 6 minutes to type.
(might have to use home computer - not good as comp not doing well. hey 8 yrs old is really old in computer yrs :)
Doomsday was soo much better than this.
And for a few minutes I thought I was watching "Lynda with a y" -talk about recycling.
Anyways
Campion: :-D great comments
Loved the Ianto monents. as to be expected.
I think Tosh needs to grow a spine (again) or Jack needs to take her out for a night on the town (1 minutes left - to home computer ick/eeek)
brenrose: Glad to see you
lol
continued
Gwen - did she even have to be in this episode?
and yes I thought that line about "back at torchwood" was a bit funny but only because it was soo normal a way to recall a wandering conversation and I didn't think Gwen was familiar with normal.
The real joke was Jack just sitting there. Now if Barrowman had chosen to add a look of bemusement on his face while he was sitting there watching her bark out orders it'd have been funnier -but that's just me.
My take on the Old Guy knowing about Torchwood was that Torchwood would bid in the same things he did so he'd investigate his competition and know of them that way. And since Jack's takeover of the organization, the staff's been seen _and heard_ all around Cardiff. ex. Jack, over here. Gwen, he went down the alley. I'm surprised people aren't walking up to them in the street asking for help/autographs. :}
Owen's apartment: wow, how much does Torchwood pay that he can afford such a large open floor plan?!? So what - did he bring Diane and Gwen to a Hotel room? I though the place we saw in 1st season was his apartment and it looks nothing like this ep's.
I'm puzzled by Martha's departure too. I would have enjoyed her kissing of Jack if Jack wasn't so shocked/surprised by it. I thought he'd just be "okay, good looking intelligent semi-available woman is kissing me" and roll with it but no he was shocked! so was I. How dare she kiss a gorgeous man unexpectedly that that! what nerve! what a let down. Then Martha's walking away - un-escorted. and to what/where??!?
Campion: I think we're to assume that Owen was on his way back to Torchwood although why we would walk when he had received a ride is shall we say 'illogical' (a little tired of Buffy refs).
What _Really_ bothered me was Owen realizing that he had no breathe and couldn't save the guy. Hello, Owen! USE THE OXYGEN TANK!!! It's right there next to the bed where you found it a few minutes ago (relatively speaking). Oh wait. You did, then how about adding Chest compressions? Or even doing just compression without breaths? they recently established that it works just as well or are you not up on recent medical news? my guess is you're not. He's doctor Owen Harper - that's doctor with a small "d".
I actually found myself more interested in Maggie's story than "Poor Owen" I know they do stories like this to reduce the workload but they could've done better -much better.
but did I mention how much I loved Ianto's moments. I agree with Tin-Tin being an ice-breaker since it fits nicely with the coffee machine scene. I was a bit in shock that Ianto actually spoke up...And, Steve, I agree: excellent work by Gareth during that coffee maker scene. (ok,any scene he's in :-)
-Later
loved it
Unbreakable!
Now Steve's New & Improved
Now Steve's New & Improved with Andre Norton Award Nominee power!
www.steveberman.com
"Roofie"??
Which is more predictable the show or the recaps?
I don't think there really is a Torchwood? How can Jack never die? How can Owen be dead but walking and talking? I'm pretty sure there is no such thing as a rift. I'm sure that it is TV SciFi show and there are a lot of things that are not logical.I'm pretty sure that Gwen is a waste of air time. I would definitely love the show if it was just Jack and Ianto with an occasional visit from James Marsters. Good episodes or bad episodes I love the show.
Is the point of the recap to ridicule the show and point out all the flaws? If it is then you are doing a great job. If not then perhaps someone a little more impartial should be writing them. I have no idea why I read it because I pretty much new what to expect.
Crappy but fun
Well, I think part of the enjoyment of watching a show like this is the fun of mocking it afterwards. There's no reason this programme should be as bad as it is; no excuse for some really terrible scripts. But since it isn't a great show, I do enjoy making fun of it a bit. Some shows really are too dumb to watch (Dante's Cove, anyone?), but this one has just enough good moments in it---a glimpse of what it is capable of being---that I keep coming back, hoping for the best. When it fails to deliver, though, I don't mind goofing on it, and get a big kick out of what others have to say also...
I'm like a superhero, with no powers or motivation...
Sadly Predictable
The only reason most you watch the show...
... Episode 10, 'Adrift.' This episode will pay off for you. Short but sweet. It's what this show is (suppose to be) all about, based on the recaps and comments. Yep. Ep 10. Featuring the return of Constable Andy, looking super cute, and his reason for not attending Gwen's wedding. What's up between Rhys and Andy?