Jan
7
I know what you’re thinking: “TWO reviews for television shows I don’t watch in the same week?! WTF Craig!” Well, I’m sure that’s what most of you are thinking anyway. But I had a relaxing holiday vacation with loads of free time to catch up on television, so deal with it. Anyway, after loving Season 1, John was kind enough to send me Season 2 and I dove right in. I have to say, I didn’t love this season as much as I did the first.
It seemed like every episode of the first season had me laughing and crying. But I just didn’t get the same satisfaction out of this season. Don’t get me wrong, everything was really good, and I enjoyed it a lot, it just wasn’t quite there. You know how Lost used to do those musical montages at the end of the first season? And I would get all teary-eyed? Well that’s how it was with the first season of Torchwood.
But just as it stopped happening with Lost, it stopped with Torchwood. Both shows are still quite great, but there’s just a higher sense of satisfaction when a show can moisten your eyes. Oh but don’t you worry, there were definitely parts that opened up the ol’ tear ducts. If you’ve seen it, you’ll know what I’m talking about, but we’ll save the spoiler discussion for the comment section, and I can even tell you about the nickname Graymes Franco I made up.
I was also disappointed with James Marsters’ character. I expected him and Captain Jack to have this epic love story, but it was all very meh. And don’t even get me started on this romance thing they have going on between Jack and Gwen because I will not stand for it! Gwen needs to be with Rhys and Jack needs to be with a guy! And that’s final! I also didn’t appreciate all the Doctor Who references that I didn’t understand, though I did love Dr. Martha Jones, and hope she comes back.
Standout episodes include: Meat, To the Last Man, Adam (loved Jack’s story, and the roundtable scene at the end), Something Borrowed, Adrift, and Fragments (loved Tosh’s backstory the most). I realize that six episodes are a lot of standouts in a thirteen episode season, but as I just ran down the list, I remembered how much I enjoyed the episodes, so take my previous complaining with a grain of salt.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:54 am
Glad you enjoyed it. I LOVED “To the Last Man” even though I’m not a huge Tosh fan. “Something Adrift” was also good but sad and I thought “Something Borrowed” was pretty funny. I found “Meat” kind of squicked me out. I really started to get into Owen during Season 2 and liked his story with “Dead Man Walking” and “A Day in Death”.
I am really looking forward to Season 3 whenever we get it up here. Season 2 is on Sunday nights again so I’ve been catching the odd episode second time around. I did read that there is a rumor that there will be major crossover with Dr. Who in Season 3 so I’m not sure what that will mean. I hope it won’t make it more difficult to watch as a stand alone especially as we have the two shows on two different networks up here so there would be no coordination of the shows.
January 7th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Arrgh! I totally have to skip this post since I just started this season.
Jonah: Rejoice!
January 7th, 2009 at 8:38 am
I’ll give away no spoilers. I will say, the Dr. Who references I didn’t understand are what got me interested in watching all the Dr. Who’s (well the new Dr. Who’s), and so that’s what I did last year. Got all four seasons, and watched them all. And I now, all those references make sense. Plus, as I’ve already seen the final episodes of the fourth season (which they haven’t shown on BBCAmerica yet), I can assure you this next season of Torchwood, whenever it comes out, will be rocking!
I don’t remember all the titles of the episodes, so I don’t really remember what they’re all about, although I DO remember Meat and Something Borrowed, and they ARE outstanding!
Glad you liked/loved both seasons. I did as well (obviously). And I liked the Dr. Who seasons just as much! So maybe I should start nagging about Dr. Who like I did Torchwood, eh?
HUGS…
January 7th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Dave S: Could it really be true? I feel like I am on top of Mt. Everest where the silence is spiritually beautiful. So this is what enlightenment is like….
January 7th, 2009 at 9:49 am
I will join Polt in the nagging about Doctor Who. It is really fun.
I felt the same about Torchwood series 2 as you did Craig. There were some great episodes, but as a whole, it lost some of its excellence for me. Adrift was by far my favorite, but I got a big kick out of Something Borrowed. I also really liked From Out Of The Rain.
I’m going to go out on a limb here, but I never liked Owen as a character, so his episodes were a little boring for me. I liked Tosh’s back story, but it felt like it was too little too late.
Martha Jones is a great character, I would like to see more of her as well.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:53 am
SPOILERS!
I agree. A bit too much time was dedicated to Owen. I was sad when he “died” but he stayed around so long afterwards, I wasn’t really affected when he actually did die.
Tosh
No nagging about Doctor Who yet please. There is too much other stuff to get to first!
January 7th, 2009 at 10:05 am
MORE SPOILERS!
Craig: Totally. As if the frog face wasn’t enough, he didn’t even die well. Plus, I go with the comic book theory: “If we didn’t see the body, then he’s not dead”.
I was bummed about Tosh at first, but they never really used her to her full potential. I’m curious to see how they are going to move forward with the cast.
I’ll hold off on Doctor Who, but only for a little while.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:11 am
People, people, people, if you want to know how Torchwood is going to move forward, catch the last two episodes of Dr. Who coming up on BBCAmerica, in like 4 weeks or so. They give some VERY tantilizing prospects…..
HUGS….
January 7th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Well, I started out disliking Owen big time, but then he started to grow on me, like a fungal infection.
I thought he kind of seemed to get that he was a dick at the end, but it was too late. Yeah, yeah, not that attractive, but I’ve seen worse.
John: I know you’ve had a thing for Tosh but I just couldn’t get past her spinelessness. Yeah she was cute, yeah she was smart, but I don’t deal well with wimpy girls who don’t stand u for themselves. Although I did enjoy her in To the Last Man.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Aw I can’t participate today. i don’t watch this show. Now how am i going to avoid work……
I’ll be playing scramble on facebook if anyone needs me.
:pout:
January 7th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Polt: I know about the end of Doctor Who, but I was trying to avoid spoilers for Craig and others who may not be as up to speed as you and I. Plus, between us, you *know* Craig will be watching it.
Tam: I agree about Tosh, which was why I wasn’t upset with her story line. I realized I liked the potential of her character rather than the character herself. I’m not a fan of the door mat character either.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:51 am
I feel the urge to say “In today’s performance, the role of Dave S. will be played by john”.
I’m never going to fit into this costume….
January 7th, 2009 at 10:57 am
I forgive you, Craig. I can no more insist you not post about shows I don’t watch then demand the sun not to rise. Although this morning it would have really been a plus if it had risen about two hours later.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Ahh, Torchwood season two! I found it very interesting.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:31 am
John: On a related topic (sort of), I am having issues with the Dr. Who stuff you sent. At home all I get is sound, no picture. But it works at the office using VLC player so I am going to go home tonight see if I can download that. It looks like its free and I’m all about free. Then I can get caught up although I saw the last 2 episodes of Season 4 already. Ooops. Supernatural was in reruns, what can I say.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:36 am
I’m desperately trying to remember something about a TV show that I watched almost a year ago and it is not going so well.
SPOILER
didn’t care at all for Owen’s dead-man-torching storyline and was glad when it ended. Funny though, ever since his kiss with a guy in episode 1-1 I liked him (and hoped for a repeat – d-uh!).
I actually enjoyed Gwen being torn between 2 guys and loved how they got more Rhys into the mix.
Can we please have a spin-off that focuses on Capt’n Jack and Ianto’s bedroom antics? Then I could die happily.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Bernd: Definitely liked Rhys alot and how he got more involved with Torchwood. He was great in the wedding episode. Owen kissed a guy? I don’t remember that.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Tam: I think Owen kissed a guy in the first episode. He was hitting on his girlfriend and then used the “I’m sexy to everyone spray” on himself so the guy would engage in a 3 way.
As for vlc, it should definitely work. Sometimes avi files are funny with some players. VLC isn’t great, but like you said, it’s free and it should definitely play them.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Tam: Yeah, he kissed a guy when he used this “love potion” on himself to sleep with the other guy’s girlfriend. When the boyfriend put up a fight, Owen used the love potion on the boyfriend because he figured it would be easier to sleep with both rather than fight the boyfriend.
I was also happy when Rhys got more involved. It was getting silly that she was still able to hide her work from him so much. I was glad they got it out in the open and he began to help them out.
Yeah, I also wanted more Jack and Ianto.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:56 am
I like John’s “I’m sexy to everyone spray” rather than my “love potion”.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:58 am
I was never a big fan of Owen. Tam: in episode one, he had that alien gas thing that instantly attracted people to him. He used it in a bar on a girl, and as they’re on their way to her place, her boyfriend runs up and wants to fight. Owen says like, “Oh I don’t have time for this” and sprays him too. And then the boyfriend grabs him in this big kiss, and the three of them go off together. Like to get my hands on a bottle of that!
Was never big on Rhys, but once they clued him in on Torchwood and what was going on there, I grew to like him.
Tosh? She was always Tosh to me. The doormat is not a thrilling personality to watch, but it was her personality, and they maintained it throughout, so at least they were consistant.
And john (those are some pretty tight bikini briefs to fill, if you’re taking Dave S.’s place!), yes I DO know Craiggers will be watching the last two episodes of Dr. WHo. And if he’s NOT planning on it, he NEEDS to be. I don’t think it’ll be as mind blowing for him, cause he won’t really know who all the people showing up in it are. But he needs to watch it for the ending if nothing else!
HUGS…
January 7th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
“I’m sexy to everyone spray” is better than “love potion” and kicks the ASS of “alien gas thing”!
Jack and Ianto…who DOESN’T want to see more of them? I mean, the end of Something Borrowed….I may or may not have teared up a bit…just sayin…
HUGS…
January 7th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Polt: That was a touching moment. *sniff* Not as much as Capt. Jack and Capt. Jack though. Because you knew that was going to end badly, but it was very sweet.
Okay, I’m going back tonight to watch 1/1 because I’m totally clueless. Maybe I missed it? Or my brain is full of cotton candy. One or the other. The world would be a happier place if “I’m sexy to everyone spray” was available commercially.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Wow, I seem to be awfully cynical or jaded, but I can’t remember the last time I teared up over TV or a movie. Maybe I should watch more stuff while sleep-deprived, it seems to be easier then.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Bernd: You need to get in touch with your feminine side more.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
(1) James Marsters character was reaaaaalllyyy disappointing, I felt. It just seemed like a boring facsimile of his Buffy character that made out with dudes. And whoever thought the weird marching band jacket was a good idea needs to be fired from production. Bah ah, no.
(2) I think they really tried to expand their scope more with the second season and at some points they hit a real stride and at others it just falls flat. Everything with Owen (the entire episode with him being a dead spy especially) was just too much and not a big enough draw. That being said, Tosh’s bit in “Fragments” was one of my favorite moments of the entire series and definitely amps up the impact of the season finale.
(3) Yeah, seriously, WHAT is the deal with the Jack-Gwen quasi-romance schtick? It’s getting annoying. The wedding episode was pretty awesome but did not need the creepy “you’re like my dad but kiss me” overtones. I think he just needs to make out some more with Ianto and everything will be alright.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Well Tam, I think I’m very much in touch with my feminine side, thank you very much: I watch soaps, like fashion, love shopping, cooking and ironing, can be very maternal and am very focused on my appearance.
I know I’m deficient here: I don’t like to gossip, bubble baths, romance novels and don’t have a thing for shoes.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
ok turns out I can contribute…..in a completely random way. Someone introduced me to this today on facebook.
http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/04/a-scientific-at.html
Awesome.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I totally need I’m sexy to everyone spray.
Polt: I know these briefs are small! What are they doll clothes??! And what is with this pink tie dyed wife beater? I’m going to look like a marshmallow with an elastic around it…..
January 7th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Aw come on Joe, who doesn’t like bagpipes and cowboys. Oooooh, cowboys in kilts. Mmmmmmm. With accents. Sigh. I don’t really want to play the whole 22 min. at work but I’ll search for the opera rapping when I get home. Sounds delightfully annoying.
Bernd: You’re a better woman than I am.
I hate soaps and shopping and have only a passing interest in fashion. I do like to cook and tolerate ironing and well, I love being a Mom so have the maternal thing going. Not much for gossip, hate bubble baths, my romance novels have to be pretty darn spicy but I will admit to a thing for shoes. I may not buy them, but I have been known to drool over a shoe or two.
John: Thanks for that image.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
john: Not quite the image one thinks of when one thinks of Dave S. in undies and a pink tye dyed wifebeater…Course, now every time I think of YOU, I’ll have THAT image forefront in my mind.
HUGS…
January 7th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
See, Jonah?! See what happens when I take a Puntabulous day off? People start talking about underwear and that obscure pink wifebeater photo. ::sigh::
Though I’m worried by the number of people that seem to know about that pink wifebeater…
January 7th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Dave S, get out of here! You don’t want your eyes to wander and read about Gwen accidentally killing Rhys!
Woops
January 7th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Dave: Hey, I didn’t mention that I liked the grey one better. I just let John and Polt run with it and kept my mouth shut.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Craig: Jeez, you had to go and ruin it for him didn’t you?
January 7th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Craig: Or Jack having Ianto’s baby in Season 3!
Woops…
January 7th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Okay, I better get outta here before people start talking about me in that xtube video…
January 7th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
See what I’m willing to sacrifice for you, Jonah?
January 7th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Or that Tosh is secretly a ninja.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Craig: Tosh as a ninja I could go for. Give the girl a spine. Okay, I really like the idea of her being a martial arts expert, that would have been cool.
Dave: Stop reading now – sort of spoiler ahead.
I am really curious as to the new people for Season 3. I read conflicting reports about Martha Jones coming back. Some said she had commitments for another cop show on another network in the UK but then someone else said they actually saw her filming with Jack on the pier in Cardiff. So I haven’t heard much about the new people. What about Constable Andy? I know some people who are hoping he gets pulled in. He wants to baaaaad. Jack-Andy-Ianto three-way anyone?
January 7th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Dave S. Many gays are in touch with their feminine sides and love to gossip about people currently not on the blog.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Or that Owen concedes that he really *does* look like something from The Dark Crystal.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Dave S.: You smell Gelfling?
January 7th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
FDot: I’ve smelled Gelfling since Season 1…
bernd: Gossip away!
I’m slammed at work and have to get back to it… 
January 7th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Okay, I think I love Owen because I always feel for the underdog and the way you guys pick on the poor guy makes me love him more.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Aw, I love Constable Andy! But sadly I think Gwen already fills the cop role at Torchwood and I can’t see them adding another one.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Overall, I enjoyed Season 2, I think a few too many opportunities were missed. More could have done with James Marsters character, but they barely used him. Tosh and Owen I think were dropped as they ran out of things to do. Tosh never developed beyond her crush on Owen, and even with Owen’s ‘reset’, which could have been interesting, he was kept the same, still mopey, but more careful about breaking any bones.
I loved the stories that revolved around Jack, Ianto and Gwen, especially ‘Something Borrowed’ and ‘Adrift’. Good writing for both those episodes.
Gray better come back.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
FDot: Do you think Gray can be rehabbed as a Torchwood member or do you see him coming back as a bad guy. I think bad guy would be more interesting and make Jack all angsty.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Dave S: You have proven that there is no God or enlightement. I said a prayer, wished upon a star and used up my birthday wish early hoping that what you first said about not being here today was true…Now I don’t know if I should even believe Craig when he says he likes argyle or is that an evil trick by him too?
January 7th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Did anyone else think Gray looked EXACTLY like James Franco?
Hence my nickname for him Evil Graymes Franco.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Tam: That will depend on the writers. Coming out of stasis, he’ll still be bad, which would be a lot more fun; though it would be simple enough to invent some alien artifact that could make him nice.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
FDot: True, but I think that would be pretty boring just to have him and Jack make up and be all HEA. Even if he’s not “destroy the world” bad he could just be one of those pissy little brothers who make’s Jack’s life hell by constantly stirring things up and making it difficult for him. Not that I have a little brother, but in my imagination that’s what they’d do. But just on a larger scale. Rather than steal your diary, he’d open the rift occassionally and let in a fish-head alien or two.
Craig: Yeah, he did look like James Franco.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Polt: I’m exaggerating a little, but I do suspect my thigh is bigger than Dave S.’s waist. But I’m ok with you having a vivid, if disturbing, image in your head when you think of me.
Dave S.: Of course I know about the pink wife beater. I *read* Polt’s Palace. I don’t recall a photo though? I though Polt caught it and it was deemed to be too small for you or your daughter.
Craig: I have to go back and watch again. I didn’t pick up on his resemblance to Franco.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Tam: Good idea. Cardiff needs a good shaking up by a fish headed alien every so often. As long as he doesn’t join the team if he comes back, that would be too much. Keep him a bit evil.
Craig: Didn’t notice the James Franco resemblance, but did you ever see the short film “Heartland”? It’s his only other acting credit. Cute film, mainly of notice if you have some interest in watching him do farm chores shirtless or kissing another guy.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I don’t recall Gray looking like James Franco, although I do recall Gray being FREAKING HOT!!! So in that respect, yeah, he’s like James Franco.
john: the “Dave S. in the pink tye-dyed wifebeater” was not part of the Columbus posts. That particular wife beater WAS shown then, but not worn by anyone. But there WAS a “Dave S. in the pink tye-dyed wifebeater” on the Palace….you just hafta kinda look for it…
Costable Andy is cute and all, but he’s a much better foil for Gwen than he would be a member. And if you want hints as to whom may be in Torchwood, may I recommend the last two episodes of this season’s Dr. Who? (wow…where have I heard THAT before)…
HUGS…
January 7th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
john: Thigh larger than Dave S.’s waist…yeah, I know all about that.
FDot: Heartland…Gray shirtless and kissing guys….Heartland, on my Netflix queue as soon as I get home!
HUGS….
January 7th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
The blowfish aliens are such pimps.
Polt: I would think that if I watch the last two episodes of Doctor Who just to get Torchwood hints, that it would ruin the rest of Doctor Who for me before I get a chance to watch it.
January 7th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Craig: There are only 4 series and only 13 episodes in each series and a few Christmas episodes. You could totally catch up fast!
Polt: I thought the body-less shirt was in that post. I don’t recall the photo. Maybe I’ll have to go dig through the archives later. Oh, and in our defense, how big is Dave S.’s waist? 20″ maybe 22″? Could be worse, could be our necks that were bigger.
January 7th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Ah, Lachlan Nieboer. Who didn’t google him for twenty minutes after that episode?
January 7th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Sven: I know I did!
Here’s a good link with a few Gray pics. Some are more Franco-ish than others.
http://www.rdwf.org.uk/torchwoodch/twch/gray.htm
January 7th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Geez oh go to the longest meeting in my life and i miss out on underwear and pink wife beaters and xtube….
….what the hell is going on?
January 7th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I preferred season one of Torchwood to season two as well. I felt like the shows felt more rushed in the second season. It was like they were trying to fit more in the same time. I didn’t mind the tension between Jack and Gwen, but I am glad it didn’t go anywhere. I liked the Jack an Ianto development. It was also interesting to see Ianto’s back story. I didn’t have great expectations for James Marsters’ character. I haven’t seen many of the Dr Who cross over episodes, but I knew Jack was not always a good guy. I didn’t expect a noble romance. My understanding was that Dr. Martha Jones was supposed to come back from the new season. The cross over finale even implied that. However my understanding is that there were some contract issue and the scripts were rewritten to exclude her.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Craiggers, Im sorry, but in the photos in your link, Gray looks more like Joey McIntyre from New Kids On The Block than James franco. NOT a good thing. Gray’s still FREAKING HOT though.
john: crimeny, if his waist IS only 20″, that’s my shirt size!!!
HUGS…
January 7th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Polt: 20″ might be a bit small, but I’m guessing around 28″.
Craig: I see a little Franco, but I also see some KNOTB Joey, some Cap’n Jack and some Hal Sparks (but with height).
January 7th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Okay, I admit I googled Gray (who’s real name I don’t really care to scroll up to find) and I believe I had an e-mail discussion about him with Polt after that episode.
He’s cute all around no matter who he looks like. I didn’t remember that big scar on his neck.
Chris: I read that about Martha too but then someone said they saw her filming so who knows. Guess we’ll have to be patient.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Just to set the record straight, my waist size is 28, not 20. That would, like be circumfrence (sp?) of a small Ikea salad bowl. Or a toaster cozy. A very manly toaster cozy, of course.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
The spray that everyone is talking about is in the first season not the second so that’s why some people are confused.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
A manly toaster cozy inDEED!
HUGS…