Torchwood: Fragments

[andraste]

Two watchable Chris Chibnall episodes in a row? I think it's time to start checking for extra celestial bodies in the sky.



I do have some criticisms of Fragments: as a Classic Who fan I demand an explanation for UNIT turning into Guantanamo Bay. Not saying it couldn't happen - in fact it's all too plausible in the modern world - but I want to know the details. Also, Martha Jones is working for these people, and Sarah Jane is in contact with them. Are these things still going on? Do Martha and Sarah Jane know?

In addition, Owen's tragic backstory is so far over the top it can see the other side. I didn't mind that too much, though, since it lead to the awesome of the graveyard scene. It makes so much sense that Owen would start out his second meeting with Jack by trying to strangle him and end up sobbing all over the guy *g*.

I guess Jack actually was working for Torchwood during the story he tells in From Out of the Rain - maybe he just didn't want to tell the others that he was a field agent for Torchwood during the bad old days? The fact that he did this for a century before reforming the place - well, that's Jack for you. Even post-Doctor, moral ambiguity is his middle name.

UNIT's reputation aside, Toshiko's recruitment story was great. It demonstrated both her awesome and her devotion to the people she cared about. Am fascinated that Jack has basically had her indentured for five years; obviously he's been more relaxed about the rules than he was at first since she was allowed to go to a family function in Captain Jack Harkness.

My favourite part, though, was Ianto's flashbacks - I'm not a big Jack/Ianto 'shipper, but Ianto desperately trying to get into Torchwood Three for the sake of his Cyber-girlfriend was great. Not to mention hilarious. "So, you're not going to help me catch the pterodactyl then?" has to be the best pick-up line ever.

I do wonder why Ianto kept offering coffee and dry-cleaning when blow jobs might have got Jack's attention faster. Maybe he figured Jack can get all the sex he wants, but was obviously in need of someone to do the ironing. Or perhaps at that stage he was making an effort to be faithful to Lisa, although one does wonder what he was doing in a park in the middle of the night wearing jeans, a leather jacket and a studded belt ...

All in all, I really like having origin stories for all the Torchwood crew. Possibly we will even learn Jack's real name next week! (Unless his parents kept calling him 'son' because his name is Sun.)

Comments

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

For my thoughts about the UNIT Guantanamo thing, see selenak's reaction post to the episode.

Jack in From Out of the Rain: from his relationship with Torchwood as depicted pre-2000, he could have been freelancing for someone else when he didn't have a Torchwood assignment.

[andraste]

For my thoughts about the UNIT Guantanamo thing, see selenak's reaction post to the episode.

I like that idea a lot - it makes a lot of sense for the character in question to want to corrupt UNIT, given the universal shortage of his usual troops ...

Jack in From Out of the Rain: from his relationship with Torchwood as depicted pre-2000, he could have been freelancing for someone else when he didn't have a Torchwood assignment.

Could be. Frustratingly, I doubt we'll ever get an answer, at least not in the TV series. I guess it's the kind of thing spin off media might be interested in picking up on on the future.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

In addition, Owen's tragic backstory is so far over the top it can see the other side. I didn't mind that too much, though, since it lead to the awesome of the graveyard scene. It makes so much sense that Owen would start out his second meeting with Jack by trying to strangle him and end up sobbing all over the guy *g*.

That was my reaction precisely - that the tragicness was OTT but the graveyard scene was awesome because it really is that entire relationship in miniature!

UNIT Guantanamo'd: again, we are of an mind, and KdS offered some very interesting ideas in his comments to my post.

The fact that he did this for a century before reforming the place - well, that's Jack for you. Even post-Doctor, moral ambiguity is his middle name.

Quite. Because he really did have a choice. He could have just left Britain, if the Torchwood influence would have ensured he wouldn't find work there unless it was for them, especially given the card-reading girl gave him a date for his reunion with the Doctor. He could have done any number of things but work for an organisation that had just proved to be very ruthless indeed. But no, he stays.

Possibly we will even learn Jack's real name next week! (Unless his parents kept calling him 'son' because his name is Sun.)

But wouldn't his brother still call him by his first name? Mind you, I think that Jack's real name, much like the Doctor's first name, is something they'll never tell us.

[threewalls]

Mm. I liked Fragments as well-- it's been a while that an episode made complete plausible sense within itself, and I seem to have missed that it was UNIT holding Toshiko. I was having V for Vendetta flashbacks, making me a little suspicious of the whole thing as a recruitment tool. But it's probably the most interesting bit of plot Tosh has gotten to participate in since... ever?

Ianto meeting Jack-- well, he seemed to have offered everything he could at one stage or another. (Or he might have actually been obsessed with the state of Jack's coat and seen how much Jack needed a butler?) Offering blowjobs seems like a suitable sort of outtake for someone to write?

[andraste]

I was having V for Vendetta flashbacks, making me a little suspicious of the whole thing as a recruitment tool.

I would not find that hugely surprising, actually.

But it's probably the most interesting bit of plot Tosh has gotten to participate in since... ever?

True - finally, a storyline that is not about her disastrous love life!

Ianto meeting Jack-- well, he seemed to have offered everything he could at one stage or another. (Or he might have actually been obsessed with the state of Jack's coat and seen how much Jack needed a butler?)

Given that his father was a tailor, this is entirely possible.

Offering blowjobs seems like a suitable sort of outtake for someone to write?

... I would like to see that. And imagine the look on Jack's face.

[threewalls]

At a meta level, I think there's a bit of a divide between the Ianto as originally conceived (butler, Lisa, destined for death) and the Ianto we see in Season 2 (making pointed innuendo and enjoying Jack's tongue in many places), making his entry into Torchwood in Fragments read a little like retcon. But I prefer this Ianto much more (I prefer Season 2 TW to 1 intensely.)