Reaction post - Torchwood 3.4

[unfeathered]

Bloody hell. They did it. They killed Ianto. (Although I would be seriously unsurprised to see him come back next time. After all, they should brown-coat guy dying (apparently) and he looked pretty damn alive in the trailer for episode 5.) And it was just about the most unconvincing and unmoving death scene ever, as far as I'm concerned. Sorry, Ianto fans, but that's how I feel. Relief, mainly, along with concern that he'll come back.

Weird how they had Jack holding Ianto exactly the same way as the Doctor held the Master. I wonder if it was intentional, and if so, I'm sorry but comparing that epic relationship with this tiny one? Not working for me.

As for the rest of the episode... The first half or so didn't feel very much like an episode of TW, considering that most of the action was going on between Frobisher and the Cabinet etc. rather than the TW team, but it certainly got going in the second half! That was quite a rollercoaster ride, and I did like the way Jack ended up being wrong and actually getting more people killed.

I love the way Johnson is becoming steadily more human as the week progresses. The little scene between her and Alice, and then the way she responded to Gwen's 'ambush' were brilliant.

Um... I'm sure there was more I wanted to say, but I can't think of anything. Except that I am bloody glad this is on every day this week. I was looking forward to tonight's episode all day today and I really wouldn't want to wait a whole week before the finale!

The only thing then is that I want the other 8 episodes... :-(

Comments

[aeshna_uk]

I'm happy without the other 8 episodes - I'd rather have 5 like this than 13 weekly stand-alones. The format really suits the show. That said, two special weeks a year wouldn't go amiss.... ;)

I think Dekker got into his suit in time and then collapsed in relief/exhaustion/fear. Hence next week. I think Ianto is a stone-cold goner, thank goodness (he pretty much signed his death warrant with that last call to his sister!), and yes, it was a fairly uninvolving death scene for what it was. I think the 456 rather caught Jack of guard by responding to his declaration of war so quickly.

All that said - I'm really loving Lois and I'm half-wondering if Johnson will end up recruited, though they already have a hard-nosed gun-waving ruthless git on the roster and probably don't need another! Hmm, wouldn't say no to Alice joining, though....

I'm loving this so much it's scary - I adore the political side for the complexity it gives the world, and it's all pulling together now. Looks like tomorrow is going to be one hell of a ride! :D

[unfeathered]

I just... Yeah, this season's five are definitely worth all of last seasons' thirteen; I just miss the opportunity for stand-alone episodes to deal with other stories/have other people turn up (e.g. John).

Oh, right, that makes sense about Dekker.

If Ianto really is gone, I'm kind of surprised they didn't save that for the final episode. That's partly what made me so sceptical that he's gone for good.

Lois is fab and I'm really loving Johnson and Alice too. Wouldn't object to any of them joining. Saying that, though, we need some more blokes!

[aeshna_uk]

Yes, it does seem that all the potential recruits are ladies! Jack may end up with a harem of sorts yet (though if anybody said as much to Alice, she'd be after them with the kitchen implements). Guess he could try to get Rhys again. Or Johnny! Or maybe not....

I was expecting Ianto to go in the last ep too, but here he gets to provide emotional impetus to the final push, which may be more involving than a heroic sacrifice at the last. This wasn't a huge moment of heroism, it was a miscalculation with consequences for the mortals and that's rather nice in a warped sort of way.

Damn, but I'm looking forward to the next one! :D

[unfeathered]

Hee, I bet Jack wouldn't mind having a harem! *g*

I certainly wouldn't mind having Rhys about more - I love the character and he gives a refreshingly 'normal' viewpoint to the team.

Who's Johnny? My mind's gone blank.

[aeshna_uk]

Johnny - Ianto's brother-in-law. ;)

[unfeathered]

Ohhhh! Yeah, he's okay. He and Rhiannon are both good, interesting characters.

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

I can see a huge chunk of TW fandom not wanting to watch tomorrow's ep. I will be - couldn't keep me away - but I'm going to have some virtual hand-holding via text from my gothy TW mate in Yorkshire who doesn't have any TW fans in her local friends and doesn't 'do' online like me.

Want to see what happens more than I'm upset about Ianto.

[unfeathered]

Awww, I'm sorry, sweetie - for you and the few other people on my flist who genuinely like Ianto. But I'm a sadistic sod and I can't help squealing with glee at the thought of all those 'Janto' lovers who'll be crying for their poor beloved.

Sorry.

I really do feel it's time, though, to see Jack without Ianto again. To see who he is without Ianto to back him up.

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

Oh that side of fandom is going to drive me mad, I'm steering well clear. I will sit in my quiet corner with the sensible Jack/Ianto fans and sniffle - then maybe write denial fic next week. I'm sure Ianto would love to see Tosh and Owen again.

You know my second thought (after the "oh no, they can't" was "ooh, karaokegal will be pleased" which was kind of weird considering I was still feeling kind of upset! Though I don't think she will be happy if Jack goes all wimpy because of it.

[unfeathered]

Heh - me too! *g* Though yeah, let's wait and see how Jack is...

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

I won't be happy if jack goes all wimpy because of it either.

[unfeathered]

Oh god no!

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

You know, I just had a thought - that situation leaves Jack needing comfort from someone who a) knows the perils of immortality, b) had feelings of their own for Ianto and c) is going to need some comforting of their own.

Enter Methos: stage left...

At least I know where my AU is probably going now. *g*

I'm not supposed to be happy am I? Oh dear.

[unfeathered]

Hee! Yes, that's perfect!

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Yes that. Do it.

*pleeeeeease*

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

I suddenly feel bad for a friend I brought into this fandom... I can tell you the exact moment she's watched the ep, she'll call me because I'm the only one who will know what she's talking about. Great episodes, although some scenes dragged in this...

[unfeathered]

Awww. At least she's got you to call! :-)

Yeah, some scenes dragged especially in the earlyl part of this, but I can't fault the whole overall.

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

Weird how they had Jack holding Ianto exactly the same way as the Doctor held the Master. I wonder if it was intentional,

I doubt it. If you've got someone lying on a floor and you want to hold them, there are a limited number of ways you can do it, especially if they're a bloke (who would be a damn sight heavier than a 5 foot nothing skinny woman). I know from experience how difficult it is to raise even a person's shoulders from the floor when they're in effect a dead weight.

Didn't answer that point yesterday as I wasn't thinking rationally at all. Am still not completely - I almost feel like I've lost a very good friend to the extent where I didn't sleep properly and I've got work today. Stupid TV programme making me that emotionally involved.

[unfeathered]

I wasn't very clear either. I didn't mean the position, exactly - obviously it's the easiest way to hold someone in that situation - more the fact that they were the same way round as Doctor/Master and the camera angle was the same etc. etc. It just felt very, very similar to me.

Though that could be just because I've watched that ep a tad too many times, of course... *g*

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

I never noticed the camera angle and stuff being similar, but then I'm still only in single figures for watching that DW ep... *g*

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

I was totally dry eyed about Ianto dying, and if he is alive tonight I will be pretty annoyed.

Brown coat guy? The scientist? But wasn't he the only person to get himself into a bio hazzard suit? Why did you think you had seen him die?

[unfeathered]

Okay, if you're going to be annoyed if he comes back, I won't feel so guilty about feeling annoyed too. :-)

Brown coat guy? Why did you think you had seen him die?

See aeshna_uk's first reply above - I saw him collapse and thought he'd died. I now realise that was not the case! :-)

[aeshna_uk]

I was totally dry eyed about Ianto dying, and if he is alive tonight I will be pretty annoyed.

Same here. It was touching, but I'm not unhappy to see him gone - he was the one I had least involvement with (not the only one either - a friend had her birthday yesterday and is over the moon with Uncle Rusty's gift ;)) and it's not as if he hasn't been giving off coffin-bait vibes all week....

Hmm, think they're going to boycott baked beans for being the snack that got in the way of the final bit of potential Janto nookie? ;)

*ponders getting a baked bean icon*

[unfeathered]

Oh, I just assumed Jack and Ianto snuck off a bit later for a bit of nookie. It's a bit sad if they didn't manage it at all. :-(

[aeshna_uk]

Hmm, Jack walked out just after that as he realised that he had seen all this before, got back to have the confrontation with Clem, disappeared again... not sure there was any time for a quickie and I doubt either of them was much in the mood by the time they headed out to Thames House.

Beeeeeeeeeans!