First, I hope you circle back and continue fics mentioned in your review. Second, good review. I always have to watch things a few times before my brain allows for getting beneath the surface of things. Having just watched the ep on YouTube to stave off spoilerage until BBC America airs it, I was struck with petty, silly things like how RTD seems to have a "Vegetarian Agenda" far more insidious than the supposed gay one. ;) Poor, poor space-manatee. (Ianto's despair at the thought of caring for a space-whale was amusing, though I believe I commented to a friend that, really, after the dinosaur, the team, and lord-give-him-strength, Jack, a space-whale would probably be a walk in the park.) And, YAY JACK for hitting on Rhys' assistant, who was a pretty much average person as much as Rhys. I just like to see the love spread around to the non-designer clothing-wearing folks, you know?
Serious thoughts time. Or at least less gleefully un-serious.
I'm not a fan of Gwen, particularly when she interacts with Rhys because, going all the way back to "Everything Changes," she just lies and lies and lies to him, even before her job was anything but mundane. The affair, the RetConning, the never turning her ringer off on missions but then blowing him off/blaming him when an innocent call nearly gets her killed, -again-, just seems so... passive aggressive? Needlessly cruel? Thoughtless? I don't even know! But, it's a lousy way to treat anyone, and Rhys seems like a decent bloke. This ep only highlighted his decentness. I'd like Gwen a lot more if she either treated Rhys better or ended their relationship. That said, I certainly understand the necessity for an "anchor" to the real/rest of the world when under stress like TW must put on someone. But does needing really justify having when the anchor gets the short end of the stick every single time?
(Also, is it okay that I -love- Rhys for treating a GSW with ice cream, 'cause I do.)
The obvious contrast between Gwen/Rhys and Jack/Ianto in the warehouse was interesting. I don't think either couple was wrong/bad/careless. But they really were charging up opposite ends of the spectrum as far as "oh no, my love's in danger!" reactions. It was also interesting to see that both Ianto and Rhys did quite well, thanks, under the circumstances and their partner's reactions. There wasn't a "right" answer; something we rarely see in TV storytelling ...without being beat over the head with it.
Tosh and Owen felt... a little forced in the awkwardness/cluelessness. (My typing these words will result in a lightning strike any moment: I could win prizes for my own cluelessness in these things, to the point where friends have had to point out someone who's been throwing themselves at me for an entire convention only to have me go, "Really? Nah... -Really?!-" ...but I'm not nearly so sex-obsessed as a certain medical professional; nor am I employed for my skills at detection.) I don't have a vote as to if they should get together eventually or not, but the awkward/clueless could stop any time. The pterodactyl's probably better at this than these two.
no subject
Serious thoughts time. Or at least less gleefully un-serious.
I'm not a fan of Gwen, particularly when she interacts with Rhys because, going all the way back to "Everything Changes," she just lies and lies and lies to him, even before her job was anything but mundane. The affair, the RetConning, the never turning her ringer off on missions but then blowing him off/blaming him when an innocent call nearly gets her killed, -again-, just seems so... passive aggressive? Needlessly cruel? Thoughtless? I don't even know! But, it's a lousy way to treat anyone, and Rhys seems like a decent bloke. This ep only highlighted his decentness. I'd like Gwen a lot more if she either treated Rhys better or ended their relationship. That said, I certainly understand the necessity for an "anchor" to the real/rest of the world when under stress like TW must put on someone. But does needing really justify having when the anchor gets the short end of the stick every single time?
(Also, is it okay that I -love- Rhys for treating a GSW with ice cream, 'cause I do.)
The obvious contrast between Gwen/Rhys and Jack/Ianto in the warehouse was interesting. I don't think either couple was wrong/bad/careless. But they really were charging up opposite ends of the spectrum as far as "oh no, my love's in danger!" reactions. It was also interesting to see that both Ianto and Rhys did quite well, thanks, under the circumstances and their partner's reactions. There wasn't a "right" answer; something we rarely see in TV storytelling ...without being beat over the head with it.
Tosh and Owen felt... a little forced in the awkwardness/cluelessness. (My typing these words will result in a lightning strike any moment: I could win prizes for my own cluelessness in these things, to the point where friends have had to point out someone who's been throwing themselves at me for an entire convention only to have me go, "Really? Nah... -Really?!-" ...but I'm not nearly so sex-obsessed as a certain medical professional; nor am I employed for my skills at detection.) I don't have a vote as to if they should get together eventually or not, but the awkward/clueless could stop any time. The pterodactyl's probably better at this than these two.