The first slow 30 minutes were redemmed by the final 20 minutes for me, which is pretty much how MD has been since the first episode. This series has been good and entertaining drama overall but it certainly isn't in the same class as COE and it looks like many people in fandom agree. The story has been dragged out over 10 episodes when it could have been easily done in about 8, there's been a number of secondary storyarcs that weren't developed as fully as they could have been and Gwen 'coming and going' between the US and the UK didn't always feel right.
And that ending? It added a comic element to what should have been a somber ending - everyones dying again, including Gwen's father and Esther - and I'm not sure what I think of it. I'm sure there's comic relief to be had from Jack having someone he once considered 'a pain up the butt' sharing his position and maybe there'll be contrasts to be had between Rex enjoying his situation to begin with, whilst Jack continues to view his own immortality as a mixed blessing...
BUT at the same time, Jack's meant to be unique and alone and having Rex possibly facing the same situation does undermine one of the biggest things about Jack as a character. And not to state the obvious - but I will - unlike in Doctor Who, RTD has often said that death in Torchwood is more likely to stick because it's an adult show (Ianto ain't coming back because it's an adult show that treats death in an adult way) but now that another main character has escaped death in such a big way, it's just taken one step closer to being less serious about death. (Rex coming back to life and everyone going "what? what? whhhhhhat?" made ESTHER's death slightly less serious IMO)
Torchwood is still one of the best things on television at the moment - it's arguebly addictive :) - but MD's quality has been up and down like a yoyo.
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Date: 2011-09-11 06:48 am (UTC)And that ending? It added a comic element to what should have been a somber ending - everyones dying again, including Gwen's father and Esther - and I'm not sure what I think of it. I'm sure there's comic relief to be had from Jack having someone he once considered 'a pain up the butt' sharing his position and maybe there'll be contrasts to be had between Rex enjoying his situation to begin with, whilst Jack continues to view his own immortality as a mixed blessing...
BUT at the same time, Jack's meant to be unique and alone and having Rex possibly facing the same situation does undermine one of the biggest things about Jack as a character. And not to state the obvious - but I will - unlike in Doctor Who, RTD has often said that death in Torchwood is more likely to stick because it's an adult show (Ianto ain't coming back because it's an adult show that treats death in an adult way) but now that another main character has escaped death in such a big way, it's just taken one step closer to being less serious about death. (Rex coming back to life and everyone going "what? what? whhhhhhat?" made ESTHER's death slightly less serious IMO)
Torchwood is still one of the best things on television at the moment - it's arguebly addictive :) - but MD's quality has been up and down like a yoyo.