.... and tentacles.

[kaigou]

All thanks to this conversation, I went perusing the 'net for more on this Torchwood thing, having been completely convinced for some time (for reasons still unclear) that it was a western. Oddly, when I mentioned to CP that the show had tentacles, CP's response was, "isn't that a western?" So apparently it's a group hallucination.

Regardless, what we have here is your basic quasi-live-blogging. Sort of.

• Ep1: almost. not quite, but almost.
  
  So basically, it's SF, and the starring role is played by a poorman's Nathan Fillion. At the very least, it's Malcolm Reynolds Lite.
  
  ...what's odd is that JB is four years older than NF, and looks about twenty years younger... and the role really does need the man to look closer to his age. I think. What's discompassion in an older character is just plain arrogant ignorance of the world in a younger character.



• Ep 2: the inner twelve-year old comes out
  
  Inner 12yo: OMG. Can they show that on television!?
  
  Later, in same episode: OMG. I am totally watching BritTV. No US broadcast would ever allow that. There'd be, like, picketing, and lamentations and proclamations from the pulpits, and the entire state of Utah would boycott. And possibly New Jersey. And Alabama.
  
  *watches with absolute glee*



• Ep 3: still not Mal.
  
  Can the lead actor even pretend to slouch? Or maybe, possibly, slump a little?
  
  ...I wonder if the guy didn't have his final growth spurt until rather late in adolescence, because he carries himself exactly like every single short guy I've ever known, and it's a posture that stays with them even after reaching a height that doesn't require bantam-roostering. It's the shoulders, chest, and waist, that's not just anti-slouch but almost puffed-up, like making trying to appear bigger when you're not. And it gets freaking annoying, when it's not modulated. At all.



• Ep 4: the inner eight-year-old comes out
  
  Character A: blah blah blah blah
  Character B: Bullshit!
  
  Inner 8yo: *eyes bug out* OMG, can they say that on television!? Oh, wait, they can, it's British TV. Righto.
  
  ...first cussword I recall ever hearing was on PBS rebroadcast of a BBC show my mom liked. Uhm, and I think I might've been eight, actually. Moving right along.
  
  Also, still not Mal.



• Ep 5: entertaining, but...
  
  Still not Mal.



• Ep 6: fun, but...
  
  Still not Mal.



• Next episode:
  
  Wah! Interracial couple! Woo!
  
  ...again with the "you'd never see that on US TV, not without either a) the show being one that's intended to push political buttons, like, say, Star Trek, or b) having to have some kind of explanation as to why it's a white guy with a black woman, like this deserves even a passing comment where if everyone was the same color it wouldn't." it's almost gotten to where a show that just treats the two as a couple and doesn't think to point out anyone's race is almost mind-boggling. see, that's colorblindness, of the right kind.



• A few more episodes: the inner eight-year-old is out in full force
  
  Character A: blah blah blah
  Character B: Yah, well, fuck you!
  
  Inner 8yo: *squeaks* *claps hand over mouth* *brain spins* OMG. He said a BAD WORD. OMG, someone is in so much trooooouuuubbbbble!
  
  ...and later in same episode:
  
  Character C: I'm not putting up with this fucking shit!
  
  Inner 8yo: *explodes*
  
  
  
  Also, still not Mal.