Torchwood: 1.03: Ghost Machine

[Dave]

Torchwood: 1.03: Ghost Machine

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*spoiler alert*

Spoiler

When Gwen retrieves an alien object from a fleeing hoodie, she's haunted by a vision of a lonely young boy, as this action-packed series starring John Barrowman continues. As the team tracks down the object's owner, the elusive Bernie Harris, Owen experiences an even more terrifying vision and a long-buried crime resurfaces.

*end spoiler*

Even though I missed the first ten minutes of this episode, I found it at another level to the first two. If all the episodes can be this good, and there are some good writers lined up, this will be a great series. (Unfortunately the trailer for next week didn't look so promising.)

I've read the people are disappointed in the character of Jack (not being the same character as in 'Doctor Who'.) One excuse could be him being much older, and experienced, in this, than he was when he lived in 1940's Earth. However, after watching this episode I would have to disagree anyway.

Both Gwen and Owen's characters were shown much better in this episode too. Eve Myles is already being compared to Catherine Zeta Jones.

 

[Princess Ivy]

Eve Myles is already being compared to Catherine Zeta Jones.

i always wonder when reading things like that, why can no one just be themselves?

but i wasn't that impressed with the episode. looks like they are going to take an episode per character which will be slow going. espec as the most interesting so far seems to be the butler. i didn't like the way that the future was set and cannot be changed, fate over fredom of choice is annoying. also, just impounding gadgets because they are difficult to use (the glove as well) and on the word of just cpt jack is so common sense that i sense it cannot be sustained. i'm still hoping it gets better.

 

[Lucien21]

Certainly an improvement on the previous two episodes, but still can't help but feel that it's no more than a mediocre series.

As someone said on another forum it's "The bill" with SF bits.

The story was good and it gave Owens character more depth as he felt what the rape/murder victim felt and it really affected him.

The Gun training scene was pointless and, i found, very creepy. Cpt Jack was all over her in a sexual harrassment lawsuit kind of way. It just felt off to me and not sexy as i'm sure it was intended.

Also getting fed up of the whoosh noice and views of Cardiff.

A reasonably decent episode and certainly a step in the right direction. If only the script matched the intentions.

 

[Adasunshine]

Again.. loved it...

Like I say, I don't ask for a lot from tv... I am thoroughly enjoying Torchwood and long may I continue to do so.

Next's weeks one looks great! Am really looking forward to it.

xx

 

[Steffi]

I enjoyed watching the ep...was nicely done....I wasn't bored so that was a good sign.

 

[Dr.Jackson]

Good to see a 'human' episode, not just relying on SFX as so many others would have done. I have heard criticisms saying that it should be near-unstoppable monsters every week - I disagree.

And, yes, looking forward very much to the next episode. A peek into the 'upgrading' process as well as some damned fine sci-fi drama! Should be good.

 

[nixie]

Again I liked it.Also found myself warming to Owen, wasn't sure if I like him or not before.

 

[Valko]

Anyone else think Gareth Thomas looks really old now? I was shocked

 

[Robertbert]

It was a hell of a shock when I recognised him I tell ya!!...

I loved this episode...It was really nice to see Owen do something nice and human for once...I'm loving it...I thought that scene at the start when they're chasing that lad was cool...Really fantastic...

The only problem I had with it was that the thing got shoved in the safe at the end...If they all get shoved in there, it's going to get a little crowded isn't it...Investigation?...Nooo...Let's just shove it in a cupboard until we run out of spoons...Ayyy....

 

[PTeppic]

Is it there chosen role to investigate everything? Oh, I suppose it might be. But if they've decided they know enough from the experience they already have with it? They seem to only want "weapons" which in their experience, particularly Jack's, may be quite a specific idea...

 

[Robertbert]

I suppose, yes, they know what it does and they probably don't want to keep getting all the flash backwards stuff...But I'd try and find a way to make it so you can predict stuff in a military application...Yes, all potential futures exist and so what you see may not happen but forewarned is and all that...

I just think that shoving it in a safe is far too convenient and X-Files-ish...

Just a little grumble mind...I shouldn't think when watching this though...It's distracting ...

 

[ladygiggs]

I just think that shoving it in a safe is far too convenient and X-Files-ish...

Yep, I kept expecting a wide shot, with Ianto walking down the aisle of an enormous warehouse, and putting the alien object in a box marked 'X File #522476-A'.

Still, it's only being archived, not destroyed. I sort of liked the fact that in this episode Jack just said, this thing is not for humans, lock it away. Protecting us from ourselves?

But, yeah, I don't think overhard about this show, I just enjoy it.

I'm sorry, but I thought the gun-firing lesson was pretty hot. You'd never get past sexual harassment laws with that sort of behaviour, but it gave me a giggle

 

[Loner]

The Gun training scene was pointless and, i found, very creepy. Cpt Jack was all over her in a sexual harrassment lawsuit kind of way. It just felt off to me and not sexy as i'm sure it was intended.

Oh good. Not just me then? I was just watching it shaking my head. What did he think he was doing? Go for it. Don't go for it. Whatever. BUT MAKE UP YOUR MIND!
It was creepy. Was he trying to use her to... umm... stimulate himself?
Or corrupt her into enjoying weapons? It was wierd like he was trying to make her relate weapons with pleasure.
I dread to think what Freudians would make of it.

 

[Loner]

After this episode I found Owen more likeable but Jack less so.

Owen became a little more human but Jack I just don't understand. Is he badly written? Or are there hidden secrets to him that we just don't know yet, which make him so snarly and self-involved?
Too early to tell.

He just comes across as really cold and selfish, except for when he's taking advantage of Gwen's baffling naiveté regarding him.

 

[ladygiggs]

It was creepy. Was he trying to use her to... umm... stimulate himself?
Or corrupt her into enjoying weapons? It was wierd like he was trying to make her relate weapons with pleasure.
I dread to think what Freudians would make of it.

I nearly had to hide under my desk I was in such fits of laughter! (I'm reading this at work).

I'm sorry, I will post something more sensible when I've calmed down.

 

[Loner]

Always happy to make you smile inappropriately at work Giggs!

 

[ladygiggs]

Owen became a little more human but Jack I just don't understand. Is he badly written? Or are there hidden secrets to him that we just don't know yet, which make him so snarly and self-involved?
Too early to tell.

We have seen Jack before in Dr Who, so we have an idea of what he was like pre-being brought back to lifeness.

I don't think he is badly written. I think that he may have been a fairly likeable rogue (which remains), but after he died and was brought back to life something about him changed. Not even he knows what that was. I think that's why he was quite gruff in this ep, playing with ghosts probably weirds him out a bit.

He's more interesting in Torchwood. It would suck if he kept playing the 'charming American' that he did in Who.

 

[Loner]

we have an idea of what he was like pre-being brought back to lifeness.

That sounded very "Buffy"

It would suck if he kept playing the 'charming American'

like there is any such thing. I have yet to meet one - in person (I have met some electronically).


Note to self: Stereotyping people is an ugly trait.

 

[ladygiggs]

Stereotyping is an ugly trait, but America is currently top of the food chain so they'll just have to live with it.

 

[Lenny]

One thing I must say - Bernie Harris, the fella who was running away, plays the exact same running away role in the Simon Pegg film Hot Fuzz. Just thought it was rather amusing to see the parallels.

*SPOLIERS FROM SERIES 1 & 2*

We all harp on about Owen (see what I did there? ) becoming more human in the later episodes of Series 2, but in no way did he only start to 'feel' in Series 2, and this episode proves it. Interesting concept, quite well executed - a third strong episode in the series.

We also seem to be chickens in a coop, clucking about how Gwen (blink and you'll miss me! ) is shining through as a good actress in Series 2, but again, this episode showed early on how strong she can be, particularly the end scenes where she's trying to come to terms to Ed Morgan throwing himself on the knife she was holding.

One thing they forgot to show in the episode, was what happened to Bernie Harris. Gwen saw herself in a possible future holding a knife, blood on her hands, saying Owen was going to kill Ed, a fact Owen owen'd (three in a row, baybey! ) up to when Ed killed himself in the real future. Maybe the future wasn't how it looked when Gwen saw it with the device, but it still happened. Bernie, using the device, saw himself lying dead in the road (a glimpse at a possible future that we didn't see), and yet whilst the future Gwen saw happened, albeit slightly differently, poor Bernie was left out of the picture.

To me, however much I like the show, this is one of the failings of Torchwood - we see nothing else outside of the main team. There have been countless times when something happens to the people they're dealing with, and yet we're left in the dark each and every time. I suppose there's no time in each episode to go around tying up the loose ends, but it would be nice to know.