elisi | Miracle Day ep 5.

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torchwood

Miracle Day ep 5.

So, that. Some expected reactions, some unexpected. To begin with the latter:

1. I am grateful that Ianto's dead and is not around for this story. No really. Grateful.

2. The story might be going somewhere interesting (well I hope so, otherwise it's just downright offensive), but I'd forgotten how regular (not-CoE) RTD stuff can feel like being hit over the head with a large brick. Repeatedly.

3. WHEN WILL THEY DO SOMETHING WITH JACK??? His story is by far the most interesting, and so far he's been nothing more than a muted shadow on the edges. I know ZERO about what he feels. (Except that he wants to die, but that one's a no brainer.)

4. Mostly, I kinda feel like I need a bath? I don't particularly want to keep watching (except to find out who dunnit, of course), since RTD's worldview is so completely different to my own that I feel like I'm being forcefed cod liver oil. Very, very slowly.

ETA: All that said, there's a good article here trying to look at what MD is doing and why.

5. Actually, I think my main problem is that I don't need a TV show to tell me that humans can be monsters. All I have to do is turn on the news.

(6. Unless something drastically changes, in my personal head-canon the crack is going to eat Miracle Day! *g* So all the effects will still be there, but no one will remember except for Jack.)

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I found the whole episode deeply offensive. Genocide/severe torture (if the dust is still alive) is not light entertainment (for all it's ambitions, Torchwood has never really been much more than extra strength Dr Who and so is definitely light entertainment not serious drama), especially when you evolke Nazism. I don't know where RTD is going with this but I can't use the word interesting to describe it.

Yeah, not sure 'interesting' is the right word either, but I'm kinda struggling with my vocabulary. Or rather, I guess that I'm hoping they'll do something interesting with it, since they'll need one hell of a good reason for using that kind of imagery

I found it deeply disturbing and upsetting. I had a feeling this was where they were heading, but was still shocked when they actually went there. I'll still watch the next episode, but it will definitely be with some trepidation. :/

Edited 2011-08-12 09:50 (UTC)

*nods*

Like I said, I feel like I need a bath. *shudders*

(prances around as the last human on Earth who hasn't seen CoE or Miracle Day)

RTD managed to make me feel queasy and offended even with his kiddie stuff. Heh.

Heh. CoE is brilliant, mind you. Horrific, but brilliant. Although I think that might be because it centres around a catch-22.

And... I've not seen his kiddie stuff (the only non-DW thing of his I've seen is Casanova, which was good, but... well, very RTD), so I can't judge.

I really dislike what they've done to this poor show. I'm so sorry it came to the US and is associated with Starz. They took something that was interesting and crack-y and made it well, so SERIOUS and boring - no longer special and quirky - not much different than many American shows are and have been - probably darker than most but just as predictable and boring. (No wonder there was no room for Cap'n John on this show - he's fun!... and a _waaaay_ better actor.)

And, I'm sorry, I find it ludicrous (and highly offensive) that 98% of world leaders and political bodies are perfectly OK being hitleresque and burning people up like it's no biggie. Yes, there is evil in this world but EVERYBODY?!? Ridiculous. And 4 people are gonna stop it all? - welcome to the idiotic side of American TV.

Of course, it's possible they were all visited by a talking dog who told them doing this was the only way to save the universe and they are all actually under some kind of 'spell' or "glow" or something and then they'll.... hee

I'm not sure precisely what is at fault--a lack of Starz restraining him or an overabundance of decisions on their part--but I'm not particularly interested in following Miracle Day further. I'll probably wait until it's over and, if people are suitably impressed, give it another shot.

I've always taken issue with RTD's particular brand of force-feeding me worldviews that I think are stupidly and unnecessarily extreme, and this... just takes the cake.

I watched the first episode only because I'd heard about Jack's mortality. After it, I had no interest in hunting down the other episodes (I don't have Starz), partly because I was flat-out bored. Everything I'd heard about it-- including the trailer-- put me firmly in the "you shouldn't watch this" camp, and the first episode clinched it. So knowing I needed to keep up with what's happening in the larger Whoniverse even though it probably won't affect DW directly, I read the episode summaries on Wikipedia. They're pretty detailed, though it takes a couple of days for them to appear.

RTD has crossed the line from drama to melodrama, and unrealistic melodrama at that.

I really dislike what they've done to this poor show. I'm so sorry it came to the US and is associated with Starz.
It's really weird. It's like a cross with CSI or 24 or something now, and the thing with CSI is that no matter how many episodes I watch (Darcy likes it because it's mindless entertainment), I can never remember anyone's names and I never really care. It's a shame for TW to have been dumped into that kind of bracket in my brain.

And, I'm sorry, I find it ludicrous (and highly offensive) that 98% of world leaders and political bodies are perfectly OK being hitleresque and burning people up like it's no biggie. Yes, there is evil in this world but EVERYBODY?!? Ridiculous.
Admittedly they're trying to sell it as 'there are shadowy people moving behind the scenes' but still... No way. Certainly not that fast or efficient.

And 4 people are gonna stop it all? - welcome to the idiotic side of American TV.
To be fair, that's always been central to the show! *g*

Of course, it's possible they were all visited by a talking dog who told them doing this was the only way to save the universe and they are all actually under some kind of 'spell' or "glow" or something and then they'll.... hee
I WOULD LOVE A TALKING DOG!!! (Classic Torchwood could have gotten away with it too. ♥)

I'm not sure precisely what is at fault--a lack of Starz restraining him or an overabundance of decisions on their part--but I'm not particularly interested in following Miracle Day further.
I'll probably keep watching, but... I don't really want to. It's kinda repulsive. And I know that's the point, but... *shudders*

I've always taken issue with RTD's particular brand of force-feeding me worldviews that I think are stupidly and unnecessarily extreme, and this... just takes the cake.
*nods* CoE worked because it was all so rushed and desperate. This whole slow build-up and everything being pre-planned... I dunno. It's just unpleasant.

I watched the first episode only because I'd heard about Jack's mortality.
Well Jack is the only reason I'm watching, and like I say so far there's *nothing*. It's partly because he's not got anyone that he's close to (hello everyone being dead, and Gwen having moved on completely), and he's a clam at the best of times, so... *sigh* GIVE ME MY CAPTAIN BACK!

RTD has crossed the line from drama to melodrama, and unrealistic melodrama at that.
Oh he was always pretty melodramatic... *g*

I'm stuck on, so people are willing to chuck the old and the sick into incinerators, but they let the mass-murdering pedophiles run free? Why not chuck them into incinerators too?

... Insane troll logic?

i'm kind of glad i'm not watching it. maybe i never will.

Unless something ~truly amazing~ happens, I'd say just avoid.

i still wish i'd avoided children of earth.

In which case: STAY FAR AWAY!

I'm also baffled by the poor handling of Jack, and indeed the Oswald Danes plotline in general. It really doesn't make sense unless you know Jack's history, so why don't they reveal some of it? There has to be more to Jack than standing around looking moody in his Big Coat Sillhouette.

The Immortal Man becomes mortal... It's a gift of a story and there's zilch. I don't understand it.

Oswald Danes is an intriguing character, but as you say he only really makes sense if you know Jack's story. I'm wondering if they're going to for *big reveal* of what Jack did, which will inevitably be underwhelming for the 90% of the audience who knows his story already. Meh.

I'm stuck on, so people are willing to chuck the old and the sick into incinerators, but they let the mass-murdering pedophiles run free? Why not chuck them into incinerators too?

...so much "word"

'm wondering if they're going to for *big reveal* of what Jack did, which will inevitably be underwhelming for the 90% of the audience who knows his story already. Meh.

Not so sure about that. I know exactly two people in RL who watched CoE, and they didn't watch TW though they're big DW fans.

Fair enough, but he's still a cipher. It's a bit like TW S1 again where he's there, but what goes on in his head is a mystery.

ETA: What I mean it... For those unfamiliar with Jack's TW history, they need more than impenetrable mystery in order to care what he did.

Edited 2011-08-12 18:34 (UTC)

One of the things I did this week while home sick was catch up on MD. I'm too cheap to pay for Starz, so I had to (er) track it down.

There was some serious eye-rolling at casa-zanthine. I enjoyed it enough to keep going, but unless they pull a rabbit out of their hats somehow this is never gonna be classic TV. I watched CoE as appointment TV; anxiously counting down the moments until it finished D/Ling. I watched MD while cleaning and cooking and balancing my checkbook. It's just not that compelling!

The sub-plot with the child rapist/ serial killer is interesting as a contrast to Jack, but mostly only as that. Though the actor is really selling it the situation is utterly absurd. See the hords of people trying to track down Casey Anthony for how people would react!

The cremation chambers were a little too obvious. I'll wait to see how that develops though

And Gwen is starting to annoy me.

Basically you're right on the money; this is starting to feel much more like CSI or another one of the plethora of procedural shows I may occasionally watch, but don't really care about.

ETA for typo fix!

Edited 2011-08-12 18:42 (UTC)

(6. Unless something drastically changes, in my personal head-canon the crack is going to eat Miracle Day! *g* So all the effects will still be there, but no one will remember except for Jack.)

I'm going to think the same thing. It'll make me a lot happier.

There was some serious eye-rolling at casa-zanthine.
Heh. I don't really care enough... ;)

I watched CoE as appointment TV; anxiously counting down the moments until it finished D/Ling.
*deep sigh* What a week that was... I'm not sure I remembered to breathe for five days solid.

I watched MD while cleaning and cooking and balancing my checkbook. It's just not that compelling!
Yeah. I watched ep 4 at my in-laws, with lots of family around and only caught about half of it, and didn't really care. (If I care I sit 2 inches from the screen and shush ANYONE who dares speak.)

The sub-plot with the child rapist/ serial killer is interesting as a contrast to Jack, but mostly only as that. Though the actor is really selling it the situation is utterly absurd. See the hords of people trying to track down Casey Anthony for how people would react!
*nods* Very good character, but... ew. No. Wouldn't happen. (OMG have you ever seen the Brass Eye special about pedophiles? If not, find it any way you can!!!!)

The cremation chambers were a little too obvious. I'll wait to see how that develops though
Yeah, we're only on episode 5 - so what comes next?

And Gwen is starting to annoy me.
Well she's basically carrying the show all by herself, poor thing.

Basically you're right on the money; this is starting to feel much more like CSI or another one of the plethora of procedural shows I may occasionally watch, but don't really care about.
It's just too shiny and American...

I rather love the crack. So VERY convenient! :)

ETA: All that said, there's a good article here trying to look at what MD is doing and why.
Ok, now that sounds pretty cool. And I don't believe in plot anyway. I should like to watch a show like that written by someone who is not Rusty. I'll bet Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar) could do a good job with a show like that . . .

(6. Unless something drastically changes, in my personal head-canon the crack is going to eat Miracle Day! *g* So all the effects will still be there, but no one will remember except for Jack.)
Bless the cracks, most beautiful of auto-retcons, savior of the beleaguered fan.

Oh he was always pretty melodramatic...

Yeah, but at least in DW, I could believe it! Here, no such thing as suspension of disbelief-- it's too unbelievable and illogical.

Weirdly, it's like he's trying to make TW un-sci-fi-y, if that makes sense? There's the miracle, and that's it. There's very little sense that this takes place within the Whoniverse, a place with Slitheen and Weevils and magic boxes...

Ok, now that sounds pretty cool. And I don't believe in plot anyway. I should like to watch a show like that written by someone who is not Rusty. I'll bet Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar) could do a good job with a show like that . . .
It's such a good idea, and I keep being annoyed at all the ways they don't address things...

Bless the cracks, most beautiful of auto-retcons, savior of the beleaguered fan.
Mr Moffat is a genius. ♥

I just realised that there are 'Classifieds' to go with the episodes. I... know that I must have known this, but it only just now struck me since someone on my flist was talking about them. That kinda tells you everything you need to know about my mindset.

That actually makes a lot of sense. Between what you've said and the article, it almost seems like Jack is back solely because he's somehow the cause of the world's immortality. (I fear fixing it may well involve him dying permanently.)

And if Jack's back for that reason, why couldn't they have made an entirely new set of characters, figured out a different reason for the immortality, and left Torchwood out of it? They wouldn't have expectations from the audience that aren't being met. It could have been taken on its own terms and not as part of the Whoniverse/Torchwood franchise.

That actually makes a lot of sense. Between what you've said and the article, it almost seems like Jack is back solely because he's somehow the cause of the world's immortality.
Yeah, that's the impression I've got too, esp since he's not *done* anything so far. You could easily remove him without losing much.

I fear fixing it may well involve him dying permanently.
They could bury him next to Ianto!!! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

And if Jack's back for that reason, why couldn't they have made an entirely new set of characters, figured out a different reason for the immortality, and left Torchwood out of it?
Nice label?

They could bury him next to Ianto!!!

But I want Jack to live. :( I like the thought of him and the Doctor bouncing out of each other's lives for thousands of years. (Eh. Not like I'm taking MD as canon, anyway.)

Nice label?

Probably. They knew they'd get an audience just because of it, not realizing that many people will watch anything RTD does. (Plus, an audience in two countries at once. Money matters.)

Ack. Him and the Doctor bouncing *in and out*

But I want Jack to live. :( I like the thought of him and the Doctor bouncing in and out of each other's lives for thousands of years.
Oh I'm sure he'll live. Ever since I heard the premise I've suspected that Jack will have to become immortal again to save the day. Plus, Moffat would like him to guest star on DW, so I'm not too worried.

Probably. They knew they'd get an audience just because of it, not realizing that many people will watch anything RTD does. (Plus, an audience in two countries at once. Money matters.)
Word. *nods sadly*

Actually, I think my main problem is that I don't need a TV show to tell me that humans can be monsters. All I have to do is turn on the news.

Couple of years late with this response, but this was my reaction to MD in a nutshell. Well, that and "What the everloving f*** is this s***?" ; )

M-hm. I generally try to suppress my memories, but now and again I remember something (like... The Blessing) and then feel like scrubbing out my brain with a metal wire brush.

So many characters and plot elements got introduced and then dropped, you almost can't keep track of them all. And there were too many times when the plot moved from point A to point B to point C because characters who should have been competent or at least paying more attention were either stupid or lazy or sloppy. It really does beggar the imagination when every single character blurts their Secret Plans to everyone else (including their adversaries!) and every supposedly impregnable facility is hacked into within five minutes. Add into that the ridiculous religous imagery and the ham-handed social commentary... and yeah, you get something that all the brain bleach in the universe can't cleanse away.

Definitely MD was eaten by the Crack (which then had an inexplicable bellyache for the next millenium). : )

and yeah, you get something that all the brain bleach in the universe can't cleanse away.
Shame. It was a massive wasted opportunity, because there was so much stuff there that could have been delved into.

Definitely MD was eaten by the Crack (which then had an inexplicable bellyache for the next millenium). : )
It's set the same summer Amy & Rory were waiting for the Doctor to find baby Melody. Which. Well... I am forever grateful that Moffat just plain ignored MD.

With luck, if Jack returns to DW at some point, Moff (or whoever else is in charge) will just pretend MD never happened.

Definitely there was a lot of wasted potential! (I just did a whole blog post about wasted potential, so I've been thinking about it a lot lately). The concept was terrific--nobody can die, but people are still getting ill, injured, aging, and their bodies can't heal. What a nightmare scenario! But did we really need TEN HOURS to get to a denouement where this process is reversed by two guys ripping open their chests and letting their blood spray out through a physically impossible hole through the center of the earth? (Never mind that this should have killed both of them).

Everyone's motives were so weird. Stuff would get introduced, tossed onto the table, and then... forgotten. Everything happened by contrivance. And then there were the endless hours of filler. Normally I like when stories take a breather from the plot and give us some character moments, but a couple of episodes of MD were hour-long navel-gazing sessions that didn't move the plot forward one iota. It was such a mess! And again, great concept! So frustrating. In fact, MD might be the greatest ever example of "great concept, horrid execution" in TV history. I've seen some decent shows slide into crap after a few seasons, but even those can't match the sheer toxic waste dump that was MD. It was really, really horrid, on just about every level, and I will be surprised if TW ever comes back from it (which is pretty sad, because it was a decent show up through COE).

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Miracle Day ep 5.

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