Torchwood 1x04 Cyberwoman

Stark

So looks good in a suit finally got some character development this week. I can't wait to see him look good in casual. I especially can't wait to tune in on his birthday.

So what did everyone think of the episode? Despite the seemingly desperate ploy of "need ratings? Just add Cybermen!", I think this episode was probably the strongest so far. Nice to see that the guy who plays Ianto can act. Jack feeding Cybergirl to the Pterodactyl was nicely dark. I'd have liked if they took advantage of the post-watershed timeslot to show more of the "upgrade" process though.

Kwekubo

Looks sharp in a suit

I agree, this was a very strong episode. Ianto turning out to not be paper thin was a pleasant surprise. Loved the tight character development, and the neat segue from DW. I'm a little confused though - was Ianto fired at the end?

aidan_walsh

I'm a little confused though - was Ianto fired at the end?

No, he was let continue on if he wanted to.

Very disappointed with Jack in parts of this, there were a few occasions where Barrowman just didn't seem like he could hold it together as a leading actor. Standing around and shouting does not leadership make.

Looks like Jack and Gwen (nearly wrote Rose before I realised my mistake - say anything to you?) having their little "what have we learned this week" chat at the end of the episode is going to be a running thing, as is the little monologue at the start.

Ianto was good though. I'd like to see him come out of himself a lot more.

JUst a few small things bothered me.

Why did every door in the building seemed to open to the pizza girl though. Guess it could be put down to the system rebooting itself, but even still, odd behaviour.

There also seemed no real sense of danger towards any of the characters. We know Jack can't die, so no bother with the Cyberwoman attacking him. Gwen could have been lying on the cyber convertor for half the day getting a nice tan and nothing would have happened - is that thing supposed to be automatic or manually operated by another Cyberperson?

Despite the seemingly desperate ploy of "need ratings? Just add Cybermen in knickers!"

Corrected.

Torchwood is good, but still not quite there, IMO. Frankly, I enjoyed Ghost Machine a lot more.

BuffyBot

I actually thought it was a rather obvious "character development" plot, and about as subtle as a sledge hammer. Shouting Jack was not much good either.

polly oliver

Looks not half bad in a suit

I enjoyed this one, It was nice to see Ianto getting some plot. However i still think Dr Who is a much better show, despite its being aimed at a family audience. Maybe thats why it is. Torchwood is good, but its too in your face.

Kwekubo

Looks sharp in a suit

BuffyBot wrote:

I actually thought it was a rather obvious "character development" plot, and about as subtle as a sledge hammer.

That's true, but I liked seeing the characters put into that sort of claustrophobic locked-in situation and having to expose themselves to each other, it reminded me of The Impossible Planet/Satan Pit in the last DW series. And if anyone was in need of character developmnent, it was Ianto (Toshiko could do with a similar episode). I agree with you though that Jack isn't turning out to be the lynchpin of the series in the way I thought he would.

ixoy

Thought this was probably the best so far. A little bit darker than before and it was good to see someone made responsible again for their actions. The humour was more absent here, which is a bit of a shame, but there was the occasional moment.

WTF happened to Jack to make him this much darker should be interesting (assuming it's not inconsistent writing). Certainly couldn't picture the S26 Jack threatening to execute his colleague...
It also was good to see the most periphary of all the characters fleshed out. Ianto came across a leeetle whiny but it's better than just being a one line summary 'LooksGoodInASuitServingCoffee'. Hope though there's some reprecussion for his character for this week's events.

Couple of things that bugged a little - some very dodgy CGI with the blades. The show doesn't hold up so well visually (esp. given I had watched BSG right before it).
More pointedly, I'm not sure I liked how they did up the Cyberwoman as a sort of "Cyberbabe". One of the strongest characteristics of the Cybermen is their horrible sexless uniformity - certainly nothing like a metal bikini outfit we saw here.
Sure, you can argue this was the inner suit layer that we don't normally see but it really seemed a cheap titilation (and cheap looking) that, naturally, cheapened the emotional impact somewhat.

A good installment but still not resonating with me like its parent show would.

popebenny16

Glad someone noticed the suit. Firstly it cant be an under frame, coz Cybermen are just a robot with a human brain. That means she cant be a Cyberman either, remember that Jackie and Dirty Dens Bird got the chop and their brains shoved into the Cyberbodies.

So is she a case of

a cheap titilation

and

"need ratings? Just add Cybermen!"

because she sure looked like one.

As for Ianto, I just dont see how he can stay working with Jack after this. I mean I've seen guiys walk off jobs after having less of a row with the boss.

Regarding Jack hinself he's just getting more annoying and less likeable as the show proceeds.

aidan_walsh

I'm not sure I liked how they did up the Cyberwoman as a sort of "Cyberbabe". One of the strongest characteristics of the Cybermen is their horrible sexless uniformity - certainly nothing like a metal bikini outfit we saw here.
Sure, you can argue this was the inner suit layer that we don't normally see but it really seemed a cheap titilation (and cheap looking) that, naturally, cheapened the emotional impact somewhat.

Actually, pretty much every post I have made (or tried to make) in here I have had a smalll rant about the suit that I have removed, for fear of being branded as beating on the same old drum regarding the sexuality in the show.

But, as it happens, as the show goes on I am thinking that Torchwood is really less and less the adult show it wants to be, and in some regards not much more than the fan-flick rambellings of a horny 15 year old. The Cyberwoman is just another illustrating point.

Kwekubo

Looks sharp in a suit

popebenny16 wrote:

Glad someone noticed the suit. Firstly it cant be an under frame, coz Cybermen are just a robot with a human brain. That means she cant be a Cyberman either, remember that Jackie and Dirty Dens Bird got the chop and their brains shoved into the Cyberbodies.

The explanation was that the Cybermen were running low on time/parts and resorted to just sticking people in suits - it does seem a bit like a flimsy excuse for the cyberbikini but I didn't let that spoil the episode.