Nikki: "Promise me you won't do this to anyone else."
Excellent episode. Tragic and moving. A multiple whammy of super sad, with the complete lack of a happy ending. This one got to me.
As the boat was taking Nikki to Jonah, I thought there would be peace for both of them. That she would be devastated by what had happened to her boy, but that she would eventually accept it and they would be together again. There was so much love that it seemed inevitable. But no. I thought it was a brave writing choice to end the episode the way they did. Nikki's son never did come back. Again the theme that doing the right thing isn't always the answer, and that some things are better left alone.
It didn't surprise me that Jack was behind the sanctuary, since his disinterest in Gwen's new project and his efforts to discourage her were out of character. (Although it didn't make sense that he'd keep it from Gwen for so long.) Jack really is a good guy, after all. Most of the time. Of course, the Jonah plot was a great big giant metaphor for Jack and his little brother.
The tragedy of the A plot corresponded to the seriousness of the B plot. Gwen and Rhys just got married, certain of their love and that everything would be okay somehow. And they have just realized that they have a serious problem. Maybe they should have had "the talk" about kids and her job before they got married. (Although I would have hated missing that wedding episode.) Of course, the should-we-even-have-a-child discussion related back to Jonah, too.
PC Andy, like everyone else, is in love with Gwen – and he wants to work for Torchwood. I thought it was a bit mean of her to shut him out. Yes, she was protecting him, but he's a cop, isn't he? In a way, Gwen treated Andy like she usually treats Rhys – like he's an incompetent child to whom she can't tell the truth.
The only light touch was when Gwen walked in on Jack and Ianto naked in the greenhouse, and Jack invited her to join them. Was he serious? I bet he was. I wonder if she was tempted?
Bits and pieces:
-- Gwen was right that Nikki would have made a great cop. There was something so tragic about her looking for Jonah's face frame by frame in every crowd scene.
Quotes:
Owen: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change."
Gwen: "Oh, bollocks to serenity."
Owen: "For a lovely girl, you've got a very dirty mouth."
Owen has Really Changed.
Gwen: "I wouldn't have come in if I'd known."
Jack: "Always room for one more. We could have used you an hour ago for naked hide and seek."
Ianto: "He cheats. He always cheats."
How can someone cheat at hide and seek? By not covering their eyes, I suppose?
Gwen: "Jack, if you'd lost someone, wouldn't you want to know?"
Shades of Gray, huh?
This episode made me cry. Four out of four stars,
Billie
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Billie Doux loves good television and spends way too much time writing about it.
This was excellent. I liked that they avoided a happy ending too, that made sense somehow.
ReplyDeleteHmm..I think Jack wanted a threesome with Ianto and Gwen, bet she was tempted at least. But good for her that she stayed true to Rhys this time.
Anna
Lovely episode but really hard to watch as well. No winners for Nikki and Jonah. Life really isn't fair sometimes, huh?
ReplyDeleteGwen walking in on Ianto and Jack was hilarious. Was she tempted? Well she is only human after all.
I did enjoy Andy's use in this episode too. Maybe one day Torchwood will take him on.