#the ghost machine

[the-hoper-of-far-flung-hopes]

I dislike them on principle but I would let Jack Harkness teach me how to use a gun if we were gonna do it like That

[gmariam321]

So I’m poking around Ianto’s Desktop - it’s the LJ site where an awesome user named Lorannah compiled all the BBC website stuff about Torchwood - and I found this little random gem:

MEMO FROM IANTO

TO: EVERYONE FROM: IANTO

Hello everyone

I've finally found out what's happening to the pens.

And believe me, you won't like the answer.

So...what happened to the pens, Ianto??

Also, does anyone know what’s up with photos disappearing from LJ? There used to be all kinds of photos on the Ianto’s Desktop but now there are Photobucket placemarkers about some kind of update? 

EDIT: OOooh, look at this one! Owen!!

MEMO: Owen to Jack

From: Owen Harper To: Captain Jack

This is OFF the record.

I've never been one for getting involved with all the PC Plod stuff, as you know. And I don't want to get involved now. But you weren't the one that saw that girl attacked under the bridge - and you didn't feel what I feel. You don't know what I know.

You might be the boss of me. You call the shots, we're all here because you wanted us to be here.

But you're not right all the time. I did the right thing, in the wrong way, because YOU WOULDN'T BACK ME UP.

So if things went wrong - fine, hands up, I take the blame. But you know, and I know, it's your fault too.

Like I say. Off the record.

EDIT:  And this one!! Tosh and Ianto FTW!!

INSTANT MESSENGER TRANSCRIPT

TOSH: Ianto?

IANTO: Hi Tosh.

IANTO: Can I help you with anything?

TOSH: No.

TOSH: Yes.

TOSH: I don't know.

IANTO: The pendant?

TOSH: Yeah.

IANTO: The others ignoring you? Acting like you're not there?

TOSH: Yeah. I can't blame them. I lied to them. But the silence... it's not good.

IANTO: I lied too. With Lisa.

TOSH: Yeah but you were trying to save her. I was just... I don't know.

IANTO: You wanted to be part of Jack's little gang?

TOSH: But we are. Really we are.

TOSH: Aren't we?

IANTO: After Lisa, you came and brought me a coffee.

TOSH: Did I? Don't really remember.

IANTO: Yeah. Possibly the worst coffee I've ever had. Tasted like the Taff.

TOSH: Sorry! Not my speciality.

IANTO: You know, you could bring me another one. You might get better with a bit of practice.

TOSH: Yeah :-)

TOSH: Thanks.

IANTO: Not a problem :-)

[ conversation ends ]

[meat-pc]

Forced into a hellish false reality of ultimate inconsequence by the hand of selfish gods; the ghost machine

[lovepirate77]

Today’s Book: Firefly: The Ghost Machine by James Lovegrove

[puppetmaker40]

New Who Review The Ghost Monument

Usual rules apply. Spoilers behind cut and in comments. Discussion is for “Unearthly Child” through “The Ghost Monument” and no further. Please be polite but y’all are so I am not worried.

The first episode of a new Doctor is tricky enough but the second can be even more so. We have been introduced to the companion(s) and have some idea of what the Doctor is at this point. So now we want to see who everyone is and how they fit together and with this version of the Doctor.

Dumping them into the vacuum of space without a spacesuit was a bold move. Splitting them up briefly was a nice touch as we got to see each set work out the problems they have to solve so they don’t crash into the planet. Shows that the humans are up to snuff for this sort of adventure.

I liked that this was a pretty simple episode so it had more to do with the characters than the plot that was pretty much paint by numbers kind of race with a shiny prize at the end.

Actors did great with what they were given. Jodie Whittaker keeps proving why she was cast into this role and why she was the right person to be the Doctor.

In the end we get back to the point that it really feels like a Doctor Who episode.

The great space race lives. I will give Chibnall credit for giving us the end of the race rather than the beginning.

I liked the two characters of Angstrom and Epzo as they served the plot and gave the Doctor the information that she needed to solve the mystery of why the planet was so screwed up and dangerous. I also liked how the Doctor gave them the solution to solved both of their issues and allow them to win together. Also liked how it was the Doctor who pointed out to Ilin why they had to honor the contestants’ decision. I have a feeling that is not the last we will see of Ilin.

Chibnall said that each episode would be independent which this one is. Having a villain run through a series is not the same as creating an entire season that is dependent on seeing every episode.

He is creating a big bad with his new race called Stenza who were introduced in the first episode and apparently are going to be popping up or becoming the running thread for the season.

We have a TARDIS again! Yes, it looks radically different from previous versions but even with that there are elements that are still there. I need to see it a little more before I really figure out how I feel about it. I am glad that the exterior has not changed from a police phone box.

I will go on record that I like the sonic screwdriver now.

I am grateful for TARDIS interiors past, present, and future.

[animate-mush]

Thoughts on the Ghost Monument

I liked this one, although I liked the second half less well than the first.

[How do I insert a readmore on mobile???]

I am not sure how I feel about the opening titles. The doubling was weird and the whole thing was more organic than cosmic, which is the opposite of my preference. I do like the new music, and the prominent drum beat on the "doot-da-doot-da"s, but there was a weird part right at the beginning where it felt like something was missing.

The whole beginning was very Hitchhikers and I loved it. Graham even said "Don't Panic" do you know it was on purpose. I really liked the splitting of the party into two perfectly parallel groups - ah, the benefits of a large cast. It's interesting that Graham is running parallel to the Doctor here. I briefly thought that they were on anti-parallel versions of the same ship, which could have been cool, but ah well.

Graham is absolutely right to object people subcutaneously implanting things into him all the freakin time. Also I really appreciated his and Ryan's conversation. I like that there's this tension between them but they're both basically reasonable.

Okay, I really liked the detail that Ryan starts running from the spaceship first, but eventually stumbles and needs to be helped.

I liked the conceit of the plot and the...smallness of its impact on the universe at large while not being frivolous at all to the people involved. There literally isn't an evil plan - there's no villain at all. Not even the guy running things. I did find it interesting that two stories in a row featured a (globally speaking - contrast "Enlightenment") contest or competition. Games of life and death, yes, but still very much...games.

I think the story was hurt a bit by the shorter format. I would have liked to see more interacting with the environment. There was a bit of informed danger...possibly because no one was expendable. But like "don't touch the water" and then they just...don't and it's fine. Okay good job not holding the idiot ball, but like, why even have flesh eating microbes if they're not going to eat any flesh? At least some of our moomin beens could have been in need of water at some point, you know? Same thing with the ruins. Ancient Deadly Ruins are super cool - wasting them on just a mess of easily disposed of killer robots was a bit of a let down.

I was afraid they were going to reveal that Death Planet was post-apocalyptic Earth, and I am glad they did not, but I will say that architecture all looked very contemporary. Pretty cool nonetheless.

I liked the supporting characters a lot, although I think they were a bit heavy handed. So much so that I kept expecting there to be a last minute reveal that Angstrom was really The Bad Guy All Along. I am glad there wasn't, but I am nor sure how sold I am on the Rejoice In Your Shared Victory solution. But I guess that was part of the theme of Teamwork Good.

I was a little disappointed that the Ghost Monument was the TARDIS - I am weirdly old-fashioned about not liking episodes to be named after the characters, but I also was really enjoying the TARDISless travel. And hey, they even have convenient universal translators, so there's no problem. But also, given the planetary backstory an actual ghost monument would have been entirely appropriate.

The acetylene scene was awfully cool...

I don't like the new TARDIS interior much. It's way too dark for my taste, although I like the crystals. And the hexagons. But it looks a lot like that time he made Borusa line his office in lead, only a bit worse. Perhaps it will grow on me.

But yeah, on the balance I liked it. Also Venusian NUNS??? Awesome? Maybe? With their six arms... very nicely played there though.

[dearoldtardis]

Human emotion is energy. You can't always see it or hear it, but you can feel it. Ever had deja vu? Felt someone walk over your grave? Ever felt someone behind you in an empty room? Well there was. There always is.

Captain Jack Harkness

[nitrogennarcosis]

Torchwood, episode 1.03 "The Ghost Machine"

Ever had deja vu?  Felt someone walk over your grave?  Ever felt someone behind you in an empty room?  Well, there was.  There always is.