Torchwood - Random Shoes, 1.09

I waited to write about Torchwood until I was more than halfway done with the first series, because I was warned beforehand that the first half was uneven, and the second half is more the tone and style of the rest of the series. Also, I was lazy. But this was a wise move nevertheless -- I hated the first four episodes of the series, I hated Gwen Cooper, the lead, I hated Jack's deference to his team (the Jack I knew did everything himself), I hated the special effects (even for Who, they were atrocious), I hated the utterly boring plots, I hated Torchwood... in no uncertain terms.

My opinion began to waver at "Small Worlds," which was more tame (if not in plot, then in ambiance) than its predecessors, and stood in stark contrast with the terrible, all too dramatic "Cyberwoman" before it. Where "Cyberwoman" failed in story (a sorry attempt, I think, at bridging the worlds of Who and TW) and overall execution, "Small Worlds" excelled. It wisely gave us a peek at Jack's past, which doubtless is what migrated Who fans salivated at the thought of, and offered a plot that tied it with the present. Fatally vomiting rose petals was classic Who -- cheap and uniquely supernatural. It was not a perfect episode by any means -- some of the same issues still befell it, and the outcome was not surprising nor terribly interesting -- but it was a refreshing 50 minutes that renewed my hopes for the show.

The episode that followed it, "Countrycide," was another delicious (tasteless word choice totally intended) installment. Torchwood's base was nowhere to be seen in this utterly creepy, Blair Witch-esque achievement. As a result, the episode was less sci-fi and more horror, beautifully written and acted.

Three episodes later, "Random Shoes" is Doctor Who's "Love and Monsters" with a dash of any Darin Morgan-penned X-File (perhaps Jose Chung for an outsider's view and goofily poignant love story, or Clyde Bruckman for clues adding up in the end -- and either one for truly getting the "big picture" and tying elements together so perfectly in the end). And it is absolutely delightful.

I could have predicted exactly where and how RTD (edit: apparently, this episode was written by Jacquetta May. Still, though, I'm sure the creator had a say) differs from Darin Morgan, though: Of course, of course, Eugene gets his little happy ending with Gwen until he floats off into the sky surrounded by light. A nice touch was him not stopping in the clouds, but continuing into space (as his monologue also continues), perpetuating the obvious, but nice, theme of outer space and life and death. Morgan would have kept him dead, no happy endings, but kept the monologue. I'd put money on that.

Overall, just a wonderful episode. I loved that Eugene was in love with Gwen, and I loved how he subconsciously influenced her. One gripe, out of their hands, is that I wish TW had a bigger budget -- I never really believed he was a ghost. Wanted to put his hands through people. Walk through walls. But that's just a small nitpick!